Anne Rabbitte
Ceist:1. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to discuss the inadequate central referral system used by social worker services and the absence of a central ICT system. [23513/16]
Priority Questions
Child Protection Services Provision
Will the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs discuss the inadequate central referral system? I am looking for some answers regarding the fact that there is no centralised reporting system for child welfare. Where are we with regard to the introduction of a central ICT system?
I agree that ICT is critical to providing effective social work services for vulnerable children and families. Since its establishment in 2014, Tusla has been engaged in an extensive programme of reform which includes the ongoing development of an ICT system to support social workers in their work.
Currently, each of the 17 Tusla administrative areas has its own referral system. I want Tusla to move to the planned national child care information system, which will provide centralised referrals and ensure every social work department has a user-friendly technology solution to record the case history of every child who is the subject of a child protection or welfare concern.
This will apply from the point of initial referral to case closure. The system will also have the capacity to facilitate the integration and sharing of information on child protection and welfare cases between Tusla areas. The capital provision available to Tusla in 2016 includes full provision for the 2016 costs associated with the continued roll-out of the national child care information system. The total expenditure on it is estimated at €1.8 million. The system has already been piloted in Tusla’s mid-west region - north Tipperary, Clare and Limerick. Tusla intends to roll out the system nationally over the coming year and I will continue to support it as a key priority.
In light of the report that has come out this morning from the Health Information and Quality Authority on the midlands region, it was significant to discover there are significant risks in the use of information. This goes back to the kernel of my question. I also find it alarming that in 2014 and 2015 there was an underspend in the capital budget. Hearing the amount from the Minister, I find it disappointing. With the current capital funding, is the Minister making a commitment to see ICT rolled out in its entirety by the end of the year or early next year?
On the Deputy's first point on the HIQA review in the midlands area, I am aware of it. I am concerned about some of the key issues that were identified. There were some improvements demonstrated in that review but particularly in ICT systems which is the subject of the Deputy's question. An ICT system has been developed in that particular area to track all cases within child protection and welfare services. Necessary ICT equipment has been provided to all the staff but these are temporary measures until the roll-out of the national child care information system.
On the Deputy's question on resources and money spent, I agree this is a critical issue. The money is there and Tusla is going to spend it: by next August all 17 areas will have the initial roll out. There still needs to be some tweaking done but I am told it will be fully operational by 2018.
I welcome the commitment and the timeframe of August 2017. I am sure all the social care workers involved in Tusla will also welcome it.
Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries
Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire
Ceist:2. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to provide an update on the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes; the possibility of further extending the terms of reference; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23512/16]
The Minister will be aware there was a demonstration during the week on the terms of reference of the commission of investigation; I believe she received correspondence on it. Has the Minister considered the possibility of further extending the terms of reference?
The Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes was established on 17 February 2015 and is due to report by 17 February 2018. The primary function of the commission is to provide a factual account of what happened to vulnerable women and children in these institutions during the period 1922-98, a 76-year period. The commission will thoroughly examine the experience of residents in 14 named mother and baby homes and a representative sample of county homes. The commission is required to address specific concerns relating to the care, welfare, entry arrangements and exit pathways for the women and children who were residents of these institutions. It is my hope that this commission will help us all come to a better understanding of how society treated mothers and children in these homes and how attitudes, policy and legislation changed over the period.
There have been various calls to extend the commission's terms of reference. However, it is important to note that the commission itself can, under its existing terms of reference, bring any matters to the Government's attention where it believes this to be warranted in the public interest. As an independent statutory inquiry, the commission has scope to examine a broad range of public concerns, to decide on their importance to the commission's work and to make recommendations on them as it sees fit.
I recently met with the chair of the commission to discuss progress on the work to date and I will report back to Government next week. Out of courtesy to former residents, I want to inform representative groups of developments before making any public announcement. I hope to do this next week after I have reported to my Government colleagues.
The Minister said she met with the chair of the commission recently. In that context I would like to ask specifically if an extension of the terms of reference of the commission was discussed. Mar is eol don Aire, tá cuid mhaith de na daoine a bhí sna háiteanna seo fágtha ar an imeall, gan ghuth agus gan ghlór, le tamall maith anuas. Many of the victims of these institutions have passed away since the commencement of the commission. The commission must go as far as including all those deemed to be affected. It is important to deal with those victims on an age priority basis where possible to ensure those who deserve justice see it in their lifetime. I refer to the brief the Minister got on her first day which notes the date as 17 February 2018. Is that date still considered to be an appropriate time? The Minister notes the 27 homes that are not included and refers to a representative sample but it is difficult to say what is representative or not in the context of time and age. While the commission can, in the public interest, draw attention to issues at this moment in time, people from additional homes are not in a position to give testimony. That is a difficulty.
I thank the Deputy for his additional questions. As I have already indicated, the commission is a statutory independent inquiry. We discussed a number of things and I will bring that report to Government next week. In terms of the wide range of issues that were discussed, we reviewed the terms of reference. It is up to the commission to identify changes to the terms of reference; whether it is to extend its powers or the scope of its investigation. It is up to the commission and not up to me to second guess that.
The other thing to note on some of the issues the Deputy identified is that I will be in contact with representative groups. The commission has until February 2018 to report. I am satisfied from my meetings that it is on target for that date.
I recently met with some of the survivors of these homes. Many of the stories they told me were absolutely harrowing. They have a number of concerns particularly about the centres or locations that are not included. Many of them are discommoded that they do not have access to their personal testimony subsequent to giving it. This is something that is very traumatic and difficult for them to do. The fact they do not subsequently have access to those records is something that upsets them.
The Minister said the commission has the ability to make up its own mind. Can the Minister clarify that it is in a position to hear testimony from victims of other centres? At this moment in time it would require it to go back to the Government to seek a review of the terms of reference. I say it is within the Minister's gift to widen the terms of reference if she believes it is appropriate and important that the victims of those additional centres are heard.
I did not hear exactly the nub of the first part of the Deputy's question.
Was it the question about the testimony given by victims at the commission?
The commission is open to receiving any kind of written submission from anyone who wants to provide one to it. I would encourage such submissions from anybody who is in a position to provide one and wishes to do so.
In terms of the numbers of identified homes and also the representative sample, there are quite a large number of people who have come forward and identified that they wish to provide testimony. The commission is moving through that and intends to conclude that so that all of those who wish to come forward in that regard are able to be heard.
Children and Family Services Provision
Anne Rabbitte
Ceist:3. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to address concerns over inadequate case management by social worker services of adult disclosure cases and the lack of an overarching strategy for dealing with adult disclosure cases by Tusla. [23514/16]
I ask the Minister to address concerns over inadequate case management by social care workers of adult disclosure cases and the lack of an overarching strategy for dealing with adult disclosure. There are a number of concerns regarding adult disclosure cases voiced by social workers and I would welcome a response from the Minister.
Adult disclosure, or retrospective cases, are where an adult comes forward and makes a complaint that he or she was abused as a child. The vast majority of such complaints relate to sexual abuse. The Garda is always informed of these complaints and its role is to carry out a criminal investigation into the complaint. Tusla's job is to try to establish if the alleged abuser poses a risk to children currently, and if so, to put in place protective measures in relation to identified children. The sharing of information by Tusla with third parties must follow fair procedure with the exception of cases where there is an immediate risk to children.
In terms of overall strategy, retrospective allegations are dealt with by Tusla under its national policy for handling allegations of abuse. The strategy, named Policy and Procedures for Responding to Allegations of Child Abuse and Neglect, has been in place since 2014. I am aware of the complexities of such cases and raised this issue at my meeting with the chair of the board and the CEO of Tusla in June. I emphasised the importance of dealing with cases as soon as possible, while recognising the practical difficulties that can often arise in relation to alleged events of many years ago. I have asked to meet senior officials in Tusla next week to be updated on the steps they are taking to deal nationally with these cases, and on cases currently before the courts which may impact on Tusla's practice in these matters.
Tusla's policy is informed by both child protection principles and fair procedures and sets out the specific steps for Tusla social workers to take in carrying out a risk assessment of an adult where an allegation of abuse has been made against him or her. As Tusla is not a policing body, it does not have such powers of investigation. It cannot compel co-operation with individuals against whom an allegation has been made, or the person making the allegation, and must proceed on the basis of fair procedure and due process. As such, Tusla works closely with the Garda in such cases.
I welcome that the Minister is meeting representatives of Tusla next week. Contrary to what the Minister stated, it is my understanding that there is no policy or strategy from Tusla on how to deal with adult disclosure cases or so-called section 3 referrals. While, as the Minister mentioned, a September 2014 draft policy exists, this policy is not published and it is my belief it is legally inaccurate.
Specifically, at section 14.4, where it proposes that adult survivors should be informed that they may be liable to prosecution where they do not engage with an investigation, the current guidelines on dealing with adult disclosure cases by social workers' offices are not fit for purpose. The guidelines do not take cognisance of the effects of abuse on adults coming forward to disclose. HIQA's assessment of the north Lee and south-west services in 2015 stated that the system in place to manage concerns of a retrospective nature needed significant improvement while a recent HIQA assessment of Dublin south-east and Wicklow found a high number of retrospective referrals remained unassessed, with potential risk to children not yet determined.
I note Deputy Rabbitte's point that it is a policy that has not been published.
It is a draft.
I will raise that with Tusla. It certainly should be published.
I want Deputy Rabbitte to know that I do have concerns in relation to dealing with adult disclosure cases or retrospective cases. I would like to see timelines on when they have been allocated. Those are some questions that I will be raising with Tusla representatives when I meet them next week.
As Deputy Rabbitte will be aware, Tusla conducted a national review of cases awaiting allocation which included information on a number of retrospective cases. The review showed, at February 2015, that of the 8,865 cases awaiting allocation nationally, there were 1,204 cases of retrospective abuse disclosure. The review indicated that of these 1,204 retrospective case, 27% were a high priority, 46% medium priority and 20% low priority.
There is also an impression that these referrals are categorised as low priority cases. However, as is well known, often survivors of the most extreme child sexual abuse do not summon up the courage to come forward until they are in adulthood. The research has well-established that a large proportion of people who experience child sexual abuse delay disclosure. What is more, the cases should not be described as retrospective as many adult disclosures could involve a risk of child abuse.
I welcome that the Minister will talk with Tusla next week. I ask that the draft policy would become a working tool document. We need to address the matter right across the country because in the HIQA report from the midlands it is highlighted as a significant risk. In fact, although we are addressing it, we are not doing so fast enough because an adult making a disclosure was once a child and the abuser is more than likely still at large, and we need to protect other children. That is where I am coming from.
As I indicated, I will ask those questions. I take Deputy Rabbitte's point. I hear her saying particularly that it is one matter to ensure the retrospective cases and adult disclosure are managed properly and efficiently, but I also take from what she is identifying there that to come to disclose, even when one is an adult, can be a significant and difficult matter and it may be the case that such adults could require more support in doing that. That is a helpful suggestion and I will raise that with Tusla as well.
Homeless Persons Supports
Michael Harty
Ceist:4. Deputy Michael Harty asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her views that the spectre of 2,177 children having to be housed in emergency accommodation is a blight on the nation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23370/16]
Does the Minister agree that the spectre of 2,177 homeless children living in emergency accommodation is a blight on the nation requiring an emergency Government response and will she comment on the matter? Since I submitted this question, the number of homeless children has risen to more than 2,200. It needs an urgent response.
The problem of homelessness is a key priority of mine, and of the Government. I welcome the Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness which we published on Tuesday. It is the Government's ambition that within a year's time we will not be reliant on emergency accommodation to house children and families. The plan also seeks to ensure that families and children are supported as much as possible while they are in the emergency accommodation.
To this end, the action plan includes additional measures to assist families in emergency homeless accommodation to mitigate the challenges they face. Additional dedicated child support workers will be appointed in an initiative by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs. My Department will ask the city and county child care committees to liaise with homeless families and assist them in accessing early years services. A new specific scheme will also be designed for the purpose from existing resources. Home-school-community liaison and school completion staff will assist children and families experiencing homelessness to maintain regular school attendance and prioritise them within the school completion programme. A pilot project will be introduced to support the family functioning of homeless families currently in emergency accommodation. The nutritional needs of families and children will be reviewed and solutions proposed. Tusla will provide additional emergency refuge accommodation spaces so that victims of domestic violence forced to leave the family home do not find themselves homeless. A new facility with accommodation for pregnant women who are homeless will be provided by the Dublin Region Homeless Executive, with my Department and Tusla supporting the service.
I will work closely with my colleagues in the Government and all relevant agencies to ensure we address this issue as a matter of importance.
All the actions spoken of by the Minister in the past few months do not address the fundamental problem of providing these children with a home, as opposed to supplying them with services while they are homeless. The psychological damage that these children are subjected to is predictable and avoidable. Not being able to have a normal life, which we would all have taken for granted growing up, is very hard to imagine. It is about not having a safe place or address to call their own, in which children can develop and grow, anchoring them in the community. It is about not having a place they can share with their friends and truly be themselves. It is about not being able to sit at a family table and enjoy a home-cooked meal. These are the psychologically damaging deficiencies that these children are subjected to. Will the Minister consider having child homelessness as her number one priority for children under her care?
Deputy Harty outlines his concerns with great eloquence and I do not disagree with anything he identified, except for his initial point. The actions I identified will be helpful and I hope they will enable in a very significant way the children in homeless and emergency accommodation to find ways to move towards a sense of normality, in spite of the fact they are homeless or in emergency accommodation. It is a significant part not only of our plan but of our movement towards taking away any sense of homelessness for children. That is the part of the plan within my brief. Outside the brief there are a huge number of actions within a number of other settings of the plan to help reduce the child homelessness spoken of by the Deputy.
There will be 47,000 new social houses provided under the housing action plan. By providing 2% of those, 1,000 families with children in homelessness could be taken out of that condition. It is quite unbelievable that in Ireland in 2016, the number of homeless children is increasing month after month, now exceeding 2,200. Homelessness is a deeply unhealthy state, particularly for children, and it is completely unacceptable in a modern society that this should be the case. Child homelessness is a social and political failure. This Government's response to child homelessness should be the issue on which this Government stands or dies, not water or bin charges, which pale into insignificance when compared with not having a home at all. I request that the Minister devote her time and energy to eliminating child homelessness before Christmas.
Of course it is an absolute political priority of mine, as the Deputy is aware. I thought it critical to identify a number of short-term measures to ensure homeless children do not experience lasting damage. Having listed some of those key actions that I will be driving to implement, I expect the Deputy to agree that they may help to provide a more normal or better experience while they are in that position.
As a member of the Government sitting around the Cabinet table, working with all my colleagues to ensure the plan is implementable, regardless of whether it is inside or outside the brief, our ambition is to have no children dependent on emergency accommodation within a year. It is a high ambition. If we can implement these actions with the support of all our colleagues and others outside the Chamber, we will take care of the problem of child homelessness.
Social Workers Recruitment
Róisín Shortall
Ceist:5. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the steps she intends to take to meet general staffing shortages in the social work service to ensure all children in care have an allocated social worker, and to address information technology deficiencies in the service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23371/16]
I ask the Minister to outline the action she is taking to address the urgent problem of the recruitment and retention of social workers, particularly with regard to children in care. Will she outline the steps she is taking to address the deficiencies in the information technology system that is supposed to support the work of the social work service?
I strongly support Tusla's Survival to Sustainability plan. This is a three-year plan that includes provision of extra staffing to meet critical service concerns. This includes addressing children with no allocated social worker. The plan involves increasing overall staffing levels in Tusla by 323 whole-time equivalents, with an investment of €19.4 million over the period 2016 to 2018. We allocated €6.1 million for this purpose in 2016 for unallocated cases. This will fund a net increase of 168 social workers by the end of this year. It will be important to recruit other grades also to ensure an efficient service with the right mix of staffing, including family support staff and administrative support. At the time of devising the plan in September 2015, this meant Tusla needed to recruit more than 500 social workers by end 2016 when account is taken of the fact that it was carrying approximately 200 vacancies and that an average of 12 people leave each month due to retirement and other reasons.
Tusla has been proactive in its efforts to meet its recruitment targets in a competitive environment. At the end of May 2016, there were 1,512 social work whole-time equivalents in place. Approximately 100 of these relate to the strategic decision by Tusla to convert temporary agency posts into three-year fixed-term contracts to improve stability and workforce allocation. Therefore, Tusla still needs to recruit 300 social workers between now and the end of 2016 to reach its very challenging target. In this regard, Tusla ran a recent graduate campaign to attract new graduates and this resulted in over 300 graduate applications. Interviews are currently under way.
I have spoken about the need for Tusla to invest in information and communications technology, ICT, infrastructure in order to support staff in their work. I am committed to the roll-out of a national child care information system.
I thank the Minister for the information, but it does not address the question I asked about the steps being taken by the Minister to address the problems associated with the recruitment and retention of staff. Budget allocations and recruitment campaigns, etc., are very welcome but there is a fundamental problem within our social work services, as we find it very difficult to recruit and retain staff.
In the recent past, vast amounts of money have been spent in international recruitment, which is unsatisfactory, by and large. There are many very young social workers coming here from abroad and there may well be cultural differences in that regard. These people are on their world tour, more or less. We cannot really staff an importance service like social work on that basis. Does the Minister accept that there is a problem in the lack of support being provided to young graduate social workers coming into the service?
With regard to recruitment, the Tusla graduate campaign has resulted in more than 300 graduate applications, and interviews are currently under way. At the same time, social work recruitment from existing panels continues. The graduate campaign has been very well received and planning for a 2017 campaign has commenced and will include colleges in Ireland and the UK. Tusla intends to work with third level colleges with a view to increasing the number of social work places from the current 200 to 250 places in the Republic of Ireland. This is a medium-term strategy, as it would take a number of years for the impact to be felt.
Retention was also mentioned by the Deputy. Tusla is developing an employee assistance programme in order to support the management of caseloads. It is also ensuring that staff have appropriate ICT equipment and infrastructure to support the work they are doing.
It is quite unsatisfactory because it is not addressing the key point of structural problems within the social work service that mean people move on quickly, which makes for a bad service. The key problems for children in care, in particular, include the high turnover of social workers. Further, there are 464 children currently in care who do not have an allocated social worker. Will the Minister give her urgent attention to a number of measures to recruit and retain staff? One of those is to restructure the social work teams in place and to restore the senior practitioner role which was taken away. Another measure is to provide investment. Rather than international recruitment, which is so expensive, will she invest in some incentives for social workers to stay, such as paid extended leave? The other area is ensuring there is a proper career structure so that we can hold onto social workers and they are not going off abroad.
The Minister has 30 seconds to reply.
I have outlined a proactive approach in terms of the recruitment campaign. I hear what Deputy Shortall is saying about additional measures that can be taken in terms of retention and support of social workers in the agency. The Deputy is well aware of the challenging child protection and welfare issues social workers face every day, be it on the telephone or coming through their doors. It is tough work. I hear what the Deputy is saying on additional measures to support retention and thank her for her suggestions. I will bring them to the attention of Tusla.