Thursday, 9 May 2013

Written Answers Nos. 1-10

Ministerial Appointments

Questions (9)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Question:

9. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she has proceeded to seek expressions of interest from interested persons or nominations of specific persons who would be prepared to serve as members of the board of the yet to be established Child and Family Agency; the number of board positions she plans for the new agency; if a person (details supplied) has taken up her position as chair of the board of the existing Family Support Agency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21764/13]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (Deputy Frances Fitzgerald)

The Government has approved the Heads of the Child and Family Agency Bill and has also agreed to the priority drafting of this Bill. The necessary legislative and organisational preparations are being prioritised so that the Agency can be established as soon as possible. This piece of important legislation provides for the subsuming of functions from three separate agencies; namely the HSE, and also the Family Support Agency and the National Educational Welfare Board which both currently come under the remit of my Department. The preparations undertaken to date include identification of the first Chair of the Child and Family Agency.

In preparation for the formal establishment of the new Agency Ms. Norah Gibbons will be initially appointed as Chair of the existing Family Support Agency, one of the constituent bodies to be merged into the Child and Family Agency. In line with the practice established by this Government Ms. Gibbons will be available to appear before the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health and Children in advance of her taking up her position.

A public advertisement has been undertaken through the Public Appointments Service seeking Expressions of Interest from those interested in being appointed to the Board of the Family Support Agency having regard to both its existing statutory functions and its planned role in facilitating the establishment of the Child and Family Agency. The closing date for applications is Thursday, 23rd May 2013.

The selection of board members will reflect the enhanced role being given to this board in overseeing, on an administrative basis, the governance and organisational preparations for the new Agency. The number of Board members appointed will be in line with Section 10 (1) of the Family Support Agency Act, 2001, which provides for a board of 12 members in total.

Those appointed to the FSA Board will have a term of office up to the date of the establishment of the new Child and Family Agency. In the interests of good governance I anticipate that in general a good level of continuity will be maintained between the newly appointed Family Support Agency Board and the Board of the Child and Family Agency, although I will be proposing that the latter board be smaller in number.

Meanwhile legislative preparations are advanced with finalisation of the Child and Family Agency Bill nearing completion in conjunction with the Office of Parliamentary Counsel. I expect to introduce this Bill to the House in this session.

Children in Care

Questions (10, 20)

Seamus Kirk

Question:

10. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of children in residential general care who now have a written care plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21850/13]

Micheál Martin

Question:

20. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of children in foster care general who now have a written care plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21855/13]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (Deputy Frances Fitzgerald)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 and 20 together.

The HSE compiles monthly performance reports which include statistics in relation to children in care. These reports are published on the HSE website. The latest published report shows that there were 323 children in general residential care in February 2013, 291 (90%) of whom had a written care plan. All children in Special Care or in High Support placement had a written care plan. There were 4,031 children in general foster care in February 2013, of whom 3,581 (89%) children had a written care plan. A care plan should be developed in advance of a child going into care, except where the child enters care on an emergency basis.

The Child Care Regulations 1995 require that all children in care have a Care Plan and that the Care Plan is reviewed at regular intervals or when required. The HSE has advised me that day to day exigencies of service provision, such as staff absence due to annual, maternity and sick leave, can impact on services. The HSE further advised that there may be circumstances in which local decisions are made in regard to work planning within the context of service priorities, such as child protection workloads within an area or staff availability. In these circumstances, it may be determined that a ‘child in care review’ can be deferred for a short period. Such a decision will be made on the basis of risk assessment and would apply to particularly stable care placements.

The figures for children in general residential care of 90% and general foster care of 89% respectively at the end of February 2013 shows an improvement on the figures at February 2011 where the comparative figures were 87% and 88%.

I am pleased to inform the Deputy that in relation to the recruitment of social workers, the HSE has advised me that as of 15th April, there are currently 123 vacant posts being filled. These posts will improve resources available to support children in care across the country.