Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 11 Oct 1994

Vol. 445 No. 6

Written Answers. - Bed and Breakfast Accommodation.

Frances Fitzgerald

Ceist:

407 Ms F. Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Health if he will give details of the gender, age, profile and length of stay in respect of the number of children placed under section 5 of the Child Care Act, 1991, in bed and breakfast accommodation, in hospital beds and in overnight accommodation in Garda stations during 1993 and to date in 1994. [109/94]

Eric J. Byrne

Ceist:

431 Mr. E. Byrne asked the Minister for Health the number of homeless children placed in bed and breakfast accommodation by health boards during the first six months of this year. [514/94]

Minister for Health (Mr. Howlin)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 407 and 431 together.

The following table gives the information requested by Deputy Fitzgerald in respect of children placed in bed and breakfast accommodation in 1993.

Health Board	No.	Gender	Age	Length of Stay
Eastern	76	54 male/22 female	13-17 years	1-10 nights — 39
				11-20 nights — 10
				21-30 nights — 18
Midland	8	1 male/7 female	under 18 years	1-3 nights — 6
				30+ nights — 2
Mid-Western	3	male	under 18 years	1 night — 1
				14 nights — 1
				21 nights — 1
North-Eastern	7	5 male/2 female	under 18 years	7 nights — 2
				4 weeks — 2
				6 weeks+ — 3
North-Western	23	18 male/5 female	under 18 years	1-2 nights — 23
South-Eastern	5	2 male/3 female	16-17 years	1 night — 1
				3 nights — 2
				21 nights — 2
Southern	9	4 male/5 female	15-18 years	1 night — 3
				1-5 nights — 4
				28 nights — 2
Western	none

The Eastern Health Board is the only health board where children have been detained overnight in Garda stations and where homeless children have remained overnight in hospitals. While I am advised that the number of children involved is small, I do not regard this as an acceptable practice and I have asked the Eastern Health Board for a full report on the matter.

The detailed information requested in relation to 1994 is not readily available in my Department. I have asked the health boards to collate the information and I shall forward it to the Deputies as soon as possible.