Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 422: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will outline a plan to deal with the crisis at Gleann Alainn special care unit, County Cork, for the delivery of special care services for vulnerable teenage girls; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39990/11]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The HSE has responsibility for the implementation of the recommendations from the report on the inspection by HIQA that was undertaken last October. I have been informed by the National Manager for Special Care and High Support for the HSE that a number of critical actions identified by HIQA have already been undertaken. HIQA has indicated that it will carry out another full inspection of Gleann Alainn in January 2012. The implementation of the recommendations made in this report will be assessed at this time. It is critical that the HSE take prompt action to deal with the remaining issues and officials of my Department will continue to liaise closely with the National Manager in this regard.

HIQA currently undertake inspections of Special Care Units under the Child Care Act 1991 and report their findings to me. I have written to Mr Gordon Jeyes, National Director of Children and Family Services, HSE asking him to inform me directly of his plans to ensure the standard of care in Gleann Alainn is safe and acceptable.