Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 May 2017
266. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of children currently in residential care; the average duration of their care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22619/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra267. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of children currently in foster care; the average duration of their care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22620/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 266 and 267 together.
The most recent figures provided by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, indicate that there were 6,309 children in care at the end of February 2017, which is a decrease of 2% compared with the previous year.
Foster care is the preferred option for children who have been received into care. This can be as a result of abuse and/or neglect and their parents' inability to care for them due to a combination of difficulties in their own lives. Of the children in care at the end of February, 92% were in foster care nationally; there were 4,127 (65%) children in general foster care, 1,695 (27%) in relative care.
At the end of February, 355 (6%) children in care were in a residential placement. 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. In general, these centres are based in domestic style homes in the community, and staffed by social care workers to attend to the needs of the child. Specialist supports are also made available, as needed, and many centres have specialist skill-sets and therapeutic modalities.
Tusla has advised that figures from 2015 are the most up to date regarding the duration of stay. I am advised that on the 31st December 2015 the total number of children in care was 6,384. The information on duration refers to all children in care and is not broken down by care type.
Duration of stay - children in care 31st December 2016
|
Duration of time in care |
Number |
% of total children in care |
|
under 1 year |
929 |
14.6% |
|
1 - 5 years |
2,715 |
42.5% |
|
over 5 years |
2,740 |
42.9% |
