Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 January 2016
224. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if sufficient resources continue to be available to provide medical, psychiatric and counselling services for children at risk; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3668/16]
View answerTusla, the Child and Family Agency, in discharging its functions, is placing a strong emphasis on prevention, early intervention, family support, therapeutic and care interventions, all of which are key to the provision of integrated, multi-disciplinary services for vulnerable children and families.
Tusla has specific responsibility for psychology services for children as set out in Section 8 of the Child and Family Agency Act, 2013. These services for children are currently provided by arrangement with the HSE.
The provision of resources for medical services is a matter for the Health Service Executive (HSE).
Children in the care of the State can access publicly funded child and adolescent mental health teams and primary care psychology services provided by the HSE.
Clinical psychology services are directly provided by Tusla within multi-disciplinary teams deployed by the Assessment, Consultation and Therapy Service (ACTS). Services provided include assessment and focused interventions for children and young people with complex clinical needs and high risk behaviours. The service also provides support to other professionals in order to guide interventions for children and families.
Where children have suffered sexual abuse, therapy services are available in a variety of settings. There are specialist sexual abuse Centres at Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin and Temple Street Children’s University Hospital. Therapy services are also provided by HSE community based psychologists and HSE Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) for children who have moderate to severe mental health problems. If a child is taken into care as a result of sexual abuse the allocated social worker will provide counselling and support.
Tusla, also provides funding to voluntary organisations offering a range of counselling and support services to children and families. In 2015, Tusla provided funding of €5.8 million to support counselling services. The funding provided by Tusla focuses on the development of support services in the community for families to enhance stability in family life and to assist children and families and their members in dealing with difficult periods in their lives.
As the Deputy will be aware, I announced a significant increase in the funding allocation to Tusla for this year. Tusla has available to it some €676 million in funding, representing an increase of €38 million over 2015.
The Government, since its establishment, has attached particular priority to supporting vulnerable children and families and the significant increase in funding being made available to Tusla this year represents further evidence of our delivery on this ambition.
