Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 8 May 1991

Vol. 408 No. 1

Written Answers. - Children in Care.

Tony Gregory

Question:

96 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Health if he will outline his views on the findings of the report, commissioned by the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, which relate to his area of responsibility on (1) the rate of admission of children into care and (2) the number of general practitioners per head in the north inner city of Dublin.

Minister for Health (Dr. O'Hanlon)

I have seen a copy of the report referred to in the question. It provides a detailed overview of the social and economic fabric of the north inner city of Dublin and will be of considerable assistance to the different statutory and voluntary agencies working in the area.

The report reveals that the rate of children in health board care in the area is higher than the rate for the Eastern Health Board generally and for the country as a whole. It suggests that this may be due, in part, to the fact that the area has a higher than average rate of children born to unmarried mothers. There is research evidence that unmarried mothers have greater difficulty in coping with the demands of child rearing and that their children face a higher probability of being placed in care.

The whole thrust of Government policy in relation to child care is to enable children to be cared for within their families wherever possible and to provide place support services to families who may need additional assistance or who may be at risk for one reason or another.

In the case of the north inner city a number of services exist within the community to assist families who may encounter either short term or longer term problems. For example St. Vincent's Family Resource Centre caters on an intensive basis for children under three years. There are two neighbourhood youth projects in the area staffed by health board employees who work with children in the six to 16 years age group. There are two residential hostels in the area — Tabor House and the St. Vincent de Paul project, Amiens Street — which provide residential care and day programmes for young people in difficulties. In addition, the Talbot Day Centre works with young substance abusers in the 13 to 19 age group. Day activities and courses are also organised for women on self-development and self-assertiveness, parenting skills, health promotion, cooking and sewing and a variety of other topics.

With regard to the number of general practitioners per head of population in the area, the report indicates that while the rate is somewhat below the average for the city as a whole, it is higher than the rate for the rest of the country.