Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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119. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the rationale behind the practice of sending young persons into out-of-State care placements, rather than developing services and expertise here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40746/15]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Under the Child Care Act, 1991 and the Child and Family Agency Act 2013, Tusla, the Child and Family Agency has a duty to promote the welfare of children who are not receiving adequate care or protection. When a child cannot live with their parents and is received into care, it is Tusla policy to place them in care settings, preferably in foster care, as close as possible to their home and community.

A very small minority of young people under 18 years of age have highly specialised needs arising from severe behavioural or other difficulties, due to their childhood experiences or in some cases as a result of injury, accident or disability. The care needs of these young people are generally met by directly provided residential services or a privately commissioned service within Ireland. While services continue to be expanded and improved in Ireland, including the development of secure mental health facilities, there may be instances where the need for a particular specialised placement is not available here.

For a small number of young people, Tusla is on occasion required to make arrangements for their placement in care and treatment facilities outside of the State, primarily in the UK, to allow for access to an individually tailored mix of care and therapeutic services and psychiatric treatment not currently available in this country. This is done on as infrequent a basis as possible and only where such placement is considered to be in the best interest of the child. Placements where a child will be detained are made under the order and supervision of the High Court.

The units in which the children are placed are inspected and regulated by their national authorities and Tusla is attentive to the standards of care delivered in these specialised units. Tusla ensure that these placements are suitable and the child's social worker visits regularly and makes arrangements for family or carers of the child to also visit. At the end of August 2015, there were five children placed in an out of state secure placement. All five children had an allocated social worker and an up to date written care plan. There were also ten children in an out of state placement, either with relative or general foster carers, in a general residential placement and in other placements.

The Department of Health has advised that the HSE is developing a new national forensic mental health service to replace the Central Mental Hospital. A 10 bed forensic CAMHS (Child Adolescent Mental Health Service) is included as part of this development and should be operational by mid-2018. A residential setting for long-term care will not be included in this development given the lack of demand and the range of diagnosis and needs that would have to be catered for, as evidenced by the small number of children requiring such a facility currently.