Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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328. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 623 to 625 of 01 July 2014, if he will clarify what is meant by the waiting time of approximately five weeks for a special care placement; if this period of waiting time relates to the time between a determination having been made by the national special care admission and discharge committee in line with the criteria laid out in the criteria for admission to special care and guidance applying for a placement in special care, 2012, that a child should be placed in special care and the time of the placement or if this period relates to the time period between the High Court granting a special care order under the exercise of its inherent jurisdiction and the child being placed in special care. [31962/14]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Special Care involves the detention of a child for his or her own welfare and protection in a Special Care Unit (SCU) on order of the High Court. SCU's differ from ordinary residential care in that the units offer higher staff ratios, on-site education as well as specialised input such as psychology and child psychiatric services. The child is not detained as a result of criminal offences, but is placed on foot of a High Court Order.

On 26 June 2014, there were four young people on the waiting list for special care. The average length of wait is approximately five weeks. This refers to the timeframe between a determination having been made by the National Admissions Committee and the child/young person being admitted to a Special Care Unit.

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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329. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 210 of 25 June 2014, if he will designate a person in each of the family resource centres who will provide an advocacy service for parents of children in care, within the existing budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31968/14]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Family Resource Centres, funded by the Child and Family Agency, under its Family and Community Services Resource Centre Programme, provide a range of universal and targeted services and development opportunities that address the needs of children and families. There are 106 Family Resource Centres throughout the country.

Information and advice concerning the range of services available locally is provided as is advice on accessing rights and entitlements. However, the family support advice is general and not specific to parents of children in care.

The Agency has advised that there are no plans within the existing budget to designate a person in each Family Resource Centre to provide an advocacy service to parents of children in care.