Written Answers Nos. 143-154
143. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which children with disabilities can expect to receive adequate care and attention and access to services now and in the future; the degree to which his Department has identified issues of interest in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59736/21]
View answerMy Department provides services to children with disabilities through the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM). AIM is a programme of supports designed to enable children with a disability to access and meaningfully participate in the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme. The goal of AIM is to create a more inclusive environment in pre-schools, so all children, regardless of ability, can benefit from quality early learning and care. The model achieves this by providing universal supports to pre-school settings, and targeted supports, which focus on the needs of the individual child, without requiring a diagnosis of disability. Since its beginning in 2016, there has been 18,521 children in 3,871 settings who received targeted supports under AIM. This does not include the many more children and services that have benefited from the universal supports funded through the AIM scheme.
In addition to the specific services my Department delivers for children with disabilities, my Department co-ordinates the National Disability Inclusion Strategy (NDIS) which is whole-of-government strategy for policy and action to address the needs of persons with disabilities in Ireland and support effective progress in delivering on the obligations set out in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). My colleague, Minister of State Anne Rabbitte T.D., chairs the NDIS Steering Group and one of the focuses of that Strategy, alongside the Comprehensive Employment Strategy, is improving transitions across state services, including for children. My Department is also developing a UNCRPD Implementation Plan and this will be finalised in 2022.
In November of this year Ireland submitted its first State Report to the UN Committee on CRPD. As part of preparations for this and other UN processes such as the UNCRC and the Universal Periodic Review, a specific consultation was held with children with disabilities, to ensure their voice was heard.
144. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which his Department continues to receive updates in respect of children at risk; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59737/21]
View answer149. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which reports of children at risk continue to be made to the appropriate bodies under his aegis; the extent to which these issues have been examined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59742/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 144 and 149 together.
Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has a statutory duty to respond to reports of children who may not be receiving adequate care and protection. Tusla assesses the information received and the child and family’s situation, and provides appropriate social work intervention and family support services. Where necessary in the best interest of the child, children are received into the care of Tusla.
Tusla has a dedicated Quality Assurance Team which produces monthly, quarterly and annual reports in respect of Tusla's functions, including detailed reporting on child safety and protection services. Most recent reports indicate that Tusla received 6,405 child protection and welfare referrals in September 2021, 748 (13%) more than August 2021 (5,657) and 294 (5%) more than September 2020 (6,111). The reports are published on Tusla's website and are scrutinised by my officials. Issues of note are brought to my attention. The reports provide statistical evidence of improvements to child welfare and protection services and highlight challenges and areas where further improvement is required, such as the recruitment of additional social workers.
Additionally, Tusla child protection and welfare, and alternative care services are inspected against the relevant Standards and Regulations by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA). These inspection reports are also published, and the findings used to inform the development and improvement of services within Tusla. HIQA's most recent thematic report of 12 child protection services was positive, identifying improvements in governance and oversight by Tusla managers. The reports include many positive comments by parents and children of their experience with social workers and give examples of good practice and dedicated staff. However, some areas continue to identify challenges in maintaining a consistently high standard of service, often ascribed to the the impact of staffing shortages, and difficulties in finding appropriate placements for children and young people.
Officials from my Department meet Tusla management on a regular basis to review the level of service provision, including areas in need of improvement. The recruitment and retention of social workers is a priority for Tusla, and in that regard there is a significant amount of work being done, both by Tusla and my officials, to increase the recruitment of social workers.
145. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total number of children currently in the various forms of care, institutional or otherwise; the degree to which he is satisfied with the level and quality of the case in all such situations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59738/21]
View answerIn relation to the figures requested by the Deputy, I am informed by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, that at the end of September 2021 there were 5,841 children in care. This total may be further broken down into the number of children in each placement type, as follows:
- Special care: 17 children
- General residential care: 430 children
- General foster care: 3,782 children
- Relative foster care: 1,489 children
- Other care placements: 123 children.
With regard to the Deputy's question concerning the quality of various forms of alternative care, there are a wide range of safety and quality assurance controls in place to provide oversight of the quality and safety of placements for children in care. Tusla and my Department are committed to promoting safe practice in all areas of alternative care.
Once a child has been received into care, the most crucial task for the social worker is to find a placement that matches that child's needs. Children, depending on their identified need, may be placed in foster care either with relatives or general foster carers, in residential care, special care or other placement types. A key part of the social worker role is to develop, in consultation with the child and relevant others, a care plan which will guide the quality and safety of the child's placement, and to meet with the child on a one to one basis on all visits.
Regulations and Standards govern the placement of children in care. These provide for the welfare of the child, the care practices, care records, accommodation and safety precautions. The Regulations also provide that the allocated social worker oversees the implementation of the child's care plan, visits the child and consults with family members, foster carers and other people involved with the child to ensure that his or her needs are being met and that the care being provided is optimal.
HIQA has an independent statutory function under the 2004 Health Act requiring this independent statutory agency to inspect and monitor Tusla fostering and residential services. HIQA carries out announced and unannounced inspections of children’s services including Child Protection and Welfare Services, Foster Care Services, statutory Children’s Residential Centres and Special Care units. Tusla’s Alternative Care Inspection and Monitoring Service carries out themed inspections of non-statutory (private) residential and fostering services, in line with HIQA standards. In addition, Tusla Alternative Care Inspection and Monitoring Service provides internal monitoring of the quality of care in its statutory centres.
Tusla’s Performance management system reviews the key performance metrics relating to services provided to children in state care, reporting on children in care with an up-to-date written care plan, reviewed regularly and the allocation of a social worker to children in care and the allocation of fostering link social workers to foster carers. In 2020 Tusla’s Practice Assurance and Service Monitoring (PASM) team conducted a programme of 134 practice audits of Tusla child protection and welfare, alternative care and children's residential care services. Tusla also operates a range of internal quality assurance processes within local areas including:
- an incident and risk management policy,
- systems to review significant events and incidents for the purpose of monitoring,
- service improvement and learning processes,
- and the complaints and feedback policy ‘Tell Us’.
The foregoing sets out the safeguards in place with regard to all placements of children in care. Tusla in discharging its statutory responsibilities under the Child Care Acts must have the best interests of the child as its paramount consideration. It actively monitors every placement of every child in care to ensure its appropriateness to the needs of that child, and any concerns or breaches of standards are addressed in this context.
146. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the degree to which he and his Department propose to address the extent to which children with disabilities can expect a high level of equality, which is some cases may also be affected by homelessness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59739/21]
View answerThe Equal Status Acts 2000-2018 prohibit discrimination in the provision of goods and services, accommodation and education, including against people who are in receipt of rent supplement, housing assistance, or social welfare payments.
In June of this year I announced my intention to conduct a review of the Employment Equality and Equal Status Acts to examine the functioning of the Acts and their effectiveness in combatting discrimination and in promoting equality, including awareness of the legislation and whether there are obstacles to taking an action under the Acts. The first phase of the public consultation process has commenced and the views of the public and interested organisations are being sought on their own experience of the legislation and whether, in their view, legislative amendments are required. Submissions were also invited on the scope of the current definitions, including in relation to disability.
In addition to the legislative protections in place, my Department co-ordinates the National Disability Inclusion Strategy (NDIS) which is whole-of-government strategy for policy and action to address the needs of persons with disabilities in Ireland and support effective progress in delivering on the obligations set out in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). My colleague, Minister of State Anne Rabbitte T.D., chairs the NDIS Steering Group. My Department is also developing an UNCRPD Implementation Plan and this will be finalised in 2022.
My colleague, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O'Brien T.D., leads on housing and homelessness, and his Department is represented on the NDIS Steering Group.
147. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his various proposals for integration, the most successful models; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59740/21]
View answer151. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the various models of integration encouraged by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59744/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 147 and 151 together.
Since 2017, the ‘Migrant Integration Strategy (MIS) – A Blueprint for the Future’ has been the central policy framework adopted by Government to promote the integration of all migrants who are legally residing in the State.
The vision of this Strategy is that migrants are facilitated to play a full role in Irish society, that integration is a core principle of Irish life and that Irish society and institutions work together to promote integration. Integration is defined in current Irish policy as the ability to participate to the extent that a person needs and wishes in all of the major components of society without having to relinquish his or her own cultural identity.
Coordinated by my Department, the Strategy envisages a whole-of-government approach to enhance diversity, inclusion and equity for migrants across all aspects of Irish society. It brings together State and non-State actors to implement change across 76 targeted actions, including measures to promote social inclusion, to improve access to public services and to address racism and xenophobia.
While initially due to conclude in 2020, the Migrant Integration Strategy was extended to the end of 2021 in recognition of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Strategy’s implementation. My Department is commissioning an independent evaluation of all equality strategies due to conclude this year, the findings of which will inform the development of the future strategic approach to equality policies. I anticipate that a consultation process to develop a new strategic policy for migrant integration will begin early in 2022.
A number of funding streams have been made available by my Department to support migrants, or persons of migrant origin, to participate on an equal basis with those of Irish heritage.
Under the National Integration Fund 2020, a total of €2.2 million has been made available over a three year period to support 18 integration projects nationwide. These projects aim to increase mutual understanding between local communities and migrants; combat racism and xenophobia; promote the integration of vulnerable or socially-excluded immigrants and encourage the involvement of migrants in sport, volunteering and cultural activities.
In addition, the Communities Integration Fund provides small grant funding (€1,000 - €5,000 per project) to local community-based projects to support migrant integration. Following a competitive open call in 2021, 111 local community-based organisations nationwide have been selected to receive grant funding under the Communities Integration Fund totalling €497,772.
Both the National Integration Fund and Communities Integration Fund arose from actions contained within the Migrant Integration Strategy.
148. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps he proposes to take to address any or all inequalities affecting children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59741/21]
View answerThe Department of Social Protection has lead policy responsibility for child poverty. My Department has taken a number of steps to address child poverty and associated issues.
Recently I established a new unit to lead on cross Government coordination of the EU Child Guarantee actions and on the development of a subsequent Action Plan. The aim of the Guarantee
is to prevent and combat social exclusion by guaranteeing access of children at risk of poverty or social exclusiona set of key services.
In 2014, my Department launched Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures, (BOBF) which represented the first cross-Government overarching national children’s policy framework for children and young people 0–24 years. BOBF concluded at the end of 2020 and the final Annual Report for 2020 is currently being finalised. My Department is currently considering a successor framework.
My Department is preparing Ireland’s state report on measures taken to give effect to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. The process involves preparation and engagement with other Government Departments, civil society stakeholders and Children and Young People and is due for submission in February 2022 with the follow-up hearing scheduled for September 2022.
In addition, my Department is reviewing The Child Care Act 1991 which seeks to promote the welfare of children who may not receive adequate care and protection. Proposals presented to Government include embedding the child’s best interests as the paramount principle to be observed in all decisions taken under the Act.
Finally, my Department has developed the ‘First 5 Strategy’ which is Ireland’s first ever whole-of-Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families. Amongst the aims of the ambitious ten-year plan are to provide a package of measures to tackle early childhood poverty and a new model of parenting support.
150. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which his Department continues to liaise with youth representatives in County Kildare and nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59743/21]
View answerMy Department provides funding to all 16 Education and Training Boards (ETB) (including Kildare/Wicklow ETB) to support youth services in their area and to support the work of the Youth Officer. Youth Officers provide an important support role to my Department in the co-ordination and administration of youth services at local level. My officials hold quarterly meetings with the ETBs and these meetings assist my Department in identifying service needs and emerging issues, particularly for vulnerable young people.
DCEDIY also maintains close contact with 30 national youth organisations which it funds under the Youth Service Grant Scheme. The Minister and officials meet formally with these organisations twice a year to share knowledge and information on developments or challenges in the youth sector. Although this schedule was impacted by Covid-19, meetings resumed in July of this year. This provides a forum for organisations to give information on national issues but also identify specific locations that require additional focus. Throughout Covid-19, the Department engaged with a representative group from the sector on pandemic specific issues including the regular updating of national guidelines for the youth sector relating to COVID.
Officials from my Department also meet formally with youth organisations on an individual basis when the need arises and also maintain informal contacts.
As we begin to move beyond the pandemic, the Department will continue to ensure there is sufficient engagement with this important sector which provides enormous value to young people.
152. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which his Department continues to monitor any breaches of equality legislation whether of a gender, race or sexuality origin; the extent of progress made towards corrective measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59745/21]
View answerWhile I have responsibility for monitoring the effectiveness of the equality legislation, the role of monitoring the prevalence of discrimination and prejudice in Irish society is undertaken by the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) which is Ireland’s national human rights and equality institution and is an independent public body that accounts directly to the Oireachtas. Its purpose is to promote and protect human rights and equality in Ireland and build a culture of respect for human rights, equality and intercultural understanding in the State. In mid-October 2020 the transfer took place of the Governance function of IHREC from the Department of Justice and Equality to my Department.
Significant advances have been made in recent years to address inequality in Irish society, with the Government’s commitment to fostering a diverse, inclusive and equal society re-affirmed through the Programme for Government commitments to achieve social solidarity, equality of opportunity and economic equity for all.
The suite of national equality strategies, overseen and coordinated by my Department, act as the central policy framework adopted by Government to address inequality across Irish society. The strategies include the Migrant Integration Strategy (MIS), the National Strategy for Women and Girls (NSWG), the National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy (NTRIS), the National Disability Inclusion Strategy (NDIS), the National LGBTI+ Inclusion Strategy, the National LGBTI+ Strategy for Youth and the Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities (CES).
The implementation of each equality strategy is overseen by a steering committee which draws together State and non-State actors to deliver a better quality of life for all through targeted actions to promote social inclusion and improved access to public services. I chair the meetings of the committees charged with the monitoring and oversight of the strategies, with the exception of the National Disability Inclusion Strategy steering group which is chaired by my colleague the Minister of State, Deputy Anne Rabbitte T.D., and the Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities which is chaired by Fergus Finlay.
As some of these strategies near their conclusion, I will work with stakeholders to examine what has been achieved over their term and how we can bring forth the next iterations of those strategies and ensure they are even more robust and effective.
In June of this year I announced my intention to conduct a review of the Employment Equality and Equal Status Acts to examine the functioning of the Acts and their effectiveness in combatting discrimination and in promoting equality, including awareness of the legislation and whether there are obstacles to taking an action under the Acts. The first phase of the public consultation process has commenced and the views of the public and interested organisations are being sought on the effectiveness of the legislation and whether, in their view, legislative amendments are required.
In response to requests from stakeholders, I recently announced the extension of the period of public consultation for the Equality Acts Review. The new deadline for submissions is 8 December 2021.
153. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which his Department has noted various experiences of women and children who may be under threat from possible trafficking or other forms of coercion; his plans to address the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59746/21]
View answerMy Department is addressing the issue of women and children who may be under threat from possible trafficking or other forms of coercion as follows:
- The Children First Act 2015, which was fully commenced in December 2017, provides for a number of key child protection measures, including raising awareness of child abuse and neglect, providing for reporting and management of child protection concerns and improving child protection arrangements in organisations providing services to children.
The Act operates side-by-side with the non-statutory obligations provided for in Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children. The guidance, which was fully revised in October 2017 to include reference to the provisions of the Act, is intended to assist members of the public, professionals, employees or volunteers in identifying and reporting concerns about child abuse and neglect to Tusla.
- Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, assesses all child welfare and protection concerns that are reported to it and takes appropriate action. If Tusla suspects that a crime has been committed and a child has been wilfully neglected or physically or sexually abused, it will formally notify An Garda Síochána without delay.
Tusla also has a dedicated social work team for Separated Children Seeking International Protection (SCSIP). Over the past 20 years the SCSIP Team has developed expertise through Ireland’s participation in International Refugee Protection Programmes and by caring for the greater number of separated children seeking international protection who arrive unannounced at Irish ports and airports. The majority of unaccompanied children arriving in Ireland are over 15 years old and need significant educational, language and, in many instances, therapeutic supports. The on-going social work assessment is multi-disciplinary in nature and involves a medical examination, an educational assessment and a child protection risk assessment. A statutory care plan is developed and, if appropriate, an application for asylum is made on behalf of the child. After assessment, children are placed in the most appropriate placement option depending on their assessed needs. In 2020, Tusla received 80 referrals for Separated Children Seeking International Protection and of that number 51 children were received into the statutory care of Tusla.
- In February 2021, my Department published A White Paper to End Direct Provision and to Establish a New International Protection Support Service. This White Paper outlines the proposed new system of accommodation and supports that will be offered to applicants for International Protection and is the result of an extensive consultation process with Civil Society Organisations, residents of Direct Provision centres, and other Government Departments and Bodies.
The new system is based on a series of principles which is centred on a Human Rights approach with a focus on dignity, respect and privacy for all. There will be a particular focus on vulnerable applicants including victims of trafficking. This focus includes providing specific accommodation for both female and male victims of trafficking and ensuring all appropriate health and social care supports are available.
154. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which his Department has noted various experiences of women and children who may be under threat from domestic, sexual and gender-based violence including those in the care of the State and or by orders of courts; his plans to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59747/21]
View answerDomestic sexual and gender-based violence (DSGBV) is a stain on society. I am determined to work with Government colleagues on our commitment to address this issue.
The Minister for Justice is co-ordinating the development of the Third National Strategy on DSGBV which will have a greater focus on prevention. My Department and the Child and Family Agency, Tusla are working with the Department of Justice in the development of this strategy to focus on the needs of victims and to recognise the experiences of men, women and children who may under threat from DSGBV.
My Department has a broad remit in its responsibilities towards children and families. Child Protection is a key concern. Children First provides a strong statutory framework for reporting concerns that a child might be at risk of abuse or neglect. Tusla works closely with the Garda Síochána in responding to reported concerns, including those relating to women and children at risk from DSGBV.
Tusla has a statutory role to support victims of DSGBV. Tusla funds 60 organisations that deliver services for these victims, including 21 services that provide emergency refuge and non-refuge accommodation. Other funded organisations provide community-based domestic violence services and rape crisis services. In 2021, Tusla's funding of DSGBV services amounted to €28 million, with an additional €2 million of one-off contingency funding being made available to help services cope with the ongoing effects of COVID-19.
My Department has provided once off funding in 2021 under the "What Works" initiative to organisations for projects and programmes to support children and adults affected by DSGBV. The funded projects included professional development and training for staff, development of a resource pack to enhance awareness for frontline practitioners and strengthening data to build targeted prevention and early intervention strategies.
With regard to children in care of the State, the Deputy may be familiar with the Child Care Law Report Project (CCLRP) that assists the State in our learning from the experiences of children and families in child care proceedings. In a recent report titled 'Ripe for Reform', which was commissioned by my Department, amongst other themes, the report considered the impact of domestic violence and domestic homicide on those children subject to child care proceedings. These findings, and other recommendations in the report, span the remit of a number of Government Departments. For example, the authors highlight concerns in respect of guardianship matters in cases where one parent kills the other. In such cases the surviving parent is the sole remaining legal guardian until a full care order is made. I will ensure that the report is brought to the attention of the relevant authorities, and will follow up as required.
Tusla carefully monitors all referrals to the Agency. The risk of DSGBV may not be evident at the time of referral and is not easily captured as a statistic. The most recently available data shows a rise in the proportion of all child protection and welfare referrals relating to emotional abuse. Looking to annual trends (Table 1), emotional abuse increased from 33% of all child protection referrals, in 2014 to 43% in 2020, and is notably the largest proportion of all four abuse types. (see table 2 below).
Table 1: Breakdown of child protection referrals by year, 2014-2020
|
Category of abuse |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
|
Physical abuse |
4,066 (22%) |
3,991 (22%) |
4,450 (23%) |
4,942 (24%) |
6,137 (25%) |
6,488 (26%) |
5,511 (25%) |
|
Emotional abuse |
6,233 (33%) |
6,535 (36%) |
6,871 (36%) |
7,615 (37%) |
10,130 (41%) |
10,722 (42%) |
9,546 (43%) |
|
Sexual abuse |
3,114 (17%) |
2,940 (16%) |
3,042 (16%) |
3,170 (15%) |
3,548 (14%) |
3,909 (15%) |
3,653 (17%) |
|
Neglect |
5,263 (28%) |
4,769 (26%) |
4,724 (25%) |
4,810 (23%) |
5,000 (20%) |
4,308 (17%) |
3,340 (15%) |
|
Total |
18,676 |
18,235 |
19,087 |
20,537 |
24,815 |
25,427 |
22,050 |
