Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 July 2014
623. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of children currently on the waiting list for a special care placement; and the average waiting time for such a placement. [27950/14]
View answer624. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will provide a breakdown, in tabular form on a monthly basis for the first six months of 2014, of the number of children in special care and high support units here. [27952/14]
View answer625. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will provide a breakdown, in tabular form on a monthly basis for the first six months of 2014 of the number of children detained in special care units outside Ireland under orders made by the High Court. [27953/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 623 to 625, inclusive, together.
Special Care involves the detention of a child for his or her own welfare and protection in a Special Care Unit (SCU) on order of the High Court. SCUs differ from ordinary residential care in that the Units offer higher staff ratios, on-site education as well as specialised input such as psychology and child psychiatric services. The child is not detained as a result of criminal offences, but is placed by a High Court Order.
On 26 June 2014, there were four young people on the waiting list for special care. The current average length of wait is approximately five weeks.
A very small minority of children have highly specialised needs that require specialised secure psychiatric interventions and secure general placement outside the State.
The placement of Irish children in care in secure psychiatric facilities outside of the Irish jurisdiction by Order of the Irish High Court occurs within the framework of Council Regulation (EC) – otherwise known as the Brussels 11 bis Regulation. The High Court retains regular oversight of these placements. The Child and Family Agency maintains governance and oversight via its statutory obligations to children in the care of the Agency.
The Units in which the children are placed are inspected and monitored by their national authorities and the Agency is attentive to the standards of care delivered in these specialised units.
The following table sets out the most up to date position on the numbers of children placed in national High Support Units and Special Care Units in Ireland and those placed in secure units outside of the State.
|
Figure on the last day of each month |
Number of children in secure units outside Ireland |
Number of children in special care units in Ireland |
Number of children in national high support units in Ireland |
|
January 2014 |
10 |
12 |
4 |
|
February 2014 |
10 |
17 |
3 |
|
March 2014 |
8 |
17 |
3 |
|
April 2014 |
8 |
15 |
3 |
