Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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219. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if sufficient emergency child care and intervention facilities exist; if augmentation is required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3663/16]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Under section 12 of the Child Care Act 1991, an Garda Síochána have the power to remove a child from the care of their parents/guardians, into the care of Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, where there is an immediate and serious risk to the health or welfare of the child. Tusla will then seek an Emergency Care Order or return the child to their parents or a person acting in loco parentis.Children who are not in the care of their parent/s or guardians and present as out of home to emergency services have their needs assessed and, if appropriate, are received into care under the Child Care Act 1991. Tusla has in place a range of foster and residential care facilities for children in care and to provide for emergency placements that may arise.

During office hours the local Tusla duty office is the first point of contact for the emergency services. Where emergency situations in the area of child welfare and protection arise out of hours, a system has been in place for a number of years and this has been enhanced recently. The new service allows An Garda Síochána to contact a national emergency social work out-of-hours phone service for general advice or consultation. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that Tusla commenced the new Emergency Out-of-Hours Social Work Service last November.