Wednesday, 8 Jun 2016

Written Answers Nos. 668-677

North-South Ministerial Council

Questions (668)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

668. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the State bodies under her remit that have developed memorandums of understanding with her counterpart in Northern Ireland on the efficient delivery of services on the island of Ireland; if she has carried out a cost-benefit analysis of the development of further memorandums of understanding; the details of the cost-benefit analysis; and the new memorandums of understanding she will create between State bodies under their remits through the lifetime of this Government. [14277/16]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

The ongoing North South work of my Department takes place under the auspices of the North South Ministerial Council. The North South Ministerial Council meets in Sectorial Format to oversee co-operation in agreed areas/sectors. At these Sectorial meetings the Irish Government is represented by the Minister or the Minister of State responsible for that Sector, and the Northern Ireland Executive is represented by two Ministers nominated by the First Minister and deputy First Minister on a cross-community basis.

I am responsible for the following Agencies - the Adoption Authority of Ireland, Children Detention Schools and Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. I have certain responsibilities with regard to the Ombudsman for Children's Office and Gaisce (The President's Award). There are no Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) between the Oberstown Children Detention Campus and its counterpart in Northern Ireland, the Woodlands Juvenile Justice Centre. However, there is extensive contact between both centres on matters of common interest and the sharing of best practice in relation to the detention of children. This co-operation is on an on-going basis and also includes exchange visits by staff of both centres at periodic intervals.

With regard to the Adoption Authority of Ireland and Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, there are no MOU's in place between these bodies and their counterparts in Northern Ireland. Tusla's National Manager for Information, Data Protection and Research, is a member of the North South Ministerial Council Officials Group.

I have requested the Ombudsman for Children's Office to respond to you directly as it is an independent statutory body established under the Ombudsman for Children’s Act, 2002. The Act provides that the Ombudsman for Children is independent in the performance of his functions under the Act and is directly accountable to the Oireachtas in relation to the exercise of his functions. Gaisce (The President's Award) will also respond to you directly.

Child Care Services Provision

Questions (669)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

669. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the locations in which there are community crèches and if it is planned to expand on these; if so, the locations, timeframe and criteria which will be used; if public buildings such as schools will be used; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14356/16]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

There are in excess of one thousand community/not for profit childcare services currently in contract with the Department to provide the various childcare programmes. A visual search for these providers can be carried out via Pobal Maps at maps.pobal.ie, which received a major update yesterday, June 7th. Alternatively, each of the 30 City/County Childcare Committees (CCCs) maintains lists of providers in their respective areas. A list of CCC contacts is available on my Department's website, www.dcya.gov.ie, and links are also available through Early Childhood Ireland's website.

In response to the expansion of ECCE announced in Budget 2016, and to support the development of capacity in the sector, my Department has initiated a number of actions. The Department made detailed information available to the CCCs at the beginning of this year indicating the number of children, by every electoral division across the country, who would be eligible for an ECCE place in September 2016, January 2017 and April 2017. My Department continues to work closely with the CCCs to match this data against reported capacity in the sector to meet the increase in demand. My Department is working with the CCCs on the development of action plans for areas where a shortfall in supply may be identified.

In Budget 2016 my predecessor, Minister James Reilly, announced the opportunity for private childcare providers to participate in the Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) programme for the first time - this was to ensure that families eligible for CCS but living in an area with no community/not-for-profit childcare service could access subsidised childcare. A number of private childcare providers are now contracting with my Department and will be participating in the Community Childcare Subvention (Private) (CCSP) programme. My Department has recently (June 2nd, 2016), announced the re-opening of the contract process for CCS Private providers, and this will remain open until 1 August 2016. I intend to take further steps to promote registration of private providers in this scheme shortly.

In addition, my Department announced the introduction of an Early Years Capital Programme earlier this year with total funding of €4 million available. This funding was targeted at early years pre-school providers, both community and private, that are making alterations to their services to accommodate increased numbers of children. The maximum grant available under this programme is €10,000. The closing date for applications was 8 April, 2016 and I hope to announce the successful applicants in the coming weeks.

In relation to the use of public buildings such as schools to provide childcare, The Programme for Government indicates that community groups and private providers will be invited to tender to use school facilities - outside school hours - for childcare purposes. A cross-Departmental group has now been established to consider how best to implement this commitment, and this group met for the first time last week. Officials from my Department and the Department of Education and Skills have been tasked with the development of a joint proposal for my consideration and the consideration of my colleague in Government, Minister Richard Bruton.

Early Childhood Care and Education

Questions (670)

Eoin Ó Broin

Question:

670. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of applications received by her Department for a second early childhood care and education scheme year starting in September 2016 from parents of children born before 1 January 2012. [14373/16]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

From September 2016, children will be eligible to start free pre-school when they reach the age of 3, and can continue in free pre-school until they start primary school (once the child is not older than 5½ years at the end of the pre-school year i.e. end June). The age range for eligibility for children enrolling for the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme in September 2016 is 1 January 2012 to the 31 August 2013.

Applications for access to the ECCE scheme are normally handled directly between the parent, the provider and Pobal, who administer the programme on behalf of my Department. My Department only becomes involved in certain circumstances.

The eligibility criteria for national schemes must be strictly adhered to. Exceptions to these criteria can only currently be made in the event that a child has been diagnosed as having a special/additional need. Any request for an exemption from ECCE eligibility criteria must, under current rules, be supported by a medical assessment report from the HSE/medical specialist, specifying the child's special need and diagnosis.

In such a case, an application should be made to the Early Years Policies and Programmes Unit of my Department, attaching the supporting medical report.

I understand that, as of 2 June 2016, my Department has received 156 applications for children to avail of a second free pre-school year in September 2016 and whose date of birth is before 1 Jan 2012. Of these, 123 were approved and 25 were not approved. Eight applications remain pending awaiting further documentation. Once documentation is received, these will be processed without delay.

Early Childhood Care and Education

Questions (671, 672, 675)

Eoin Ó Broin

Question:

671. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to consider providing greater flexibility in providing an exemption for early childhood care and education scheme eligibility criteria for second year placements for children born before 1 January 2012 to facilitate children who, in the opinion of their school principals, are not deemed socially or emotionally ready, to progress into school. [14374/16]

Eoin Ó Broin

Question:

672. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to allow a child (details supplied) to access a second year early childhood care and education scheme placement on the grounds that the child is not socially or emotionally ready to progress into school. [14375/16]

Eoin Ó Broin

Question:

675. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to allow a person (details supplied) to access a second year early childhood care and education placement on the grounds that the child is not socially or emotionally ready to progress into school. [14415/16]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

I propose to take Questions Nos. 671, 672 and 675 together.

In Budget 2016 it was announced that, from September 2016, children will be eligible to attend free pre-school from the age of 3 years until they start primary school (once the child is not older than 5 years and 6 months at the end of the pre-school year i.e. end June). From September 2016, children who are over the age of 4 years and 8 months at the beginning of the relevant preschool year, will not be eligible to avail of the ECCE programme. The only exception to this rule is an exemption on the grounds of disability or special needs, the criteria for which are set out below. The age range for eligibility for children enrolling for the programme in September 2016 is 1 January 2012 to the 31 August 2013.

Exemptions to this rule can currently be made in the event that a child has been diagnosed as having a special/additional need. Current policy requires that any request for an exemption from ECCE eligibility criteria must be supported by a medical assessment report from the HSE/medical specialist specifying the child's special need and diagnosis. At present, this requirement is necessary to maintain a clear and standard basis for applying exemptions and is not intended to undermine the view of a parent or teacher in relation to a child's need.

The following specialist/ medical reports are accepted as supporting documentation when applying for an exemption under the ECCE programme:

Speech and Language Therapist

Occupational Therapist

Senior Psychologist

Physiotherapist

Paediatrician

Neurologist

Psychiatrist

Psychotherapist

Cardiologist

Oncologist

Ophthalmologist

Otolaryngologist (ENT specialist)

Gastroenterologist

My understanding is that the above is not an exhaustive list and a report from a medical practitioner or healthcare professional who is qualified to diagnose a disability is acceptable.

In November 2015, my predecessor Dr. James Reilly, launched a new model to support children with a disability to fully participate in the ECCE programme. Work in relation to the detailed development and implementation of this model is well advanced, with a view to introducing the model from September 2016 onward. The new Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) will not focus on medical diagnosis but rather on the developmental level of children with a disability, their functional ability, their strengths and their needs. On this basis, my Department intends to review the current process for providing exemptions to ECCE eligibility criteria, i.e. a medical-based assessment. However, this review will need to build on the current work in relation to the development of the new model of supports and will take some time to complete.

Adoption Data

Questions (673)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Question:

673. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the average cost of an adoption, using the most recently available figures, from January to December of that year. [14378/16]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

There is no fee payable to either the Adoption Authority of Ireland or Tusla, by prospective adoptive parents for making an application for a domestic adoption. However, costs may be incurred by applicants during the process for the procurement of certificates, swearing of documents, legal advice and court applications where necessary.

The accreditation of an agency to provide services in relation to facilitating intercountry adoptions is regulated by the Adoption Authority of Ireland. Currently, Helping Hands Adoption Mediation Agency is accredited by the Adoption Authority of Ireland for this purpose. This agency has approval from the Adoption Authority of Ireland to charge applicants a common programme fee of €6,500 per application. The fee applies to the Irish costs for intercountry adoption and covers overheads and costs incurred by the agency. These costs include: staffing, insurance, rent, transmission of assessment reports and client support. In addition to the common programme fee, each country has its own specific fees, which vary for each country. Details of the fees for each country can be obtained at http://www.helpinghands.ie.

Adoption Data

Questions (674)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Question:

674. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs under section 22 of the Adoption Act 2010, how often is the cost of adoption subsidised by the relevant authority; to what extent are costs subsidised; and the criteria for deeming whether or not, it is appropriate to subsidise the cost of adoption. [14379/16]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

Under the Adoption Act 2010 the Child and Family Agency carries out robust and comprehensive assessments on individuals who wish to adopt a child. The assessment of a person suitable to adopt as per section 34 of the Adoption Act 2010 states that an adoption order shall not be made unless the Authority is satisfied that the applicant is a suitable person to have rights and duties in respect of the child, is of good moral character, in good health and of an age that he or she has a reasonable expectation of being capable throughout the child’s childhood of fulfilling his or her parental duties in respect of the child. In addition, the applicant needs to demonstrate an ability to promote and support the child’s development and well being, providing the necessary health, social, educational and other interventions for the child, and valuing and supporting the child needs in relation to his or her identity and ethnic religious and cultural background. The assessment includes ensuring that the applicant has adequate means to support the child.

Section 22 of the Adoption Act 2010, provides that the Child and Family Agency may contribute towards the expenses incurred by a person in connection with an application to adopt. I am advised by the Child and Family Agency that this may occur when dealing with the issue of dispensing with consent. Section 26 of the Act provides that an adoption order cannot be granted unless consent has been given by a child’s mother, a guardian or person having charge of the child. In cases where the mother cannot give consent or is unwilling to do so and it is deemed that adoption is in the child’s best interest, the case will be referred to the High Court where the dispensing of the mothers consent will be considered. These cases are often associated with children in long term care who are being adopted by their foster carers. In such cases the Agency may meet the High Court costs if the applicants, as identified through the assessment do not have the means to meet these costs. The Agency may also meet the cost of supplementary assessments such as DNA testing in order to determine parentage and/or psychological tests where the costs cannot be met by the person required to undergo the assessment.

Question No. 675 answered with Question No. 671.

Departmental Data

Questions (676)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

676. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she is satisfied with the level of data that is collected on the issues that come under her Department's remit; the steps she will take to work with the Administration in Northern Ireland to collect data under her aegis on a North-South basis; and the budget she will put in place to undertake this work (details supplied). [14436/16]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

My Department is involved in a number of data initiatives relevant to its remit. In this context it

- funds and oversees Growing Up in Ireland: the National Longitudinal Study for Children, which is a rich source of data and covers a number of key domains

- publishes the biennial State of the Nations Children Report, which charts the well-being of children in Ireland across a range of key indicators

- oversees the implementation of the National Strategy for Research and Data on Children's Lives

- manages the Inventory of Data Sources on Children’s Lives, an online data related resource aimed at a range of users including those involved in research, service planning, service evaluation and policy development and monitoring in relation to children.

My Department is also currently in the final stages of a project to develop a set of outcome indicators to track progress across the five national outcomes in Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures, the Children and Young People's Policy Framework.

Data in Growing Up in Ireland, the National Longitudinal Study of Children in Ireland, has similarities with the Millennium Cohort Study carried out in Northern Ireland, and together they provide a rich source of comparative data with a North South dimension. Extensive data is also collated on each individual child on admission to detention in the Oberstown Children Detention Campus.

Together with the Office of the First and Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland and Atlantic Philanthropies, my Department has given financial support to the Children’s Research Network for Ireland and Northern Ireland over the past number of years. The Network brings together a wide range of professionals with an interest in data and research on child and family issues across the island of Ireland. Members include researchers from academia, Government, voluntary and independent sectors.

The ongoing North South work of my Department takes place under the auspices of the North South Ministerial Council. The North South Ministerial Council meets in Sectorial Format to oversee co-operation in agreed areas/sectors. At these Sectorial meetings the Irish Government is represented by the Minister or the Minister of State responsible for that Sector, and the Northern Ireland Executive is represented by two Ministers nominated by the First Minister and deputy First Minister on a cross-community basis. As Minister, I participate in the Child Protection Agenda of the Health Sectorial. There are five identified workstreams under this agenda and, where necessary, data from the two jurisdictions is collated and analysed in relation to specific issues. The work programme is due for review shortly, and the issue of the collection and sharing of relevant data will form part of these discussions.

Industrial Disputes

Questions (677)

Ruth Coppinger

Question:

677. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her views on the decision by staff at Oberstown youth detention centre to proceed with industrial action on 31 May 2016. [14585/16]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

As Minister with responsibility for children and young people, I am committed, first and foremost, to the provision of an appropriate, safe and secure environment for children in custody on the Oberstown campus. These children are cared for by staff who deserve to have a safe working environment.

In recent years it has been Government policy to end the practice of detaining children in adult prison facilities. In moving towards this goal a series of developments have been put in place. These have included a substantial capital development to provide new and modern facilities at Oberstown, measures to integrate and standardise procedures on the Campus, legislative reform under the Children (Amendment) Act 2015 and the first programme of staff recruitment in over ten years. I acknowledge the contribution of the staff and managers in Oberstown on the progress that has been made in this area.

I understand that the issues of staff safety and training supports are currently the subject of discussion between Oberstown management and staff representatives at the Workplace Relations Commission, following the industrial action which took place on Tuesday 31 May.

In Oberstown, there is an emphasis on training in behaviour management programmes that de-escalate and, where possible, avoid crises involving the behaviour of children. I condemn any and all incidents resulting in assault and injury to staff. There is no acceptable level of violent behaviour in a children detention school. I am advised that children are assessed daily for all forms of risk and in the light of such assessments the residential care plans for children are reviewed accordingly. The Oberstown Campus has in place a published bespoke behaviour management policy which has been developed in conjunction with the Crisis Prevention Institute of Wisconsin, USA. Policies and procedures are continually reviewed from a safety perspective. Unfortunately, the risk of injury cannot be excluded completely given the nature of a children detention school. A specific employee assistance programme is in place to assist members of staff on foot of any such incident where required. Staff are fully supported where incidents have to be investigated by the Garda authorities.

I welcome the fact that the engagement between Oberstown management and staff is now taking place at the Workplace Relations Commission and understand that industrial action has been suspended during this process. I intend to continue to monitor the progress of these discussions, in conjunction with the Oberstown board of management.