Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 November 2021
131. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the legislative position in relation to reunification plans; the number of children taken into care in each of Tusla’s 17 service areas that currently have a reunification plan; and the number of children who do not. [53463/21]
View answerThe Child Care Act 1991 provides for the care and protection of children and for related matters, including the arrangements which apply when a child comes into the care of the State.
Section 42 of the Act deals with the review of cases of children in care, and provides that the Minister shall make regulations requiring the case of each child in the care of Tusla to be reviewed in accordance with the provisions of the regulations. The section goes on to specify that such regulations may make provision requiring the board to consider whether it would be in the best interests of the child to be given into the custody of his parent.
Under this section, regulations are in place governing foster care, placement of children with relatives, and residential care. These regulations place obligations on Tusla in relation to putting in place and reviewing a care plan for the child, and also require that in reviewing the plan, Tusla must consider whether the circumstances of the parents of the child have changed, and whether it would be in the best interest of the child to be given into the custody of his or her parents.
Tusla inform me that data on reunification reports is not available or gathered by them. However, as outlined above, the consideration of reunification is a requirement in all cases and is required to be evidenced before the courts when care orders are applied for. Reunification is also an aim under the national model of practice in Tusla and is considered in every case. Research by Cavanan and Furey 2019 in NUIG commissioned by Tusla and available on the Tusla Website compares rates of reunification across a number of countries as set out below.
% of Children returned to parents upon discharge from care (Canavan & Furey, 2019)
|
Ireland |
N. Ireland |
England |
Wales |
Scotland |
USA |
|
|
% Children returned home to parents |
55 |
50 |
32 |
37 |
61 |
51 |
This shows that internationally Tusla has a high rate of return home second only to Scotland.
