Anne Rabbitte
Ceist:57. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will allocate increased funding to foster care services in 2018; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43773/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 17 October 2017
Ceisteanna (57, 513)
Anne Rabbitte
Ceist:513. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will allocate increased funding to foster care services in 2018; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43784/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 57 and 513 together.
Additional resources of €40.6m is being made available to Tusla as a result of Budget 2018 decisions by this Government. This will bring Tusla's financial allocation to just over €753m in 2018. This level of funding will allow Tusla to recruit additional staffing and respond to areas of identified risk and meet increased demand for services. In particular, the financial allocation will allow Tusla to meet a number of key priorities including:
- Responding to the introduction of mandatory reporting under Children First from 11 December of this year;
- Addressing gaps in Out of Hours services, including the introduction of an Out of Hours for foster parents; and
- Investing in Family Resource Centres in local communities that deliver services to families, especially in disadvantaged areas across the country.
I will shortly be issuing Tusla with its 2018 Performance Statement in line with the provisions of the Child and Family Agency Act, 2013. Tusla will, in response to the Performance Statement, prepare a Business Plan for 2018 which will be submitted to me for consideration.
The precise level of funding to be allocated to foster care services will be considered by Tusla, in preparing its Business Plan, having regard to the overall level of funding available in 2018.
Question No. 58 answered with Question No. 48.
Question No. 59 answered with Question No. 54.