Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 November 2017
608. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of children in residential care; the extent to which such numbers have fluctuated in the past five years; the age profile of such children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50560/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra609. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of children and their age profile in foster homes; the extent to which these numbers have fluctuated over the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50561/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 608 and 609 together.
Tusla, the Child and Family Agency have advised that as of the end of August 2017, there were 6,237 children in care. There were 4,056 children in general foster care, 1,684 in relative foster care and 362 in residential care. 135 children were in other forms of care suited to their individual needs and situations.
Children in care by year (2013-2017)
Table 1 is based on Tusla's Reviews of Adequacy reports and Quarterly Reports. The numbers of children in care for 2017 is the figure as of the end of August, and includes Separated Children Seeking Asylum. Prior to January 2017, these children were not included in the overall figure.
Table 1
|
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 (To end August) |
|
6,469 |
6,454 |
6,384 |
6,258 |
6,297 |
Children in care by age
Table 2 is based on Tusla's Review of Adequacy. These reports review services provided by the HSE prior to the establishment of Tusla in 2014. Children in care before 2014 were in the care of the HSE. The Reviews of Adequacy of HSE services are published on the Tusla website. The figures on children in care are prior to 2014 are presented as age ranges.
Table 2
|
- |
0-8 |
9-13 |
14-17 |
|
2011 |
37% |
32% |
31% |
|
2012 |
36% |
33% |
31% |
|
2013 |
37% |
33% |
31% |
Services provided by Tusla
Table 3 is based on Tusla's Reviews of Adequacy, published annually on the Tusla website. The figures are presented year-on-year.
Table 3
|
Age |
<1 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
16 |
17 |
|
2014 |
2.2% |
2.9% |
3.5% |
4% |
4.2% |
4.7% |
4.9% |
5% |
5% |
5.7% |
6.1% |
6.4% |
6.9% |
7.1% |
7.3% |
7.9% |
7.5% |
8.2% |
|
2015 |
1.9% |
2.6% |
3.1% |
3.8% |
4.4% |
4.7% |
4.9% |
5.2% |
5.2% |
5.4% |
5.9% |
6.6% |
6.6% |
7.4% |
7.4% |
7.8% |
8.1% |
8.4% |
