Noel Grealish (Galway West, Independent)
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366. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of children currently in care; the number in care without an allocated social worker, broken down by local area; the steps being taken to address this problem; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12527/17]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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The most recent figures provided by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, indicate that there were 6,258 children in care at the end of December 2016, which is a decrease of 2% compared with the previous year. Of the children in care, 93% were in foster care nationally. Tusla has indicated that there were 453 children in care awaiting the allocation of a social worker at the end of 2016. The following table shows the breakdown by administrative areas at the end of December 2016.

It is a key priority for me to address the number of children who are without an allocated social worker. I secured additional funding for this purpose in 2017, and Tusla is now in the second year of a 3-year plan to ensure that a social worker is allocated to all children and young people who need one. It is important to emphasise that, as Tusla's 3-year plan to address unallocated cases continues, all urgent cases are dealt with immediately and do not simply go on a waiting list. I will continue to engage directly with the Tusla Board and senior management team, over the course of the year, to review progress.

Noel Grealish (Galway West, Independent)
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367. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of social workers in each local area looking after the needs of children in care; the reason some areas appear to have a shortage of social workers that can be allocated to look after the interests of every child in care; the number of extra social workers that would need to be employed to ensure that no child in care is without a dedicated social worker; the additional cost in a year to employ the number required; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12528/17]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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My Department receives monthly reports regarding numbers employed in Tusla's various staffing categories including social work however, the more detailed information requested is not readily available in my Department. My officials have requested the information from Tusla and I will forward the reply to the Deputy once I have been furnished with it.

Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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368. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Question No. 630 of 24 May 2016, if the information indicated (details supplied) can be provided. [12559/17]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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I have been advised that, according to our records, the information referred to in the reply to parliamentary question number 630 of 24 May 2016 was issued in a letter to the Deputy dated 27 July 2016. Tusla, the Child and Family Agency has informed me that this information remains correct.

Tusla had advised me that in 2015 there were 9 children in out of State secure care and mental health placements which cost the State €3,700,570 in that year. As of the 31 May 2016 there were 8 children in out of state secure care and mental health placements which has cost the State €1,146,759 in 2016.

Tusla informed me that it is not possible to provide figures for the years prior to 2015 as coding arrangements to disaggregate these figures were not in place for the full year.

There are also a small number of children in foster care placements abroad which costs the State €350 approximately per week, per child. Some of these children were placed with foster carers in Ireland who subsequently moved abroad and, in keeping with their care plans, the children moved with them. Others would have been placed in the care of relatives who live outside the State. Tusla continues to monitor the welfare of any children in care who are residing outside of the State.

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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369. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the total number of children currently in care, per region, in tabular form; the number of these children who are in foster care; the number in the foster care of a relative; the number in residential care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12745/17]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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The most recent figures provided by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, indicate that there were 6,258 children in care at the end of December 2016, which is a decrease of 2% compared with the previous year. Of the children in care, 93% were in foster care nationally. At the end of 2016, there were 4,102 (66%) children in general foster care, 1,715 (27%) in relative care and 316 (5%) children in a residential care placement. A further 125 (2%) children were in other care placements, which include supported lodgings, being at home under a care order and other types of residential provision, such as therapeutic disability or residential assessment centres.

The breakdown of the number of children in care by region at the end of December 2016 is as follows:

Tusla has a statutory duty under the Child Care Act 1991 to promote the welfare of children who are not receiving adequate care and protection and, if necessary, to receive a child into the care of the State. The placement of children in care is governed by the Child Care Regulations 1995, which set out the requirements for pre-placement, monitoring and inspection of placements. In addition, foster care placements are inspected against standardsby the Health Information and Quality Authority. The legislation and standards set out duties for service providers, including standards on the welfare of the child, care practices, records, accommodation, and safeguarding. Ireland has a very high rate of children placed in family foster care, and Tusla works to support these placements for children in care. Later on, supports are provided for those young adults who continue to live with their former foster carers in aftercare.

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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370. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of cases relating to children in care for which a social worker has yet to be allocated, per region; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12746/17]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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The most recent figures provided by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, indicate that there were 6,258 children in care at the end of December 2016, which is a decrease of 2% compared with the previous year. Of the children in care, 93% were in foster care nationally. Tusla has indicated that there were 453 children in care awaiting the allocation of a social worker at the end of 2016. The following table shows the breakdown by region at the end of December 2016.

It is a key priority for me to address the number of children who are without an allocated social worker. I secured additional funding for this purpose in 2017, and Tusla is now in the second year of a 3-year plan to ensure that a social worker is allocated to all children and young people who need one. It is important to emphasise that, as Tusla's 3-year plan to address unallocated cases continues, all urgent cases are dealt with immediately and do not simply go on a waiting list. I will continue to engage directly with the Tusla Board and senior management team, over the course of the year, to review progress.