David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

684. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 481 of 1 April 2014 the oversight and inspection arrangements that are in place under the service level agreement for premises operated by an organisation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19056/14]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

685. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 481 of 1 April 2014 if she will provide a list of other organisations with which the Health Service Executive has agreements nationwide to provide similar residential services for young persons; if she will provide a breakdown of the value of their service level agreements, SLAs, annually and the inspection arrangements in place to ensure compliance with these SLAs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19057/14]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 684 and 685 together.

I am advised by the Child and Family Agency that the following organisations are contracted to provide children's residential services on its behalf.

The Registration and Inspection Service of the Child and Family Agency is a designated service of the Agency. The service was established in 1998 under the Child Care Act 1991 to fulfil the regulatory functions of the former Health Boards. Its functions include establishment and maintenance of a register of children's residential centres, inspection of premises which are being used or intended to be used as a children's residential centre and enforcement and execution of the Regulations.

A private provider of children's residential services must be registered with the Child and Family Agency under the Child Care Act, 1991. Once an application for registration has been made, the centre will be subject to an inspection. The inspection provides a comprehensive overview of compliance with the Department of Health and Children's "National Standards for Children's Residential Centres". Once registered, the residential centres, including the organisation referred to by the Deputy, remain subject to inspection and monitoring under the Child Care Act, 1991.

The Agency has advised that all placements are subject to placement contracts and the Service Level Agreements to replace those previously in place with the Health Service Executive will be finalised shortly.