Thursday, 25 Oct 2012

Written Answers Nos. 203-217

Departmental Staff Redeployment

Questions (203)

Mary Lou McDonald

Question:

203. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of staff members from his Department that have been temporarily and or permanently redeployed to other Government Departments or agencies since 27 March 2009; the details of the grades and pay scales of same; the total amount of savings achieved in salary payments in respect of the persons concerned; the duration of assignments; the business reasons supporting the redeployment of staff; the details of sanction received from the Department of Finance and or Public Expenditure and Reform; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47173/12]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The following table shows the details of staff redeployed from my Department to other Departments from 27 March 2009 to date as requested:

Grade	Number (Full Time Equivalent)	Estimate savings per year - €	Duration of Assignment
Clerical Officer	169 (154.8)	5,404,670	Permanent
Staff Officer	29 (26.9)	1,171,539	Permanent
Executive Officer	36 (34.2)	1,590,318	Permanent
Higher Executive Officer	13 (12.1)	659,097	Permanent
Assistant Principal	1 (1)	74,514	Permanent
-	-	Total = 8,900,138	-

The majority of the staff were redeployed on foot of a Local Office reorganisation undertaken by my Department which identified staff surpluses. The majority of the identified staff surpluses were redeployed to the Department of Social Protection, which had an urgent need for additional staff resources at the time.

Departmental Staff Redeployment

Questions (204)

Mary Lou McDonald

Question:

204. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of staff members that have been temporarily and or permanently redeployed to his Department from other Government Departments or agencies since 27 March 2009; the details of the grades and pay scales involved; the total increase in salary payments for his Department in respect of the persons concerned; the duration of assignments; the area to which each person was assigned; the business reasons supporting the redeployment of staff; the details of sanction received from the Department of Finance and or Public Expenditure and Reform; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47188/12]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The following table shows the details of staff redeployed into my Department from 27 March 2009 to date as requested:

Grade	Number (Full Time Equivalent)	Estimate Increase in Salary Payments per year	Duration of Assignment	Business Reason	Sanction from Department of Finance / Public Expenditure & Reform	Assigned to:
Engineer Grade 3	1 (1)	€47,731	Permanent	Critical Vacancy	Department of Public Expenditure & Reform	Marine Engineering Division
Senior Research Officer	1 (1)	€103,464	Fixed term contract	Critical Vacancy	Department of Finance, sanction dated 7 December 2010	Cork Blood Testing Laboratory
Clerical Officer on Serological Assistant duties	1 (1)	€26,420	Permanent	Critical vacancy	Department of Public Expenditure & Reform, sanction dated 20 July 2011	Veterinary Public Health Research Laboratory
-	Total =	€177,615	-	-	-	-

Departmental Staff Remuneration

Questions (205)

Dara Calleary

Question:

205. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide details of all the Gaeltacht allowance payable to civil and public servants; the level of each allowance payable to each category and the monetary level of each allowance together with the total amount payable in 2009, 2010 and 2011. [47469/12]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

No Gaeltacht allowance was paid to staff of my Department in 2009, 2010 and 2011.

Child Benefit Payments

Questions (206)

Robert Troy

Question:

206. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the engagement she has had with the Department of Social Protection on the subject of child benefit expenditure for 2013; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that there is concern among families that child benefit maybe significantly cut; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46941/12]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

As the Deputy will be aware, Budget 2013 will be announced later this year and in accordance with the engagement process all Ministers and their Departments will have responsibility, in the first instance, for evaluating those programmes and services for which they have primary responsibility. In addition to this, Ministers will have collective responsibility for decisions on the overall package of measures to be introduced in the context of the upcoming Budget. It would be inappropriate for me at this time to comment on Budgetary matters or to engage in unwarranted speculation before these Budgetary deliberations are concluded. I would emphasise that no decisions have been made by Government at this stage and nor will they until Budgetary deliberations are concluded. In the circumstances I do not think that speculation is helpful and I do not propose to engage in such speculation.

In general I am supported by my Department in contributing to the assessment of all proposals that come before Government that have implications for children and young people. I can assure the Deputy that the various dimensions to the well-being of children and young people require my Department to work across Government and with a wide range of stakeholders to promote the physical, emotional and economic well being of children and young people. Building strong collaborative relationships with Government Departments to achieve these aims is a key objective in my Department’s Strategy Statement 2011-2014. For example, my Department works closely with the Department of Social Protection in a ‘whole of Government approach’ to tackling disadvantage and poverty in the population. The Department is represented on the Advisory Group on Tax and Social Welfare established by the Minister for Social Protection to examine issues to do with the interactions of the tax and welfare systems so that they provide good incentives for parents to take up and remain in work and thereby contribute to the reduction of poverty and child poverty, in particular.

My Department will continue to work in close partnership with the Department of Social Protection and other Government Departments on a range of cross-cutting issues in relation to both policy and provision as they relate to children and young people.

Child Care Services Provision

Questions (207)

Dominic Hannigan

Question:

207. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No.178 of 10 October 2012, what this capital investment programme is; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46946/12]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

The capital investment programme includes proposals by the HSE to increase the number of special care beds. The HSE is considering improvements in the areas of management, development and the provision of National High Support and Special Care Services and the future direction of these services in the context of a major process of change and improvement for Children and Family Social Services that is currently underway.

Consultancy Contracts

Questions (208)

Barry Cowen

Question:

208. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will provide the name, costs, date of commission, date or expected date of publication and name of the external consultant of all external reports commissioned by her Department since March 2011. [47071/12]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

The information sought by the Deputy is currently being collated within my Department and will be forwarded directly to the Deputy.

Child Protection

Questions (209, 210, 211, 214, 219)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

209. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will indicate, based on the experiences over the past ten years, the extent to which she expects to make provision in respect of child protection services at all levels throughout the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47100/12]

Bernard Durkan

Question:

210. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the extent to which she has studied the inadequacies of child protection policies in the past with a view to identification of the provision of the necessary structures to address such deficiencies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47101/12]

Bernard Durkan

Question:

211. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will indicate where the greatest deficiency in child support services has been illustrated; the manner in which she expects to deal with such failures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47102/12]

Bernard Durkan

Question:

214. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the degree to which any specific deficiencies in child support services have been identified; the procedures in place to address such issues; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47105/12]

Bernard Durkan

Question:

219. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans to set up a comprehensive and integrated children’s support and youth service with particular reference to the need of early identification of the issues of concern; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47110/12]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

I propose to take Questions Nos. 209 to 211, inclusive, 214 and 219 together.

It is clear from the wide range of investigation reports over many years which examined cases where children were not adequately protected, that there have been many failures of the past. These failures can be attributed to a number of factors including systemic issues regarding consistency, quality of service delivery, data management and risk management systems both within and outside of child protection systems. In response to these failings, I am firmly committed to the transformation of Ireland’s child protection and welfare services, and to the establishment of a new Child and Family Support Agency. I am particularly mindful of the consistent themes emerging in these published reports regarding the need for a significantly improved and better integrated approach to meeting the needs of vulnerable children and families.

The final report of the Task Force, which I established to advise on the necessary transition programme to establish a Child and Family Support Agency, made recommendations on a number of key issues. I share with the view of the Task Force that in order to achieve genuine improvements for children and families, the Agency must have a broader focus than child protection. Prevention, early intervention, family support and therapeutic & care interventions are all key to the provision of integrated multidisciplinary services for children and families based on identified need. It is my intention that the new Agency will address the persistent issues which have been raised regarding the standardisation of services, communication, coordination and sharing of risk assessment, management and treatment for many of the children and families with the most complex needs. At the same time, the Agency will have a role in supporting families - providing less complex, less intrusive, less expensive responses which have a preventive function.

The new Child and Family Support Agency and the wider transformation of children's services represents one of the largest, and most ambitious, areas of public sector of reform embarked upon by this Government. The establishment of the Agency, underpinned by legislation, and incorporating key children and family services, will provide a focus for the comprehensive change programme currently being implemented under the leadership of Gordon Jeyes, National Director of Child and Family Services and CEO designate for the new Agency. The change programme is designed to significantly enhance the level and consistency of child welfare and protection services. This change process will continue into the new Child and Family Support Agency.

The necessary legislation to establish the Agency is being prepared by my Department as a priority. It is anticipated that the Bill will be published and enacted in the course of this session, and it is my intention that the Child and Family Support Agency will assume statutory responsibility for services for children and families from the start of January 2013.

Child Abuse Issues

Questions (212)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

212. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the extent to which she expects to augment the facilities for the reporting of child abuse and follow up procedures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47103/12]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

National policy in relation to the reporting and subsequent handling of child protection concerns is set out in the Children First National Guidance. Work is ongoing in my Department to put the relevant elements of Children First on a statutory footing. The Deputy will be aware that Children First has operated on the basis of voluntary compliance since it was first published by the then Department of Health and Children in 1999. Significant resources have been put in place to support the implementation of Children First and in the case of the HSE and An Garda Síochána, Children First has formed an integral part of their existing operations and practices. The HSE has provided training, information and advice on the implementation of Children First throughout the HSE, voluntary and community sector.

Under Children First, organisations are required to appoint a Designated Officer. The Designated Officer has responsibility that staff and volunteers are vetted, recruited properly and are trained in safe practices with children and in recognising signs of abuse and neglect. The Designated Officer makes information available to parents about child protection in the organisation and will have a system in place to check and report on its compliance with the legislation. In the legislation, it is proposed that the Designated Officer along with certain named professionals will have statutory responsibility to report information about abuse to the HSE. The obligation to report abuse extends to abuse and neglect wherever it occurs, that comes to the attention of the Designated Officer in the course of his / her work or volunteer activities.

To assist Designated Officers and certain named professionals make a determination as to whether to report abuse, a ‘Guidance for Reporting of Abuse’ is to be developed by my Department. This Guidance will deal with issues such as definitions, thresholds and appropriate routes for the reporting of abuse. The Guidance will assist designated officers and professionals named in the legislation, in their considering a number of factors to see if the concern reaches the threshold of a report under the legislation. This approach is intended to ensure that only those cases which require an assessment by the HSE are brought to its attention. In the context of the establishment of the new Child and Family Support Agency, a Regulatory Impact Analysis will accompany the preparation of relevant legislation and the allocation of resources will be considered.

Further, the use of different systems of child abuse management, a legacy issue from the previous Health Boards, is being addressed in the context of the Reform Programme in the HSE with a single, national, service delivery model in development, and through the introduction of a National Child Care Information System (NCCIS). The NCCIS will be the central system supporting Social Work services. As a social work case management system, it will be used to record and store the case history of every child and other clients of the service. Management information will be derived automatically from the case management system. In this regard, a national standardised business process has been implemented in each Integrated Service Area to ensure that data and systems are unified. The introduction of the NCCIS is a high priority and will help in the management of social work case management and will significantly improve the level, quality and accessibility of information in respect of Children and Family Services.

Child Abuse Issues

Questions (213)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

213. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will indicate the extent if known to which child abuse, wilful neglect or serious deprivation is currently adequately followed up by the services; if she anticipates major improvement in this area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47104/12]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

The HSE compiles monthly performance reports which provide an overall analysis of key performance data from finance, HR, hospital and primary and community services. In the area of children and family services this suite of indicators has recently been expanded to include new indicators aimed at capturing the responsiveness of services to referrals of concerns. These indicators include details of the number of referrals to child welfare and protection teams in the reporting period, the number of such referrals where a preliminary assessment took place within 24 hours, the number leading to initial assessments and the number of such assessments completed within 21 days.

These new performance indicators are being introduced in the context of the ongoing standardisation of business processes in the Children and Family Services of the HSE, the Reform Programme in the HSE with a single, national, service delivery model in development, and the introduction of a National Child Care Information System (NCCIS). The NCCIS will be the central system supporting Social Work services. As a social work case management system, it will be used to record and store the case history of every child and other clients of the service. Management information will be derived automatically from the case management system. In this regard, a national standardised business process has been implemented in each Integrated Service Area to ensure that data and systems are unified. The introduction of the NCCIS is a high priority and will help in the management of social work case management and will significantly improve the level, quality and accessibility of information in respect of Children and Family Services.

In this regard, the Children First National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children, published in 2011, provides greater clarity and guidance for individuals and organisations in identifying and responding appropriately to child abuse and neglect. It also sets out what organisations that care for or work with children should do to ensure they are safe whilst in the organisation. The Government has committed, as a priority, to the introduction of legislation to underpin Children First and the Heads of the Bill have been prepared and submitted to the Committee for Health and Children for their consideration.

I am aware that the proposed legislation could give rise to a significant number of reports being made to the HSE and I am cognisant of the need for an effective filtering system to be put in place. In this regard, ‘Guidance for Reporting of Abuse’ is to be developed by my Department. This Guidance will deal with issues such as definitions, thresholds and appropriate routes for the reporting of abuse. The Guidance will be dependent on designated officers and professionals named in the legislation, considering a number of factors to see if the concern reaches the threshold of a report under the legislation.

It is important to note that Mr. Gordon Jeyes, HSE National Director Children and Family Services has given me an assurance that all referrals when initially received are assessed and the action taken is prioritised by risk. In addition, the new Child and Family Support Agency with dedicated responsibility for the delivery of child welfare and protection services is to be established. A new model to deal effectively with referrals is being developed to ensure that all child welfare and protection reports receive a service promptly from the range of family support services and child protection services available.

Question No. 214 answered with Question No. 209.

Child Abuse Issues

Questions (215)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

215. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the extent to which she has in mind the need to make provision for warning mechanisms or early alert systems to address issues of child neglect or abuse in the future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47106/12]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

The purpose of child protection policy is to protect children from abuse and neglect. Key to the delivery of this policy is ensuring that society in general is aware of the possibility of abuse and neglect of children and of the reporting procedures available where concerns are identified.

Child abuse takes place in a variety of settings. International research shows that most child neglect and physical abuse takes place in the home. Abuse also takes place in other settings e.g. school, recreational etc. The Children First: National Guidelines for the Protection and Welfare of Children document was designed to assist in identifying and reporting child abuse. The guidelines specifically highlight the roles and responsibilities of the HSE and An Garda Síochána, as the two agencies with statutory responsibility for child protection. The Guidelines are also intended to assist organisations in ensuring that children under their care are safe, that staff / volunteers can identify possible abuse within the organisation or elsewhere and that there is in place the appropriate structure for reporting to relevant statutory bodies.

To ensure that Children First is properly implemented across Government Departments and at sectorial level the DCYA has established a Children First Implementation Inter-Departmental Group (CFIDG). Part of the role CFIDG is to report on sectorial issues and/or challenges arising from the implementation of the Children First National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children and to share information on good practice to ensure the successful implementation of Children First nationwide. The Deputy will be aware that Children First has operated on the basis of voluntary compliance since it was first published by the then Department of Health and Children in 1999. Significant resources have been put in place to support the implementation of Children First and in the case of the HSE and An Garda Síochána, Children First has formed an integral part of their existing operations and practices. The HSE has provided training, information and advice on the implementation of Children First throughout the HSE, voluntary and community sector.

Under Children First, organisations are required to appoint a Designated Officer. The Designated Officer has responsibility that staff and volunteers are vetted, recruited properly and are trained in safe practices with children and in recognising signs of abuse and neglect. The Designated Officer makes information available to parents about child protection in the organisation and will have a system in place to check and report on its compliance with the legislation. In the legislation, it is proposed that the Designated Officer along with certain named professionals will have statutory responsibility to report information about abuse to the HSE. The obligation to report abuse extends to abuse and neglect wherever it occurs, that comes to the attention of the Designated Officer in the course of his/her work or volunteer activities.

To assist Designated Officers and certain named professionals make a determination as to whether to report abuse, a ‘Guidance for Reporting of Abuse’ is to be developed by my Department. This Guidance will deal with issues such as definitions, thresholds and appropriate routes for the reporting of abuse. The Guidance will assist designated officers and professionals named in the legislation, in their considering a number of factors to see if the concern reaches the threshold of a report under the legislation. This approach is intended to ensure that only those cases which require an assessment by the HSE are brought to its attention.

Bullying of Children

Questions (216, 218)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

216. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the extent to which her Department can address the issues of bullying including cyber bullying outside school hours with particular reference to identification and early warning of such incidents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47107/12]

Bernard Durkan

Question:

218. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the position regarding early identification of incidents of bullying intimidation or child abuse outside of school hours; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47109/12]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

I propose to take Questions Nos. 216 and 218 together.

I am aware that children and teenagers are susceptible to bullying which can emanate from a variety of sources and the management of this bullying will need to vary dependant on its severity and the supports available to the children, both the victim and the bully, at home and in the community. An unacceptably high proportion of children have been the subject of some form of bullying, and we know that there have in some cases been tragic consequences.

Bullying in Schools

The Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children identifies that bullying in schools is a particular problem and offers some guidance on the issue. It highlights the need for school management boards to have a policy in place to deal with bullying, and to ensure that teachers are aware of this policy and of procedural guidelines to deal with it.

The Department of Education and Skills deals with regulations and guidelines on the issue of bullying in schools. It is my understanding that the individual Board of Management of the school is the body responsible for the governance of the school, including responsibility for implementing effective policies to counter bullying. Any complaint of bullying should in the first instance be made to the Chairperson of the Board of Management. The Department of Education and Skills may subsequently become involved should it be necessary to review the handling of the complaint by the Board of Management.

Cyber Bullying

We are all aware that children and young people are very susceptible to the use of electronic media for bullying purposes, as use of this media, particularly for social networking, continues to grow. Research findings from the Anti-Bullying Centre in Trinity College recently indicated that one in four girls and one in six boys in Ireland have been involved in cyberbullying either as a victim, bully or both.

The Office for Internet Safety was established by the Government to take a lead responsibility for internet safety in Ireland, particularly as it relates to children. It was instrumental in publishing ‘A Guide to Cyber Bullying’ at the end of 2008. The Office advises never to have a personal conversation with a stranger, whether it’s by email, a chatroom, a social networking website or instant messenger. The National Centre for Technology in Education (NCTE) developed the website 'www.webwise.ie' http://www.webwise.ie/ which provides information and resources to teachers, parents and students to help ensure that children’s online experiences are positive and safe.

The ISPCC urges parents of children who spend a lot of unsupervised time on the internet to become better informed about online safety and to communicate with their children around the rules and boundaries of internet usage. It is worrying that many secondary aged children do not use any privacy settings on their social network profile; clearly indicating that many young people are not taking necessary and available steps to ensure their information is kept private. Internet usage, also possible now on many portable devices, is set to become even more popular, so vigilance is required. In order to combat bullying simple steps can be taken such as saving the evidence, telling a parent, and crucially not responding to the bullying behaviour. I intend ensuring that responses to cyberbullying will be further prioritised in the new Children & Young People’s Policy Framework being prepared by my Department.

Homophobia

My Department provided funding in 2010 towards “Addressing Homophobia - Guidelines for the Youth Sector In Ireland”, developed by the BeLonG To Youth Services. This is an important resource to help raise awareness of homophobia and to support the youth sector in preventing and addressing homophobic bullying.

Serious Bullying considered to be Abuse

Serious instances of bullying behaviour, whether by other children or by adults should be reported to the HSE Children and Family Services and/or An Garda Síochána in accordance with the procedures outlined in the Children First Guidance.

Youth Services Provision

Questions (217)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

217. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the extent to which she expects to put in place the necessary staff to provide adequate children and youth support services outside of school hours; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47108/12]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

In the area of youth, my Department has a specific role in providing youth facilities and in supporting and promoting non-formal education and developmental opportunities for young people in out-of-school settings through which they can enhance their personal and social skills and competencies. Particular regard is had to the needs of young people between the ages of 10 and 21, and to those who are socially or economically disadvantaged including early school-leavers, homeless youth and those who are unemployed or at risk of substance misuse.

In particular, the Youth Affairs Unit of my Department provides targeted supports to disadvantaged, marginalised and at risk young people through the Special Projects for Youth Scheme, the Young Peoples Facilities and Services Fund (Rounds 1 and 2) and Local Drugs Task Force Projects. Universal supports are also made available to all young people via the Youth Service Grant Scheme, Local Youth Club Grant Scheme, Youth Information Centres, European Youth in Action Programme (administered by Léargas – The Exchange Bureau) and Gaisce – the President’s Award. These measures are providing positive developmental opportunities for young people, enhancing their personal and social competencies, increasing social inclusion and social integration and improving school attendance and engagement in the formal education process. Funding of some €56.806m for current expenditure is available from my Department in 2012 to support the provision of youth services and programmes.

Some 1,400 staff employed under these schemes are funded by my Department in addition to 24.5 (WTE) Youth Officer posts in VECs throughout the country. As Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, I am committed to the development of a new youth policy framework which my Department is currently progressing. One of my key aims for youth policy development will be to ensure optimum use of all the financial and human resources available. Accordingly, the development of my Department’s policy in relation to young people will focus specifically on ensuring greater coherence, coordination and impact in youth policy and provision across Departments and services so as to ensure quality outcomes for all.