Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 12 February 2014
12. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her views on the recently published Health Information and Quality Authority report on Crannóg Nua at Portrane; the actions she expects will follow on its content and recommendations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6647/14]
View answer13. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the actions that will be taken in 2014 to reduce waiting times for children to obtain places in special care units in circumstances where they have fulfilled the criteria for admission to special care. [6492/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 12 and 13 together.
Children who are unable to live with their parent/s for their welfare and protection are taken into the care of the Child and Family Agency and placed mainly in foster care. For approximately 5% of all children in care, residential care is considered the most suitable option to meet their needs. Less than 1% of children in care with specialised needs are placed in a High Support or Special Care Unit. The Child and Family Agency has informed my Department that it has put in place revised arrangements for the management of cases under consideration for a special care placement to provide a simpler and more child centred approach to managing the prioritisation of special care placements. There are currently no children waiting for a placement in special care.
Crannóg Nua High Support Unit was inspected by HIQA on 1st and 2nd October 2013 and the inspection report published on 9th January 2014. The Child and Family Agency, as part of an ongoing review of services to meet the needs of children in care, are reconfiguring services for children with behavioural difficulties to reflect growing demand. To increase special care capacity, Crannóg Nua will cease providing High Support Services once the current children complete their interventions and move on to their next placements. This closure is expected to take place in May 2014. Crannóg Nua will then be refurbished to bring the standard of facilities to the security level required to provide Special Care Services by the end of January 2015. This development will increase Special Care places on a national basis from seventeen places currently, up to twenty-five by the end of January 2015. With further developments it is expected that the overall number of places will increase to thirty four places by December 2015.
The Agency is committed to designing and developing a comprehensive continuum of care services to meet the divergent and complex needs of all children in care. The Agency has advised me that it is currently undertaking a national review of all residential care and this will be completed during the first quarter of 2014. I am assured that this review will direct planning to ensure that appropriate placements are accessible to children with varying and complex needs. A National Director of Residential Services has been appointed to take the review forward and ensure the strategic development of such services.
