Written answers

Thursday, 28 January 2016

Department of Children and Youth Affairs

Children in Care

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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221. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of children now in State care and in foster care; the duration of their stay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3665/16]

Photo of James ReillyJames Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has a statutory duty under the Child Care Act 1991 to promote the welfare of children who are not receiving adequate care and protection and, if necessary, to receive a child into the care of the State. As of 31 October 2015, there were 6,331 children in the care of the State. Of these 93% were in foster care, with 4,047 in a general foster care and 1,818 in foster care with relatives.

As the majority of children in care are in foster care family settings in the community, indicators of stability of the placement and participation in education are useful in monitoring the performance of Tusla in relation to overall welfare. Provisional figures from Tusla show that at the end of December 2014, 14% of children had been in care less than a year, with 48% in care for between 1 to 5 years and 38% had been in care for longer than 5 years.

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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222. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs how many children in care normally progress to adoption or fosterage or return to their families; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3666/16]

Photo of James ReillyJames Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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A child may be received into care under a voluntary basis or by order of the Courts. A significant amount of work takes place between social workers and parents/guardians to create a situation where a child can return home with a focus on their welfare and safety. Provisional figures from Tusla show that of the 1,360 children discharged from care in 2014, 83.2% returned home to their families, with the remainder opting for independent living, supported lodgings or remaining with their carers. Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has a duty to ensure that returning a child to their parent or guardians is both safe and in their best interests. Sadly, this is not always possible.

Ireland has a high rate of children in care placed in a family setting, with 93% of children in general or relative foster care at the end of October 2015 (5,865/6,331). This is the preferred option for children who cannot live with their parents. According to the Adoption Authority of Ireland Annual Report 2014, there were 24 adoption orders made for children in long term foster care in that year.

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