Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 July 2023
93. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will be support Tusla with the necessary capital investment required to achieve 50:50 public private children’s residential centre provision by 2025; if this investment will be part of Budget 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32480/23]
View answerTusla has a statutory responsibility to provide Alternative Care Services, under the provisions of the Child Care Act, 1991, the Children Act, 2001 and the Child Care (Amendment) Act, 2007. Tusla provides these, in the main through placement in foster care, with relatives, or alternatively in residential care settings in Tusla-owned and operated houses, in houses owned by not-for-profit organisations, or those owned and run by private operators.
At the end of 2022 there were 5,759 children in care. 88.8% (5,112) of children in care were in foster care, 7.6% (439) in residential care 3.6% (208) in other placements such as in supported lodgings, at home under a care order, in a detention school/centre, in disability units/drugs and alcohol rehabilitation centres.
While overall, the numbers of children in care has decreased in recent years, there has been a continued increase in demand for placements for children and young people in residential care, many of whom have had traumatic life experiences or have complex needs.
As a result, of these service demands, there has been an increased dependence on private provision of residential care placements, with 57% of residential care placements being with private providers.
It is worth noting that private providers provide a high standard of quality care to the children who make use of services and Tusla acknowledges that private operators will continue to play an important part of Tusla’s provision of residential care. There are cost and sustainability issues arising from a dependence on such placements and it is prudent and necessary to increase Tusla’s own residential care capacity.
The government IGEES service conducted a spending review on the provision of residential care in 2019 and this provides good evidence for my department and Tusla to make decisions about residential care. Other factors such as care models and range of needs that children present with, would also be relevant in decisions about residential care provision.
Tusla has developed a strategic plan for residential care services which aims to increase capacity in its residential services by 104 beds, to achieve 50:50 private:public provision by 2025.
Tusla has a capital budget, which it requires to maintain its existing properties in which it provides frontline services across the State. It also provides for ICT infrastructural development. Since 2021 Tusla has used a portion of its capital funding to purchase properties for the purpose of providing residential care capacity and has purchased 9 properties to date and which are due to come on stream in 2024 and 2025.
I fully support Tusla’s plans to increase public residential care capacity and reduce reliance on private sector provision. I will work with my Government colleagues to secure funding, through the Estimates process, that will allow Tusla to progress work. This will require investment, both through capital funding which will be required to purchase and fit out new properties, and current expenditure investment to staff and run these facilities.
