Under the current National Leaving and Aftercare Policy of Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, all young people leaving care who have been in care for 12 months on their 16th birthday or for 12 consecutive months prior to their 18th birthday are entitled to an aftercare plan. I have recently brought legislation to the Oireachtas to put this entitlement to an aftercare plan, with some improvements to the eligibility criteria, on a statutory footing to make it an explicit duty to assess a young person's needs on leaving care.
The transition to independent adulthood can be challenging for many young people and a key factor in achieving success is ensuring that assessment, preparation and planning for leaving care begins in the years prior to leaving care and continues as part of the care planning process. This work is based on collaboration with the young person, their carers and partner agencies to generate an aftercare plan that is specific to the individual young person's needs.
The supports provided to the young person will be based on their assessed needs. The needs of young people vary widely. Financial support is one element of this support. Advice, guidance, support and signposting are key elements of this service and these supports are available to all care leavers. For those young people who are not in training or education, aftercare services have a key role in providing support to them in liaising with the relevant departments and agencies in accessing financial assistance, employment opportunities, training or supporting them to return to education.
Tusla became aware that a situation had evolved historically where there were uneven and different rates of financial supports being made available for young people leaving care around the country. As part of the implementation of its national policy, Tusla addressed this inequitable approach and has introduced a Standardised National Aftercare Allowance of €300 per week.
The introduction of this aftercare allowance demonstrates Tusla's commitment to an aftercare service that offers consistent supports to ensure that young people leaving care and aftercare reach their potential in adult life. Tusla is also conducting a review of other aftercare supports provided by external bodies such as supported lodgings and aftercare workers. I was pleased to be able to allocate significant extra resources to Tusla for 2016. As well as providing extra resources for unmet needs and risk prevention, this extra funding will also go towards strengthening aftercare supports and will facilitate improving equity of access to services in areas nationally.
