Thank you, a Cheann Comhairle. I appreciate your giving me the opportunity of raising this issue this evening. While it relates primarily to a specific child it has wider implications. I raise the matter on the Adjournment this evening because, for more than three years, the child referred to in my question effectively has received no formal schooling because of a lack of specialised facilities and co-ordination in our health and education services. This position has continued despite a number of parliamentary questions having been tabled by me on the matter.
The child involved is at present 12 years old. Due to a combination of serious home circumstances and severe emotional disturbance he has been unable to adapt to normal school life and, in his present condition, is unsuited to the normal classroom situation. He is not a delinquent and has not been in trouble with the law in any formal sense. Due to the extent of his educational and emotional difficulties it is now clear that he requires residential care and education. I have sought, through numerous parliamentary questions, to draw this problem to the attention of the Ministers for Education and Health, to ensure co-ordination of their response and prevent the buck being passed.
Eighteen months ago, on 12 June 1990, in reply to Parliamentary Question No. 144 the Minister for Education stated:
All assessments on the child ... indicate a requirement for residential placement in a special school.
The Minister added that the Eastern Health Board were endeavouring to secure such a placement.
A year ago, on 4 December 1990, the Minister for Education again stated:
My Department's school inspector is continuing to liaise closely with the Eastern Health Board on this matter with a view to securing such a placement as a matter of urgency.
Two months ago, on 24 October 1991, the Minister for Health had this to say:
Pending the provision of suitable residential care, the health board provided a child care worker in the home to relieve the situation.
As I understand it, the care worker was not provided in the child's home but rather in a local public facility. That response, however welcome, according to three separate Ministerial replies, is inadequate and can be a temporary solution only. What is required is residential care.
In reply to a letter of mine to the director of community care I received a reply on 14 October last stating: "We are continuing our search for a suitable placement for this boy, to date without success". As of today they have still had no success.
I might refer the Minister also to the child abuse guidelines of the Department of Health, section 4.4, stating that action must be taken by the community care social worker in cases where a child is at serious/immediate risk. Why has the required action not been taken in this case, a number of years after it came to the full attention of the health authorities?
I might also refer the Minister to page 25 of the Programme for Economic and Social Progress, under the heading “Development of Community-based and Associated Services”, which states that there will be major developments in child care and family support services. When will these be effected? When will the relevant provisions of the Child Care Act be implemented to ensure the requisite number of social workers, psychologists and home support services are provided? If the health authorities cannot provide the requisite care now what will be the position when new, expanded child care legislation is implemented providing for additional regulations and requirements in this whole area?
I know that this whole matter has been of considerable concern to those working directly with the health authorities in the child care area. However, I understand that all efforts to provide adequate services are being frustrated by lack of resources. For instance, I am informed that plans exist to develop a special unit, based in Wicklow, for children with emotional disturbance, that a project leader has been selected but that the project cannot proceed due to lack of staff. Perhaps the Minister would confirm whether that is the case.
Again, from people working directly in the health care area, I understand there may be up to an additional ten to 15 children in a similar plight throughout the Dublin area alone. It is now imperative for the Government to take whatever action is necessary to provide the funding and resources necessary to ensure that the child to whom I refer specifically, and other similarly affected, receive the requisite attention. The time for exploring every option is past. The necessary action must now be taken. There is a child in grave risk. The Minister must take action to ensure that that risk is abated.
