Fiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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1677. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the amount paid to private children's residential services to care for and accommodate unaccompanied minors arriving here in the near future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41374/16]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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I have been informed by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, that no money has been paid to private children's residential services for unaccompanied minors who have not yet arrived in Ireland. Tusla is preparing suitable accommodation and care for the young people's arrival.

Fiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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1678. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if there are sufficient private residential services to meet the demand required by Tusla; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41383/16]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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The latest figures from Tusla indicate that, at the end of October 2016, there were 6,306 children in care. Of these, over 93% were in foster care, either with relatives or a general foster placement and 5% were in a general residential placement. At the end of October 2016, there were approximately 160 centres, including private, statutory and community based centres caring for 320 children. These centres also cater for 18 year olds who are no longer in care but who are completing school.

Residential care is the placement of choice for older children who have needs that are best met by this placement type. In general, residential care is based in domestic style homes, catering for 2 or 3 older children.

The placement of children in care is governed by Regulations. These provide, inter alia, for the welfare of the child, the care practices, care records, accommodation and safety precautions. Tusla has an active procurement policy and keeps its requirements under review and commissions foster and residential services as required. This ensures that Tusla can access specialist services to meet the emotional and mental health needs of children in care.

The Health Information & Quality Authority (HIQA) inspects all Tusla run residential centres, and publish its findings on www.hiqa.ie. Tusla has responsibility for inspecting all private and voluntary children's residential centres and these inspection reports are available on the Tusla website, www.tusla.ie.

Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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1679. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will consider setting up a State-sponsored voluntary DNA website for all those persons who have been in care in order to trace family and relatives. [41430/16]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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In the vast majority of instances, the family of a child or young person in State care is known to them and, of course, to Tusla – the Child and Family Agency. On that basis, there are no plans to establish a State sponsored voluntary DNA website in order that those who have been in care can trace their relatives.

As the Deputy is aware, the Child Care Act 1991 and the Child and Family Agency Act 2013 are the two main pieces of legislation governing children in care. Under these Acts, Tusla has a statutory duty to promote the welfare of children who are not receiving adequate care and protection. A core principle of Ireland’s care system is the maintenance of relationships with a child’s natural family unless, of course, it is considered that such contact is not in the child’s best interests.

In some cases, parents may agree to their children being taken into the care of Tusla on a voluntary basis that is with the agreement of the child’s parent(s) or guardian(s). In others, Tusla may apply to the court for a care order. It should be noted that 93% of children in State care are in foster care and almost 30% of them have been placed with relatives.

Tusla has informed me that details in relation to family members and relatives and significant others are retained on the child’s care file. Information in relation to these people is made available to the child during their time in care.

However, in some cases, children may not have details in relation to both of their natural parents. In such instances, social workers work closely with the family members to ascertain this information for the child(ren).

In the exceptional circumstance where no natural parents or relatives can be identified for a child who has come into care, namely with unaccompanied minors, Tusla makes extensive searches, and supports children and young people in searching for their family. Reunification with family is considered a priority for children in these circumstances.