Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 May 2013
604. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the average cost to the State of keeping a teenager in St. Andrew's Centre in Northampton, Britain, per day and per annum; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25804/13]
View answerUnder the Child Care Act, 1991, the Health Service Executive has a duty to promote the welfare of children who are not receiving adequate care or protection. The policy of the HSE is to place children in care settings, preferably in foster care, as close as possible to their home and community. A very small minority of young people under 18 years of age have highly specialised needs arising from severe behaviour difficulties, due to their childhood experiences or in some cases as a result of injury, accident or disability. The care needs of these young people are generally met by directly provided residential services or services commissioned by the HSE within Ireland.
For a small number of young people, the HSE is on occasion required to make arrangements for their placement in care and treatment facilities outside of the State, primarily in the UK, to allow for access to an individually tailored mix of care and therapeutic services and psychiatric treatment not currently available in this country. This is done on as infrequent a basis as possible and only where such placement is considered to be in the best interest of the child. These placements are made under the order and supervision of the High Court.
The HSE ensure that these placements are suitable and the child's social worker visits regularly and makes arrangements for family or carers of the child to also visit. The units in which the children are placed are inspected and regulated by their national authorities and the HSE is attentive to the standards of care delivered in these specialised units. The level of requirement for these services is closely monitored by the HSE's National Director for Children an Family Services. I have been advised by the HSE that the average cost to the State of a young person's placement in St. Andrews in Northampton is approximately £10,000 - £12,000 per week.
