Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 March 2017
832. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the areas in which the community mothers programme is still in operation; the number of staff allocated to this programme; and her plans for the restoration of this programme in view of its effectiveness in the past. [11979/17]
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. 11979 tabled by the Deputy for answer on 7 March, 2017 In relation to the Community Mothers Scheme. I apologise for the delay in responding.
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 coordinated, 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, as well as 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 Community Mothers Programmes has decreased over the years from being operational In 10 areas of the former Eastern Region to two programmes in 2017. 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.
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.
The strategic review will identify all areas where the programme and any similar schemes are In operation. 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,
