The Northern Area Health Board, one of three health boards in the Dublin and east coast area, does not have the resources to provide an appropriate place for a seriously troubled 14-year-old boy in its care, a High Court judge was told yesterday. Mary Carolan reports.
There was a waiting list of troubled children for the facilities available.
When Mr Justice De Valera put it that it was time the board took steps to ensure an appropriate facility, Mr Barry O'Donnell, for the board, said that would involve policy matters that were outside the board and within the "political arena".
Mr Justice De Valera said this was a case of a vulnerable young boy who was not being looked after properly. It was "all very well to talk of things in the round but this is a specific problem". If the boy didn't get help soon, there was no future for him, the judge said. "I expect the health board to come here and put forward some sensible plan. I don't want them effectively shrugging their shoulders and saying we are doing the best we can and that's all we can do."
When Mr O'Donnell remarked that the boy had been before the District Court in criminal proceedings, the judge said if proper facilities were provided when needed, he doubted if the boy would have been in trouble. He adjourned the case for a week, when he wanted to be told of specific proposals.