Written Answers Nos 155-160
156. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the situation whereby Dutch factory vessels in Irish waters remain at sea for an entire year with half the mackerel quota that Irish vessels have, while Irish vessels may remain at sea for only half a year, due to lack of quota. [48565/13]
View answerEach Member States fishing opportunities are set down for each year in the annual EU Total Allowable Catch (TAC) and quotas Regulation. Quotas are based on share allocations which were established when EU management arrangements, in terms of TACs and quotas, were put in place for the first time for the particular stock. It is a matter for each Member State to determine how its fishing opportunities are made available to its fleet. It is the responsibility of the control authorities, the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority and the Naval Service in Ireland to control the activities of fishing vessels in Ireland’s Exclusive Fisheries Zone (200 mile zone). Operational issues in relation to sea fisheries control are a matter for the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA).
157. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs in view of the fact that 30% of students in disadvantaged schools that have missed 20 days or more of school in 2010-11, to explain her plans to reduce the absenteeism figure; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48527/13]
View answerThe National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB), which operates under the aegis of my Department, has a statutory remit to encourage and support regular school attendance. The NEWB monitors school attendance nationally and I recently launched the Analysis of School Attendance Data for the 2010/2011 school year. These data show a continued improvement in student attendance from 2009/2010 and previous years. The number of school days being missed is at the lowest for the five year period 2006/07 – 2010/11 and the continued positive trend over recent years is to be welcomed.
While every incremental improvement represents real progress the number of children who miss school each day remains a significant cause for concern. The report highlights the need for sustained and focussed approaches to supporting student attendance, especially within particular groups in society. In the case of schools serving disadvantaged areas, the data shows that absences over 20 days in these schools are down 1% on the previous year’s figures (2009/10) and 3% from 2008/09. The overall improvements in attendance data in general demonstrate the positive impact of targeted investment programmes and the progress that can be achieved through the collaborative efforts of schools, parents, statutory and support services.
Within the NEWB, the Education Welfare Service has specific responsibility for the Board’s general statutory function to ensure that each child attends a recognised school or otherwise receives a certain minimum education. I am advised by the NEWB that the Education Welfare Service worked with over 20,000 children in 2012, of which 2,420 were intensive interventions which required sustained support from an Education Welfare Officer and a multidisciplinary approach, in collaboration with schools, families and other services, in order to address the issues underlying poor school attendance.
The NEWB is also developing guidelines for schools on the development of school attendance strategies. The guidance will provide practical advice to schools in their task of enabling children to maximise their attendance, participation and retention in schools. The Board intends to complete this work within the current academic year.
The Department of Education and Skills DEIS school support programme (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools) is part of a continuum of interventions designed to address the needs of 3 to 18 year olds from disadvantaged communities. DEIS adopts an integrated approach with early intervention as a core principle. Designated DEIS schools are supported in developing school based plans to facilitate self-evaluation against a range of self-determined targets, including the setting of targets on school attendance as a prioritised area of activity. My Department works closely with the Department of Education and Skills to ensure that a coherent and consistent approach is taken to effectively target our respective resources to support children at risk of poor school attendance and early school leaving. In relation to DEIS schools, the NEWB is in the process of refining and implementing a new strategic approach to service delivery through the integrated working of its three service strands, namely; the Education Welfare Service (74 front-line Education Welfare staff); Home School Community Liaison Programme (comprised of 402 school-based co-ordinators); and School Completion Programme (comprised of 124 school cluster projects involving 470 primary and 224 post-primary schools). This integrated model of service will provide an enhanced response to the needs of children, families and schools in relation to attendance, participation and retention. I see this strategic national approach as a crucial reform in our efforts to tackle school absenteeism.
The amalgamation of the NEWB’s services into the new Child and Family Agency upon its establishment will further consolidate the development of services aimed at children and provide opportunities for more effective working amongst the range of professionals involved in such services. The Child and Family Agency will have a specific legislative remit to promote educational outcomes through its educational welfare programmes. In the case of schools servicing disadvantaged areas, work to improve outcomes in school attendance will be a collaborative venture involving the existing three service strands, schools themselves, parents and young people, other Departments, agencies and services.
158. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when she intends to publish a successor strategy to the National Youth Justice Strategy 2008-10; the reason no successor strategy has been published to date; her assessment of the impact of the 2008-10 strategy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48467/13]
View answerSince 1 January 2012 the Irish Youth Justice Service 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 with:
- The Minister for Justice and Equality being responsible for most of the Act which includes youth crime policy and law, including crime prevention, crime reduction, criminal proceedings, diversion and community sanctions (including community projects). Minister Shatter is also responsible for dealings with An Garda Síochána and the Probation Service as well as responsibility, via the Irish Prison Service, for young people in St. Patrick’s Institution.
- 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.
The National Youth Justice Oversight Group completed its draft “Report on the Implementation of the National Youth Justice Strategy 2008-2010” in April, 2012 and it was presented to the Senior Officials Group on Social Policy on 13 June, 2012 and to the Cabinet Sub Committee on Social Policy on 1 October, 2012. The report is available on the IYJS website www.iyjs.ie.
The Irish Youth Justice Service in my Department is currently finalising its Youth Justice Action Plan 2014-2018 which will sit within the Children and Young People's Policy Framework (CYPPF) 2014-2018 currently being developed in my Department but will also form part of the National Anti-CrimeStrategy being developed as part of the draft White Paper on Crime process being finalised by my colleague Minister Shatter.
The focus for the forthcoming Plan will be to continue the downward trends in high volume crime and detention; becoming more adept in understanding and intervening in more serious crime offending patterns; and improving the effectiveness and efficiency of these interventions in addressing the behaviour and needs of these children. The Plan involves evidence-informed targeted interventions to achieve better outcomes for children who get into trouble with the law, and to reduce crime leading to safer communities. Importantly, the voice and experiences of children involved in the youth justice system have influenced the development of these interventions.
The drafting and publication of the plan has been a collaborative effort between my Department and the Department of Justice and Equality. I believe this collaborative approach provides a solid platform to achieve our shared objectives and I intend to publish the Action Plan in conjunction with Minister Shatter in the very near future.
159. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs in view of the published findings of the interim report of the child care law reporting project, if she will be introducing detailed legislative guidelines on the role and functions of guardians ad litem; if it is proposed that such guidelines would be reflective of the guidelines developed in May 2009 by the former Childrens Acts advisory board entitled, Giving a Voice to Children’s Wishes, Feelings and Interests: Guidance on the Role, Criteria for Appointment, Qualifications and Training of Guardians ad Litem Appointed for Children in Proceedings under the Child Care Act 1991, as there is anecdotal evidence that many guardians follow these guidelines in their current practice. [48499/13]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that the appointment of a guardian ad litem (GAL) in child care cases is a matter for the Courts. Under section 26 of the Child Care Act 1991, the Court may appoint a guardian ad litem to a child who is the subject of care proceedings, if it is satisfied that it is necessary in the interests of the child and in the interests of justice to do so. They are always appointed where a child is subject to Special Care proceedings.
I believe that there is considerable scope to improve the quality, consistency and cost effectiveness of the current service which has evolved in an ad hoc manner over a number of years. I also believe that a much more regularised structure for guardian ad litem services needs to be developed if the role of the GAL is to deliver real value.
Officials within my Department are working closely with the Department of Justice and Equality and the HSE with a view to establishing the most appropriate arrangements for the future organisation and delivery of this service.
160. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the amount of expenditure incurred to pay guardians ad litem in the years 2011, 2012 and to date in 2013; and if she will provide a breakdown by the Health Service Executive area of the number of guardians ad litem who received funding or expenses from the Health Service Executive in those years. [48500/13]
View answerI have requested the information from the HSE and I will revert to the Deputy when this information is to hand.
