Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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1438. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of foster families, by county, in each of the years 2014 to 2016 and to date in 2017; the number of children placed in foster care in each of these years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19911/17]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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Foster care is the preferred option for children who have been received into care. This can be as a result of abuse and/or neglect and their parents' inability to care for them due to a combination of difficulties in their own lives.

The most recent figures provided by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, indicate that there were 6,309 children in care at the end of February 2017, which is a decrease of 2% compared with the previous year. Of the children in care, 92% were in foster care nationally; there were 4,127 (65%) children in general foster care, 1,695 (27%) in relative care and 355 (6%) children were in a residential care placement.

Tusla does not collate data by county, but has provided the number of foster families by administrative area in each of the years 2014 - 2016 which is detailed in the table below. Figures for 2017 are not available.

Tusla has provided the following information in respect of the number of children in foster care for each of the years 2014 to date. This information is correct as of the last day of each year.