Children in Care

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 June 2014

Tuesday, 24 June 2014

Questions (705, 706)

Clare Daly

Question:

705. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the position regarding the ceasing of provision of high support services for young persons aged between 12-17 years of age in Crannóg Nua, Portrane and the re-designation of this service to special care; if funding has been identified; and the way previous commitments that the centre will reopen in January 2015 as special care will happen as a builder has not been identified to complete the project. [27325/14]

Clare Daly

Question:

706. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs in view of the fact that the purpose of the re-designation of Crannóg Nua in Portrane from high support to special care was as a result of the immediate demand for special care beds here, the reason there are no plans for move on or refit of Crannóg Nua which would deliver these beds far more efficiently. [27326/14]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

I propose to take Questions Nos. 705 and 706 together.

As part of the Child and Family Agency's commitment to develop a comprehensive continuum of care services to meet the divergent and complex needs of all children in care, Crannóg Nua High Support Unit is to be redesignated to function as a Special Care Unit. An upgrade of current buildings, with an additional new build residential unit, will be required to provide secure care. In excess of €1m has been allocated to progress national special care development projects for 2014 and discussions are underway regarding further significant amounts required in 2015 and future years.

The Agency has advised that it is proposed that eight special care beds will be provided at Crannóg Nua by the end of June 2015 and a further four beds will be provided by the end of October 2015. These timescales refer to the current indicated Building Programme and may be subject to change.