Micheál Martin
Ceist:15. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if he has spoken to or met the Polish Prime Minister Ms Beata Szydlo; and if EU reform was discussed. [49073/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraTaoiseach's Meetings and Engagements
Ceisteanna (15)
Freagraí scríofa
I have not yet had the opportunity for a formal meeting with Polish Prime Minister Szydlo, though I did speak briefly with her in Gothenburg, as well as at the June and October European Councils, and September’s Digital Summit in Tallinn. Ongoing political engagement with our EU and international partners remains crucial, especially as negotiations on Brexit proceed, and I will continue to take advantage of every opportunity to advance Ireland's interests with my fellow members of the European Council.
Questions Nos. 16 to 22, inclusive, resubmitted.
Cabinet Committees
Ceisteanna (23)
Micheál Martin
Ceist:23. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach the Cabinet committee in which housing is discussed. [49077/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Cabinet Committee D covers housing, climate action, infrastructure investment and delivery, the National Planning Framework and the Ten Year Capital Plan. Among other issues, this Committee is providing political oversight of our efforts to tackle the housing and homelessness issue. The Committee last met on the 23rd of November 2017.
Questions Nos. 24 to 35, inclusive, resubmitted.
Questions Nos. 36 to 47, inclusive, answered orally.
Child and Family Agency Services
Ceisteanna (48)
Mick Wallace
Ceist:48. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the progress in relation to providing 24 hour access to social work services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50184/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I would like to take this opportunity to highlight my commitment to ensuring that a quality 24-hour emergency social work service is available across the country. I am pleased to have secured funding for Tusla to establish this service. In my performance statement for Tusla's 2018 business plan preparations, I have asked that this important service is in place in early 2018.
Tusla has put in place a project team who are to re-organise services within an integrated national Tusla emergency service. This builds on the existing infrastructure. Key steps in the process are to put in place a national manager, have a single national contact number, provide social work advice and support on a 24 hour basis, and have a foster care service available for out of hours placements. This will also see an on-call social worker service being available to receive children removed by Gardaí under section 12, and accompany them to their identified placement. A project plan is to be developed by Tusla management.
At present, there is a 24 hour Emergency Out Of Hours phone service in place in all areas. There is a dedicated phone number for Gardaí and hospitals to access social work consultation out of hours. There are also social workers available out of hours in Cork, and in the Dublin, Wicklow and Kildare area, on a 24 hour, 7 day a week basis. Budget 2018 will enable Tusla to provide a greatly improved service, by integrating existing services, and ensuring the on-call availability of social workers throughout the country on a 24/7 basis for emergency cases. A project team has been established to implement the necessary changes.
Officials from my Department and Tusla recently visited a service that provides the out of hour supports in Northern Ireland. The service they provide differs from ours, as it is a wider service for children and adults, and is a contact point for statutory social work involvement in mental health services. It is aimed at urgent or emergency situations outside of normal office hours. This provides important lessons about access to a round the clock social work service.
In urgent situations, Gardaí must be present to access premises or to remove a child to a place of safety as social workers do not have such legal powers. For example, the decision to invoke section 12 of the Child Care Act 1991 can only be made by a member of the Garda Síochána. If a child in immediate danger, as with any other citizen, the correct course of action is to contact Gardaí without delay. Under the new emergency out of hours service, a social worker will be on-call to attend situations where a child has been removed by Gardaí as an emergency measure under section 12 of the Child Care Act.
The expanded Tusla Emergency Service will enable greater joint working between Gardaí and Tusla, which will create better outcomes and faster responses for children at immediate risk.
Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries
Ceisteanna (49)
Catherine Connolly
Ceist:49. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when the report of the expert technical group dealing with the site of the former mother and baby home at Tuam, County Galway will be brought before Cabinet; when it is expected that the report will be discussed in Dáil Éireann; if the report will be tabled for discussion before the end of the 2017 term; if not, the reason therefor; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50188/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
In June of this year I appointed a multi disciplinary team of technical experts to ensure that decisions on the future of the site of the former Mother and Baby Home in Tuam, Co. Galway would be informed by international best practice. As I have advised the Deputy recently, I have now received the Expert Technical Group's final report. I propose to bring the report to Government shortly with a view to its publication. To assist me in this regard I have sought the advices of the Attorney General and my Department is consulting with relevant Departments and agencies in relation to the practical issues which will arise upon publication.
The Expert Group's preliminary report outlines the range of options which could be considered as next steps on this site. I published this report on my Department's website in July. The Expert Group's final report fully explores each of 5 options, including the feasibility of delivery and what outcomes might reasonably be expected for this specific site. These options range from the least technical to the most complex responses which are feasible at this site.
My primary concern is to ensure that whatever action is taken respects the memory and dignity of the deceased children who lived their short lives in this institution. The report will be published to support efforts to build towards a consensus and I can assure the Deputy that consultations will take place with stakeholders before any decisions are made on the future of the site. I am of course willing to discuss this report in the House at a suitable opportunity. However, I would suggest that such discussion would benefit from first allowing those most centrally involved an opportunity to read the report and have their say.
Early Childhood Care and Education
Ceisteanna (50, 62)
Aindrias Moynihan
Ceist:50. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if the necessary capacity exists within the preschool sector in 2018 to provide a space for all those that want a place in County Cork in view of the fact that the entitlement to the early childhood care and education scheme will increase from 61 to 76 weeks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50191/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAindrias Moynihan
Ceist:62. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the demand for places under the early childhood care and education scheme in County Cork; the way in which deficits will be addressed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50192/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 50 and 62 together.
My Department has conducted an analysis of ECCE capacity and is satisfied that there will be no shortfall in ECCE places for the 2017-2018 programme year. ECCE providers have catered for over 120,000 children for this programme year and while there can be pressures in some immediate localities; all eligible children have been catered for. We are working closely with the local CCC’s and to date there is no reported shortage of places in County Cork.
Further, from September 2018, the ECCE Programme will revert to one single entry point in a given ECCE Programme Year (i.e. September) with eligible children entitled to two full years of ECCE provision. From September 2018, the number of ECCE enrolments in any given year will be around 114,000. Given that 120,000 places were filled in April 2017, there should be no capacity issues for the 114,000 expected to register for ECCE, for as long as 2 years, from September 2018.
Towards assisting in alleviating pressures with regard to availability of ECCE places in certain areas, my Department provided €8.4 million for its 2017 Early Years Capital funding programme. This represents a doubling of the €4m provided under the 2016 Early Years Capital.
Question No. 51 answered with Question No. 47.