Dan Neville
Ceist:320 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Health and Children the criteria applied for admission to Coovagh House for boys aged 11 to 17 years. [7757/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 9 March 2004
Ceisteanna (234)
Freagraí scríofa
Coovagh House is a five place special care unit operated by the Mid-Western Health Board catering for boys aged 11 to 17 years which provides residential, educational and therapeutic supports in a secure setting for a small number of non-offending children in need of special care or protection. The unit caters for children from the Mid-Western, Southern and South Eastern health boards. A court order of detention is required to place a child in the unit.
I have been informed by the Mid-Western Health Board that Coovagh House special care unit has the following admission criteria in place: the young person is aged 11 to 17 years, has a history of absconding from other care settings and is, on an objective basis, likely to harm himself or others; that the behaviour of the young person is such that it poses a real and substantial risk to his health, safety, development and welfare; the young person has failed to respond to intervention offered in open conditions and a less secure environment would not meet the young person's needs at the time of placement; and all other forms of intervention have been exhausted or are unsuitable. It should be noted that, in addition, a young person must have a statutory care plan which includes an identified discharge-aftercare plan.
Question No. 321 answered with QuestionNo. 309.