Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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645. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 668 of 9 May 2017, the number and location of special care units here; and the number of children or young persons each centre caters for. [24104/17]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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There are currently 3 special care units in the country. One in Dublin, which has a capacity to cater for 10 children, one in Limerick with a capacity for 4 children and one in Cork, which can cater for 3 children

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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646. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 668 of 9 May 2017, if she will elaborate on the difficulties identified by the Office of the Attorney General in progressing the necessary legislation; if she anticipates further delays in the ongoing legal scrutiny of the legislation; and when the legislation necessary to commence registration of these special care units will be introduced. [24105/17]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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The commencement of the legislative provisions to allow for HIQA to register special care units is governed by the Health Act 2007, with associated provisions in the Child Care (Amendment) Act 2011, the Child and Family Agency Act 2013, the Child Care (Amendment) Act 2015 and the Health (Amendment) Act 2016 all being of relevance. The interplay between these bodies of legislation is complex.

The Office of the Attorney General is considering particular functions under Parts 8 and 9 of the Health Act 2007 and as to whether subsequent amendments to provisions over time equate to a repeal and re-enactment of those provisions and if so found, what the effect of such re-enactment is on the proposed commencement order for special care related provisions.

I understand that the relevant advices will be made available to my Department shortly. I intend to sign the commencement order for the registration of special care units as soon as is practicable thereafter. The making of such an order is, of course, entirely dependent on the nature of the advices received from the Office of the Attorney General.