Fiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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257. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if all children in foster care have psychological support available to them; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26301/17]

Fiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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258. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the average waiting time a young person or child in foster care is required to wait for a psychological assessment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26302/17]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 257 and 258 together.

Key elements of the support to be provided to children in care may include referral and advocacy for access to specialist services to meet the child’s identified needs as part of their care plan, such as speech and language therapy, counselling and psychology services. Children in foster care may need to be referred to the publicly funded child and adolescent mental health teams (CAMHS) and primary care psychology services provided by the Health Service Executive. Additionally, there are a number of services commissioned by social work departments around psychotherapeutic supports. Tusla may procure private psychology services where the waiting time for the HSE service is considered to be detrimental for the child's welfare.

I will ask Tusla if they are in a position to provide information in respect of waiting times for psychological assessment.