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Question

84. Deputy John Lahart asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of the 4,000 Syrian refugees that the Government committed to taking in that have been taken as of 28 February 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15008/17]

85. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons currently being made a ward of court; the reason being given for the application, for example, older person, intellectual disability, mental health and so on; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15057/17]

Answer

Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality (Deputy Frances Fitzgerald): As the Deputy may be aware, the High Court has jurisdiction in Wards of Court matters and management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service, which is independent in exercising its functions under the Courts Service Act 1998.
However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and the Courts Service has informed me that it is not possible to provide information on the number of persons currently being made a Ward of Court with reasons for the application. The Courts Service has advised that this information can be provided on a calendar year basis and that in 2016 a total of 289 adults were declared Wards of Court.
The reasons given were as follows:

Reason Number of Wards of Court
Dementia and age related illness 234
Brain injury 20
Learning/intellectual disability 18
Psychiatric 7
Other 10