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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 4 Mar 1998

Vol. 488 No. 2

Written Answers. - Children in Care.

John Gormley

Question:

50 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of Irish children under 16 years of age in care outside the State; the cost of this provision; and the health board regions that have referred each child abroad. [5679/98]

I understand from the health boards that there are five children under the age of 16 years in care outside the State at present as there was no appropriate facility to meet their needs in this country.

The Mid-Western Health Board has three children placed outside the State. The cost of these placements varies from £1,600 sterling to £4,000 sterling per week. The annual back up costs of these placements is between £5,000 and £10,000 per placement.
The North-Eastern Health Board has one child placed outside the State. The annual cost of this placement is £23,000 sterling and the back up costs of the placement amount to £3,000 annually.
The Southern Health Board has one child placed outside the State for an initial period of three months. The placement is to be evaluated in mid-May 1998. The cost of this placement is £26,000 for the three month period with back up costs amounting to £3,000.
Efforts are being made by the health boards to provide suitable facilities within the State for children with special behavioural needs.
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