Written Answers Nos. 572-582
572. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the position regarding the children's detention centre in Lucan, County Dublin; her plans for the premises; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49584/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraBallydowd Young Peoples Centre, which has a capacity for 10 beds, is one of three Special Care units in the country which are operated by the HSE under a single national governance arrangement. The other two units are Gleann Álainn (Cork) and Coovagh House (Limerick). Special Care involves the detention of a child for his or her own welfare and protection in a Special Care Unit. Special Care Units offer higher staff ratios, on-site education as well as specialised input such as psychology services. The child is not detained as a result of criminal offences, but is placed by way of a Detention Order under the inherent jurisdiction of the High Court. The HSE plans that Ballydowd will continue to function as a Special Care Unit for the foreseeable future. The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) inspects Special Care Units annually under Section 69 of the Child Care Act 1991. Ballydowd received a positive inspection report from HIQA in August 2012 (Report ID:547).
573. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the date on which the 116000 phone line will be operational; if it will be set up before or after the children's referendum; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49591/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Universal Service Directive requires Member States to "make every effort to ensure that citizens have access to a service operating a hotline to report cases of missing children. The hotline shall be available on the number 116 000." The same Directive also requires Member States to "ensure that citizens are adequately informed of the existence and use of services provided under the 116 numbering range, in particular through initiatives specifically targeting persons travelling between Member States." The hotline service will operate on two levels: the reporting of a missing child to the relevant authorities - in this case, the Garda - and the provision of emotional support to parents of missing children. Under EU telecoms rules agreed in 2009, the 116000 number is reserved in all EU member states for a missing children hotline. My Department established and is leading a cross-sectoral Project Team, including representatives of my own Department, the Department of Justice and Equality, ComReg and An Garda Síochána, to advance this matter. Following cross-departmental consultation and an examination of the issues involved by the Project Team, ComReg, which has responsibility for the allocation of this number in Ireland, has now allocated the number to the ISPCC.
It is important to note that the 116000 number is not an emergency number. Emergency calls should always be directed to the 999/112 number in the first instance, where the relevant emergency responses, including the recently launched Garda Missing Children Amber Alert mechanism, may be activated. The establishment of the 116000 line will however, be of valuable support and assistance to families of missing children and to missing children themselves. In the interim the ISPCC has developed, with the Garda Síochána, an interim response that is currently heard if one rings the 116000 number. The number advises callers to report a missing child to An Garda Síochána and if a child is calling for assistance, to contact the ISPCC. It is essential that the hotline service is operated in accordance with all best practice standards. In order to fulfil this, the ISPCC have advised that a phased implementation will be necessary. They envisage that the number will become operational in December 2012 from 22:00-16:00, 7 days a week, and will be operating on a 24-hour basis by February 2013. This will be considered a 'pilot' phase. This will give the ISPCC the time to complete the necessary training, develop and implement formal relationships with statutory authorities, overcome technical troubleshooting and prepare a 116 000 service launch and awareness campaign. It is intended that an official launch will take place on 25 May 2013, which is International Missing Children Day. The service launch bears particular importance as it is crucial that the public understand this is a support service rather than an emergency service. The service launch will comprise of a media and event launch, face to face outreaches by ISPCC service staff and promotional materials.
574. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will provide in tabular form the amount currently being spent on, or budgeted for by State agencies under her remit for spending, on the areas of communication, public relations, consultancy, advertising and human resources; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49647/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraFour agencies are funded by the Exchequer through my Department's Vote: the Adoption Authority of Ireland; the Family Support Agency; the National Educational Welfare Board; and the Ombudsman for Children’s Office. I have set out in tabular format the amount being budgeted for by the State agencies under the remit of my Department for the current year. I am not in a position to furnish the Deputy with details in relation to the Adoption Authority of Ireland at the present time. I have asked the authority to write to the Deputy with the information required. It should be noted that the agencies do not generally use the particular headings to which the Deputy refers, but I have set out the details in the table as definitively as possible.
Amounts budgeted for in 2012
|
Agency |
Communications |
Public Relations |
Consultancy |
Advertising |
Human Resources |
|
National Educational Welfare Board |
€46,600 (print, design, editing, translation, media coverage) |
€0 |
€328,000 |
€14,500 |
€0 |
|
Family Support Agency |
€0 |
€0 |
€10,000 |
€14,500 |
€23,500 |
|
Ombudsman for Children’s Office |
€182,000 (communication, participation, education) |
€0 |
€65,000 (legal and consultancy fees) |
€0 |
€295,000 (complaints and investigations) |
576. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will outline in tabular form moneys and grants that her Department has awarded from 9 March 2011 to 9 September 2012; the number of applications she has received that she was unable to grant aid; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49668/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information sought by the Deputy regarding grant disbursements in the period March 2011 to September 2012 is currently being compiled by my Department and will be forwarded to the Deputy in the near future.
577. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she is satisfied that the FETAC level five and six will be recognised as the base qualification for childcare workers in private and public crèche facilities; the current standard being operated at European level; if this requires examination to ensure harmonisation and recognition by the European Union Member States; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49669/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraNearly all pre-school services in the State are now participating in the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme, which provides a free pre-school year to all eligible children in the year before they commence primary school. This programme requires that staff members acting as pre-school year leaders hold a child care qualification equivalent to FETAC Level 5 on the National Framework of Qualifications of Ireland. A higher capitation rate is available to sessional playschool services participating in the ECCE programme in which all child care workers have qualification levels above the minimum requirements for the programme. In terms of our European counterparts, I would like to refer the Deputy to the EC Communication COM (2011)66 on Early Childhood Education and Care: Providing all our children with the best start for the world of tomorrow. This Communication recognised that "while there has been progress in many Member States towards more professionalised and specialised staffing of ECEC, this starts from a low base in many countries and improving this situation will be an important part of any expansion of ECEC services". This EC communication concluded by proposing "an agenda for work among Member States on key issues related to access and to quality, supported by actions by the Commission". This agenda includes "Promoting the professionalisation of ECEC staff". Ireland will participate fully in this EC agenda. The issue of training and qualification standards is currently being considered in the context of the Early Years Strategy.
578. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the reason for delays in progressing inter country adoption co-operation between the Adoption Authority of Ireland and CARA, the central adoption authority in India, while both countries are long time signatories of the Hague Convention; if cooperation is likely to develop in the near future in order that the hundreds of Irish prospective adoptive parents approved to adopt from India by the AAI will not have to wait another few years before they can adopt; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49687/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Adoption Authority of Ireland has had extensive dealings with its Indian counterparts (CARA). In 2011, CARA notified the authority that CARA was reviewing its intercountry adoption guidelines and would not be accepting dossiers from Irish applicants either until 30 September 2011 or until further notice. Following several attempts to get clarification from CARA in this regard, a delegation from the authority visited India in June 2012 to discuss various issues relating to intercountry adoption with the Indian authorities. The delegation met with representatives of CARA and with representatives of a number of diplomatic missions in India. The authority sent me a report on this visit on 5 November last. I am reviewing the contents of the report and will revert to the authority in due course. The authority advises that if adoptions are to recommence, the services of an accredited body will be required for intercountry adoption between India and Ireland. The authority has received expressions of interest from accredited bodies and these are being considered.
579. Deputy Regina Doherty asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when announcements will be made in relation to her Department's National Lottery funding payments for 2012; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49866/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has a funding provision this year of €500,000 in respect of the National Lottery Funding Scheme. Over 500 applications for grant support have been received from individuals, groups and organisations. The current value of these applications amounts to €15 million which far exceeds the available resources. I am sure the Deputy will appreciate that, in the circumstances, it will not be possible to assist all applications. However, the assessment process is at an advanced stage and all applicants will be informed of the outcome as soon as final decisions have been made. Details regarding the projects that have been awarded grants to date are set out in the following table.
National Lottery Funding Scheme 2012
|
Project Name |
Approved |
|
Dime Garda Youth Diversion Project, Hardwicke Street, Dublin 1 |
€4,500 |
|
CARI, 11 Lower Drumcondra Road, Dublin 9 |
€30,000 |
|
Adamstown Summer Camp, 13 The Paddocks Road, Adamstown, Lucan, Co. Dublin |
€3,000 |
580. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the support she will offer to an organisation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49928/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra581. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if funding that will be provided to an organisation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49929/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 580 and 581 together.
The Family Support Agency provides funding to voluntary and community organisations providing marriage, relationship, child and bereavement counselling services. Some 600 organisations are funded each year. These services aim to support people to deal with difficulties they are experiencing in their relationships, to help children whose lives have been affected by parental separation and to support families who have experienced the death of a family member. Over 17,000 individual counselling sessions were delivered within Family Resource Centres in 2011. Of these individual counselling sessions, over 4,000 concerned bereavement. In 2011, the Family Support Agency provided funding of €8,800 to the organisation in question under the scheme of grants to voluntary organisations for the provision of counselling services. In addition, the Family Support Agency last year provided €10,000 to the Irish Childhood Bereavement Network to fund a scoping study on the feasibility and necessity of a bereavement network. I subsequently launched such a Network in July 2012. The Network is a hub for those working with bereaved children, young people and their families and aims to improve access to bereavement information, allow for the sharing of expertise, knowledge and experience and improve the range and quality of bereavement support available to children, young people and, crucially, those caring for them. In this respect it is very welcome. The Network is being hosted for an initial period by the Irish Hospice Foundation. It will be the subject of an interim review after two years and an evaluation after five years. The organisation referred to by the Deputy was part of the Steering Committee which oversaw the development and completion of the scoping study on the establishment of the Irish Childhood Bereavement Network. The Network is in the early stages of development and is currently inviting members, with a target of 70 members set for the first year. I am advised by the Family Support Agency that it provides funding to many of the members of the Network and that any collaboration which improves efficiencies is to be welcomed. Finally, the Deputy will wish to note that the Government has previously announced that the functions of the Family Support Agency will transfer to the new Child and Family Support Agency upon its establishment in 2013.
582. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will outline the opportunities that persons in lower grades of the Public Service have been afforded ion contributing to the reforms of the public service as sought in the Public Service Agreement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50638/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe objective of the Public Service Agreement is to ensure that the Public Service continues its contribution to the return of economic growth and economic prosperity while delivering excellence in service to the Irish public. This is being achieved by staff and management, at all levels, working together to build an increasingly integrated public service which is leaner and more effective and focused more on the needs of the citizen. As a Minister in a small Department, I am very aware that the commitment, skill and knowledge of the people working with me are critical assets and an integral part of the Department's resources. As such, I am anxious to ensure that staff at all levels are fully engaged with delivering strategic objectives for the Department. I understand the Deputy is particularly interested in staff engagement at clerical and executive officer level in contributing to the reform agenda. I am happy to inform the Deputy that these grades were represented in the development of my Department's Statement of Strategy which will guide the Department in responding flexibly and innovatively to changing circumstances. Staff at all levels are talented and committed. It is through their efforts that ambitions for children and young people set out in this Strategy will be achieved. The human resource policies in my Department allow for full staff engagement on matters involving them. For example, clerical and executive staff are involved in the Business Planning process in their respective units across the Department where clear goals and performance indicators for the year ahead are developed and agreed. A new Partnership Committee has recently been established which involves a continuous commitment by employees to identify improvements in quality and efficiency and an acceptance by management that employees are stakeholders with rights and interests to be considered in the context of major decisions affecting their work and employment.
