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THERE WERE 6,276 children in the care of the State at the end of last November, according to figures released by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs.
The majority of these are living in foster homes, while others are accommodated in state-run or private residential centres across the country.
The figures were provided by Children’s Minister Katherine Zappone this week in response to a parliamentary question from Fianna Fáil spokesperson Anne Rabbitte.
The number of children in care has risen by almost 20% during the past decade, although the most recent figures represent a reduction of 241 since 2014.
“The latest figures from Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, indicate that at the end of November 2016, there were 6,276 children in care,” said Zappone.
A total of 325 of these children are accommodated in residential centres – 151 in state-run centres, and 174 run by private or voluntary organisations.
Support
“Residential care is usually for older children, where their needs may not be met in foster care or where this is their preferred placement,” said the Children’s Minister in her response.
“In general, these centres are based in domestic-style homes in the community, catering for two or three older children and staffed by social care workers to attend to the needs of the child.”
Private residential centres are subject to registration and inspection by Tusla. There are as many as 100 such centres located across four Tusla administrative regions covering the State.
“A child is placed in a residential setting only when they have an identified need that can be met by this service or for an intensive assessment or provision of specialist services,” explained Zappone.
Breakdown
“Some of the young people in residential care will have come into care recently, while others may have experienced the breakdown of other care placements, including foster care.
“Specialist supports are also routinely made available, as needed, and many centres have specialised skillsets and therapeutic modalities.”
June Tinsley, head of advocacy with children’s charity Barnardos Head said the system of service provision must be capable of meeting the needs of children in its care.
“This means all children and young people having a personalised care plan which is implementable, assigned social workers to offer consistent support to them and their foster families, availability and access to additional supports (when needed) and a clear aftercare plan to support the transition to independent adulthood,” she said.
Another crucial piece of the puzzle is supporting families sooner to prevent problems escalating which can in turn lead to children being removed from their care.
“Offering parents support to improve their parenting capacity and skills is vital to enhancing children’s outcomes. The value of early intervention supports should not be underestimated and should be invested in more widely.”
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Hopefully now that things are calming he might take time out to release a new Gangham song for us fans.
Quick! Someone stop Leo before he invites him here!
@pats brandon: what has Leo got to do with this?
@Fabio Dillon: it’s called a humorous comment and as for Leo and Kim that won’t happen as there is no way you can be seen to meet with a monster, who has destroyed his peoples lives and forced more than a few people to leave their home and birth place for a better life and whose people are now suffering from food shortage, no money and health system that is 3rd world and has people dying as a result.
But if Kim has no problem with this and can overlook Leo’s faults and failings to the irish people so be it
@nelly:
Trying to compare Ireland to NK is moronic, even if its an attempt to be humourous.
@Walt Jabsco: so sorry snowflake, did I upset you
@Walt Jabsco: who performed your humour bypass?
Damn good whoever it was….
@Dessie Deratta:
I have a great sense of humour thanks sweetheart – it’s just that there was nothing even remotely funny in Nelly’s comment.
@Walt Jabsco: 25 thumbs up and counting says different. Unfortunately the journal and snowflakes, like yourself got rid of the red thumbs down, as you don’t do rejection well. Smiley face, smiley face, humorous face, laughing face. Wave bye bye
@Walt Jabsco: I’d say you’re great Craic over a pint.
@nelly: except for food shortage, I agree 100%
@Walt Jabsco: No you don’t and yes there was.
@pats brandon: Leo can invite Justin Trudea for an afternoon of ..
Orange Mocha Frappuccino’s ! !!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTrxEQnPtAg
@nelly: yeah it’s not a humorous comment. Completely and utterly a non relevant comment. Thanks for your dribble though.
Chins finally taking some responsibility for this rogue leader with nuclear weapons which they created…….Have to give Trump some credit for this…..
@pc_comments: What are you talking about?
@pc_comments: in this case you could use the common typo “rouge regime” and still be right.
@pc_comments: yes, puzzled myself. Read somewhere, USA has 5500 nuke warheads, Russia has about 4000 nukes, China has 250, India and Pakistan have about 5 each, and there is world panic that Rocket Man may have 1 ???
Expel some Chinese diplomats.
We don’t need an actual reason….or must we wait till British spooks instruct us to?
@Dessie Deratta: What has china done on ireland?
@Sean Conway: What have the Russians done to Ireland? Tory boys Leo and Simon wanting to please their superiors.
@Dessie Deratta: Stick to your day job.
@Sean Conway: As we see from the Russian affair we don’t need a reason…neither China nor Russia have every done Ireland any harm.
But lets expel them to show solidarity with the Pentagon.
Donald will sort out all those lads
@Ger Burke: The guy can’t even hire a lawyer.
@Larry Doyle: Thanks for the leftie input. Took a while for you to come up with that I’d say.
Now, let’s hope these two lads can sort things out themselves. No need for the US to stick their beak in. N.korea are no more a threat to the world than Wales are.
@Centerro:
Tell that to the South Koreans
@Walt Jabsco: actually the SoKos are scared that Trump will start a war that will kill millions of them.
@Dessie Deratta:
It’s possible to be afraid of both the US and NK you know. They just don’t want a war full stop, and who could blame them?
@Walt Jabsco: It’s ok for th US to have a civil war. but korea or anyone shouldn’t?
@Sean Conway: They did have one. 1950 to 1952. Read a history book.
Another triumph for Trump.
Its a good step forward
Funny how a guy that’s worshipped so much in North Korea is so scared that he has to take secret trips abroad. Thought he’d be a guy for full state honours when he travels abroad. But then the north Koreans probably don’t even know he’s gone!
@Adrian: apparently he is afraid of flying.
Perhaps not for the same reason that many people are.
@Adrian: probably so much secrecy because he’s scared of being assassinated or being kidnapped by the CIA.
If either happened the country would deny it and his clone would take over!
I’d love to go for a pint him
@johnbunton: with him
have your say