Written Answers Nos. 660-684
660. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the extent to which Tusla membership was encouraged by her Department and promoted prior to the announcements made in the budget; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30706/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy officials contacted Deputy Burton's office and this Parliamentary Question is to be re-submitted.
661. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the way in which families not registered with Tusla will receive benefits under its auspices; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30707/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy officials contacted Deputy Burton's office and this Parliamentary Question is to be re-submitted.
662. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans to provide new funding to a project (details supplied) following the success of the previous programme, which provided educational support, meals and activities for local children; if she will give details; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30738/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI greatly value the work carried out by the service you describe and by other services assisting vulnerable young people to ensure that they complete their education. At present there are no schemes available in my Department through which funding could be provided to this service; however I have made enquiries on their behalf and I understand that this service has been successful in securing funding elsewhere.
663. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of voluntary child minders registered with Tusla per county; and the number of notified child minders registered per county, in tabular form. [30798/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Child and Family Agency/Tusla to consider the Deputy’s request and to respond directly to the Deputy with the information she requests in no later than 10 working days. I have asked my officials to follow up on this and to ensure delivery of the information to the Deputy as a matter of urgency.
The referred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
664. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the steps her Department has taken to address an issue (details supplied) and alleviate this crisis. [30799/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI agree with the Deputy that no young person leaving State care should have to access homeless services in order to be provided with accommodation.
As part of the structures to address this and other issues, aftercare is 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. Every year, between 450 and 500 young people leave the care of the State. Tusla has advised that, as at the end of June 2016, almost half of young adults receiving an aftercare service remained living with their former foster families. Young people who do not have family support from a foster carer or family base are assisted in finding accommodation in supported lodgings, sheltered housing or independent accommodation and encouraged and supported financially in furthering their training and education.
The young people most vulnerable to homelessness as care leavers are those leaving residential or short-term foster care placements. Children, who come into care late, in their mid to late teens, may not have developed the relationships with staff or aftercare workers that help them achieve good outcomes. It is essential that these young people have an opportunity to develop a relationship with a dedicated aftercare worker who will work with them to identify their needs and ensure that services are in place to help provide them with the stability and support they need.
In addition to the aftercare planning and supports provided by Tusla, Rebuilding Ireland – the Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness commits to ensuring that young people leaving State care and at risk of homelessness are identified and catered for through appropriate housing and other supports. Tusla are currently examining how they might avail of Capital Assistance Scheme funding to provide accommodation for particularly vulnerable young people leaving State care. I understand that Tusla will shortly be engaging with Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) with a view to identifying suitable accommodation for care leavers for progression under the Scheme.
665. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she has had any discussion with the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government regarding circumstances where a homeless single parent presents or declares as homeless with homeless services; the policy her Department has on the matter; her views on whether such a family should be accommodated together in emergency accommodation and that a single-parent family should not be separated in any circumstance when being provided with emergency accommodation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30820/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra666. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the policy of her Department regarding situations where families, particularly single-parent families, having become homeless find themselves separated due only to lack of alternative accommodation; her views on whether Tusla should not take an adverse view of such arrangements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30825/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 665 and 666 together.
My Department, as part of the whole-Government approach to homelessness has had significant engagement with the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government in the drafting of Rebuilding Ireland – an Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness, launched in July of this year. This plan provides for a number of new supports to families including additional dedicated Child Support workers as well as a new scheme to provide access to crèches and preschool services. My Department continues to establish how best, with Tusla, it can support families who are in emergency accommodation.
Policy responsibility for homeless young people, insofar as it extends to my Department, relates to any child welfare and protection concerns that may arise in the context of the Child Care Act 1991. Children who are homeless as part of a family group remain in the care of their parent/s. Family homelessness, including the homelessness of lone parent families, is managed by the Dublin Region Homeless Executive (DRHE) and the local authorities.
In accordance with section 37(2) of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of homeless services, including accommodation, rests with individual housing authorities. The provision of emergency accommodation is an operational issue in the day-to-day delivery of such services and is therefore a matter for individual housing authorities. I have no role in this regard.
Tusla and the Dublin Region Homeless Executive are operating a joint protocol which includes guidance on working with families where child protection concerns arise within emergency homeless accommodation. This mechanism provides for an established line of communication to be availed of should any child welfare and protection concerns arise in the course of emergency accommodation placements. Tusla may then examine and act in accordance with its statutory obligations. Similar protocol arrangements are to be considered for other regions of the country, taking particular local challenges into account. Tusla is very much aware of general welfare issues for families and has engaged in multi-agency working on this issue. The Agency provides family support and works with relevant services to maximise the supports available to children and families who are homeless. Tusla also employs a Homelessness Liaison Officer to lead on its engagement with homeless services, particularly in relation to child protection issues.
667. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the policy of Tusla regarding situations where families, particularly single-parent families, having become homeless find themselves separated due only to lack of alternative accommodation; if Tusla takes an adverse view of such arrangements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30826/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs these are operational matters, I have asked Tusla – The Child and Family Agency to respond directly to the Deputy with the most up-to-date information.
668. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the policy of her Department regarding situations where families, particularly single-parent families, find themselves in emergency accommodation; her views on whether Tusla should not take an adverse view of the family being in this accommodation; and if this will be considered a basis for concern as regards the child's welfare that might lead to a child being removed from the care of his or her parents. [30827/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraHomelessness, whether for a child presenting alone or as part of a family, is a distressing experience. Policy responsibility for homeless young people, insofar as it extends to my Department, relates to children under 18 and any child welfare and protection concerns that may arise in the context of the Child Care Act 1991. Children under 16 who present as being homeless to emergency services are taken into care. Children aged 16 and 17 may be taken into care, or provided a service under section 5 of the Child Care Act 1991 (accommodation for homeless children). Young people who were formerly in the care of the State and presently in receipt of aftercare services have their accommodation needs identified as part of this support.
Family homelessness, including the homelessness of lone parent families, is managed by the Dublin Region Homeless Executive (DRHE) and the local authorities. Currently, for many families, this means being accommodated on an emergency basis in hotel accommodation. Living in such accommodation on an extended basis is simply not conducive to normal family life for parents or their children. The priority of local authorities is to move families, as soon as possible, from emergency accommodation into a more suitable family-friendly setting.
Children in emergency homeless accommodation are in the care of their parent/s. Homelessness as part of a family group is not, in of itself, a basis for seeking to receive a child into care. However, if there is a specific child protection concern, Tusla can investigate and take the child into care if necessary. The reporting of any such concerns to Tusla is governed by Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children.
Tusla is very much aware of general welfare issues for families and has engaged in multi-agency working on this issue. The Agency provides family support and works with relevant services to maximise the supports available to children and families who are homeless. Tusla and the Dublin Region Homeless Executive are operating a joint protocol which includes guidance on working with families where child protection concerns arise within emergency homeless accommodation. Similar protocol arrangements are to be considered for other regions of the country, taking particular local challenges into account. Tusla employs a Homelessness Liaison Officer to lead on its engagement with homeless services, particularly in relation to child protection issues.
I will continue to work closely with my colleagues in Government and with all relevant agencies to ensure we have a coordinated and effective approach to tackling the issue of homelessness.
669. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the policy of Tusla regarding families, particularly single-parent families, who find themselves in emergency accommodation; if Tusla takes an adverse view of the family being in this accommodation; and if this will be considered a basis for concern as regards the child's welfare that might lead to a child being removed from the care of his or her parents. [30828/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs these are operational matters, I have asked Tusla – The Child and Family Agency to respond directly to the Deputy with the most up-to-date information.
670. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the weekly benefit to a family of the universal element of the affordable child care payment under her budget proposals and the eligibility criteria applying. [30835/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraFrom September 2017, a new Affordable Childcare scheme will be introduced which will provide financial support for parents towards the cost of childcare. The new scheme will provide a system from which both universal and targeted subsidies can be provided towards the cost of childcare.
All families with children between the ages of 6 months and 36 months (or until the child qualifies for the free pre-school programme if later than 36 months) will qualify for a universal subsidy of €0.50 per hour up to a maximum of 40 hours of registered childcare per week. This equates to a maximum of €20 per week or €960 per annum per child. This subsidy is for a maximum of 48 weeks per year.
671. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the funding provided to a service (details supplied); the amount of funding provided to this service in 2014, 2015, 2016 and expected funding for 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30866/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department administers a range of funding schemes and programmes to support the provision of youth services to young people throughout the country including those from disadvantaged communities. The funding schemes support national and local youth work provision to some 380,000 young people and involve approximately 1,400 youth work staff in 477 projects and 40,000 volunteers working in youth work services and communities throughout the country. In 2016, funding of €51m has been provided to my Department for these schemes. These schemes include the Youth Service Grant Scheme under which funding is made available on an annual basis to 30 national and major regional youth organisations amounting to €10.15m.
BeLongTo receives funding from my Department under this particular scheme. In 2014, the organisation received an allocation of €144,375 while in 2015 it received an allocation of €144,375. My Department provided the organisation with additional, once-off funding of €27,000 in 2014 and €55,210 in 2015. In 2016 the organisation has received an allocation of €147,948.
Following the Budget 2017 announcement, my Department has commenced a process with national organisations and local services to identify service development needs for 2017 and to agree the 2017 allocations. Every effort will be made to complete this process as soon as possible.
672. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the measures to be taken to help families in emergency accommodation to get their children to and from school and afterschool and recreational activities; when these supports will be in place; the transport companies that will provide the services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30872/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, I have no direct role in the provision of transport supports to families in emergency accommodation.
However, the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government is arranging for two public transport initiatives to be put in place for families in emergency accommodation. One is that each family will be given five family Leap cards for use on all Dublin transport systems. Each card will be valid for 24 hours. The intention is that each family can have family days out during holiday periods. The cards will be valid until the end of the year. The second is Leap cards for school journeys and arrangements are being made for their procurement, family need identification and distribution. The intention is that both initiatives will be in place very shortly.
In addition, the Department of Social Protection, through its Supplementary Welfare Allowance Scheme, may provide additional payments to families in emergency accommodation to cover the costs associated with necessary travel.
673. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will alter the conditions of the early childhood care and education programme to deal with the situation faced by children who were born between January and March who would receive less preschool education than those born earlier; if she will provide preschool education from two years prior to entry into primary school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30879/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe expansion of the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme, first announced in Budget 2016 has now commenced, with some children now participating in a second free pre-school year for the first time. Children born between January and March 2013 will be eligible for the ECCE Programme for a total of 76 weeks, beginning from September 2017. A child born between January and March 2014 will be eligible for a total of 88 weeks of ECCE care. From 2017, all children will be entitled to a minimum of 61 weeks of free pre-school, a significant increase from the previous entitlement.
Eligibility for the ECCE programme is bounded at the lower end by a child's third birthday, for developmental reasons; and at the upper end by the requirement that children begin primary education from the age of 6. Three entry points are provided - September, January and April, to maximise the benefit available to children, while also maintaining parental choice as to when children begin their primary education.
674. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the additional funds that have been allocated to Tusla in budget 2017 for domestic violence refuge and emergency accommodation and related supports. [30882/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, I recently announced a significant increase in the funding allocation to Tusla, the Child and Family Agency for next year. Tusla will have available to it some €713 million in funding, representing an increase of €37 million over 2016. I can confirm that on foot of Budget 2017, Tusla will be increasing its investment nationally on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence services. Tusla's approach in terms of future planning for these services will seek to address gaps, avoid duplication and support the effective delivery of front-line services nationally.
The 2017 financial provision will build on funding of €12.0m provided to Tusla in 2016, for emergency refuge and support services, and a further €4.6m for other community based domestic violence support services.
I recognise that there are challenges to be addressed in ensuring that there is appropriate safe crisis accommodation available to all women and children who require immediate shelter because of violent family relationships. I am committed to continuing support for these vital services.
675. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the way in which Tusla is achieving comprehensive care planning, effective matching and adequate supports to maintain placements while children and young persons are in care. [30907/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraRegulations govern the placement of children in care which provide, inter alia, for the welfare of the child, the care practices, care records, accommodation and safety precautions. Under the Child Care Regulations, 1995 a care plan for each child who is received into care is required. The regulations stipulate that all care plans are to be reviewed and updated on a regular basis and sets out the frequency for these reviews to take place. A review of the care planned for a child under the Child Care Act 1991, as amended, is a process to monitor and review the progress of the plan and to update it, if required. A key consideration for the social worker is to consult with the child, family members, foster carers, and other people involved with the child to ensure that his or her needs are being met and that the care being provided is optimal.
Children, depending on their identified need, may be placed in foster care either with relatives or general foster carers, residential care, special care or other placement types. The majority of children are placed in long term stable placements. Matching carers with children and young people is outlined in the National Standards for Foster Care (2003), and the National Standards for Children’s Residential Centres (2001) outlines the need for suitable placements in residential care.
The latest figures from Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, indicate that, in July 2016, there were 6,372 children in care. Of these, over 93% are in foster care, either with relatives or a general foster placement. Of all children in care, 95% (6,036) have an allocated social worker and 91% (5,796) have a written care plan. It is known that outcomes for children in care are better when there is evidence of a careful assessment, thoughtful planning and proactive case management. All decisions made, and support provided, for children in care must be grounded in a high-quality assessment of their needs and potential risk of harm. Matching appropriate placements is key, and is achieved by the sharing of information and discussion involving all relevant professionals, the children and their families (where appropriate), and the proposed foster carers or residential centres, their families and other children in the placements.
The increased budget for Tusla for 2017 should further assist Tusla in its plan to ensure all children in care have an allocated social worker, as well as an increase in the number of up to date written care plans.
676. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has any data on the number of young persons with care experience aged 17 to 24 years who have children who are now in care; and the supports her Department can provide and ensure will be provided to these parents in order to give them the best opportunity of parenting their children. [30908/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested on young parents with care experience who have children in care is not collected nationally by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. Aftercare is provided to all eligible young people leaving care which includes advice, guidance and practical (including accommodation and financial) support. The additional needs and supports required would be taken into account when the young person is a parent. Tusla has advised that 91% of 18-22 years olds in aftercare at the end of June 2016 were in stable accommodation, which includes young care leavers with children.
Every year, between 450 and 500 young adults leave the care of the State. The majority of those are currently eligible for an aftercare plan. The Government has decided to amend the legislative provisions regarding aftercare. The purpose of the new legislation is to ensure that an after care plan, developed before the young person leaves care, identifies their care needs and that appropriate supports are put in place.
Funding is made available to support a young person leaving care who is to remain on with their foster family as part of their aftercare plan. In other cases, funding supports are available to facilitate independent living or supported lodgings. Additional supports are also provided by other State bodies such as young adults leaving care aged 18-24 receive a higher rate of jobseekers allowance than other job seekers of the same age.
Tusla has continued to develop its aftercare service since the introduction of its National Leaving and Aftercare Policy of 2011. The implementation of this policy has seen the introduction of new practices, including the establishment of steering groups, which are area based multidisciplinary teams who provide a forum to ensure enhanced inter-agency partnership to meet the needs of young people leaving care and aftercare, as well as the standardisation of the aftercare allowance. Under this policy, the circumstances where a care leaver who is also a parent is addressed as part of the assessment of need.
677. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the funding Tusla received in 2016 in order to have the adequate resources and staffing levels to meet the needs of children in care; and the budget figure. [30909/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraBudget 2016 provided Tusla with total funding of €676 million for 2016. This is comprised of €662 million in current funding and €14 million in capital. The 2016 provision, which represented an increase of some €38m over the 2015 allocation, included provision for a number of priority initiatives, principally the need to address the high number of child welfare and protection cases awaiting allocation to a social worker. The increased level of funding also supported Tusla in its ongoing and wide ranging programme of service reform.
Budget 2017 represents further tangible evidence of the Government's commitment to building a strong and effective child and family agency and provides Tusla with a further increase of some €37m to meet identified risks and services demands and to supporting some of the most vulnerable in society.
678. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the person or body currently monitoring the number of recommendations made in the Ryan report that have yet to be implemented, for example action 65, a longitudinal study on outcomes for young persons leaving care, and action 69, a one-off life skills programme to ensure that these actions are delivered upon. [30910/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse (The Ryan Report) was published in 2009. The Government accepted all of the recommendations of the Ryan Report, and developed an Implementation Plan which was overseen by a Monitoring Group which included representatives from a number of Departments and Agencies.
The Government approved the Fourth and final Report of the Monitoring Group which was laid before the Oireachtas in March 2015. The Report illustrated that the vast majority of the recommendations (i.e. 94 out of a total of 99), have been implemented or are being implemented on an ongoing basis. This includes Action 69 which the Deputy referred to. It should also be noted that the Monitoring Group, which authored the Report, welcomed the significant positive developments that had taken place over the lifetime of the Implementation Plan. While overall progress in relation to the actions in the Ryan Implementation Plan was good, it was noted that 5 of the 99 actions were not yet complete, as follows-
Action 1 - is proper to the Department of Education and Skills and states that a memorial should be erected to the survivors of institutional abuse.
Action 65 - a longitudinal study over ten years was to be undertaken which would follow young people who leave care, in order to map their transition into adulthood;
Action 75 - a professionally managed national archive was to be developed as a central repository for the records for all children in care; and
Action 76 - records created in non-statutory agencies should be secured in the national archive.
Actions 65, 75 and 76 are proper to Tusla.
Action 96 - is proper to the Courts Service and states that the Courts Service should conduct research into other jurisdictions that have best practice in place for the management of children and family services in the Court, with a view to introducing best practice in this area to this jurisdiction.
My predecessor, Minister Reilly, who chaired the Monitoring Group, undertook to monitor progress on the incomplete actions until they have been fully achieved. My Department, therefore, is currently monitoring these incomplete actions on an ongoing basis, and will continue to liaise with relevant Government colleagues and Tusla until full implementation of the outstanding actions is achieved.
The Deputy will be aware that I have secured an allocation of funding of €713m in 2017 for Tusla. This is an increase of €37m over the 2016 provision and may give Tusla the opportunity to progress a number of valuable projects, including the outstanding Ryan actions.
679. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when the practice of sending children to placement out of State will end and the State will focus on developing therapeutic services and expertise here; and the number of children currently out of State in care at the moment. [30913/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Child Care Act, 1991 and the Child and Family Agency Act 2013, Tusla, the Child and Family Agency has a duty to promote the welfare of children who are not receiving adequate care or protection. When a child cannot live with their parents and is received into care, it is Tusla policy to place them in care settings, preferably in foster care, as close as possible to their home and community.
A very small minority of young people under 18 years of age have highly specialised needs arising from severe behavioural or other difficulties, due to their childhood experiences or in some cases as a result of injury, accident or disability. Tusla is on occasion required to make arrangements for their placement in care and treatment facilities outside of the State, primarily in the UK, to allow for access to an individually tailored mix of care and therapeutic services and psychiatric treatment not currently available in this country. This is done on as infrequent a basis as possible and only where such placements are considered to be in the best interests of the child. Placements where a child will be detained are made under the order and supervision of the High Court.
In a very small number of circumstances it is necessary to provide placements in other countries to facilitate a foster care placement within the context of the child's extended family or family network. There are also cases in which a foster family is moving abroad and it is in the best interests of the child to remain with the foster family. As of the 30 June 2016, there were 15 children in an out of state placement, including foster care, general residential and other specialised secure care placements. All of these children had an allocated social worker.
The Department of Health has advised that the HSE is developing a new national forensic mental health service to replace the Central Mental Hospital. A 10 bed forensic CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) is included as part of this development and should be operational by mid-2018. A residential setting for long-term care will not be included in this development given the lack of demand as evidenced by the small number of children requiring such a facility currently and the range of diagnoses and needs that would have to be catered for,
680. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans to examine the issue of young persons under voluntary care orders who do not have the same level of legal protection and where birth parents are consulted regarding consent issues (details supplied). [30914/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraSection 4 of the Child Care Act 1991 provides for parents to request or agree to their children being taken into the care of the Child and Family Agency on a voluntary basis. In these cases, while the Agency has care of the children it must consider the parents’ wishes as to how the care is provided. The Agency is obliged to provide care for these children for as long as their welfare requires it. Arrangements under section 4 can be terminated at any stage by the parents, if they so wish.
As the Deputy is aware, foster care is the placement of children outside their own home with carers who are not their parents as their parents are unable or unwilling to look after them. The foster care arrangement can also be entered into on a voluntary basis, as outlined. Foster carers work closely with social workers, parents and other professionals who are involved in the children's lives, as well as of course with the children themselves.
Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures: The National Policy Framework for Children and Young People, 2014 – 2020, contains a commitment to review and reform, as necessary, the Child Care Act 1991. My Department has initiated work to pursue this commitment, including initial engagement with the Child and Family Agency. All matters relevant to the situation of children in care, including the usage of voluntary care orders, will be considered in the context of the Review.
681. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the measures she has put in place in order to address the issue of child care places for children aged seven to 15 years, given that Tusla-registered child care providers do not accommodate children within this age bracket; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30954/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe DCYA currently administers four targeted childcare programmes to support low income families. These are:
- Community Childcare Subvention (CCS).
- Childcare Education and Training Support Programme (CETS).
- After-School Child Care Programme (ASCC).
- Community Employment Childcare Programme (CEC).
As a matter of regulation all pre-school services must register with Tusla. Many pre-school services also cater for after-school children and, as such, their after-school provision can also be provided for within the programmes. For services that are 'after-school' only and do not cater for children under the age of 6 years, these services are required to voluntarily notify their service with their local City/County Childcare Committee.
Each of the current targeted childcare programmes provide for after-school childcare support.
Budget 2017 has approved additional funding for the introduction of the Affordable Childcare Scheme, a new national scheme of financial support for parents towards the cost of their childcare. This new scheme will replace the existing targeted childcare programmes with a single, streamlined and more user-friendly scheme. The new Affordable Childcare Scheme is intended to provide “wraparound care for pre-school and school-age children. The scheme will be available from September 2017 in respect of all services registered with Tusla, including those catering for after-school provision.
In view of the commitments in the Programme for a Partnership Government, my Department and the Department of Education and Skills established the Inter-Departmental Group on School Age Childcare. The Group’s Report, which will include recommendations on the future regulation and quality assurance of school age childcare services, is expected to be finalised shortly. I am also exploring ways in which currently unregistered child minders can qualify for the Affordable Childcare Scheme.
682. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the additional capacity required to address the increase in demand as a result of the new child care subsidies announced in budget 2017; the number of vacant places identified by her Department; the infrastructural measures her Department will put in place to increase capacity as a result of the increased demand measures announced in budget 2017; the cost of providing the additional child care places to expand capacity to meet the expected demand; the funding allocation provided in budget 2017 to address the capacity issues identified as a result of the background research undertaken by her Department when designing the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30955/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs announced as part of Budget 2017, from September 2017, a new Affordable Childcare scheme will be introduced which will provide financial support for parents towards the cost of childcare. The new scheme will provide a system from which both universal and targeted subsidies can be provided towards the cost of childcare. This new scheme will replace the existing targeted childcare programmes with a single, streamlined and more user-friendly scheme and is intended to provide “wraparound care for pre-school and school-age children.
In 2017, the expected number of children benefitting from the new Affordable Childcare scheme is estimated at 79,000. This includes 25,000 children who will benefit from the universal subsidy. An estimated 54,000 children will benefit from the targeted subsidies, including 31,500 children who already receive support under the current targeted schemes and 22,500 new beneficiaries.
The Department commissions an annual survey of childcare providers, the 'Service Profile' compiled by Pobal. The most recent edition of this indicates that, as of April 2016, there were up to 20,000 vacancies in childcare providers nationwide. However the issue of capacity in the childcare sector is complex and not possible to capture with reference to current vacancies alone – depending on infrastructure, services are able to increase capacity in response to demand, through the recruitment of additional staff or the adaptation of available space; while other providers are in a position to extend premises or move to larger premises. In addition, the Department receives several hundred applications from new providers wishing to enter into contract every year.
Current and recent work by the Department has focused on the expansion of the ECCE scheme, which is now underway - the Department projects that the expanded ECCE scheme will have a peak enrolment of 127,000 children in the April-June session in 2017. This is an increase of 60,000 children from the pre-expansion volume.
In anticipation of the increased demand for places in the Early Childhood Care and Education Scheme for 2016/17, the Department introduced a number of measures to assist Early Years providers and ensure sufficient capacity – for example the Department provided capital funding of €4m to services throughout the country to increase capacity, a fund that was later increased to €6.5m, allowing all applications that met the criteria for grant funding to be approved. This capital scheme has already provided several thousand new places, and this number will increase as works are completed. Provision of €4.5 million has been made in Budget 2017 for Capital expenditure and my Department will bring formal proposals in this regard as soon as possible.
The Department has also encouraged workers in the sector to attain ECCE Room Leader qualifications via targeted Learner Funds, while also widening access to ECCE Higher Capitation for the 2016/17 preschool year.
The Department has worked closely with Childcare Committees Ireland to analyse demand for places on a geographic basis, to identify any shortages in provision, and to work intensively with services in areas where shortfalls might have been expected to occur.
Additionally, the 2016 Programme for a Partnership Government contained two specific commitments in relation to School Age children. The first was a commitment to introduce a new system to support and expand quality after school care, and the second was in relation to utilising primary school buildings for after school care provision. In view of these commitments the Inter-Departmental Group on School Age Childcare was established in June 2016 and is due to report shortly.
As part of its work, the Group has considered and assessed the many issues surrounding this commitment, and the funding implications of implementing an after-school scheme for school-aged children. Matters to be considered by the Inter-Departmental group included the demand for services and the capacity to provide these and the development of an appropriate quality and standards framework.
Finally, in order to meet the needs of parents whose preference is to use a child minder, and to build capacity to cater for increased demand in future years, my Department has commenced talks with Childminding Ireland (CMI) in recent months to explore a number of options around how quality can be assured within the child minding sector.
A Working Group has been established, chaired by CMI, and including officials from Tusla and the DCYA, to make recommendations on reforms for the sector including proposals in relation to quality assurance, whether on a voluntary / non-statutory basis in the short term, or on a mandatory / statutory basis in the long term. These would include recommendations in relation to child minders who are not currently eligible to apply for registration with Tusla (those minding three or fewer pre-school children, or those minding school age children only). The recommendations received are likely to include proposals to be progressed in the short, medium and long term.
The on-going monitoring of trends in relation to capacity in the sector in advance of September 2017 will help the Department to develop policy measures that may be required in order to encourage the provision of additional capacity within the sector. Provision was made in Budget 2017 for capital funding for the Early Years Sector of €4.5m, and the Department is currently considering the most effective use of this funding. The Department will communicate with the sector in this regard on an on-going basis.
683. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will provide the official medical advice on malaria prophylaxis from the Defence Forces medical corps as furnished to him which recommended Lariam as the only choice for soldiers travelling to sub-Saharan Africa. [30561/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra684. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 46 of 27 September 2016 (details supplied), if he will provide a copy of the current written policy governing assessment and screening of Defence Forces personnel for their medical suitability to take any given anti-malarial drug; and if he will provide all written policies in this regard issued since the Defence Forces started serving in malarial areas, if different to the current one. [30562/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 683 and 684 together.
The health and welfare of the men and women of the Defence Forces is a high priority for me and the Defence Forces.
Malaria is a serious disease which killed approximately 438,000 people in 2015, with 90% of deaths occurring in sub-Saharan Africa as reported by the World Health Organisation. It is a serious threat to any military force operating in the area.
There are three anti-malarial drugs, in use in the Defence Forces:
Lariam (Mefloquine);
Malarone and
Doxycycline.
The choice of medication is a medical decision made by Medical Officers in the Defence Forces having regard to the specific circumstances of the mission and the individual member of the Defence Forces. That position has not changed.
The Defence Forces Director Medical Branch issues instructions on matters of medical policy. Current DMB Instruction No. 52 amendment No. 1, dated 24 August 2016 provides for Vaccinations and Other preparations for Overseas Deployments. Paragraphs 5 to 8 deal specifically with the use of malaria prophylaxis and provides for the following:
“ 5. Please note that the ‘default’ chemoprophylaxis against Malaria, in Sub-Saharan missions and other areas where the predominant species is Plasmodium falciparum and where there is no evidence of resistance to it in the region, is Mefloquine (Lariam) 250mg weekly. Mefloquine is the only ‘once weekly’ medication currently available as a chemoprophylactic agent for Malaria. The dosing regimen is particularly suitable for the deployed soldier, given that he/she has minimal control over the operational environment on a day to day basis, thus increasing the risk of missing a dose of a daily medication. To be effective Mefloquine must be started two (2) weeks prior to deployment and should, if possible, be started four (4) weeks prior to departure in order to allow accommodation to minor and tolerable side-effects or to determine the appearance of intolerable side-effects or contraindications. Where operational imperatives demand immediate deployment without any ‘lead-in’ period, Mefloquine is not appropriate as a chemoprophylactic agent and one of the daily medications (Doxycycline or Malarone) should be used instead. All Medical Officers should familiarise themselves in detail with the contraindications and side-effect of all prescribed medications. To this end, the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) website can be consulted. Where an individual has an intolerance or sensitivity or contraindication to the use of Mefloquine, he/she should not be prescribed Mefloquine and should be ‘stood down’ from that particular deployment. In the event of there being no other person available within the Defence Forces with the particular skills set required for the mission, derogation may be sought from the appropriate authority to permit use of an alternative medication. As in all such circumstances the risk benefit ratio will become the determining factor in the recommendation from the Office of DMB to DCOS Sp.
6. In all other areas where troops are to be deployed and where malaria is endemic, the chemoprophylactic agent(s) will be dictated by the predominant species of plasmodium in the area as well as the resistance patterns to the various agents. For example, currently Doxycycline is the recommended first line chemoprophylactic agent for the malaria season in Afghanistan.
7. Irrespective of which agent is used, all deploying personnel should be made aware of the steps to be taken to minimise mosquito bites in the first place e.g. long sleeves, unexposed legs, use of insect repellant on face and neck and other exposed areas, mosquito nets etc etc.
8. There is a requirement for personnel returning to Ireland from deployment in a malarious and/or tropical or Sub Saharan mission/area to be provided with the following medications on repatriation and to be advised on the importance and necessity of course completion:
a. Primaquine 15mgs twice daily for 14 days.
b. Mefloquine (Lariam) 250mgs weekly for 4 weeks.
c. Mebendazole 100mgs twice daily for 3 days.
The above regime should commence following repatriation so that the Primaquine and Mebendazole regime is taken concurrently with the last 2 weeks of the Lariam prophylaxis regime.”
Defence Forces Regulations A.12. (Medical Treatment) provides for medical examination of all members of the Permanent Defence Force. The Defence Forces Director Medical Branch instruction No. 40 Medical Examinations amendment No. 3, dated 6 September, 2012 paragraph 5 provides for individual screening and assessment of members of the Defence Force who present for Overseas Medical Examinations. This paragraph provides that the individual member will be:
“subjected to a full medical examination with particular emphasis being given to the physical and psychological demands of the mission and the patient’s age and suitability for the specific environment, the proposed vaccinations and any relevant chemo prophylactic agent which may be required.”
The current policy is consistent with previous policy in relation to malaria prophylaxis. The Defence Forces policy, in relation to the use of anti-malaria medication, including Lariam, is in line with current summary of product characteristics and product manufacturer’s guidelines.
Where malaria has been identified as a risk in a particular mission area, the choice of chemoprophylaxis medication is dependent on a number of factors including the type of malaria in the destination, resistance to particular drugs, the profile of the traveller (contra-indications, underlying health conditions, purpose of travel), the duration of travel and adherence issues.
Significant precautions are taken by Defence Forces Medical Officers in assessing the medical suitability of members of our Defence Forces to take any of the anti-malarial medications. It is the policy of the Defence Forces that personnel are individually screened for fitness for service overseas and medical suitability.
The use of and the information on medications is kept under ongoing review. As I already indicated, the health and welfare of the Defence Forces is a priority for me and the Defence Forces and this will continue to inform the approach to the issue of Lariam.
