Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

179. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children in Ireland that require care placements; the number of placements that are currently available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10236/22]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As this is an operational matter the question has been referred to Tusla for their direct reply to the Deputy.

Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

180. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of residential care placements for children that have been provided by State agencies in each year since 2002; the number of residential care placements that have been provided by private providers in each year since 2002, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10237/22]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I have been informed that Tusla are continuing work to compile the data that has been requested, which I understand is available from 2014 onward. I have therefore requested that Tusla reply directly to the Deputy with this information as quickly as possible.

A children’s residential centre is defined within the Child Care Act 1991 as “any home or institution for the residential care of children in the care of the Child and Family Agency or other children who are not receiving adequate care and protection.” There are 3 types of placements in residential care: statutory children’s residential centres, private children’s residential centres, and voluntary children’s residential centres.

In 2020 the Department of Expenditure and Reform completed a Spending Review of the cost of Residential Care. While the review identified some benefits associated with the private provision of residential care, such as responsiveness to demand and flexibility of provision, it also identified Tusla's increasing utilisation of this placement type over recent years.

In the 2022 Performance Statement I have requested that Tusla in 2022 increase Tusla-provided residential services and move towards a reduction in reliance on private provision. I also asked Tusla to explore the potential of C&V organisations that are already in receipt of Tusla funding in developing service responses to specific areas of high demand and complexity to lessen dependency on private provision.

Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

181. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his policy priorities for children in State care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10238/22]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

In 2014, my Department launched Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures, (BOBF) which represented the first cross-Government overarching national children’s policy framework for children and young people. BOBF concluded at the end of 2020 and I published the final Annual Report (2020) in January 2022. At that time I stated a need to look forward in our collective efforts to further improve outcomes for children and young people in Ireland, taking the learnings from the BOBF process on board. Work has begun in my Department on the development of the successor Framework and I look forward to working with all stakeholders in its development and implementation.

As the Deputy will be aware, my Department is reviewing the Child Care Act 1991, following extensive consultation with stakeholders. The 1991 Act is a wide-ranging piece of legislation, which seeks to promote the welfare of children who may not receive adequate care and protection. The proposals include changes across a wide range of areas, from relatively minor or procedural issues, to more significant reform proposals. Some of the more significant areas of focus are as follows:

- It is proposed to introduce a guiding principles section to the Act, with the best interests of the child to be the paramount principle.

- Proposals to foster improved interagency cooperation include introducing a duty to cooperate and legislating for both local and national coordination bodies.

- The voice of the child is to be strengthened both in court proceedings and in decisions taken outside the court setting.

- The proposals also include amendments to existing rules for Supervision Orders, Interim Care Orders, Care Orders, Emergency Care Orders and Voluntary Care Agreements.

My Department is also developing new Guardian ad litem legislation, which aims to extend the GAL system to benefit the greatest number of children and young people, and to ensure that the best interests of children and young people are paramount in childcare proceedings. In addition, work is continuing on the reform of the family justice system by the Department of Justice, and my Department continues to be represented on the Family Justice Oversight Group in this respect.

Finally, my priority is to ensure that all children in State care receive a high quality service and are supported to reach their full potential, as children, and into adulthood. My officials liaise on an ongoing basis with Tusla officials, to identity and address issues relating to children in care as they arise, and across all the relevant settings. I also note that in the 2022 Performance Statement, I have requested that Tusla work to increase Tusla provided residential services and move towards a reduction in reliance on private provision.