Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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836. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of private residential care companies contracted by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, to operate in the care system; and the number of children in this type of care. [21345/16]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has informed me that currently 26 private residential care companies are contracted to provide care services, and that, currently, there are 213 children placed in private residential care. A child may be placed in a private children residential centre where a statutory placement is not available and if it is assessed as meeting the needs of the child. Each private children residential centre is registered, has a service level agreement in place and the placement of a child is being made in accordance with Tusla's Placement Protocols.