Dáil Éireann Debate, Friday - 16 September 2016
1919. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will address the delays being experienced by children and adolescents who require access to psychological and psychiatric support services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24561/16]
View answerTusla, the Child and Family Agency is currently seeking to develop an integrated approach to the provision of therapy services which supports and informs front line practitioners in their day to day work with children and families as well as providing multi disciplinary therapeutic services which address the broader psychological welfare needs of children and their families. I can confirm that Tusla has put forward proposals seeking additional resources to further develop psychological services.
Psychiatric services for children are provided by the Health Service Executive through the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service.
Tusla is required under the Child and Family Agency Act, 2013 to support and promote the development, welfare and protection of children, to support and encourage the effective functioning of families and to provide services relating to the psychological welfare of children and their families.
Tusla provides psychological services for children in care and at risk through an arrangement with the Health Service Executive. In certain circumstances, psychological services for children are privately procured on an individual case basis as required.
Tusla and the Health Service Executive have in place both a Memorandum of Understanding and a Joint Protocol for inter-agency collaboration which underpins the provision of services for the psychological welfare of children. The purpose of the Memorandum of Understanding is to set out the partnership agreement between the Health Service Executive and Tusla to continue pre-establishment levels of service across both organisations. The objective of the Joint Protocol is to specify a pathway and associated responsibilities for children and families whose needs cross between the Health Service Executive and Tusla.
