Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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1904. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the reason for Tusla's policy with regard to placing children under 12 years of age in residential care. [27076/17]

Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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1905. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of children in residential care in 2016 and to date in 2017, by age and county. [27077/17]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1904 and 1905 together.

My Department's policy is that children aged 12 and under are only placed in a residential setting if it is part of their care plan , and for the shortest time possible. Children should not be placed in residential care due to a shortage of suitable foster care places. Each child is assessed and the decision about where to place them is based on their needs, which are identified through the care planning process.

The latest figures from Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, indicates that, at the end of March 2017, there were 6,308 children in care. Of these, 362 (6%) were in a residential placement, 210 of which were private residential placements.

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 skillsets and therapeutic modalities.

I have asked Tusla to provide the Deputy with figures on the number of children in residential care in 2016 and to date in 2017.