Ivor Callely
Ceist:99 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Health and Children the total annual cost of placing a child in care; if he will give a costing for each category; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10274/98]
Written Answers. - Children in Care.
The information sought by the Deputy is not readily available. I have asked the chief executive officers for estimates of the cost of foster care and residential care and will communicate with the Deputy when this information is available.
Ivor Callely
Ceist:100 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of children in care who are placed in the voluntary sector; the comparable figures for children placed with statutory authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10275/98]
Statistics on children in care are collected by means of a census survey. The latest date for which figures have been collated is 31 December 1996. On this date, there were 3,668 children in care; 2,798 were in foster care or foster care with relatives, 587 were in residential care and 283 were in other forms of care. These other forms of care include children at home under supervision orders and children in boarding schools, supported lodgings, etc.
Children in residential care can be placed either in centres run by a health board or centres run by other organisations. Centres run by other organisations must be registered with the local health board and are subject to inspection by the health board under Part VIII of the Child Care Act, 1991, and accompanying regulations. Statistics collated by the Department do not record whether children in residential care are placed in health board run centres or centres run by other organisations.