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Wednesday, 7 Nov 2018

Written Answers Nos. 14-29

Child and Family Agency Staff

Questions (14)

Seán Sherlock

Question:

14. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans being put in place to employ a new chief executive for Tusla. [45919/18]

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Written answers

Under the Child and Family Agency Act, 2013, the Board of Tusla is responsible for the appointment of the new Chief Executive Officer.

The Act requires my approval and the approval of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform for the terms and conditions of the job that the Board may wish to set. However, I have no function in the selection process.

Following the resignation of the previous Chief Executive, Tusla consulted with my Department and the Public Appointments Service and discussed the process of recruiting a new permanent Chief Executive Officer.

Given the likely timelines associated with recruitment of this senior post, my Department secured approval from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform for Tusla to appoint an interim chief executive officer from within Tusla’s senior management team.

The successful candidate at interview was Mr Pat Smyth. He was appointed to the role in an interim capacity with effect from 1st of October 2018. His appointment ensures continuity in the operations of Tusla’s functions.

I met with members of the Board on 1st October. Among other things, we discussed the Board's plans, considerations as to the specifications of the role and the intended recruitment process. This process will involve the Public Appointments Service running an open competition. It will also involve an element of executive search to help to identify suitable applicants.

My Department will work with Tusla and the Public Appointments Service to assist as required with this recruitment. My Department will shortly engage with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to seek approval of the terms and conditions for the permanent Chief Executive post.

This is one of the most challenging and important roles in the country. Tusla will have a budget next year of some €786m, with more than 4,000 staff providing frontline services to vulnerable children and their families.

It is essential that a candidate of the highest calibre is recruited to lead on the transformation and delivery of effective child and family services in Ireland.

I appointed two new members to the Board in 2018 who have a professional background in Human Resource Management. I am confident that the Board will find the most suitable candidate for this important role.

Departmental Reports

Questions (15)

Aindrias Moynihan

Question:

15. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the status of a report into an organisation (details supplied); the implications for the funding of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45928/18]

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Written answers

Scouting Ireland commissioned Mr Ian Elliott to carry out a review into the organisation’s handling of an allegation of a serious sexual assault on an adult volunteer by another adult volunteer.

While this alleged assault took place in 2009, it was only reported within the organisation in 2016.  Following on from Mr Elliott's report of his review, Scouting Ireland engaged a barrister to conduct a full investigation into this allegation, particularly with regard to the handling of the matter by certain senior volunteers.  I expect to receive both reports once the barrister's investigation is completed.

In 2017 Scouting Ireland previously engaged Mr Ian Elliott to conduct a review of its child safeguarding/ protection policies and procedures.  An interim report was produced in October 2017 and a final report was produced in January 2018.  Both of these reports were subsequently submitted to my Department in March 2018.

In view of the information available to me relating to the governance arrangements within Scouting Ireland I decided, in April this year, to withhold the drawdown of further funding to the organisation under the Youth Service Grant Scheme until I could be satisfied that the organisation's governance standards were up to the required level.

In May I appointed Ms Jillian van Turnhout, as an independent expert, to examine the governance and related issues within Scouting Ireland. Ms van Turnhout submitted her final report to me on 14th June.

It contained a number of recommendations in the areas of safeguarding, management of the organisation, governance proposals and charities regulation.  The report suggested that the restoration of funding to Scouting Ireland should be clearly linked to the successful implementation of these recommendations.

The Board of Scouting Ireland subsequently confirmed its decision to fully implement all the recommendations contained in the Review of Scouting Ireland report. On this basis I decided on 25th June to provide Scouting Ireland with interim funding for a further three month period, up until the end of September.

In providing this interim funding I requested that Scouting Ireland provide me with a further report by 24th September detailing progress in the implementation of the outstanding recommendations contained in the Review of Scouting Ireland.    This report was subsequently submitted to me on 24th September for consideration.

At the end of September the former Board of Scouting Ireland voted to reinstate the Chief Scout as Chair of their forthcoming EGM. Shortly afterwards I received letters from the then Interim Chair & Mr Ian Elliott setting out their serious concerns about the Board's actions and it's ability to properly govern the organisation. Based on this correspondence and discussions I had with both I decided to further suspend funding for as long as the then Board was in place. A new board was elected at the EGM on the 6th of October.

I am satisfied with the significant progress made by Scouting Ireland in terms of the implementation of the Jillian van Turnhout recommendations and in the essential governance changes committed to by the organisation.

For this reason I have restored funding to Scouting Ireland until the end of April 2019.  I have requested a further progress report from the organisation by the end of March 2019 as well as copies of the independent barrister’s report and the final Ian Elliott report of the individual case review he conducted.

Affordable Childcare Scheme Implementation

Questions (16, 17, 26, 32)

Anne Rabbitte

Question:

16. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the status of the implementation of the affordable childcare scheme; the date by which the information and communications technology system will be operational; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45934/18]

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Niamh Smyth

Question:

17. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the status of the affordable childcare scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45833/18]

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Seán Sherlock

Question:

26. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the start date in 2019 for the new affordable childcare scheme. [45921/18]

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Aindrias Moynihan

Question:

32. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if the affordable childcare scheme will launch in September 2019; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45929/18]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 16, 17, 26 and 32 together.

I am delighted to report positive progress in relation to the development of the Affordable Childcare Scheme, and to confirm that I plan to introduce the Scheme in October 2019.  The scheme will open to applications in October 2019, with payments flowing from November 2019.

The scheme will provide financial support for parents, establish a sustainable platform for investment in the childcare sector for decades to come and- crucially- allow us to continue to invest in giving our children the best start in life. Its launch will mark a milestone in our quest to transform Ireland's childcare system from one of the most expensive in the world into one of the best.

The legislation establishing the new Affordable Childcare Scheme, the Childcare Support Act 2018, was signed by the President on Monday, 2nd July.  The Act will be underpinned by detailed secondary legislation and formal policy guidelines.

Work is currently ongoing on both of these and also on the development of regulations to provide, for the first time, for the registration of school-age childcare services by the Tusla Early Years Inspectorate.

These latter regulations will be introduced in advance of the Affordable Childcare Scheme to allow school-age childcare services to register and thereby participate in the scheme from its inception.

With regard to the scheme's ICT system, my Department concluded a full open tender public procurement process earlier this year.  A contract was awarded and our IT development contractor, Codec, are busy working with officials from DCYA and Pobal to develop the system.

Work is also underway on the governance, administrative and communication elements of the scheme.  Consultation and engagement with stakeholders is ongoing and, in the new year, a comprehensive awareness campaign will be launched for parents and the public, alongside training and information supports for childcare providers and other key stakeholders.

Finally, Budget 2019 provided for enhancements to the scheme which will ensure that an even greater number of families will now benefit from the scheme once launched.

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services Data

Questions (18)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

18. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of children in care accessing CAMHS services; if there are waiting lists to access mental health services for children in care; if so, the average time of waiting to access; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45727/18]

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Written answers

I thank the Deputy for his important question. Children in care are among the most vulnerable in our society. It is the role of Tusla, the Child and Family Agency to ensure that their needs - in some cases very complex needs - are met. Some  children in care demonstrate a range of  emotional, psychological and mental health problems.

This is particularly the case where they have experienced prolonged neglect and where they come into care at an older age, or where they have other needs to be met, such as speech and language and learning difficulties.

When a child enters care, Tusla social workers consult with all of the key people involved in their lives, which of course includes the child themselves, relevant adults and professionals. This consultation helps Tusla develop a Care Plan that is tailored to the child's needs and to set out the best way to address these.

If a child is presenting with a mental health problem, the child's GP may refer them to their local CAMHS service.

If CAMHS support is not available, Tusla may seek other HSE counselling and therapeutic support. Tusla have also separately engaged private therapists to work with children, where their needs are not met elsewhere. Tusla do not collate national data on referrals of children in care to health services.

I would like to note that CAMHS is a function of the Health Services Executive, which comes under the remit of the Department of Health. As data on the waiting times for CAMHS is not reported to my Department, I would suggest that questions on waiting lists are better directed to  my cabinet colleague, the Minister for Health.

Child and Family Agency

Questions (19)

Mick Wallace

Question:

19. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her attention has been drawn to the findings of a report (details supplied) which found that the adversarial nature of cases involving child welfare threatens the principle of securing the best outcomes for children; if she has liaised with Tusla with regard to this report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45875/18]

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Written answers

I welcome the publication of a new report, ‘A Social and Economic Analysis of the use of Legal Services in the Child and Family Agency (Tusla)’, which explores the complex and sometimes fraught interaction of social work practice and the legal system.

I believe that empirical research which contributes to our understanding of child care proceedings is vital in furthering their improvement and development.

I would like to thank the report’s authors Drs Carmel Halton, Gill Harold, Aileen Murphy, and Edel Walsh, all of UCC. The study was funded by the Irish Research Council, with Tusla as the partner organisation.

The report provides thought-provoking perspectives on a number of issues. While its recommendations are principally directed towards Tusla’s social work services, Tusla’s educational welfare services, and to solicitors, the issues raised will also usefully inform officials in my Department and others as we continually seek to secure the best possible outcomes for children.

These issues raised include, among others, problems surrounding court delays, court schedules, and regular adjournments; a need for training to allow social workers and legal professionals to develop a mutual understanding of each other’s disciplines; and a need for increased specialisation among the judiciary.

As an overarching theme, the report compellingly suggests that the increasingly adversarial nature of the legal system is obscuring the principle that in the resolution of all proceedings, the best interests of the child shall be the paramount consideration.

As the Deputy will be aware, the Supreme Court has previously held that child care proceedings should be “in essence an inquiry as to what is best to be done for the child”, but the evidence of this report suggests that this worthy aspiration is not always achieved in current practice.

In this light, I am pleased to remind the Deputy of my Department’s ongoing Review of the Child Care Act 1991. The Review is a thorough examination of the legislation governing the child care and protection system.

Through this, we hope to address many of the systemic issues raised in this report. The report will assist my Department in the review of this Act, and its findings will help ensure that any new child protection and welfare legislation will work, in an improved way, for the benefit of our most vulnerable children.

Tribunals of Inquiry Reports

Questions (20)

Clare Daly

Question:

20. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the action she has taken to hold Tusla, collectively and named persons, to account for the serious deficiencies and problems highlighted in the disclosures tribunal report. [45830/18]

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Written answers

The Deputy will be aware that I strongly welcome the report of the Disclosures Tribunal that has fully vindicated Garda Sergeant Maurice McCabe.

I have been extremely disappointed by the findings in relation to Tusla. The Tribunal quite properly finds that the performance of Tusla and certain individuals within fell far short of the standard we should expect from a public body with such an important role.

I have raised the Tribunal's findings with the Board of Tusla and have asked for a formal response to the report.  I want the response to set out the evidence of change that will prevent a person's reputation being traduced in this way from ever happening again.

I have also secured funding in 2019 that will enable the fundamental changes needed, some of which I am informed are already underway.

Tusla has accepted that the practice and governance in this case was exceptionally poor and has commenced a HR process around the allegations of serious misconduct. It would not be appropriate for me to comment any further on this process prior to its completion.

The performance by named members of staff in the evidence before the Tribunal is a matter for Tusla to manage, utilising its internal disciplinary and performance management procedures.

I met with the Board of Tusla following the publication of the Disclosures Tribunal report, and expressed serious concerns about the Tribunal’s strong criticisms of what it saw as poor and inadequate co-operation by Tusla with its work.  The Board of Tusla has undertaken to communicate with the Tribunal in order to understand the nature of these findings and learn from them.

The original notification which concerned an allegation of abuse in this case concerned a person who was an adult at the time of notification. The case was therefore managed under the policy for retrospective cases.

This is a challenging area for Tusla, as social workers must balance child protection and fair procedures towards the person who is the subject of the allegation. A revised Tusla policy for such cases, which will replace the 2014 policy, will be published shortly.

I want to reiterate that a culture of openness and integrity is essential in order to learn from the grievous mistakes of the past. It is the duty of management and staff to correct mistakes when they happen, and the duty of the Board to hold management to account to ensure that this happens. It is my duty as Minister to hold the Board to account, and I will continue to do this.

Tribunals of Inquiry Reports

Questions (21)

Clare Daly

Question:

21. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the steps she is taking to address the administrative incompetence at Tusla referred to by a person (details supplied) in the Disclosures Tribunal. [45831/18]

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Written answers

Once again, I can inform the Deputy at the outset that I strongly welcome the report of the Disclosures Tribunal that has fully vindicated Garda Sergeant Maurice McCabe, who has now retired.

There is no denying of the facts or findings in the report. The mishandling of the referral that related to Sergeant Maurice McCabe was properly described by Justice Charlton for what it was - administrative incompetence.

Many of the concerns to emerge from the Disclosures Tribunal report had already been identified in the recent report of HIQA's statutory investigation into the management of allegations of child sexual abuse against adults of concern.

The Deputy will be aware that, after I was briefed early in 2017 on the appalling handling of a referral made about Sergeant McCabe, I directed HIQA to provide me with this report which was published earlier this year.

Tusla has developed a comprehensive Action Plan in response to the HIQA report. The Action Plan was approved by the Board in September. Each action has a designated owner and a timeframe. The interim Chief Executive Officer, Mr Pat Smyth, has assumed responsibility for the implementation of the Tusla Action plan. I have established an independent Expert Assurance Group to oversee the implementation of this Action Plan. Work is ongoing in relation to this.

While the Action Plan addresses a range of themes, with appropriate actions under each theme, a number of actions in particular aim to address the factors that can be attributed to the administrative incompetence that occurred. These include:

the improved management of retrospective cases,

the development of robust systems to strengthen interagency working on child protection referrals,

the introduction of a formal performance management system,

ensuring consistent implementation and quality assurance of policies at local level,

and the implementation of secure and effective information management systems to support case work and best practice.

Record management is a particular area for reform. It will be underpinned by the new National Child Care Information System (NCCIS) that went live nationwide in July of this year.  For the first time, Tusla social workers are working off an integrated national IT system for child protection and welfare services. The system replaces all previous methods of record-keeping, which varied from area to area.

One of the findings of the Tribunal was that there were serious practice issues at local level. It is clear that while policies and procedures were in place, they were not followed in the instances which led to the horrendous allegations against Sergeant McCabe. Tusla has accepted that the practice and governance in this case was exceptionally poor and has commenced a HR process around the allegations of serious misconduct in this case. It would not be appropriate for me to comment any further on this process prior to its completion. However, I have raised my concerns with the Board of Tusla regarding these practice issues. Tusla is to provide me with a report outlining its planned actions in this area.

I recently announced a significant increase in the funding allocation to Tusla in Budget 2019. Tusla will have some €786 million in funding, representing an increase of €33 million over 2018. This will support the implementation of actions in the Action Plan. I will shortly issue my Performance Statement to Tusla setting out the issues I want to be addressed in its Business Plan for 2019. I can assure the Deputy that the issues arising from the Disclosures Tribunal and the HIQA statutory investigation will be appropriately prioritised.

In the interest of balance, I must note that there is also a recognition  for the good work of Tusla professionals in the report. I believe that the majority of Tusla front line social workers act in good faith, and do very important work, to the best of their abilities. The dedication demonstrated by these front line workers, on a daily basis, makes a real difference to the lives of children and young people in Ireland.

Childcare Costs

Questions (22)

James Browne

Question:

22. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans to develop targeted supports for parents and guardians in County Wexford paying for childcare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45828/18]

View answer

Written answers

As previously advised to the Deputy in Parliamentary Question 37905-18 (20th September 2018) my Department’s childcare schemes are run on a national basis and hence are available to all counties. The staff and Boards of 30 City and County Childcare Committees assist my Department in ensuring that schemes and other initiatives we operate nationally meet local need.

The Government is committed to continuing to increase investment in high-quality childcare, prioritising families on low incomes. As part of our commitment to improving access to high quality and affordable childcare we have introduced a number of new developments:-

The universal Early Childhood Care and Education  programme (ECCE) has been expanded to two full programme years from September 2018.

A new universal subvention payment worth up to €1040 per annum for children under 3 was introduced from September 2017.

A variety of targeted programmes provide for the most vulnerable children in Ireland and reinforce our strong social inclusion and equality agenda. The Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) Programme is a childcare programme targeted to support parents/guardians on a low income to avail of reduced childcare costs at participating community childcare services.

This scheme was expanded to the Community Childcare Subvention Plus (CCSP) Programme to enable privately owned childcare services to provide the same level of targeted subvention childcare for lower income families.

My Department is making strong progress in developing the new Affordable Childcare Scheme. The ACS will replace all of the existing targeted schemes. Officials from my Department, along with colleagues in Pobal, have been working to develop the legal, technical and administrative infrastructure required.

The scheme will provide financial support for parents, establish a sustainable platform for investment in the childcare sector for decades to come, and crucially allow us to continue to invest in giving our children the best start in life.

Departmental Funding

Questions (23)

Seán Sherlock

Question:

23. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the process for the restoration of funding to an organisation (details supplied). [45922/18]

View answer

Written answers

As the Deputy is aware, in view of the information available to me relating to the governance arrangements within Scouting Ireland, I decided in April this year to withhold the drawdown of further funding by the organisation under the Youth Service Grant Scheme, until I could be satisfied that the organisation's governance standards were up to the required level.

In May, I appointed Ms Jillian van Turnhout, as an independent expert, to examine the governance and related issues within Scouting Ireland. In accordance with her Terms of Reference she was asked to provide me with a clear assessment of Scouting Ireland's governance arrangements.  Ms van Turnhout submitted her final report on the Review of Scouting Ireland to me on 14th  June. The report contained a number of recommendations in the areas of safeguarding, management of the organisation, governance proposals and charities regulation.  Ms van Turnhout also indicated that the restoration of funding to Scouting Ireland should be clearly linked to the successful implementation of these recommendations.

The Board of Scouting Ireland subsequently confirmed its decision to fully implement all the recommendations contained in the Review of Scouting Ireland report. On 25th June I decided to provide Scouting Ireland with interim funding for a further three month period up until the end of September.  This funding was provided in view of the significant progress achieved by Scouting Ireland in the implementation of a number of the required recommendations and to provide it with an opportunity to implement the outstanding recommendations.

In providing this interim funding I requested that Scouting Ireland provide me with a further report by 24th September detailing progress in the implementation of the outstanding recommendations contained in the Review of Scouting Ireland.  This report was subsequently submitted to my Department on 24th September for consideration.

At the end of September the former Board of Scouting Ireland voted to reinstate the Chief Scout as Chair of their forthcoming EGM. Shortly afterwards I received letters from the then Interim Chair & Mr Ian Elliott setting out their serious concerns about the Board's actions and it's ability to properly govern the organisation. Based on this correspondence and discussions I had with both I decided to further suspend funding for as long as the then Board was in place. A new board was elected at the EGM on the 6th of October. 

I am satisfied with the significant progress made by Scouting Ireland in terms of the implementation of the Jillian van Turnhout recommendations and in the essential governance changes committed to by the organisation.  For this reason I have restored funding to Scouting Ireland until the end of April 2019.  I have requested a further progress report from the organisation by the end of March 2019, as well as copies of the independent barrister’s report and the final Ian Elliott report of the individual case review he conducted.

Question No. 24 answered with Question No. 8.

Childcare Services Funding

Questions (25)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

25. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will meet with key stakeholders of an organisation (details supplied) with a view to ensuring that it can continue to offer the full range of crucial support services to vulnerable children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45827/18]

View answer

Written answers

I have received correspondence from several members of the Oireachtas, regarding the organisation referred to by the Deputy. I have also received detailed correspondence from the management of the organisation detailing the nature of the valuable work that they do, the cost pressures they are under and the reasons they wish to receive State funding for their family support service in order to ensure its sustainability. 

The provision of family support services is a matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. I have raised the concerns of the Deputy and others regarding the future funding of this organisation with Tusla.

Tusla has advised me that senior staff members met with representatives of the organisation in question in relation to its request for funding. At present, Tusla provides some €1.6m in funding to that organisation for the provision of residential care and services to children and young people. Tusla also funds a range of family support services in communities throughout the South Dublin area and will continue to keep the need for family support services under review.

Tusla has also advised the organisation of the Counselling Grants Scheme, which provides funding  for counselling or therapeutic support services. Tusla has provided details on how to access this funding. Tusla understands that access to this particular funding would provide some support.

Following contact with some of my colleagues, arrangements are being made for me to meet with stakeholders of the organisation over the coming weeks.

Question No. 26 answered with Question No. 16.

School Completion Programme

Questions (27)

Anne Rabbitte

Question:

27. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her views on whether the school completion programme is sufficiently funded; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45937/18]

View answer

Written answers

The School Completion Programme (SCP) continues to deliver a valuable service for some of our most vulnerable young people at risk of early school leaving throughout the education process.

It was established in 2002 and became a programme operating under the Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools (DEIS) programme in 2005. Responsibility for the National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB) which included the SCP was transferred to my Department on its establishment in 2011. Operational responsibility for the SCP was transferred to Tusla, the Child and Family Agency on its establishment in 2014.

The annual SCP fund is currently 24.7m. My Department works with the Educational Welfare Service of Tusla to ensure necessary resources are available to support the programme and to ensure staffing levels are sufficient to deliver a high quality service to those young people most at risk of early school leaving. 

In recognition of the need for a strong policy platform for educational welfare services, including the School Completion Programme, I have requested my officials to establish a Task Group to support the further development and integration of these services. The work of this group is now commencing and I am eager to ensure that output will result in a clear blueprint for the development of the School Completion Programme so that its reach, resources and impact are maximised in supporting young people at risk of early school leaving.

Childcare Services Data

Questions (28)

Brendan Smith

Question:

28. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of new and or upgraded childcare places that will be provided through her Department’s capital programme in 2019; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45877/18]

View answer

Written answers

Officials in my Department are currently in the process of developing the capital offering for 2019.  It is not possible at this early stage to give a precise figure as to what it will achieve in the coming year. 

However, I can confirm that I have secured €8.86m in capital funding for childcare in 2019. This will be used, as ever, in meeting the most pressing needs of the sector and delivering an improved childcare infrastructure for the benefit of the children and parents of Ireland. Part of this allocation is also intended to be used to support the roll-out of the new Affordable Childcare Scheme.

By way of comparison, the total capital allocation for Early Years and school-age childcare sector in 2018 was €6.86m. Capital funding in 2018 was used, amongst other things, to create 1,950 new early years places and 807 new school-age places. It should be noted that these figures are provisional, as work is on-going on the 2018 Capital Programmes, and final reporting has not been completed.

The precise goals and priorities of the childcare capital offering for 2019 have yet to be finalised. An announcement will be made public as soon as the project development process has been completed.

HIQA Inspections

Questions (29)

Mick Wallace

Question:

29. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her views on the findings of the latest HIQA report on Tusla which found that 103 unauthorised absences took place over a 12 month period and that certain premises were unkempt in places and in urgent need of refurbishment; if she has made these concerns known to Tusla; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45874/18]

View answer

Written answers

I believe that the Deputy is referring to HIQA’s inspection report of a children’s residential centre in the South region which was published on the 10th of October.  There were four young people, two aged 17 and two aged 16,  living in the centre when the inspection was carried out. While the inspection report was critical of aspects of the centre, I was pleased to read that the young people in the centre were well cared for and, overall, their quality of life was good. 

It is important to recognise that there is a difference  between a young person  being absent without authority from a residential centre and being missing from care. Children are not detained in a residential centre.  As with any child, they may come and go to attend education, recreation or to meet with friends.  As with many young person, boundaries will be tested. Young people may be recorded as being absent without authority if they do not comply with their curfew. 

The data provided by the centre showed that there had been 220 absences from the centre without authority in the 28 months since the last inspection, in March 2016, and that 103 had occurred in the previous 12 months. The report did not state how many instances were missing from care, but noted that the 'missing from care' procedures were followed appropriately.  A child in care is considered to be missing when his or her whereabouts are unknown and the Absence Management Plan indicates concern for the child's safety. The report also says that managing challenging behaviour was an issue, but the young people were "not placed at risk".

Inspectors found in one case, a young person  went for family contact  and used the opportunity  to abscond and placed themselves at risk by misusing substances.  The report  also noted that there was evidence that repeated high levels of risk taking behaviour by one child had prompted a response which resulted in an intensive residential program, which was due to begin.  If a child  is missing from care  the assistance of An Garda Síochána to return the child may be required. These cases will require the following circumstances to exist:

the child's Absence Management Plan suggests that there is a serious  and immediate risk to the child;

all efforts to return the child by staff/carer have failed;

it is unsafe for staff to attend the location where the child is.

I was disappointed to read of  the accommodation's deficiencies as it is important that all young people in residential care are provided with a high standard of care however I note that the inspectors found that the centre is making plans to move to new premises.  In the period before the move, the centre outlined in their action plan that upgrades to kitchen facilities and furniture for other rooms have been planned and approved.

Following the publication of this report, my officials have received assurances from Tusla on the findings. Tusla has advised that a follow-up from HIQA with respect to the premises acknowledged the progress made to date.

Tusla's services are assessed against standards on how the children and young people are cared for in all respects.  This includes their well being, health and medication, their education and their accommodation.  An action plan to address any findings from the inspection is submitted to HIQA, and this is published alongside the inspection report.  Tusla is aware of the findings from all HIQA inspections and monitors actions being taken to address the findings.

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