Written Answers Nos. 1-148
130. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his views on the Central Statistics Office figures, showing a rise in the cost of child care in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7751/15]
View answerI am aware of the relatively high cost to parents of child care in this country and of the difficulties that this presents, particularly where both parents are in employment outside of the home. The figures produced by the CSO indicate that child care fees generally across the country increased by 2.4% in 2014.
To help address child care costs, in the region of €260 million is provided annually by my Department to support a number of child care programmes. These programmes are in addition to the support provided to all parents in the form of Child Benefit.
The objective of the investment by my Department is to assist parents in accessing quality and affordable child care. More than 100,000 children benefit from this investment each year. These programmes include the free pre-school year provided under the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme. In the region of 68,000 children benefit from the programme at a cost of €2,375 per child per year.
The CCS programme provides funding to community child care services to enable them to provide quality child care at reduced rates to disadvantaged and low income working parents. Parents qualify as disadvantaged or low income on the basis of means-tested entitlements. In the case of full day care, parents qualifying for the higher rate of subvention under the CCS programme can have up to €95 per week deducted from the overall charge for child care in the participating child care facility. In the region of 25,000 children each year benefit from this programme.
Further child care support is provided under a number of labour activation measures which support parents returning to the work force or availing of education or training opportunities.
Increased capitation and subvention payments under the child care support programmes would reduce the cost to parents, and support child care services to meet the overall cost of child care provision. I have indicated that if resources become available, I will consider the scope for increasing the level of these payments.
However, I want to ensure a cohesive, whole-of-Government approach to investment in child care services. To ensure that all the benefits of child care investments are fully realised, future public investment in child care must be evidence-based and strategically co-ordinated. With this in mind, I have established an Inter-departmental Group to look at the provision right across the 0 to 6 age group as well as to consider the after-school needs of older school-going children. I have asked the Group to report to me by the Summer.
131. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his views on the adequacy of the capitation grant for the providers of the free pre-school year; and his further views that the current capitation grant to pre-schools is adequate for these providers to pay their care staff a professional wage. [7761/15]
View answerThe Government provides €260 million annually to a number of child care support programmes that assist parents with the cost of child care. This figure includes €175 million provided annually to support the universal free preschool year under the Early Childhood Care and Education programme. These programmes are, of course, in addition to the support provided to all parents in the form of Child Benefit.
The funding provided through the child care support programmes has had a significant impact on child care provision and has enabled many child care providers to continue to deliver child care services at a time of economic difficulty. The funding has also ensured that employment levels across the sector have been maintained. The retention of the current level of investment in child care is a considerable achievement, given the pressure on the public finances over the last number of years.
I recognise the difficulties being faced by child care providers and I am aware of the concerns of child care professionals in relation to levels of remuneration in the child care sector.
The remuneration for child care workers is a matter for agreement between employers and employees. Staff remuneration does account for the great proportion of the overall cost of providing child care services and I acknowledge that increased capitation and subvention payments through the child care support programmes would assist child care services in addressing these cost issues. I have indicated that, if resources become available to my Department, I will consider the scope for increasing the level of these payments.
However, I want to look at the question of appropriate supports for child care in a wider context. It is crucial that we develop a coherent whole-of-Government approach to investment in child care services. To ensure that all the benefits of our full range of child care investments are fully realised, investment in child care must be evidence-based and strategically co-ordinated. I have established an Inter-departmental Group to look at the provision right across the 0 to 6 age group as well as to consider the after-school needs of older school-going children. I have asked the Group to report to me by the Summer.
132. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if the new child care regulations will revise the standards with regard to paediatric first aid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7699/15]
View answerPreschool services are subject to the Child Care (Pre-School Services) (No.2) Regulations 2006, as provided for under Part VII of the Child Care Act, 1991.
The Deputy may be aware that my Department is progressing the Early Years Quality Agenda which introduces a number of key of reforms that provide for the further development of the child care sector. To underpin these reforms, it was necessary to amend the Child Care Act 1991 and these legislative changes were enacted through the Child and Family Agency Act, 2013.
To provide for the implementation of the changes, it is necessary to carry out a root and branch re-examination of the existing regulations including a restructuring of the regulations and guidance content in line with the latest drafting practices. This has proved more time consuming than originally envisaged. Officials in my Department are working closely with the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel to develop a comprehensive draft of the new regulations, which will include a requirement that early years services have a person trained in paediatric first aid available at all times.
I am very anxious that all people working directly with children in the early years sector have an appropriate Paediatric First Aid qualification. However, there is no accredited award in Paediatric First Aid at any level on the National Framework of Qualifications. There is an accredited award in Occupational First Aid and it is a stipulation that the training can only be provided by organisations or individuals on the Register of Occupational First Aid Training Providers. This register is maintained on behalf of the Health and Safety Authority by the Occupational First Aid Assessment Agent.
The delivery of Paediatric First Aid courses could be regulated by developing a Special Purpose Award through Quality and Qualifications Ireland and my Department has already sent such an award proposal to them. However, the same standards that apply to the delivery of the Occupational First Aid award should also apply to Paediatric First Aid courses. At the moment, there are a lot of companies delivering 1 day courses in Paediatric First Aid and offering their own certificate of accreditation. I would like to see an external quality assurance process in place to ensure that these companies have the skills and competences to deliver a nationally accredited course.
My Department has been in touch with the relevant agencies seeking to progress the development of a Special Purpose Award in Paediatric First Aid and the external quality assurance of the delivery of such an award. I have asked my officials to keep me informed of developments in this matter.
133. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the cost of child care in counties Kildare and Meath and similar high-pressure commuter belt areas has increased dramatically, in recent years; if targeted measures are being considered under the Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures programme, including the option of targeting resources in very high-pressure areas where a greater demonstrable need is evident; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7746/15]
View answerI am aware of the relatively high cost to parents of child care in this country and of the difficulties that this presents, particularly where both parents are in employment outside of the home. Recent figures supplied by the CSO indicates the child care fees generally across the country increased by 2.4% in 2014. I do not have specific figures for the level of increase in the counties referred to by the Deputy.
Child care surveys carried out by Pobal indicate that the average fee for a child care place is higher in child care facilities in urban centres than in child care facilities in rural districts. The Pobal Annual Early Years Survey of 2013 show that the average fee for a full day place for a child older than 1 year, for example, is €174.48 in urban services. This is 9.2% higher than the average cost of €159.76 for similar services in rural settings. The cost of many goods and services tend to be more costly in urban centres but it is not the practice to increase State supports to meet these additional costs.
To help address child care costs, in the region of €260 million is provided annually by my Department to support a number of child care programmes. These programmes are in addition to the support provided to all parents in the form of Child Benefit.
The objective of the investment by my Department is to assist parents in accessing quality and affordable childcare. More than 100,000 children benefit from this investment each year. These programmes include the free preschool year provided under the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme. In the region of 68,000 children benefit from the programme at a cost of €2,375 per child per year. In the region of 3,750 children in County Kildare are availing of the ECCE programme this year and in the region 3,400 children are availing of the programme in County Meath.
The CCS programme provides funding to community child care services to enable them to provide quality child care at reduced rates to disadvantaged and low income working parents. Parents qualify as disadvantaged or low income on the basis of means-tested entitlements. In the case of full day care, parents qualifying for the higher rate of subvention under the CCS programme can have up to €95 per week deducted from the overall charge for child care in the participating child care facility. In the region of 25,000 children each year benefit from this programme. In the region of 260 children in County Kildare are registered CCS support this year and in the region 450 children are registered in County Meath.
Further child care support is provided to support a number of labour activation measures which assists parents returning to the workforce or availing of education or training opportunities. In the region of 250 children in County Kildare and 150 children in County Meath have received such support to date in the current school year.
To ensure that all the benefits of child care investments are fully realised, future public investment in child care must be evidence-based and strategically co-ordinated. I have established a Inter-departmental Group to look at the provision right across the 0 to 6 age group as well as to consider the after-school needs of older school-going children. It is crucial that we develop a coherent whole-of-Government approach to investment in child care services. I have asked the Group report to me by the Summer.
134. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his views on the survey by the Irish Independent (details supplied) on the rising cost of child care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7750/15]
View answerI am aware of the relatively high cost to parents of childcare in this country and of the difficulties that this presents, particularly where both parents are in employment outside of the home. The article referred to by the Deputy refers to figures produced by the CSO which indicates that child care fees generally across the country increased by 2.4% in 2014.
To help address child care costs, in the region of €260 million is provided annually by my Department to support a number of child care programmes. These programmes are in addition to the support provided to all parents in the form of Child Benefit.
The objective of the investment by my Department is to assist parents in accessing quality and affordable child care. More than 100,000 children benefit from this investment each year. These programmes include the free preschool year provided under the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme. In the region of 68,000 children benefit from the programme at a cost of €2,375 per child per year.
The CCS programme provides funding to community child care services to enable them to provide quality child care at reduced rates to disadvantaged and low income working parents. Parents qualify as disadvantaged or low income on the basis of means-tested entitlements. In the case of full day care, parents qualifying for the higher rate of subvention under the CCS programme can have up to €95 per week deducted from the overall charge for child care in the participating child care facility. In the region of 25,000 children each year benefit from this programme.
Further childcare support is provided under a number of labour activation measures which support parents returning to the workforce or availing of education or training opportunities.
Increased capitation and subvention payments under the child care support programmes could reduce the cost to parents, and support child care services to meet the overall costs of child care provision. I have indicated that if resources become available, I will review the scope for increasing the level of payments.
Reference is made in the newspaper article to tax relief as a means of supporting parents to meet child care costs. The question of tax relief or tax credits as a means of supporting working parents was looked at previously but was considered to be unsuitable for a number of reasons. For example, the introduction of tax credits would not help to support quality improvements within the child care sector and would not help those families on low pay who may not have any tax liability. There is also concern that the application of tax credits could lead to increased prices and therefore have limited impact in terms of savings to parents.
I want to look at the question of appropriate supports for child care in a wider context. It is crucial that we develop a coherent whole-of-Government approach to investment in child care services. To ensure that all the benefits of our full range of child care investments are fully realised, future public investment in child care must be evidence-based and strategically coordinated. I have established an Inter-departmental Group to look at the provision right across the 0 to 6 age group as well as to consider the after-school needs of older school-going children. I have asked the Group to report to me by the Summer.
135. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will provide a second full free preschool year for all children in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7741/15]
View answerThe Early Childhood Care and Education programme provides a free pre-school year to all eligible children before commencing primary school.
There is an increasing body of Irish and international evidence quantifying the benefits of early years interventions in terms of improving outcomes for children and in delivering significant economic and societal return to the State. In this context, I believe the introduction of a second year would benefit children’s educational and developmental outcomes.
Despite the challenging budgetary situation, the preschool year has been maintained as a universal and free programme, ensuring that a significant number of children can avail of quality preschool services who would not otherwise be in a position to do so.
Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures, the National Policy Framework for Children and Young People 2014-2020, recognises the value of early childhood care and education in supporting children's early cognitive, social and emotional development, and the Government is committed to the introduction of a second free preschool year within the lifetime of the Framework once the required quality standards are achieved and subject to the availability of resources.
However, the introduction of a second preschool year would require considerable additional funding, broadly in line with the cost of the current provision, which is €175 million per annum. This additional funding is not currently available due to the financial constraints under which the Government is operating. In addition, all of the available evidence indicates that the quality of the preschool provision is key to good outcomes for children. The Early Years Quality Agenda is being progressed by my Department. This involves a range of actions in key areas aimed at improving quality within early years services and enhancing the regulatory regime. These reforms are key building blocks for any further extension of universal child care provision.
I want to ensure a cohesive, whole-of-Government approach to investment in child care services. To ensure that all the benefits of child care investments are fully realised, future public investment in child care must be evidence-based and strategically coordinated. With this in mind, I have established an Inter-departmental Group to look at the provision right across the 0 to 6 age group as well as to consider the after-school needs of older school-going children. I have asked the Group report to me by the Summer.
136. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his responsibilities in the area of child mental health; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7756/15]
View answerBetter Outcomes, Brighter Futures: the National Policy Framework for Children and Young People has as one of its five key outcomes that children and young people are active and healthy, including having good mental health. The sponsor for this outcome is the Department of Health, who lead an interdepartmental group as part of the implementation structures for the framework.
The remit for the development of policy relating to mental health and mental health promotion lies mainly with the Department of Health, and with the HSE as the main provider of mental health services for children and young people.
The HSE has responsibility for a wide range of other child and adult psychological services such as:
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health services including psychiatric and psychological services associated with the provision of specialist mental health services to children,
- adult psychological services other than services which relate to the effective functioning of families and the improvement of relationships between parents and children, including effective parenting,
- psychological services to a child in respect of a disability, and
- psychological assessments in accordance with section 8 of the Disability Act 2005 or with section 4 of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004.
Tusla, which reports to my Department, has responsibility for supporting children and young people across special care and high support settings, as well as the children's detention schools. Clinical Psychologists are employed by the Child and Family Agency in the Assessment, Consultation and Therapy Service (ACTS). They provide assessment and focused interventions for children and young people with complex clinical needs and high risk behaviours in the context of multidisciplinary teams. They also provide support to other professionals in order to guide interventions with children and families.
With regard to promoting mental good mental health, The National Youth Health Programme is a partnership operated by the National Youth Council of Ireland with the Youth Affairs Unit of my Department and the Health Promotion Unit of the HSE. The Programme aims to provide a broad-based, flexible health promotion/education support and training service, including making healthy choices in relation to mental health and alcohol and substance misuse, to youth organisations and to all those working with young people in the non-formal education setting.
137. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the level of consultation with the Department of Education and Skills and-or the Department of Health on necessary supports for children with a disability who are in mainstream early childhood services; and if he will provide an update on plans to publish a national strategy to support these children. [7763/15]
View answerThe Early Childhood Care and Education programme is a free and universal programme to which all children, including those children with special needs, have access. The objective of the programme is to make early learning in a formal setting available to all eligible children before they commence primary school.
The issue of access to the free preschool year for children with special needs was taken into account when the free preschool year was launched, and measures were introduced to make the programme more accessible for these children. These measures include an exemption from the upper age limit and permission to have the preschool year split over two years on a pro rata basis, where it would be in the child's best interest.
Most children with special needs avail of the free preschool year in mainstream child care services. The Health Service Executive does, where possible, assist children with special needs who may require additional support to enable them to avail of preschool services in mainstream settings. However, I am aware that this support is not consistent nationally.
My Department meets regularly with the Department of Education and Skills to discuss issues of common concern, including supports for children with disabilities in mainstream preschools. In particular the two Departments and the Department of Education and Skills have been working on how best to build better supports that facilitate children who have special needs. The aim is to develop an agreed framework for the provision of resources to support children with special needs in mainstream childcare settings.
Early years settings should of course be supported to provide an inclusive environment and I would like to be in a position to provide further supports. Some of the measures I have taken include the establishment of Better Start, a national approach to improving quality, which provides advice and support to early years settings on quality improvement. I also introduced a Learner Fund to support staff in the sector to up-skill. While modules on working with children with special needs or on equality/diversity are elective modules in Early Childhood Care and Education Courses at Levels 5 and 6 on the National Framework of Qualifications, I have encouraged the take up of these modules by offering Learner subsidies where a training provider runs these elective modules as part of the Major Award.
I have also established a high level Inter-departmental Group to examine the issue of future investment in early childhood care and education, and child care for school-going children. As part of its work, the Group will consider how best to make appropriate provision for children with special needs who are accessing mainstream child care services. I have asked the Group to report to me by the Summer.
138. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his views on the infant mortality rate of children in direct provision, where, according to the Department of Justice and Equality figures, 61 persons living in direct provision have died since its establishment in 2002, of which 16 were infants or young children under five years of age, in other words, infants and very young children account for 25% of deaths of persons living in direct provision; and his views that his Department has a responsibility to ask why children between the ages of zero and five years account for 25% of these deaths. [7768/15]
View answerThe Department of Justice and Equality has primary responsibility in the area of asylum and immigration, accordingly the direct provision system is under the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Justice and Equality.
The death of any child is obviously of great concern, and most particularly so when they are in the care of the State. However, from what has been reported, I don't have sufficient information to draw any reliable conclusions about the causes of death, or mortality rates among this group. However, the Deputy can be assured that I will be discussing this with my colleagues in the Department of Health and the Department of Justice and Equality to examine the matter further.
The Department of Justice and Equality has established a working group to review a range of issues pertaining to asylum seekers and direct provision. The first meeting of the Working Group on the Protection Process was held on the 10th November 2014, chaired by Judge Bryan McMahon. The Working Group consists of children's rights advocates, organisations engaged with asylum groups and representatives from a range of relevant Government Departments, including a representative from my own Department. I look forward to learning of the findings and recommendations of the working group in the Spring of 2015.
139. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his plans to provide funding for domestic abuse services on the basis of population; and the way this will impact in County Laois. [7692/15]
View answerIn 2014, €17m in funding was provided by the Child and Family Agency (Tusla) by way of grant aid to 62 specialist Domestic Violence & Sexual Violence services. These include:
– 16 Rape Crisis Centres/Sexual Violence services
– 44 Domestic Violence services (including 20 Refuges)
- 2 National Networks
In addition, funding of €2.54m has transferred to my Department's 2015 Vote from the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government, and in turn to Tusla. This funding was previously distributed under section 10 of the Housing Act 1988 and is for domestic violence refuge services. The purpose of this funding transfer is to ensure that the State’s relationship with the domestic violence services is managed in a manner which is more coherent and adapted to the needs of service users i.e. victims of domestic violence.
In 2014 Tusla funded specialist domestic violence services in Co. Laois provided by Laois Domestic Abuse Services. The service received €64,900 in funding from Tusla last year.
The service involves the provision of domestic violence supports, including information, advocacy and counselling services to women experiencing or who have experienced domestic violence.
The work of Laois Domestic Abuse Services and other community-based domestic violence services is recognised and valued.
Tusla has recently completed an initial review of domestic violence and sexual violence services in order to identify strategic priorities and set out a Tusla roadmap for sexual violence and domestic violence services. There is for the first time a consolidated national budget for sexual violence and domestic violence services and an opportunity for more co-ordinated and equitable provision of violence and domestic violence services across the country.
Tusla will be communicating with funded services shortly to advise on the Tusla budget and funding for 2015. Individual domestic violence service provider organisations, including Laois Domestic Abuse Service, will be contacted about their specific funding and service arrangements for the current year.
Future planning for domestic violence and sexual violence services will seek to address gaps, avoid duplication and support effective delivery of frontline services nationally. Developments for domestic violence services in Co. Laois will be considered as part of Tusla’s future commissioning process. Tusla has advised that population size will be one of the factors that will inform this process.
140. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the ongoing measures in operation to protect children or teenagers from bullying outside the classroom; if adequate provisions are in place to identify, address and rectify such situations with particular reference to the need to ensure recourse for the victims; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7767/15]
View answerBetter Outcomes, Brighter Futures: the National Policy Framework for Children has as one of its outcomes that children are active and healthy, and another that children are safe and protected from harm.
Bullying Data from Wave One Data Collection from the Child Cohort in Growing Up in Ireland (at age nine) revealed:
A total of 40% of nine-year-olds reported being victims of bullying in the past year, and boys and girls experienced similar rates of victimisation.
Consultation with Young People
A national consultation was conducted with children and young people during 2011 and the report, Life as a Child and Young Person in Ireland: Report of a National Consultation, was published in 2012. Bullying and peer pressure emerged in the top eight 'not good' things for both children (aged 7-12) and young people (aged 12-18).
The Action Plan on Bullying
The Action Plan On Bullying: Report of the Anti-Bullying Working Group to the Minister for Education and Skills was published in January 2013 clearly recognised the necessity to tackle this issue in a holistic way which saw schools as pivotal but placed the issue within a much wider social context. One of the recommendations was that a single national anti-bullying website is to be developed to provide information for parents, young people, youth workers, sporting and cultural associations and school staff on types and methods of bullying and how to deal with bullying behaviour. This is now being considered as part of the implementation plan for Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures.
Cyberbullying
The Minister for Communications established an Internet Content Governance Advisory Group under the chair of Dr. Brian O’Neil in December 2013 to ensure our national policy represents best practice in offering the same online protections to our citizens as those available in the offline world.
The Group’s report was approved by Cabinet and published in May 2014 and makes several recommendations aimed at protecting children and young people without unduly limiting their opportunities and rights online. Along with changes to institutional, administrative and legal structures, the report makes four specific recommendations on cyberbullying aimed at providing stronger supports for tackling this issue through primary and post-primary curricula, and additional training and awareness measures.
In Ireland Safer Internet Day is promoted by the PDST Technology in Education and Webwise.ie. It is also strongly supported by the Safer Internet Ireland Project. This was held earlier in February with the theme "Let's create a better internet together".
Work with Youth services
Schools are strengthening collaboration and interaction with youth services and promote the active participation by pupils in youth focused services within their local communities. DCYA supports the National Youth Health Programme which is in partnership with the HSE and the National Youth Council of Ireland. The programme's aims are to provide a broad-based, flexible health promotion/education support and training service to youth organisations and to all those working with young people in out-of-school settings.
Work with Primary Care Teams
Work is currently under way with primary care teams in the HSE to pilot 'social prescribing'. Social prescribing creates a formal means of enabling primary care services to refer young people with social, emotional or practical needs which include experience of being bullied or showing bullying behaviour to a variety of holistic, local non-clinical services
141. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his plans to revise section 88 of the Children Act 2001 which relates to detention on remand, in view of the reply to Parliamentary Question No. 123 of 20 January 2015, that, of the 96 children remanded in detention schools in 2013, only 27% went on to receive a detention order, indicating high levels of the use of detention on remand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7752/15]
View answerSection 88 of the Children Act 2001 allows that a court may remand a child in custody who is charged with or found guilty of an offence, who is being sent forward for trial or in respect of whom the court has postponed a decision. The section in question also provides that a court shall not remand a child in custody if the only reason for so doing is that the child is in need of care or protection or the court wishes Tusla to assist it in dealing with the case. Notwithstanding this provision, I understand there may be a range of other factors affecting the decision of a court on the remand of a child in custody. As well as a pattern of criminal behaviour, such factors may also include identified service needs in areas such as mental health supports, substance abuse or educational welfare.
Having regard to the wording of the section as it stands, the fact that children are at all times represented in court and the independence of the judiciary, it is unclear what amendments to the Children Act could address this issue. I note that the courts already have the power under section 76B of the Act to request Tusla to be represented in criminal proceedings involving a child and in addition, the courts also have the authority to require the attendance of parents or guardians to assist in dealing with any individual case. In addition, section 96 of the Act states that a court shall have regard to the principle that criminal proceedings shall not be used solely to provide any assistance or service needed to care for or protect a child and that a period of detention should be imposed only as a last resort.
The Youth Justice Action Plan 2014-2018 commits to achieving better outcomes for children who get into trouble with the law, to reduce crime leading to safer communities and to use detention only as a last resort. In this context it is appropriate to review further the nature and pattern of remands in custody for children, which will allow for policy and the roles of the various statutory agencies concerned to be examined. To this end discussions involving the Irish Youth Justice Service and Tusla, the Child and Family Agency which have commenced on this issue will feed into the development of policy priorities for the Youth Justice Action Plan for 2015. While the main priority under the plan this year is to end the practice of detaining children in adult prison facilities, this exercise will inform any future actions in this area.
142. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the total funding, in each scheme, provided in 2014, under his Department’s youth services grant scheme to special projects for youth, the Young People's Facilities and Services Fund, local drugs task force projects, local youth club grant scheme and youth information centres; the bodies which benefited and their geographic locations; the total capital funding in each case; the way the spread of funding is calculated, based on need; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7747/15]
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. The funding schemes support national and local youth work provision to some 380,000 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 €49.78m was provided to my Department for these schemes.
The funding allocated by my Department in respect of the schemes indicated in the Deputy's question is set out in the table below.
|
Scheme |
2014 |
|
Youth Service Grant Scheme |
€9.949m |
|
Special Projects for Youth |
€14.4m |
|
Young Peoples Facilities and Services Fund (Round 1 and 2) |
€18.397m |
|
Local Youth Club Grant Scheme |
€1.035m |
|
Youth Information Centres |
€1.234m |
|
Local Drug Task Force projects |
€1.151m |
In addition, in 2014 a capital allocation of €500,000 was made available to fund small capital projects in the youth services. Some 50 local youth projects received grants under the scheme.
Details of the youth organisations and youth projects throughout the country that received funding under each of the schemes are being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy.
My Department is developing a National Youth Strategy. The new strategy will be based on Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures, the National Policy Framework for Children and Young People. It will be a universal strategy for all young people aged 10 to 24 years. It will have a particular focus on those who are most disadvantaged or at risk and who have the poorest outcomes and therefore are in most need of support.
A consultation on the new strategy is under way at present. It includes consultation on the priorities for the new strategy and the findings of the recently completed Value for Money and Policy Review of Youth Programmes that targets disadvantaged young people. The review makes recommendations for the future operation of youth funding schemes and their development in the years ahead to ensure effective, evidence based value for money programmes designed to ensure the optimal outcomes for young people who are at risk of disadvantage and in need of additional support. It is my intention that the recommendations in the review will be progressed over 2015 and 2016 in the context of the new Youth Strategy.
The consultation on the new National Youth Strategy will run to the end of this month and I anticipate that the strategy will be completed promptly thereafter.
143. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will report on consideration being given to extending the free year of preschool education; if this will involve extending the daily hours provided; the number of weeks covered in the year; or introducing a further year; and when such enhancements may be introduced. [7758/15]
View answerThe Early Childhood Care and Education programme provides a free preschool year to all eligible children, in the age range 3 years and 2 months to 4 years and 7 months, before commencing primary school.
The objective of the free preschool year is to improve children's readiness for entry to primary school. It is considered that the 38 week model of delivery in one school year is the optimal model in terms of ensuring a high-quality early years experience for preschool children. The Síolta and Aistear frameworks, which are central to quality preschool provision, were developed to support this objective. The current model of delivery also helps to ensure that children and parents become accustomed to the weekly discipline of school attendance with the number of days and hours on which the programme is delivered being approximate to the primary school requirement of 5 days over 38.6 weeks. There are no plans to increase the current provision within the preschool year or to extend the age range for eligibility.
There is an increasing body of Irish and international evidence quantifying the benefits of early years interventions in terms of improving outcomes for children and in delivering significant and societal return to the State. In this context, I believe that the introduction of a second free preschool year would benefit children’s educational and developmental outcomes.
The introduction of a second preschool year would require considerable additional funding which is not currently available. In addition, all of the available evidence indicates that the quality of the preschool provision is key to good outcomes for children. The actions contained in the Early Years Quality Agenda, which involves a range of measures in key areas aimed at improving quality within early years services and enhancing the regulatory regime, are currently being implemented.
Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures, the National Policy Framework for Children and Young People 2014-2020, recognises the value of early childhood care and education in supporting children’s early cognitive, social and emotional development, and the Government is committed to the introduction of a second free preschool year within the lifetime of the Framework once the required quality standards are achieved, and subject to the availability of resources.
144. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his plans to combat the poor oversight in some State-run care homes, where the use of drugs, and daily anti-social behaviour, has become prevalent, and his action plan for dealing with the rise in numbers of 16 and 17 year olds entering State care. [7769/15]
View answerI reject the sweeping characterisation of residential children centres portrayed by the Deputy in framing this question. There is a great deal of oversight and effort put into creating a homely and safe residential setting, something which has been missing in the lives of these vulnerable children. The use of residential accommodation is a relatively small part of the overall care provision, with residential placements accounting for 5% of children in care. Most children in care, 93% at October 2014, are in family based foster placements, with the remaining 2% being cared for in other placements. Unfortunately some children have deep and challenging issues that make it unsuitable to place them in foster care and require the use of a residential place. The interventions for children in residential care aim to support them in coming to terms with the impact of the hurt they have suffered through neglect or abuse.
The children entering residential care are as open to the types of risks that would be encountered by any child in their age cohort. Services around the individual child in care will address needs identified as part of their care plan, which can include interventions on alcohol, drugs and challenging behaviour. That being said, it is not the case that a child's negative actions would be condoned nor would the child be shielded from the consequences of their actions.
Registration, inspection and monitoring ensure that residential services are operating according to the national standards and regulations. The Health Information and Quality Authority has responsibility for inspecting centres operated by the Agency. Generally the reports in 2014 indicated that management and staff were found to be knowledgeable, experienced and committed to the care of the children. However, the complex interaction of the children's needs meant that a placement that was appropriate on admission may not be suitable over time and may require the updating of plans and behaviour supports. Separately the Agency registers, inspects and monitors the private and voluntary children residential centres. The Agency has completed 100% of its programme of inspections and monitoring for 2014. Inspections identify compliance with standards, inform service delivery and give an oversight of significant events that have been notified in line with standards for residential care.
The number of 16 and 17 year olds admitted into care, 14% in 2013, is not the largest age group entering care but is significant. This age cohort has different needs compared to younger age groups and need different responses. The experiences common to teenagers in any community are compounded for children in care by their complex needs, which may result from effects of abuse, neglect, substance misuse and domestic violence. Strategies and processes are in place for managing care services for older children, resulting in plans that address these age appropriate issues. It is the case that targeted interventions need time, patience and understanding for their effect to take hold and develop, and can only be effective when the child is ready and able to participate in the process. It is useful to note that the majority of 16 and 17 year olds entering care are in foster placements, similar to other age groups, and that progress is achieved by building up relationships for the child, both with professionals and the wider community in which they live. My Department will continue to engage with the Agency on how best to meet the needs of this older population of children in care and how the Agency can incorporate learning from inspection and monitoring that takes into account the ever changing profile of young people in society.
145. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his plans for funding the school completion programme 2015. [7759/15]
View answerThe School Completion Programme aims to retain young people in the formal education system to completion of senior cycle and to generally improve the school attendance, participation and retention of young people who are at risk of educational disadvantage. The Programme is a targeted intervention aimed at school communities identified through the Department of Education and Skills’ DEIS Action Plan for Educational Inclusion. It provides targeted supports annually to approximately 36,000 children.
Since 1st January 2014, the Child and Family Agency has operational responsibility for the School Completion Programme, including the allocation of funds to local projects. In 2014, an allocation of €24.756 million has been provided for the School Completion Programme. The Agency has approved local projects' school retention plans for the 2014/2015 academic year. The first two instalments of 2014/15 funding have been issued to local projects, with a third instalment planned for payment in May 2015.
The estimate for the Child and Family Agency for 2015 is €631 million, a 4.3% increase on its 2014 allocation. My Department has recently issued a Performance Statement to the Agency under Section 45 of the Child and Family Agency Act 2013. This includes my priorities for consideration in the development of the Agency's 2015 Business Plan. The Business Plan will set out the Agency's proposed activities, programmes and priorities for 2015, including provision for the School Completion Programme, in the light of the moneys available. A review of the School Completion Programme has commenced. It is being carried out by the ESRI following a procurement process managed by the Agency. It will assist in identifying the reforms necessary to consolidate the programme on a sustainable footing for the future. Preliminary information gathered in the review indicates that the School Completion Programme encompasses a broad and diverse range of measures and interventions that have been developed by local projects over the years. The intention is to learn more about the most successful of these, share the learning across the programme and ensure that available funds are targeted to those services that provide the greatest contribution to good educational outcomes for children and young people at risk of educational disadvantage. The Review is an important initiative to plan for the future development of this Programme. It is envisaged that the review will be completed during the current academic year.
146. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will increase the capitation fee payable under the early childhood care and education scheme to the level required to provide the service; if he will re-instate 2011 levels of capitation as an interim measure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7740/15]
View answerThe Early Childhood Care and Education programme provides a free preschool year to all eligible children, in the age range 3 years and 2 months to 4 years and 7 months, before commencing primary school.
A total of €175 million is spent on the free preschool year annually. This funding enables some 67,000 children each year to receive free preschool education. The Government succeeded in maintaining the preschool year on a universal and free basis despite the difficult budgetary situation that prevailed in recent years. While considerable progress has been made in correcting the overall budgetary situation, the funding available to my Department does not allow for an increase in the capitation rate paid to child care providers. I have indicated that, if resources become available to my Department, I will consider the scope for increasing the level of payments.
However, I want to look at the question of appropriate supports for child care in a wider context. It is crucial that we develop a coherent whole-of-Government approach to investment in child care services. To ensure that all the benefits of our full range of child care investments are fully realised, future public investment in child care must be evidence-based and strategically co-ordinated. I have established an Inter-departmental Group to look at the provision right across the 0 to 6 age group as well as to consider the after-school needs of older school-going children. I have asked the Group to report to me by the Summer.
147. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the degree to which the welfare and well-being of children is adequately protected, in all circumstances and situations throughout the country, including children whose parents may have suffered socially and economically in the past number of years, those in direct provision, and children born here whose parents are not naturalised and who may be excluded from employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7766/15]
View answerBetter Outcomes Brighter Futures, the National Policy Framework for Children and Young People 2014-2020 represents a whole-of-Government approach to improving the lives of children and young people. The Policy Framework outlines five national outcomes which all of Government and indeed all of society should work towards. Children and young people should be:
- Active and healthy with physical and mental wellbeing,
- Achieving full potential in all areas of learning and development,
- Safe and protected from harm
- Enjoying economic security and opportunity, and
- Connected, respected and contributing to their world.
Obviously my Department alone could not achieve all of these outcomes. Therefore primary responsibility for the outcome areas belong to the Department of Health, the Department of Education and Skills, my Department, the Department of Social Protection and the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government respectively. Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures details 163 key policy commitments for children and young people. These cover a wide variety of policy areas, and are being progressed by the relevant departments.
The Child and Family Agency (Tusla) under the remit of my Department, represents the most comprehensive reform of child protection, early intervention and family support services ever undertaken in Ireland. It is an ambitious move which brings together some 4,000 staff and an operational budget of approximately €600m.
The Agency is charged with:
- supporting and promoting the development, welfare and protection of children, and the effective functioning of families;
- offering care and protection for children in circumstances where their parents have not been able to, or are unlikely to, provide the care that a child needs;
- responsibility for ensuring that every child in the State attends school or otherwise receives an education, and for providing education welfare services to support and monitor children’s attendance, participation and retention in education;
- ensuring that the best interests of the child guides all decisions affecting individual children;
- consulting children and families so that they help to shape the agency’s policies and services;
- strengthening interagency co-operation to ensure seamless services responsive to needs;
- undertaking research relating to its functions, and providing information and advice to the Minister regarding those functions; and
- commissioning services relating to the provision of child and family services
One of the main challenges in the area of physical well-being is childhood obesity. In the latter part of 2013, in my role then as the Minister of Health, I jointly launched with my predecessor, Minister Fitzgerald, a three year media and social media campaign aimed at giving practical tips to parents on managing their children’s weight.
As Minister for Children and Youth Affairs I have responsibility for Play and Recreation Policy which have been set out in the policy documents, ‘READY, STEADY, PLAY! A National Play Policy’ and the ‘Teenspace, National Recreation Policy for Young People’. Initiatives being developed at local community level are designed to encourage awareness of the importance of play and recreation throughout the whole of life from early childhood to adulthood and through to later life.
Additionally, my Department administers funding schemes and programmes to support national and local youth work provision to some 380,000 young people which involves approximately 1,400 youth work staff in 477 projects and 40,000 volunteers working in youth work services and communities throughout the country. I am pleased that Budget 2015 has confirmed that funding of €49.78m will again be provided to my Department in 2015 to support the provision of youth services. Many of the youth services operate with young people’s physical and mental well-being as the central pillar of their services and programmes. The Youth Work Sector has particular expertise in working with young people and provides non-formal and informal learning opportunities to support their well-being.
I can inform the Deputy that the direct provision system is under the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Justice and Equality. The Department of Justice and Equality has primary responsibility in the area of asylum and immigration.
The Department of Justice and Equality has established a working group to review a range of issues pertaining to asylum seekers and direct provision. The first meeting of the Working Group on the Protection Process was held on the 10th November 2014, chaired by Judge McMahon. The Working Group consists of children's rights advocates, organisations engaged with asylum groups and representatives from a range of relevant Government Departments, including a representative from my own Department. I look forward to learning of the findings and recommendations of the working group in the Spring of 2015.
148. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will provide details of the high turnover of social workers employed by Túsla, the Child and Family Agency, in view of the fact that these workers are more than twice as likely to resign their positions when compared to other employees in the health and social services generally; his plans to ensure that this does not occur; his plans to ensure that any child at risk and not currently under the care of a social worker will be catered for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7694/15]
View answerIt is recognised by management in Tusla and my Department that stability, experience and capacity of staff working in the area of child protection and child welfare is extremely important. Accordingly, workforce development is an important element of TUSLA’s strategic approach to HR, which will include consideration of issues around recruitment, retention and turnover of key staff.
Tusla has already commenced a number of workforce reviews to assist with an evaluation of appropriate staff skill mix with a view to service enhancement. This involves reviewing the roles of family support workers, social care workers in the community and administrative structures to support the delivery of more efficient and more cost-effective services. Part of this evaluation includes looking at enhanced job roles, increasing multidisciplinary team working to help alleviate pressures and increasing collaborative approaches, redesigning tasks and promoting overall greater efficiency in working. The workforce development plan will also take account of further developing supports through structured professional and career development.
During this process, Tusla continues to actively recruit social workers as vacancies arise and 164 social workers took up positions during 2014. A further 219 social workers are under active recruitment. As in any employment situation, turnover of staff does occur and 112 social workers left the Agency during 2014. While Tusla is experiencing some recruitment and retention issues, the turnover of social workers in the Agency's first year of operation was 7.3%. This turnover rate includes those who have retired or left for other reasons. There is limited published international research on job turnover and retention in child protection and welfare. However, it is recognised that recruitment and retention in this area is a key issue internationally. While not minimising the impact of the turnover rate in Tusla, a turnover rate of 10% or below is considered a low turnover rate that is achieved by very few organisations in the field of child welfare and protection.
The impact of vacancies on service provision is risk-assessed on an ongoing basis to ensure that social work team members are never allowed to fall below what is considered necessary to provide a safe service. Such risk-assessments take account of issues such as caseloads and referral numbers. Where necessary, temporary staff are brought in immediately to cover vacancies until such vacancies are filled on a permanent basis. This assessment takes account of all absences, including those on maternity related leave. There were 124 such temporary staff in place across the four regions covering vacancies at the end of December 2014.
I am currently considering the Tusla Business Plan for 2015 which was recently submitted to me and I will be monitoring the ongoing review, assessment and management of the cases awaiting assignment to social workers throughout 2015.
