HSE to cut childcare costs 7% for 2012

The use of expensive private care arrangements for children in the care of the HSE is to be reviewed as the executive seeks to reduce costs in childcare services by 7% in 2012.

These private placements, which can cost €8,500 per week, are a significant drain on the childcare services budget, which ran up a deficit of €14 million in the HSE South in 2011. The budget overrun means the €3.1m increase this year for childcare services does not represent a net gain, reducing the deficit to €11m.

Ger Reaney, area manager for the HSE in Cork, said an external review of staffing levels in child residential centres is determining how best to reorganise staff rosters to achieve greater efficiencies and reduce the use of agency staff, while maximising the number of children that can be accommodated in such centres.