Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 7 Apr 1987

Vol. 371 No. 8

Written Answers. - Children in Care.

202.

Mr. Shatter

asked the Minister for Health the number of (a) legitimate and (b) illegitimate children in residential care; the number of such children in foster care; and the number in either residential or foster care who have been in such care for three years of more.

Minister for Health (Dr. O'Hanlon)

The following tables contain the latest information which is available to me. This information refers to the situation obtaining on 31 December 1983, and to children in care for five years or more on that date. Figures in respect of three years or more are not available. I expect that statistics in respect of 1984 and 1985 will be available within the coming months. In the meantime I am arranging that a copy of the detailed National Report on Children in Care, 1983, be forwarded to the Deputy.

	Legitimate	Illegitimate
ResidentialCare	322	91
Foster Care	215	256

203.

Mr. Shatter

asked the Minister for Health the number of children taken into care by each health board in the years 1985 and 1986 (a) by court orders and (b) with parental consent; and the reason for admission into care in each case.

Minister for Health (Dr. O'Hanlon)

I regret that the information requested by the Deputy is not available to me. The following statistical tables are in respect of children in care in 1983.

Table 1: Children in Care on 31 December 1983

Health Board	Children Admitted on a Voluntary Basis	Children Admitted on Basis of a Court Order
Eastern	707	280
Midland	137	34
Mid-Western	277	56
North-Eastern	141	39
North-Western	79	40
South-Eastern	265	35
Southern	204	90
Western	120	24
Total	1933	601

It should be noted that a number of children in care on 31 December 1983 may have been admitted into care prior to 1983.

Table 2: Primary Reason for Current Admission to Care, 1983

Reason for Current Admission	Eastern	Midland	Mid-Western	North Eastern	North Western	South Eastern	Southern	Western
A. Physical Abuse of Child	66	11	11	6	8	14	21	2
B. Sexual Abuse of Child	10	2	4	5	1	5	3	6
C. Emotional Abuse of Child	63	15	17	3	4	22	11	15
D. Neglect of Child	242	40	73	30	36	48	98	30
E. One Parent Family unable to cope	384	80	170	94	48	165	112	80
F. Marital Disharmony	112	15	50	25	20	51	31	18
G. Child out of Control	99	4	25	6	3	16	13	6
H. Child Abandoned	92	22	24	18	4	49	26	13
I.Both Parents Dead	18	13	0	1	1	3	9	7
J.Short Term Crisis	216	25	65	34	16	43	77	14
K. Child Awaiting Adoption	110	8	25	19	18	11	17	48
Total	1412	235	464	241	159	427	418	239

Table 3: All Children in Care During 1983

Basis for Admission

Health Board	Children Admitted on a Voluntary Basis	Children Admitted on basis of a Court Order
Eastern	1096	316
Midland	192	43
Mid-Western	406	58
North-Eastern	197	44
North-Western	117	42
South-Eastern	379	48
Southern	323	95
Western	202	37
Total	2912	683