€9.6m to house 60 troubled teenagers last year

ALMOST €10 million was paid to a private company to provide residential, aftercare and respite services for 60 troubled teenagers last year.

Figures obtained by the Irish Examiner reveal that Fresh Start, now the largest private provider of childcare services in the country with 14 centres, was paid €9.6m by the HSE.

Children’s lawyer Catherine Ghent has expressed concern about the sums being paid out by the HSE to private firms at a time when there was concern over the extent of resources available to the state. She said it was time to re-assess the amount of money being spent and ensure the state is not only buying in services which provide value for money, but also adhere to the highest standards of professional practice