Written Answers Nos. 265-275
265. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the cost to expand the second year child care ECCE scheme from 22 weeks to 32 weeks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8963/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra266. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the cost to expand the second year child care ECCE scheme from 22 weeks to 36 weeks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8964/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra267. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the cost to expand the second year child care ECCE scheme from 22 weeks to 38 weeks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8965/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra268. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the cost to expand the first year child care ECCE scheme from 38 to 40 weeks. [8966/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra269. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the cost to expand the first year child care ECCE scheme from 38 to 42 weeks. [8967/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 265 to 269, inclusive, together.
When introduced, the ECCE scheme provided free-preschool for 38 weeks of the year, the 38 weeks broadly mirrored the primary school academic year. When ECCE was expanded as a result of Budget 2016, it enabled all children to attend ECCE from the age of three, entering at one of three entry points after their third birthday, September, January or April, and remain there until they started in primary school, with the exception that they could not be more than 5 years and 6 months when they finished ECCE in June. This followed a recommendation from the Expert Group " Right from the Start".
The expansion of ECCE increased the average time in ECCE from 38 weeks to 61 weeks with children benefitting from a range of 51 weeks to 88 weeks. Whilst the terminology of "a second year" is often used, it is important to recognise that most children do not benefit from a full second year. All children currently finish in ECCE in June regardless of when they start (September, January or April).
The Deputy has a number of questions relating to an increase from 22 weeks, in the “second” ECCE year (the first chronological year), to the weeks outlined hereunder. There are three intakes for the additional weeks provided in Budget 2016 (September, January and April). The questions have been answered using the assumption that the January and April intake of children would be extended so that each intake would be entitled instead to 32, 36 and 38 weeks for their first year in the respective questions; September intakes will always have 38 weeks.
The cost to increase the January and April ECCE intakes to 32 weeks in their first year would potentially be €38 million.
The cost to increase the January and April ECCE intakes to 36 weeks in their first year would be €48 million.
The cost to increase the January and April ECCE intakes to 38 weeks in their first year would potentially be €53 million.
The cost to increase the first year of the ECCE scheme from 38 to 40 weeks would potentially be €8 million.
The cost to increase the first year of the ECCE scheme from 38 to 42 weeks would potentially be €17 million.
As a general principle and to provide a guideline, we can consider that each additional week for the April intake in their first year would cost €1m, each additional week for the January intake in their first year would cost €1.5m and each additional week for September intakes (including year 1 and year 2 children) would cost €6 million.
It should be noted that this question only addresses the financial aspect of such increases. Any such changes would require revision of rules around eligibility and enrolment dates and would need to look at issues of capacity with regard to physical space, staffing capacities and other associated matters.
270. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the amount of the Tusla budget that goes directly to aftercare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8968/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am committed to implementing the Child Care (Amendment) Act 2015 which entitles eligible young people to a formal aftercare plan, prepared by Tusla in collaboration with the young person leaving care. My Department is working closely with Tusla to ensure that the provisions of the Act can be fully implemented as quickly as possible in the coming months.
In terms of funding, I secured an additional €37m for Tusla in Budget 2017, which will bring its total allocation to over €700m. This included additional funding to support service delivery to implement legislation. Tusla is identifying gaps in the aftercare service nationally and has indicated that this will require an expansion in aftercare management and workers. Tusla is currently finalising arrangements for the publication of its 2017 Business Plan which sets out the priorities for these important services in 2017.
It is important to note that young people leaving care typically receive supports relating to accommodation, further education, employment and training, which are funded by other Government Departments. This means that the part of Tusla’s budget for 2017 which is ultimately allocated to aftercare services under the Child Care (Amendment) Act 2015 will represent just a small proportion of the total spending by the State on those in receipt of aftercare services.
271. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the action her Department, in conjunction with Tusla, is taking to ensure that every young person leaving care has an aftercare plan; the number of young persons in care who exited from 2013 to 2016 who received an aftercare plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8969/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am committed to implementing the Child Care (Amendment) Act 2015 which entitles eligible young people to a formal aftercare plan, prepared by Tusla in collaboration with the young person leaving care. I am pleased that the Act creates an explicit, as opposed to a current implicit, statement of Tusla’s duty to satisfy itself as to the young persons need for assistance and support as they leave care.
My Department is working closely with Tusla to ensure that the provisions of the Act can be fully implemented as quickly as possible in the coming months. In preparation for the commencement of new legislation, Tusla has introduced a number of new practices. It has developed dedicated aftercare teams, it has standardised the financial supports that it offers to those leaving care, and it continues to roll out inter-agency steering committees to strongly promote good co-ordination of these services at local level. Fourteen committees are currently in operation with a final three committees in development. Tusla has also further developed the information it provides regarding aftercare services.
Consultation is underway with all key stakeholders in order to finalise the revision of Tusla’s Aftercare policy. The consultation process has included foster carers, young people/young adults, aftercare staff, social work staff, NGO's, private foster care and residential care providers and other State departments. All have been invited to events and offered the opportunity to make written submissions. Ten events have taken place to date with two remaining. Following these consultations feedback will be considered and amendments made to the draft document. The final draft of the Aftercare documents will be presented to the National Policy Oversight Committee in Tusla for approval. The Child Care (Amendment) Act 2015 will be commenced as soon as practicable after approval of the revised policy.
Tusla has informed me that in 2016 a total of 605 young adults were discharged from care by reason of reaching 18 years of age, compared to 542 young adults in 2015. This data was not collated prior to 2015. In 2016, of the 467 young adults discharged prior to the end of September by reason of reaching 18 years of age, 457 were eligible for aftercare supports and 412 were availing of these. 2016 is the first year for which Tusla has collated data regarding uptake of aftercare supports. There were a total of 1,841 young people aged 18 to 22 years in receipt of aftercare supports from Tusla at the end of the third quarter in 2016, and 82% of these young people had an aftercare plan in place.
Once the amendments to the Child Care Act are commenced there will be a statutory obligation on Tusla to have an aftercare plan prior to the young person leaving care. Those who have left care before the changes, and who do not have an aftercare plan, can under these amendments obtain an aftercare plan from Tusla up to their 21st birthday. I believe that our young people leaving care deserve high quality supports throughout the system, and that full implementation of the Child Care (Amendment) Act 2015 will be a key element of how our society helps them to make this critical transition in their lives.
272. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of children on reaching the age of 18 years of age who left care, be it foster care or full-time residential care, from the years 2013 to 2016. [8970/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraTusla has informed me that in 2015 a total of 542 young persons left care on reaching 18 years of age. In 2016, a total of 605 young persons left care by reason of reaching 18 years of age. Tusla has informed me that the data was not collated prior to 2015. The available data refers to all young persons moving out of care on turning 18 years of age and data is not returned by care category. Each year, around 500 to 600 young persons will turn 18 years of age while in care. In recent times, I understand that about 75% of 17 year olds in care were in foster placements, a further 20% approx. were reported to be placed in residential settings and the remaining 5% would be in other settings, for example a disability setting or supported lodgings.
I am conscious that the transition to independent adulthood can be challenging for many young people. A key factor in achieving success is ensuring that assessment, preparation and planning for leaving care begins in the years prior to leaving care and continues as part of the care planning process. This work is based on collaboration with the young person, their carers and partner agencies to generate an aftercare plan that is specific to the individual young person's needs. Advice, guidance, support and signposting are key elements of the supports available to care leavers.
273. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the supports in place for young persons in care who have little or no family support and who are identified as at particular risk of homelessness to prevent these persons going from care to homelessness; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8971/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAftercare is a 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. Every year approximately 450 young people leave the care of the State. These young people are offered a wide range of services from different sectors including income supports, health supports, accommodation and education.
A significant number of young people leaving care remain living with their foster carers. Those 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 care leavers most vulnerable to homelessness 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.
The Child Care (Amendment) Act 2015 was signed into law in December 2015. It entitles eligible young people to a formal aftercare plan, prepared by Tusla in collaboration with the young person leaving care. In preparation for the commencement of this new legislation, Tusla has introduced a number of new practices. It has developed dedicated aftercare teams, it has standardised the financial supports that it offers to those leaving care, and it continues to roll out inter-agency steering committees to strongly promote good co-ordination of these services at local level.
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. The provision of accommodation for young people leaving State care is now eligible for funding under the Capital Assistance Scheme operated by the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government. Under the Capital Assistance Scheme, Approved Voluntary Bodies provide accommodation to meet special housing needs such as those of the elderly, disabled or disadvantaged in their area. Tusla and DCYA have commenced discussion on developing criteria for proposals under the Capital Assistance Scheme. In relation to any accommodation provided under this scheme, Tusla will provide supports, particular for the most vulnerable Care Leavers, in accordance with the pre-agreed aftercare plan.
In addition, Tusla has redistributed the protocol developed between Tusla and the Housing Authorities in 2014 on young people leaving state care. The aim of this protocol is to ensure that the necessary measures are in place to prevent homelessness for young people leaving state care. This will be applied and considered within aftercare steering groups.
274. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of young persons in care who have a disability; the way her Department ensures these young persons have the same access to the support they need when they turn 18 years of age; her views on the role of Tusla and the HSE in the connectivity work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8972/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Child Care (Amendment) Act 2015 imposes a statutory duty on Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, following an assessment of need, to prepare an aftercare plan identifying relevant aftercare supports for an eligible child or eligible young person.
For young people with a disability, aftercare planning forms the basis of discussions between Tusla and the HSE to effectively manage the transition from child to adult disability services, based on assessed need. On 30th September 2016 a census style count was carried out of children in care on that day. This census showed that 603 children, representing 10% of children in care at the time, had been diagnosed by a clinical specialist as having a moderate to severe disability.
These young people, in general, will seek to access a mainstream service, adult disability service or primary care service based on their level of need, facilitated by Tusla via the Local Aftercare Implementation Group. The HSE participates in the planning process and is responsible for the provision of the required services.
My Department has been liaising with a number of Government Departments to address issues regarding the provision of services to children in care and those transitioning out of care, and particularly with the Department of Health regarding the situation of children with disabilities transitioning from the care system. In December, 2016, Tusla and the HSE agreed a new protocol in principle, which will operate to ensure good collaboration between Tusla and the HSE on disability related services for children. This protocol provides a clear escalation process should an issue arise, or if there is an unresolved matter around access to appropriate, available services. It is managed at a local level in the first instance. Where this is not possible, there is a clear process in place to escalate the situation and agree a resolution to ensure the child in question is receiving an appropriate, timely, and proportionate service. In addition, officials from both the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and the Department of Health will agree, in the coming weeks, how best to further develop and copper fasten the appropriate oversight of this new working arrangement.
275. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she has made a decision to appoint a full-time youth officer for County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8979/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am pleased to inform the Deputy that Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board has requested funding from my Department for the provision of a full time youth officer for County Kildare. My Department is engaging with the ETB in this regard and I hope to be in a position to make a determination on this request in the coming weeks. In the interim, the ETB has a Youth Officer who is very active in both counties.
