Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 50: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of children placed in the care system during each of the past five years due to parents' inability to financially cope; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15106/12]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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Under the Child Care Act 1991 children should, in the first instance, be supported to remain with their families. Children should only be taken into care where the HSE has identified abuse or the risk of abuse, including neglect that cannot be prevented or resolved without the child being received into care.

The HSE has informed me that in 2010 1,251 children were admitted to care due to various factors resulting in a parental inability to cope. In the main these children are received into care on the voluntary request of their parent/s.

The various factors which can result in parental inability to cope include: physical or mental health problems, disability, drug or alcohol addiction problems, and in some cases financial difficulties. However, a parental inability to cope financially is on its own not a reason for a child to come into care. Family support services work with parents where there are difficulties with budget management to support them provide a stable family situation for their children.

My officials met with the Department of Social Protection in September of last year, at which this matter was discussed across a broader agenda. It was agreed that there should be no case in which children enter the care system due to financial need rather than cases of neglect, abuse or the risk of abuse. If any such cases are identified by the HSE, my officials will work with the Department of Social Protection and the HSE to ensure that children are only received into care on the basis of risk to their safety and welfare that cannot be alleviated by financial support alone.