Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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525. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of cases since 2011 in which a newborn child has been removed from the custody of its parents directly or soon after birth; the status of the development of a metric that collates the number of newborn children taken into care directly or soon after birth; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22094/18]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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I am informed by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, that data is not collated nationally on the number of infants received into the care of Tusla, by way of court order or on a voluntary basis.

Data regarding the number of children in care on 31st December aged less than 1 year of age, the number of admissions to care for children less than 1 year of age, and the number of first time admissions to care for children less than 1 year of age for the years 2011 to 2016, is set out in the following table.

I am advised by Tusla that the most recent data available for this is to the end of 2016, and that figures are expected mid-year for 2017.

*figures include any children who were in respite care from home on the last day of the year. These children are not included in data for 2015 and 2016.

^#figures include admissions into respite care from home. These children are not included in data for 2016

** figure based on complete returns from 16/17 administrative areas and a partial return from the remaining area.

Admissions to care is a count of all admissions to care and not a count of individual children admitted – a child can have more than one admission in a reporting period.

First time admissions is a count of individual children admitted to care. Reporting of this metric commenced in 2016.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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526. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of children or young adults who have died while in the care of the State since 2011; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22095/18]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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I can advise the Deputy that a child or young person who is the subject of a legal court order or through voluntary parental consent, is placed in foster care or residential care with either state, private or voluntary providers.

Prior to the establishment of Tusla, the Child and Family Agency in 2014, child protection services, including State care, were carried out by the Health Services Executive (HSE).

Between the 1st January 2011 and the 16th May 2018, a total of 19 children sadly passed away while in the care of Tusla. The following table outlines the total, year by year. I will revert to the Deputy with the cause of death for the children, to include death by natural causes.

Deaths of children in care, by year