John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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440. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of unaccompanied and separated children that have been taken into care of the Child and Family Agency annually since 2020, up to and including 2023; the number of children within this cohort that are from Ukraine; a breakdown of how many children are accommodated in the care system under a Care Order or section 4, Child Care Act, 1991 compared to how many are accommodated under section 5, Child Care Act, 1991 by age, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43818/23]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Statutory and operational responsibility for the delivery of child protection and welfare services is a matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. The Deputy is seeking information in relation to an operational matter for Tusla. Consequently, I have referred the matter to Tusla, and requested that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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441. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of unaccompanied and separated children that have been accommodated in special emergency arrangements over the past twelve months; the duration they have spent in these placements, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43819/23]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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This question has been referred to Tusla as it refers to an operational matter.

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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442. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on recent media coverage of both a lack of special care beds and a step-down facilities for children in care with complex needs; if he plans to provide further funding in future to allow for more publicly provided special care units; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43820/23]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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I am aware of the increasing pressure on Tusla to secure appropriate placements for children in care, up to and including special care. These challenges have arisen due to a number of factors, including but not limited to the increasing complexity of children being referred to Tusla, and difficulties experienced by Tusla in its recruitment and retention of staff. These factors are particularly acute in relation to special care, where the children present with complex needs, and require higher supports, including staff resources.

Every effort is being made by Tusla to support appropriate access to and egress from special care services in Ireland. This includes a number of initiatives to support the recruitment and retention of staff in special care units, which is currently a primary limiting factor on the maximum number of beds that may be occupied in these units.

In 2022 Tusla published its Strategic Plan for Residential Care Services for Children and Young People 2022-2025. This Strategic Plan outlined how the Agency has been required to meet growing demand for the residential care service. The Plan outlined a number of key actions the Agency proposed to undertake to alleviate these pressures, including the expansion of statutory residential capacity on a phased basis of an additional 110 beds by 2025. The plan also proposes the creation of a number of step-down placements across the country, which will promote timely discharges from special care.

My Department and Tusla engage on a regular basis regarding issues impacting on children in the care of the State, including those in relation to special care and residential care. Regarding the issue of funding, my Department continues to work closely with Tusla to identify priority areas for investment across the broad range of services that Tusla deliver.