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Tuesday, 12 Nov 2013

Written Answers Nos. 401-417

Child Care Services Provision

Questions (401)

Robert Troy

Question:

401. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will examine the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5 in respect of the welfare of the children. [48263/13]

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Written answers

My Department has submitted a Children First Referral Form to the HSE Social Work Dept on behalf of the Deputy. The HSE has statutory responsibility for the welfare and protection of children, under the Child Care Act, 1991.

The Deputy is advised that in cases where there is concern for the welfare and protection of a child, a report should be made at the earliest opportunity to the HSE and/or An Garda Síochána as set out in Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children. It is in the best interests of the child, his or her family and the person reporting the concern that reports are made through the proper channels, to ensure timely reporting of the concern and the appropriate confidentiality for all involved.

The aim of the Children First National Guidance is to direct the identification, investigation, assessment, reporting, treatment and management of child welfare and safety concerns. It sets out a number of key messages relating to the duty to protect children. Among these are that the safety and welfare of children is everyone’s responsibility, that children will have safer lives where everyone is attentive to their wellbeing and that people who work with children across a range of areas understand their responsibility for safe practice and the reporting of concerns.

Children in Care

Questions (402)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

402. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she is satisfied that the rights of parents and children are adequately provided for and preserved in all cases where children have been put into care over the past four years; the extent to which any particular issues have been brought to her attention; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48293/13]

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Written answers

Under the Child Care Act 1991, the HSE has a statutory duty to promote the welfare of children who are not receiving adequate care and protection. If a child is in need of care and protection and is unlikely to receive it at home, then the HSE has a duty to ensure they receive appropriate care. In the performance of this function, the HSE must "take such steps as it considers requisite to identify children who are not receiving adequate care and protection and co-ordinate information from all relevant sources relating to children; having regard to the rights and duties of parents, whether under the Constitution or otherwise - (i) regard the welfare of the child as the first and paramount consideration, and (ii) in so far as is practicable, give due consideration, having regard to his age and understanding, to the wishes of the child; have regard to the principle that it is generally in the best interests of a child to be brought up in his own family".

Once a child is in State care there are secondary legislation instruments and National Standards to protect their rights and guide with greater precision how that is to be achieved, for example:

- The system of protection that HSE may offer is highly codified in law and covers a range of family support through to care arrangements and also provides for both voluntary arrangements, entered into by parents and guardians, as well as court-ordered arrangements for the alternative care. These latter arrangements are determined by the court authorities having regard to the various rights of both children and parents set out in the Constitution. Specifically, as regards the views of the child, Section 26 of the Child Care Act, 1991 provides for the appointment of a Guardian Ad Litem (GAL) in respect of child care proceedings where a child is not party to those proceedings and where the court is satisfied that it is in the child’s best interests to have a GAL appointed. A GAL is appointed at the discretion of the Court and all fees, including legal fees, are paid by the HSE. Their primary function is to provide a voice for the child in Court where the child is not party to the care proceedings. They promote the child’s best interests to the Court.

- A child protection social worker assigned to a child placed in a care setting has a duty to prepare and regularly review the care plan for the child. Intrinsic to this process is ensuring that the wishes of the child and his or her family are considered, that access and contact is facilitated between the child, parents and siblings (unless there is a court agreed reason not to do so), and that full engagement takes place with the child and their family with a view to planning the child’s return home. A significant amount of work takes place between social workers and parents to create a situation where a child could return home, including referrals for parent(s) for relationship counselling, substance misuse or mental health issues.

- The National Standards for Foster Care 2003 state that “children and young people in foster care are encouraged and facilitated to maintain and develop family relationship and friendships”. They also state “the families of children in foster care are involved in their care, in partnership with social workers and foster carers unless this is detrimental to the well being of the children, in which case the reasons for excluding them are recorded on the case files”.

- The National Standards for Residential Care state that "visits from family members, significant others and friends are encouraged and facilitated in private”. They go on to state “where young person has lost contact with a parent , family or significant others the supervising social worker and staff members actively seek to re establish contact and to identify key people within the extended family to provide support”.

- Access and contact by relatives to a child in care is based on the needs of the child. In most cases access to family is actively promoted and encouraged unless the access is posing a risk to the child or is causing the child distress. A child's view with regard to access is also sought where age appropriate and this view is to be respected.

In addition to the role of the courts, there are further measures to monitor the application of standards. Currently HIQA inspects HSE children’s residential care and child protection services and all foster care service under the Child Care Act, 1991 and the Health Act, 2007, and reports on findings to the Minister. HIQA publishes inspection reports on its website. The HSE inspect and register children’s residential centres run by the private and voluntary sectors. All inspections are undertaken against National Standards developed by the Department of Health prior to HIQA’s establishment. This process has revised and will continue to raise specific local quality improvement changes but will also contribute to corporate learning regarding the provision of these services.

Other important initiatives to inform our understanding include, for example, publication of the interim report of the Child Care Law Reporting Project (CCLRP). This is a project which I have supported since its inception, and made the relevant regulations to allow the attendance of the project personnel in the courts. The Department of Children and Youth Affairs is one of the co-funders of the project, along with Atlantic Philanthropies and One Foundation.

The report is a crucial first step in improving the transparency of the conduct of child care proceedings, and informing the public and policy makers of how children are protected through the operation of the provisions of the Child Care Act 1991. While this is an interim report, there is a significant amount of valuable information contained in the report which can be used to inform policy making on an on-going basis.

The CCLRP will provide invaluable information about the operation of the Child Care Act, which is the mechanism used by the HSE, in exceptional circumstances, and with the welfare of the child as the paramount consideration, to make applications to court to take children into care. These are very serious decisions, with long term impacts on the child and the family and the more information that is available about the process, while protecting the identity of vulnerable children and families, the better we can ensure the welfare and protection of children.

Children in Care

Questions (403)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

403. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of children taken into care on a monthly basis in each of the past four years to date; the most commonly recognised reason given and sustained; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48294/13]

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Written answers

I have been advised by the HSE that 2,372 children were taken into care in 2009, 2,105 children were taken into care in 2010 and 2,248 children were taken into care in 2011. A breakdown of this data is not available on a monthly basis.

There were 2,070 admissions to care in 2012. The primary reason for children to be admitted to care in 2012 were serious concerns of child welfare 53.9%, neglect 28.6%, physical abuse 8.4%, emotional abuse 7.4% and sexual abuse 1.7%. There is significant cross over between child welfare and neglect. Details of the reasons for admission to care in each of the years 2009-2011 is currently being collated and I will arrange for this to be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Children in Care

Questions (404)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

404. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of emergency places available to her Department for the placement of children deemed to be at risk at any particular time over the past three years to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48295/13]

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Written answers

The HSE provides a range of services aimed at addressing emergency situations in the area of child welfare and protection. In the main, these emergency situations arise out of hours.

At present the Health Service Executive provides out-of-hours emergency services for children at risk in the greater Dublin area through the Crisis Intervention Service (CIS), and outside the greater Dublin area through the Emergency Place of Safety Service (EPSS). The Crisis Intervention Service provides out-of-hours emergency social work assistance to young people aged under 18 years. The service operates across the greater Dublin area (Counties Dublin, Kildare and Wicklow). Referrals are made by service providers outside of normal working hours i.e. Gardaí, hospital and ambulance service personnel.

The Emergency Place of Safety Service operates outside the greater Dublin area, whereby Gardaí can access an emergency placement for children found to be at risk out-of-hours. This service involves the placement of a child in a family setting until the next working day, when the local social work service assumes responsibility for the case. As part of this service Gardaí have access to advice and information from a non-HSE social work off-site resource which is provided on a contract basis. The service is designed to ensure that children presenting as 'at risk' outside of normal working hours are provided with an appropriate emergency place of safety, a foster care placement, thereby reducing or eliminating social admissions of children in an acute hospital setting.

Five Rivers Ireland (FRI) is the company that is currently providing this emergency place of safety service on behalf of the HSE. The purpose of this service is to provide placements to children where Gardaí have removed children from their homes under Section 12 of the Child Care Act, outside of normal working hours, on an emergency basis.

Since the service commenced in June 2009 there has been a steady increase in the number of calls to the CIS and EPSS and an increase in the number of children placed. This table provides further information:

Year

Total number of referrals

Placements

2009 (from June)

166

66

2010

288

172

2011

370

253

2012

712

580

End March 2013

167

134

In addition, the Liberty House service in Cork is run by the HSE for young people out of home and at the risk of becoming homeless. It operates through a community based multi-disciplinary team which includes accommodation workers, public health nurse and a psychologist. The service works with young people in Cork up to the age of 18 and where necessary continues to provide support to those over 18 years of age.

Pilot out of hours social work programme

In implementing a recommendation from the Ryan report and as part of the ongoing ‘change agenda’ in Child and Family services the HSE is committed to developing the capacity of our child protection services to appropriately and effectively address the needs of children who present in emergency situations outside of normal working hours alongside the work of CIS and EPSS.

The HSE has piloted two out-of-hours pilot projects, one in Donegal and the other in Cork. The Donegal pilot project commenced in mid 2011 and the Cork project in the third quarter of last year. Both projects involve the provision by local HSE staff of social work support out-of-hours where deemed necessary by Gardaí.

Both projects were internally evaluated by the HSE, which then commissioned an independent external assessment, undertaken by Trinity College Dublin. The HSE has reviewed the recommendations of the Evaluation Report and is committed to further development and expansion of the service subject to resourcing and the terms of the Croke Park agreement. In this regard, a proposal for a National Children and Families Services Emergency Out of Hours Social Work Service has been prepared. My Department has been informed by the HSE that talks with the relevant staff representative association are also underway.

Departmental Expenditure

Questions (405)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

405. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the extent to which adequate resources remain available to her Department to meet the requirements arising from various legislation enacted over the past three years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48296/13]

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Written answers

Since the establishment of my Department in 2011 I have been responsible for two Bills which have been enacted by the Oireachtas. These include the Child Care (Amendment) Act 2011 and the Child Care (Amendment) Act 2013. The implementation of the provisions of these Acts do not impose any additional financial resource requirements on my Department.

Children in Care

Questions (406)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

406. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the extent to which she is in contact with the various voluntary statutory and support services throughout the country with a view to ensuring the identification of areas of particular need; the extent to which she is confident that such needs can be met on an ongoing basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48297/13]

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Written answers

My Department was set up to drive the delivery of key commitments in relation to children and young people. The Department was established in June 2011 with a mandate to put in place a unified framework of policy, legislation and provision across Government in respect of children and young people.

The responsibilities of my Department encompass a wide range of policy and service activity, both direct and indirect, for children and young people in Ireland. It has a complex mandate, comprised of a number of separate, but interrelated strands including:

- the direct provision of a range of universal and targeted services;

- ensuring high-quality arrangements are in place for focused interventions dealing with child welfare and protection, family support, adoption, school attendance and reducing youth crime;

- the harmonisation of policy and provision across Government and with a wide range of stakeholders to improve outcomes for children, young people and families.

As outlined in my Department's Statement of Strategy, in order to achieve its goals, my Department works in close partnership with other Government departments, statutory agencies and non-governmental organisations on a range of cross-cutting issues in relation to both policy and provision as they relate to children and young people. The scope of this collaboration includes, but is not limited to, the following:

- Department of Education and Skills (e.g. early childhood education, numeracy/literacy and skills development);

- Department of Justice and Equality (e.g. crime prevention, community sanctions, detention, diversion and equality);

- Department of Health (e.g. disability; health promotion, including nutrition and drugs policy);

- Health Service Executive (e.g. child welfare and protection, care and social services);

- Department of Social Protection (e.g. social inclusion, income support and the activation agenda);

- Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (e.g. employment creation and youth entrepreneurship);

- Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (e.g. UN Committee on the Rights of the Child and Council of Europe measures);

- Department of Environment, Community and Local Government (e.g. initiatives involving sustainable development and communities).

While responsibility for support services for children with extra needs will remain with the Departments of Health and Education and Skills, as appropriate, my Department will continue to work closely with those Departments.

The 2014 estimate includes a net allocation of €449m for my Department which represents an increase of €15m over the 2013 allocation and this clearly demonstrates the continuing commitment of this Government to the ongoing development of quality and effective services to support children and families.

Children in Care

Questions (407)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

407. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she is satisfied that adequate guidelines exist to ensure that best practice is strictly observed in all cases where children or teenagers are deemed to be at risk and need to be placed in care. [48299/13]

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Written answers

The Children First National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children, which I published in 2011, provides clarity and guidance for individuals and organisations in identifying and responding appropriately to child abuse and neglect. It also sets out what organisations that care for or work with children should do to ensure they are safe whilst in the care of the organisation. The Deputy will be aware that I published the Draft Heads and General Scheme for the Children First Bill 2012 in April 2012 and immediately referred the Heads of Bill to the Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children for consideration and advice. The Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children published their report in July 2012. A number of submissions were received as part of the Committee's consultation process. Overall there was a welcome that the legislation would increase the focus on child protection. The contributions in the main came from organisations already implementing Children First.

In parallel with the development of legislative proposals to put Children First on a statutory footing, significant work has been undertaken to achieve full and consistent implementation of the revised Guidance. I have established a Children First Implementation Inter-Departmental Group (CFIDG) to bring central government oversight to the implementation process. The direct responsibility for implementation rests at organisation level in line with the Guidance and the proposed legislation.

All Child Protection and Welfare referrals are managed through the HSE Children and Families Standardised Business Process. All reports of concern for the safety and well-being of a child come into the Duty/Intake team for assessment. All staff receiving such a referral are trained in the duty system and are obliged to treat seriously all child welfare and child protection concerns whatever their source. All information on the extensive process is available on the HSE website under the Standardised Business Process documentation. The full implementation of the Business Process continues to enhance the processing of all referrals throughout the country.

A child can be placed in care either voluntarily or by court order. In the case of the former, this happens with the consent of the parents / guardian. Where consent is not forthcoming, the HSE is obliged to make an application to court, and the criteria set out in the Child Care Act, 1991, in respect of the relevant order are strictly applied.

Once a child has been taken into care there are a number of national standards in place including The National Standards for Foster Care 2003 and the National Standards for Residential Care . Currently HIQA inspects HSE children’s residential care and child protection services and all foster care service under the Child Care Act, 1991 and the Health Act, 2007, and reports on findings to the Minister. HIQA publishes inspection reports on its website. The HSE inspect and register children’s residential centres run by the private and voluntary sectors. All inspections are undertaken against National Standards developed by the Department of Health prior to HIQA’s establishment.

Child Protection

Questions (408)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

408. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the extent to which her Department remains in contact with child support services in the Health Service Executive with a view to determination of the best practice to be pursued in cases of children at risk who have been brought to the attention of the HSE and-or her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48300/13]

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Written answers

My Department maintains an oversight role in relation to all aspects of policy and practice in the HSE, which has the legislative responsibility for the delivery of such services.

This oversight function is exercised through a range of interactions with colleagues in the HSE. These interactions are often formal and structured at a number of levels but there is also a good level of informal contact between the Department and the HSE on a daily basis relating to services.

Among the more formal engagements are regular meetings between myself and the National Director for Children and Family Services along with our respective senior management teams. Officials from my Department also meet formally on a quarterly basis with their counterparts in the HSE to discuss Performance Indicators and to seek in general to maintain and where possible improve the service provided by the HSE to the wider public.

The Department is not involved in the day to day running of services. However the HSE is also proactive in providing information to me when policy issues arise. There are also occasions when information not routinely reported is provided to my Department following a specific request for same. A recent example of this would be the legislative amendment required in respect of interim care orders.

Children in Care

Questions (409)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

409. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if clearly defined demarcation lines exist between her Department and the Department of Health with respect to responsibility to address the welfare and well-being of children, their placement into care in the event of such necessity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48301/13]

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Written answers

The primary legislation governing child care policy, and in particular the placement of children in care, is the Child Care Act 1991. Under this Act the HSE has a statutory duty to promote the welfare of children who are not receiving adequate care and protection. My Department has responsibility for the Child Care Act, 1991, as amended.

The Department of Children and Youth Affairs is also responsible for Family Support Services and the National Education Welfare Board. Family Support Services for children and families aim to promote and protect the health and wellbeing of children and families, including those at risk of abuse or neglect. Services are provided directly by the HSE under this Act, or on its behalf. The National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB), which operates under the auspices of my Department, has a statutory remit to ensure that ‘each child attends a recognised school or otherwise receives a certain minimum education ’. In particular, the NEWB has a key role to respond to instances where children are not attending school regularly, or where there is concern about a child’s educational welfare.

The new Child and Family Agency, upon establishment, will assume full statutory responsibility for a range of child and family services currently provided by these three separate agencies under these acts; namely the HSE, the Family Support Agency and the National Educational Welfare Board.

The suite of primary legislation governing the HSE regarding the wellbeing of children more generally includes the Health Act 2004 and other Acts relating to mental health and disabilities. These matters are the responsibility of my colleague the Minister for Health.

Children in Care

Questions (410)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

410. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the extent to which the Health Service Executive reports to her Department in cases where children are deemed to be at risk and in need of placement in care; the extent of the resources available to her in such circumstances; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48302/13]

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Written answers

Statutory responsibility for the welfare and protection of vulnerable children in Ireland is vested in the Health Service Executive (HSE) and Social Workers are persons employed and designated by the HSE to implement its powers in this regard. The principles underlying this responsibility are outlined in Child Care Act, 1991, as amended. My Department's role is oversight of effective use of resources vis-a-vis statutory responsibilities.

The HSE publishes a range of reports on performance indicators on a monthly, quarterly and annual basis. Among these indicators is information relating to referral and assessment processes. The HSE also provides an annual Review of Adequacy Report under Section 8 of the Child Care Act 1991. The Annual Service planning process also provides an opportunity to set out service priorities in the context of available resources. In addition, information is provided to me by the HSE on specific issues as required or to inform me of policy or legislative issues arising in the services.

The commitment to establish a new Child and Family Support Agency is at the heart of the Government's reform of child and family services. The new Agency will assume responsibility for Children and Family Services, currently provided by the HSE, and the Family Support Agency. It will have a workforce of approximately 4,000 staff, and a combined existing budget of over €590 million. The Agency will be headed by Gordon Jeyes, as the Chief Executive designate, who will be supported by a senior management team. The Child and Family Agency Bill sets out detailed processes to support planning and reporting by the new Agency.

Juvenile Offenders

Questions (411)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

411. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the extent to which her Department can engage with juvenile offenders with a view to rehabilitative or educational supports; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48303/13]

View answer

Written answers

The Irish Youth Justice Service (IYJS) in my Department is responsible for leading and driving reform in the youth justice area by focusing on diversion and rehabilitation, including greater use of community-based interventions, promotion of initiatives to deal with young people who offend, providing a safe and secure environment for detained young people and supporting their early re-integration into the community.

Since the 1 January 2012 the IYJS has been based in my Department and operates across two Departments, my Department and the Department of Justice and Equality and is staffed by officials from both Departments.

The main legislation covering youth justice is the Children Act, 2001. Responsibility for the Children Act, 2001 is shared between the Minister for Justice and Equality and myself.

I am responsible for the 3 Children Detention Schools at Oberstown, Lusk, Co. Dublin which provide detention places to the Courts for girls up to the age of 18 years and boys up to the age of 17 years ordered to be remanded or committed on criminal charges. I am also responsible for the child care aspects of the Children Act, 2001.

I see the role of my Department as working in an integrated way to develop strong linkages between early prevention and intervention, developing closer working relationships between the care system and the justice system with the main focus of keeping children out of the criminal justice system.

For those young people whose behaviour has unfortunately led to their involvement in the youth justice system and ultimately to detention, we must provide a safe and secure environment and support their early re-integration into the community.

The principal object of the Children Detention Schools, as outlined in the Children Act 2001, mandates the provision of appropriate educational, training and other programmes which promote the reintegration of the young people back into society and promote general life skills.

I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the Assessment, Consultation and Therapy Service, known as ACTS, is now in place on the Oberstown campus with mental health screening training for staff having commenced recently. This means that the Oberstown campus is now in a position to provide a more comprehensive service to young people remanded or committed by the Courts.

IYJS works in tandem with the Department of Education and Skills and the Dublin and Dún Laoghaire Education and Training Board, to provide the necessary and vital educational services based on the ‘Education Strategy for the Children Detention School Service 2010-2013’. It seeks to promote a whole child/whole system approach to focus on better outcomes for these children and their families.

My Department also provides in the region of €53m to support the provision of quality youth provision throughout the country. This funding supports 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 and the Local Drugs Task Force Projects.

The establishment of my Department has led to a stronger focus on issues affecting children. The care and welfare of children is at the centre of my political responsibility as Minister for Children and Youth Affairs and the forthcoming establishment of the Child and Family Agency will further strengthen the focus on delivering safe and effective services for children and families who need a wide continuum of supports and interventions.

Youth Services Issues

Questions (412)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

412. 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 persons in general; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48304/13]

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Written answers

My Department supports the delivery of a range of youth work programmes and services for young people including those from disadvantaged communities, by the voluntary youth sector. In 2013, funding of €53.498m, including €1.75m for a new capital funding programme, has been provided to support national and local youth work provision to some 400,000 young people involving approximately 1,400 paid staff and 40,000 volunteers working in youth work services and communities throughout the country.

Ongoing engagement and dialogue with the youth sector organisations and with young people themselves are priorities in the development of the policies and services to support young people’s development and learning.

The National Youth Work Advisory Committee, appointed by me in January 2013, includes the key national youth organisations, that work directly with young people. The Committee, which also includes representatives of Government departments, the Education and Training Boards and other statutory agencies involved in youth matters, has an important advisory role to me on issues to do with how youth work practice and services can better meet the requirements of young people.

My Department has regular engagement with members of the youth sector organisations in the development of policy initiatives that impact on young people. At this time, members of youth sector organisations are contributing to the development of the Children and Young Peoples’ Policy Framework, my Department’s new strategy for children and young people. They are also engaged with my Department in relation to the potential contribution of the youth sector to the measures to implement the Youth Guarantee. The National Youth Council of Ireland has a lead role in carrying out the EU structured dialogue process with young people in Ireland and the youth sector are represented on the National Steering Committee chaired by my Department.

It is planned that youth organisations will have a significant role in the new youth strategy which is being developed in my Department for completion in 2014. The next stage of the development of the youth strategy will include a consultation process with youth organisations, other youth stakeholders and young people themselves. I, and officials of my Department have met, and continue to meet, regularly with many youth organisations and groups to see how we can work together to bring about the best possible outcomes for young people, having regard to resources available to us and to ensure that the programmes and services being provided are relevant and responsive to young people’s needs.

International Agreements

Questions (413)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl

Question:

413. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if a cost benefit analysis has been undertaken by her Department on the impact of Ireland signing the Antarctic treaty; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48315/13]

View answer

Written answers

A cost benefit analysis on the impact of Ireland signing the Antarctic Treaty has not been undertaken by my Department.

Drug Treatment Programmes Availability

Questions (414)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

414. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the position regarding illegal drug use by youths for each county; the programmes that are in place in each county to combat this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47928/13]

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Written answers

The Drug Prevalence Survey 2010/2011 reports on prevalence rates for illegal drugs in the general population, including young people aged 15-34. Bulletin 2 of the survey, which is available on the National Advisory Committee on Drugs and Alcohol website at www.nacda.ie, presents the prevalence rates in Ireland, by Regional Drugs Task Force area. Local and Drugs Task Forces operate a range of education and prevention programmes locally which aim to promote healthier lifestyle choices among young people and other vulnerable groups at risk of problem drug use.

Provision of youth-specific addiction services is primarily the responsibility of the HSE and accordingly I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy regarding services available at county level.

Medical Card Eligibility

Questions (415)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

415. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47934/13]

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Written answers

The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible. The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to medical cards and GP visit cards, which the Deputy may wish to use for an earlier response. Contact information has issued to Oireachtas members.

Medical Card Eligibility

Questions (416)

Clare Daly

Question:

416. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that some people are losing out on their medical cards because they are under the care of the Money Advice and Budgeting Service for assistance with mortgage arrears and appear to have false positive income bringing them over the limit of a medical card; and the action he will take regarding same. [47995/13]

View answer

Written answers

I have asked the Health Service Executive for a report on the issue raised by the Deputy. I will revert to the Deputy on the matter as soon as possible.

Constitutional Amendments

Questions (417)

Terence Flanagan

Question:

417. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health his plans to amend Article 40.3.3; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48245/13]

View answer

Written answers

I do not intend to propose any amendments to Article 40.3.3 of the Constitution.

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