Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 July 2022
264. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total number of residential places currently available for children at risk; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37004/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraChildren are placed in the care of Tusla when their care needs cannot be met in the home setting, for a variety of reasons. Tusla has stated that when a young person needs to come into the care of Tusla an individual assessment of need, care plan and pre-placement risk assessment is carried out and put in place to ensure that the child’s needs are best met in the most appropriate placement.
Children are placed in residential care to provide a safe, nurturing environment for them when they cannot live at home or in an alternative family environment such as foster care.
Residential centres are community based and are supported by the same range of health and social care services available to the rest of the population. Where Children’s Residential Centres differ however, is that Centres are staffed on a 24-hour basis by Social Care Workers, Social Care Leaders and Managers.
Tusla has advised that they do not collate data specific to “children at risk”. Data collated relates to the number of children in Tusla care.
Tusla has advised that at the end of April 2022 there were 5,869 children in care and of these 439 were in residential care. Of the 439 children in residential care, 424 were in general residential care and 15 were in special care. This data refers to children in centres registered as residential centres under the Child Care Act 1991. There were an additional 49 children in “other” residential centres, which includes, for example disability centres and drug/alcohol rehabilitation centres.
