Written answers

Tuesday, 24 May 2016

Department of Children and Youth Affairs

Children in Care

Photo of Clare DalyClare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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630. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of Irish children who have been or who are in care in other countries for whatever reason, including psychological and medical purposes, and the cost of this to the State since 2008; and why they cannot be cared for here. [11742/16]

Photo of Katherine ZapponeKatherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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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. However there are a small number of children in care, currently 17 in number, who do not live in Ireland. Reasons for a child in state care to live abroad include where a foster family have moved abroad and have, in consultation with the Courts, applied to have the child in care remain with their family. Another situation is when a child placed in relative care is with a relation living abroad. A small number of children are placed in specialised therapeutic residential centres.

A very small minority of children 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 children 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. On these occasions, Tusla is required to make arrangements for the placement of these children 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 sometimes secure 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 in a secure facility 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 a care plan is in place, which is reviewed within the statutory framework. The child's social worker visits regularly and makes arrangements for family or carers of the child to also visit.

As of the 30th April 2016, there were 17 children in an out of state placement, including foster care, general residential and other specialised secure care placements. I have requested information on the cost of such placements from Tusla, and I will respond to the Deputy separately when I receive the figures.

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