Written Answers Nos. 36-55
36. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the amount of funding allocated to Tusla in budget 2017 which will go towards implementing the provisions on aftercare contained in the Child Care (Amendment) Act 2015; and the progress being made by Tusla in ensuring that every child leaving care has an aftercare plan in place. [33341/16]
View answerI am committed to implementing the Child Care (Amendment) Act 2015 which entitles eligible young people to a formal aftercare plan, prepared by Tusla in collaboration with the young person leaving care. I am pleased that the Act creates an explicit, as opposed to a current implicit, statement of Tusla’s duty to satisfy itself as to the young person's need for assistance and support as they leave care.
My Department is working closely with Tusla to ensure that the provisions of the Act can be fully implemented as quickly as possible in the coming months.
At present, there are some 1,900 young people receiving aftercare services from Tusla. In the first six months of this year, 315 young adults were discharged from State care on reaching the age of 18. Some 98% of them were eligible for an aftercare service and 91% of those eligible (or 280 young people) availed themselves of it.
In terms of funding, I secured an additional €37m for Tusla in Budget 2017, which will bring its total allocation to €713m. Tusla will shortly prepare a Business Plan for my consideration which will set out how it proposes to allocate its total funding for the year. This will include its spending plans for implementing the legislation on aftercare, as well as all of the other services it provides.
It is important to note that the costs arising here relate only to implementing the provisions of the aftercare legislation itself. Young people leaving care typically receive supports relating to accommodation, further education, employment and training, which are funded by other Government Departments. This means that the part of Tusla’s budget for 2017 which is ultimately allocated to aftercare services under the Child Care (Amendment) Act 2015 will represent just a small proportion of the total spending by the State on those in receipt of aftercare services.
I believe that our young people leaving care deserve high quality supports throughout the system, and that full implementation of the Child Care (Amendment) Act will be a key element of how our society helps them to make this critical transition in their lives.
37. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to comments by the Ombudsman for Children's Office, the steps her Department is taking to ensure that the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child is fully implemented here, particularly that a child's right not to be discriminated against on any grounds is protected; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33520/16]
View answerMy Department coordinates reporting of the actions of all Government Departments in relation to the Convention on the Rights of the Child and it liaises with the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child. The Convention engages the areas of responsibility of various Departments spanning all the UNCRC’s general guiding principles, including that all the rights guaranteed by the Convention must be available to all children without discrimination of any kind.
My Department is fully committed to achieving maximum compliance with the provisions of the Convention. This is evidenced in the significant allocation of resources across a number of areas critical to realising children’s rights; for example in childcare, education, health, social protection and housing.
Following on from the examination of Ireland’s children’s rights record by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child in January, my Department and the Children’s Rights Alliance hosted a joint symposium in September focusing on progressing implementation of the Committee’s recommendations. This is a clear indication of my Department’s commitment to implementing the Convention and its key principles.
The event brought together the many stakeholders involved, from members of the UN Committee, my Department and other relevant government Departments, state agencies as well as the Ombudsman for Children and civil society. The purpose of the event was to inform stakeholders of the contents of the Committee’s recommendations and provide a context for their implementation.
Most importantly it facilitated a discussion as to how the recommendations might be progressed through existing structures and frameworks, in particular through the implementation of commitments in Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures; the National Policy Framework for children and young people 2014-2020. This Framework is providing a clear and comprehensive plan to progress and strengthen children’s rights and protections in Ireland.
38. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when she plans to publish the second interim report of the commission of investigation into mother and baby homes; the reason the publication has been delayed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33333/16]
View answerI have received the second Interim Report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes.
I have already committed to publishing the Report. The report has been prepared to address the requirement in its terms of reference for the Commission to report on any additional matters which it considers may warrant further investigation in the public interest as part of its work.
Since receiving the Report I have met with the Commission to discuss the Report and the general progress being made with the investigation.
Given the broad scope of the Commission's work a number of issues in the Report extend beyond the remit of the Department of Children and Youth Affairs. For this reason, it has been necessary to take some time to consult with Cabinet colleagues and the Attorney General on these matters. I have recently sought some additional information from the Commission to assist in these deliberations. My intention is to publish the Report in conjunction with Government's response to the Commission's findings.
I am sensitive to the concerns and expectations of former residents and I hope to conclude this process as quickly as possible. As I have done previously, arrangements will be made to inform representative groups of any developments before making a public announcement.
39. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of applications that have been received under the new scheme to support children with disabilities in the preschool sector; the type of support that will be available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33525/16]
View answerThe new Access and Inclusion Model (AIM), introduced in September 2016, enables children with disabilities to access and fully participate in the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme. The model delivers seven levels of progressive support, moving from the universal to the targeted, to enable the full inclusion and meaningful participation of children with disabilities in the ECCE Programme. The degree of support provided will depend on the needs of the child in the context of the pre-school service. The main supports offered under the model include:
- Access to a new higher education programme to upskill early years practitioners in inclusive early years care and education (LINC). My Department will fund a small capitation increase where service providers employ a graduate from the programme;
- A dedicated website containing comprehensive information resources for parents and providers;
- Advice and support from a team of 50 experts in early years education for children with disabilities (Level 4);
- A scheme for the provision of specialised equipment, appliances and minor building alterations (Level 5);
- Therapeutic intervention where this is needed to allow a child enrol, and fully participate in, pre-school (Level 6); and
- Additional capitation to enable the pre-school leader to buy-in additional support or reduce the staff to child ratio where this is critical to ensuring a child’s participation (Level 7).
The number of applications for targeted supports under AIM received to date is 2,145, which is broken down as follows:
1,048 applications for Level 4 support which relates to assistance and mentoring from a team of 50 Early Years Inclusion Specialists.
106 applications for Level 5 which involves the provision of aids and appliances and minor capital grants.
186 applications for Level 6 which relates to the provision of therapeutic support from the HSE.
805 applications for level 7 which involves the provision of financial support for additional assistance in the pre-school setting.
A large number of applications were also received from practitioners for the new higher education programme (LINC). The programme commenced this autumn, with my Department funding up to 900 places per annum.
40. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the provision that is being provided to assist parents who use childminders or relatives in view of the fact that the majority of children are minded by local childminders or relatives, and considering the Growing Up in Ireland ESRI report which confirmed that children minded by childminders and relatives have fewer emotional difficulties; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33541/16]
View answerThe recent research by the ESRI, entitled "Childcare, Early Education and Socio-Emotional Outcomes at Age 5" provided a number of useful insights into modes of childcare provision - while the deputy is correct that this found that children minded by childminders and non-parent relatives at age three had fewer socio-emotional difficulties than children cared for by their parents only, this effect was small. The study found that childcare type-and hours explain only 1% of the variance or difference in children's scores on the tests used.
In the best interests of children (and families) the new Single Affordable Childcare Scheme intends to make subsidies payable to services that are quality assured. Currently Tusla provides quality assurance for childcare services under the statutory registration and inspection regime.
Childminders who mind three or fewer pre-school children in the childminder's own home are exempt from the Child Care Regulations, and are thus not subject to inspection by Tusla. In order to meet the needs of parents whose preference is to use a childminder, and to build capacity to cater for increased demand in future years, the Department has commenced talks with Childminding Ireland (CMI) in recent months to explore a number of options around how quality can be assured within the childminding sector.
A working group has been established, chaired by CMI, and including officials from Tusla and the DCYA, to make recommendations on reforms for the sector including proposals in relation to quality assurance, whether on a voluntary/non-statutory basis in the short term, or on a mandatory/statutory basis in the long term. These will include recommendations in relation to childminders who are exempt from registration with Tusla (those minding three or fewer pre-school children, or those minding school age children only). The recommendations received are likely to include proposals to be progressed in the short, medium and long term, including the development of National Quality Standards for childminders and a proportionate system of quality assurance and regulation.
41. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her views on the lack of income progressivity in the universal child care subsidy announced in budget 2017; and her further views on whether the scheme is fair on households whose income falls just above the income threshold for the targeted childcare subsidy. [33338/16]
View answerIn line with the principle of progressive universalism, the new Affordable Childcare Scheme will encompass both universal and targeted elements which can be incrementally expanded over time. International evidence indicates that systems based on universalism are associated with lower rates of child poverty and deliver better outcomes for all children, with disadvantaged children benefitting more when services are provided within a universal programme design. Progressive universalism further recognises the importance of the provision of additional support to those with the greatest need.
The new scheme is highly progressive overall, with eligibility based on net parental income and the highest levels of support offered to those on the lowest incomes. It is more equitable and accessible than the current targeted subsidy programmes, under which many low-income families are not currently able to access subsidised childcare because of the requirement to be in receipt of certain state benefits or attending certain training programmes. It will also enhance affordability, offering greater levels of support overall to low income families than the current targeted schemes. For example, a person in receipt of the maximum level of subsidy under the current Community Childcare Scheme (by far the largest of the current targeted schemes) might face a weekly co-payment of €89 per week. Under the new scheme, a person in receipt of the maximum rate of subsidy might be expected to face an average weekly co-payment of €12 per week.
The universal subsidy for children under 3 recognises the fact that the cost of childcare is generally highest when children are under 3 years of age and this cost can push many parents out of the labour market when paid maternity leave ends. This higher cost is due to both the hours of care required (i.e. notably longer than afterschool care needs) and the underlying cost of providing quality childcare for very young children. Recent reports also suggest that cost and sustainability issues are affecting the availability of childcare places for children under 3 years. The Government commitment to provide a universal subsidy for this age cohort, as well as to provide higher rates of targeted subsidy, recognises and responds to these issues.
Finally, the Deputy has also asked about families above the income cut-off for targeted subsidies. Of course, all targeted schemes, by their nature, have thresholds and cut-off points. However, the new Affordable Childcare Scheme is designed to be flexible, with the ability to adjust income thresholds, subsidy rates and income taper rates, over time and as further Government investment becomes available.
42. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if, in view of the unfortunate record of treatment of some unaccompanied minors and young asylum seekers, she has satisfied herself that the care system for these most vulnerable young persons is appropriate and up to international best practice. [33522/16]
View answerTusla, the Child and Family Agency, has operational responsibility for accommodating and caring for unaccompanied minors who arrive into Ireland. Unaccompanied minors are a vulnerable cohort and the State is duty bound by international and domestic law to protect and provide care. Under Tusla’s Equity of Care principle, unaccompanied minors who arrive in this jurisdiction are placed in State care provided by Tusla. The Equity of Care principle ensures that unaccompanied minors receive the same level of protection and care as any other child in State care, and ensures that there is no differentiation of care provision, care practices, care priorities, standards or protocols.
When a child arrives into Ireland without their parents or customary care providers, contact is made with Tusla’s dedicated Social Work Team for Separated Children Seeking Asylum (SCSA) and the child is placed in the care of the State. Each unaccompanied minor is allocated a social worker. They are accommodated initially in one of three short term residential intake units while they continue their needs assessment, including health, educational and language needs. Following this time in the children’s residential centre, children are then placed according to their needs. The majority of unaccompanied minors are placed with registered foster carers or supported lodgings carers.
Over the past five years, Tusla has taken an average of 100 referrals of unaccompanied children seeking asylum per year. So far this year there have been 104 unaccompanied children referred to Tusla services.
All foster care organisations and statutory residential centres are inspected by the Health Information & Quality Authority (HIQA), and private and voluntary residential centres are inspected by Tusla against national standards. The inspection reports are published on the respective websites. Children First (2011) applies to unaccompanied minors, and all persons employed full-time or part-time by Tusla are vetted by An Garda Síochána as a matter of standard practice, as are those employed by the appointed interpretation service.
Children living in Direct Provision are in the care of their parent(s). Where there are concerns about their welfare, safety or well-being this is then referred to Tusla, in line with Children First guidelines.
43. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the provisions her Department is putting in place to deal with unaccompanied refugee minors coming here; the preparations her Department is making for additional unaccompanied minors; and the services available to these children who are coming here with significant levels of trauma. [33536/16]
View answerI have asked Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, to review its ability to provide safety, protection and hope to greater numbers of unaccompanied children, and to assess the additional resources that may be needed. This work is ongoing. Options to expand our existing emergency and humanitarian supports, and longer term care needs, for these young people who have no family or relatives form part of this review. I have recently held discussions with Tusla, the Immigrant Council and Cabinet colleagues to review this country's response to the overall migrant crisis, including recent events in Calais.
Over the past five years, Tusla has taken an average of 100 referrals of unaccompanied children seeking asylum per year, with approximately 70 of these being received into care annually. So far this year there have been 104 unaccompanied children referred to Tusla services and 58 remain in care. Approximately 30% of children referred are reunited with family members or found to be over 18 years of age.
Under the Irish Refugee Protection Programme, Tusla has made an initial commitment to relocating 20 unaccompanied minors from refugee camps in Greece in 2016/17. Staff have visited centres in Greece and are currently in Athens to continue the intake process for unaccompanied young people aged 16 and 17 years who have indicated a desire to be brought to Ireland. Resources of €2.4 million have been set aside to look after their needs.
Unaccompanied minors are a vulnerable cohort and the State is duty bound by international and domestic law to protect and provide care. Under Tusla’s Equity of Care principle, unaccompanied minors who arrive in this jurisdiction are placed in State care provided by Tusla. The Equity of Care principle ensures that unaccompanied minors receive the same level of protection and care as any other child in State care, and ensures that there is no differentiation of care provision, care practices, care priorities, standards or protocols.
When a child arrives into Ireland without their parents or customary care providers, contact is made with Tusla’s dedicated Social Work Team for Separated Children Seeking Asylum (SCSA) and the child is placed in the care of the State and provided with support. An intake assessment takes place which explores his/her identity, family, health issues, educational experience, journey to Ireland, significant pre-migration and migratory events as well as identifying any possible Irish and/or EU resources, for example, family or social contacts and wider networks. Unaccompanied minors are allocated a social worker who develops and implements a statutory care plan. This plan identifies trauma and other mental health problems and how these should be addressed by State services.
These children are accommodated initially in one of three short term residential intake units while they continue their needs assessment, including health, educational and language needs. Following this time in the children’s residential centre, children are then placed according to their needs. The majority of unaccompanied minors are placed with registered foster carers or supported lodgings.
44. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the way in which a household's eligibility for the new targeted child care subsidy scheme will be determined; if it is intended that PPS numbers will be employed for this purpose; if she has had discussions with the Data Commissioner in this regard; and the expected administrative costs of the means-testing system. [33340/16]
View answer523. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the way a household's eligibility for the new targeted child care subsidy scheme will be determined; if PPS numbers will be employed for this purpose; if she has had any discussions with the Data Commissioner in this regard; and the expected administrative costs of the means-testing system. [33797/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 44 and 523 together.
From September 2017, a new Affordable Childcare scheme will be introduced which will provide financial support for parents towards the cost of childcare. The new scheme will provide a system from which both universal and targeted subsidies can be provided towards the cost of childcare. This new scheme will replace the existing targeted childcare programmes with a single, streamlined and more user-friendly scheme and is intended to provide “wraparound care for pre-school and school-age children.
The universal element of the Scheme will be available to all families with children between the age of 6 months and 36 months (or until the child qualifies for the free pre-school programme if later than 36 months), who are attending a registered childcare provider.
The targeted element of the scheme will be available to families with children between the age of 6 months and 15 years, with eligibility based on net parental income. For parents with net incomes up to €22,700 per annum, the maximum rate of childcare subsidy will be payable.
The rate of subsidy will taper downwards as net income rises, with no means-tested/income related subsidy payable when net income reaches €47,500. The income thresholds increase where there is more than one child in a family, so a family with two children under 15 years of age would have a maximum net income threshold of €51,300 and a family with three children under 15 years would have a maximum net income threshold of €55,100.
Budget 2017 has allocated funding for the development of an online IT application system that will allow parents to apply for subsidies online by entering their PPS number and other details such as their work or training status. In order to make the application process as easy as possible for parents, it is intended that the means-testing will, in most cases, be carried out through an automatic link with income data held by the Revenue Commissioners and by the Department of Social Protection. However, parents will be able to appeal decisions and/or request a manual means test by the delegated scheme administrator, which will require the submission of documentary evidence of income and relevant deductible expenses. The use of the PPS number and data sharing across public bodies and agencies will be enabled and supported through legislation and formal data sharing agreements.
The full year cost estimate for the new scheme is €150m which includes the current budget of €87m for the existing targeted childcare schemes. For 2017, the additional budget requirement (over and above the 2016 budget) is €19m. The cost estimates include the cost of administering the scheme, and the 2017 costs also include the once-off cost of developing the IT infrastructure to underpin the scheme. While it is intended that most income assessments will be automated, the administration costs include provision for resources to carry out manual assessments when requested.
45. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to recent statements by Tusla that it is not adequately equipped to deal with the transfer of unaccompanied minors from the Calais "Jungle" camp, the steps currently being taken to ensure that her Department and child services agencies here such as Tusla will be readily equipped to accept unaccompanied minors from various locations and that any refugee children who come here will be given the care they need upon arrival; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33519/16]
View answerAs Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, I am deeply concerned by the plight of the children who were in the Calais camp, and particularly the many unaccompanied minors who were at the frontline of this terrible situation.
I have asked Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, to review its ability to provide safety, protection and hope to greater numbers of unaccompanied children, and to assess the additional resources that may be needed. This work is ongoing. Options to expand our existing emergency and humanitarian supports, and longer term care needs, for these young people who have no family or relatives form part of this review. I have recently held discussions with Tusla, the Immigrant Council and Cabinet colleagues to review this country's response to the overall migrant crisis including recent events in Calais.
It is important to emphasise that we already provide significant assistance to unaccompanied minors who arrive in Ireland on an unplanned basis. Over the past five years, Tusla has taken an average of 100 referrals of unaccompanied children seeking asylum per year, with approximately 70 of these being received into care annually. So far this year there have been 104 unaccompanied children referred to Tusla services and 58 of these remain in care. Tusla has a dedicated Social Work Team for Separated Children Seeking Asylum and they provide support, assessment and care to those children arriving alone into Ireland.
As I speak, Tusla has two senior social workers in Greece, working with the Greek Authorities to arrange for unaccompanied young people aged 16 and 17 who have expressed a wish to come to Ireland to be accommodated. Unaccompanied minors are a vulnerable cohort and the State is duty bound by international and domestic law to protect and provide care. Tusla’s Equity of Care principle ensures that unaccompanied minors receive the same level of protection and care as any other child in State care, and ensures that there is no differentiation of care provision, care practices, care priorities, standards or protocols.
Each unaccompanied minor is allocated a social worker. They are accommodated initially in one of three short term residential intake units while they continue their needs assessment, including health, educational and language needs. Following this time in the children’s residential centre, children are then placed according to their needs. The majority of unaccompanied minors are placed with registered foster carers or supported lodgings carers. Approximately 30% of children referred are reunited with family members or found to be over 18 years of age.
46. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of social workers who have been recruited in 2016 to respond to the needs of children who have not had a social worker allocated to them; if there are difficulties in attracting applicants; the efforts being made to encourage qualified social workers to apply; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33526/16]
View answerTusla inform me that they have recruited a total of 190 social workers up to the end of September 2016. However, it is important to note that due to normal attrition, such as retirements and resignations, the social worker whole time equivalent has increased by 71 since the start of 2016.
During 2016, Tusla has been very proactive in what is a challenging recruitment market. Earlier this year, Tusla ran a successful recruitment campaign in third level colleges throughout Ireland, including Northern Ireland, to attract social work graduates. Following its campaign, Tusla conducted interviews during the summer and 248 candidates were successfully placed on a panel. I understand 101 social work posts have been offered to date and accordingly the social worker whole time equivalent numbers should increase in the coming months as the new recruits commence work. In addition, Tusla is also launching an on-going recruitment campaign to attract social workers specifically interested in working in child and family services. Tusla has also commenced work on its 2017 graduate recruitment campaign which will include colleges in the UK.
In addition to its recruitment campaigns, Tusla has undertaken a range of activities to raise its profile as an employer of choice. These include the introduction of an internal transfer policy to allow staff mobility, more flexible work practices and protected time for Continuing Professional Development.
47. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the provision to be provided to new entrants to training and employment child care, TEC, schemes to still be able to afford child care in view of the fact that currently there is provision for a transition period for parents on TEC schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33542/16]
View answerFrom September 2017 a new Affordable Childcare scheme will be introduced which will provide financial support for parents towards the cost of childcare. The new scheme will provide a system from which both universal and targeted subsidies can be provided towards the cost of childcare.
The new Affordable Childcare Scheme, which will replace the existing targeted childcare programmes, aims to:
- streamline the existing targeted schemes to make them more accessible for both parents and providers,
- provide a fair and consistent scheme of progressive financial support towards the cost of childcare, with a particular focus, at least initially, on lower income families but also incorporating universal supports, and
- provide a robust and flexible platform for future investment in childcare in Ireland.
By achieving the above aims, it is intended that the new scheme will contribute to:
- poverty reduction in Ireland,
- ensuring that access to affordable childcare is not a barrier to labour market participation, including female labour market participation,
- promoting positive child outcomes,
- narrowing the gap in attainment between more and less advantaged children by enabling all children to access high quality, affordable childcare, and
- driving quality across the sector.
Under the scheme, a progressive system of income related subsidies will be available to all parents with children aged between 6 months and 15 years, with eligibility for a subsidy based on net parental income, i.e. the combined income (or sole income in the case of a one parent family) net of income tax, PRSI, USC and certain allowable deductions, including a ‘multiple child deduction’ which recognises the cumulative effect on families of childcare costs for multiple children.
All parents with children between the age of 6 months and 36 months with net incomes above the maximum income level will receive a universal subsidy towards their cost of childcare. Parents with net incomes below the maximum income threshold will receive a higher (targeted) subsidy rate. The rate that they receive is dependent on their net income as a tapered subsidy applies which reduces as parental income increases until the subsidy reaches the universal rate of €0.50 per hour.
Under the current programmes, including the TEC programme to which the Deputy refers, there are many families with low income levels who are not currently able to access subsidised childcare because of the requirement to be in receipt of certain state benefits or attending certain training programmes.
The benefits of moving to an income basis for eligibility under the new scheme include:
- Clarity, with a move away from a complex array of eligibility criteria to a single, clear basis.
- Reduction of welfare traps and increased support for progression into employment and retention in employment.
- Equity, in ensuring that low-income working families are not excluded from benefitting from subsidised childcare.
It is anticipated that the vast majority of people (95%) who avail of the current targeted childcare schemes will benefit from change to the new Affordable Childcare Scheme. Furthermore, 'saver provisions' will mean that nobody will be made worse off in the immediate transition to the new scheme, i.e people will either gain or have their subsidy protected for a transitional period.
48. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the steps her Department is taking to assist childminders registering with Tusla; the supports available to childminders who have registered; and if her Department is reviewing the current criteria for those registering as childminders. [33540/16]
View answerIn the best interests of children (and families) the new Single Affordable Childcare Scheme intends to make subsidies payable to services that are quality assured. Currently Tusla provides quality assurance for childcare services under the statutory registration and inspection regime.
Childminders who mind three or fewer pre-school children in the childminder's own home are exempt from the Child Care Regulations, and are thus not subject to inspection by Tusla. In order to meet the needs of parents whose preference is to use a childminder, and to build capacity to cater for increased demand in future years, the Department has commenced talks with Childminding Ireland (CMI) in recent months to explore a number of options around how quality can be assured within the childminding sector.
A working group has been established, chaired by CMI, and including officials from Tusla and the DCYA, to make recommendations on reforms for the sector including proposals in relation to quality assurance, whether on a voluntary/non-statutory basis in the short term, or on a mandatory/statutory basis in the long term. These will include recommendations in relation to childminders who are exempt from registration with Tusla (those minding three or fewer pre-school children, or those minding school age children only). The recommendations received are likely to include proposals to be progressed in the short, medium and long term, including the development of National Quality Standards for childminders and a proportionate system of quality assurance and regulation.
49. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans to address concerns around the 40-year age gap provision in respect of foster carers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33433/16]
View answerIt must be emphasised that the 40 year age difference between a foster carer, or relative foster carer, and a foster child was a guideline, not a policy, and does not determine a decision regarding suitability of a placement for a child in State care. The age of the carers is never the sole reason for deciding on the suitability of a placement.
I have raised this matter with Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, and it has been confirmed that a formal review of the Foster Care Committee Policy and guidelines is underway. In the revised Policy the reference to the 40 year age gap will be removed and it is anticipated that this will be completed for implementation before the end of the year.
The assessment and approval of foster carers for Tusla is a complex process and the age of a potential foster carer is only one factor in the assessment. Other factors that are taken into account include the potential carer's health, level of co-operation and communication with social services and the ability to meet all the needs, including any specialised needs, of the child.
Where a child is in the care of the State, Tusla has a statutory duty to promote the welfare of children who are not receiving adequate care and protection. Wherever possible, Tusla will consider a suitable relative, including a grandparent, to provide care for the child.
50. Deputy Josepha Madigan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her Department plans to explore, with the Department of Justice and Equality and other Government agencies, reviewing the pilot access centres run by a charity and an organisation (details supplied) from 2011 to 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33336/16]
View answerMy Department is committed to supporting and promoting the development, welfare and protection of children, and the effective functioning of families. We recognise that the dynamics of domestic violence and the safety needs of both children and non-abusing parents must be considered in making appropriate arrangements for children's contact with abusive parents in the case of family breakdown.
Child Contact Centres were established on a pilot basis in 2011 by One Family in conjunction with Barnardos in two Dublin based locations, for the period 2012-2013. The Centres aimed to provide a neutral location where children of separated parents/guardians could spend time with a non-resident parent/guardian and build a relationship with that parent. The Centres were co-funded by my Department, the HSE, the Family Support Agency, and Ballymun Regeneration for the two year period.
The final evaluation report on the Centres, published by One Family in March 2014, recommended that an integrated response by my Department, the Department of Justice and Equality, supported by their relevant agencies (i.e. The Child and Family Agency, the Courts Service, the Probation Service, the Legal Aid Board, the Family Mediation Service, and COSC) would be the best approach to progressing the recommendations.
I am currently liaising with my colleague the Minister for Justice and Equality to suggest we review the evaluation report in light of the changing infrastructural arrangements such as the establishment of Tusla and the proposed Family Courts Service and to examine the potential for advancing further consideration of the Final Evaluation Report's recommendations in that context.
51. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the aspect of youth affairs that has generated most concern in the past ten years; the extent to which adequate action was taken; the quality and efficacy of measures put in place to address such issues; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33515/16]
View answerPrior to the establishment of my Department in 2011, funding for youth services was provided through a number of disparate funding schemes and administered by several Government Departments. Against this backdrop, my Department has engaged in a reform programme to ensure quality effective, value for money services that are evidence based and designed to secure the best outcomes for young people.
My Department provides a range of funding schemes, programmes and supports to the youth sector. 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.
The schemes include the Youth Service Grant Scheme under which funding is made available on an annual basis to thirty national and major regional youth organisations, the Local Youth Club Grant Scheme which supports youth work activities at a local level and the Youth Information Centre Scheme which funds twenty five Youth Information Centres.
Targeted supports for disadvantaged, marginalised and at risk young people are provided through the Special Projects for Youth Scheme, the Young Peoples Facilities and Services Fund, Rounds 1 and 2 and Local Drugs Task Force Projects.
My Department, along with all government departments, was required to deliver substantial savings on all funding programmes in line with the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure 2012–2014. My Department sought to ensure that front line youth services, particularly those for the most vulnerable young people, were protected as far as is possible from the impact of any necessary reductions in funding.
You will be aware that the targeted 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.
The National Youth Strategy 2015-2020, published last October, was developed in close consultation with statutory youth interests and the voluntary youth organisations and services that work with young people.
The strategy sets out Government’s aims for young people, aged 10 to 24 years, so that they are active and healthy, achieving their full potential in learning and development, safe and protected from harm, have economic security and opportunity and are connected and contributing to their world. The Strategy identifies some fifty priority actions to be delivered by Government departments, state agencies and by others, including the voluntary youth services over 2015 to 2017. They include actions to address issues which are a high priority for young people themselves.
There have been other significant policy and legislative developments that are relevant to the provision of youth services. These include the setting up of the North South Education and Training Standards Committee for youth work and the introduction of the Education and Training Boards Act 2013 which, inter alia, provides for a statutory function for Education and Training Boards in supporting the provision and assessment of youth work services at local level.
At EU level, the Council of Ministers for Youth has adopted an EU Youth Strategy and has taken a number of policy initiatives to promote quality in the provision of youth work services. The National Strategy on Children and Young People’s Participation in Decision-making 2015-2020, which was published by my Department in June, 2015 is particularly relevant. I am deeply committed to ensuring that young people are involved in the preparation, planning and implementation of policies that impact on their lives.
I am pleased to advise the Deputy that Budget 2017 has provided some €57m in current funding to my Department to support the provision of youth services. The increase of €5.5m effectively reverses the cuts which had to be endured in recent years.
52. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the measures she will put in place to support parents who make arrangements to have their children cared for by private child minders; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33335/16]
View answerIn the best interests of children (and families) the new Single Affordable Childcare Scheme intends to make subsidies payable to services that are quality assured. Currently Tusla provides quality assurance for childcare services under the statutory registration and inspection regime.
Childminders who mind three or fewer pre-school children in the childminder's own home are exempt from the Child Care Regulations, and are thus not subject to inspection by Tusla. In order to meet the needs of parents whose preference is to use a childminder, and to build capacity to cater for increased demand in future years, the Department has commenced talks with Childminding Ireland (CMI) in recent months to explore a number of options around how quality can be assured within the childminding sector.
A working group has been established, chaired by CMI, and including officials from Tusla and the DCYA, to make recommendations on reforms for the sector including proposals in relation to quality assurance, whether on a voluntary/non-statutory basis in the short term, or on a mandatory/statutory basis in the long term. These will include recommendations in relation to childminders who are exempt from registration with Tusla (those minding three or fewer pre-school children, or those minding school age children only). The recommendations received are likely to include proposals to be progressed in the short, medium and long term, including the development of National Quality Standards for childminders and a proportionate system of quality assurance and regulation.
53. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when she expects to publish the adoption (information and tracing) Bill; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33527/16]
View answerWork on the drafting of the Adoption (Information and Tracing Bill) is underway and I am committed to publishing the Bill in November.
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.
54. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her views on whether Tusla has both the capacity and the resources to ensure aftercare plans for all children who are leaving care; and her further views on whether the resources are available to deliver on all aftercare plans in time for the commencement of the Child Care (Amendment) Act 2015. [33537/16]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, I secured an additional €37m for Tusla in Budget 2017, which will bring its total allocation to €713m. Tusla will shortly prepare a Business Plan for my consideration which will set out how it proposes to allocate its total funding for the year. This will include its spending plans for implementing the legislation on aftercare, as well as all of the other services it provides.
I am committed to implementing the Child Care (Amendment) Act 2015 which entitles eligible young people to a formal aftercare plan, prepared by Tusla in collaboration with the young person leaving care. I am pleased that the Act creates an explicit, as opposed to a current implicit, statement of Tusla’s duty to satisfy itself as to the young person's need for assistance and support as they leave care. My Department is working closely with Tusla to ensure that the provisions of the Act can be fully implemented as quickly as possible in the coming months.
In order to fulfil its obligations, Tusla will have to increase the number of aftercare workers available to help young people identify and plan for their needs.
It is important to note that the costs arising here relate only to implementing the provisions of the aftercare legislation itself. Young people leaving care typically receive supports relating to accommodation, further education, employment and training, which are funded by other Government Departments. The role of Tusla is to provide advice, guidance, support and signposting, which are key elements of this service and these supports are available to all care leavers. This means that the part of Tusla’s budget for 2017 which is ultimately allocated to aftercare services under the Child Care (Amendment) Act 2015 will represent just a small proportion of the total spending by the State on those in receipt of aftercare services.
At present, there are some 1,900 young people receiving aftercare services from Tusla and approximately half of these young people remained with their carers while 6% were in a residential placement. Data provided by Tusla show that in the first six months of 2016, approximately 315 young people were discharged from care by reason of turning 18. Of these, 98% were assessed as being eligible for an aftercare service (308) and 91% were availing of the aftercare service (280).
55. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the status of ongoing reforms in practices for dealing with adult disclosure of child sexual abuse cases by Tusla; if she or officials in her Department have any concerns over the way in which these cases are being dealt with by Tusla; and her views on whether any regulatory or legislative changes are required in this area. [33339/16]
View answerTusla, the Child and Family Agency, has advised that its current policy relating to adult disclosure of child sexual abuse cases, "Policy & Procedures for Responding to Allegations of Child Abuse & Neglect (2014)", is currently being reviewed. It is expected that the policy will be supported by additional guidance and training for staff when the review is completed and an implementation plan has been finalised.
I am aware that the handling of retrospective disclosures is a complex issue, and have raised this issue with Tusla senior management during meetings. I have emphasised the importance of dealing with cases as soon as possible, while recognising the practical difficulties that can often arise in relation to alleged events of many years ago. I have asked to be informed of the challenges Tusla face in its efforts to protect children, while preserving a person’s right to natural justice and fair procedure, where there is an allegation involved. Tusla will and does act on behalf of the child where there is a credible report of risk involved.
Children First guidance includes a description of retrospective disclosures, and makes clear that any current concerns about children which come to light should be reported to child welfare and protection services.
Tusla is undertaking a full review of all referrals of allegations of retrospective abuse. This review is looking at all referrals to establish their priority for action. I am expecting this review to conclude later in the year and I have requested Tusla to keep me up to date on its progress and on any emerging issues of concern. Tusla has identified specialist staff to undertake this work nationally.
My Department has begun a process to review the Child Care Act 1991, as amended, and is currently sourcing information on any aspect of the handling of allegations of abuse that might be examined as part of this review.
