asked the Minister for Health the number of children at present in care; the names of all such care institutions; the number of children, their age groups and sex in care in each institution; if he will give details of the appropriate management authority in each case; the nature of the funding of each institution for each of the last twenty years, indicating the capital allocation for each of those years and the per capita figure implicit in such allocations; and if he will state why these children are at present in care and outline by category the reasons why care is necessary in such cases.
Written Answers. - Children in Public Care.
343.
I assume the Deputy's question refers to the number of children for whom the health boards are responsible and who are in residential care. As at 31 March 1980 (the latest date for which figures are available) there were 980 such children in residential care. I would remind the Deputy that there are other children in care for whom the Department of Education are responsible.
The homes have been financed through the payment of capitation grants at the approved rate.
As regards the names and other details relating to the homes, I would refer the Deputy to my reply to a parliamentary question on 17 June, 1980 columns 776-780, volume 322 of the Official Report.
As regards the other details requested by the Deputy, I expect that most of the relevant information on these will be available in the Report of the Task Force on Child Care which is at present with the printers. Should the report, when it becomes available, not entirely satisfy the Deputy's needs, perhaps he might address a further question to me.