Written Answers Nos. 116-121
116. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his views on a matter regarding a resource centre (details supplied) in Dublin 5; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12192/15]
View answerThe Family Resource Centre referred to by the Deputy receives funding from Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. Family Resource Centres are independent companies, limited by guarantee, and are managed by a voluntary Board of Management which is representative of the local community. In order to qualify for funding, a resource centre is required to have formal policies and procedures in place relating to a number of areas, including corporate governance and employment.
Tusla recently met with the voluntary Board of Management from the Centre in question. Tusla was advised that standard procedures were followed in arriving at its decision in relation to the matter referred to by the Deputy. This included legal advice on the matter. Separately, Tusla had a meeting scheduled for this week with the individual concerned. The Agency intends to continue funding this Family Resource Centre and will work with the Centre to ensure that the needs of children and families in the community continue to be met.
117. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the annual cost of providing a second year of free preschool care for children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12215/15]
View answerThe Early Childhood Care and Education programme provides one free preschool year to all eligible children before commencing primary school. This programme represents an annual investment of €175 million in preschool services.
The introduction of a second preschool year would require considerable additional funding, broadly in line with the cost of the current provision. 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, which is key to good outcomes for children, should be the priority. 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 childcare provision.
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. 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.
118. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the terms of reference in the mother and baby homes inquiry in terms of whether section 19 of the Commissions of Investigation Act 2004 means that any person who provides evidence to the commission on their involvement in crimes committed against the women and children involved cannot be prosecuted on foot of that evidence; and the way this tallies with his statements that prosecutions could follow. [12270/15]
View answerThe Commissions of Investigation Act 2004 provides an effective, prompt and transparent mechanism to investigate complex and sensitive matters of significant public concern while also respecting fair procedures and natural justice. The 2004 Act gives the Commission robust powers to conduct investigations within its terms of reference in the manner it considers appropriate while adhering to the rules and procedures contained within the Act.
The Commission of Investigation structure has two main features, namely that in general the proceedings are held in private and that before a report is published a person is allowed to protest against any want of fair procedure. Section 19 prohibits evidence given to a commission being admissible in other proceedings including in criminal proceedings. This provision is consistent with the role and function of such a statutory investigation.
It is important to be clear that a Commission's investigations are not criminal investigations. While the Commission of Investigation cannot bring criminal charges if its Reports reveal issues of concern which are potentially criminal in nature these will of course be referred to the appropriate investigative and prosecution authorities for further consideration.
As I have previously indicated, the Gardaí are the appropriate authority for criminal investigations, following which prosecutions against persons for alleged offences committed in this jurisdiction may be pursued through the criminal courts by the Director of Public Prosecutions. I encourage any person with complaints relating to matters of a potentially criminal nature to report these concerns directly to the Gardaí. There is no requirement to await this Commission's consideration of such matters.
119. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the work being carried out by a project (details supplied) in County Cork; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that funding is required to ensure the work can continue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12289/15]
View answerThe information sought by the Deputy has been requested from the Child and Family Agency and I will respond directly to the Deputy when the information is received.
120. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will provide in tabular form the number of children waiting to receive initial counselling for sexual abuse by county; the average waiting periods for these children to receive initial counselling by county; his views on delays for children who have been sexually abused and are awaiting counselling services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12304/15]
View answerThe information sought by the Deputy has been requested from the Child and Family Agency and I will respond directly to the Deputy when the information is received.
121. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his views on the progress report by the monitoring group of the Ryan report which finds that many of the recommendations of the report have yet to be implemented due to resource constraints; and if he will commit to putting the necessary resources in place to allow the implementation of the recommendations of the Ryan report. [12308/15]
View answerThe Report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse (The Ryan Report) was published in 2009 and detailed disturbing and significant levels of historic abuse of Irish children who were placed, by the State, in residential institutions run by religious orders. The Government accepted all of the recommendations of the Ryan Report, and in response developed an Implementation Plan. The Implementation Plan set out a series of 99 actions which addressed the recommendations to improve services to children in care, in detention and at risk.
The Government has recently approved the Fourth and Final Monitoring Report of the Ryan Implementation Group, and it has been laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas. The report of the Monitoring Group has illustrated that the vast majority of the recommendations (i.e. 94 out of a total of 99), have been implemented or are being implemented on an ongoing basis. It should also be noted that the Monitoring Group, which authored the Report, welcomed the significant positive developments that have taken place over the lifetime of the Implementation Plan.
I share the concern of the monitoring group that five of the actions are incomplete. These incomplete actions are in relation to the erection of a memorial to the survivors of institutional abuse; a longitudinal study of children in care; the maintenance of records of children in care and the development of an archive for same, and research into best practice in family law court processes. As the Government has committed to the full implementation of all 99 of the Implementation Plan actions, I will continue to liaise with relevant Government colleagues and the Child and Family Agency as regards implementation and I have also undertaken to keep the Government informed of progress until full implementation is achieved.
