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Children in Care

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 May 2013

Thursday, 9 May 2013

Questions (10, 20)

Seamus Kirk

Question:

10. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of children in residential general care who now have a written care plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21850/13]

View answer

Micheál Martin

Question:

20. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of children in foster care general who now have a written care plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21855/13]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 and 20 together.

The HSE compiles monthly performance reports which include statistics in relation to children in care. These reports are published on the HSE website. The latest published report shows that there were 323 children in general residential care in February 2013, 291 (90%) of whom had a written care plan. All children in Special Care or in High Support placement had a written care plan. There were 4,031 children in general foster care in February 2013, of whom 3,581 (89%) children had a written care plan. A care plan should be developed in advance of a child going into care, except where the child enters care on an emergency basis.

The Child Care Regulations 1995 require that all children in care have a Care Plan and that the Care Plan is reviewed at regular intervals or when required. The HSE has advised me that day to day exigencies of service provision, such as staff absence due to annual, maternity and sick leave, can impact on services. The HSE further advised that there may be circumstances in which local decisions are made in regard to work planning within the context of service priorities, such as child protection workloads within an area or staff availability. In these circumstances, it may be determined that a ‘child in care review’ can be deferred for a short period. Such a decision will be made on the basis of risk assessment and would apply to particularly stable care placements.

The figures for children in general residential care of 90% and general foster care of 89% respectively at the end of February 2013 shows an improvement on the figures at February 2011 where the comparative figures were 87% and 88%.

I am pleased to inform the Deputy that in relation to the recruitment of social workers, the HSE has advised me that as of 15th April, there are currently 123 vacant posts being filled. These posts will improve resources available to support children in care across the country.

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