Bernard Durkan
Question:572. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of children in residential care or foster care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43587/19]
View answerTuesday, 22 October 2019
Questions (572)
Written answers
Foster care is the main form of alternative care for children in need of care and protection, and is the preferred option for children who cannot live with their parents or guardians. As of the 31 July 2019, of the children in care, 91% were in foster care nationally; there were 3,957 children in general foster care, 1,560 in relative care and 402 children were in a residential care placement, with the remaining children in other care placements appropriate to their assessed needs.
For children who cannot live either at home or in an alternative family environment such as foster care, there are a number of types of residential care settings that may be appropriate, of which secure care is one type.
A very small number of children (2%) are in other care placements. Such placements can include supported lodgings, at home under a care order, detention centre and other residential centres e.g. therapeutic, mental health or disability residential care.
As foster care is the dominant type of care, Tusla regularly carry out area and national recruitment campaigns to meet foster care demands. Fostering teams are responsible for the recruitment and assessment of foster carers. When an assessment is complete, a report is presented to the Foster Care Committee who decide whether or not to approve the applicant.
The recruitment and retention of an appropriate range of foster carers is part of Tusla's business plan. Tusla are particularly interested in recruiting foster carers with the skills required to look after children with complex needs, or from a range of ethnic and cultural backgrounds.
Question No. 573 answered with Question No. 568.