Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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185. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of children in residential care, foster care or other care facilities; the extent to which the numbers have fluctuated in recent years; her views on whether a specific response is warranted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25865/18]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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I can inform the Deputy that according to Tusla’s most recent data (February 2018), there are a total of 6,161 children in care. Of these cases, 4,037 (65.5%) are in are in general foster care; 1,646 (26.7%) are in foster care with a relative; 357 (6%) are in residential care; and 121 (2%) are in other care facilities, e.g. special care.

The following table will provide an insight into annual fluctuations of children in care over the last three years:

Number of Children in Care

I, and my officials, continue to engage directly with the Tusla Board and Senior Management Team to monitor and review the number of children in care.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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187. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the extent to which her Department has received notification over the past two years of children or young adults being abused or at risk thereof in fosterage, residential or other care arrangements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25867/18]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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Tusla is the statutory body with responsibility for child protection and welfare in the State. I have written to Tusla to request the information to which the Deputy refers, and will revert once I have received a response.