Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 March 2017
369. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the total number of children currently in care, per region, in tabular form; the number of these children who are in foster care; the number in the foster care of a relative; the number in residential care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12745/17]
View answerThe most recent figures provided by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, indicate that there were 6,258 children in care at the end of December 2016, which is a decrease of 2% compared with the previous year. Of the children in care, 93% were in foster care nationally. At the end of 2016, there were 4,102 (66%) children in general foster care, 1,715 (27%) in relative care and 316 (5%) children in a residential care placement. A further 125 (2%) children were in other care placements, which include supported lodgings, being at home under a care order and other types of residential provision, such as therapeutic disability or residential assessment centres.
The breakdown of the number of children in care by region at the end of December 2016 is as follows:
|
Region |
Number of children in care at end of December 2016 |
Number of children in general foster care at end of December 2016 |
Number of children in the relative care at end of December 2016 |
Number of children in a residential placement at end of December 2016 |
Number of children in Other care placement at end of December 2016 |
|
Dublin Mid-Leinster |
1,507 |
949 |
427 |
104 |
27 |
|
Dublin North East |
1,485 |
930 |
437 |
87 |
31 |
|
South |
1,803 |
1150 |
535 |
84 |
34 |
|
West |
1,463 |
1073 |
316 |
41 |
33 |
|
Total |
6,258 |
4,102 |
1,715 |
316 |
125 |
Tusla has a statutory duty under the Child Care Act 1991 to promote the welfare of children who are not receiving adequate care and protection and, if necessary, to receive a child into the care of the State. The placement of children in care is governed by the Child Care Regulations 1995, which set out the requirements for pre-placement, monitoring and inspection of placements. In addition, foster care placements are inspected against standards by the Health Information and Quality Authority. The legislation and standards set out duties for service providers, including standards on the welfare of the child, care practices, records, accommodation, and safeguarding. Ireland has a very high rate of children placed in family foster care, and Tusla works to support these placements for children in care. Later on, supports are provided for those young adults who continue to live with their former foster carers in aftercare.
