Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 23 February 2022
180. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of residential care placements for children that have been provided by State agencies in each year since 2002; the number of residential care placements that have been provided by private providers in each year since 2002, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10237/22]
View answerI have been informed that Tusla are continuing work to compile the data that has been requested, which I understand is available from 2014 onward. I have therefore requested that Tusla reply directly to the Deputy with this information as quickly as possible.
A children’s residential centre is defined within the Child Care Act 1991 as “any home or institution for the residential care of children in the care of the Child and Family Agency or other children who are not receiving adequate care and protection.” There are 3 types of placements in residential care: statutory children’s residential centres, private children’s residential centres, and voluntary children’s residential centres.
In 2020 the Department of Expenditure and Reform completed a Spending Review of the cost of Residential Care. While the review identified some benefits associated with the private provision of residential care, such as responsiveness to demand and flexibility of provision, it also identified Tusla's increasing utilisation of this placement type over recent years.
In the 2022 Performance Statement I have requested that Tusla in 2022 increase Tusla-provided residential services and move towards a reduction in reliance on private provision. I also asked Tusla to explore the potential of C&V organisations that are already in receipt of Tusla funding in developing service responses to specific areas of high demand and complexity to lessen dependency on private provision.
