Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 April 2016
239. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to set out the number of young persons who have either left care or are expected to leave care in the near future and who are currently awaiting the allocation of an aftercare worker; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8317/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra240. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to set out the number of young persons allocated an aftercare worker in line with their needs following exit from care over the past three years to date; the number of young persons who have exited care not allocated an aftercare worker in the same period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8318/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 239 and 240 together.
Aftercare is the term used to describe the planning and support put in place to meet the needs of a young person who is leaving statutory care at 18 years of age, to assist him/her in making the transition to independent living. An aftercare programme is based on assessed need, and an aftercare worker will arrange for various supports, including support for accommodation, and accessing training and education as required. Aftercare workers are provided both by the Child and Family Agency, Tusla, as well as through commissioned services from community, voluntary and private organisations. It should be noted that young adults leaving care at 18 years are not obliged to avail of an aftercare service, and those that choose not to engage are encouraged and supported to avail of the services at any stage up to the age of 21 years. Young people eligible for an aftercare service are those aged 16 years or over, who have spent at least 12 months in the care of the State between the ages of 13 and (up to) 18 years old.
Tusla reports that at the end of March, 2015, the vast majority of 18-22 years olds in receipt of an aftercare service were residing in some form of stable accommodation. In fact, 45% of those care leavers remained living with their foster carers, 23% were living independently, 11% returned home, 4% were living in supported lodgings and 5.5% were living in residential centres. Only a small minority (11.5%) were living in other types of less stable accommodation.
Each care leaver, as part of their aftercare plan has an individual financial support plan. This forms part of an assessment of need which takes account of sources of financial support from all Government Departments and statutory agencies. Tusla has introduced a Standardised National Aftercare Allowance for all care leavers engaged in training and education. This allowance is inclusive of educational grants, training allowances, and other state payments bringing the total received by the young person to €300 per week. The introduction of this allowance means that young people who remain living with their previous foster carers and young people who live independently, who are engaged in training, education or employment now receive the same financial support from Tusla. Many young people in independent living have benefitted from an increase in their allowance as a result of this measure.
Advice, guidance, support and signposting are key elements of the supports available to care leavers. For those young people who are not in training or education, aftercare services have a key role in providing support to them in liaising with the relevant departments and agencies in accessing financial assistance, employment opportunities, training or supporting them to return to education. Those who are unemployed, and not engaged in training or education, can apply for jobseeker's allowance from the Department of Social Protection. The jobseeker's allowance payable to care leavers is the full rate and not the reduced rate normally payable to those under 25.
At the end of December 2015 there were approximately 1,763 young people aged 18 to 22 years in receipt of an aftercare service, with 58% in full-time education or training.
The numbers of 16 and 17 year old young people in care with an aftercare worker and the numbers of young people discharged from care at 18 years with an aftercare worker are new metrics which were not collected nationally prior to 2015. The following Table 1 demonstrates the total number of young people discharged from care in 2015 by reason of reaching 18 years, and shows those eligible for an aftercare service and the numbers with and without an allocated aftercare worker.
Table 1: No. of Children discharged from care with/without aftercare worker
|
AfterCare Data Jan to Dec 2015 |
The number of Children in Care discharged at 18 |
No. eligible for an Aftercare service |
No. with allocated aftercare worker |
No. w/o allocated aftercare worker |
|
Dublin Mid Leinster |
168 |
152 |
121 |
31 |
|
Dublin North East |
122 |
120 |
101 |
19 |
|
South |
160 |
159 |
134 |
25 |
|
West |
92 |
89 |
85 |
4 |
|
Total |
542 |
520 |
441 |
79 |
The following Table 2 shows the total number of young people in care on the 31st December 2015 aged 16 and 17 years who have an allocated aftercare worker.
Table 2: No. of 16 &17 year olds in care with an aftercare worker on 31/12/2015
|
Aftercare 31 Dec 2015 |
No. of 16 and 17 year olds in care |
No. with allocated aftercare worker |
% with allocated aftercare worker |
|
Dublin Mid Leinster |
259 |
100 |
39% |
|
Dublin North East |
248 |
71 |
29% |
|
South |
329 |
81 |
25% |
|
West |
212 |
93 |
44% |
|
Total |
1,048 |
345 |
33% |
