(Carlow-Kilkenny): I raise this matter because I was baffled by the circumstances. When asked what happened to children in care, I answer that the custom in the South-Eastern Health Board is that they are placed with families who try to fill the void in the children's lives to that point. I was therefore amazed when I heard that a 15 year old was placed in lodgings over a pub with a carer in his early twenties. For that reason I am anxious to hear the Eastern Health Board's policy on looking after children in care. If the facts I was given are true, that was not a suitable place to put a 15 year old who was out of family care. Such a child needs training, guidance and help. In this case I was taken aback by what I learned. Does the Minister think this is good enough for a person who is in care and needs help? If this is the practice of the Eastern Health Board, why is it so? I await the Minister's reply.
Adjournment Debate. - Children in Care.
I am replying to this adjournment debate in the unavoidable absence of my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Frank Fahey. The statutory responsibility for responding to the needs of children who are not receiving adequate care and attention is that of the Eastern Health Board which is an independent statutory agency. The position is set out in section 3 of the Child Care Act, 1991, which provides that it shall be a function of every health board to promote the welfare of children in its area who are not receiving adequate care and protection. In the performance of this function, a health board shall take such steps as it considers requisite to identify children who are not receiving adequate care and protection and co-ordinate information from all relevant sources relating to children in its area, having regard to the rights and duties of parents, whether under the Constitution or otherwise, regard the welfare of the child as the first and paramount consideration, and in so far as is practicable, give due consideration having regard to his or her age and understanding to the wishes of the child and have regard to the principle that it is generally in the best interest of a child to be brought up in his own family.
As regards the general issue raised by the Deputy, officials of my Department have been in contact with the Eastern Health Board and have been advised that the board's priority is to maintain children in the home environment providing necessary supports to the parents as required. Where this is not possible, the next preferred option is foster care as it is considered that this most closely replicates a family environment. In this regard, my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Fahey, will shortly announce an initiative in regard to foster care.
Residential care for children is seen as appropriate in cases where the first two options have not been successful — for example, in the case of children who exhibit challenging behaviour. Residential care can be delivered in ordinary residential units which operate in a community setting or in high support or in special care units in the case of children who cannot be located in an ordinary community setting.
In all cases where children are taken into residential care, the aim is to return the child to either the family or foster care if this is in the best interests of the child. The maintenance of links with the family is emphasised by way of visits or a return home for short periods. Generally, the aim is to ensure that account is taken of the constitutional position of the family and to ensure that the provisions of the Child Care Act, 1991 — the main statutory basis for child care — are fully implemented.
As regards the specific issue, the board has also advised my officials that it would not be appropriate for the board to make any public statement in regard to the detail of an individual case. In general, the board makes the point that children who have to be taken into care are assessed at the earliest possible date to ensure that the most appropriate form of care is provided. Occasionally, there may be problems in conducting the assessment or in securing a suitable placement and in such cases specific individual arrangements may be made while a suitable placement is being identified. The board is fully conscious of the importance of finalising such cases as a matter of urgency. I am grateful for the opportunity of clarifying the position in this matter.