Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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315. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children currently in the various forms of care, institutional or otherwise; the degree to which he is satisfied with the level and quality of the care in all such situations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26272/24]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The question of total number of children currently in various forms of care has been interpreted to refer to children in alternative care. Tusla’s latest available Monthly Service Performance and Activity Report informs that there were 5,781 children in care at the end of April 2024. 87.6% (5,063) of all children in care are in foster care (3,593 general foster care, and 1,470 relative foster), 8% (468) are in residential care (453 general residential care and 15 special care) and 4% (250) are in “other” care placements (including at home under a care order, detention centre, disability unit, mental health unit, drugs/alcohol rehabilitation unit, hospital, special emergency arrangement, supported lodgings etc.).

In respect of quality of care in these settings, the Child Care Act 1991 is the primary piece of legislation providing for alternative care and child protection policy in Ireland. The Act is a wide-ranging piece of legislation, which, at its core, seeks to promote the welfare of children who may not be receiving adequate care and protection.

Consequently, the Act sets out a detailed statutory framework, which includes but is not limited to provisions requiring Tusla to have regard to the best interests of the child, the criteria for bringing children into care, the types of placements where they may be placed, and the responsibilities of the State to children in alternative care. The child protection and welfare landscape in Ireland has changed greatly since the Act’s commencement, and there are areas of the legislation that require updating to reflect this, our improved understanding of children’s rights, and to allow for positive practice developments to be enshrined in law where needed. In April 2023 I published the Heads and General Scheme of a Bill to amend the Child Care Act 1991, following a comprehensive review of that legislation. On 23 April 2024, Government agreed to separate the proposed legislation into two Bills and that amendments relating to child welfare and protection will follow in a separate Bill later in this session.

The placement of children in alternative care is also governed by Regulations and Standards for Foster Care, Residential Care, and Special Care. These Regulations and Standards set out the detailed criteria against which Tusla is inspected, in its provision of alternative care services. The application of these Regulations and Standards promotes safe and high quality practice in alternative care.

In November 2023 the Government published Young Ireland: The National Policy Framework for Children and Young People 2023 – 2028. This national policy identifies Foster Care, Care and Aftercare as a priority under National Outcome 3: Safe and Protected from Harm. In this regard, the national policy details concrete steps to be taken by my Department, Tusla and other stakeholders across Government in order to improve provision of services to all children in care and in receipt of aftercare services.

Tusla has statutory and operational responsibility for the provision of alternative care services. Since its establishment in 2014, it has led a comprehensive reform of child protection, alternative care, and family support services. Central to their vision is the development of services that ensure children are safe and achieving their full potential. In this regard, Tusla has developed a Strategy on Alternative Care. The Strategy comprises Strategic Plans for Residential Care, Foster Care, and Aftercare, each of which identifies key recommendations to further reform and improve service delivery in alternative care.

Further, Section 41 (1) of the Child and Family Act 2013 stipulates that I as Minister shall develop a performance framework to provide Tusla with policy guidance, direction and prioritisation parameters for the preparation of its corporate plan, and provision is also made for the development of a performance statement to inform Tusla’s annual business plans.

The Government is committed to supporting the provision of high quality and safe services to children in care, which will help them to reach their full potential. Officials in my Department meet regularly with their counterparts in Tusla to discuss a range of issues, including availability of placements, workforce planning and interagency issues, with a view to supporting the continuous improvement of services delivered to children in care.

I will continue to engage closely with relevant stakeholders, including Tusla, to improve the delivery of high quality care to children and young people.