Séamus Kirk (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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297. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the steps regarding special care units for children; if an application is refused if there is a right to appeal; the criteria for this right to appeal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45251/14]

Séamus Kirk (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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298. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of children who are in special care units here; the cost per annum for these children; if he will provide a breakdown by county on the number of children in care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45252/14]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 297 and 298 together.

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 detained as a result of a High Court Order, and not on the basis of any criminal activity.

Special care has operated under the High Court’s inherent jurisdiction since the 1990's. TheChild Care (Amendment) Act 2011 creates a statutory framework for the High Court to deal with special care cases instead of employing its inherent jurisdiction. Work is currently underway to commence the Act. Section 23 (c) and (b) defines special care as the provision of care to a child which addresses "his or her behaviour and the risk of harm it poses to his or her life, health, safety, development or welfare and his or her care requirements and includes medical and psychiatric assessment, examination and treatment, and educational supervision."

Admission criteria are set out in an information booklet (Revised 4th Edition July 2014) which is available on request from Tusla Special Care Services (01 6352537 / specialcare.referrals@tusla.ie). The steps in relation to application for special care begin with the child's social worker submitting a referral to the Special Care Referrals Committee. Membership of the Committee comprises an independent chairperson, two area managers from the Child and Family Agency and a unit manager from one of the special care units. Where necessary, other professionals, psychiatrists for example, may be consulted in the review. The referring social worker attends the Committee meeting and is notified of the Committee's final decision within 24 hours of the meeting.

When applications are declined, the social work team is informed in writing of the specific criteria not met and the chairperson is available for consultation. If the referring Social Work Department is not satisfied with the outcome, the secretary of the Committee directs them in the first instance to the chairperson for resolution and then to the national manager for special care services.

I have requested information in relation to the cost from the Agency and I will revert to the Deputy when this information is to hand. As of September 2014 there were 17 children in special care places - 10 in Ballydowd, Co. Dublin, 4 in Gleann Alainn, Co. Cork, and 3 in Coovagh House, Co. Limerick. At the end of September the Agency reported that there was a total of 6,470 children in care, indicating that 0.26% if those in care were in a special care placement. County level data is not available as the Child and Family Agency collates its statistics on the basis of 17 administrative areas. The most recent information disaggregated by administrative area is for July 2014 and is set out in the table.