Written Answers Nos. 26-45
27. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the discussions she has had with other Departments on foot of the publication of the audit report on neglect cases; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6495/14]
View answerAn audit report on neglect cases in Roscommon, Waterford and Dublin South East, 'A Review of Practice and Audit of the Management of Cases of Neglect', was published in June 2013 by the HSE. The audit was conducted on foot of an examination of the management of systematic and problematic neglect in a family known to the HSE Child Protection Services. Concerns had been raised that this might not have been an isolated case and that there might be more widespread practice and governance issues in the management of cases of neglect throughout the country.
Follow-up work arising from the findings of the audit report is being led by the new Child and Family Agency, which was established on 1 January, 2014. The Agency brings together over 4,000 staff previously employed by the HSE, the National Educational Welfare Board and the Family Support Agency. The bringing together, for the first time, under one roof of social work, family support, education welfare and social care, working in partnership with non-statutory and State agencies will allow for a dedicated focus on improving the well-being and outcomes for every child who needs support. The context within which our child welfare and protection services operate today is ever more challenging. Referrals increased by nearly one third to over 40,000 referrals in 2012. The area of neglect is particularly worrying and has seen a marked increase in referrals.
A number of key initiatives have been taken arising from the audit report as follows:
- Audits of practice standards, including in the area of neglect have been carried out;
- Briefing and training days have been held for professional staff to assist in identifying and responding to neglect cases;
- A national review panel has been established, with an independent chair, to undertake impartial serious case reviews in cases where concerns have been raised. These reports are published and the learning from them is systematically disseminated to staff.
With regard to the issue of inter-agency work a number of key documents are in place and will underpin the approach of the Agency to this key area including:
- "Joint Protocol for Inter-Agency collaboration between the Child and Family Agency and An Garda Síochána";
- "Joint protocol for Inter-Agency collaboration between the Child and Family Agency and the HSE"; and
- "Memorandum of Understanding: Strategic Agreement between the Child and Family Agency and the HSE".
My Department is taking a lead role in the cross-sectoral implementation of Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children [2011]. A Children First Implementation Inter-Departmental Group has been established involving key Government Departments. This Group is a forum at which cross-sectoral or cross-departmental issues arising from the audit report can be addressed. The purpose of the Group is to promote the importance of Children First compliance across Government and to ensure consistency of approach. In July 2013 the Government approved the publication of each Departmental Children First Sectoral Implementation Plan on the relevant Department websites. A key priority of the Group is the development of appropriate reporting mechanisms in respect of the implementation of Children First within each sector and the assurance arrangements to monitor implementation and compliance.
To deliver on our aspiration to do better for children at risk and families in crisis including those affected by neglect, the Agency will have a broader focus than child protection. Prevention, early intervention, family support and therapeutic and care interventions are all key to the provision of integrated multi-disciplinary services for children and families in need. This will be an area of particular focus and attention for the new Agency. We will adopt a cross-Government and inter-agency approach to ensuring that we deliver a timely, comprehensive and integrated service to vulnerable children and families. This will require the support and input of various departments and agencies to ensure that vulnerable children and families can access necessary services.
28. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the date on which all services are due to be transferred to the Child and Family Agency, including public health nursing and child mental health; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6639/14]
View answer187. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the timeline her Department envisages for broadening the representation on Túsla, the Child and Family Agency, to include a full range of services, including public health nursing, as recommended by the task force on the establishment of a child and family agency in 2012; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7171/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 28 and 187 together.
The Child and Family Agency (CFA) was established on 1 January 2014 in accordance with the Child and Family Agency Act, 2013 and has service responsibility for:
- Child welfare and protection services formerly operated by the HSE including family support and alternative care services;
- Child and family-related services for which the HSE formerly had responsibility including pre-school inspections and domestic, sexual and gender-based violence services;
- Certain services relating to the psychological welfare of children and their families currently provided by the HSE;
- Services provided by the Family Support Agency and the National Educational Welfare Board which formerly operated as separate bodies under the aegis of my Department and which were merged into the new Agency.
The Task Force on the Child and Family Support Agency made recommendations on a range of other services relevant to children and families, including:
- public health nursing;
- speech and language therapy;
- child and adolescent mental health; and
- children's detention.
The practical implications of the scale of organisational change are such as to require that consideration of the Task Force's wider recommendations and, should it be considered appropriate, their implementation, take place according to a less immediate timescale. This will allow for more careful review and considerations in conjunction with relevant Departments, principally the Department of Health.
The Child and Family Agency, in conjunction with my Department, will adopt a cross-Government approach to ensure that we deliver a comprehensive and integrated service to vulnerable children and families. This will require the support and input of various departments and agencies. The Agency will:
- take child protection services out from where they were lost in an overloaded health service;
- bring education welfare and family support together with child protection and welfare;
- break down barriers between agencies and services; between professional disciplines;
- deliver much more seamless integration of policy and service delivery.
It will ensure that child and family social workers, family support workers and education welfare officers are all working together, on the same team. It will also ensure that child and family welfare will be the sole focus of a single dedicated state agency, with a ring-fenced budget (of €609 million) and streamlined management, overseen by a single dedicated government Department. It will pull together and give single coherent direction to all of the strands of service for families most in need in a way that has never happened in this country before including prevention and early intervention programmes, both universal and targeted, as well as family support services, the nationwide network of 106 family resource centres and education welfare services.
My Department is leading the Children's Services Committees Initiative for national and local interagency working to improve outcomes for children and young people. The purpose is to secure better developmental outcomes for children and young people through more effective integration of policies and services. Children's Services Committees (CSC) are local/county level structures for bringing together a diverse group of agencies in local county areas to engage in joint planning and co-ordination of services for children and young people. There are currently 16 CSC sites in Ireland and all are at differing stages of development and operation. It is my policy to roll out the Children's Services Committees Initiative during 2014 to all parts of the country.
A joint protocol for inter-agency working between the HSE and the Child and Family Agency is in place with effect from January 2014 following extensive dialogue between Children and Family Services, Primary Care, Disability Services and Mental Health Services. The protocol aims to ensure a consistent national approach to service delivery where delivery of two or more services are involved in the same case.
29. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the way the €600 million budget for the Child and Family Agency is to be spent; if she deems this to be an adequate level of funding for the agency to function efficiently in view of its responsibilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6638/14]
View answerThe Government is giving particular priority to improving services for children and families. In accordance with the Revised Estimates for 2014 as published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, the Child and Family Agency ("CFA") allocation is €609 million, including €7m in capital provision. This allocation is for the continuing provision of services previously administered by the Health Service Executive (H.S.E), National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB), and Family Support Agency (FSA).
The transfer of responsibilities was accompanied by a transfer of staff and budgets previously under the remit of the HSE/NEWB/FSA. A due diligence process was undertaken to establish the services to transfer and the associated staff and financial resources/budgets. In addition, a budgetary process was conducted to identify the level of funding required based on the 2013 figures and expected expenditure in 2014. This budget forms the basis of funding for the CFA.
The overall level of funding available, which is significant by any measurement, will help the agency to respond to demand and to the needs of clients. It will help to improve the level and quality of services. It will help in responding to the historic legacy of failings highlighted in the various inquiry reports published in recent years. Work in finalising a Business Plan for the Agency is at an advanced stage.
In interim, on an indicative and approximate basis, summary budget information for major areas of Agency expenditure is as follows.
|
Category |
€ |
|
Staffing |
€235 million |
|
Foster care |
€110million |
|
Grants to the community sector including grants to provide services responding to Domestic Sexual Gender based Violence |
€100 million |
|
School completion grant |
€25 million |
|
Grants to family resource centres and associated national programmes |
€21 million |
|
Educational Welfare Services |
€3 million |
|
Legal costs |
€18 million |
|
Residential centres and other associated costs |
€90 million |
|
Total |
€602 million |
It is acknowledged that there are significant demands on the services for which the Agency is responsible. These arise from demographic and social factors and greater awareness of the importance of intervening to promote the welfare of children. In recognition of these demands the Government made an additional provision in Budget 2014 of €6.7m (€12m in a full year) to support the major reform of child welfare and protection services which is under way.
While very significant resources have been made available to the Agency, in light of the ongoing needs in this area, there will always be a requirement for the organisation to prioritise and manage those resources effectively. In line with all Departments the funding position will be challenging and careful management and continual monitoring of it will be necessary.
31. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will report on the progress of her Department, Pobal and the other relevant stakeholders in implementing a digitised and online system of recording and disseminating inspection reports on child care and preschool facilities; the level of engagement between her Department, Pobal, the Health Service Executive and other stakeholders such as the child care committees; and if she will indicate the current rate of inspections being undertaken. [6608/14]
View answerThe commitment to improve the quality of early childhood care and education for all children has been a key priority for me since becoming Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. My Department and I have been working on a comprehensive Pre-School Quality Agenda which aims to improve quality standards in pre-school services in Ireland. A key element of this Agenda is to strengthen the national pre-school inspection system.
Pre-school services that are required under the Child Care (Pre-School Services) (No 2) Regulations 2006 to notify their service to the Health Service Executive are subject to inspection by the Pre-School Inspectorate on a regular basis. The inspection reports were generally held by the Inspectorate in paper format and access to these reports has been an issue of concern to many parents seeking quality childcare for their children. The HSE did encourage services to share the reports with parents as preparation for the publication of the reports online was made.
In July 2013 the HSE commenced publication of retrospective pre-school inspection reports online and also new inspection reports as they were finalised. I understand that there are in the region of 2,500 pre-school inspection reports published online. The publication of new inspection reports will continue and the process of publishing the remaining retrospective reports is ongoing. Pobal is hosting the publication of the reports and they are available on the Pobal website.
Work on the establishment of the Child and Family Agency has provided an opportunity to address the absence of a coherent national approach to the regulation of childcare services, and the HSE Child and Family Services Division has been working towards developing the Pre-School Inspectorate as a nationally coordinated service. Standard Operating Procedures have been introduced to address issues of inconsistency and provide greater clarity for pre-school services. The Pre-School Inspectorate transferred from the HSE to the Child and Family Agency when it was established in January last and it will be a matter for the new Agency to decide how best to record and publish pre-school inspection reports. I am confident that the comprehensive reforms which are being introduced will provide for the operation by the Child and Family Agency of a more consistent and robust pre-school inspection regime.
In relation to the Deputy's question concerning the current rate of inspections being undertaken, I have referred this to the Agency for direct reply to the Deputy.
32. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the progress made by the Ombudsman for Children in the preparation of her report into the two cases of children of Roma families who were taken from their parents by the State; when she expects to receive the ombudsman's report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6644/14]
View answerThe Ombudsman for Children Ms Emily Logan has initiated an investigation of the actions of the HSE in relation to these cases under provisions of the Ombudsman for Children Act 2002. The Minister for Justice and Equality has appointed Emily Logan in a personal capacity to undertake the inquiry into the taking into care of two children from two Roma families. In accordance with Section 42 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended by the Criminal Justice Act 2007) the report will be submitted to the Minister for Justice and Equality.
The Ombudsman for Children is an independent officer of the State and reporting is a matter for the Ombudsman for Children. I look forward to the conclusion of the process and to the independent findings of the Ombudsman for Children, once she reports on her investigations.
33. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her attention has been drawn to the difficulties being experienced by Kildare Youth Services and other such services around the country at present due to their inability to fund qualified youth social workers; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that such roles often bring inherent knock-on benefits to the youth of a community, resulting in decreased drug use and decreased instances of self-harm and bullying; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6641/14]
View answerMy Department administers a range of funding schemes and programmes to support the provision of youth services 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 People's Facilities and Services Fund, Rounds 1 and 2, Local Drugs Task Force Projects and certain other programmes including the Local Youth Club Grant Scheme and Youth Information Centres. The funding schemes support national and local youth work provision to some 400,000 young people and involve approximately 1,400 youth work staff in 477 projects and 40,000 volunteers working in youth work services and communities throughout the country. In 2014, funding of €50.530m including €750,000 for a new capital funding programme has been provided to my Department for these schemes.
In Co. Kildare, six local youth projects in Athy, Naas, Leixlip, Newbridge, the Curragh and Kildare town, under the auspices of Kildare Youth Services, receive funding under the Special Projects for Youth Scheme. Funding is also provided for a Youth Information Centre in Naas. In addition, Kildare Youth Hub, Kildare Town has recently received approval for a capital grant of €50,000 towards the cost of developing a new youth café facility.
In 2014, funding of €488,200 has been allocated for the projects and services under Kildare Youth Services. The detailed notifications about the allocations and payment arrangements for this year are being issued by my Department this week. As in recent years, national organisations along with the grant administering agencies that administer youth funding, on behalf of my Department, are invited where it is appropriate, to submit proposals to my Department for the reconfiguration of the funding allocations notified to them across projects and funding schemes to better meet local needs. My Department would be happy to consider any such proposals on behalf of Kildare Youth Service and to discuss with the service and Youth Work Ireland any proposals, within their budget, that would assist the organisation in the provision of local services.
My Department, along with all government departments, is required to deliver substantial savings on all funding programmes in line with the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure (CRE). My Department, in determining the annual allocations for youth programmes, while having regard to the CRE, has sought to ensure that, as far as is possible, the focus is maintained on the front line youth services particularly those for the most vulnerable young people. This year, I secured an additional €1m in the 2014 Budget to offset the impact of the CRE on the youth services. As a result the overall reduction in 2014 budgets for the youth services at 3.75 % was significantly less had been indicated in the CRE.
I am aware of the challenges that the budgetary constraints raise for the youth services throughout the country and its impact on services such as Kildare Youth Service. I and officials of my Department have met and will continue to meet with many youth organisations and groups to try and see how we can work together to ensure the most effective and efficient use of the resources available in order to continue to support the provision of quality and responsive youth services for young people.
34. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs in the context of the need to ensure an adequate qualification framework, the funding supports available to community child care providers, in particular, to meet the qualification standards that are rightly required for quality child care and preschool care. [6607/14]
View answerLast year I announced an 8-point Pre-School Quality Agenda to address issues of quality in the pre-school sector. There is clear evidence that the level of qualification held by childcare staff has a significant impact on the quality of the service provided. It was in this context that I decided to introduce a minimum qualification for all staff working directly with children across the childcare sector. From September 2015 all existing staff working in pre-school services will be required to hold a qualification in early childhood care and education at FETAC Level 5. Pre-School Leaders delivering the free Pre-School Year programme will be required to hold a qualification at FETAC Level 6.
To support childcare workers in both the community and private sector seeking to obtain the necessary qualifications, training support funding of €0.9 million was provided by my Department at the end of last year. A further funding allocation of €1.5 million to support training is provided for in 2014 and it is intended that this allocation will be repeated in 2015, bringing the total provision to €3 million over the two year period.
My Department is currently putting arrangements in place for a new training programme. Planning is under way in association with Pobal to seek expressions of interest from accredited training providers who wish to provide FETAC Level 5 or Level 6 training under this initiative. It is likely that the City and County Childcare Committees will play an important role in identifying qualifying staff and supporting them in accessing suitable training from the panel put in place through the expressions of interest process. I expect the full details, including detailed specifications, selection criteria and operational arrangements for the new initiative, to be finalised and announced shortly.
35. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her views on reports that at least 200 social work posts are currently vacant even though there have been significant increases in the number of reports of children at risk of abuse or neglect; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6635/14]
View answer39. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the action she will take to address the inadequate numbers of necessary social workers for vulnerable children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6653/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 35 and 39 together.
The staffing complement for the Child and Family Agency (CFA), which was established on 1 January, 2014 includes 1,385 social workers who transferred from the HSE. The complement was determined following a detailed census and re-classification process undertaken in 2013, through which social workers were formally assigned to particular care groups, including children and families. This work was necessary in order to prepare for the establishment of the new Agency and to allow for the transfer of designated staff.
Staffing vacancies arise for various reasons including retirements, resignations, career breaks and unpaid leave. In addition, gaps in service cover arise where staff are on paid leave. Social work staffing levels across the whole country are at 93% according to the CFA. Vacancies are covered by temporary staff as required to ensure staffing levels do not fall to an unsafe level. This is risk assessed by Area Managers.
Over the past 18 months a total of 153 social work posts have been filled. In addition to this, there are a further 181 posts in the process of being recruited:
- 23 of these have been offered and accepted positions and starting dates are being agreed;
- 6 offers have been made and are awaiting a response;
- The remaining 152 posts have been approved to be filled. A recruitment campaign is already underway for 32 of these posts and a further offers/campaign for the remaining 120 is expected to start shortly.
Budget 2014 included the provision of €6.7m (€12m in a full year) to support the continuing implementation of the reform programme across children and family services. This additional funding will assist the CFA in meeting identified service pressures. This will include the filling of social work vacancies taking account of identified need, with a particular focus this year on the filling of vacancies arising from maternity leave. The Agency is also finalising proposals, arising from the provision of this additional funding, for the introduction of a guaranteed and protected one year induction programme for newly qualified social workers. The scheme will include protected workload and weekly tutorial/mentoring provision.
The initiatives described above will assist the CFA in responding to particular service pressures arising over the course of the year and allow for a targeted response to such pressures taking account of identified need and service priorities.
36. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the plans she has to support the thousands of children in the State who are currently acting as carers. [6524/14]
View answerA large number of children act in some capacity in a caring role. This was evidenced by the results of the Census of Population 2011, where over six thousand children indicated that they provided regular unpaid personal help for a friend or family member with a long-term illness, health problems or disability. Children and young people with caring responsibilities face particular difficulties. They often bear social, educational, emotional and health burdens that are inappropriate for them, and it is important that any responses to support them address such issues.
In 2012 the Department of Health published "The National Carers Strategy – Recognised, Supported, Empowered". The strategy recognises that although the needs of young carers can be similar to carers of any age, they may have additional needs, which include support in education to help them to achieve their full potential. My Department will continue to support the raising of awareness among education and other providers of the signs that children and young people have caring responsibilities and the impact of caring on them. Furthermore, my Department will ensure that the children strategies which are being developed will be as 'carer friendly' as possible.
It is also important that all statutory agencies keep under review the way they respond to such negative impacts. The newly-established Child and Family Agency has a crucial role to play in relation to providing protection to children and assistance and support to families. It is reliant on neighbours, schools, GPs, public health nurses, hospitals and disability services to alert it to instances where there is a concern that a child's welfare may be impacted by the caring responsibilities they carry. If a child's welfare is assessed as being negatively impacted by their caring role, the Child and Family Agency is obliged to provide supports to the child to assist them in that regard. The Child and Family Agency is integrating its three educational welfare service strands based on the principle of "One Child, One Team, One Plan". This reform will enable the Agency to better respond to the circumstances in which children and families need its assistance.
In preparation for the establishment of the Agency, child care staff were alerted to the Carers Strategy and its relevance to children with carer responsibilities. The Strategy was disseminated to key children and family services staff, and linkages between carer responsibilities and child protection issues were also highlighted.
37. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the money being provided for the provision of the preschool year; the number of children being catered for; the number of these preschools being operated through Irish and the number being operated through English, with the number of children in each category; her policy regarding same in view of the 20-year strategy for the Irish language; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6493/14]
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 before commencing primary school. Approximately 68,000 children availed of the free pre-school year in the 2012/2013 academic year and €175 million funding was made available to support the provision. It is expected that similar numbers will avail of the programme in the current year.
All documentation relating to the ECCE programme, including application forms and parent declaration forms, are available in Irish as required under the Official Languages Act and can be accessed through my Department's website or directly from the Department. The contract is also available in Irish and service providers may submit their electronic returns in Irish.
There are approximately 4,300 childcare services providing the free pre-school programme with 234 of these providers using the term Naíonra in the title to their service. However, only a handful of service providers requested the Irish version of the contract and only 60 services this year submitted their electronic returns using the Irish version of the electronic return form.
The free pre-school year is provided by both commercial and community providers and it is a matter for the service provider to determine the medium through which the pre-school provision is delivered.
38. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the additional steps she will take to address the availability and affordability of regulated child care services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6494/14]
View answerI am very much aware of the relatively high cost of childcare in this country. Significant investment, totalling more than €260m, is being provided this year by my Department to provide for a number of childcare programmes that assist parents with the cost of childcare. These programmes include the Free Pre-School Year, from which approximately 68,000 children benefit annually. The financial benefit to the parent of a child participating in the free pre-school year is about €2,500.
The Community Childcare Subvention programme, which provides targeted benefit primarily to lower income and disadvantaged families, is also accessible to parents who have relatively average incomes on the basis of their entitlement to hold a GP visit card. About 25,000 children each year benefit from this programme. Parents who qualify for the highest rate of support can have the weekly charge reduced by up to €95 for each child.
Funding is also provided by my Department to support the Childhood Education and Training Support programme which targets funding to support parents seeking to return to the workforce who are participating in Solas or Education and Training Boards education and training programmes. About 2,500 childcare places are provided each year under this initiative. Parents qualifying under this programme can have the overall charge reduced by as much as €145 per week for each child.
A further 1,800 part-time childcare places are available under the CETS programme to Community Employment scheme participants. In addition, 600 places are available under the School Age Childcare programme, which targets social welfare recipients availing of employment opportunities.
I have succeeded, despite the challenging budgetary situation, in maintaining these childcare programmes, ensuring that a significant number of children can avail of quality childcare services who would not otherwise be in a position to do so. I am happy to advise the Deputy that a review of the childcare support programmes will be undertaken by my Department in the coming year with a view to identifying areas where they could be enhanced and improved to ensure the best use of the investment which is currently being made in this area.
40. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the measures she will take to help young persons who may be at risk from irresponsible and reckless forms of social media; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6652/14]
View answerI share the Deputy's concerns and recognise that the scale of the challenge, particularly as the number of social media outlets, and platforms to use them, is ever increasing. Research on the problem shows there are no simple answers and there is no magic solution to tackling this complex social issue.
It is important that a cross-departmental approach is taken to tackling this issue. In 2013 the Minister for Education and Science launched the Action Plan on Bullying. Since the Action Plan was launched, two successful awareness raising initiatives have been rolled out. I understand that Internet Safety Day will be held again on 11th February of this year. As part of this, the information service for young people, SpunOut, is planning a major focus on internet safety issues through its website and social media channels which reach thousands of young people every day.
The Office for Internet Safety forms part of the Department of Justice and Equality and has a key role in ensuring that steps are taken to keep the internet as safe as possible. It provides guidance for parents and organisations and a mechanism for reporting illegal content.
With regard to the Internet generally, it is important to remember that it has many positive aspects and that it is important parents proactively engage with their children to help them to maximise their enjoyment of the Internet in the safest possible manner. This includes parents explaining to their children the potential dangers that exist and encouraging them to bring up any difficulties or problems with other users that they may be interacting with on the Internet. It is also important that parents are aware of what their children are doing on-line and are familiar with the systems their children are using.
Many of the technologies that children use today have resources that can be used to help protect children from inappropriate or obscene content. Filtering, Blocking and Parental Control Systems are among some of the options available. However, research relating to Ireland showed only just over a quarter of parents (28%) block or filter websites and just under a quarter (24%) track the websites visited by their children. I believe these figures need to be improved by the continued highlighting of these dangers to parents and young people.
41. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide a list of bodies under the aegis of his Department in respect of Government policy for which he is responsible for answering parliamentary questions pursuant to Standing Order 34. [7002/14]
View answerThere are no bodies under the aegis of my Department for the purposes of Standing Order 34.
42. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide a list of bodies to which he has the authority to appoint board members. [7017/14]
View answerThere are six ad hoc advisory groups/committees to which I make appointments. These are: the Emigrant Services Advisory Committee; the Advisory Group of the Global Irish Network; the Irish Aid Expert Advisory Group; the NGO Standing Committee on Human Rights; the Standing Committee on Holocaust Education, Research and Remembrance; and the Monitoring Group on Ireland's National Action Plan for the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 on gender issues.
I am also responsible for making appointments to the Ireland–United States Commission for Educational Exchange (The Fulbright Commission).
43. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide a list of all specific new powers or functions conferred on local authorities by legislation under his area since June 2009 and a reference to the specific section or regulation in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7032/14]
View answerNo new powers or functions have been conferred on local authorities by legislation sponsored by my Department since June 2009.
44. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if and when a passport will issue in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7109/14]
View answerThe Passports Act, 2008 provides, among other things, that only Irish citizens are entitled to be issued with Irish passports. Each application received by the Passport Service must, therefore, demonstrate that person's entitlement to Irish citizenship before a passport can issue to him/her.
The person in question was born in Dublin in 2006. His entitlement to Irish citizenship is subject to section 6A of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act, 1956 as amended (the Act). The Act provides that a person, born in the State on or after 1 January 2005, where neither parent is an Irish or British citizen or otherwise entitled to reside in the State or Northern Ireland without restriction at the time of that person's birth, may claim citizenship by birth in the State (and thereby establish eligibility for an Irish passport) only where a parent has been lawfully resident in the State for three years of the four years preceding that person's birth.
Two applications for a passport have been made to the Department for this person. The first of these was in 2006 and the most recent in 2012. However, neither application could be finalised to passport issue because the applicant's entitlement to Irish citizenship was not demonstrated. The Department wrote to the applicant's parents on three occasions to inform them of this and to advise them of the requirements, which were needed to finalise these applications to passport issue. There is no record of any reply from the parents in this matter.
It remains open to the parents to submit another application for a passport for their child. However, such an application must address the identified failings of the previous applications. In this regard the following advice is offered:
(a) evidence of either parent's lawful residence is required in respect of the four year period 22 March, 2002 to 22 March, 2006 (the latter being this person's date of birth);
(b) The evidence, which is acceptable to the Department in the context of a passport application, is permissions to remain in the State, which are endorsed on the parents' passports and/or their registration cards. Both items would have been issued by the Garda National Immigration Bureau;
(c) The amount of reckonable lawful residence must amount to three years otherwise it does meet with the requirement of section 6A of the Act;
(d) If this person does not qualify under section 6A of the Act, the parents may consider making an application to the Department of Justice, Equality and Defence for their child to become a naturalised citizen. In the event that such an application was successful, a Certificate of Naturalisation should be submitted in any future passport application as evidence of this person's Irish citizenship. The Department should then be in a position to issue a passport to this person.
45. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the checks made to ensure the security and integrity of Irish passports; if he will outline the staff selection process carried out before hiring staff to the Passport Office; if he is concerned at recent investigations into the Passport Office by An Garda Síochána; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7130/14]
View answerThe Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade takes the issue of passport fraud very seriously. The Passport Service continues to balance measures to protect against identity theft on the one hand with maintaining our customer focus. The application and checking processes have therefore been designed to protect our customers. I can confirm that new measures were put in place in the last year to improve our processes. These include changes to staffing structures, enhanced links with other Government Departments and overseas agencies.
Permanent staff of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, including those assigned to the Passport Service, are hired through the Public Appointments Service. The Passport Service hires additional temporary staff for the peak production period each year with the assistance of the Public Appointments Service and the Department of Social Protection. All staff are security cleared prior to taking up duty
With regard to the recent investigation, while I am unable to provide specific details of an ongoing criminal investigation, I can say that the Department became concerned in Autumn 2013 when internal checks revealed irregularities in respect of passport applications and immediately launched a joint investigation with An Garda Síochána. To be clear, the irregularities were identified by the Passport Service which invited the Gardaí to assist in and take forward the investigation. Furthermore, I can say that this issue relates to a small number of Fraudulently Obtained Genuine Irish passports (FOGs).
