A "window of opportunity" for a troubled and at-risk 16-year-old boy seems set to close for the second summer in a row because the Eastern Health Board has failed to find suitable accommodation for him, the High Court was told yesterday.
The boy, who has a history of drug abuse, has been returned to his home where he is at risk and no other option has been proposed at this time, the court heard.
Mr Gerard Durcan SC, for the boy, said he was concerned that a "window of opportunity" regarding the boy would be lost for another summer because there was no appropriate place for him. From the boy's point of view, the situation was a tragedy.
Last summer he had to remain in a remand centre because the EHB could not find more appropriate accommodation for him in a High Support Unit. Then he was in a short-term placement, described as unsuitable by his lawyers, which ultimately broke down when he began abusing heroin.
He was remanded by Mr Justice Peter Kelly to St Patrick's Institution because the judge said he feared for his life if he was returned to the streets and no more secure place was available.
The boy spent six weeks in St Patrick's while other options were explored. An arrangement was subsequently made where he attended a placement at a centre in a rural area in recent weeks and also spent a number of days at a Dublin project.
In court yesterday Mr Durcan said the rural placement had now come to an end and the boy was back at home.
Counsel said he had been of good behaviour while on placement, and there were no difficulties with him. His carers believed he should be in a residential facility but there was no place for him.
Mr Patrick MacEntee SC, for the EHB, said the board had gone to every institution, but no place was available. He agreed the rural placement had worked well for the boy. The board was now considering another placement elsewhere in the State, but that facility was not yet functioning.
Mr Durcan said as long as the boy remained at home, the chances were that he would fall from grace. It was clear that when he had certain facilities he flourished.
Mr Durcan asked that the matter be adjourned for a short period to ensure efforts would continue to find an appropriate placement. The case was adjourned for three weeks.
Also yesterday, Mr Justice Kelly fixed July 21st for the hearing of two actions to compel the State to provide appropriate education and psychological and other facilities for two boys with Attention Deficit Disorder.
