Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 March 2017
825. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 602 of 25 October 2016, if the decision to discontinue the community mothers' scheme in Clondalkin was taken by her Department or by the local Tusla managers; the rationale for this decision; the number of these schemes that were discontinued; and if any replacement is to be provided to new mothers in Clondalkin. [11440/17]
View answerI have requested information from Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. I will forward the reply to the Deputy once I have been furnished with this information.
The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 42A:
I refer to Parliamentary Question No. 11440 tabled by the Deputy for answer on 7 March, 2017 in relation to the Community Mothers Programme. I apologise for the delay in responding.
As previously stated in my last response to you, the Community Mothers Programme is an early intervention programme strongly linked to the Health Service Executive (HSE) Public Health Nursing service. The Community Mothers Programme was founded in 1988 and was co-ordinated, managed and funded by the HSE and its predecessors. On the establishment of Tusla in January 2014, the funding for the expenses of volunteer Community Mothers, along with the salary of the Director of the Community Mothers Programme, transferred to Tusla. The Director of the Community Mothers Programme retired in May 2015 and was not replaced. The Family Development Nurses, however, continue to be employed and line managed by the HSE.
The number of programmes has decreased over the years from being operational in 10 areas of the former Eastern Region to two programmes in 2017. The HSE prior to 2014 did not invest and sustain the programme in the other areas.
The two Community Mothers Programmes In operation In the Dublin Region at present are based in Dublin North East and Dublin South East! Wicklow. Each of these programmes is run by a Family Development Nurse employed by the HSE. A volunteer team of Community Mothers support the Family Development Nurses. In addition to managing their own caseloads, the Family Development Nurses supervise the Community Mothers’ workloads. Tusla does not have any line management responsibility for the Family Development Nurses who report to the Directors of Public Health Nursing in their respective HSE regions.
I have been informed that the Family Development Nurse responsible for the Community Mothers Programme in Clondalkin has retired, and as a result the programme is not delivered in the Clondalkin area. The HSE has not filled the vacant post following the retirement of the Family Development Nurse.
A comprehensive review of the Community Mothers Programme and related programmes is due to take place in the coming months. This will be carried out by the Katharine Howard Foundation. While I cannot comment on any possible results from the review before it has been completed, I am confident that all aspects of the programme will be considered before recommendations are made regarding the future of the programme, including any alternatives that may be appropriate in the Clondalkin area and elsewhere.
The strategic review will identify all areas where the programme and any similar schemes are in operation. While it has not yet commenced, it is scheduled to begin in the near future and representatives from both the HSE and Tusla have been selected to aid the reviewers in their work.
I trust that this information is of assistance.
