I can inform the Deputy that according to Tusla’s most recent data (February 2018), there are a total of 6,161 children in care. Of these cases, 4,037 (65.5%) are in are in general foster care; 1,646 (26.7%) are in foster care with a relative; 357 (6%) are in residential care; and 121 (2%) are in other care facilities, e.g. special care.
The following table will provide an insight into annual fluctuations of children in care over the last three years:
Number of Children in Care
|
Feb 2016
|
Feb 2017
|
Feb 2018
|
General
|
4,100
|
4,127
|
4,037
|
Relative
|
1,832
|
1,807
|
1,646
|
Residential
|
331
|
351
|
357
|
Other
|
125
|
113
|
121
|
Total
|
6,388
|
6,398
|
6,161
|
I, and my officials, continue to engage directly with the Tusla Board and Senior Management Team to monitor and review the number of children in care.