Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Tuesday, 1 Jul 2014

Written Answers Nos. 621-640

Adoption Legislation

Ceisteanna (621)

Dara Murphy

Ceist:

621. Deputy Dara Murphy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if legislation is proposed to amend Irish adoption law along similar lines to that in existence in the United Kingdom, specifically with respect to access to information for both mothers and those adopted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27848/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

My Department is continuing work on the Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill and I hope to be in a position to seek Government approval to publish the Heads of the Bill as soon as possible. While I am anxious to improve the legal basis for access to adoption records, proposals to Government have to reflect the constraints on the Legislature in providing such access if they are not to fall foul of Constitutional challenge. The Office of the Attorney General has provided comprehensive legal advice to the Department that has assisted in identifying the Constitutional parameters within which the Heads of the Bill have to be drafted. The most difficult situations to address within the proposed legislation are those where the consent of other parties, such as natural mothers, does not exist for the release of information.

It is intended to proceed to finalise legislative proposals so that I may bring proposals to the Government as soon as possible. Prospectively the issue of providing an adoptive person with their birth certificate after the age of 18 is an issue receiving consideration. Subsequent consideration by the Oireachtas Health and Children Committee will allow the issues to be carefully examined and the views of different interested parties on these important and sensitive matters to be fully considered.

School Completion Programme

Ceisteanna (622)

Michael McCarthy

Ceist:

622. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will provide an update on the proposed funding cuts to be administered for school completion programmes for the 2014-15 academic year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27926/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The School Completion Programme (SCP) aims to retain young people in the formal education system to completion of senior cycle and to generally improve the school attendance, participation and retention of its target cohort. The SCP is a targeted intervention aimed at those school communities identified through the Department of Education and Skills’ DEIS Action Plan for Educational Inclusion. It involves 124 locally managed projects and related initiatives operating across 470 primary and 224 post-primary schools to provide targeted supports to approximately 36,000 children and young people. The programme's project model approach gives local communities the autonomy to devise innovative approaches to address the needs of young people most at risk of early school leaving.

As with all major spending programmes, the School Completion Programme budget was subject to examination under the terms of the 2011 Comprehensive Review of Expenditure (CRE). This process identified a requirement for savings of 6.5% per annum across the programme over the period 2012 to 2014.

Since its establishment the Child and Family Agency has operational responsibility for the School Completion Programme , including the allocation of funds to projects within the programme. I am advised that proposals have yet to be formulated by the Agency in relation to the funding for School Completion Programme projects in the coming 2014/2015 academic year. As an initial step the Agency invited all School Completion Programme Projects to commence planning for the next cycle of the programme within the available funding parameters. The Agency has commenced the detailed process of evaluating and approving the 2014/2015 school retention plans for individual projects. It is anticipated that the Agency will advise projects of the outcome of the process and of their allocations in time for the start of the new school year. The Agency will continue to work closely with Local Management Committees, schools and local School Completion Programme co-ordinators to assist projects through the process.

The potential for any changes in the funding allocated to this programme in future years is a matter to be considered in the estimates and budgetary process having regard to the resources available to Government.

Children in Care

Ceisteanna (623, 624, 625)

Thomas P. Broughan

Ceist:

623. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of children currently on the waiting list for a special care placement; and the average waiting time for such a placement. [27950/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Thomas P. Broughan

Ceist:

624. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will provide a breakdown, in tabular form on a monthly basis for the first six months of 2014, of the number of children in special care and high support units here. [27952/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Thomas P. Broughan

Ceist:

625. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will provide a breakdown, in tabular form on a monthly basis for the first six months of 2014 of the number of children detained in special care units outside Ireland under orders made by the High Court. [27953/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 623 to 625, inclusive, together.

Special Care involves the detention of a child for his or her own welfare and protection in a Special Care Unit (SCU) on order of the High Court. SCUs differ from ordinary residential care in that the Units offer higher staff ratios, on-site education as well as specialised input such as psychology and child psychiatric services. The child is not detained as a result of criminal offences, but is placed by a High Court Order.

On 26 June 2014, there were four young people on the waiting list for special care. The current average length of wait is approximately five weeks.

A very small minority of children have highly specialised needs that require specialised secure psychiatric interventions and secure general placement outside the State.

The placement of Irish children in care in secure psychiatric facilities outside of the Irish jurisdiction by Order of the Irish High Court occurs within the framework of Council Regulation (EC) – otherwise known as the Brussels 11 bis Regulation. The High Court retains regular oversight of these placements. The Child and Family Agency maintains governance and oversight via its statutory obligations to children in the care of the Agency.

The Units in which the children are placed are inspected and monitored by their national authorities and the Agency is attentive to the standards of care delivered in these specialised units.

The following table sets out the most up to date position on the numbers of children placed in national High Support Units and Special Care Units in Ireland and those placed in secure units outside of the State.

Figure on the last day of each month

Number of children in secure units outside Ireland

Number of children in special care units in Ireland

Number of children in national high support units in Ireland

January 2014

10

12

4

February 2014

10

17

3

March 2014

8

17

3

April 2014

8

15

3

Children in Care

Ceisteanna (626, 647, 658, 659, 660)

Thomas P. Broughan

Ceist:

626. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if the Crannóg Nua high-support unit has ceased operations; and if it is currently being refurbished with a view to it being used to provide special care places next year. [27954/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Gerald Nash

Ceist:

647. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the position regarding the provision of high-support services for young persons aged 12 to 17, specifically the Crannóg Nua facility, Portrane, County Dublin; the planned redesignation of the service to special care; if funding has been agreed for this project; if a construction team has been appointed to complete the project; when Crannóg Nua will be established and formally opened to provide a service in the area of special care; if he will outline current demands for special care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28479/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Brendan Ryan

Ceist:

658. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the position regarding the ceasing of high-support services for young persons aged 12 to 17 in a centre (details supplied) and the designation of this service to special care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28551/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Brendan Ryan

Ceist:

659. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if funding has been agreed for the reopening of a centre (details supplied) in County Dublin as a special care unit; the timeline for this centre to reopen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28552/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Brendan Ryan

Ceist:

660. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his current plans for a centre (details supplied) in County Dublin when it reopens; the number of beds that will be available at this unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28553/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 626, 647 and 658 to 660, inclusive, together.

Special Care involves the detention of a child for his or her own welfare and protection in a Special Care Unit on order of the High Court. Special Care Units differ from ordinary residential care in that the Units offer higher staff ratios, on-site education as well as specialised input such as psychology and child psychiatric services. The child is not detained as a result of criminal offences, but is placed by a High Court Order.

There are three Special Care Units in the country which are operated by the Agency under a single national governance arrangement. They are Ballydowd in Dublin for girls and boys, Gleann Alainn in Cork which is for girls only and Coovagh House in Limerick for boys only. At any one time approximately 0.3% of all children in care are detained in the three Special Care Units. As of 26th June 2014 there were 16 children placed in the Special Care Units and four young people awaiting a placement. The current average length of wait is approximately 5-weeks.

These Units are inspected by the Health Information and Quality Authority with positive findings from the most recent inspections undertaken in 2013.

As part of the Child and Family Agency's commitment to develop a comprehensive continuum of care services to meet the divergent and complex needs of all children in care, Crannóg Nua High Support Unit in Portrane is to be redesignated to function as a Special Care Unit. I am advised that the last child left Crannóg Nua on 23rd June 2014. There are approximately 30 days remaining in the tendering process for the appointment of a construction team who will provide the upgrade of the current buildings and an additional new build residential unit, to enable the Centre to provide secure care. The Agency has advised me that in excess of €1m has been allocated to progress national special care development projects for 2014 and discussions are underway regarding further significant amounts required in 2015 and future years.

The Agency has advised that eight special care beds will be provided at Crannóg Nua by the end of June 2015 and a further four beds will be provided there by the end of October 2015. These timescales refer to the current indicated Building Programme and may be subject to change.

Child Detention Centres

Ceisteanna (627)

Thomas P. Broughan

Ceist:

627. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 719 of 15 January 2014, if progress has been made since the reply was issued in the area of initiating research and the compilation of statistics on the number of children who are or have been in the care of the State who have entered the criminal justice system and are or have been detained in Oberstown or St. Patrick’s Institution. [27955/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Irish Youth Justice Service (IYJS), which is based in my Department, continues to work to progress its goal to strengthen and develop its evidence base in order to support more effective policies and services for children in conflict with the law, which is one of the goals of the current Youth Justice Action Plan for the period 2014-2018. The IYJS continues to collect and develop information on children admitted to the children detention schools with regard to their involvement with social workers and/or the care system.

I am advise that, in the period 1 January 2014 to 25 June 2014 inclusive, a total of 102 young people have been in custody in a children detention school, either on the basis of remand in custody or to serve a sentence of detention. Of those, 49% are known to have had an assigned social worker and a further 21% have been the subject of a recent care order under the Child Care Acts.

The provision of statistics in relation to St. Patrick's Institution is the responsibility of my colleague the Minister for Justice and Equality.

Adoption Legislation

Ceisteanna (628)

Clare Daly

Ceist:

628. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if forthcoming legislation on adoption tracing legislation will allow those illegally adopted from mother and baby homes to access their birth records. [27966/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Adoption Act 1952 provided a legal basis for adoption in Ireland and for the establishment of the Adoption Board. This brought order to what had been the system of ad-hoc arrangements in lieu of formal adoption procedures up to this point. All adoptions, which the Irish state has been involved in since 1952 have been carried out in line with this and subsequent adoption legislation. However historic private arrangements for obvious reasons and due to social factors of the era, operated in conditions of great secrecy and there were rarely any contemporary written records of these events. Similarly, the issue of illegal adoptions relates to illegal registrations, i.e., children who were given at birth to other individuals who registered these children as their own and who are now unable to access personal records and information. The issue of illegal registrations of births are a matter for the General Registration Office which is the responsibility of the Department of Social Protection however the Adoption Authority of Ireland may also be able to provide assistance in this regard.

Records in relation illegal birth registrations, where such records exist, are currently held by a number of agencies, including the Adoption Authority of Ireland, Child and Family Agency and also by private adoption agencies, maternity hospitals, private individuals and other sources. Information held by the Adoption Authority is primarily in relation to adoptions which took place since the Adoption Act 1952. The Authority has advised me that, in the first instance, any person seeking information on adoption, or an illegal registration of a birth, should contact the Adoption Authority of Ireland or the Child and Family Agency’s Community Services who will assist in directing them to the personnel dealing with their particular records.

The National Adoption Contact Register which is operated by the Adoption Authority was established in 2005 to assist adopted people and their natural families to make contact with each other, exchange information or state their contact preferences. When the former Adoption Board launched the National Adoption Contact Preference Register in 2005, provision was made for persons, who were party to the illegal registration of a child, to register an interest in the Register for possible future contact with another party sometime in the future. Fundamental to the success of the Register is that any persons with information in this regard contact the Information and Tracing Unit of the Adoption Authority.

My Department is continuing to work on the Heads of Bill for the Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill and I hope to be in a position to seek Government approval to publish the Heads of Bill as soon as possible. While the Deputy will appreciate that I am not in a position to give a comprehensive account of the provisions of the proposed legislation until the Heads of Bill have been agreed by Government, I can say that the issues in relation to illegal registrations are being considered as part of the drafting process.

Early Childhood Care Education

Ceisteanna (629)

Thomas Pringle

Ceist:

629. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his plans to introduce a graduate staffing fund for the early childhood sector to ensure the hiring of well qualified staff into the sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28046/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

International evidence indicates that raising the qualification levels of staff working with children is key to improving the quality of services. As part of the ongoing progression of the Early Years Quality Agenda, it was announced last year that by September 2015 all staff working directly with children in the 0-6 years age category in early years services would have to have a minimum Level 5 qualification on the National Qualifications Framework in early years care and education, or an equivalent qualification. This requirement applies to new services from September 2014.

In addition to the general requirement for a Level 5 qualification, preschool leaders delivering the free preschool provision to children in the age category 3 years 2 months to 4 years 7 months under the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme, who are currently required to hold a Level 5 qualification, will have to have a minimum Level 6 qualification, or equivalent, by September 2015.

In March this year the launch of a Learner Fund to assist existing staff working in the childcare sector to meet the new requirements was announced. The objective of the funding is to ensure that all existing staff are in a position to meet the minimum Level 5 qualification requirement to enable them to continue to work in the childcare sector and that staff seeking to fill the role of Pre-school Leader under the ECCE programme are assisted to obtain the required Level 6 qualification.

The Learner Fund, which is being administered by Pobal with the help of local City and County Childcare Committees, has a total allocation of €3 million for the years 2014 and 2015 and will be targeted to subsidise the cost for childcare staff who are required to undertake accredited Level 5 and Level 6 courses.

A panel of more than 50 training providers has been approved to deliver the training programmes and applications for support from staff in the childcare sector are currently being assessed and training will commence in September this year.

My Department does provide a higher rate of capitation to childcare services participating in the ECCE programme that employ preschool leaders who hold qualifications at Level 7 or higher. However, the priority for my Department is to ensure that all childcare staff are supported to obtain the minimum qualification required for employment in the childcare sector and the introduction of a graduate staffing fund for employees is not being considered.

Early Childhood Care Education

Ceisteanna (630)

Thomas Pringle

Ceist:

630. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will consider extending the free preschool year to 48 weeks to bring it in line with the primary school system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28047/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The 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 are availing of the provision in the current academic year.

The programme is designed to be delivered for three hours per day, five days per week, over 38 weeks (183 days per year), and is based on the primary school model, under which primary schools are required to open on 193 days per year (equivalent to 38.6 weeks).

Children in Care

Ceisteanna (631)

Thomas P. Broughan

Ceist:

631. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of referrals made to the crisis intervention service and the emergency place of safety service; the number of children placed in care as a result of referrals made to those services in 2013 and to date in 2014. [28049/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I have requested the information from the Child and Family Agency and I will revert to the Deputy when this information is to hand.

Psychological Assessments

Ceisteanna (632)

Thomas P. Broughan

Ceist:

632. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 123 of 13 May 2014 on the national assessment consultation and therapy service, the number of children receiving services from ACTS since its establishment in September 2012, with a breakdown based on the number of children receiving such services in Dublin, Cork and Limerick; and the current number of staff working in ACTS in each of its regional services. [28050/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I have requested the information from the Child and Family Agency and I will revert to the Deputy when this information is to hand.

Guardians Ad Litem

Ceisteanna (633)

Thomas P. Broughan

Ceist:

633. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 600 of 4 February 2014, the costs of guardians ad litem in 2013; the costs of guardians ad litem to date in 2014. [28051/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

In 2013 the final cost of guardian ad litem services (GALs), which were paid by the HSE, was as follows

GAL legal fees € 4,859,064

GAL Direct payments € 7,178,045

Full GAL costs €12,037,109

In 2014 the cost of GAL services paid to date by Tusla* (the Child and Family Agency) are as follows:-

GAL legal fees € 3,145,572

GAL Direct payments € 2,473,137

Full GAL costs YTD € 5,618,709

*Responsibility for GAL services transferred to Tusla on 1 January, 2014

Proposed Legislation

Ceisteanna (634)

Thomas P. Broughan

Ceist:

634. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 657 of 18 February 2014, if he will provide a progress update report on the work of his Department in conjunction with the Department of Justice and Equality in bringing forward legislative proposals to regulate the provision and delivery of services by guardians ad litem. [28052/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

As I stated previously in reply to earlier P.Q.s I am committed to reforming the established, largely ad hoc, basis of the existing arrangements in relation to guardians ad litem.

The position is that in care proceedings under the Child Care Act 1991, a guardian ad litem may be appointed by a Court. In accordance with the Act, guardians ad litem are appointed where the Court considers this necessary in the interests of the child and in the interests of justice.

My Department, in liaison with the Department of Justice and Equality, continues to actively examine all aspects of service provision in this area, with a view to the introduction of more regulated and sustainable provision which will address a range of issues including payment arrangements. Discussions in this regard are progressing and the examination is taking account of the potential key elements of a reformed service such as - criteria for the engagement of guardians ad litem, their role and responsibilities, their status, necessary qualifications and experience for appointment, and the basis for their remuneration.

The Child and Family Relationships Bill, which is being taken forward by the Minister for Justice and Equality, signals the proposed introduction of revised arrangements for guardians ad litem in respect of certain family law proceedings. This is an important context for the collaboration which is underway between both Departments.

It is anticipated that proposals for reform of the service will be brought forward in the coming months.

Missing Children

Ceisteanna (635)

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

635. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of unaccompanied minors claiming asylum who have been reported missing in each month since 1 January 2011; of these, the number who have been located by the Garda; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28184/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Child and Family Agency to respond directly to the Deputy with the most up-to-date information.

Missing Children

Ceisteanna (636)

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

636. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of times that the Health Service Executive and An Garda Síochána have reviewed their protocol on unaccompanied minors going missing since it was first put in place in April 2009; the date on which this operation was last reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28185/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Child and Family Agency to respond directly to the Deputy with the most up-to-date information.

Early Years Strategy Implementation

Ceisteanna (637)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Ceist:

637. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will provide an update on the implementation of the national early years access initiative and the area-based childhood ABC programme. [28292/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The National Early Years Access Initiative (NEYAI) is a collaborative partnership between The Atlantic Philanthropies, Mount Street Club Trust, the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, the Early Years Education Policy Unit (DES) and Pobal, who provide from a Governance, management and administration role to the initiative.

The NEYAI aims to improve quality and practice within early years services for children (0-6 years) and their families living in disadvantaged areas. It does this through interagency collaboration and by developing innovative community-based models to respond to local needs. NEYAI works across a number of thematic areas with a strong focus on Síolta - the National Quality Framework for Early Childhood Education (CECDC, 2006) and Aistear - the Early Childhood Curriculum Framework (NCCA, 2009). Both of these are seen as fundamental to the growth and development of quality in the provision of early years care and education. The rights of the child are the primary focus of NEYAI, as it aims to ensure that each child is given the opportunity to reach his or her full potential and that obstacles to the realisation of this goal can be addressed in policy and practice.

All projects are now moving into their final phase of implementation and are exploring legacy, sustainability and related dissemination activities to ensure policy engagement, in conjunction with the NEYAI Learning Community and at individual-project level.

The NEYAI Initiative is now coming to a close, but the Projects have different end dates – two concluded in April, four will conclude in July and five in August.

On the 23 of May last, the NEYAI National Conference presented the final NEYAI National Evaluation report. The findings from both the national evaluation report and each of the projects local evaluations will be taken into account, as part of the development of the National Early Years Quality Support Service. This new national initiative will be a dedicated service provided on a national basis. The objective of the National Early Years Quality Support Service is to enhance the quality of practice in early childhood care and education settings and developing their capacity to provide high quality early education and care experiences for children and their families, This will be achieved by effective coordination of state funded support services available to this sector, one of which will be a new specialist support service. A recruitment process for a National Manager for this service is currently underway.

Area-Based Childhood (ABC) Programme

The Area-Based Childhood (ABC) Programme is an innovative initiative announced in the Programme for Government which will run from 2013 – 2016. It reflects the Government’s commitment to adopt an area-based approach to help reduce child poverty by improving outcomes for children.

The ABC programme targets investment in evidence-informed interventions to improve the long-term outcomes for children and families living in areas of disadvantage. It aims to break “the cycle of child poverty within areas where it is most deeply entrenched and where children are most disadvantaged, through integrated and effective services and interventions” in the areas of child development, child well-being, parenting and educational disadvantage.

The ABC Programme is being jointly funded by my Department and Atlantic Philanthropies. The total amount of funding available in the period 2013-2016 will be €29.7m.

50 applications, from among the most disadvantaged areas of the State, were received from consortia wishing to participate in the ABC Programme. On 27 November last my Department announced that 13 areas had been approved for entry into the new ABC Programme these included the three existing projects which participated in the forerunner Prevention and Early Intervention programme (PEIP) in Tallaght, Ballymun and Darndale which had already been approved for entry into the new ABC Programme.

Pobal and the Centre for Effective Services are managing the programme on behalf of my Department and Atlantic Philanthropies. Four sites have recently been ‘fast tracked’ and are ready to proceed to contract stage. The remaining sites have been asked to submit further proposals. The overall aim is to have all of the new sites contracted by end 2014.

Adoption Legislation

Ceisteanna (638)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Ceist:

638. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will provide an update on the adoption (information and tracing) Bill; the date on which it will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28294/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

My Department is continuing work on the Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill and I hope to be in a position to seek Government approval to publish the Heads of the Bill as soon as possible. While I am anxious to improve the legal basis for access to adoption records, proposals to Government have to reflect the constraints on the Legislature in providing such access if they are not to fall foul of Constitutional challenge. The Office of the Attorney General has provided comprehensive legal advice to the Department that has assisted in identifying the Constitutional parameters within which the Heads of the Bill have to be drafted. The most difficult situations to address within the proposed legislation are those where the consent of other parties, such as natural mothers, does not exist for the release of information.

It is intended to proceed to finalise legislative proposals so that I may bring proposals to the Government as soon as possible. Subsequent consideration by the Oireachtas Health and Children Committee will allow the issues to be carefully examined and the views of different interested parties on these important and sensitive matters to be fully considered.

Domestic Violence Refuges

Ceisteanna (639)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Ceist:

639. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his plans to enhance and improve supports for Rape Crisis Network Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28295/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Responsibility for the funding of the Rape Crisis Centres and Refuges previously funded by the HSE became the responsibility of the new Child and Family Agency upon its establishment on 1 January, 2014. In 2013 the HSE spent over €17 million on the provision of domestic and sexual violence services.

This included the funding of 60 services throughout the country comprising:-

- €10m for 20 Crisis Refuges

- Over €4 million for 16 Rape Crisis Centres

- Almost €3.5 million for 24 Support Services.

Funding in 2014 for Domestic, Sexual and Gender based Violence Services has been retained at 2013 levels.

Rape Crisis Network Ireland had a two year service level agreement with the HSE which expired on 31st December, 2013, but was extended to 31st March, 2014 to allow for establishment of the Child and Family Agency, the appointment of a Programme Manager for Domestic, Sexual and Gender based Violence Services and to enable the Agency to tender for future support services to support frontline agencies. The Agency has advised that this contract has now been extended, with revised conditions to the end of 2014.

In addition to the network support that Rape Crisis Network Ireland provides to sexual violence support services, the Child and Family Agency is working with the Network on a work programme that will support developments across the sexual violence services sector.

The Child and Family Agency is currently undertaking a review of Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence service provision and will be developing a strategic plan later in 2014, to support the delivery of effective and accessible services over the coming years. In line with Government policy, the focus in identifying strategic priorities for Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence Services is on achieving demonstrable value for money and ensuring that funding for frontline services is maximised to meet the needs of the adults, children and families who use these services.

Requirements for provision of longer-term support for frontline services are being considered as part of the review. The National Programme Manager for Domestic, Sexual and Gender based Violence Services in the Agency will work with the Agency Head of Procurement to establish a tender process, due to begin in September, for longer-term provision of support to front-line agencies from 2015. All qualified providers, including the Rape Crisis Network Ireland, may tender for this new contract.

Inter-Country Adoptions

Ceisteanna (640)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Ceist:

640. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will provide an update on developments on inter-country adoptions with India. [28296/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Adoption Authority has accredited Helping Hands Adoption Mediation Agency to facilitate intercountry adoptions from India. The Authority has informed the Indian Central Authority, CARA, of the Authority's decision and sought a favourable and speedy decision on approval from the Indian authorities. Helping Hands Mediation Agency has lodged an application for accreditation with CARA in the Indian Embassy in Ireland and the Indian Embassy has confirmed that that application has been forwarded to CARA where it is receiving consideration.

I met with the Irish Indian Adoption Group recently and will continue to maintain contact with this Group with regard to progress on this matter.

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