asked the Minister for Health if, in view of the report of a departmental inspector in regard to the ill-treatment of, and hardships suffered by, boarded-out children in County Galway, he will consider appointing female inspectors in addition to those already supervising this section of his Department.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Galway Boarded-out Children.
I have not received any report of ill-treatment of boarded-out children in Galway. A report by officers of my Department last year indicated, however, that conditions in a relatively small number of homes in County Galway in which children were boarded-out were unsatisfactory.
The supervision of the welfare of children in foster homes coming within the scope of the legislation administered by my Department is primarily the duty of the appropriate local authorities. My functions in this matter are to ensure, as far as possible, that local authorities discharge their responsibilities satisfactorily, and towards that end, any shortcomings observed by the inspectors of my Department in the course of their periodical inspections are brought to the notice of the appropriate local authority. I am satisfied that the present staff of my Department engaged on this work is adequate.
As regards the local arrangements for supervision of the welfare of the children concerned, I have consistently urged on local authorities the desirability of appointing suitably qualified female children's officers in any areas where they are not already employed and in which circumstances justify such an appointment.
Surely, in view of the obvious and urgent need for women inspectors, the Department will urge the local authority to appoint such inspectors and make an Order to that effect?
As members of the local authority are the best judges of the type of house in which children should be fostered, we do not wish to compel them to take any action. Even the inspectors of my Department would not, in my opinion, be the best judges of the type of houses and the type of foster-parents that should be selected for boarded-out children.
But women inspectors would do a good job.
We have urged the local authorities to appoint them.
Instruct them, make them, order them to do it.
Is the Minister for Local Government speaking for the Minister for Health when he indicates to the House or gives us to understand that the members of the local authority choose the places and the houses where children are boarded out, because that, to my knowledge, is not the case?
I would not like to say that, but they certainly can advise the County manager as to the type of home which would be suitable for fostered-out children.
We cannot direct them.
It is an executive function.
Quite.