Health boards pay €85m to keep 600 children in care

Ireland’s health boards reportedly paid out €85m last year to keep just 600 children in residential care.

Reports this morning said a large portion of the money was spent on special arrangements for certain children.

The South Western Area Health Board is reportedly paying out €19,000 a week for special arrangements for just one child, while the South Eastern Health Board is paying €50,000 a week to meet similar arrangements for five children.

This morning’s reports said the use of special arrangements was contrary to the recommendations of the Irish Social Services Inspectorate, which has called on all health boards to review this type of care.