Written Answers Nos. 677 -694
677. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding entitlements in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19648/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named held 24.58 Standard National Reserve entitlements of which 24.56 entitlements were leased to another farmer by way of one year lease under the 2013 scheme year. The balance of 0.02 of an entitlement remained unused.
As the person named was not eligible to receive a direct payment in 2013, she has not established an allocation right and therefore is not eligible to receive an allocation of entitlements under the Basic Payment scheme. In this context my Department wrote to the person named to advise her of this position and to recommend the permanent transfer of her entitlements under the 2014 scheme year by way of gift or sale to a person who holds an allocation right for the new scheme.
In addition my Department issued a letter confirming the reversion of her entitlements to her account on expiry of the lease.
Following the linear reduction applied to the value of entitlements at the start of the 2014 scheme year, the person named holds 24.43 entitlements with a unit value of €479.26 and a total value of €11,708.32.
678. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding an agri-environment options scheme application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; the reason for the delay in processing the application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19716/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named was approved for participation in the Agri-Environment Options Scheme (AEOS 3) with effect from 1st May 2013.
Under the EU Regulations governing the Scheme and other area-based payment schemes, a comprehensive administrative check, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel Identification System, must be completed before any payment can issue. These checks are well under way and payments for AEOS 3 in respect of 2013 will commence shortly.
The person named was also selected for an SPS ground Inspection which took place on the 19th June 2013. This inspection resulted in a reduction in area of some parcels which form part of the AEOS plan of the person named which will therefore result in a deduction in AEOS payment.
679. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will provide a breakdown of the number of children availing of the after school child care scheme in each county; and if she will provide the number of children availing of the scheme in Dublin 3, 5, 13 and 17. [18690/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraOfficials in my Department are currently collating the information sought by the Deputy and I will write directly to the Deputy with this information later this week.
680. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if subventions from private providers will be reintroduced to allow for a level playing field as private providers make up 70% of the child care sector yet they have more expenses than community based facilities, that is, rates, taxes and so on; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18707/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraA number of child care support programmes are implemented by my Department to assist parents with the cost of child care.
The Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) programme, which provides support to lower income and disadvantaged families, is only accessible through community not for profit child care services. This has been the case since the support programmes were initially introduced in 2000 under the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme (EOCP) which was a joint EU/Exchequer funded child care programme.
The increase in child care places, which the EOCP investment and the later investment through the National Childcare Investment Programme (NCIP) provided for, ensured that parents who were disadvantaged or on low incomes and who could not access services in the private child care sector, had access to affordable and quality child care. The CCS continues to provide targeted funding towards disadvantaged parents and in the region of €40 million annually is provided by my Department to support this programme.
The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme and the Childhood Education and Training Support (CETS) programmes including the After School Childcare programme are provided through both private and community child care facilities. In the region of 75,000 children are supported under these programme each year which represents an annual investment in excess of €200 million. These programmes provide significant support to the private child care sector at a time when many private providers would, because of the economic situation, be experiencing considerable difficulties.
It is my objective to further develop the early childhood care and education sector when resources permit. There are no plans to extend the CCS programme to the commercial child care sector and the focus at the moment is to ensure that the current programmes, which support more than 100,000 children, are maintained within the limited funding available to my Department.
681. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the position regarding the second free preschool year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18736/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Early Childhood Care and Education programme was introduced in January 2010 and provides a free preschool year to all eligible children before commencing primary school. Approximately 68,000 children availed of the provision in the 2012/2013 academic year, and similar numbers are expected to avail of it during the current academic year.
Despite the challenging budgetary situation, I have succeeded in maintaining the preschool year as a universal and free programme, ensuring that a significant number of children can avail of quality preschool services who would not otherwise be in a position to do so.
There is an increasing body of Irish and International evidence which quantify the benefits of early years interventions in terms of improving children’s outcomes and in delivering significant economic and societal return to the state. In this context I believe the introduction of a second year would benefit children’s educational and developmental outcomes. A second free preschool year would represent €2,500 to €3,000 worth of free child care to parents and would be likely to generate 4,000-5,000 new jobs, albeit mostly part-time.
However, the introduction of a second preschool year would require considerable additional funding, broadly in line with the cost of the current one-year provision, which is €175 million per annum. This additional funding is not presently available due to the financial constraints under which the Government is operating. In addition, all of the available evidence indicates that the quality of the preschool provision is key to good outcomes for children. My Pre-School Quality Agenda, which involves a range of actions in key areas aimed at improving quality within early years services and enhancing the regulatory regime, is a key building block for any further extension of universal child care provision.
Future developments relating to early years care and education are being considered as part of the preparation of the new National Early Years Strategy. The report of the Expert Advisory Group which I appointed to advise on recommendations for inclusion in the Strategy, ‘Right from the Start’, sets out a wide range of recommendations for consideration and will contribute substantially to the final draft of the Early Years Strategy. One of the recommendations in the Report for consideration in the preparation of the Strategy is to extend the free preschool provision, but only after achieving higher quality standards, more investment in training and mentoring, and professionalization of the Early Years workforce.
682. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will provide a breakdown of the funding allocations from the Department for Women's Aid services in each county in 2011, 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18827/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are three separate and distinct Women's Aid organisations funded by the Child and Family Agency which provide services in the area of domestic violence.
These are Carlow Women’s Aid, Dundalk Women’s Aid and Women’s Aid, Dublin. Funding is allocated to the organisations rather than on a per county basis.
Information provided by the Child and Family Agency with regard to funding in the period 2011 to date is set out below. Prior to the establishment of the Child and Family Agency on 1st January 2014 funding was provided to these organisations by the HSE and the former Family Support Agency.
|
Organisation |
Funding Source |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
Up to April 2014 |
|
Women’s Aid, Carlow |
HSE / Child and Family Agency |
€134,337 |
€127,620 |
€124,430 |
€42,540 |
|
Family Support Agency(Counselling Grants to Organisations Providing Marriage & Relationship, Child and Bereavement Counselling Service) |
€5,500 |
€4,900 |
€4,300 |
||
|
Dundalk Women’s Aid |
HSE / Child and Family Agency |
€459,000 |
€436,050 |
€425,149 |
€207,124 |
|
Family Support Agency (Counselling Grants to Organisations Providing Marriage & Relationship, Child and Bereavement Counselling Service) |
€7,100 |
€6,300 |
€5,500 |
||
|
Women’s Aid, Dublin |
HSE / Child and Family Agency |
€723,423 |
€701,277 |
€683,745 |
€222,071 |
|
Family Support Agency (Family Resource Centre Programme |
€110,680 |
€99,620 |
€89,660 |
€22,415 |
683. Deputy Michael P. Kitt asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her attention has been drawn to the severe effects of Government cutbacks on community and scouting organisations; if she will detail the various funding provided for these services in 2014; if she will further provide the equivalent figures for the past five years; if she will provide the figures with regard to the City of Dublin Youth Service Board; if her attention has been drawn to the difficulties inflicted on local groups and the stress caused to local organisers trying to continue to cope with inadequate resources; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18902/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department administers a range of funding schemes and programmes to support the provision of youth services to young people throughout the country including those from disadvantaged communities. Targeted support for disadvantaged, marginalised and at risk young people are provided through the Special Projects for Youth Scheme, the Young People's Facilities and Services Fund, Rounds 1 and 2, Local Drugs Task Force Projects and certain other programmes such as the Local Youth Club Grant Scheme and Youth Information Centres. In addition, some 31 national and major regional youth work organisations, including Scouting Ireland, are supported under my Department's Youth Service Grant Scheme. The funding schemes support national and local youth work provision to some 380,000 young people and involve approximately, 1,400 youth work staff in 477 projects and 40,000 volunteers working in youth work services and communities throughout the country. In 2014, current funding of €49.78m has been provided to my Department for these schemes.
Funding is provided by my Department to the City of Dublin Youth Service Board (CDYSB) for the support of youth projects in the Dublin City area. CDYSB is in receipt of funding under the Special Projects for Youth Scheme (SPY), Young People’s Facilities and Services Fund Rounds 1 and 2 (YPFSF) and under the Local Drug Task Force (LDTF). Funding of €10.748m has been allocated to CDYSB in 2014 by my Department in respect of the support for almost 80 youth projects in Dublin City. In 2013, an amount of €11.167m was allocated.
Scouting Ireland receives grant aid on an annual basis under the Youth Service Grant Scheme. Details of the funding allocated to Scouting Ireland for the past five years are outlined hereunder.
|
Youth Service Grant Scheme |
Year |
Grant € |
|
2014 |
814,250 |
|
|
2013 |
845,974 |
|
|
2012 |
939,971 |
|
|
2011 |
1,005,317 |
|
|
2010 |
1,082,849 |
My Department, along with all government departments, is required to deliver substantial savings on all funding programmes in line with the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure (CRE). My Department, in determining the annual allocations for youth programmes, while having regard to the CRE, has sought to ensure that, as far as is possible, the focus is maintained on the front line youth services particularly those for the most vulnerable young people. This year, I secured an additional €1m in the 2014 Budget to offset the impact of the CRE on the youth services. As a result the overall reduction in 2014 budgets for the youth services at 3.75 % was significantly less had been indicated in the CRE.
I am aware of the challenges that the budgetary constraints raise for the youth services throughout the country and its impact on services such as Scouting Ireland. I, and officials of my Department have met and will continue to meet with many youth organisations and groups to try and see how we can work together to ensure the most effective and efficient use of the resources available in order to continue to support the provision of quality and responsive youth services for young people.
684. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 481 of 1 April 2014 the oversight and inspection arrangements that are in place under the service level agreement for premises operated by an organisation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19056/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra685. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 481 of 1 April 2014 if she will provide a list of other organisations with which the Health Service Executive has agreements nationwide to provide similar residential services for young persons; if she will provide a breakdown of the value of their service level agreements, SLAs, annually and the inspection arrangements in place to ensure compliance with these SLAs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19057/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 684 and 685 together.
I am advised by the Child and Family Agency that the following organisations are contracted to provide children's residential services on its behalf.
|
Location |
Centre Name |
Org. Name |
|
D.N.E. |
Aras na Fise |
Fresh Start Eire |
|
Brownstown House |
MMC Children’s Services |
|
|
Cluain Mhuire (Drumree) |
Three Steps Ltd. |
|
|
Clarnagh House |
Ashdale Care Ireland Ltd. |
|
|
Curragh House |
Daffodil Care Services Ltd. |
|
|
Derrylangan |
Three Steps Ltd. |
|
|
Drumbenagh House |
Ashdale Care Ireland Ltd. |
|
|
Fairview Lodge |
Yeria Ltd |
|
|
Glenarm House |
Yeria Ltd. |
|
|
Hollybrook |
Daffodil Care Services Ltd. |
|
|
Horizon House |
Aisling Homes Ltd. |
|
|
Ivy Mews |
Rainbow Community Services |
|
|
Louth Hall |
MMC Children’s Services |
|
|
Oaklodge |
Nua Health Care |
|
|
Piercetown House |
Three Steps Ltd. |
|
|
Smithstown Lodge |
Rainbow Community Services |
|
|
The Haven Ardee |
The Haven Child Care Service |
|
|
The Haven Drogheda |
The Haven Child Care Service |
|
|
Tullakeel Lodge |
MMC Children’s Services |
|
|
Tydavnet House |
Ashdale Care Ireland Ltd. |
|
|
Wimbletown Lodge |
National Children’s Re. Services |
|
|
Beechfield |
Keys Childcare Ltd. |
|
|
Beltra Lodge |
Positive Care Ireland |
|
|
Bright Avenues |
Galro Ltd. |
|
|
Coed Glas |
Fresh Start Eire |
|
|
Cosan Nua |
Fresh Start Eire |
|
|
D.M.L. |
Glendoher House |
Misty Croft Ltd. |
|
Glendown House |
Misty Croft Ltd. |
|
|
Grvewood |
MMC Children’s Services |
|
|
Lansa |
Misty Croft Ltd. |
|
|
Riverside |
New Beginnings |
|
|
Sceal Eile |
Fresh Start Eire |
|
|
Sli Nua |
Fresh Start Eire |
|
|
Tall Timbers |
Galro Ltd. |
|
|
Terra Glen |
Terra Glen Respite Care Services |
|
|
The Fairways |
Nua Health Care |
|
|
The Orchard |
Nua Health Care |
|
|
Tignish |
Nua Health Care |
|
|
Tigroney Lodge |
Positive Care Ireland |
|
|
Tog Sos |
Fresh Start Eire |
|
|
Tus Nua |
Fresh Start Eire |
|
|
South |
Bunmahon |
Steppingstones Ltd. |
|
Carraig Lodge |
Positive Care Ireland |
|
|
Carrigbeg |
Daffodil Care Services Ltd. |
|
|
Chestnut Lodge |
Kellsgrange Res. Services Ltd. |
|
|
Crystal Waters |
Positive Care Ireland |
|
|
Fernhaven |
Daffodil Care Services Ltd. |
|
|
Fuchsia Lodge |
Daffodil CareServices Ltd |
|
|
Glounthoune |
Fresh Start Eire |
|
|
Highfield House |
MMC Children’s Services |
|
|
Hill House |
Galtee Clinic |
|
|
Hillview |
Positive Care Ireland |
|
|
Kiaora |
Fresh Start Eire |
|
|
Mill View Open |
Nua Health Care |
|
|
Riverstone Lodge |
Positive Care Ireland |
|
|
Roovesmore House |
MMC Children’s Services |
|
|
San-Ann |
MMC Children’s Services |
|
|
Seaview Lodge |
Positive Care Ireland |
|
|
The Pines |
Daffodil Care Services Ltd |
|
|
Willow View |
Positive Care Ireland |
|
|
West |
Carbury House |
Positive Care Ireland |
|
Carramount |
Gateway |
|
|
Glenallen House |
Gateway |
|
|
Lakeview House |
Gateway |
The most recent information provided by the Agency indicates that the contract costs range from €150,000 to €5.8 million.
The Registration and Inspection Service of the Child and Family Agency is a designated service of the Agency. The service was established in 1998 under the Child Care Act 1991 to fulfil the regulatory functions of the former Health Boards. Its functions include establishment and maintenance of a register of children's residential centres, inspection of premises which are being used or intended to be used as a children's residential centre and enforcement and execution of the Regulations.
A private provider of children's residential services must be registered with the Child and Family Agency under the Child Care Act, 1991. Once an application for registration has been made, the centre will be subject to an inspection. The inspection provides a comprehensive overview of compliance with the Department of Health and Children's "National Standards for Children's Residential Centres". Once registered, the residential centres, including the organisation referred to by the Deputy, remain subject to inspection and monitoring under the Child Care Act, 1991.
The Agency has advised that all placements are subject to placement contracts and the Service Level Agreements to replace those previously in place with the Health Service Executive will be finalised shortly.
686. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will ensure more funding is provided to a centre (details supplied) in Dublin 17; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19643/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra704. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the reason an excellent child care service in Darndale, Dublin 17 is to close due to lack of funds; and if she will support a centre (details supplied) as a matter of priority. [19696/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 686 and 704 together.
The Child and Family Agency was notified in March 2014 of financial difficulties being experienced by Darndale Belcamp Integrated Childcare Service Ltd. A number of meetings have since taken place between senior management of the Agency and the centre and these discussions are ongoing. In order to alleviate cash flow difficulties experienced by the Centre, the Agency decided, as a short term measure, to prepay two months of the 2014 funding allocation to the centre. This will allow for a more comprehensive analysis to be undertaken with a view to determining a longer term solution.
Darndale Belcamp Integrated Childcare Service Ltd has a number of funding streams including the Child and Family Agency, my Department, the Department of Social Protection and fees from parents. Total funding to the centre in 2013 amounted to over €1.9m.
The Agency is committed to finding a solution to the current funding difficulties and I wish to assure the Deputy that every effort will be made to ensure that the situation is dealt with expeditiously.
687. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will provide an update on the work of the national youth work advisory committee; the term of office of the current committee; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18866/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI appointed the current National Youth Work Advisory Committee (NYWAC), under the terms of the Youth Work Act, 2001, with effect from 28 January 2013 for a period of one year. This Committee, which comprises representatives of national youth organisations, Government departments, the Education and Training Boards and other statutory agencies involved in youth matters, has a key role in advising my Department on issues to do with how youth work practice and services can advance key desired outcomes for young people.
In line with its terms of reference, the NYWAC has provided advice and opinions to my Department on priority areas. These include, the EU Youth Council Presidency programme, the development of a youth policy framework and youth work provision and its links to related policy areas. The NYWAC assisted my Department is progressing the ambitious EU Youth Presidency Programme in 2013. It played an important role at the high-level event I hosted in June 2013 which explored how the role of youth work can be enhanced in responding to the youth employment challenge and specifically its contribution to youth employability. It has undertaken work on how youth work services can better link with key policy areas within my Department, including how the youth work sector can interface effectively with Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. The NYWAC considered and provided feedback to my Department in the development of the children and young people’s policy framework.
I launched Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures, the national children and young people’s policy framework (2014-2020) on 16th April, 2014. The framework aims to coordinate policy for children and young people across Government. It sets out the five national outcomes that we want to achieve for children and young people from birth to age 24 years It sets out the policy goals to be pursued and the actions to be delivered over the next seven years to improve children’s and young people’s lives.
The overarching framework will provide the basis for more detailed strategies, including a new youth strategy that will seek to address the changing needs and challenges facing young people and ensure an effective response to those needs, including through quality youth work services. I have asked the NYWAC to continue its work to contribute to the development of the youth strategy which is due to be completed by my Department at the end of 2014.
The NYWAC has an important contribution to make to the youth strategy, to the implementation of Better Outcomes Brighter Futures- the national policy framework for children and young people 2014-2020 and to development of youth services provision in the future, for example, following the completion of the Value for Money and Policy Review of the funding schemes that target disadvantaged youth, which is underway in my Department. I have asked the NYWAC to consider its role in this regard and how best it can contribute to the implementation framework for Better Outcomes Brighter Futures, in particular, in relation to the proposed new Advisory Council, which will include representatives from the youth sector and relevant experts.
688. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 598 of 28 May 2013, if she will provide an update on the establishment and development of child services committees; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18867/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra689. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the role she envisages for the child services committees in the implementation of the national policy framework for children and young people; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18868/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 688 and 689 together.
Children's Services Committees (CSCs) provide a structure at county level which brings together all of the key agencies delivering services to children and young people, so that they work collaboratively in planning for and delivering services which are more effective and achieve better outcomes. Since 2007, 20 Children's Services Committees (CSCs) have been established serving 25 local authority areas. Three of these, Galway, Roscommon and Wexford, have been established this year and it is hoped to establish a further 6 CSCs later this year to achieve full national coverage.
The CSCs will align with Local Government reforms including the new Local Community Development Committees which are being established in each local authority area. This process is being supported by a National Co-ordinator for CSCs who was appointed in June 2013 and works with my Department, the Child and Family Agency Tusla and the other statutory agencies involved in the initiative.
The decision to establish CSCs on a national basis was recently approved by the Government in conjunction with the adoption of the new National Policy Framework for Children and Young People 2014-2030: Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures. This is the first overarching national policy framework for children and young people aged from birth to 24 years and will be implemented by my Department in collaboration with all Government Departments and key State agencies. I was pleased to be joined at the launch the Policy Framework on 16th April 2014 by An Taoiseach Enda Kenny T.D. and An Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore T.D.
The CSC National Steering Group will form part of the implementation structures for the Policy Framework and will drive implementation of the Framework at local level. It will act as a link between national policy for children and young people and local implementation, as well as contributing to the development of national policy, through shared practice and learning, and its dissemination. The Policy Framework sets out the following commitments which relate directly to the CSCs:
|
G2 |
Ensure planning and coordination of parenting supports at local level through Children’s Services Committees. |
|
G47 |
The roll-out nationally of Children’s Services Committees (CSCs) in a coordinated fashion, connecting them with Local Government and Tusla, The Child and Family Agency. |
|
G48 |
Put in place an agreed resourcing framework for Children’s Services Committees, drawing on existing financial support from Tusla, Local Government and DCYA. |
|
G52 |
Streamline planning and decision-making structures at local level, including Children’s Services Committees, to be consistent with the Government’s public sector reforms, and specifically the alignment of local Government and Local Community Development Committees. |
|
G62 |
Deliver the County-level Data Analysis Initiative to support the Children’s Services Committees. |
|
G68 |
Use the intelligence from Children’s Services Committees in relation to local need and priorities to inform the allocation of national and local funding streams. |
|
3. |
Ensure local county-level implementation and monitoring through the Children’s Services Committees (CSCs), which will be formally linked with the new Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs) being established in each Local Authority area under an initiative of the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government. |
690. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 295 of 16 January 2014, if the value for money review of youth work funding schemes has been completed, if so, when it will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18869/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe value for Money and Policy Review of youth funding schemes is nearing completion. It is anticipated that this report will be finalised in June. It will include recommendations for the future operation of these youth schemes and will shape their development in the years ahead to ensure quality, effective, value for money services that are evidence based and designed to secure the best outcomes for young people. The review’s recommendations will further inform the development of a new Youth Strategy which will aim to improve coordination between Government departments and youth sector organisations with a view to maximising the effectiveness of State funding in achieving youth policy objectives.
691. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 556 of 15 April, 2014, the date on which departmental officials will forward a copy of this report. [18872/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraDepartment officials forwarded a copy of this report to the Deputy on 17th April, 2014.
692. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if the Adoption Authority of Ireland has completed its consideration of the submissions from Helping Hands Adoption Mediation Agency and Arc Adoption for funding to act as accredited agencies for inter-country adoption; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18898/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraWork is ongoing in my Department in relation to the issue of funding of agencies accredited for intercountry adoption in order to ensure the sustainability of the agencies and continuity of service. My Department has meet with both Helping Hands Adoption Mediation Agency and Arc and interim funding has been allocated to both agencies.
The Department is continuing its examination of the matter in co-operation with the Adoption Authority and the Child and Family Agency in relation to examining the future funding arrangements for accredited bodies in intercountry adoption.
693. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she has received and considered submissions from the Adoption Authority of Ireland identifying 23 areas for change in the Adoption Act 2010 and if she will provide an outline of any planned legislation changes in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18899/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra694. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she has considered any changes in how bilateral agreements for the purposes of inter-country adoption are established with Ireland as a receiving country; if she has had any discussion with the Adoption Authority of Ireland in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18900/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 693 and 694 together.
The Adoption Act 2010 has been in operation for just three years. Since the implementation of the Act, as is often the case with complex legislation, issues have arisen in relation to the operation of the Act. There are also more general policy questions around the nature of our adoption regime. In the circumstances I think it is timely to consider an initial review of adoption legislation. Given the range and complexity of the issues this will require a preliminary examination following which decisions will be made on the extent and time scale for the review. Based upon the many domestic and international legal aspects to adoption the issue of further legislative development will certainly be considered. This review will inform future operational and legislative considerations regarding the Adoption Act 2010.
