Written Answers. - Parliamentary Debates - Houses of the Oireachtas

[Deputy Frances Fitzgerald.]
Questions— 14 February 2012. Written Answers
not been used to accommodate unaccompanied minors. Instead each child is cared for either
in a foster care placement or a children’s residential centre.
The HSE has developed a national policy on the standards and services to be provided to
separated children seeking asylum. The policy seeks to achieve equity and equality of services
to separated children seeking asylum vis a vis all children at risk and to ensure that there is no
differentiation of care provision, care practices, care priorities, standards or protocols until the
young person reaches 18 years. The number of separated children seeking asylum has steadily
declined since its peak of 1085 in 2001 to just 105 in 2010.
My Department along with the Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) of the Department
of Justice and Law Reform and the HSE work closely together to plan for the transition to
adult service for young asylum seekers who reach 18 years of age. I am meeting Minister
Shatter to discuss a number of issues, including this matter, later this week.
Health Service Staff
99. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will ensure
complete recruitment of a specialist therapeutic team for children in special care and detention;
and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8076/12]
Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (Deputy Frances Fitzgerald): The Implementation
plan, published in 2009 in response to the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse (Ryan
Implementation Plan), included a commitment to the establishment by the HSE in consultation
with the Irish Youth Justice Service (IYJS) of a national therapeutic and multi-disciplinary care
team for children in detention and special care. The specialist multi-disciplinary team could
also provide an in-reach service to boys aged 16 and 17 years who are detained in St Patrick’s
Institution. It also states that the HSE will review need and establish resourced multi-disciplinary
assessment teams for children and young people at risk.
Notwithstanding the financial constraints applying in 2012, I am pleased to advise the Deputy
that it has been agreed that any posts previously funded under the Ryan Implementation Plan,
and not yet filled, may be filled in 2012. This includes the establishment of the national therapeutic
and multi-disciplinary care team for children in care and detention.
The HSE has committed in its National Service Plan for 2012 to completing the establishment
of this team.
When fully in place this key national service will ensure all children placed in secure care,
whether on welfare or offending grounds, will have access to specialist clinical interventions in
line with their assessed individual needs. The HSE has been funded for this service, as part of
the funding provided in respect of the Ryan Implementation Plan.
Question No. 100 answered with Question No. 78.
Family Support Services
101. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the position
regarding the establishment of the child and family support agency; and if she will make a
statement on the matter. [8071/12]
Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (Deputy Frances Fitzgerald): I established the Task
Force on the Child and Family Support Agency in September 2011 under the chairmanship of
Ms Maureen Lynott.
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