Written Answers Nos. 143-150
143. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will provide in tabular form a breakdown, on a monthly basis, of the number of children placed in private child care residential centres in 2013 and to date in 2014. [39624/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra144. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will provide, in tabular form, on a monthly basis, the number of children placed in child care residential centres operated directly by the Child and Family Agency in 2013 and to date in 2014. [39625/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 143 and 144 together.
I have requested the information from the Child and Family Agency and I will revert to the Deputy when this information is to hand.
145. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 627 of 1 July 2014, the number of children in custody in children detention schools; the percentage of those children with assigned social workers; and the percentage of those children who have been subject of a recent care order. [39626/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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 advised that, in the period 1 July 2014 to 30 September 2014 inclusive, a total of 80 children have been sent to the children detention schools, either being remanded in custody or serving a sentence of detention.
It is known that of this group of 80 children, a total of 34 of them had an assigned social worker, representing 43% of the total.
Of the group of 34 children with an assigned social worker, 12 have been the subject of a recent care order under the Child Care Acts, representing 35% of the total of this group.
Overall, 13 of the total of 80 children sent to the children detention schools in this period have been the subject of a recent care order under the Child Care Acts, representing 16% of the overall total.
146. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his plans to have future rounds of grant funding for youth cafés; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39671/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn some 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. In 2012 €.5m was allocated to the scheme.
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 2014, some €.5m in capital funding has been made available to my Department for small capital projects in the youth services. Details of the scheme will be made available in the coming months. There is no capital funding available to my Department for youth cafés in 2014. Youth cafés offer young people a safe, alcohol and drug free space for recreation, non-formal learning and youth focused activities. As such, they can 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.
147. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the rates for foster payments that will apply in 2015. [39679/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraDecisions in relation to foster care rates for 2015 are under consideration and have not been taken as yet.
148. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when a decision will be made on an application (details supplied) for a National Lottery grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39687/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has a funding provision this year of some €900,000 in respect of National Lottery Funding. In excess of 800 applications for grant support have been received from individuals, groups and organisations. The current value of these applications amounts to approximately €8 million which far exceeds the available resources. The organisation to which the Deputy refers is one of these applications.
I am sure the Deputy will appreciate that, in the circumstances, it will not be possible to assist all applications. However, the assessment process is ongoing and all applicants will be informed of the outcome as soon as final decisions have been made.
149. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 797 of 17 June 2014, when a decision will be made on the roll out of the €5 million funding under phase 4 of the infrastructure stimulus package; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39692/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs pointed out to the Deputy in response to his previous question on this matter, additional capital funding of €5 million was made available to my Department in the current year under the Phase 4 Infrastructure Stimulus introduced by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. However, this funding will not be allocated in the current year as it would not be possible for it to be spent and reported before the end of the year.
A Capital Planning Group has been established by Pobal to discuss a strategic approach to future capital grants in the Early Years sector. The group comprises representatives from my Department, Pobal, the local Childcare Committees and the National Voluntary Organisations.
150. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the current status of the budget for services for older persons in County Louth; if he will confirm whether nursing care beds for older persons are currently being rented from the National Health Service in Northern Ireland; in the event that such beds are being rented, if he will provide a costing for same and rationale for the reduction in long-term care beds at St. Joseph's Hospital, Ardee, County Louth and Louth County Hospital, Dundalk, County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39511/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
