Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 September 2014
319. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will provide a full breakdown of the number of children placed in institutions outside of Ireland under a special care order granted by the High Court during 2013 and to date in 2014 with details of the various locations and countries in which the children were placed; the duration of each placement; and the cost to the State of each placement. [36473/14]
View answerUnder the Child Care Act, 1991 and the Child and Family Agency Act 2013, the Child and Family Agency has a duty to promote the welfare of children who are not receiving adequate care or protection. The policy of the Agency 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 Agency within Ireland.
For a small number of young people, the Agency 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. Placements where a child will be detained are made under the order and supervision of the High Court.
The Agency ensures 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 Agency is attentive to the standards of care delivered in these specialised units. The level of requirement for these services is closely monitored by the Agency.
The Child and Family Agency has provided the following data in relation to the children/young people who have been placed in secure Out of State placements from 1 January 2014 to 11 July 2014:
|
1/1/2014 – 11/7/2014 |
Age |
Gender |
|
St. Andrews, Northampton |
18 |
F |
|
St. Andrews, Northampton |
17 |
M |
|
St. Andrews, Northampton |
17 |
M |
|
Kibble, Scotland |
18 |
M |
|
Boystown, Nebraska |
18 |
M |
|
St. Marys, Scotland |
17 |
M |
|
St. Andrews, Northampton |
16 |
M |
|
St. Andrews, Northampton |
17 |
M |
|
St. Andrews, Northampton |
16 |
M |
|
St. Andrews, Northampton |
15 |
M |
|
St. Andrews, Northampton |
16 |
M |
|
St. Andrews, Northampton |
13 |
M |
I have been advised by the Agency that the cost of placements for children on special care orders in secure placements out of State can cost up to €8,500 per week.
I have requested the outstanding information requested by the Deputy from the Agency and will forward this information once it becomes available.
