Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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255. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the exceptional reasons for which Tusla will deviate from its standard policy of not placing children under 12 years of age in residential care. [35250/16]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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It is Departmental and Tusla policy that, in general, children 12 years and under in care should be placed in foster care. The policy recognises that, occasionally, it may be in the interest 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.

The Review of Adequacy 2014 indicates that there were 6,454 children in care at the end of 2014. Of these 3,988 were aged 12 or under, and 44 (approximately 1%) were in residential care.