Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 July 2012
27 Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if, in view of publication of the report of the independent child death review group, she will commit to the introduction of mandatory aftercare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33365/12]
View answer35 Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the date on which she will introduce legislation to provide a statutory right to aftercare for children leaving the care system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33319/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 27 and 35 together.
Section 45 of the Child Care Act 1991 places a statutory duty on the HSE to form a view in relation to each person leaving care as to whether there is a "need for assistance" and if it forms such a view, to provide services in accordance with the legislation and subject to resources.
All young people who have had a care history with the HSE, be it foster care, residential care or high support, are entitled to an aftercare service based on their assessed needs. The core eligible age range for aftercare is 18 years to 21 years. The HSE policy allows for this to be extended up to the age of 23 years of age on the basis of a need for assistance.
The basis of an aftercare service is an individual assessment of each young person's need in the months before their 18th birthday. An individual holistic needs assessment identifies a young person's need for accommodation, financial support, social network support and training and education. The level of support required will vary for each individual from advice to accommodation to further education, employment or training and social support.
The most important requirements for young people leaving care are for secure, suitable accommodation as well as further education, employment or training and social support. The most vulnerable group of young people leaving care are those that have dropped out of education and training and those that have left residential care. Some of these young people may have mental health problems or a disability. Aftercare provision incorporates advice, guidance and practical support. It is essential that all young people leaving care are provided with the type of transitional support that their individual situation requires. The provision of an appropriate aftercare service has been highlighted as a key element to achieving positive outcomes for young people leaving care.
Some 90% of children in care are in foster care and a large number of these remain living with their foster families, supported financially by the HSE, on reaching 18 years of age. These young people continue in education and training as planned. This remains a key component of aftercare for young people when they leave care.
The HSE National Aftercare Service is underpinned by a National Policy and Procedures Document which has been developed in cooperation with the key stakeholders, including the voluntary sector agencies involved in aftercare provision and my Department. The policy which was finalised in April 2011, commits to promoting and achieving the best outcomes for young people leaving care and in ensuring consistency of support to these young people. The HSE has established an intra-agency National Aftercare Implementation Group to monitor progress in implementing the national policy and their work is ongoing.
Clearly, there has been a lot of progress in the provision of aftercare services and more young people are receiving a service. The HSE has advised me that there were 1,310 young people in receipt of aftercare at the end of May 2012, compared to 847 young people in 2009. The implementation of the policy and the ongoing provision of aftercare services are being kept under review and I will continue to engage with the HSE on this matter over the course of the year. In addition, I recently had further discussions with the Attorney General regarding strengthening the legislative approach to aftercare and I believe that the law can be strengthened. It is my intention to seek to bring forward legislative proposals in this regard later this year.
