Tuesday, 15 Jul 2014

Written Answers Nos. 811-37

Child Care Services Data

Ceisteanna (811)

Robert Troy

Ceist:

811. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will provide up-to-date figures on the take-up on the school-age child-care scheme. [30838/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

The After-School Child Care (ASCC) scheme was introduced in October 2013 under the Childcare Education and Training Support (CETS) programme specifically to provide after-school care for primary school children for certain categories of working parents for a once-off period of 52 weeks. The number of children who availed of this support in the period up until 30 June 2014 is 154.

My predecessor, Minister Charlie Flanagan and the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection, Joan Burton T.D. recently announced that the after-school child-care (ASCC) programme will undergo improvements to increase access to the programmes for low income families.

The eligibility criteria for the after-school child-care programme is expanding to provide places to recipients of the Jobseeker’s Allowance (JA), Jobseeker’s Benefit (JB) and One-Parent Family payments (OFP) who participate in a Department of Social Protection employment programme. To date the ASCC programme primarily provided support for those entering employment. This enhancement will provide eligible customers with the choice to avail of after-school child-care support while on an employment programme, when entering or increasing their employment or a combination of both. In addition OFP customers will now receive the same level of support under the programme as those in receipt of a Jobseeker’s payment i.e. they can avail of this support if they take-up part-time work or an employment programme, and still retain part of their OFP payment. Previously OFP recipients were only eligible if they left the payment to take-up employment. These changes will result in more customers meeting the eligibility criteria for the ASCC programme.

In addition a new option is being made available to provide subsidised after-school child-care places, with a pick-up service, at no additional cost to the customer. The additional cost of these places will be funded by the Department through an increased subsidy to the child-care provider. The provision of a pick-up service was identified by customers and providers as a valuable addition to the ASCC programme.

Departmental Expenditure

Ceisteanna (812)

Robert Troy

Ceist:

812. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his response to comments by the CEO of Tusla that his agency's budget is insufficient for 2014; if he anticipates the need to introduce a Supplementary Estimate to address this shortfall; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30839/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

The financial allocation for the Child and Family Agency in 2014, its first year of operation, was set at €609m, including €7m in capital funding. This included an additional revenue provision of €6.7m (€12.0m in a full year) to support the reform of Child Welfare and Protection Services by the Agency this year.

It is acknowledged that delivering the range of service required of the Agency, within this budget, is challenging. Notwithstanding the significant level of resource provided, certain areas of expenditure, such as legal costs, have in the past proven difficult to manage within the allocated budget. The Agency is implementing significant reform to seek to achieve greater value for money in such areas and the progress in this regard is subject to ongoing monitoring and review with my Department.

We will work closely with the Board and senior management of the Agency to ensure the provision within the significant resource provided, of high quality and responsive services to vulnerable children and families.

Departmental Agencies Funding

Ceisteanna (813)

Robert Troy

Ceist:

813. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if Tusla was obliged to carry any of the Health Service Executive's deficit when following its separation from same; if so, the amount; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30840/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

Tusla was established on a statutory basis with effect from 1 January 2014. The new Agency took over responsibility for children and family services previously provided by the Health Service Executive (HSE) and also assumed responsibility for the operations of both the National Education Welfare Board (NEWB) and Family Support Agency (FSA).

A due diligence process was undertaken to identify and establish the associated staff and financial resources to transfer from the HSE. The transfer of responsibility was accompanied by a transfer of staff and budgets previously under the remit of the HSE, NEWB and the FSA. The process did not include any obligation to carry any of the HSE's 2013 deficit. As a consequence of this the 2014 Revised Estimates for Public Services, published by the Government on 18 December 2013, contained significant resources for Tusla which amounted to €609 million. This included provision of €602 million in current expenditure and a capital allocation of €7 million. This includes new resources in areas such as the reform of child protection services where an additional €6.7 million (€12 million in a full year) was made available in Budget 2014.

Notwithstanding the very significant resources provided, certain areas of expenditure, such as legal costs, have in the past proven difficult to manage within the allocated budget. Tusla is implementing significant reforms to seek to achieve greater value for money in such areas and the progress in this regard is subject to ongoing monitoring and review with my Department.

Departmental Agencies Expenditure

Ceisteanna (814)

Robert Troy

Ceist:

814. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if Tusla has incurred any legal costs to date in 2014; the extent of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30841/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

The legal costs incurred by the Child and Family Agency to May 2014 are €14.2 million. These costs include payments for services delivered prior to the establishment of Tusla and also include payments to Guardians ad Litem and to their legal representatives.

The legal costs are in line with those incurred in 2013.

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Ceisteanna (815, 816)

Robert Troy

Ceist:

815. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when the helpline was set up to deal with mother and baby home queries; the way it was publicised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30848/14]

Robert Troy

Ceist:

816. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of calls the helpline he set up to deal with the mother and baby homes has received; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30849/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

I propose to take Questions Nos. 815 and 816 together.

There are a number of services available to those affected by the matters being considered in the context of Mother and Baby Homes. My Department has worked with the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the need for access to information and support.

The telephone Information line available for people seeking information or details of support available to those affected by these issues has been operational since the 18 June. Those seeking such information may telephone the HSE National Information Line; Low Call Telephone [phone] during Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The HSE National Counselling Service is also available to assist those affected. The service provides professional, confidential counselling and psychotherapy service free of charge in all regions of the Health Service Executive for adults who have experienced trauma and abuse in childhood with priority given to adult survivors of institutional abuse in Ireland. Callers to the HSE National Information line will be connected to a local service.

I am advised by the administrators of the Information line that it has received a total of 17 contacts in relation to Mother and Baby Homes since its announcement on the 18 June.

Those affected can also directly contact the CONNECT free telephone out of hours professional counselling and support service where they can talk in confidence with a trained counsellor. CONNECT is an out of hours service available from 6-10 p.m. It normally operates from Wednesday to Sunday but it is currently operating seven evenings per week as part of the response to those affected by the Mother and Baby Homes coverage. The CONNECT out of hours service is contactable at Freephone 1800 477 477 from the Republic of Ireland and 00800 477 477 77 from Northern Ireland and the UK. In the period from the 18 June to the 13 July, the CONNECT service has received a total of 631 calls of which 543 were answered. The service estimates that up to 30 per cent of calls made during this period were related to concerns over Mother and Baby Homes.

The Adoption Authority of Ireland have also experienced a significant increase in the number of calls to the Information and Tracing section and applications to the National Adoption Contact Preference Register have doubled.

For those seeking adoption information and tracing information, they may wish to visit the following sites for further information:

Tusla (the Child and Family Agency) - www.tusla.ie or

The Adoption Authority of Ireland - www.aai.gov.ie.

These Helpline contact details have been published on the Department of Children & Youth Affairs website (www.dcya.gov.ie). The arrangements have also been included in a number of statements made in the Houses by my predecessor and media updates issued through my Department’s press office and HSE communications offices. As the Deputy will be aware this issue and the arrangements outlined above, have received significant coverage nationally and internationally through broadcast and print media.

Preschool Services

Ceisteanna (817, 818)

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

817. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his plans to review the 2006 Child Care (Pre-School Services) Regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31016/14]

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

818. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he is satisfied with the current first aid requirements in place in relation to staff as provided for in the 2006 Child Care (Pre-School Services) Regulations; his plans to make it mandatory for all persons employed in the care of pre-school children to be trained in paediatric first aid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31017/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

I propose to take Questions Nos. 817 and 818 together.

As pointed out to the Deputy in reply to a previous Question on this matter on 10 April 2014, this Department is in the process of introducing a number of reforms with a view to improving the quality of early years services.

Legislation to strengthen the current inspection regime and underpin the Early Years Quality Agenda has been enacted. Regulations to give effect to the legislative changes are expected to be published shortly. At that point, a new registration system will require services to register with the Early Years Inspectorate in advance of opening, rather than simply notifying the Inspectorate of their existence. This will allow the Inspectorate to assess the quality of a service before it commences operation. Inspectors will also be able to impose conditions on services which, if not complied with, may result in de-registration. In the interim period, all new services receive a pre-registration visit.

New National Standards for preschool services will also be published shortly and will provide the basis against which services will be inspected and reported on. Services will be supported in working towards higher standards of quality based on clearer criteria for measuring compliance levels.

Following the implementation of the new regulatory regime, my Department will review all aspects of the Regulations, including the provision of first aid support in early years services.

Departmental Funding

Ceisteanna (819, 820)

Kevin Humphreys

Ceist:

819. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will confirm that the funding commitment of €1.2 million for the docklands and north east inner city consortium ABC programme is still available; the reason for the delay in progressing this vital programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31045/14]

Kevin Humphreys

Ceist:

820. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he is concerned that CES and Pobal appear to be continuously changing the criteria for the ABC programme, which is causing considerable uncertainty in the communities this initiative is intended to serve; if he will intervene to ensure these projects are expedited as quickly as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31046/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

I propose to take Questions Nos. 819 and 820 together.

As the Deputy is aware, the Area-Based Childhood (ABC) Programme funded by my Department with co-funding by the Atlantic Philanthropies, 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.

In relation to the issue outlined in your correspondence it might be helpful if I outline the history of the project and the process, all of the parties are engaged with at present.

When funding became available to develop the ABC programme a competitive and comprehensive application process was commenced where 50 applications for funding was received and following a comprehensive selection process ten new sites were chosen for development potential.

On 26 November 2013, my Department wrote to all ten pre-approved Consortia sites, (pre-approved in this context meaning that they were approved to proceed to design stage, it does not relate to pre-approved funding) including the Docklands and East Dublin ABC Consortium, inviting them to enter the design stage of the process.

It was, and has been clear to all applicants, since the inception of this process, that pre-approval did not confer a guarantee of funding and that the release of funding will be contingent on all sites engaging in and successfully progressing through the design stage to contract and operational stage.

At the request of the co-funders, the delivery of the ABC Programme is being managed jointly by CES and Pobal, each having distinct and complementary roles. Pobal's role involves supporting and overseeing fiscal management, grant administration, and governance, while CES focuses on supporting service design, implementation, and evaluation.

With specific reference to the Consortium in question, the pre-approval design stage involved further development of their Consortium’s proposal. Support and guidance was provided by the Centre for Effective Services (CES) and Pobal. On 26 February 2014 both Pobal and CES informed all ten consortia that an arrangement had been agreed with the funders for a "Fast-Track" approval mechanism for any Area in a position to progress immediately once they could provide a fully-developed proposal for immediate consideration (i.e. a sufficiently developed Logic Model, implementation plan and budget). On 4 April last, the National College of Ireland (NCI) on behalf of the Docklands and East Dublin ABC Consortium applied for the Fast-track stream.

The applications and documentation from Docklands and East Dublin ABC Consortium were reviewed by CES and Pobal at a meeting on 23 April. The recommendation of the CES and Pobal as managing Agencies of the ABC Programme was that the proposal from Docklands and East Dublin ABC Consortium was not ready to proceed to operational phase and that the proposal required additional clarification and refinement. This recommendation was submitted to the ABC Programme Working Group on Thursday 1 May, which decided that the application of Docklands and East Dublin ABC Consortium would not be fast-tracked, but rather considered in the next phase of applications to allow sufficient time to prepare a thorough and clearly costed plan.

This decision was communicated to the Consortia with follow-up from CES and Pobal.

The ABC Consortium has met with CES and Pobal who have outlined a clear course of action to progress this project. This on-going work includes the preparation and submission of a fully developed proposal (i.e. a sufficiently developed Logic Model, implementation plan and clearly identified and aligned budget).

I understand that work is ongoing with the Consortia and in this regard, I want to confirm that the budget remains available to this Consortium subject to the Consortium meeting the relevant requirements including the development of relevant programmes which all of the other successful Consortia are required to meet.

You will appreciate that where programmes for children and young are being provided and where State funding is concerned, robust plans including budgetary plans and systems must be in place in order to ensure the effective delivery of programmes for those for whom funding is being provided.

I look forward to the completion of this work in the near future and the successful progression of the six remaining projects, including Dublin Docklands Consortia, into the operational phase of the Area Based Childhood (ABC) Programme.

School Completion Programme

Ceisteanna (821)

Eamonn Maloney

Ceist:

821. Deputy Eamonn Maloney asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will provide in tabular form the total funding for the school completion programme, for each of the years 2011, 2012 and 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31053/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

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. Accordingly the funding available to the programme for the years in question is as follows:

Year	Annual Budget
2011	€30.256m
2012	€28.256m
2013	€26.456m

Since its establishment on 1 January 2014, the Child and Family Agency has operational responsibility for the School Completion Programme, including the allocation of funds to projects within the programme. The process involves local projects developing annual school retention plans with detailed service proposals for the forthcoming academic year and the determination of the allocations to be provided on that basis and having regard to the CRE savings requirements.

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

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Ceisteanna (822)

Dominic Hannigan

Ceist:

822. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he is considering the inclusion of Protestant run mother and baby homes in the proposed commission of investigation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31113/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

The Government has undertaken to establish a Commission of Investigation into the concerns that have arisen in relation to Mother and Baby Homes. The decision to establish a Commission of Investigation into these matters received the unanimous endorsement of this House and I intend to report back to the House before summer recess on the progress being made to establish the Commission. The Government has also publicly confirmed that the intended scope of this investigation will go beyond the home operated by the Sisters of Bon Secours in Tuam, Co. Galway and these announcements have been widely welcomed.

The process of developing detailed terms of reference for the Commission is being supported by the work of a high level Cross Departmental Review Committee. The Committee was asked to complete its considerations by 30 June so as to inform Government's deliberations. My predecessor, Minister Flanagan, received the interim report of the Committee in line with the due date and I am now consulting with Government colleagues on the decisions to be made on foot of this report and the earlier endorsement of the House of the proposal to establish a Commission of Investigation.

The appropriate model, including the debated matters to be investigated and the proposed approach to these matters, is being considered as part of the consideration of the Commission's terms of reference. Public calls to include a range of institutions, and concerns related to particular practices, are also being considered as part of this work.

A key task of the initial scoping exercise is to ensure that a realistic approach is taken to investigating these matters. Our approach should have regard to the facts established through recent inquiries into related institutions, and the general experience gained in conducting similar investigations into matters of public importance. Establishing an appropriate inquiry which is capable of effectively addressing these important matters in a sensitive and timely manner is the primary concern for Government.

Departmental Reports

Ceisteanna (823)

Seán Fleming

Ceist:

823. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when his Department will publish its annual report for 2013. [31122/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

It is my intention to publish the 2013 Annual Report of my Department in Autumn of this year.

Crèche Facilities

Ceisteanna (824, 835)

Michael P. Kitt

Ceist:

824. Deputy Michael P. Kitt asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the reason there is a shortfall in funding for the crèche facility in an area of disadvantage (details supplied) in Dublin 17; his plans to bring a resolution to the shortfall in funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31400/14]

Finian McGrath

Ceist:

835. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will reconsider the proposals made by an organisation (details supplied) in respect of funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31672/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

I propose to take Questions Nos. 824 and 835 together.

I refer the House to the reply of my immediate predecessor, Minister Flanagan, to Deputy McGrath on 9 July 2014 in this matter. It is a matter of record that the Centre at Darndale has been experiencing cash flow difficulties. The Centre incurred expenditure of €2.022m in 2013 and received funding amounting to €1.96m, resulting in a deficit of €62,000. Projections by the Centre show that income of approximately €1.8m is anticipated during 2014. With such a level of financial support available, it should be possible to work constructively to continue services and avoid the closure scenario that has been outlined by the Centre.

As Minister Flanagan indicated last week, senior representatives from the Child and Family Agency, Pobal, Dublin City Childcare Committee and representatives from the board and management of the Centre have met on a number of occasions to explore options available to ensure that the service can operate on a sustainable basis into the future within the allocated funding. A number of options were considered and to assist in this process, Dublin City Childcare Committee engaged the services of an external mentor to undertake an independent detailed analysis of the matter. In parallel, a wider examination will be undertaken of the level and range of early years services supported by the State in the Darndale/Belcamp/Moatview area generally.

The Child and Family Agency, as one of a number of State funders of the Centre, kindly agreed to make additional pre-payments to the end of August while the review was being conducted. I want to acknowledge the support of the Agency in this regard. The payments were in addition to previous pre-payments advanced by the Agency for May and June. The Agency stressed that this is as much as they are prepared to commit to while the process outlined above is continuing.

I understand that the external mentor has now completed a detailed analysis and review of the services provided. Officials from my Department are meeting today with representatives from the Child and Family Agency, Pobal and the Dublin City Childcare Committee, at which the Department will receive a briefing on the content of the report and the options available arising from the review process. I will be briefed by my officials arising from today's meeting and will consider the findings of the report.

I understand that the Board of the Centre is due to meet again on 17 July. The Centre last week reiterated its previously expressed view that it will be forced to close thereafter in the absence of additional funding. This is to be regretted, given that the final report was only made available yesterday, 14 July, 2014. Furthermore, I understand that the draft report prepared by the external mentor, and seen by the Centre, identified a number of actions that can be taken to create a sustainable model of service delivery within the resources currently available to the Centre.

In all of the circumstances I would hope that the constructive dialogue which has taken place over recent weeks between the parties will continue until all options have been jointly and fully discussed. I very much hope that a satisfactory outcome can be arrived at which will ensure the continued operation of the Centre within the significant funding levels available.

Youth Services Funding

Ceisteanna (825)

Terence Flanagan

Ceist:

825. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will provide a list of all the youth groups funded by his Department that are based in the Dublin North-East and Dublin North-Central constituencies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31441/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

My 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 supports for disadvantaged, marginalised and at risk young people are provided through the Special Projects for Youth Scheme, the Young Peoples Facilities and Services Fund, Rounds 1 and 2, Local Drugs Task Force Projects and certain other programmes including the Local Youth Club Grant Scheme and Youth Information Centres. The funding for these schemes is administered by my Department through funding administration bodies. In the main, these are the Education and Training Boards (ETBs) but they also include other bodies such as the HSE and some Local Authorities.

Details of the youth work groups and youth projects funded by my Department are not readily available in the format required by the Deputy. However, details of the youth projects administered by City of Dublin Youth Service Board and Dublin City Council are as follows for the Deputy's information.

Name of Project	-
Ballyfermot - Sports Development Officer	-
Ballymun East Youth Centre (Operational Costs)	-
Ballymun - Sports Development Officers (2)	-
Canal Communities - Sports Development Officer	-
Bluebell Youth Centre	-
Dublin North East - Donnycarney Community and Youth Centre	-
Dublin North East - Sports Development Officer	-
Dublin North Inner City - Sports Development Officer	-
Ballybough Youth & Community Centre	-
Dublin South Inner City - St. Catherine's Community Sports Centre	-
Dublin South Inner City - St Teresa's Hall, Donore Avenue	-
Dublin South Inner City - Sports Development and Senior Sports Development Officer	-
Dublin 12 - Sports Development Officer	-
Finglas/Cabra - John Paul II Park - Cabra Parkside	-
Finglas/Cabra - Sports Development Officers (2)	-
Finglas/Cabra - Homeless Street League	-
Finglas/Cabra - Boxing Start Box Programme 2013	-
Focus Ireland	-
Ballymun Women's Resource Centre (Coming Home Project)	-
Ballymun Regional Youth Resource (BRYR)	-
Ballymun Columban Youth Project	-
Rialto Youth Project	-
Inchicore (St. Michael's Parish) Project	-
Crumlin/Dublin 12 Youth Service - The Bru	-
Ballyfermot Youth Federation Project	-
Sphere 17 - Darndale/Bonnybrook/Priorswood Youth Projects	-
Donnycarney (Consolata) Youth Project	-
Lourdes Youth Project	-
The Cavan Centre (Kilnacrott)	-
Candle Community Trust Project (Ballyfermot)	-
Adventure Sports Project	-
Stoneybatter Youth Service Project	-
Donore Avenue Youth Project	-
Finglas Youth Development Programme	-
Trinity Youth Project	-
Cherry Orchard Integrated Youth Service	-
STEP Project	-
St Andrew's Resource Centre	-
Travellers Youth Service incl. Exchange House, Labre Park & St Margaret's Ballymun	-
Pavee Point	-
Transition Support Project/Separated Children's Project	-
Belvedere Youth Project	-
Dublin North East - Kilbarrack Youth Project	-
Dublin North East - Kilmore West Youth Group	-
Dublin North East - St Monica's Youth Project	-
Dublin North East - Priorswood Youth Service/Sphere 17	-
Dublin North East - Trinity Youth Service	-
Dublin North East - Donnycarney Community and Youth Centre	-
Dublin North East - Darndale/Belcamp Youth Centre - Sphere 17	-
Finglas/Cabra - Cabra Youth Service	-
Finglas/Cabra - Cabra for Youth	-
Finglas/Cabra - Finglas Youth Centre	-
Ballyfermot - Cherry Orchard Integrated Youth Service	-
Ballyfermot - Ballyfermot Youth Service incl Mary Queen of Angels after school project	-
Ballyfermot - St. Ultan's After Schools Project, Cherry Orchard (St. Ultan's)	-
Ballyfermot - TRIBLI-TYS (Exchange Hse., Labre Park, St. Margaret's)	-
Ballyfermot - The BASE Centre	-
Ballyfermot - Ballyfermot Amenity Centre	-
Ballymun - Womens/Family Resource Centre	-
Ballymun - Ballymun Regional Youth Service (BRYR)	-
Ballymun - Columban Youth Project (Poppintree) incl Animal Carers Assoc.	-
Ballymun - BRYR	-
Ballymun - Poppintree Youth Project	-
Dublin 12 - St John Bosco Youth Centre incl New Options New Choices	-
Dublin 12 - The Brú (Youth Centre)	-
Dublin 12 - Lower Crumlin Youth Centre - CLAY	-
South Inner City - South West Inner City Network	-
South Inner City - Donore Education Network	-
South Inner City - DAYS - Donore Avenue Youth Service	-
South Inner City - St Andrew's "Talk About Youth"	-
South Inner City - Whitefriar Area Youth Service/SAYS	-
South Inner City - DAYS - St. Teresa's Hall	-
South Inner City - James' St Youth Service/Fountain Resource Group	-
South Inner City - SAYS incl Charlemont St & Whitefriar St Youth Projects	-
North Inner City - Ballybough Youth Project	-
North Inner City - Eastwall/Northport Youth Development Group	-
North Inner City - Regional Youth Service (Bradóg)	-
North Inner City - St Agatha's Youth Project/SWAN incl Nth Wall YDC	-
North Inner City - St Agatha's Youth Project (SWAN)	-
North Inner City - Stoneybatter Youth Service	-
North Inner City - Stoneybatter Youth Service incl O'Devaney Gardens	-
North Inner City - The Cavan Centre	-
North Inner City - Adventure Sports Project - School on Stilts	-
North Inner City - Ballybough Youth and Community Centre	-
Canal Communities - Rialto Youth Project	-
Canal Communities - Rialto Youth Project incl Dolphin Hse Homework club + Rialto Sport	-
Canal Communities - Bluebell Youth Project	-
Canal Communities - Regional Youth Service/Ringsend/Irishtown	-
Canal Communities - St. Michael's Parish Youth Project	-
Canal Communities - St. Michael's Estate Youth Resource Centre	-
Canal Communities - Canal Communities Regional Youth Service/Bluebell Youth Centre	-
Finglas Youth Encounter Project	-
Ballyfermot Youth Service - LDTF	-
BRYR (Ballymun Regional Youth Resource)	-
St Michaels Youth Project	-
Bonnybrook Youth Project (Sphere 17)	-
Catholic Youth Care (Awareness Finglas Cabra)	-
Finglas Youth Resource Centre	-
Ballybough Youth Project	-
Charlemount Community Assocation (SAYS)	-
Cork Street & Maryland Community Project (DAYS - Donore Avenue Youth Service)	-
St. Andrew's Youth Resource Centre	-
SWICN - South West Inner City Network	-

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Youth Cafés Provision

Ceisteanna (826)

Patrick O'Donovan

Ceist:

826. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the progress being made by his Department on the roll-out of youth cafés; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31456/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

In recent years capital funding has been made available to my Department to support the provision of new youth cafés. In 2013 a capital allocation of €1.55m for new youth cafés was made available by my Department. Pobal assisted my Department with the 2013 scheme. In all 95 applications were received and some 30 proposals were approved for funding. These projects are currently working with Pobal to develop their projects to the next stage.

In 2012 €.5m was allocated to the youth café scheme and some 8 proposals were approved for funding. Pobal also assisted my Department with the 2012 scheme.

Youth cafés offer young people a safe, alcohol and drug free space for recreation, non-formal learning and youth focused activities. It is estimated that between 70 and 100 youth cafes and facilities are currently operating across the country.

Youth Cafes make an important contribution to the development of services to meet the needs of young people in their local communities. The development of youth café facilities is a priority for my Department should further capital funding become available in future years.

Ministerial Dialogue

Ceisteanna (827)

Patrick O'Donovan

Ceist:

827. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the engagement he has had with the Philomena project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31463/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

I am conscious of the efforts made by Philomena Lee to highlight issues in relation to adoption information and tracing and illegal registrations. I understand that an invitation to meet was issued by my predecessor Minister Fitzgerald. I would welcome the opportunity to meet Philomena Lee in the course of my work as Minister for Children and Youth Affairs.

Homeless Persons Data

Ceisteanna (828)

Catherine Murphy

Ceist:

828. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of children and young people referred to after-care services who are now accessing homeless services broken down in tabular form by each local authority; the same figures for this time last year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31476/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

I have requested information from the Child and Family Agency and I will forward the reply to the Deputy once I have been furnished with this information.

Suicide Prevention

Ceisteanna (829)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl

Ceist:

829. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the progress has been achieved by Tusla in implementing the recommendation made by persons (details supplied) in County Kildare in the case of a person who died by suicide on 5 December 2006; if the holistic review of the case, which was recommended, has taken place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31496/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

I have requested information from the Child and Family Agency and I will forward the reply to the Deputy once I have been furnished with this information.

Departmental Contracts

Ceisteanna (830)

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

830. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the total cost of public relations-communications to his Department in 2013; the spend to date in 2014; the total estimate for 2014; the corresponding figures for each agency funded from his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31524/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

My Department and agencies under the remit of my Department engage with the public through a wide variety of means including electronic media, the national press and day to day engagement with those coming in contact with the Department and its agencies. Many of these engagements are not amenable to financial quantification.

The Department of Children and Youth Affairs website is the primary resource in providing information for use by the public and an essential communications tool for the department. It costs €1,948.32 per quarter to maintain. The Department also funded the design and build of the Comhairle na nÓg website with expenditure of €17,589 in 2013.

My Department engaged MKC Communications to assist with information and communications initiatives for the Department. The cost in 2013 for these services was €7,244.70. In general such services are engaged only as needs arise and where it is felt their professional expertise can be of assistance to my Department. No other external public relations companies were engaged within the given timeframe.

My Department and its agencies may, from time to time, provide public information through other media, where a requirement for alternative platforms of information is required. The Department occasionally uses free tools, Twitter and YouTube, to communicate with the public. While not specifically public relations, the Department will use electronic and print media to publicise access to grants and other schemes available through this Department and/or bodies under its aegis.

My Department contributed €10,000 in 2014 to support the Irish Times supplement published on 25 April, 2014 that was created by the Ombudsman for Children to mark 10 years of the operation of that Office and sought to increase public awareness on issues around children’s rights.

I am requesting the agencies under the remit of my Department, namely, the Child and Family Agency, the Adoption Authority of Ireland and Ombudsman for Children's Office to provide the relevant information to the Deputy as soon as it is compiled.

Missing Persons Hotline

Ceisteanna (831, 834, 836, 837)

Joan Collins

Ceist:

831. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs in view of the uncertainty of funding for the new family and child service, if he will confirm that long-term funding for the 116000 service will not be affected and will remain in place. [31552/14]

Joan Collins

Ceist:

834. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his views that the advertising of the 116000 number clearly states that the public should contact this if they have information in relation to a missing child. [31603/14]

Joan Collins

Ceist:

836. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of calls received to date to the 116000 missing child service (details supplied). [31675/14]

Joan Collins

Ceist:

837. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will provide a breakdown of all areas where the 116000 number is being advertised; if it is being advertised in prominent places; if the number is advertised in airports, bus stations, the Luas, train stations and Dublin Bus; and if there has been a follow-up to advertise on RTE news once a month and RTE radio news once a month. [31676/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

I propose to take Questions Nos. 831, 834, 836 and 837 together.

Funding for the operation of the Missing Children Hotline is being provided by my Department and the EU, through its Daphne funding stream, and not by Tusla, (the Child and Family Agency). As is the case with other services, funding requirements for the operation of this service going forward will be considered in the context of the Estimates process.

Members of the public may call the 116 000 Hotline if they see a missing child or if they have information to pass on regarding a missing child. Information in this regard is published on the ISPCC web page entitled 'Missing Childrens Hotline.' It is important to appreciate that the Hotline is a support service rather than an emergency service. Where callers require assistance outside the scope of the services provided by the Hotline, they are referred to An Garda Síochána or whichever branch of the emergency services is appropriate. Staff of the Missing Children Hotline will also pass on information to the emergency services when it is appropriate to do so.

The 116 000 Hotline was set up to provide advice and emotional support to parents/guardians whose child is missing. This advice and support may also be accessed by the extended family of a child who is missing or, indeed, by the child themselves. A key component of the service is an awareness programme.

During the initial set up phase of the service, the ISPCC focused on community based promotion of the service. This included presentations to local community groups. Subsequently, posters, flyers and business cards have been distributed to all Garda stations from Garda Headquarters, and promotional material has been distributed to a variety of community based projects in various locations throughout the country. Further, the ISPCC makes extensive use of social media such as Facebook and Twitter to advertise this service on an ongoing basis. The 116 000 Missing Children Hotline website (www.missingchildrenhotline.ie) also serves to promote the service. Website hits in the first quarter of 2014 were 16,468, an increase of 182% over the total number of hits for the entirety of 2013 - i.e. 6,059.

Service promotion for the Hotline has continued in 2014. Traditional advertising such as poster distribution, outreaches and networking is continuing. Social media is also being utilized. The ISPCC has secured advertising space in bus and train stations nationally.

Posters have been distributed in Louth, Meath, Dublin, Cork, Waterford, Limerick, Cork and Galway. These posters were placed in schools, community centres, health centres, libraries and local shops.

From its inception in 2013 to the end of the first quarter of 2014 a total of 591 calls were made to the Hotline.

The core aim of the service is to connect with potential service users. In order to achieve this the ISPCC will continue to promote the service locally and nationally. International Missing Children’s Day took place on 25 May 2014 and the ISPCC held a national social media campaign to highlight the issue of missing children.

Preschool Services

Ceisteanna (832)

Robert Troy

Ceist:

832. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will include a child (details supplied) in the ECCE programme. [31591/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme is a free and universal programme which provides a free preschool year to all eligible children.

Children are eligible to avail of the free preschool year where they are aged more than 3 years 2 months and less than 4 years 7 months at 1 September in the relevant year. Children born between 2 February 2010 and 30 June 2011 will qualify for the free preschool year in September 2014 and children born between 2 February 2011 and 30 June 2012 will qualify for the programme in September 2015.

The child in question was born in August 2011 and is below the age range for eligibility for the programme in the school year 2014/15. The child is not being denied access to the programme and will qualify for the free preschool provision in the school year 2015/16. There is no provision under the programme to enrol children who are below the qualifying age.

The objective of the ECCE programme is to make early learning in a formal setting available to eligible children in the year before they commence primary school. To achieve this, services participating in the preschool year are expected to provide age-appropriate activities and programmes to children within a particular age cohort. For this reason, it is appropriate to set minimum and maximum limits to the age range within which children will qualify.

Departmental Agencies Reports

Ceisteanna (833)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

Ceist:

833. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he has received the Health Service Executive review of preschool inspection reports which commenced following a broadcast (details supplied) in an effort to identify patterns of non-compliance among service providers; if he has received the report; his views on same; when it will be available for publication; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31602/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

The new Child and Family Agency, which now has responsibility for the Early Years Inspectorate, has forwarded two reports to my Department based on an analysis of preschool inspections carried out by the Inspectorate over a period of 17 months. The first report examines the process of preschool inspections and the second report considers the quality of all aspects of preschool provision. These Reports will be considered by my Department and it is expected that the Child and Family Agency will be in a position to the publish the Reports in autumn this year.

The Reports, which will identify for providers areas of concern as well as examples of good practice, will be the basis for further discussion and debate and are an important element of the inspection reform programme which is currently underway as part of the comprehensive Early Years Quality Agenda that sets out to assure higher standards in preschool services.

Legislation to strengthen the current inspection regime and underpin the Early Years Quality Agenda has been enacted. Regulations to give effect to the legislative changes are expected to be published shortly. New National Standards for preschool services will also be published shortly and will provide the basis against which services will be inspected and reported on. Services will be supported in working towards higher standards of quality based on clearer criteria for measuring compliance levels.

Question No. 834 answered with Question No. 831.

Question No. 835 answered with Question No. 824.

Questions Nos. 836 and 837 answered with Question No. 831.