Friday, 16 Sep 2016

Written Answers Nos. 1910-1935

Unaccompanied Minors and Separated Children

Questions (1910)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Question:

1910. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to state the number of unaccompanied minors who arrived here in the first six months of 2016; the way this compares to the same period in 2015; the process followed to identify unaccompanied and separated children when they arrive here; when an unaccompanied or separated child is identified, the action taken and by which authorities, to interview the child and undertake appropriate risk assessments; the processes in place to prevent unaccompanied and separated children from going missing once they arrive; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24345/16]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

The Child and Family Agency, Tusla, has confirmed that the number of separated children seeking asylum who arrived in Ireland in the first six months of 2016 was 60 compared to 41 who arrived in the same period last year.

Separated children seeking asylum who arrive in Ireland are identified and referred to Tusla by an officer representing the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner or the Garda National Emigration Bureau as provided for under Section 8(5)(a) of the Refugee Act of 1996. All identified separated children are referred to the Tusla Team for Separated Children Seeking Asylum (TSCSA) which provides a range of services, including statutory care, family reunification and aftercare support. Once referred to TSCSA, the provisions of the Child Care Act, 1991 apply in relation to the child.

Upon referral to TSCSA, an intake assessment takes place which explores his/her identity, family, health issues, educational experience, journey to Ireland, significant pre-migration and migratory events, screening for trafficking indicators and identifying any possible Irish and/or EU resources, for example, family or social contacts and wider networks.

During the initial period of orientation, observation and assessment, children under the age of 12 are placed with foster families and children over the age of 12 are placed in dedicated children's residential units. The TSCSA has a number of foster carers specifically trained in the unique experiences and needs of unaccompanied children. A social worker, allocated to each separated child seeking asylum, has responsibility for the development and implementation of an individualised statutory care plan.

An "Absence Management Plan" is put in place for every child who comes into care. This Plan is a risk assessment tool in the event of a child going missing. The child is involved in drafting this plan and the dangers of going missing from care are highlighted and reassurance given that the service can help if they want to join relatives in a third country.

All cases of children missing from their placements are notified by TSCSA directly to An Garda Síochána as agreed in the " Joint Protocol between An Garda Síochána and Tusla, the Child and Family Agency ". A telephone report of a child missing from care must be followed by a Missing Child from Care Report Form including a recent, good quality photograph of the child. The TSCSA assesses if the child is at a level of risk of harm to warrant a nationally escalated alert.

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Questions (1911)

Clare Daly

Question:

1911. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will ensure that all survivors of mother and baby homes will be included in the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes, in view of the fact that excluding some survivors is deeply unfair and discriminatory. [24361/16]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

In accordance with the motion passed by the Oireachtas, the approach taken by Government in drafting the Terms of Reference for this Commission provided a clear and deliberate emphasis on the experiences of women and children who had spent time in Mother and Baby Homes. Clear criteria were used to identify Mother and Baby Homes, including having a function of providing sheltered and supervised ante- and post-natal facilities to single mothers and their children, and an ethos which those running the institutions considered to promote a regime of work, training or education as part of an overall approach to either rehabilitating single mothers, or to give them training for living independently. A representative sample of County Homes is also being examined on the basis that some County Homes provided similar services.

Various calls have been made to include a wide range of different institutional settings but the available information indicated that children’s homes, orphanages, Magdalen Laundries, and similar institutions did not provide this specific range of services. For this reason such institutions were not listed in the schedule of Mother and Baby Homes attached to terms of reference.

In recognising that additional information could be uncovered in the course of the investigation, the independent statutory Commission has a wide remit to examine a broad range of public concerns, to decide on their importance to the Commission's work, and to make recommendations on them as it sees fit. Under its terms of reference, the Commission is required to report on any specific matters outside its scope which it considers may warrant further investigation in the public interest as part of the Commission’s work. The Government will consider any recommendations made by the Commission in this regard.

Foster Care Policy

Questions (1912)

Carol Nolan

Question:

1912. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if there are any European directives in place that govern the rights of foster parents; if these have been implemented in full; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24467/16]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

There are no European Directives in place that govern the rights of foster parents. As the Deputy is aware, the European Union (EU) has a limited role in family law matters, including instances where children, in the care of a Member State, are placed with a foster family.

Each individual Member State has its own rules about separation, divorce, maintenance of spouses and children, custody and guardianship, and other family law (both public and private) matters. The role of the EU is mainly concerned with ensuring that decisions made in one Member State can be implemented in another. It also has a role in trying to establish which Member State has jurisdiction to hear a particular case.

In this regard, Council Regulation (EC) No. 2201/2003 of 27 November 2003 concerning jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in matrimonial matters and the matters of parental responsibility, came into effect in March, 2005. This Regulation applies to all decisions made by the courts of Member States in matters of parental responsibility, and also encompasses cases where children are in the care of a Member State. Parental responsibility, for the purposes of the Regulation, includes issues such as custody and access, guardianship, the placement of a child in a foster family or in institutional care.

The Regulation creates a system of co-operation between central authorities of the Member States. These authorities are obliged to facilitate communications between the courts of the relevant countries and must facilitate agreements between those acting in loco parentis (including Member States) through mediation or other means. In Ireland, the Department of Justice and Equality act as the central authority for the Regulation .

Early Childhood Care and Education Expenditure

Questions (1913)

Kathleen Funchion

Question:

1913. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the estimated cost of making reforms (details supplied) to the ECCE scheme. [24529/16]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

The costs of the measures described are heavily dependent on uptake – it is estimated that, at present, 10% of children under three are in formal childcare. To cater for up to 100% of children between 6 months and 5 years of age would require significant capital investment to increase the capacity of the childcare sector. In addition, a 50 hour week is likely to require an enormous volume of additional qualified staff.

It must be noted that as the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Scheme is an educational programme it could not be delivered to children from 6 months of age. The cost of childcare for children under one year old is considerably higher than for children participating in ECCE, as a significantly higher ratio of staff to children is required (11:1 for ECCE-age children, 3:1 for children below one year of age).

Given the complexities described above it is not possible to provide an accurate estimate of cost. The Department is currently in the process of procuring an independent review of the cost of care, following which the data required to enable an answer to this question will be available. It is envisaged that the Department will tender for independent expertise to conduct the review in the autumn with a view to ensuring that the review is commenced later this year.

As an indicative answer, my Department estimates that there are 320,000 children between the ages of six months and 5 years in Ireland in 2016. At the current ECCE Higher Capitation rate of €5/hour; the cost of care would be in the region of €4.16BN per annum.

Emergency Accommodation Data

Questions (1914)

Mattie McGrath

Question:

1914. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of children in emergency accommodation by county, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24556/16]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has advised that it does not collect the data in the format requested by the Deputy. Information is available for emergency out of hours services by administrative area and is provided in the tables below. Tusla's services ensure the availability of accommodation and places of safety for children at risk outside of normal working hours. This is provided through the Emergency Out-of-Hours Social Work Service (EOHS), with specific supports from the Crisis Intervention Service and through the Emergency Place of Safety System (EPSS).

The number of children placed with the Out-of-Hours Crisis Intervention Service in 2015 was 248 children. The total number of children placed with the emergency out of hours place of safety service (EPSS) in 2015 was 280 children.

Emergency accommodation is provided through the Out-of-Hours Crisis Intervention Service in counties Dublin, Kildare and Wicklow, Cork Out-of-Hours service and Emergency Place of Safety foster placements, which are provided by an external contractor for Tusla. The EPSS provides foster care placements for children who have been removed under Section 12 of the Child Care Act, outside of normal office hours, on an emergency basis by An Garda Síochána.

Accommodation for children and families who find themselves to be homeless is provided through the local authority. Data on the number of children and families who are in emergency homeless accommodation is collated by and is available on the website of the Department of Housing, Planning, Community, and Local Government: http://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/homelessness/other/homelessness-data.

Table 1: Number of children placed with the Emergency Place of Safety Service

	Total 2015	Q. 1 2016
Dublin South Central	0	0
Dublin South East/ Wicklow	6	0
Dublin South West/Kildare/West Wicklow	5	0
Midlands	27	6
Dublin North City	1	0
Dublin North	14	0
Louth/Meath	39	15
Cavan/Monaghan	22	2
Cork	54	1
Kerry	7	2
Carlow/Kilkenny/South Tipperary	14	3
Waterford/Wexford	20	4
Mid west	25	1
Galway/Roscommon	28	5
Mayo	10	1
Donegal	5	2
Sligo/Leitrim/West Cavan	3	1
Total	280	43

Children placed with Out of Hours Crisis Intervention Service

	Total 2015	Q. 1 2016
Dublin South Central	48	17
Dublin South East/ Wicklow	23	8
Dublin South West/Kildare/West Wicklow	59	10
Midlands	2	0
Dublin North East Region	98	19
Other Referral Sources	11	4
Separated Children Seeking Asylum	7	1
Total	248	59

Child and Family Agency Expenditure

Questions (1915)

Mattie McGrath

Question:

1915. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will address the transparency and accountability deficiencies in Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, with respect to personal allowances of staff that have not been noted on official salary scales; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24557/16]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

I am not aware of any specific example that the Deputy is raising. However, the Deputy may be referring to a report in the media on 20 July 2016 regarding a HSE payroll audit which criticised controls in the Child and Family Agency (Tusla).

The payroll audit took place in October 2014, some 10 months after the establishment of Tusla in January 2014. The establishment of Tusla was a very significant achievement and involved the transfer of 4,000 staff from three different public service agencies and 10 different payroll systems. For example, the majority of the staff transferred from the HSE and came from 8 different payroll systems across the country.

The audit in October 2014 raised issues relating to a small number of staff receiving ‘personal allowances’ not showing on official scales. Tusla has clarified that this situation arose due to the technical challenges in transferring the 4,000 staff from the numerous payroll systems to a single national system. A generic descriptive code of 'Personal Allowance' was created on the new payroll system to ensure payment of a range of allowances that were payable under approved Department of Health scales and Department of Justice scales. On foot of the recommendation of the audit report, Tusla has since reviewed the use of this generic code and introduced specific pay allowance codes.

Domestic Violence Services Funding

Questions (1916)

Mattie McGrath

Question:

1916. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the total funding allocated by her Department for emergency refuge support; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24558/16]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

In 2016, Tusla, the Child and Family Agency has allocated funding of €20.6m for a network of some 60 organisations providing services to victims of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence in Ireland. Almost €12.0m is provided for emergency refuge and support services and a further €4.6m is provided for other community based domestic violence support services.

In 2016, an additional €200,000 was allocated to Tusla to support implementation of obligations under the Council of Europe Convention on Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence (Istanbul Convention) which is enabling provision of an additional six family units of emergency accommodation in the greater Dublin area in 2016.

My priority, and that of Tusla, is to ensure that the needs of women and children fleeing domestic violence are being met in the best way possible. Tusla is engaging with service provider organisations and other stakeholders to identify and prioritise future needs, including the provision of additional emergency accommodation spaces.

Domestic violence support services are provided through integrated community based responses, with emergency refuge accommodation as one component of service delivery. Tusla’s primary focus is on achieving the optimum use of emergency shelter accommodation and focusing on prevention and effective community based services to avoid in so far as possible the need for use of refuges by vulnerable women and families.

I recognise that there are challenges to be addressed in ensuring that there is appropriate safe crisis accommodation available to all women and children who require immediate shelter because of violent family relationships. I am committed to continuing support for these vital services.

Assisted Human Reproduction

Questions (1917)

Mattie McGrath

Question:

1917. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the participation or role her Department has in formulating legislation pertaining to assisted human reproduction; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24559/16]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

The matter of legislation formulation in relation to Assisted Human Reproduction is the responsibility of the Minister for Health. At such time as further legislative proposals are developed by Minister Harris in this regard, I and my Department will have the opportunity to provide observations and comments as part of the normal process of interdepartmental consultation on legislation and policy development.

Social Workers Register

Questions (1918)

Mattie McGrath

Question:

1918. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of social workers assigned to each county, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24560/16]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

The Child and Family Agency (Tusla) has advised that at the end of July 2016 there were 1,485.15 whole-time equivalent social workers directly employed. As Tusla records its data by administrative area as opposed to on a county basis, a breakdown by county is not available. The breakdown of social workers by administrative area is set out in tabular format below. The Deputy should note that the classification 'Corporate' includes national services such as early years services and adoption.

Administrative Area	Social Work July WTE
Child Resident Service	12.89
Dublin Mid Leinster	367.06
Dublin North East	328.22
South	357.56
West	342.6
Corporate	76.82
Grand Total	1,485.15

Psychological Services

Questions (1919)

Mattie McGrath

Question:

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]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

Tusla, 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.

Early Childhood Care and Education Data

Questions (1920)

Alan Farrell

Question:

1920. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of ECCE scheme users by year and local authority area, in tabular form, since its inception; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24723/16]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

The numbers that the Deputy has requested can be seen in the table below. It must be noted that there may be some minor discrepancies in the numbers provided due to the differing methods used to collate these figures over the course of the scheme, as it transferred to a new IT system, and due to rounding issues. There is also an issue whereby children can be registered in one county, move, and then be re-registered in another county, all within one academic year. This means the total number of children registered per county, is approximately 450 per year higher than the number of children registered nationally.

Local Authority Area	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015
Carlow	695	735	799	812	773	782	912
Cavan	949	1,203	1,225	1,250	1,282	1,163	1,356
Clare	1,478	1,770	1,624	1,682	1,737	1,539	1,890
Cork City	1,153	1,434	1,411	1,452	1,456	1,478	1,610
Cork County	4,824	5,919	6,201	6,260	6,424	6,307	7,378
Donegal	1,988	2,156	2,346	2,295	2,366	2,291	2,432
Dublin City	3,447	4,596	4,916	5,327	5,731	5,632	5,954
Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown	1,851	2,236	2,400	2,571	2,758	2,767	2,913
Fingal County	3,462	4,574	4,841	4,967	5,423	4,898	5,337
South Dublin	2,790	3,709	3,998	4,054	4,262	4,141	4,456
Galway	3,074	3,616	3,699	3,819	3,726	3,620	4,147
Kerry	1,583	1,959	1,939	2,002	1,967	1,892	2,258
Kildare	2,932	3,608	3,781	3,697	3,867	3,763	4,054
Kilkenny	1,131	1,270	1,320	1,440	1,374	1,396	1,588
Laois	1,033	1,420	1,474	1,426	1,481	1,406	1,589
Leitrim	395	480	411	422	451	414	476
Limerick	2,295	2,746	2,689	2,754	2,742	2,724	3,088
Longford	484	573	555	603	596	583	640
Louth	1,563	1,880	1,861	1,965	1,982	1,874	2,019
Mayo	1,509	1,751	1,730	1,762	1,748	1,718	1,881
Meath	2,637	3,326	3,282	3,435	3,393	3,436	3,759
Monaghan	841	753	869	875	901	859	946
Offaly	962	1,108	1,150	1,248	1,183	1,195	1,323
Roscommon	721	747	800	791	856	826	905
Sligo	712	869	881	866	909	841	984
Tipperary North	850	991	1,032	1,043	1,020	960	1,141
Tipperary South	1,129	1,166	1,187	1,231	1,319	1,212	1,377
Waterford	1,312	1,599	1,641	1,722	1,769	1,665	1,735
Westmeath	1,166	1,309	1,358	1,352	1,433	1,407	1,530
Wexford	1,900	2,189	2,231	2,341	2,210	2,137	2,538
Wicklow	1,707	2,165	2,189	2,272	2,271	2,264	2,370
Total by County	52,573	63,855	65,837	67,736	69,410	67,190	74,586

Departmental Expenditure

Questions (1921)

Dara Calleary

Question:

1921. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of credit cards issued to Ministers and officials working in her Department; the amount spent on credit cards by her Department in 2014 and in 2015; the amount of bank interest paid on credit cards in 2014 and 2015; the controls in place to monitor the issuing of and the expenditure on these cards; the controls in place in each agency to monitor expenditure on personally held credit card bills that are subsequently used to recoup work related expenses; if these controls are being reviewed in view of recent events in agencies funded by the HSE; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24737/16]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

There are three corporate credit cards currently in use in my Department. A Credit Card is issued to my Private Secretary, a second card is issued to a designated officer in the Department's Finance Unit and a third to a designated officer in the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes. These cards are typically used to cover a range of miscellaneous costs such as that relating to official entertainment, accommodation, seminar and conference fees, annual membership fees, publications and software purchases.

Table 1: Expenditure incurred on Credit Cards, 2014-2015

	2014	2015
Finance Unit	€19,047.63	€19,038.14
Private Secretary	€2,699.36	€956.38
Commission of Investigation	0	€2,848.80
Total	€21,746.79	€22,943.32

Table 2: Bank Interest paid on Credit Cards, 2014-2015

	2014	2015
Finance Unit	€19.33	€86.29
Private Secretary	€72.27	€3.12
Commission of Investigation	0	€24.17
Total	€91.60	€113.58

The Department exercises strict control over the use of credit cards. In accordance with the guidelines in operation for card usage, credit cards must not be used for personal and private use, inappropriate purchases, transactions valued over the card limit and for personal entertainment or hospitality. In addition, the Department’s Finance Unit reconciles bank statements with receipts from cardholders each month, monitors individual transactions and checks that all associated costs, including expenses, were necessarily incurred in the performance of official duties.

As regards credit card usage in agencies under the remit of my Department, the Deputy has tabled additional questions on these matters and separate responses are being provided in relation to the issues raised.

State Bodies Expenditure

Questions (1922, 1923)

Dara Calleary

Question:

1922. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of credit cards issued to staff working in each State agency funded by her Department, in tabular form; the number of cards per funded agency; the amount spent by credit card in 2014 and 2015 by each agency; the amount of bank interest paid on credit cards in 2014 and 2015; the controls in place to monitor the issuing of and the expenditure on these cards; the controls in place in each agency to monitor expenditure on personally held credit card bills that are subsequently used to recoup work related expenses; if these controls are being reviewed in view of recent events in agencies funded by the HSE; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24752/16]

Dara Calleary

Question:

1923. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of credit cards issued to staff working in any third party agency funded by her Department, in tabular form; the number of cards per funded agency; the amount spent by credit card in 2014 and 2015 by each agency; the controls in place to monitor the issuing of and the expenditure on these cards; the controls in place in each agency to monitor expenditure on credit card bills that are subsequently used to recoup work related expense; if these controls are being reviewed in view of recent events in agencies funded by the HSE; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24767/16]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1922 and 1923 together.

The State Agencies under the remit of my Department were consulted in relation to credit cards and I am advised of the following in relation to the internal operational arrangements in place within each agency regarding their usage-

- Tusla, the Child and Family Agency had confirmed that it has no credit cards in issue.

- The Adoption Authority of Ireland has a credit card policy in place in which personal private expenditure is prohibited and cash advances disallowed. Under the arrangements in place by the Authority credit cards may be withdrawn if the usage policy is not fully complied with and unauthorised use will be reported to the Board and the Audit and Risk Committee. One credit card was assigned to a member of staff during the course of 2014 and four cards were in use by staff members in 2015. Details of the expenditure incurred on the cards and the bank interest paid are set out in the following table.

	2014	2015
Expenditure	€6,994.39	€22,943.63
Bank Interest	€130	€90
Total	€7,124.39	€23,033.63

- The Office of the Ombudsman for Children will be responding directly to the Deputy in relation to the position in that Office.

As regards third party agencies, the Deputy might wish to note that my Department currently provides grant funding directly to a wide range of community, local and other national organisations who are engaged in the provision of services to children and young people. The management of these grant payments by my Department is subject to compliance with the governance principles set out in Circular 13/2014 – Management of and Accountability for Grants from Exchequer Funds that was published by the Department of Public Expenditure in 2014. In this regard my Department does not routinely hold information on the credit cards that may be in use by those organisations in receipt of the grant payments.

Area Based Childhood Programme

Questions (1924)

Noel Rock

Question:

1924. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the status of funding for Youngballymun; if further supplementary funding will be allocated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24799/16]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

The Area Based Childhood (ABC) Programme is a joint prevention and early intervention initiative led by my Department and The Atlantic Philanthropies. The ABC Programme is a time-bound, co-funding arrangement of €29.7m from 2013 to 2017. The aim is to test and evaluate prevention and early intervention approaches in 13 areas of disadvantage to improve outcomes for children, in particular children and families living in poverty. The focus of the work under the ABC Programme covers: Child Health & Development; Children’s Learning; Parenting; and Integrated Service Delivery.

This programme was preceded by the Prevention and Early Intervention Programme (PEIP) (2007-2013) which funded the following three organisations: Youngballymun, Childhood Development Initiative Tallaght, and the Preparing for Life Programme Darndale. Total funding provided to these 3 sites over the duration of both programmes amounts to €50m. Owing to their earlier transition into the ABC programme, Youngballymun and the other two sites were contracted to deliver services to children in their areas until mid-2016.

In July of this year, my Department and co-funder The Atlantic Philanthropies furnished additional funding to Youngballymun of €500,000 to enable the organisation to extend its service provision for an additional year, to end July 2017. Extensions were also furnished to the two other former PEIP sites which brings the contract completion date for these three sites in line with the other sites funded under the ABC programme. These extensions utilised all remaining funds within the ABC Budget.

The Government is fully committed to ensuring that learning from all sites funded under the ABC programme will inform other services and supports for children in the area of prevention and early intervention. Such an approach would offer a greater reach, in scope and depth, which will in turn enhance outcomes for children throughout the country. As there is effective work being done on a range of themes across all 13 ABC sites, a key focus over the next year will be to determine the high-impact programmes and provision across these areas so that a more strategic approach can be taken to mainstreaming such learning. In line with the commitments made in the Programme for Government, my Department is examining this learning to inform further consideration in the realm of prevention and early intervention.

Youth Services Funding

Questions (1925)

Fergus O'Dowd

Question:

1925. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of applications received nationally in relation to the capital funding scheme; the number of qualified applications received nationally; the number of applications received from counties Louth and Meath; the number of qualified applications received from counties Louth and Meath in relation to the capital funding scheme which was open to applications from her Department funded projects under the special projects for youth scheme, youth information centres, young people’s facilities and services fund and local drugs task force, 21 mainstreamed projects schemes, along with organisations in receipt of the youth service grant scheme; if a list of these applications and qualified applications can be made available for counties Louth and Meath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24930/16]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

In 2016 some €2.6m has been allocated to my Department for a capital funding scheme for youth projects and services. The scheme was open to projects that are funded by the Department under the Special Projects for Youth scheme, Young People’s Facilities and Services Fund, Local Drugs Task Force Projects scheme and Youth Information Centres scheme. The scheme was also open to national youth organisations in receipt of funding under the Youth Services Grants Scheme.

The scheme was split into two categories, Type One and Type Two. Type One provided for smaller capital projects including the up-grade or replacement of equipment or the purchase of essential equipment to support the running of the project/organisation in the provision of quality services for young people. Type Two provided for health and safety improvements to premises and/or upgrade or refurbishment of premises, including improvements to enable access for young people with disabilities, including those with physical or sensory disabilities.

The Department was assisted in the administration of the scheme by the network of Education and Training Boards throughout the country

In all, 135 applications were received and 94 were recommended for funding. Some 41 applications were deemed ineligible under the scheme. One application was received from the Louth Meath Education and Training Board area. This Type Two application was made by Craobh Rua Community Youth Project, Dundalk, County Louth. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the project was awarded a grant of €50,000 to assist the organisation in the refurbishment of their youth facility.

Early Childhood Care and Education

Questions (1926)

Clare Daly

Question:

1926. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she is aware of the planning application to Louth County Council (details supplied) for an early intervention centre for children aged between three and ten years of age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25039/16]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

I would like to thank the Deputy for bringing this matter to my attention. I understand that this application is made by a company in a private capacity and is a matter for the local planning authority. Planning decisions are dealt with by the local authority which is Louth County Council and any appeals would be heard by An Bord Pleanála. Tusla has advised that it has not received an application to register this application as a children's residential centre.

Residential Institutions

Questions (1927)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

1927. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if a centre manager has been successfully recruited to a vacant post at a children and young person's residential facility (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25212/16]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

I am pleased to inform the Deputy that Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has confirmed that a centre manager has been identified for the residential centre in question. This recent competition was advertised nationally. An exact date of appointment will be agreed when the timescale for capital and minor capital works is available. This information will allow for a timeline to be developed around the appointment of the manager and the reopening plan for the centre.

Tusla closed the centre as a result of findings from a HIQA inspection. Services were suspended owing to quality issues associated with the protracted absence of the substantive Centre Manager and difficulties arising replacing same with a suitably qualified and experienced candidate.

As of the June 2016, there were 337 children in residential general care nationally, with 181 (54%) of these in private residential placements and the remainder in centres run by the statutory and voluntary sector.

The number of young people in general residential care represents just 5% of the 6,392 children in care on the same date. Residential centres are based in domestic style houses in the community, staffed by social care workers. There are, at a minimum, two staff on duty and when needed this number is increased. There is an average of two young people per centre, although the number of children in a centre will range from one to four. Residential care is usually for older children, in cases when their needs may not be met in a foster care placement. At the end of December 2015, there were 153 children's residential centres nationally.

Departmental Expenditure

Questions (1928)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

1928. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the landlords to whom her Department or bodies under her aegis paid rent in each of the past three years; and the sums paid in each case. [25412/16]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

The Appropriation Account for my Department for the last three years does not include any direct payments in respect of rent. The lease for my Department's building is held by the Office of Public Works.

As regards Tusla, as this information is held regionally it will take some time to compile the information requested by the Deputy. I have asked Tusla to communicate directly with the Deputy with a full response as soon as possible.

In relation to the Adoption Authority of Ireland, rent payable for Shelbourne House (3rd and 4th floor), Shelbourne Road, Dublin 4, is paid for by the Department of Health. The Adoption Authority of Ireland does not reimburse any of this cost and is not liable for any fees in relation to rent.

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.

Domestic Violence Services Funding

Questions (1929)

Jan O'Sullivan

Question:

1929. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if adequate funding is in place to ensure that the 24-hour helpline of an organisation (details supplied) will stay open; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25448/16]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

Tusla, the Child and Family Agency intends to introduce the commissioning approach for the domestic violence helpline from 2017 to support the availability of a co-ordinated, accessible national helpline service that can provide both initial contact points and facilitate integrated responses to victims of domestic violence. Tusla will be engaging formally with providers around this process in the coming months. The issue of costs as well as service specifications are being considered as part of the helpline commissioning process.

Tusla has allocated funding of €20.6m in 2016, to support frontline Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based violence services. This includes additional funding of €200,000, requested by Tusla, to implement the provisions of the Council of Europe Convention on Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence (the Istanbul Convention). There is an obligation under the Istanbul Convention to have a dedicated free 24-hour national helpline in place for contact regarding domestic violence.

I recognise the valuable work undertaken by the organisation in question in the provision of national helpline services for domestic violence, and the work of other specialist domestic violence service provider organisations that operate helpline contact.

Youth Services Funding

Questions (1930)

Seán Fleming

Question:

1930. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when she will provide a staffing grant to an organisation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25453/16]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

The Youth Affairs Unit of my Department provides a range of funding schemes, programmes and supports to the youth sector. Funding of €51m for current expenditure is available from my Department in 2016 to support the provision of youth services and programmes to young people throughout the country including those from disadvantaged communities. The funding schemes support national and local youth work provision to some 380,000 young people. It is estimated that the voluntary youth services involve approximately 1,400 youth work staff in 477 projects and 40,000 volunteers working throughout the country.

Mountmellick Youth Development Association is currently not funded under the Department of Children and Youth Affairs funding schemes. The focus of the budget provision for the Youth Affairs Unit in recent years was on consolidating and maintaining, insofar as possible, existing programmes and services for young people. I regret that, in this context, it will not be possible to consider Mountmellick Youth Development Association as a new application for funding in 2016.

You will be aware that a number of funding schemes supporting youth services were the subject of a Value for Money and Policy Review. The review involved an in-depth scrutiny of the impact youth service provision has on young people’s lives. The review made a number of recommendations for the future operation of the youth schemes and their development in the years ahead. The work on the development of a new funding scheme has been prioritised by my Department and consultations with youth services are continuing with a view to introducing the new youth funding programme in line with the Value for Money and Policy Review of Youth Programmes over the coming years.

Psychological Services

Questions (1931)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

1931. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her views on the role of child art psychotherapy in child welfare and protection services; the psychotherapeutic services available to children who are involved with Tusla; the nature of these services; their availability by region; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25479/16]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

Tusla, 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 multidisciplinary therapeutic services which address the broader psychological welfare needs of children and their families.

An existing child art psychotherapy service is located in the Dublin North City area comprising of one sole therapist. The service accepts referrals from social workers for children about whom there are child welfare and child protection concerns. The caseload includes children who are in care, living in the family home or are the subject of court proceedings. This service is currently being developed and five graduate art psychotherapists have been contracted to provide art psychotherapy to children known to the Agency. Three of the graduates will be located in the existing Dublin North City service and the remaining two graduates will be located in the Dublin North locality. It is planned that each graduate child art psychotherapist will provide six sessions of child art psychotherapy per week.

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 cases basis as required.

Tusla and the HSE 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 HSE 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.

Adoption Legislation

Questions (1932)

James Lawless

Question:

1932. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when she will publish the adoption (information and tracing) Bill; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25497/16]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

Work on the drafting the Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill is underway and I am committed to publishing the Bill as early as possible after the Dail resumes.

The Heads and General Scheme of the Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill were published in July 2015. It was then referred to the Joint Oireachtas Committee for Health and Children for pre legislative scrutiny and the Committee published its Report in November last. Following consideration of the Report, a revised scheme was developed which amended the previous suite of measures to balance the right to identity of the adopted person with the right of the birth parent to privacy.

The Government approved the drafting of this Bill taking account of the Report of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children on the Pre-Legislative Scrutiny of the General Scheme and Heads of the Bill in December 2015.

As the Deputy will be aware, this Bill is intended to facilitate access to adoption information and operates on the basis of a presumption in favour of disclosing information in so far as is legally and constitutionally possible for both domestic and inter-country adoptions. The Bill will, for the first time, provide a statutory basis for the provision of information related to both past and future adoptions. It will provide clarity around the information that can be provided and the circumstances in which it can be provided.

One of the key provisions in this Bill is to give an adopted person, aged 18 years or over who was adopted prior to its commencement, a statutory entitlement to the information required to apply for their birth certificate subject to certain conditions. The Bill also provides that an adopted person whose adoption was effected after the commencement of the Bill will be given their birth certificate at 18 years of age.

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Questions (1933)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Question:

1933. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the progress to date by the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes; if they have extended their investigation to include other institutions and facilities not on the original list; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25537/16]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

The Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes and certain related matters was established by the Government in February 2015. The Commission is working to thoroughly examine the experience of mothers and children resident in Mother and Baby Homes and a representative sample of County Homes.

As an independent statutory inquiry, the Commission has been given broad scope to examine a wide range of public concerns, to decide on their importance to the Commission’s work, and to make any recommendations on them as it sees fit. Under its existing terms of reference, the Commission is required to report on any specific matters outside its scope which it considers may warrant further investigation in the public interest as part of the Commission’s work. The Government will consider any recommendations made by the Commission in this regard.

The Deputy will wish to note that the Commission of Investigation does not have the power to extend its terms of reference.

Community Childcare Subvention Programme

Questions (1934)

Anne Rabbitte

Question:

1934. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will provide estimates of the cost to the Exchequer to increase the subsidy or weekly fee reduction available to recipients of the community childcare subvention scheme and the community childcare subvention scheme private, by 10% for all bands and all rates; and the number of recipients in each scheme at each band and partaking of each rate, in tabular form. [25842/16]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

Budget 2016 provided €16m to create an additional 3,200 (full-time equivalent) Community Childcare Subvention ( CCS) childcare places, or approximately 8,000 places based on average uptake. Traditionally, CCS has only been available through community (not for profit) childcare services of which there are 900 across the country. Eligible families who did not live in an area with a community service could not traditionally access the scheme. At the end of 2015, using savings from that year, my Department lifted the cap on the number of CCS places available though community services and encouraged these services to provide additional CCS places. However, there was insufficient capacity within the community sector to meet all eligible families needs and hence my Department extended the terms of the CCS scheme so that it could be provided by private childcare providers across the country. This was to ensure that eligible families, regardless of where they lived, could access this important childcare subvention. The Community Childcare Subvention Private (CCSP) programme launched in March of this year.

My Department has calculated that the cost of the increase described, across the various CCS bands would be approximately €4.85m in a full year.

The 2016-2017 CCS programme opens for registration on Monday 19th September, so numbers enrolled and therefore costs are likely to change significantly from current estimates. Also an increase in funding to providers/decrease in payment required of parents is likely to change demand, and the impact of this change is not possible to calculate.

The table sought is presented below. Please note that, for financial purposes, the Department calculates costs on the basis of Full Time Equivalent (FTE) children, and the actual number of children participating in the CCS programme is significantly higher than the FTE numbers.

		Weeks	CCS		10%		CSSP		10%
	Rate	Provided	FTE's		Increase		Children		Increase
Band A Full-time	€95.00	50	2,421	€11,498,800	€9.50	€1,149,880	323	€1,534,250	€9.50	€153,425
Band A Part-time	€47.50	50	4,697	€11,154,900	€4.75	€1,115,490	127	€301,625	€4.75	€30,163
Band A Sessional	€31.35	50	2,539	€3,980,196	€3.14	€398,020	103	€161,453	€3.14	€16,145
Band A Half-session	€15.20	50	714	€542,944	€1.52	€54,294	10	€7,600	€1.52	€760
Band AJ Full-time	€50.00	50	279	€698,000	€5.00	€69,800	30	€75,000	€5.00	€7,500
Band AJ Part-time	€47.50	50	1,285	€3,051,400	€4.75	€305,140	57	€135,375	€4.75	€13,538
Band AJ Sessional	€31.35	50	577	€904,134	€3.14	€90,413	39	€61,133	€3.14	€6,113
Band AJ Half-session	€15.20	50	138	€105,184	€1.52	€10,518	6	€4,560	€1.52	€456
Band B Full-time	€50.00	50	1,412	€3,530,000	€5.00	€353,000	476	€1,190,000	€5.00	€119,000
Band B Part-time	€25.00	50	2,883	€3,604,000	€2.50	€360,400	219	€273,750	€2.50	€27,375
Band B Sessional	€17.00	50	1,914	€1,627,240	€1.70	€162,724	190	€161,500	€1.70	€16,150
Band B Half-session	€8.50	50	569	€241,740	€0.85	€24,174	17	€7,225	€0.85	€723
			19,429	€40,938,538		€4,093,854	1,597	€3,913,470		€391,347
Total Increase				€4,485,201

Postal Codes

Questions (1935)

Jim Daly

Question:

1935. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the efforts her Department and agencies under its remit have made to use Eircode when communicating with households via An Post; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25866/16]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

My Department complies with Departmental best practice regarding the Eircode system. Since the launch of Eircode in July 2015, my Department's website has been updated to include the Eircode for the Department's postal contact details. Since then, all new stock of my Department's official stationery contains the Eircode. When responding to correspondence received from households, my officials use the addresses as provided by those concerned.

The Oberstown Children Detention Schools, the Adoption Authority of Ireland and Gáisce, the President’s Awards, also use addresses as provided by households when responding to correspondence received

As regards Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, I can confirm that An Post manages the printing of addresses for Tusla mail shots to households and hence the use of Eircode for same. 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.