Skip to content
Support Us

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

AARON FAVILA/AP/Press Association Images

Concerns over out-of-State care for young people

The cost of detaining four young people in Northampton is €12,582 per week, per child, Children’s Minister Frances Fitzgerald said.

CONCERNS HAVE BEEN raised over the State sending children in its care abroad for care treatment that they currently cannot get in Ireland, and whether this situation will change.

Children’s Minister Frances Fitzgerald was asked by Sinn Féin TD Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin about the issue in the Dáil yesterday.

Special care

The Minister said a small number of young people have “highly specialised needs arising from severe behavioural difficulties, due to their childhood experiences or in some cases as a result of injury, accident or disability”.

She said that for a small number of people, the HSE has to make arrangements for them to cared for in facilities outside of the State.

This is done on as infrequent a basis as possible and only where such placement is considered to be in the best interest of the child.

Regarding the cost of this, Minister Fitzgerald said:

as of 21 September 2012, eight young people were detained in out-of-State secure placements. Four young people are in St Andrews, Northampton at a cost of €12,582 per week, per child; two young people are placed in Kibble, a specialist facility in Scotland, at a cost of €6,685 per week, per child; and two young people are placed in Boystown Nebraska at a cost of €2,017 per week, per child.

Behavioural

Minister Fitzgerald told the Deputy that sometimes for certain children the best possible care can be provided in overseas specialist centres.

I assure him also that the social workers are in contact with those children and the services are in constant contact with the providers. We have experience of children doing extremely well in these units, and returning back to Ireland and doing well, either independently or with their families.

She said the reasons why these services are used is because we don’t have them in Ireland, and that there are very complex care and behavioural needs involved.

She added that she believes that the country’s special care facilities, high support units and detention services in this country “represent an area that needs attention”. The Minister said she has an examination underway of how these services are being organised “because I am not satisfied with the organisation or national planning in their regard.”

Today, Deputy Ó Caoláin said he questioned whether children could be placed in care in the North of Ireland, or if alternatives to children being sent abroad were being considered, but said there is “no evidence that that is being pursued”.

He raised concerns over whether it would become standard practice to send children abroad if they cannot receive appropriate care in Ireland, and that “it becomes the habit rather than… looking at what might be done or the alternatives”.

I don’t want us to get into the groove or rut of just repeating established practices

The deputy said he believed that “there shouldn’t be a situation in my view where we do not at least aspire to cater for all possible eventualities presenting in terms of care need”.

Read: Experts weigh in on Children’s Referendum>

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
3 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute peter
    Favourite peter
    Report
    Oct 10th 2012, 7:37 AM

    Well he was standing by the side of the road.

    51
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute colm o sullivan
    Favourite colm o sullivan
    Report
    Oct 10th 2012, 11:22 AM

    Can you make a suggestion as to how the Gardai were supposed to stop this shooting Christopher??

    22
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gerard
    Favourite Gerard
    Report
    Oct 10th 2012, 7:23 AM

    It was only a matter of time until another bystander got shot.

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Neil McDermott
    Favourite Neil McDermott
    Report
    Oct 10th 2012, 7:32 AM

    where does it say he was a bystander!?!?

    92
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gerard
    Favourite Gerard
    Report
    Oct 10th 2012, 9:12 AM

    Every other news channel in the country say he was a bystander and not the intended victim. So there. Nya na na na na na

    30
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kim
    Favourite Kim
    Report
    Oct 10th 2012, 4:49 PM

    @Gerard lol your response is so immature hehehe I LOVE it.
    I know this is not a story to be made fun of but just that comment did make me chuckle a little.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mark Heehee
    Favourite Mark Heehee
    Report
    Oct 10th 2012, 10:50 AM

    Not the intended victim? So the gunman has said he/she shot the wrong person? Or is it fair to say presumptuous?

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Christopher Gardiner
    Favourite Christopher Gardiner
    Report
    Oct 10th 2012, 10:47 AM

    Its like living in a country with NO Police. Are they doing anything to tackle serious crime in this place?

    6
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds