Vol. 466 No. 4
115 Mr. Flood asked the Minister for Health the total number of homeless children who have been provided with emergency accommodation in hospitals in the Eastern Health Board area; the duration of the stay in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11633/96]
I have asked the Eastern Health Board to provide information on the number of children provided with emergency accommodation in hospitals and duration of stay in each case for the period 1 January to 30 May 1996 and I will forward the details to the Deputy as soon as possible.
The Deputy will be aware that, in general, I do not favour the use of hospital accommodation for social admissions. When small children are referred in emergency or crisis situations and no alternative placement is available either in a residential centre or with foster parents, it has sometimes been found necessary to place them in hospital. The Eastern Health Board is taking all possible steps to provide alternative accommodation. In particular an expanded crisis intervention service is being developed for children who need emergency placement out of hours. A residential unit for children under 12 years of age and two additional emergency units for older children are being provided.
A major recruitment campaign for additional foster parents was launched in May and it is hoped to assign a number of newly recruited foster parents to provide emergency short-term places.
