Written Answers Nos. 31-38
31. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the total funds that will be granted to the new Child and Family Support Agency; the rates of pay that will be allocated to the management team including the Chief Operations Officer, the Head of Corporate and Human Resources, the Head of Finance, the Head of Policy and Planning and the Head of Quality Assurance. [40713/12]
View answerA dedicated new budget sub-head had been established for the first time in the HSE Vote, in preparation for the planned establishment of the Child and Family Support Agency (CFSA) in 2013. A provision of €568m has been made for 2012. A process is currently underway to further review and refine the detailed components of this sub-head in advance of the establishment of the new Agency.
The new Agency will have a dedicated budget which will be managed by the current National Director of Children and Family Services within the HSE, Mr Gordon Jeyes, as the Chief Executive designate of the CFSA.
The Chief Executive will be supported by a senior management team and to date, approval has been granted by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform for the recruitment of a number of key posts to make up the management team for the new Agency.
The posts and approved salaries for these positions are as follows;
- Chief Operations Officer: €145, 959
- Head of Policy and Planning: €94,796 - €115,579
- Head of Quality Assurance: €94,796 - €115,579
- Head of Corporate and Human Resource: €94,796 - €115,579
- Head of Finance: €94,796 - €115,579
32. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if following the publication of the wording for the Children’s Referendum, she will ensure that commitments made in relation to increasing the number of social workers will be met by the end of 2012; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40676/12]
View answerThe recruitment of additional social workers was included in the Ryan report implementation plan. The commitments made to recruit an additional 260 social workers on foot of the Ryan report have now been met.
33. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans to reduce the cost of private foster care; if her Department has examined the policy of utilising private foster care companies with a view to the Health Service Executive providing a more cost-effective in-house service for children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40720/12]
View answerThe provision of alternative care services appropriate to the needs of children and young people is an ongoing priority. There are 3,925 children in general foster care, of which 204 (5.2%) are placed with companies which provide private foster care services to the HSE. I am advised by the HSE that placement charges have been reduced significantly as a result of a review of services and costs of both residential and foster care provided by the private sector. Further savings are possible through the finalisation of a national procurement process. Enhancement of in-house capacity is a priority and will be delivered through focused foster care recruitment campaigns both at regional and national levels.
34. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if the Adoption Amendment Bill will address the problems experienced by adopted persons in relation to their information rights following the 1998 Supreme Court (IOT vs B) ruling; and if not, the steps she will take to secure their information and tracing rights as a matter of urgency. [40655/12]
View answerIt is intended that the Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill will provide for the safeguarding and maintenance of all adoption records in the State with the Adoption Authority having responsibility for ensuring that adopted persons and birth parents have access to their records in accordance with the proposed Bill. However, because all persons have a constitutional right to privacy it is envisaged that there may be some restrictions on the information that could be made available without the consent of the parties involved. However, consideration of the policy issues in relation to all aspects of the proposed Bill is ongoing. It is intended that non-identifying information could be provided to an adopted person over 18 or to a birth parent. Non-identifying information is information by which another party could not reasonably be expected to be identified and could, for example, include the forename, religion, approximate age, occupation, birth details, interests, hobbies, educational history, family history and medical history. The release of medical information would be proportionate to the objective for which it is sought by or on behalf of an adopted person or a birth parent.
It is intended to publish this Bill in 2013.
36. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will provide an update on plans for the 11600 missing childrens hotline; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40707/12]
View answerUnder EU telecoms rules agreed in 2009, the 116000 number is reserved in all EU member states for a missing children hotline. My Department established and is leading a cross-sectoral Project Team, including representatives of my own Department, the Department of Justice and Equality, ComReg and An Garda Síochána, to advance this matter. Following cross departmental consultation and an examination of the issues involved by the Project Team, ComReg, which has responsibility for the allocation of this number in Ireland, has now allocated the number to the ISPCC. The ISPCC has been successful in securing EU Daphne funding to support the establishment of the line.
Officials of my Department are liaising with the ISPCC in relation to the implementation of the 116 hotline. It is envisaged that a phased implementation of the 116000 line will commence in 2012. In the interim, a holding response is currently heard if an individual rings the 116000 number. The number advises callers wishing to report a missing child to contact An Garda Síochána and advises children seeking assistance to contact the ISPCC.
Once operational, the line will;
1) Provide emotional support to children who are missing, their family and others responsible for the missing child
2) Offer guidance and advice to the callers regarding a missing child;
3) Report risk cases (where identifying information has been received) to the Garda/HSE as per Children First Guidance;
4) Support the Garda Investigation, where appropriate;
5) Redirect calls outside the scope of the line.
It is important to note that the 116000 number is not an emergency number. Emergency calls should always be directed to the 999/112 number in the first instance, where the relevant emergency responses, including the recently launched Garda Missing Children Amber Alert mechanism, may be activated. The establishment of the 116000 line will, however, be of valuable support and assistance to families of missing children and to missing children themselves.
37. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of persons employed to work directly with children by the Health Service Executive who have not been Garda vetted; the number of these employees who will be retrospectively vetted in the context of the National Vetting Bureau; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40709/12]
View answerI have been informed by the Health Service Executive (HSE) that the specific data requested by the Deputy is not available. The data captured by the HSE in the vetting process relates to the subjects personal details and the grade to which the person is to be appointed. The service to which they are assigned is not captured.
The HSE's Garda Vetting Liaison Office was established towards the end of 2007 and all employees recruited via the HSE National Recruitment Service have been vetted. I have also been informed by the HSE that the only outstanding vetting relates to applicants who have not yet been appointed, and consequently the vetting process has not been completed.
I can confirm that my Department has sought additional information from the HSE in this regard. Additional data received will be forwarded to the Deputy in due course.
The National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Bill 2012 is currently progressing through the Houses of the Oireachtas. My Department and the HSE will keep abreast of requirements arising from the provisions of the Bill on staff of the HSE.
38. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs noting her statement in Dáil Éireann on 19 September 2012 that for decades this country has failed its children, her views on whether children illegally adopted were failed by the State; if she will agree to meet with those now adult who have asked to meet her; and if she will ensure to make secure medical and other records in private hands which can provide evidence of the crime committed against these children. [40654/12]
View answerAs I have stated previously, the Adoption Authority of Ireland, and its predecessor The Adoption Board, has no statutory responsibility in respect of the matter raised but has endeavoured to assist persons affected, to the extent open to it. In that regard, I would refer to the fact that the Guidelines on Information and Tracing services first issued by the Adoption Board in 2004 included acknowledgement of historical existence of a practice of illegal birth registrations and offered the Board’s assistance in efforts to obtain any records that might still exist.
I am aware from the Adoption Authority that, in mid 2010, the Adoption Board conducted a review of information it retained of contact received from persons who had been told or believed themselves to be adopted, but where no adoption records existed. This exercise indicated that 99 people who had identified themselves to the Board as adopted, did not have a corresponding adoption file. Around 45 of these cases related to people born after 1953 and the balance related to persons born pre-1953.
I am advised that, at the specific request of the persons making a complaint, the Adoption Board did report a number of such cases to the Garda, the Registrar General, and the Director of Public Prosecutions by reference to possible offences under the Birth Registration Acts. It is my understanding that further action did not ensue having regard to available proof and the lapse of time since the events in question.
I have also made enquiries concerning the Deputy’s question about the number of such records held by the Health Service Executive. I have been informed that the HSE has not carried out a review similar to that done by the Adoption Board in 2010. I have asked the HSE to establish any relevant information in its possession and examine the matter. I am happy to further correspond directly with the Deputy on this.
Work is underway in relation to the preparation of the Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill, in consultation with the Adoption Authority, to provide for a structured and regulated way of providing access to adoption information and contact, including where the adoption was not effected. It is intended that the Bill will provide for the Adoption Authority to have access to and control over records currently held by a wide range of information sources including the HSE, giving the Authority an oversight role with regard to the maintenance of adoption records.
In addition the National Contact Preference Register will be put on a statutory basis. The proposed Bill will provide for pro-active tracing and reunion services by appropriate bodies with the Adoption Authority having the overarching responsibility for the service.
