Written Answers Nos. 52-75
52. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the status of the legislative and ICT infrastructure that will be required to deliver the single affordable childcare scheme; the date by which this will be delivered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50219/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraBudget 2017 announced a radical redesign of how we deliver support to make quality childcare accessible and affordable for families in Ireland. The new Affordable Childcare Scheme (ACS) will provide financial support for parents 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 will include “wraparound care for pre-school and school-age children. The ambition of this project is immense; its scope matched only in size by its complexity. This scheme aims to reduce poverty, facilitate labour activation, improve outcomes for children and tangibly reduce the cost of childcare for tens of thousands of families.
My Department is currently putting in place the legal and technical infrastructures to underpin the Affordable Childcare Scheme. I am delighted to report that draft legislation to give our new approach a legal backbone is well advanced and publication of a draft Bill is expected before the end of the year.
The building of a state of the art IT system to make subsidised childcare more accessible is also being advanced. The IT development is subject to scrutiny by a peer review group (PRG) at the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO). The project has passed the first stage of the peer review process (reviewing the Business Case) and is close to completing the second stage (Request for Tender Stage).
Whilst delivering the scheme as soon as possible remains a priority, I believe that it is prudent to ensure we get the new systems right, so that they operate smoothly for everyone. Accordingly, in progressing our work, we strive to meet the highest standards available and avoid mistakes made on previous government IT projects. In doing so, we have committed ourselves to extensive consultation and peer review processes.
While intensive work is underway, the project is heavily dependent on timelines beyond its immediate control, such as the advancement of legislation through the Oireachtas. In particular, the timeframe is dependent upon ICT development. Once we have completed the Request for Tender element of the project and have the successful developer in place, we will be able to confirm and communicate a timeline for the full introduction of the scheme. Until then, I am not in a position to make a commitment on the exact launch date of ACS.
We are well on our way to introducing the Affordable Childcare Scheme. In the meantime, the families of 64,000 children or 91% of the children eligible for the measures introduced by my Department are already benefiting from financial support for their childcare, on a par with what will be delivered under the new scheme. This number is increasing daily.
53. Deputy Michael Harty asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her views on whether the lives of children in direct provision have improved since April 2017 when the children's Ombudsman began accepting complaints from children or on behalf of children living in these centres; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50190/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can inform the Deputy that, in my opinion, the lives of children living in Direct Provision improved significantly when it was confirmed that the Ombudsman for Children had remit to receive complaints from them and on their behalf. Even if no complaint is ever made, the ability to make a complaint to the Ombudsman or Ombudsman for Children is a key right of a child or a parent in respect of a service being received by the State. The previous exclusion of people in Direct Provision from making such a complaint was wrong in my view and I am glad that such an exclusion no longer exists.
The Ombudsman for Children has statutory independence in the exercise of his functions under the Ombudsman for Children Act 2002. I am aware that significant work has been done by the Ombudsman for Children's Office, the OCO, as part of this expanded remit. I understand that since April 2017 the OCO has visited every Direct Provision centre and Emergency Reception and Orientation Centre in the country where children and young people under 18 reside. This was primarily to raise awareness and understanding of the OCO's role to examine and investigate complaints. It is important that both residents and service providers are aware of the role of the Ombudsman for Children.
I am also aware that, in the context of its complementary statutory function to promote children's rights and welfare, the OCO is delivering workshops on children's rights for children living in Direct Provision. These workshops have been delivered in 9 Direct Provision centres since September 2017 and I understand that the OCO is planning to deliver further such workshops during 2018.
My Department was represented on the Working Group on the Protection Process that was chaired by Judge Bryan McMahon that published its report in June 2015. One of that Group's recommendations was that the remit of the Ombudsman and the Ombudsman for Children should be extended to complaints relating to services to residents of direct provision accommodation centres and to transfer decisions following breach of rules.
Officials in my Department also assisted the Department of Justice and Equality in consulting with children in Direct Provision centres on what they thought about their lives in these places. The Deputy will be aware of my strong belief in the value of seeking the views of children and young people on matters that affect them. I recently launched the Hub na nÓg to serve as a resource to assist government departments and other bodies with such consultations.
At present, officials in my Department are working with the Department of Justice and Equality to develop standards for the governance and management of Direct Provision centres.
I believe all of these measures have and will improve the lives of children in these centres. However, I believe the real improvement will come in improvements to the processing of applications that will minimise the time spent by children and families in Direct Provision.
54. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans to ensure that mental health needs at Oberstown children detention campus are being met in view of data collected by the centre relating to over 55% of detainees described as having a mental health need; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50173/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy paramount objective for Oberstown is the safety, care and well-being of all young people detained there. While each young person is in Oberstown the aim is to provide best care, education and therapy programmes that will support their reintegration into the community through the development of individual and comprehensive placement plans.
The so-called "CEHOP" framework supports the journey through care of each child through planning and co-operation of all agencies addressing Care, Education, Health, Offending Behaviour and Preparing for Release of young people across the campus. The Irish Youth Justice Service and Tusla have together developed a multi-disciplinary clinical service for children in special care and detention. The provision of the Assessment, Consultation and Therapy Service, known as ACTS, commenced in 2013 and has continued for young people in Oberstown during 2017.
The Massachusetts Youth Screening Instrument (MAYSI-2) mental health screening takes place on all children entering detention to gauge the level of risk they may pose to themselves. The multi-disciplinary ACTS team consider this information and make clinical decisions about the need for clinical interventions.
The ACTS include psychologists, social workers, speech and language therapists and addiction counsellors. The role of the service is to provide specialist assessment or intervention from specialists within the clinical team to young people in need of services. Provision of an in-reach psychiatric service is also provided through the Health Service Executive (HSE). Currently there is a psychiatrist and psychiatric nurse available to Oberstown who works in a collaborative way with other services on the Campus.
ACTS also engages in short term interventions, when children return to their communities, to support them to re-engage with mainstream services, as appropriate. The service is flexible in that, as children move between placements, it continues to provide clinical services.
ACTS supports professionals in their ongoing work with young people and also liaises with services to facilitate the continuation of ongoing therapeutic work when the young person’s detention ends.
55. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the degree to which her Department continues to liaise with youth organisations with a view to identifying their concerns and putting in place measures to address issues arising; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50212/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department maintains close contact with the national youth organisations and I and officials from my Department meet formally with these organisations twice a year to share knowledge and information on developments in the youth sector. A separate meeting is held on that day with the five national organisations in receipt of targeted youth funding to keep them updated on the ongoing work on the Value for Money and Policy Review reforms. My Department has commenced a process with national youth organisations and local services to identify service development needs for 2018.
Youth Officers of the Education and Training Boards provide an important support role to my Department in the co-ordination and administration of youth services at local level across the country. In order to keep my Department informed of their ongoing work, officials hold quarterly meetings attended by all Youth Officers from across the country. These meetings assist my Department in identifying service needs, particularly for vulnerable young people. Recently the Youth Affairs Unit of my Department set up a working group with five Youth Officers focussed on strategic planning for future capital funding for the youth sector.
My Department holds quarterly meetings with Youth Work Ireland regarding the important work of this organisation. My officials have also recently attended a meeting of Youth Work Ireland Regional Directors and were pleased to accept an invitation to attend this meeting twice a year from now on. There is also ongoing active engagement between my Department and the youth constituency of the of the Better Outcomes Brighter Futures Advisory Council. A number of national youth organisations are members of this Council.
Officials from the Youth Affairs Unit are engaged with programmes run by the National Youth Council of Ireland such as the Youth Arts Strategic Review and Plan Advisory Steering Group and the National Health Programme Strategic Planning Working Group, both of which receive funding from my Department.
Officials from my Department also meet with youth organisations on an individual basis when the need arises.
56. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans to introduce a legal framework governing the use of single separation at Oberstown children detention campus. [50169/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn light of the developments and improvements detailed below regarding the use and monitoring of single separation, I have no plans to introduce a legal framework governing its use.
In January 2017 my Department published A National Policy on Single Separation Use in Secure Accommodation for Children: Special Care and Oberstown. It is my Department's policy that the use of Single Separation shall be a measure of last resort. Following my Department's publication Oberstown carried out a review of its Single Separation Policy. The revised Single Separation Policy for Oberstown, was approved by the Oberstown Board of Management in April 2017.
Arising from this review, the separation procedures are being reviewed and revised in line with the new policy. All staff are receiving refresher training on the policy and will receive training on the procedures once completed.
The number of separations that take place and the recording of what is deemed to be separation in line with the stated policy is a matter of concern which has emerged in the most recent HIQA inspection report. Under the current HIQA Action Plan for Oberstown, a process to ensure that unit managers monitor single separation records was established by the Deputy Director for Care Services and implementation of this process is the responsibility of the Deputy Director for Residential Services. Record keeping on the use of single separation and other restrictive practices have been further informed by an audit review undertaken by the Deputy Director for Care Services. Direction has been provided to all unit managers on the requirements to ensure that all staff comply with campus procedures and policies. Further monitoring of the records will be undertaken by Oberstown management and specific audits have been scheduled to be carried out by the end of 2017.
There is now a process in place to ensure that any extensions to the use of separation comply with these policies and procedures. This process includes the availability of senior management on a 24/7 basis to approve the use of separation, following a risk assessment, in specific instances.
57. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans to increase the funding for youth work projects in County Laois in view of the growing young population. [50223/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraLaois Youth Services received €86,803 in funding in 2017 under the Special Projects for Youth scheme. Under this Scheme, grant-aid is made available in respect of out-of-school projects for disadvantaged young people. Priority is given to projects in the spheres of special youth work initiatives, young homeless people, young people at risk of substance abuse and young travellers. Funding to staff-led youth services has generally been targeted at areas of disadvantage and not in proportion to the youth population of a county.
In addition, funding has been provided to Laois Offaly Education and Training Board under the Local Youth Club Grant Scheme, Youth Capital Funding Scheme and the Local Youth Club Equipment Scheme.
The Deputy may be aware that my Department is managing the most significant reform of youth services ever undertaken. This will provide an opportunity to identify need and to focus funding on young people most in need of intervention.
Under this reform earlier this year, I approved funding of €800,000 for the establishment of new youth projects and for the augmentation of a small number of existing youth services to meet new challenges arising from population increases. An application in respect of Laois was, unfortunately, not successful. However I would encourage further applications in respect of Laois for any funding that becomes available.
Future development and investment in youth services will be informed by the recently completed exercise which mapped youth service provision across the State. This mapping will assist the Department and the relevant ETB in developing a detailed social demographic profile in terms of both population numbers and deprivation levels. My Department is committed to working with Laois and Offaly ETB to identify need and explore ways to address this need where it emerges.
58. Deputy Kate O'Connell asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if the issue of Tusla registered child care services not taking part in the affordable childcare scheme has been addressed; if so, the measures that have been taken; if she has a record of the participating childcare providers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49853/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am delighted to state that as of November 22th, 3,274 services have signed up for the more affordable childcare measures I introduced in September 2017. This represents approximately 88% of Early Years services which provide non ECCE services. This number continues to rise and applications from providers wishing to provide these subsidies will continue to be accepted for the duration of the programme year.
A record of all participating providers is maintained by Pobal, which operates the Early Years schemes on behalf of DCYA. The 30 City and County Childcare Committees are also aware of services that have contracted and have offered information and support to outstanding services to enable them to sign up over the remainder of the programme year if they so choose.
I am delighted to state that the families of over 64,000 children are benefitting from these increased childcare supports, and the figure continues to rise on a daily basis. 30,000 children are receiving the Universal Payment, which amounts to as much as €1,040 per child under 3, per annum. 34,000 children, from families who need supports the most, are also receiving up to €145 per child, per week. The 64,000 children already represents 91% of the numbers we had estimated and, as I said before, continues to rise on a daily basis.
To respond to providers that had expressed concerns around the administration of these new measures, I recently announced payments totalling €3.5 million for all childcare providers who register for the enhanced childcare measures. These payments will be made in the coming weeks. This, in addition to €14.5m that has already been paid to childcare services in 2017, is in recognition of the administration associated with the schemes. This brings the total funding provided to support the administration of the schemes to €18 million in 2017.
59. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the status of the working group involving the HSE, the Department of Health and Tusla co-ordinating a focus for the State's provision of mental health services for young persons; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50146/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy officials, in collaboration with colleagues in the Department of Health, are currently identifying a date in December for the inaugural meeting of this group. It is envisaged that this group will comprise of representatives from the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, Department of Health, Health Service Executive and Tusla.
The key objective of the working group is to examine the psychological and mental health services for children and young people with the aim of ascertaining a clear continuum of provision, strengthening alignment and areas for improvement, centered on the needs of children and young people.
It is expected that the working group will meet bimonthly.
61. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans to review the funding structure of existing family resource centres as part of the Tusla business plan for 2018 in order to address previous funding reductions and differences in the funding structures between new and existing centres; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50213/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am placing a strong emphasis on family support services next year, and the development of capacity within the Family Resource Centre Programme.
Tusla, the Child and Family Agency currently allocates funding to 109 Family Resource Centres. This funding provides a contribution towards the running costs of centres.
In 2018, I am providing Tusla with additional funding of almost €3.0m for the Family Resource Centre Programme. This will allow for at least 11 new centres to be included in the Programme and also provides for increases in funding to existing centres next year.
I am doing this in recognition of the importance of early intervention and prevention in assisting vulnerable children and families in our local communities.
Decisions by Tusla in relation to the funding of individual centres will have regard to the location, size and catchment area of each centre.
In conclusion, I would like to acknowledge the valuable work of Family Resource Centres. I am pleased that I have secured additional resources to support them in their work with vulnerable children and families in our local communities.
63. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the funding allocated for the school completion programme; if the funding is sufficient to meet demand; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50170/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe total budget allocated to the School Completion Programme (SCP) in 2017 is €24.72m and my Department is currently working with the Educational Welfare Service of Tusla in relation to 2018 allocations. Under the Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools (DEIS) Plan 2017 a number of new schools are now included and will be joining the SCP from September 2018. In this regard it is anticipated that the provision of SCP supports in additional schools will require further resources to be made available to the SCP from 2018 onwards.
The School Completion Programme is a core element of the Educational Welfare Service provided by Tusla and I believe it is a crucial service for children, parents and schools. The SCP is a targeted fund which seeks to meet the needs of young people most at risk of early school leaving. The SCP aims to drive consistent improvement in the rates of school completion. It does this through the use of evidence based interventions to maintain vulnerable young people in mainstream education and to support young people who have dropped out of formal education to re-engage with learning.
The School Completion Programme is critical to ensuring that children who are most at risk of early school leaving are supported to stay in education. The further development of the School Completion Programme deserves careful reflection and analysis to ensure that it achieves the outcomes required. I also need ensure that services under the Programme are compliant with financial and governance rules, and that we have the best possible model of service delivery throughout the country. To this end, I am currently examining recommendations from the Educational Welfare Service of Tusla as to how best to strengthen and improve the Programme.
64. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the steps being taken to ensure young persons' cyber safety and her plans to publish a national strategy on children’s cyber safety. [50172/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraProtecting children from online abuse, bullying and grooming requires a whole of government approach. The devastating effects are becoming increasingly obvious in our homes, schools and communities.
While my department does not have a lead responsibility in this area, it does play an important role in a wider range of actions across a number of departments.
Last week, I met with the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Denis Naughten and the Minister for Justice and Equality, Charlie Flanagan, to discuss the cross-Government collaboration that is needed. A lot of work is being done by individual departments. However we need to develop an action plan involving all relevant departments to ensure that our actions are coordinated, complementary and robust. It is our intention to include the Minister for Health and the Minister for Education in the development of the action plan.
I am commencing all remaining provisions of the Children First Act 2015 on 11 December, 2017. The ongoing role of the statutory Children First Interdepartmental Implementation Group , which is chaired by my Department, is to ensure consistent implementation of the provisions of the Children First Act and Guidance across Government Departments, the HSE, the Gardaí and Tusla. Issues in relation to internet safety which have a child protection dimension and which require cross-Government collaboration or support can be raised in the context of the Group.
The National Youth Health Programme is a partnership between the HSE, the National Youth Council of Ireland and my Department. It aims to provide a broad based, flexible health promotion / education support and training service, to youth organisations and to all those working with young people in out-of-school settings. The ‘Web Safety in Youth Work’ resource, available on the National Youth Council’s website, provides valuable advice to young people on reporting online behaviour and on passing on concerns about the protection and welfare of a child or young person.
Combatting online child grooming is a matter for my colleague the Minister for Justice and Equality, and is addressed as part of a wide-ranging package of measures aimed at the reform of Ireland’s criminal law on sexual offences, set out in the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act, 2017. The Office for Internet Safety, an executive office of the Department of Justice and Equality, was established by the Government to take a lead responsibility for internet safety in Ireland, particularly as it relates to children.
In seeking to address the problem of bullying in all its forms we must tackle its root causes. This includes a focus on tackling prejudice, including homophobia, where it exists in our schools and wider society. My Department is currently developing an LGBTI+ National Youth Strategy, which is the first of its kind in the world and also makes a contribution towards the Government's broader commitment to continue to strive for full inclusion of LGBTI+ people in Ireland.
The implementation of the Action Plan on Bullying, which is being led by the Department of Education and Skills, provides the framework for the Government’s absolute commitment to working with a broad base of interests to protect children from bullying and the often devastating consequences that it can have.
65. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she is satisfied that the difficulties in Oberstown house are being resolved satisfactorily; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50194/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe safety and well-being of young people and staff in Oberstown is my primary concern.
In addressing the challenges posed by the issues on the Oberstown Children Detention Campus (Oberstown), the Board of Management commissioned independent reviews in a number of key areas including operations, security, health and safety and behaviour management. In addition, all policies are being reviewed especially in the areas of care, safeguarding and professional standards on the Campus.
There were a number of objectives for these reviews. Key among these is to ensure that full account is taken of the changes that have occurred in recent times. A further objective is to ensure that the optimum care and attention continues to be given to children residing in Oberstown. Essential to this is ensuring that the people working in Oberstown are supported through good organisation, training and development.
To ensure the implementation of each of the reviews’ recommendations, as appropriate, I established a Review Implementation Group in March 2017. This Implementation Group is tasked with analysing the recommendations from the reviews and setting out the requirements and issues which require to be addressed to allow their implementation highlighting resources and policy implications. The Group includes representatives from Campus staff and management, the Board of Management, my Department, a child development expert, representatives of the IMPACT Trade Union and is chaired by the chair of the Board of Management. The Implementation Group is tasked with analysing the recommendations from the Operational Review, as well as the Security Review, Behavioural Management Review and the two Health and Safety Reviews. Work processing all of the recommendations from the reviews has been ongoing since March 2017. In line with the terms of reference, a final report setting out the requirements and issues that need to be addressed to allow their implementation is currently being finalised and I understand it is to be presented to me in December 2017. Many of the recommendations have already been implemented or are works in progress.
My paramount objective for Oberstown is the safety and well-being of the children, the staff working in Oberstown and the people living in the local community. I believe that good progress has been made and the implementation of the recommendations of the 4 review reports will bring about further improvements.
66. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the schools taking part in the school completion programme have been asked to cut the number of students down to 10% of the current number of students they are working with; her views on whether the consequences of this decision will prove to be detrimental to many students' educational development; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45002/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraSchools participating in the School Completion Programme have not been asked to cut the numbers of students they are working with down to 10% of current numbers.
Schools have however been asked to ensure that the School Completion Programme funding is focused on achieving its primary purpose, that is, to target those children most at risk of early school leaving. Ireland's school completion rates have improved significantly over the years, but those children who remain at risk of early school leaving often now require intensive, highly customised interventions to support them to stay in school.
This year Tusla has asked School Completion Programme projects to identify the children most at risk and to provide the range of interventions these children require. In some instances this may reduce the number of children attending the School Completion Programme activities, but it should deliver better outcomes for vulnerable children most in need of the Programme.
To assist schools and projects with this new focus on high-risk children, a working group of SCP Coordinators and Tusla Educational Welfare staff developed a revised Annual School Retention Plan. Through this Plan, schools and projects can set out the universal and targeted measures they hope to use to meet the needs of their children.
The School Completion Programme is a core element of the Educational Welfare Service provided by Tusla and I believe it is a crucial service for children, parents and schools. I am committed to working with Tusla to see this important programme developed to its optimum.
67. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her role and involvement in the work leading from the Mulvey report on Dublin's north inner city in the area of child care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50195/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is very actively involved in the North East Inner City Initiative which is progressing apace on foot of the Mulvey Report. Officials from my Department are represented on the Senior Officials Oversight Group and the Programme Implementation Board. The Department of Children and Youth Affairs is also Chairing the Integrating Social Services subgroup under this initiative.
My Department is working to enhance alignment of existing initiatives in the North East Inner City as well as the development of other responses which add value to the actions of the Mulvey Report. This will achieve maximum impact in terms of integrating service delivery and impact relating to children, young people and their families.
One of the outcomes in the Mulvey Report Action Plan is that local Early Years providers should implement the Síolta and Aistear frameworks. My Department, along with the Department of Education and Skills, has a key role to play in that respect.
The implementation of Síolta and Aistear by early years services in the area is being supported by the Better Start quality development service and by the National Síolta Aistear Initiative. This is being done in collaboration with City and County Childcare Committees, National Voluntary Childcare Organisations.
Eight services in the North East Inner City have engaged with the Better Start quality development service to access mentoring supports. Of these, three have completed a programme of support, four are currently receiving mentoring supports and a further service has not yet started the programme. A further five services in neighbouring areas which are likely to have children from the North East Inner City attending have engaged with the Better Start service. Of these, two have completed the programme, two are currently in the programme and one has not yet started.
Alongside the Better Start quality development service, the National Síolta Aistear Initiative has provided training and resources to City and County Childcare Committees to support the implementation of the curriculum and quality frameworks. Dublin City Childcare Committee which provides supports to services in the North East Inner City has two members of staff trained as Síolta Aistear mentors who offer training, mentoring and coaching supports focused on supporting the implementation of Síolta and Aistear.
My Department will continue in 2018 to progress the actions in the Mulvey Report including those that relate to childcare to ensure that services and facilities are providing for the needs of the children and families in the North East Inner City.
68. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her views on the findings of the HIQA inspection of Oberstown children detention campus in regard to the concerns raised regarding periods of prolonged isolation; and the way in which she plans to address these concerns in order to safeguard the wellbeing of the children detained there. [50174/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn March 2017 the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) undertook an inspection at Oberstown Children Detention Campus. A number of areas which require improvement were identified. An Action Plan to address these areas was agreed between HIQA and Oberstown and published on the HIQA website. I understand that work in this regard is progressing in line with the timetable agreed in the Action Plan.
I very much welcome the comprehensive Action Plan to address those areas identified by HIQA that require improvement, and I will keep the implementation of this Plan under review.
I think it is important to point out that the HIQA report also identified a number of positive improvements at the Campus since the previous report. These include access by children to advocates; that children knew how to make a complaint and children now have a greater voice over the choice of activities on the campus.
HIQA raised issues in the most recent Report and in previous reports in relation to single separation and the recording of same. It is my Department’s policy that the use of any restrictive practice should only be a measure of last resort and as part of a continuum of planned interventions. The decision to separate a young person must at all times be a proportionate response to the risk posed by the young person.
After the publication of my Department’s national policy on single separation in January 2017, a review of the Separation Policy for Oberstown took place, and the Oberstown Board of Management approved the revised Single Separation Policy in April 2017. Arising from this review, the separation procedures are also being reviewed and revised in line with the new policy. All staff are receiving refresher training on the revised policy and will receive training on the revised operational procedures also.
An improved system of record keeping on the use of single separation has been further informed by an audit review that looked at staff compliance with campus procedures and policies. In order to ensure compliance with procedures senior management must sign off on periods of separation and, following risk assessments, any reviews for an extension. This process has been strengthened by making senior management available to front line staff on a 24/7 basis to sanction the initiation or extension of a period of separation.
Children who are remanded or sentenced at Oberstown have multiple complex needs and vulnerabilities. Providing an ethos of care for children with such complex needs is essential in the safeguarding of children in detention on the Oberstown Campus.
69. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her role in protecting children from online bullying, abuse and grooming; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50217/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer the Deputy to the reply that I provided to the same question that she asked as a Priority Question today.
70. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the progress made to address the issues raised in the special rapporteur on child protection's report on child protection processes and procedures of An Garda Síochána. [50183/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI understand that the Deputy is referring to the stand alone report commissioned by the Garda Síochána which was published as "Audit of the exercise by An Garda Síochána of the provisions of Section 12 of the Child Care Act 1991". I am happy to report that progress is being made across all 15 actions of the plan I put in place to address the issues raised in the report commissioned by the Garda Síochána into the use of section 12 of the Child Care Act 1991, as amended. The Strategic Liaison Committee, referred to below, is a high level forum between An Garda Síochána and Tusla which facilitates liaison on inter-agency matters. The current status of the recommendations is as follows:
- Recommendation 6.3.1 - Cultural change is being addressed by means of regular meetings by senior managers in the Garda Síochána and Tusla. The Strategic Liaison Committee, attended by senior representatives of Tusla and the Gardaí meets quarterly.
- Recommendations 6.3.3 and 6.3.14 - the assessment of needs and provision of supports for families and children are being addressed through Tusla's roll out of a new single national approach to child protection from November 2017 on. The "Signs of Safety" approach will help ensure appropriate supports and interventions are in place for families.
- Recommendation 6.3.5 - Substance misuse issues as a key indicator of risk: I have written to my colleague, the Minister for Health, bringing the concerns highlighted in the report about alcohol and substance misuse, and about children's mental health issues to his attention. It is noted that the Signs of Safety approach will continue to include parental use of drugs and alcohol as a core part of child assessment
- Recommendation 6.3.6 Data protection: The Strategic Liaison Committee is planning to bring any actions or legislative change to the attention of myself and Minister Flanagan at the start of 2018.
- Recommendation 6.3.7 - Protocols to support the commencement of the Children First Act 2015: A protocol between An Garda Síochána and Tusla is being finalised in advance of the commencement of the remaining provisions of the Children First Act 2015.
- Recommendation 6.3.13 - Assigning social workers to national specialist Garda child protection units: The Garda National Child Protection Unit has now been established. A senior staff member from Tusla has been working within the unit on an informal basis for some time and this position can now be formalised.
- Recommendation 6.3.14 - Appropriate assessment of the child's needs, including the child's mental health: My Department has written to the Departments of Health and Education in relation to the medical, educational and emotional needs of children subject to an emergency child protection action. My Department has also written to Tusla and the Strategic Liaison Committee to seek confirmation on the issue of impact and trauma, noting that Tusla's Signs of Safety approach to practice provides an appropriate, proportionate, and timely response to children 'at risk/in need'.
- Recommendation 6.3.17.1 - Delegation of Tusla's role under section 12: Tusla indicates that it was never the case that its role was implemented by a private provider. This is and has been exercised by Tusla. The private provider was contracted to make sure there were placements available to Tusla in these cases.
- Recommendation 6.3.17.2 - Use of foster placements and applicability of section 36(1)(b) of the Act: Tusla notes that a child received under section 12 is not in care but is in Tusla's custody. Tusla provides foster placements under section 15 of the Act that provides for accommodation of children for the purposes of part 3 of the Act (Protection of Children in Emergencies), which includes section 12.
- Recommendation 6.3.17.3 - Applicability of Child Care Act and regulations to foster care providers used to provide accommodation in urgent or emergency cases: Tusla have confirmed that the standards and regulatory obligations applicable to foster care generally are also applicable to foster care placements on an emergency basis - be that private provider or otherwise.
- Recommendation 6.3.17.4 - Standards to be applied for foster placements used under Part 3 Protection of Children in Emergencies of the Child Care Act 1991: Irrespective of the pathway into Tusla’s care, a placement with a private provider is subject to relevant standards. Private providers are inspected by HIQA under national standards.
- Recommendation 6.3.17.5 - Social work service to be provided out of normal office hours: Tusla’s immediate plan to enhance the out of hours service includes the integration of the three existing out of hours services into one national service. The Minister has secured funding in Budget 2018 and has asked Tusla to progress this project in early 2018.
I would note that research into the use of emergency care orders, under section 13 of the Child Care Act, is also progressing with Tusla.
As the Deputy may be aware, a member of the Garda Síochána has the power to enter a premises and remove a child to a place of safety if they have formed the view that there is immediate risk to the child and there is insufficient time to seek an emergency care order through the Courts.
71. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 71 of 17 October 2017, if a child care facility (details supplied) will be supported. [50193/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department made €1m of ‘CE Sustainability Funding’ available in 2017 to support services that had been impacted by staff qualification requirements in the 2016 Regulations. This funding was designed to ensure that these regulatory changes did not hinder service delivery or the availability of childcare places.
Services were required to satisfy certain criteria to avail of this funding. The criteria required that the service was providing at least one of the DCYA childcare schemes over the January to August 2017 period. Unfortunately the service in question was not operating any State funded schemes during this time, and therefore would not have qualified for the funding had it applied. I would also note that the application window for this funding closed on the 10th of November.
I am aware that the service has received support from both Pobal and its local Childcare Committee, and has recently registered for a number of childcare schemes funded by my Department.
I hope this funding will be of value to the service and assist it in the important work it does in challenging circumstances.
I am very conscious of sustainability challenges faced by many community/not for profit childcare services across the country. I am committed to continuing to seek additional investment to support them. My officials are currently developing policy priorities in respect of the €1.7m of Sustainability Funding I secured in Budget 2018, which I hope will again be of assistance to many services.
72. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the complaints and appeals mechanisms that are in place for foster care parents that feel that they or their foster child have been treated unfairly or inappropriately by Tusla; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50220/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn serving the best interest of the child, it is vital that the voices of foster carers and children in care are heard.
Foster carers can raise any issue or provide feedback directly with their link worker in the first instance, and subsequently with team leader or principal social worker, and they may also make representations to their Foster Care Committee. In addition, foster carers can make use of the Tusla, the Child and Family Agency feedback and complaints mechanism, "Tell Us". All foster carers may also submit a complaint to the Office of the Ombudsman if these mechanisms prove unsatisfactory.
A complaints system for children in care is part of the National Standards for Foster Care. Children coming into care are informed of how to make a complaint, verbally or in writing, and of their right to do so. This can be done directly with their social worker, or with the team leader or principal social worker. Alternatively, children in care can also use Tusla's "Tell us" process or make their complaint known to the Ombudsman for Children. The child's social worker, foster carers or advocacy groups often act on the child's behalf and provide support in making their views known. For example, Empowering People in Care (EPIC) is an independent organisation which works with and advocates on behalf of children and young people in care.
In addition, the Irish Foster Care Association (IFCA) independently advocates on behalf of foster carers, providing support and mediation services as needed in the event of differences that may arise. This includes a support helpline, funded by Tusla, which is available to all foster carers.
73. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the extent to which reports of children at risk of mental, physical or sexual abuse have been brought to the attention of her Department by various bodies under its aegis; the extent to which the services have been able to address the issues raised within a reasonable timeframe and in a satisfactory fashion; if deficiencies in the system have been identified; if corrective measures are required; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50211/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to assure the Deputy that Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, deals immediately with emergency cases, including for instance, if a child is in immediate physical danger or at immediate risk of sexual abuse. Social work duty teams keep high priority cases under review by regularly checking to ascertain risk to the child, and where necessary will reprioritise the case.
Tusla holds the statutory responsibility for child welfare and protection, and is the appropriate body to receive reports of concerns relating to children at risk. Each referral received by the Agency is assessed and dealt with on an individual basis by the relevant social work team. Every report of concern for the safety and well-being of a child is assessed and required action is identified. Preliminary screening is aimed at establishing the appropriateness of the referral to Tusla services and, if necessary, is followed by an initial assessment of the concern to determine the best course of action for the child and its family.
A number of key provisions of the Children First Act, 2015, have already commenced. On the 11th December the remaining parts of the Children First Act, 2015, will be commenced with the introduction of mandatory reporting by key professionals, mandated assisting, comprehensive risk assessment and the preparation of Child Safeguarding Statements by services for children. Tusla has developed online training for mandatory reporters. Children First guidelines will continue in parallel with the Act. This sets out the roles and responsibilities for all citizens to report child welfare and protection issues to Tusla, and where criminal matters are involved, An Garda Síochána.
I believe that we have made significant progress in our structures and practices for child protection. The Children First Act, 2015, is of particular significance, but I would see it as part of a suite of child protection legislation that includes the Acts relating to the National Vetting Bureau and the Withholding of Information on Offences against Children and Vulnerable Persons.
There is no room for complacency about our safeguarding measures and we will constantly review them to ensure that they are effective.
Tusla works closely with other care providers, including the Health Service Executive, in respect of access to primary care services, child and adolescent mental health services, disability and other services. Tusla and the HSE monitor their interagency relationship to ensure that they are working effectively in the best interests of children and families.
74. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the steps she is taking to address the considerable shortages in ECCE places that exist in certain parts of the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50216/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy 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.
It should be noted that the peak number of children attending ECCE in 2016/2017 was just over 120,000. The 2017/2018 numbers are expected (and on track) to be in line with 2016/2017 uptake. 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. The fact that 120,000 children were provided with ECCE places in April 2017 suggests that there is sufficient capacity to deal with the lower, be it all year round, number of 114,000.
As with the previous expansion of the ECCE programme, my Department is working closing with all of the City and County Childcare Committees to monitor a range of scheme related issues, including capacity. In the event that capacity issues emerge, we will seek to address these accordingly.
Recent media statements on this issue cited the total number of children aged 3-5 in the population and concluded that there was a capacity issue for ECCE. This did not account for the many 4 and 5 year olds already in primary school, nor those who opt for only one year of the ECCE Programme. The conclusion that a capacity issue exists is therefore inaccurate.
One of the measures I took in 2016, and again in 2017, was to support capital development. My Department provided €8.4million for its 2017 Early Years Capital funding programme and €4m for the 2016 Early Years Capital Funding Programme. The 2017 funding was made available to providers under three strands, the largest of which (€4.2m) went towards enabling services to provide additional childcare places. I will be announcing details of the 2018 Capital scheme in the very near future.
75. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the steps being taken to address access to adoption records for persons that spent time in mother and baby homes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50187/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAdoption information and tracing services are currently provided on an administrative basis by Tusla, the Adoption Authority of Ireland and by bodies that have been accredited by the Authority under the Adoption Act 2010, depending on who holds the records in question. I am aware that some people are trying to find out if and when they were in a particular mother and baby home irrespective of an adoption having taken place. My Department has engaged with Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, on this issue and the Agency has the resources to help former residents get access to relevant information.
The Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill 2016 provides for the first time a statutory entitlement to identity information for adopted persons. It provides for a structured and regulated access to information and tracing services for those affected by adoption. It sets out the information that can be provided and the circumstances in which it can be provided to adopted persons and provides that services will be provided by Tusla. A key provision in the Bill provides that an adopted person aged 18 years or over who was adopted prior to commencement of the Bill will be provided with the information required to apply for his or her birth certificate, subject to certain conditions. The Bill also provides for access to relevant records containing the information concerned that are held by the Authority. The Bill passed Second Stage in Seanad Eireann in May 2017 and will proceed to Committee Stage in the Seanad as soon as possible.
