Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 October 2016
656. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the person or body responsible for the placement of a young person with a disability who has been in State care when they turn 18 years of age; and the steps that are taken to ensure various service providers work together to ensure that the needs of the young person are met at this significant transition [30598/16]
View answerThe Child Care (Amendment) Act 2015 imposes a statutory duty on Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, following an assessment of need, to prepare an aftercare plan identifying relevant aftercare supports for an eligible child or eligible young person.
For young people with a disability, aftercare planning forms the basis of discussions between Tusla and the HSE to effectively manage the transition from child to adult disability services, based on assessed need. These young people, in general, will seek to access a mainstream service, adult disability service or primary care service based on their level of need, facilitated by Tusla via the Local Aftercare Implementation Group. The HSE participates in the planning process and is responsible for the provision of the required services.
My Department has been liaising with a number of Government Departments to address issues regarding the provision of services to children in care and those transitioning out of care, and particularly with the Department of Health regarding the situation of children with disabilities transitioning from the care system. A National Working Group on Joint Protocol for Interagency Collaboration between the HSE and Tusla in respect of Disability and Mental Health Issues has been put in place to clarify and set out the respective roles and duties of the relevant agencies. It will also establish areas of joint responsibilities and develop a revised joint protocol in respect of these matters. Senior management in HSE and Tusla are meeting to discuss these issues. The work of the Group looking at disability issues is nearing completion.
