Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 February 2017
707. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of children that are currently in Tusla residential centres and in privately operated residential centres respectively. [5981/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra708. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the criteria by which Tusla decides whether to accept a child into one of its residential centres; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5982/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra709. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the role of Tusla in monitoring and supervising private residential care centres; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5983/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 707 to 709, inclusive, together.
The latest figures from Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, indicates that, at the end of November 2016, there were 6,276 children in care. Of these, 325 (5%) were in a residential placement of which 174 were in a private residential placement.
Tusla has a statutory duty under the Child Care Act 1991 to promote the welfare of children who are not receiving adequate care and protection and, if necessary, to receive a child into the care of the State. Under the Child Care Regulations, 1995 a care plan for each child who is received into care is required which provide, inter alia, for the welfare of the child, the care practices, care records, accommodation and safety precautions. A key consideration for the social worker is to consult with the child, family members and other people involved with the child to ensure that his or her needs are being met by the agreed care plan. The regulations stipulate that all care plans are to be reviewed and updated on a regular basis and sets out the frequency for these reviews to take place.
A child is placed in a residential setting only when they have an identified need that can be met by this service or for an intensive assessment or provision of specialist services. Residential care is usually for older children, where their needs may not be met in foster care or where this is their preferred placement. In general, these centres are based in domestic style homes in the community, catering for 2 or 3 older children and staffed by social care workers to attend to the needs of the child. Some of the young people in residential care will have come into care recently, while others may have experienced the breakdown of other care placements, including foster care. Specialist supports are also routinely made available, as needed, and many centres have specialist skill-sets and therapeutic modalities.
Tusla inspects and registers children’s residential centres run by the private and voluntary sectors, against Regulations and National Standards contained in the Child Care Regulations 1995. These inspection reports are available on the Tusla website, www.tusla.ie. Referrals by Tusla to a private children's residential centre can only be made where a centre has completed the registration process, a service level agreement is in place and the placement of a child is made in accordance with Tusla's National Private Placement Protocols.
Tusla has an active procurement policy and keeps its requirements under review and commissions residential services as required.
