Vol. 481 No. 3
64 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of children too disruptive for conventional care who have been placed by health boards in care in Great Britain and Northern Ireland; the ages of such children; and the average annual cost of placing the children together with the necessary back-up services. [15783/97]
Four health boards at present have 13 children, that is, under 18 years of age, placed under such circumstances in Great Britain and Northern Ireland. These children range in ages from seven to 17 years of age. The average annual costs of the placements range from approximately £35,000 to approximately £124,000 per child. The average annual backup costs range from approximately £3,300 to approximately £9,500 per case, i.e., in addition to the foregoing.
The table below details these arrangements:
|
Health Board |
Number of Children Placed |
Approximate Annual Costs of Placements |
Age Range of Children Placed |
Approximate Annual Costs of Back-up Services per Placement |
|
Mid-Western |
4 |
£106,000 |
7 to 15 years |
£6,000 |
|
North-Eastern |
6 |
£35,000 |
11 to 17 years |
£3,300 |
|
Southern |
2 |
£115,000 |
14 to 16 years |
£6,000 |
|
*Western |
1 |
£124,000 |
17 years |
£9,500 |
