Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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663. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of children-young persons in the care of the State that are in special foster care placements in this jurisdiction; the number of special foster care placements facilitated by private agencies; and the number of children-young persons in the care of the State in special foster care placements outside of this jurisdiction. [4096/14]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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664. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her views that some regular foster care placements may evolve to meet the criteria which fits their being recategorised as special foster care placements, due to the level and type of skills needed to manage emerging issues; and if she will outline the criteria for a placement to be called a special foster care placement. [4097/14]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 663 and 664 together.

Foster care applicants undergo an assessment and training process to establish their suitability and competence. This process has six stages

- Application

- Assessment by a social worker

- Garda vetting, medical and referenced checks, including garda checks of adult children of the foster carers living at home

- Approval by the Fostering Committee

- Approval of the ‘match’ between the foster carers with the Care Plan of the prospective child

- Placement of a child with the foster carers.

Foster carers are selected on the basis of their ability to meet the needs of individual children. In some cases a child may require a foster care placement with additional supports to meet additional needs and in these cases extra supports and respite facilities may be provided when required. The Child and Family Agency does not currently collate national data on this type of placement.

The Child and Family Agency is currently developing a Foster Care Strategy which will review all aspects of foster care provision. The development of a tiered approach to foster care is being considered as part of this strategy, including meeting the different individual needs of children in foster care. The Agency is fully supportive of the view that children with challenging needs should be placed in foster care placements.