Written Answers Nos. 27-34
28. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the measures she is putting in place to enable children with special needs access crèche and pre-school care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21832/13]
View answerThe Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme was introduced in January 2010 and provides a free pre-school year to all eligible children. The programme includes a number of additional provisions to take account of children with special needs. These include an exemption from the upper age limit for qualification under the programme where a child is developmentally delayed and would benefit from starting primary school at a later age. In addition, children with special needs can apply to have the pre-school year split over two years on a pro-rata basis, for example availing of the programme for two days a week in the first year and for three days a week in the second year. Application for these exemptions must be made prior to the child commencing the programme. It is my view that it would be extremely helpful to many children, and particularly those children with special needs, if a second pre-school year were to be provided. However, the introduction of a second pre-school year would require considerable additional funding and this funding is not available because of the financial constraints under which the Government is currently operating.
The ECCE programme will continue to be evaluated and developed as resources permit. My Department has been actively working with the Department of Health, specifically the Office of Disability and Mental Health, in the context of building better supports to facilitate the inclusion of children with special needs in mainstream pre-school settings. I was successful in securing capital funding in Budget 2013 to support the ongoing improvement of the childcare sector. The funding programme (applications for which closed on 30 April 2013) will provide grants under four strands, one of which is specifically for grants to improve the accessibility of services for children with disabilities.
29. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of domestic births placed for adoption in each of the past three years, 2010, 2011 and 2012; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21763/13]
View answerI am advised by the Adoption Authority of Ireland that the number of domestic adoption orders made in the period referred to by the Deputy is as follows:
|
Year |
No. of Domestic Adoptions Orders |
|
2010 |
189 |
|
2011 |
39 |
|
2012 |
46 |
Further details in this regard are in the Annual Reports of the Adoption Authority Of Ireland which are available on www.aai.gov.ie.
30. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if the signed agreement with Vietnam regarding inter-country adoptions came into operational effect before the end of April 2013 as previously advised; the up-to-date position regarding arrangements for inter-country adoptions with Ethiopia, India and Russia; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21762/13]
View answerIn September 2012 the Adoption Authority of Ireland (AAI) and the Vietnamese Central Authority for Adoption signed an administrative arrangement for intercountry adoption. The administrative arrangement is the first international arrangement for intercountry adoption entered into by the AAI and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam since both countries ratified the Hague Convention. The Adoption Authority accredited Helping Hands for activities in relation to facilitating adoptions from Vietnam and Helping Hands has recently received confirmation from the Vietnamese authorities of its approval to operate there. I met recently with representatives of Helping Hands who informed me that they expect adoptions to commence shortly. In March I lead a delegation to India which included the Chair of the Adoption Authority of Ireland and a departmental official. The visit, which was in conjunction with representing the Irish Government at official functions in India for St Patrick's Day, afforded me the opportunity to assess the position in relation to intercountry adoption in India and to clarify issues in relation to the requirements of the Indian authorities in that regard. I was advised that registration is now open with CARA (the Indian Central Authority) for special needs cases; this includes children with intellectual or physical disabilities, siblings including twins, and children over five years of age. It was explained that Indian currently operates intercountry adoption with other Hague countries without the need for any specific administrative arrangements of the type in place with Vietnam.
I have also travelled to Moscow, accompanied by Dr Geoffrey Shannon, Chair of the Adoption Authority, in order to discuss at a diplomatic level issues in relation to the potential for a bilateral agreement with Russia. During my visit I met with my counterpart, Minister Dmitry Livanov, Minister of Education and Science of the Russian Federation. This meeting was productive and allowed for an exchange of views on the possibility of Ireland entering into a bilateral agreement on intercountry adoption with Russia. Russia and Ethiopia are not signatories of the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption. In these circumstances, future adoptions from Russia and Ethiopia would require a bilateral agreement between Ireland and these countries. The Russian authorities acknowledged the satisfactory outcomes for Russian children adopted in Ireland and expressed a willingness to conclude an agreement with Ireland which would be subject to the approval of the Russian parliament. My Department, in consultation with the AAI, is continuing efforts to draft wording of a bilateral agreement, including in consultation with the Office of the Attorney General, which would satisfy our legal and Constitutional requirements, in particular in relation to the Russian requirement for post adoption reports. The wording of the draft bilateral agreement will be a matter of consideration by the Attorney General's office in advance of any further discussions with the Russian authorities.
The Adoption Authority delegation visit to Ethiopia in April last year was an initial part of the Authority's deliberations on the feasibility and suitability of entering into discussions with Ethiopia on a bilateral adoption agreement. The Authority is examining the compatibility of the Irish and Ethiopian adoption legislation.
31. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of children in care who now have an allocated social worker; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21854/13]
View answerThe 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 6,397 children in the care of the HSE in February 2013, of which 5,837 (91.2%) children had an allocated social worker. It is important to note the dynamic nature of children entering and leaving care. The HSE Review of Adequacy for HSE Children and Families Services 2011 showed that 36.7% of children admitted to care during 2011 were also discharged within the year. The Review also showed that there were over 2000 admissions to care in each of the years, 2009 to 2011. The HSE advise that where there are immediate operational difficulties in assigning one social worker to a child, social workers are assigned based on a needs assessment and prioritisation. Some of these cases can relate to children in very stable fostering placements, provided perhaps, by a relative. Where a social worker is not assigned for a period, practice has been to support foster placements through the regular social work duty system where the child can contact the social worker on duty. It is also important to note that cases are subject to ongoing review and, where appropriate, the level and nature of the support being provided to foster carers and children in care will change depending on the needs of the child.
32. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the implications for her Department’s planning for the future of the projections contained in the new study from the Central Statistics Office entitled Population and Labour Force Projections 2016-2046 that predicts a 17% to 20% increase in the number of children of primary school age over the next eight years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21769/13]
View answerAs part of Budget 2013 I, together with my colleague the Minister for Social Protection, announced a new School Age Childcare initiative which will be targeted at low-income parents availing of employment opportunities. The initiative is expected to receive annual funding of €14 million to provide in the region of 6,000 after-school places for children attending primary school, in order to support parents in taking up employment. Preparations are well-advanced for the introduction of a pilot project in a small number of locations, with the national roll-out of the programme planned for September this year. In addition to the new School Age Childcare Programme, my Department provides funding for three other childcare programmes which provide a range of supports to parents of pre-school and after-school children. The Early Childhood Care and Education programme provides a free pre-school year to all eligible children in the year before commencing primary school. The Community Childcare Subvention programme, which is provided through community-based childcare services, enables those services to provide childcare at reduced rates to disadvantaged and low income families. The Childcare Education and Training Support programme provides subvention for childcare places to qualifying trainees and students availing of certain FÁS and VEC courses. My Department provides in the region of €260 million annually to support parents with the cost of childcare under these programmes.
Capital funding grants were made available to child-care providers, both community and commercial, during the years 2000 to 2008 for the development and refurbishment of child-care facilities. Approximately €425 million was invested during this period. In Budget 2012, €6 million was provided for remedial, maintenance and renovation work in established child-care facilities, and to assist these facilities to purchase equipment for early education and child-care services. In Budget 2013, a further €2.75 million has been allocated to support the ongoing improvement of the childcare sector. My Department is currently developing an Early Years Strategy which will cover a range of issues affecting children in their first years of life. The Strategy will bring together and consider a significant amount of international and domestic research on the importance of early years for child development, including findings from the "Growing Up in Ireland" study. It will also be informed by the evaluations of the Prevention and Early Intervention Projects which have been funded jointly by my Department and philanthropic organisations, as well as an analysis of existing service provision and associated resources.
I am satisfied that prior and ongoing investment by my Department in the area of childcare will ensure the availability of high quality care and education for children into the future.
33. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the extent to which she continues to have dialogue with the various stakeholders in relation to issues affecting the welfare, well-being and health of children and young persons; the extent to which dominant issues have arisen in this regard; if she has a preference for particular and or specific policies to target any such issues; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21806/13]
View answerMy Department has always emphasised the importance of regular contact and discussion with key stakeholders in relation to policy and services for children and young people. This includes ensuring that, where appropriate, representative bodies and organisations working with children and young people play a role in the formation of policy. A number of committees and advisory groups are currently in place under my Department. One of these is the National Children's Advisory Council, which acts in an independent advisory role to myself as Minister for Children and Youth Affairs and includes representatives of statutory agencies, the voluntary sector, research community, parents and young people. Its overarching role is to contribute to the development of a strong collaborative interface between statutory and non-statutory providers of children’s services in order to improve outcomes for children and young people. The Council is currently assisting my Department in developing a new National Policy Framework for Children and Young People 2013-2018, which will build on Our Children - Their Lives, Ireland's first children’s strategy which was published in 2000 and provide a continuum of the life-course from infancy through to early and middle childhood, adolescence and early adulthood. Key areas which I expect the Framework will identify include health and well being; education; economic security and poverty; parenting and family support; environment; safety; sports and recreation; and media, arts and culture. Other committees include the National Youth Work Advisory Committee which includes representatives from both the voluntary and statutory sectors with an interest and involvement in the administration and provision of youth work programmes and services. Its main role is to advise on and assist in the co-ordination of youth work policies, programmes and services and provide a forum to address and progress specific issues. The National Children's Strategy Implementation Group includes representatives of relevant Government departments, the Health Service Executive (HSE), local authorities, the education sector and other key agencies. Its key priority is to ensure the implementation of all strategic plans and policy documents in relation to children's services in Ireland and improve the way in which Government, agencies and organisations work with each other.
34. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the reason for the delay in introducing the adoption (tracing and information) Bill; and the steps being taken to protect birth/adoption records held in private hands. [21820/13]
View answerWork is continuing in relation to the preparation of the Heads of Bill of the adoption (information and tracing) Bill. My view is that persons affected by adoption should be provided with a statutory right to as much information as possible within permissible Constitutional boundaries. The proposed legislation is intended to provide for a structured and regulated approach for applicants seeking access to adoption information and is also intended to facilitate contact between parties affected by adoption, including in circumstances where an adoption order was not effected. It is intended that the Bill will provide for the Adoption Authority to be responsible for providing access to adoption records, in accordance with the provisions of the Bill. The Bill will provide for the Adoption Authority to establish and maintain a National Index of Adoption Records, the purpose of which is to help an applicant for adoption information to identify the location of his or her adoption records. The intention is that the Bill is to provide that either the Adoption Authority, the HSE or an accredited body may hold adoption records, with the Authority having overall charge of those records. The HSE have already commenced the take over of files. In late 2011 the HSE Adoption Services took responsibility for the adoption files of the Sacred Heart Adoption Society in respect of homes in Bessborough, County Cork; St Peters, Castlepollard, County Westmeath and Sean Ross Abbey, Roscrea, County Tipperary. These files have since been transferred to the HSE in their entirety and are stored in specialised facilities in Glanmire County Cork. It is also intended that the Bill will provide for placing the National Contact Preference Register on a statutory basis and that a National Tracing Service will be established under the provisions of the Bill, the operation of which will be subject to guidelines to be set out in regulations.
Complex legal and Constitutional issues have arisen during the course of preparation of the Heads of Bill including the setting of criteria for balancing an adopted person's right to information about his or her identity as against a birth parent's right to privacy. These issues are currently receiving careful examination and detailed consideration is underway on the part of my Department and the Office of the Attorney General. I am anxious to bring the Heads of Bill before Government at the earliest possible date. Again, my view is that persons affected by adoption should be provided with a statutory right to as much information as permissible within Constitutional boundaries. However, there are undoubtedly challenges remaining in developing a workable framework which respects the Constitutional rights of all parties. I remain committed to achieving my policy objectives notwithstanding these challenges.
