Pat Cox
Question:68 Mr. Cox asked the Minister for Health the specific support structures that are in place for the protection of children of drug addicts; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Protection of Children of Drug Addicts.
Liz O'Donnell
Question:108 Ms O'Donnell asked the Minister for Health the specific support structures that are in place for the protection of children of drug addicts; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 68 and 108 together.
The health boards provide a range of services and supports to assist children who are not receiving adequate care and protection, irrespective of the reasons why they are regarded as being at risk. I would like to assure the Deputies that the professionals working in the health care services are acutely conscious of the special vulnerability of the children of parents who are drug addicts.
Depending on the circumstances, children are either provided with community based suports such as day fostering and day care services to enable them to continue to live at home or, in extreme cases, are taken into the care of the health boards and placed with foster families or in residential care.
I understand that the Eastern Health Board have placed a total of 10 children in foster care arising out of AIDS/HIV situations. One family left 5 orphans, one of whom also died of AIDS while in foster care, the remaining 4 are still in care. Another fostered child, whose mother died of AIDS, is himself HIV positive. In two other families, each involving two children, both sets of parents are alive: in one case both parents have AIDS, in the other both are HIV positive. All four children are in foster care.
Prospective foster parents are made fully aware of all medical circumstances concerning the child to be placed with them and are assured of whatever consultant or other medical access they require in the course of the placement. All fostered children are provided with medical card cover and any other home support necessary. The services of the Board's AIDS counsellors are also available to affected families.