asked the Minister for Health the number of children in care per thousand children under 18 in each country of the EC.
Written Answers. - Children in Care
93.
Using figures from the 1981 Census of Population and the latest available figures for children in care which relate to June 1985 the number of children in care per thousand children under 18 years in this country is 2.1. There are no comparable figures readily available in my Department for any of the other EC countries.
94.
asked the Minister for Health the average cost per child for maintenance in residential care in each health board area for the last year for which figures are available.
Because of the variations in the type of children catered for from residential home to residential home, and consequently, in the type and cost of the service provided, it is not possible to give a true average cost per child for maintenance in residential care on a health board area basis. Not every health board has a need to have provided the full range of residential services in its area and may avail of facilities funded by neighbouring boards as the need arises. Homes are funded directly, on an agreed budget basis, by their local health board and latest available audited accounts relate to the year ending 31 December 1984. I have set out, therefore, in the following tabular statement a per capita breakdown of each health board's expenditure on residential care in their area in 1984, based on average occupancy that year:
|
Health Board |
Per Capita expenditure on residential care in 1984 to the nearest £100. |
|
£ |
|
|
Eastern |
7,400 |
|
Midland |
8,000 |
|
Mid-Western |
7,600 |
|
North-Eastern |
7,300 |
|
North-Western |
10,200 |
|
South-Western |
7,500 |
|
Southern |
6,000 |
|
Western |
8,200 |