Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 September 2020
41. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration his plans to support families and children at risk in view of the closure of many organised social activities such as indoor sports that provide support and structure to struggling families. [22376/20]
View answerI want to assure the Deputy of my commitment to young people and their families, particularly those who are vulnerable, marginalised or disadvantaged.
Structured services and activities, such as those provided by the youth sector, play an important role for young people, supporting their development, and helping their well-being and resilience.
I am pleased to report that funding to the youth sector has been protected throughout the period of the restrictions, while youth services responded quickly to the crisis, adapting and innovating in order to maintain services and supports.
I greatly appreciate the efforts of key representatives from the youth sector in assisting my Department to develop and update guidance for youth organisations in line with the Government Roadmap.
My Department has also worked with a Youth Advisory Group to design a consultation, with young people, called 'How’s Your Head’. The results of this will be published soon and will assist Government in developing appropriate policy responses to the issues that young people themselves have identified as of greatest importance to them.
In addition to youth work services, my Department and Tusla, the Child and Family Agency have a robust suite of services in place including the Prevention, Partnership and Family Support Programme.
This programme seeks to strengthen and develop Tusla’s prevention, early intervention and family support services and includes the Tusla ABC Programme intended to address multidimensional child poverty using an area-based approach.
Tusla has also developed Child and Family Support Networks across Ireland, and supports Children and Young People’s Services Committees which have a central role in service planning at a county level.
In addition, Family Resource Centres deliver services locally in domains such as education, community group support and counselling services.
Finally, my Department has also developed a range of online resources to ensure parents and families are aware of all available supports at this time.
