Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 30 Jan 2002

Vol. 547 No. 1

Written Answers. - Child Care Services.

Enda Kenny

Ceist:

696 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Health and Children the complete programme for 2002 relating to the provision of special residential services, special care units and high support units for which children are concerned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2818/02]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

Since mid-1997 over 171.45 million, £135 million, additional revenue funding has been invested through the health boards in the development of the child protection, welfare and family support services.

Capital investment of approximately 38.09 million, £30 million, is being made available by the Government through the health boards to put in place additional high support and special care places to provide for a small group of children who need more intensive intervention than mainstream residential or fostercare services. The number of high support and special care places has increased from 17 in 1996 to a current total of 93. Included in this figure is the 24 place purpose-built special care unit at Ballydowd in the eastern region which is being opened on a phased basis and the seven place special care unit for girls in Cork. An additional 41 places are planned as follows: in the eastern region a high support facility providing 24 places at Portrane is nearing completion; the Midland Health Board, North-Eastern Health Board, North-Western Health Board and the Western Health Board are co-operating to provide 12 high support places on a single campus in Castleblaney; and the Mid-Western Health Board will be providing five special care places for adolescent boys on behalf of the southern region, Mid-Western Health Board, Southern Health Board and South-Eastern Health Board in a purpose built-facility which is nearing completion. Places in these facilities are due to become available by mid 2002.

While health boards have experienced some difficulties in recruiting suitably trained staff, progress has been made in this area through recruitment abroad and the expansion of training courses. As the Deputy will be aware, a new career and pay structure for child care workers was introduced last year. This aims to ensure that more people are attracted into child care and to ensure that child care workers are trained to an appropriate level.

Recruitment and retention of staff for high support and special care units is also being looked at by the special residential services board which will advise and improve the co-ordination of special residential services for children convicted by the courts and for non-offending children in need of special care and protection.