Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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1698. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if a children and young persons' residential care facility (details supplied) in County Donegal has fully re-opened and is once again accepting new residents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1407/17]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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At the end of October 2016, there were 211 children in the statutory care of Tusla in Donegal. Of this number, over 96% were in foster care with 2% in general residential care and the remainder were in other placements determined by their care plan. This compares very favourably with the national figure of 93% of children in care in foster care at the same date.

Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, is currently implementing a national Service Delivery Framework which aims to deliver an integrated system of children’s services, with clear and consistent referral pathways and timely and proportionate delivery of family support services. There will be clear and transparent information sharing with other agencies and services. Within this context, the purpose and function of the residential Centre in Letterkenny remains under consideration while the premises are being upgraded. The centre has not been reopened as of yet.

The local Area is giving due consideration to the demands upon the service and how best the centre can assist in meeting those demands, for the small number of children in Donegal who may require such a service.