Minister for Children says seven children currently in secure accommodation in UK
THE STATE estimates that last year it spent between €2.2 million and €2.5 million on secure accommodation overseas for a small number of children in care.
The Health Service Executive (HSE) confirmed the spend as the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Frances Fitzgerald, said there were currently seven children being cared for at secure accommodation overseas, all located in the UK.
The HSE said: “Placements in special care, whether in Ireland or abroad, only occur in extreme circumstances and under the jurisdiction of the High Court.”
According to Ms Fitzgerald, there are four young people detained in secure accommodation in Scotland, two in a mental health facility in England and one in secure accommodation in England.
In a written response to a Dáil question by Sinn Féin deputy Jonathan O’Brien, the Minister said the small number of children were placed in treatment facilities outside of the State “to allow for access to an individually tailored mix of psychiatric treatment, care and therapeutic services not available in this country”.
She said: “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.”
“I should emphasise that the referral of persons abroad for specialised therapeutic interventions is an established feature within our health and social care system, and decisions in each case are made in the best interests of the individual,” Ms Fitzgerald said.
“The level of requirement for these services is closely monitored by the national director and my officials.
“It is considered that it would be inappropriate to provide further details regarding the names and locations of these placements. The HSE ensures that these placements are suitable and the child’s social worker visits regularly, and makes arrangements for family or carers of the child to also visit.
“The units in which the children are placed are inspected and regulated by their national authorities, and the HSE is attentive to the standards of care delivered in these specialised units. The vast majority of children in care are in foster care and residential care.”
According to a statement from the HSE: “The costs of the overseas placements will vary depending on the type of service being provided as well as other contingent costs such as the cost of travel for the child, staff and family members.”
A HSE spokeswoman said: “In 2009 the cost of care placements abroad was approximately €2.2 million and in 2010 the cost of care placements abroad was approximately €2.5 million.
“Final costs for 2011 are not currently available but it is anticipated that they will be in line with previous years.”
Mr O’Brien said: “These are significant costs. We need to get to a situation where we don’t have to send children overseas for treatment.
“This requires investing in resources here for these children and that should be done.”
