Quarter of children with disabilities in State accommodation live over 50km from home

Statistics released by the HSE also show that of the 71 children living more than 50km from their home, almost half are more than 100km from their communities.

At least 24% of children with disabilities in State accommodation are living more than 50km from their home — but the figure could be much higher as the HSE doesn’t have figures for large parts of the country.

Statistics released by the HSE also show that of the 71 children living more than 50km from their home, almost half are more than 100km from their communities.

However, the figures — provided to Social Democrats TD Liam Quaide — do not include data for large parts of the country, including Cork/Kerry, HSE West and North West, and HSE Dublin and North East.

Together, these regions have a combined population of around 2.5m.

Given the absence of those figures, there are concerns that the total number of children living far from their homes could be significantly higher.

Mr Quaide, a former clinical psychologist with the HSE, said that the distances equate to “a form of enforced separation from family and community life”.

“For a child, it means less contact with parents, siblings and grandparents, disruption to familiar routines, and a childhood lived essentially in exile from the people and places that bring security and belonging,” he said.

“For families who have already reached crisis point, distance placements add travel, cost, exhaustion and chronic emotional strain to an already painful situation.” 

He said the lack of data for the various areas points to “a serious failure of national oversight”.

“The Government now needs to identify every child placed far from home, publish clear national distance data, and build the local residential, respite and family supports needed so children can be supported in their homes or close to their homes,” he said.

The figures, which were given to Social Democrats TD Liam Quaide (pictured), do not include data for large swathes of the country. File picture: Chani Anderson

Earlier this week the Irish Examiner revealed that the number of children with disabilities living in State residential care has almost doubled from 155 to 300 in just over two years.

As of the end of April, HSE data show nine children were living more than 100km from their homes in the Midwest region, which includes Limerick, Clare and Tipperary.

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In Carlow the figure was five, while in Waterford and Wexford the total number was four.

The Cavan/Monaghan region provided an actual distance for the sole child under the region’s care living more than 100km from their family home, the overall distance being 112.9km.

No figures were given for children living more than 50km from home by HSE Cork/Kerry, though the region did note that nine children under its care are placed outside their home county.

HSE response

In a statement, the HSE said: "The HSE is committed to working with families to support their child continuing to live in their family home through childhood and teenage years for as long as possible. A range of therapy, respite and/or home supports are provided to help maintain children with disabilities in their family homes.

"In circumstances where a child with a disability cannot continue to live in their family home, the HSE will engage with all relevant stakeholders to identify a suitable residential placement. 

"Unfortunately, in emergency situations the only available residential placement may be a significant distance from their home. Wherever appropriate and possible, the HSE will work with providers to identify a placement closer to the child’s home and facilitate a transfer at the earliest opportunity.

"Data reporting practices vary across regions. While this data may not be collated on a national level, residential placements are known and overseen at a local/regional level. 

"Through the National Service Plan, the HSE is actively working to strengthen consistency, transparency and reporting through the national data portal."