Written Answers Nos. 185-192
185. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will confirm that no thoroughbred or champion racehorses and jumpers or other Irish horses and ponies entered the Irish food chain or were exported as horsemeat; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7699/13]
View answerAll types of equines can be slaughtered for human consumption, subject to compliance with the relevant legislation. In particular the animals are required to be properly identified in accordance with EU and national legislation. Equines issued with a passport after 1 July 2009 must have a corresponding microchip implanted by a veterinarian, which is recorded in the passport and creates a link between the passport and the animal. The passport includes information on any veterinary medicines administered to equines. An equine for slaughter for human consumption must be accompanied to the slaughterhouse by its passport and the information on the passport determines whether the animal can be slaughtered for human consumption. Horses treated with certain veterinary medicines such as phenylbutazone, known in the industry as ‘bute’, are permanently excluded from the human food chain in order to protect public health and the passport of the horse in question is endorsed by the prescribing veterinary practitioner to this effect.
My Department implements official controls in relation to horse identification at marts and other sales venues, in abattoirs under its supervision and at points of entry to the country. The Department has detailed procedures for the slaughter of horses in abattoirs under its supervision and has communicated these and the checks required both to its staff and the business operators. It has liaised with passport issuing agencies in Ireland and has developed protocols to allow abattoir operators to check the details of passports with these agencies to ensure that they are valid and that only those horses eligible for slaughter are slaughtered.
187. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question 629 of 24 April 2012 if he will detail in tabular form, the number of leases, location and the number of leases with upward only rent clauses for each year since 2010 in which the Department is the lessor. [7760/13]
View answerIt is not possible to provide this information in the required time. I will forward it to the Deputy as soon as it is available.
189. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the extent to which her Department expects to examine issues surrounding juvenile offenders with particular reference to identifying the social and-or economic contributory factors; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7572/13]
View answerI would like to inform the Deputy that the Irish Youth Justice Service (IYJS) which is based in my Department and includes officials from the Department of Justice and Equality is currently developing a Youth Justice Action Plan which will sit within the Children and Young People's Policy Framework (CYPPF) 2013-2018 currently being developed in my Department but will also form part of the National Anti-Crime Strategy being developed as part of the draft White Paper on Crime being finalised by my colleague Minister Shatter.
Youth crime will always be a concern but we now know from hard data that the vast majority of young people grow out of crime. In order for the public to have confidence in a youth justice system, it needs to be reasonably assured that it is effective in its policies and delivery.
The focus for the forthcoming Youth Justice Action Plan will be to continue the downward trends in high volume crime and detention; becoming more adept in understanding and intervening in more serious crime offending patterns; and improving the effectiveness and efficiency of these interventions in addressing the behaviour and needs of these children. The Plan involves evidence-informed targeted interventions to achieve better outcomes for children who get into trouble with the law, and to reduce crime leading to safer communities. Importantly, the voice and experiences of children involved in the youth justice system have influenced the development of these interventions.
Of course, the Deputy will be aware that my Department is responsible for a range of supports to families and children which, although not directly related to juvenile offenders, seek to address many of the social and economic contributory factors. I hope to bring a seamless new approach to policy development and integrated service provision for children so that they have the best possible start to life. In order to design and develop effective policies and services that make a difference, then as a first step, we need to better understand our children: their lives, their experiences, their expectations.
My Department's National Strategy for Research and Data on Children’s Lives 2011-2016 sets out a 5 year plan to guide and support the development and use of research and data on children’s lives, for the purpose of improving understandings and creating an evidence base to support policy and practice. Several of the priority areas identified in the strategy relate to the experience of children and young people in contact or in danger of coming in contact with the justice system.
The Deputy will be aware of the commitment given at broader systemic and cultural level through the way we deliver services, in particular through the work of the new Child and Family Support Agency (CFSA) which will be established this year. At the heart of the new Agency will be a new Service Delivery Framework, which will differentiate between child welfare and protection cases, such that family and child welfare concerns can be responded to by new multi-agency, community-based models for early intervention and family support. The new Agency will represent the practical application of a new approach towards 'proportionate' service responses.
190. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the degree to which she continues to engage with youth organisations in the context of meeting the requirements of children and young people in general; if any particular issues have arisen wherein her Department may be able to make a positive intervention with particular reference to the impact of the ongoing economic situation on young people; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7573/13]
View answer191. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the extent to which she has identified the main issues affecting young people in today’s economic situation; the degree to which she can find herself in a position to respond to any such needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7574/13]
View answer194. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the extent to which research has been undertaken to identify the most common causes of concern and stress amongst young people in modern times; the extent to which any corrective measures can be put in place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7577/13]
View answer198. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she and-or her Department will provide intervention and/or support services to teenagers or young people who are subjected to bullying outside of school hours or in employment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7581/13]
View answer200. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will outline the extent to which she and her Department have identified the most serious deficiencies in children and youth support or other services; the progress made in addressing such issues; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7583/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 190, 191, 194, 198 and 200 together.
Funding of €53.173m, including €1.75 for a new capital funding programme, has been provided to my Department in 2013 for the provision of youth services and programmes to young people throughout the country through a number of schemes.
These schemes include the Youth Service Grant Scheme, the Special Projects for Youth Scheme, the Young People’s Facilities and Services Fund Rounds 1 and 2, Local Drug Task Force projects and certain other provisions including the Local Youth Club Grant Scheme and Youth Information Centres. This funding supports the delivery of a range of youth work programmes and services for all young people, including those from disadvantaged communities, by the voluntary youth sector. There are some 1,400 youth work staff in 477 projects and over 40,000 volunteers involved in the provision of services and activities for young people.
Each year over 380,000 young people participate in youth services. Youth work and non formal learning in its many programmes and activities; recreational, sporting, learning, volunteering and personal development, offers young people opportunities to acquire new competences and skills such as critical thinking, problem solving, resilience, motivation, creativity and leadership. These are core and transferable life skills; the 21st century skills that are so important to equip young people for the challenges in today’s world.
There is a growing recognition in Ireland and across Europe of the significance of youth work in promoting young people’s development, health and wellbeing, enhancing their participation in education, training and employment and the potential youth work has, as part of wider strategies to respond to the challenges that arise, as a result of the current economic situation, such as youth employment. My Department is working closely with the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and Education and Skills and Department of Social Protection in the context of the Government’s Action Plan for Jobs to identify in what ways the youth sector can contribute to shared policy objectives to address youth employment. As part of the programme of the EU Presidency of the Youth Council, I will hold an expert round table on the subject in on 21st June 2013.
The role of research and consultations with youth sector interests and the young people themselves are central elements in my Department’s approach to the formulation of the youth policy services that are responsive to young peoples needs. My Department has commissioned a review of international best practice in the field of youth work to advance our understanding of the impact of youth services in the lives of children and young people. The study will inform a new Youth Policy Framework which is planned by my Department for later this year. The findings of the Growing Up In Ireland Study of my Department and other studies including EU studies have been significant in relation to providing information about children and young peoples experience of bullying and its impact on them.
The Action Plan on Bullying - produced by cross-sectoral working group on which my Department and the youth services were represented, contains a range of evidence based actions to support parents, young people, schools and community interests, in tackling this issue which can have a serious impact on young people. My Department will work closely with the Department of Education and Skills on the implementation of the Action Plan and is undertaking a series of initiatives to raise awareness about the problem and the measures to be taken to tackle prejudice and promote a safer environment for our young people. The Youth Clubs funded by my Department are an important outlet for children and young people in this context. Their activities can help to build self esteem, increase confidence and strengthen friendships so that young people are better equipped to counter bullying behaviour.
Consultations with young people themselves and their identification of needs for supports and facilities is a core feature of the National Play and Recreation policy. As a result of the policy many local authorities have developed world class play facilities. Youth cafes funded by my Department are a particular success responding directly to teenagers identified need for places to ‘hang out’ and an alternative to pub and drug culture. My Department estimates that there are between 75 and 100 youth cafes now in place around the country. I will shortly be announcing details of the €1.75m in capital funding that is available this year for the further development of these and other facilities to respond to young people.
My Department works closely with the youth sector organisations to address the needs of children and young people. The National Youth Work Advisory Committee is an important source of advice and guidance to my Department in developing youth policy and initiatives. The committee is composed of a chairperson and 32 members drawn equally from the voluntary and statutory sectors involved in the administration and provision of youth work programmes and services. This committee advises my Department on matters relating to the development and coordination of youth work policies, programmes and services.
