Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 September 2022
1199. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he approves of that fact that 68% of children in residential care are in placements run by private companies; if not, the plans that his Department has to return this care to the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41952/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe most recently available Tusla Monthly Service Performance and Activity Report identified that there were 439 children in residential placements at end-May 2022. 258 of these children were in residential placements with private providers, which equates to 59% of total residential placements. This represented a decrease in private residential provision from 295 at end-Q3 2021 (66% of all residential placements).
Notwithstanding the above, the number of residential care placements provided by private organisations has increased over recent years, as Tusla has been required to meet growing demand for this service. One of the drivers of this has been a growing number of children and young people requiring ‘enhanced’ or more specialised service types, to accommodate their complex needs. The majority of these placements were provided by private organisations.
In the 2022 Performance Statement, I requested that Tusla move towards a reduction in reliance on private provision. While Tusla's Strategic Plan for Residential Care Services for Children and Young People 2022-2025 recognises the positive contribution of many private residential care providers, it also identifies the need to reverse this trend towards dependency on private residential care.
The Plan proposes incremental increases in public residential capacity over the coming years, in order to achieve a ratio of 50:50 public to private provision by 2025. The longer term ambition stated in this Plan is to further reduce reliance on private provision in favour of public provision to a ratio of 60:40, public to private by 2027.
Tusla's Strategic Plan outlines significant costs associated with this proposed investment in public residential care provision over the coming years. My Department continues to consider these proposals in the context of the ongoing Estimates 2023 process.
