Children in Care

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 March 2014

Tuesday, 25 March 2014

Questions (945, 946)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

945. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to set out the number of applications for admission to special care considered by the national special care admission and discharge committee in the years 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014; the number of such applications approved and rejected in those years; and the number of times the national special care admission and discharge committee met on an emergency basis to consider an application for the admission of a child to special care. [13233/14]

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

946. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to detail the number of appeals considered by the national special care appeals panel in the years 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014; and the number of such applications approved and rejected in those years. [13234/14]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

I propose to take Questions Nos. 945 and 946 together.

Special Care involves the detention of a child for his or her own welfare and protection in a Special Care Unit with on site educational and therapeutic supports. A Special Care Unit provides secure residential services to children and young people who are in need of specialised targeted intervention. Children are detained in special care if their behaviour is deemed to pose a risk to themselves. The detention, by order of the High Court of a child in a Special Care Unit is considered as a last resort, for as short a time as possible, and when other forms of residential or community care are considered to be unsuitable.

When a decision has been made to make an application for Special Care, the Social Worker submits an application with supporting documentation to the National Special Care Admission and Discharge Committee. The application will contain up-to-date information, the circumstances surrounding the real and substantive risk to the child and details of the discharge plan with the proposed onward placement of the child. The Committee will examine the application against the Criteria for Admission to Special Care and Guidance Applying for a Placement in Special Care (2012).

I am advised by the Child and Family Agency that there were 14 applications for admission to Special Care to date in 2014. Eight of these were approved, one did not meet the criteria for admission and there are five applications under consideration. The Committee has had five emergency meetings to date in 2014. There have been no appeals considered by the Appeals Panel so far this year.

In 2013 there were 104 applications for admission to Special Care. Thirty two of these were approved, 45 did not meet the criteria for admission and a further 27 applications were withdrawn. There were 33 emergency meetings of the Committee in 2013. Twenty two appeals, 10 of which were upheld were considered by the Appeals Panel in 2013.

In 2012 there were 65 applications for admission to Special Care. Thirty seven of these were approved, 19 did not meet the criteria for admission and a further 9 applications were withdrawn. There were 25 emergency meetings of the Committee in 2012. Five appeals, 3 of which were upheld were considered by the Appeals Panel in 2012.