Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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1439. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of private and State residential care settings, by county, in each of the years 2014 to 2016 and to date in 2017; the number of children placed in residential care in each of these years indicating the numbers for private and State residential services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19912/17]

Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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1440. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of secure care placements, by county, indicating the number of private and State run placements in each of the years 2014 to 2016 and to date in 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19913/17]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1439 and 1440 together.

The latest figures from Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, indicates that, at the end of February 2016, there were 6,309 children in care. Of these, 355 (6%) were in a residential placement of which 177 were in a private residential placement.

A child is placed in a residential setting only when they have an identified need that can be met by this service or for an intensive assessment or provision of specialist services. In general, these centres are based in domestic style homes in the community, and staffed by social care workers to attend to the needs of the child. Specialist supports are also made available, as needed, and many centres have specialist skill-sets and therapeutic modalities.

Tusla does not collate data on residential care centres by county, but has provided the following information on the number of residential care centres by region for the years 2014 - 2017 (to date).

Tusla has provided the following information in respect of the number of children in residential care for each of the years 2014 to date. This information is correct as of the last day of each year. Please note that the children in care data for 2015 is not directly comparable with data for 2014 and previous years due to a change in the definition of metrics collected. Figures for 2017 onwards are now collated to include residential placements for separated children seeking asylum.

Special care is where a young person is detained in a secure setting on foot of a High Court order restricting the liberty of a young person.This is an intervention used on an exceptional basis where there is evidence that the behaviour of the young person is such that it poses a substantial risk of harm to his or her life, health, safety, development or welfare unless they are placed in special care.There are three special care centres:- Ballydowd, Co. Dublin; Coovagh House, Co. Limerick, and Gleann Alainn, Co. Cork (a female only unit). It should be noted that Ballydowd has operated at reduced capacity during its refurbishment works. All of the facilities for special care are operated by Tusla. The following table shows the number of children reported by Tusla as being under a special care order and residing in a special care unit for the years 2014 to January 2017.