Vol. 470 No. 1
117 Mr. Molloy asked the Minister for Justice the proposals, if any, she has to improve the afterhours service to homeless children currently provided through Garda stations; the co-ordination, if any, between her Department and the Eastern Health Board to improve such services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18444/96]
The gardaí have the same duties and responsibilities towards all children, whether homeless or not. Section 12 of the Child Care Act, 1991, provides gardaí with the power to take a child to a place of safety where there are reasonable grounds for believing that there is an immediate and serious risk to the health or welfare of a child and it would not be sufficient for the protection of the child to await the making of an application for an emergency care order by a health board. This involves the gardaí removing the child from danger and taking the child to the relevant health board which has responsibility for the provision of a safe place for the child. In the event of this occurring at night time or at weekends, the Garda avail of whatever arrangements have been put in place by the health board for emergency services.
