Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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963. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 1926 of 16 September 2016, if Tusla has agreed to make referrals to the centre in question as noted in documentation lodged with An Bord Pleanála (details supplied) should the development go ahead; the way in which such an agreement to place children between the ages of three and ten in a residential assessment setting for up to 15 weeks fits with Tusla's current policies regarding placements for children under 12 years of age; and her views regarding the appropriateness of holding children as young as three years of age in a privately run centre for up to 15 weeks for assessment.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27201/16]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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Tusla has advised that it has had no involvement with this initiative and has not received an application to register this application as a children's residential centre. Tusla will only place children in centres which have completed the registration process.

It is Departmental and Tusla policy that children 12 years and younger requiring admission to care should be placed in foster care. Occasionally, it may be in the interests of a younger child to be placed in an age appropriate residential centre for assessment or therapeutic intervention. This should only occur if it is in line with the child's care plan.