Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 July 2014
858. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of children in care with a disability; and the number of these children who have an allocated social worker. [28993/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra859. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of children in care with an allocated social worker by year end in 2013; and the present number of children in care with an allocated social worker. [28994/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra860. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the current number of children in care with a statutory care plan; and the number of children by year end in 2013 who had a statutory care plan. [28995/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 858 to 860, inclusive, together.
The Child and Family Agency compiles monthly performance reports which include statistics in relation to children in care. These reports are published on the Agency's website. At the end of December 2013 there were 6,462 children in care. Of these 92% (number 5,935) had an allocated Social Worker and 87% (number 5,648) had a written care plan. The latest report available shows that at the end of April 2014 there were 6,492 children in care; 93% (no 6,023) had an allocated social worker and 90% (no 5,868) had an up to date written care plan.
Data in relation to children in care with a disability has been collected since 2013. This is collected annually on the last day of September. For the purposes of data collection, it is defined as: 'The number of children in care by care type who have a diagnosis of a moderate and/or severe disability as assessed by a clinical specialist on the last day of the reporting period.'
The Agency has advised that in September 2013, 537 children of the 6,461 children in care were diagnosed as having a moderate or severe disability. The Agency has advised that they do not specifically collate information in relation to the number of children in care with a disability who have an allocated social worker.
