Vol. 534 No. 1
146 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of staff employed at Avondale and Crannóg, Kilkenny, if there is a full-time manager in each centre, if other staff members are full-time or part-time, the number of people in care in each centre, the type of supervision in operation in each centre and if he has satisfied himself that enough qualified staff are employed to deal with the services being offered. [10092/01]
The Avondale and Crannóg centres, together with an after care department, comprise the Carlow/Kilkenny residential child care services of the South Eastern Health Board. The services are staffed on the following basis:
One residential child care manager has overall responsibility for the services.
Avondale: There are eight full-time posts (one houseparent/unit manager and seven assistant houseparents). All posts are currently filled by permanent child care workers, seven of whom have relevant qualifications. In addition, there is one part-time domestic staff member.
Crannóg: There are 10.5 full-time posts (one houseparent/unit manager and 9.5 full-time permanent positions, 7.5 of which are filled by permanent qualified child care workers. The other two posts are filled by temporary qualified child care workers and I am informed that a recruitment process is being initiated to fill these positions permanently. In addition, there is one part time domestic staff member.
After care: 0.5 temporary post, currently filled by a qualified child care worker.
In addition, the health board employs 25 temporary assistant houseparents who cover a large range of duties, including special projects that need to be set up for individual children within the service. They also cover annual leave, sick leave, career breaks, parental leave etc.
There are seven places in Avondale and five in Crannóg. Crannóg operates on the basis of each child having his or her own bedroom. However, it can cater for seven children when it is appropriate for siblings to share a room. There are currently five residents in Avondale, and four in Crannóg. Formal supervision is provided on a three to four weekly basis on an individual basis for all staff members. This is provided by the residential child care manager and the houseparents/unit manager in each unit.
