Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 March 2019
610. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her Department or agencies under her remit have developed performance metrics to monitor and measure the outcomes of children in care with disabilities. [12121/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can advise the Deputy that Tusla, the Child and Family Agency collects data for each child in its care, on the National Child Care Information System (NCCIS). Information gathered includes data on the child's individual needs, including disabilities and supports that may be required to meet those needs. The data is collected for the purposes of care planning, and not collated centrally for reporting purposes at this time.
Tusla also collects point-in-time data on children with disabilities each year. The data collected consists of the number of children in care on the last day of September, who have received a diagnosis of moderate to severe disability by a clinical specialist, i.e. registered general medical practitioner, psychiatrist or other appropriately qualified clinical specialist (e.g. paediatrician). This census is taken by care type. The data collected reflects only children in the statutory care of the Child and Family Agency. Tusla does not gather data on children living in disability services who are not in statutory care.
My officials are currently working with Tusla staff to further develop the range and scope of performance metrics used in relation to children in care.
