Written Answers Nos. 633 - 647
633. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the total cost the Health Service Executive has incurred paying for legal representation for guardian ad litems for each of the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36005/13]
View answerMy Department has sought the information requested by the Deputy from the HSE and I will provide the Deputy with the information as soon as it becomes available
634. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she is preparing her Department to adapt to and make maximum use of next generation technologies in information and communications to enhance the interaction of her Department with the citizen and the internal functioning of her Department; if she intends to conduct a risk analysis in respect of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36100/13]
View answerICT services for the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and associated agencies; the Adoption Authority of Ireland, the Office of the Ombudsman for Children and the Family Support Agency, are provided by the Department of Health on a shared-services basis.
The approach of my Department has been to utilise appropriate technologies to provide modern and efficient support for the Department’s business needs and demands. That will continue to be the case as new technologies come into play.
A key consideration in the application of any technology, existing or new, to a business process is security – data security, access security and device security - and this will continue to be the case. Analysing risk is a fundamental component of a comprehensive security implementation.
Additionally my Department will liaise with the recently appointed Government Chief Information Officer in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, who is currently assessing what is required to build on progress in ensuring that ICT-enabled change is delivered across the Public Service.
635. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will outline the total youth services spending in each county to date in 2013 and in each of the previous four years. [36138/13]
View answer636. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her views on whether spending on youth services is responsive and proportionate to the populations across each county; if she has undertaken a review in respect of same; if so, if she will share the findings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36139/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 635 and 636 together.
The Youth Affairs Unit of my Department administers a range of funding schemes, programmes and supports to the youth sector. Funding of €53.498m, which includes €1.75m capital funding, has been made available in 2013 to support the provision of youth services and programmes to young people throughout the country including those from disadvantaged communities. Targeted supports for disadvantaged, marginalised and at risk young people are provided through the Special Projects for Youth Scheme, the Young Peoples Facilities and Services Fund Rounds 1 and 2 and Local Drugs Task Force Projects. These funding schemes support national and local youth work projects and services provided by the voluntary youth work sector. It is estimated that some 400,000 young people participate in the programmes and services which are provided by approximately 1,400 paid staff and 40,000 volunteers working in youth work services and communities throughout the country. Since its establishment, my Department has provided funding for the youth sector as follows: 2011: €60.954m which includes €800,000 capital funding and 2012: €58.306m which includes €1.5m capital funding.
My Department, as with all Government Departments, has been required to achieve significant savings in recent years, with consequent reductions in funding in all major programmes on account of the economic challenges facing the country at this time. The savings required under the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure for the Youth Affairs budget from 2012 to 2014 inclusive amount to €11.987m. In implementing the savings required, I and my Department have tried to ensure that, in the determination process for the allocations, the front line youth services, particularly those for the most vulnerable young people, are protected as far as is possible from the impact of any necessary reductions in funding. I have asked youth organisations and projects to consider the scope for reducing administration and overhead costs as far as is possible and to focus the services for those young people who are most vulnerable.
I have met, and continue to meet with, many youth organisations and groups to try to identify ways to minimise the impact of these necessary savings in order to ensure that the provision of quality youth services to young people is sustained in these challenging times. There are ongoing meetings at official level with youth sector organisations to share information on the challenges facing services and young people.
A comprehensive Value for Money and Policy Review of youth funding has been commenced in my Department and it is anticipated that the findings of this review will inform the future development of youth programmes and services.
My Department is developing a new youth policy framework for publication later this year. The new youth policy framework will aim to enhance the provision of youth services and activities and it will, inter alia, promote coordination between government departments and youth sector organisations with a view to maximising the effectiveness of the State funding available to support services for young people in future years.
The breakdown of funding is not available in the format requested by the Deputy. The Youth Affairs Unit administers funding to some 30 funding bodies including the Education and Training Boards and other agencies. A breakdown of funding per funding body in recent years is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as it is available.
637. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the total cost and details of the travel expenses the Health Service Executive incurred paying for travelling expenses for guardians ad litems for each of the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36259/13]
View answerMy Department has sought the information requested by the Deputy from the HSE and I will provide the Deputy with the information as soon as it becomes available
638. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will provide details of projects funded from the national lottery by her Department in the past three years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36260/13]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is set out below.
2012 (DCYA) National Lottery Funding
|
Project Name |
Amount |
|
Adamstown Summer Camp (ASC), Lucan |
€3,000 |
|
19th/36th Scout Unit Dublin |
€2,000 |
|
3 Estates Youth Club, Templemore |
3,000 |
|
34th Wexford Davidstown Scouts |
€10,000 |
|
5th Westmeath (Shamone) Scout Troop |
€2,000 |
|
Autism Assistance Dogs Ireland |
€5,000 |
|
Ballinrobe Community Playgroup |
€15,000 |
|
Ballybunion Youth Café |
€5,000 |
|
Bessborough Centre Creche |
€5,000 |
|
Brothers Pearse A.C. |
€3,500 |
|
CARI |
€30,000 |
|
Celbridge Community Centre Ltd |
€4,700 |
|
Children's Rights Alliance |
€4,000 |
|
Clare Crusaders |
€7,000 |
|
Clondalkin Youth Band |
€5,000 |
|
Console (Loughlinstown) |
€10,000 |
|
Daughters of Charity Child & Family Service |
€2,000 |
|
Dean Kelly Memorial National School, Athlone |
€5,000 |
|
Donegal Family Resource Centre |
€10,000 |
|
Drimnagh Amateur Boxing & Physical Culture Club |
€3,500 |
|
Early Learning Initiative, NCI |
€31,500 |
|
Edenbeag Childcare Centre Ltd |
€5,000 |
|
Eivers Lane Childcare Ltd |
€3,800 |
|
Elm Park Clonmel Youth Facility |
€11,545 |
|
Focus Ireland - Waterford |
€4,200 |
|
Football Association of Ireland - Late Nite Leagues |
€10,000 |
|
Foróige 'Port' Garda Youth Division Project |
€3,000 |
|
Foróige, Balbriggan |
€5,000 |
|
Foroige/Ballinabrackey GAA Club |
€5,000 |
|
Galmoy Playground Association |
€9,370 |
|
Hartstown/Huntstown F.C. |
€10,000 |
|
HAY Garda Youth Diversion Project, Foróige |
€1,500 |
|
Headstrong - Jigsaw Clondalkin & Tallaght |
€15,000 |
|
Homestart Lucan |
€5,000 |
|
Irish Wheelchair Association Youth Café Project |
€3,000 |
|
Jigsaw Offaly |
€5,000 |
|
Kilcullen Community Playgroup |
€10,000 |
|
Knockmitten United FC |
€5,825 |
|
Le Chéile Restorative Justice Project |
€8,000 |
|
Lisacul Childcare, Ballaghaderreen |
€1,600 |
|
Liscannor Childcare Services Ltd |
€2,600 |
|
Louisburgh Childcare Ltd |
€25,000 |
|
Lus na Gréine Family Resource Centre |
€2,000 |
|
Maple Youth Café |
€5,000 |
|
Mohill FRC |
€2,000 |
|
Naoinra Cill Chiarain, Rosmuc |
€5,000 |
|
Naomh Feichin GAA Club |
€5,000 |
|
Newcastle Lyons Development Trust Ltd |
€10,000 |
|
Palmerstown Community & Youth Centre |
€10,000 |
|
Parents Plus Charity |
€31,500 |
|
Pieta House |
€20,000 |
|
Rathcoole Community Centre Ltd |
€10,000 |
|
Ringsend Creche Ltd |
€10,000 |
|
Riverside Youth Café Café, The Junction, Clare YS |
€3,000 |
|
SDCC - Start Box Programme |
€4,000 |
|
Shannow Resource Centre |
€3,400 |
|
Six Steps Together Parenting Programme |
€335 |
|
Sligo Dyslexia Group |
€500 |
|
Sligo Traveller Support Group |
€9,300 |
|
South Leitrim Neighbourhood Youth Project/Foroige |
€2,500 |
|
St Oliver's Scout Group Drogheda |
€3,500 |
|
Stepaside Youth Club, Belarmine Comm. Centre |
€2,500 |
|
Streetline |
€10,000 |
|
The Anti-Bullying Research & Resource Centre |
€6,000 |
|
The Get Ahead Club |
€3,000 |
|
The Glencree Society |
€5,000 |
|
Tigh Filí |
€5,000 |
|
Tir na Spraoi (Cape Clear Island) |
€4,000 |
|
Tullow Childcare Association Ltd |
€5,000 |
|
West Wexford Youth Project |
€2,500 |
|
Youth Work Ireland, Portlaoise |
€4,325 |
|
Total |
€500,000 |
2011 (DCYA) National Lottery Funding [from 2 June 2011]
|
Project Name |
Amount |
|
FAI Dublin City and County Late Nite Leagues |
€10,000 |
|
St Kevin's Family Resource Centre, Tallaght, Dublin 24 |
€6,700 |
|
Beacon of Light Counselling Centre, Clondalkin, Dublin 22 |
€33,000 |
|
Cuan Counselling Service, MFG, Dingle, Co Kerry |
€5,000 |
|
St Michael's Estate FRC - After School Project, Inchicore, Dublin 8 |
€4,100 |
|
Dime Garda Youth Diversion Project, Hardwicke Street, Dublin 1 |
€4,500 |
|
W.H.A.D. Project, Ballyfermot, Dublin 10 |
€1,200 |
|
CUMAS, Clondalkin, Dublin 22 |
€20,000 |
|
Anam Cara Parental and Sibling Support Ltd, Tallaght, Dublin 24 |
€6,500 |
|
Griffeen Community Development Group, Lucan, Co Dublin |
€3,000 |
|
National Children's Nurseries Assoc (NCNA) |
€25,000 |
|
FACE - Fermoy Action Children's Education, Co Cork |
€3,000 |
|
Ballybane Foróige Project, Galway |
€3,500 |
|
Clever Kidz After School (Respond), Athy, Co Kildare |
€3,000 |
|
Navan Community Development Project Ltd, Co Meath |
€3,000 |
|
Co Wicklow Playbus Project, Wicklow |
€6,000 |
|
Cardonagh Youth Club, Inishowen, Co Donegal |
€9,000 |
|
Stepping Stones, St Colman's Community Playgroup, Claremorris, Co Mayo |
€14,000 |
|
Alternative Learning Pathways Project, Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin |
€6,000 |
|
Total |
€166,500 |
639. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the numbers of social workers available in each local health office who have been trained to conduct specialist child interviews as part of the joint protocol with the Garda; the resources available to them to assist in the carrying out of such interviews; her future plans for this area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36261/13]
View answerThirty-three social workers have received training in conducting specialist child interviews from the Garda Crime and Operational Training faculty in Templemore as part of a joint protocol with the Gardaí.
The protocol between An Garda Síochána and the HSE relates to the electronic recording of children being interviewed for suspected child abuse cases. The purpose of the protocol is to facilitate and assist both organisations in their approach to making a video recording of an interview with a complainant where it is intended to submit the recording as evidence at a trial.
Specialist interviews are conducted in interview suites provided by the Gardaí in seven locations throughout the country (Dublin (2), Waterford, Cork, Limerick, Sligo and Letterkenny)
The HSE is in discussions with the Gardaí regarding the planning of further training of staff in Specialist Interviewing.
640. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of posts filled, expressed as a percentage of total current posts, for each grade in social work teams in each local health office; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36267/13]
View answer641. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the total number of social work team leader posts filled with acting team leaders; the total number of principal worker posts filled with acting principal social workers; the number of acting positions that have been backfilled; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36268/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 640 and 641 together.
My Department has sought the information requested by the Deputy from the HSE. As the information is not readily available, the HSE will undertake an analysis of their data in order to compile the statistics requested. I will forward these to the Deputy when they become available.
642. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of new relative foster carers recruited by each local health office for each of the past five years; the number of new non-relative foster carers recruited by each LHO for each of the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36269/13]
View answerMy Department has sought the information requested by the Deputy from the HSE and I will provide the Deputy with the information as soon as it becomes available
643. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of new supported lodgings providers recruited by each local health office for each of the past five years. [36270/13]
View answerMy Department has sought the information requested from the HSE and I will provide the Deputy with the information as soon as it becomes available.
644. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs in respect of inter-country adoptions, if she will provide an update on the accreditation of adoption agencies; the measures she is taking to facilitate these agencies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36364/13]
View answerThe Adoption Authority of Ireland is the central authority in Ireland for intercountry adoption. Agencies are accredited by the Adoption Authority to provide mediation services in relation to intercountry adoption to assist prospective adoptive parents with the adoption process in respect of particular countries. The operation of such bodies is seen as an additional safeguard for countries in the conduct of the adoption process and is considered good practice by the Hague authorities. Monitoring and oversight of these agencies is solely a matter for the Adoption Authority. There are currently three agencies accredited by the Adoption Authority for intercountry adoption purposes. All three were established on a non-profit basis and, although accredited by the Adoption Authority, they are not public bodies. The financial model underpinning the operation of these agencies was based upon the recoupment of costs from prospective adoptive parents at the different stages of the process. However, due to trends in adoption world wide, the numbers of adoptions upon which the plans and financial projections of these agencies were developed have not materialised. International developments have also seen an increase in the time taken to complete an adoption. These trends and developments have raised questions for the sustainability of these agencies in their current format.
I have met with these agencies and discussed the situation. My interest, which is shared by the agencies, is to achieve a solution which responds to the current situation but also assists in introducing the changes required to resolve the underlying issues of sustainability. My Department has now undertaken an examination of the policy considerations relating to agencies accredited for mediation purposes and the operational and financial situation of the three agencies. Government has considered the conclusions of this examination. An important conclusion reached is that there is a strong public policy rationale for public funding contributing towards core organisation costs of mediation services as part of a mixed system of funding. This mixed funding would also entail the recoupment of specific costs from prospective adoptive parents reflecting the level of service provision related to individual cases. A commitment in principle to public funding is an important development since up to now the provision of funding has been once-off and temporary in nature. Such a commitment recognises the additional safeguards which such accredited agencies provide in the conduct of the adoption process. It also recognises that increasingly countries of origin require that adoptions are mediated through accredited bodies.
However, public funding also demands that organisational arrangements provide value for money and avoid unnecessary duplication. Therefore, Government has also agreed that significant cost efficiencies on the current three agency model are required. The decline in the numbers of children eligible for adoption and the responsibility to ensure effective use of public funding for core organisational costs mean significant revision to current arrangements will need to be introduced in the coming months to reduce duplication or unnecessary expenditure.
In the context of the need for reforms to be introduced in this area I have sought and received Government approval to provide transitional funding to the end of 2013 to the three existing agencies, in advance of the development and implementation of revised arrangements next year which will provide a more sustainable model for the future. Provision of this funding is based upon the positive participation of the agencies in developing the revised arrangements.
I am very happy to advise that the agencies have willingly given commitments to actively engage in developing revised arrangements and my Department, the Adoption Authority and the HSE are working closely with the agencies on a revised model with the objective of introducing new arrangements from 2014. Enhanced cooperation between the three agencies is also to be welcomed.
Further detailed work and significant change will be required. An important consideration will be continuity of service provision especially in relation to access to particular countries of choice for prospective adoptive parents. I am pleased with the progress made to date in successfully addressing the immediate financial challenges faced by the agencies and look forward to the continued co-operation of the Adoption Authority and accredited agencies with the efforts of my Department in this regard.
645. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs in respect of each State agency and commercial State company under the aegis of her Department, if she will provide details of the name of each pension scheme; details of the salary percentage contributions made by the employer and the employees; the latest information on the funding position of the scheme; if any changes are planned [36367/13]
View answerI would like to inform the Deputy there are four agencies which are funded by the Exchequer through my Department's Vote. These are the Adoption Authority of Ireland ; the Family Support Agency; the National Educational Welfare Board and the Ombudsman for Children's Office.
Employees of the Adoption Authority of Ireland, the National Educational Welfare Board and the Family Support Agency are all public servants and all operate under the Public Service Model Employee Superannuation Scheme at present. This scheme provides for employee contributions as follows:
|
SCHEME |
% |
|
Modified PRSI |
5% of full remuneration for main scheme benefits PLUS 1.5% of full remuneration towards the Spouses and Children's Scheme |
|
Full PRSI |
1.5% of full remuneration PLUS 3.5% of net remuneration for main scheme benefits PLUS 1.5% of full remuneration towards the Spouses and Children's Scheme |
Employees of the Office of the Ombudsman for Children are civil servants and are members of the relevant Civil Service Superannuation Schemes. Contribution rates under these schemes are as follows:
|
SCHEME |
% |
|
Modified PRSI |
Nil contribution rate for main scheme benefits. 1.5% of full remuneration towards the Spouses and Children's Scheme |
|
Full PRSI |
1.5% of full remuneration PLUS 3.5% of net remuneration for main scheme benefits PLUS 1.5% of full remuneration towards the Spouses and Children's Scheme |
From January 2013, all newly appointed civil and public servants are members of the Single Public Service Pension Scheme which provides for pension contributions of 3.0% of pensionable remuneration PLUS 3.5% of net pensionable remuneration.
Full remuneration relates to basic pay plus pensionable allowances. Net remuneration relates to basic pay plus pensionable allowances less twice the maximum rate of State Contributory Pension payable to a single person. All schemes are defined benefit pay-as-you-go schemes and as such have no direct employer contribution as benefits are not affected by investment returns. I am not aware of any proposed changes to these schemes.
646. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of miles claimed for and the amount of travel expenses paid to her and each Minister of State in her Department in respect of their functions as a Minister in her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36382/13]
View answerThe mileage claims and travel expenses in respect of the use of my personal car on official business since the establishment of my Department in June 2011 is set out hereunder:
|
Miles claimed |
Travel Expenses paid |
|
34,857 |
€20,170 |
647. Deputy Regina Doherty asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will provide, in tabular form, the number of amendments to legislation she proposed during Committee and Report Stages in Seanad Éireann in 2012; if she will provide in tabular form the number of her amendments accepted; and if she will indicate in tabular form the number of amendments accepted from Members of the Seanad, broken down by Senator. [36431/13]
View answerNo amendments to legislation were proposed by my Department and no amendments to legislation were accepted by my Department, during committee and report stages in Seanad Éireann in 2012.
