Update: Children Requiring a Safe Haven – Children and Youth Affairs 19th November, 2014

 
  *  To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the degree to which children requiring a safe haven outside the home may expect to have their requirements met on an ongoing basis; the number of places available for such children at present; the extent to which further enhancement is required in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

                                                                          – Bernard J. Durkan

For WRITTEN answer on Wednesday, 19th November, 2014.

*  To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the extent to which various categories of children at risk continue to be identified and monitored by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

                                                                          – Bernard J. Durkan

For WRITTEN answer on Wednesday, 19th November, 2014.

 
REPLY.
Children who require care placements come within the statutory remit of the Child and Family Agency.  The Agency operates a number of services including family support, foster care and residential care services.  These services are primarily demand led so there is no fixed capacity in terms of the places available to care for children.  As of 31 August 2014 there were 6,489 children in care and some 93% of these children are in family based foster care placements.  The guidelines in Children First set out a clear pathway for concerned persons to inform the Agency of care and welfare issues involving a child and their family.  This reporting role is a general responsibility and a report can be made by the parents, guardians, schools, Gardaí or any person with information on a child needing care.  An initial assessment is carried out in each case that is reported to determine if the child requires the services of the Agency and, where appropriate, engage with the parents and wider family and close family friends.  The Agency also provides an aftercare service for those in care on their 18th birthday and there are a number of supports for those leaving care, particularly where they are in full time education.  My Department is working with the Agency to progress and develop the range and quality of service provision with a view to improving consistency of provision across the country of child protection and welfare services, including aftercare.  

The Agency publishes a range of reports on performance indicators on a monthly, quarterly and annual basis which is used to monitor activity, for example data on referrals and assessment processes, at national level, broken down by administrative regions and local areas.  An annual review of the data provides additional information on age, social deprivation and ethnicity.  The annual service planning process  is informed by the monitoring and performance data from each administrative area.