Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 4 May 1982

Vol. 334 No. 1

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Children in Care.

14.

Mr. Shatter

asked the Minister for Health the number of children who are at present in either residential or foster care in each of the health board areas; the number of such children who have been in care for five years or more; the number of children in care for less than five years who are (a) legitimate and (b) illegitimate; and the number of children in care for over five years who are (i) legitimate and (ii) illegitimate.

Dr. Woods

As the reply to this Question is of a statistical nature I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to circulate the figures with the Official Report.

Following is the statement:

Children Currently in Care

	Children in Care	Children in care for	Children in care for
Health			less than 5 years	over 5 years
Board
	Residential	Foster	Legitimate	Illegitimate	Legitimate	Illegitimate
Eastern	483	326	150	70	415	174
Midland	30	102	48	37	16	31
Mid-Western	96	260	153	44	108	51
North-Eastern	65	93	32	38	57	31
North-Western	50	65	24	34	36	21
South-Eastern	173	186	116	83	89	71
Southern	167	154	111	63	103	44
Western	48	167	55	885	42	33

Miss Flaherty

Is it in order to ask the Minister to read out that answer in full? Is it extensive?

Dr. Woods

It is. I have read out the statistics which were not too extensive. This will take some time.

Miss Flaherty

I withdraw the request.