Thursday, 4 Jul 2013

Care Services

Questions (9)

Dessie Ellis

Question:

9. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will review the case of a person (details supplied) in County Meath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32590/13]

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Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

Section 45 of the Child Care Act 1991 places a statutory duty on the HSE to form a view in relation to each person leaving care as to whether there is a "need for assistance" and if it forms such a view, to provide services in accordance with the legislation and subject to resources. All young people who have had a care history with the HSE, be it foster care, residential care or high support, are entitled to an aftercare service based on their assessed needs. The length of time an aftercare service is provided is dependent upon the assessed needs of the young person, but is generally provided for up to the age of 21 years or 23 years if the young person is in education.

As regards the young person referred to in the Deputy's question, I asked the HSE to investigate the case last month, following receipt of representations on the matter. The HSE has advised me that the young person in question reached the age of 18 in February 2012 and the full fostering allowance continued until they completed school in June 2012. The young person commenced a full time course for the academic year 2012/2013 and is in receipt of disability benefit from the Department of Social Protection and a pro-rata fostering allowance also issues from the HSE. The young person continues to retain a combined yearly financial support package of €18,304 from the HSE and the Department of Social Protection.

Question No. 10 answered with Question No. 8.

Children in Care

Questions (11)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

11. Deputy Pearse Doherty 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. [32601/13]

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Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

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 6,421 children in the care of the HSE in April 2013, of which 5,932 children had an allocated social worker. This is compared to 5,700 in March 2011.

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 2,000 admissions to care in each of the years, 2009 to 2011.

Latest figures from the HSE indicate that there are currently 1,390 WTE (whole time equivalent) social workers in child and family services. This includes all 270 additional social workers recruited in line with the detailed recommendation of the Ryan Report Implementation Plan 2009. The recruitment of these posts was completed in full by this Government and these posts were not subject to the public service recruitment moratorium. Social work figures are consistently in flux with vacancies arising due to maternity leave, career breaks, etc. However this Government is overseeing an ongoing programme of active recruitment to fill vacancies. 94 vacancies have recently been filled with a further 81 currently being filled.

Child Care Services Regulation

Questions (12, 13)

Dara Calleary

Question:

12. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans to improve the regulation of childminders; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32552/13]

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Timmy Dooley

Question:

13. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans to introduce regulation for afterschool child care services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32566/13]

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Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

I propose to take Questions Nos. 12 and 13 together.

Preschool services are subject to the Child Care (Preschool Services) (No.2) Regulations 2006, as provided for under Part VII of the Child Care Act 1991. The inspection of preschools and the enforcement of the Regulations are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive (HSE).

At present childminders taking care of more than three preschool children from different families, and after-school care for children, are not subject to the Child Care Regulations. These are issues which I am reviewing and will consider further in the coming months in the context of both the Early Years Strategy, which is being developed by my Department, and other amendments to the Child Care Act 1991 which are being considered.

Childminders who are not subject to the Childcare Regulations are encouraged to voluntarily notify their service to their local City or County Childcare Committee. Both notified and voluntarily notified childminders can avail of the Childminders Tax Exemption which exempts child minding earnings of up to €15,000 from income tax. While my Department continues to actively promote the notification of child minding services and the participation of childminders in quality and training programmes, it is not in a position to prevent parents from entering into informal arrangements with childminders who are outside the scope of the Regulations.

One of the specific issues of policy which I have identified for consideration in the preparation of Ireland's first ever Early Years Strategy for children aged from birth to 6 years, is the future role and regulation of the child minding sector. I expect work on the Strategy to be completed later this year and I will review the future regulation of childminders in that context.

My Department is currently piloting a new School Age Childcare scheme in conjunction with the Department of Social Protection. When fully operational, the scheme will provide 6,000 subsidised, after-school places for primary school children, to assist qualifying parents to avail of employment opportunities. Eligibility for the scheme will be determined by the Department of Social Protection. Parents qualifying under the scheme will be able to access after school childcare at a weekly cost of €20. My Department will subsidise each of these places with weekly payments of €35 during term time and €100 in school holidays. Pending any change to the Child Care Act 1991 to extend regulatory control to after-school childcare, all services participating in the scheme will be subject to strict contractual requirements drawn up by my Department and monitored by Pobal.

Question No. 14 answered with Question No. 10.

Adoption Records Provision

Questions (15)

Clare Daly

Question:

15. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the resources that are available to the Health Service Executive in managing and sorting the adoption files which are being stored in Glanmire, County Cork; and who people can contact if they need to access information from within. [32355/13]

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Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

Approximately 25,000 files have been transferred to the HSE Regional Adoption Service in Cork, from the Sacred Heart Adoption Society, which had responsibility for Bessboro, Co Cork, Sean Ross Abbey, Roscrea, Co Tipperary and Castlepollard, Co Westmeath. I am advised by the HSE that there has been very significant demand to access these files and consequently the HSE Regional Adoption Service in Cork has not been able to respond as quickly as would have been hoped.

In parallel with facilitating such access, work by the HSE on the organising and storage of these files has taken place and planning is underway for reorganising the approach to dealing with information requests to improve access.

Files in relation to Bessboro will continue to be managed by the HSE Regional Adoption Services in Cork. The HSE intends to transfer files in relation to the other two centres to other HSE regional adoption services to address service pressures in the Regional Adoption Service in Cork and facilitate those wishing to access information in relation to these files. In the meantime the HSE, in some instances, may refer individual applicants to their appropriate HSE Adoption services in the areas the applicant is now resident in order to assist in responding to queries.

I am advised by the HSE that in parallel with facilitating such access there has been very significant demand to access files and consequently the HSE Regional Adoption Service in Cork has not been able to respond as quickly as would have been hoped.

At present, the Regional Adoption Service in Cork provides a system for clients of these mother and baby homes which affords them an opportunity to meet with a Social Worker as a first step in commencing the tracing process. This service will continue to be provided by HSE Regional Adoption Services in Cork until the files and responsibility for providing assistance transfers to other regions.

Queries can be directed to the Principal Social Worker, HSE South, Regional Adoption Service, Páirc na gCrann, St. Stephen's Hospital, Sarsfield Court, Glanmire, Co. Cork (telephone 021-4858650).

After-School Support Services

Questions (16)

Brian Stanley

Question:

16. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the steps she will to take to address the lack of availability of after-school services for children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32600/13]

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Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

As part of Budget 2013 I, together with my colleague, the Minister for Social Protection, was pleased to announce a new After-school Childcare initiative which will be targeted at low-income parents availing of employment opportunities. Lack of access to affordable, quality childcare is a significant barrier to many low income and disadvantaged families seeking to avail of work opportunities. This initiative will provide an important support measure to enable parents to avail of job opportunities. This is in line with the Government's overall strategy to support parents of low income families to take up employment and demonstrates how Departments are working together to deliver the Government's agenda on promoting employment and supporting children's development.

The initiative is expected to receive full year funding of €14 million to provide over 6,000 after-school places for children attending primary school in order to support parents to take up employment. This funding has been made possible through savings from the Vote of the Department of Social Protection.

Eligibility for the new After-school Childcare programme is determined by the Department of Social Protection. Officials from the Department of Social Protection and my Department are continuing in close collaboration on the operation of the programme. The pilot phase of the programme has commenced and this will assist both Departments in determining the procedural, quality and practical issues that require attention prior to the finalisation of the programme. Up to 500 childcare places are available with Department of Social Protection local offices in Tralee, Mullingar, Dundalk, Cork City, Finglas, Kings Inn and Limerick City participating. The full roll-out of the programme will commence in September 2013, to coincide with the new school year.

The programme will provide €35 per week per child enrolled in a participating service for after school services and this payment will rise to €100 per week during holiday periods when parents will be availing of full day care. A further €20 per week will be paid by the parent to the provider in both instances.

The new After-school Childcare programme will further augment my Department's programme of childcare supports for low income families. These include the Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) and the Childcare Education and Training Support (CETS) programmes, both of which provide subsidised childcare for low income parents, including qualifying parents who are on approved VEC and FÁS education and training courses. The CCS programme provides funding to community childcare services to enable them to provide a range of supports including funding towards the provision of after-school services.

In 2013, my Department expects to spend in the region of €70 million on the CCS and CETS programmes, supporting over 30,000 childcare places.

Aftercare Services

The HSE has also informed me that 1427 young people over the age of 18 years - 674 males and 753 females were in receipt of an aftercare service at the end of March 2013. This number differs from that published in the performance reports, as it would include young people over 21 years of age who were in receipt of a service.

Information for 2012 is as follows-

- In December 2012, 1,073 young adults were in receipt of an aftercare service, 599 of whom were in full time education;

- In September 2012, 1,101 young adults were in receipt of an aftercare service, 596 of whom were in full time education.

- In June 2012, 1,053 young adults were in receipt of an aftercare service, 614 of whom were in full time education.

- In March 2012, 1,123 young adults were in receipt of an aftercare service, 642 of whom were in full time education.

I have requested a breakdown by gender of these numbers for 2012 and will arrange to forward same to the Deputy when it is available.

The HSE has provided further information in relation to previous years-

- In 2011, 1,213 young adults were in receipt of an aftercare service, 770 of whom were in education or training

- In 2010, 1,046 young adults were in receipt of an aftercare service, 774 of whom were in education or training

- In 2009, 847 young adults were in receipt of an aftercare service, 587 of whom were in education or training

- In 2008, 979 young adults were in receipt of an aftercare service, 673 of whom were in education or training

- In 2007, 1,051 young adults were in receipt of an aftercare service, 674 of whom were in education or training

- In 2006, 810 young adults were in receipt of an aftercare service, 531 of whom were in education or training

The HSE National Aftercare Service is underpinned by a National Policy and Procedures Document which was developed in cooperation with the key stakeholders, including the voluntary sector agencies representing children in care and those involved in aftercare provision and my Department. The policy commits to promoting and achieving the best outcomes for young people leaving care and in ensuring consistency of support to these young people.

An intra-agency National Aftercare Implementation Group, comprised of NGO groups representing aftercare, child advocacy, foster care and other groups, was established by the HSE to monitor progress in implementing the national policy. This group aims to provide a standard, intra and inter-agency approach to the delivery of aftercare services in partnership with the wider voluntary and statutory sector. Given the particular difficulties for some young people leaving care in areas of mental health and disability, the aftercare policy has a strong multi-agency dimension. The Implementation Group is developing protocols with Social Inclusion, Disability Services, Mental Health Services and Primary Care in the HSE and the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government regarding housing to support this approach. A protocol has already been signed with the Irish Youth Justice Service which covers joint working arrangements for young people in Detention Schools.