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Tuesday, 17 Apr 2018

Written Answers Nos. 1323-1338

Project Ireland 2040

Ceisteanna (1323)

Mary Butler

Ceist:

1323. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans under Project Ireland 2040 for Waterford Airport; his plans in the short term to extend the runway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16683/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The new National Development Plan, Project Ireland 2040, provides for continued Exchequer support for the smaller regional airports through my Department's Regional Airports Programme.

As the Deputy will be aware, capital supports under this Programme are targeted at grant-aiding investments in the areas of safety and security and to assist the smaller airports in ensuring compliance with international regulatory requirements in these areas.

Waterford Airport has received substantial Exchequer support in the past under the Regional Airports Programme - €20 million over the past 10 years - to assist it with implementing necessary safety and security related projects and activities. 

The scope of the Regional Airports Programme does not extend to supporting  the development of capacity expansions at the regional airports. The Exchequer does not invest in airports for development purposes, whether at State airports or regional airports.  Decisions of that nature - for example, the proposed runway extension at Waterford - are commercial matters for airports themselves and are outside the scope of the Programme.

Unfortunately, Waterford Airport has been without any scheduled air services since mid-2016. We must have regard to the prudent use of taxpayers’ money and we will not be in a position to consider further Exchequer support for Waterford unless and until we have visibility on a sustainable future for the airport. The airport authorities in Waterford are aware of this position.

The current position is that my Department is arranging for an independent consultant to undertake a review of the options for Waterford Airport and it is hoped to have this review completed by mid-year.

Roads Maintenance

Ceisteanna (1324)

Mary Butler

Ceist:

1324. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans in the short term to address poor road quality, potholes and so on in rural areas as a result of the extreme weather events experienced in recent months; and the extra funds that have been allocated to each local authority to address these issues in tabular form. [16684/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of local authorities, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from the Council's own resources supplemented by State road grants.  The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is also a matter for the local authority.

I announced the 2018 regional and local road allocations on 29th January and all grant funding available to my Department has now been allocated.  It is for each Council to determine its priorities and decide its work programme on that basis, taking available grant funding and its own resources into account.  At present, there is no additional funding available to my Department.

Road Projects

Ceisteanna (1325)

Robert Troy

Ceist:

1325. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when upgrade works to the N4 will be carried out; the timeframe for these works. [16742/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme.  The planning, design and operation of individual roads is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.  Within the budget available to it, the allocation of funding to individual projects is a matter for TII.

Noting the above position, I have referred the Deputy's questions to TII for direct reply.  Please advise my private office if you don't receive a reply within 10 working days.

A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 42A.

Domestic Violence Refuges Provision

Ceisteanna (1326)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Ceist:

1326. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the length of time the women's refuge in Rathmines has been closed; when it is planned to reopen; her plans to open additional refuges in the Dublin region; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16389/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has statutory responsibility for the care and protection of victims of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence.

I have requested the required information from Tusla in order to respond to this question. I will forward this information to the Deputy when it has been received.

The deferred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Ceisteanna (1327)

Catherine Connolly

Ceist:

1327. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the reason requests by individuals and groups to have their evidence heard in public have been refused by the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16714/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

In accordance with section 9 of the Commissions of Investigation Act 2004, it is essential to recognise that the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes is independent in the performance of its functions. The engagement with witnesses is a matter for the Commission to manage and progress and I do not have any role or information in this regard.

The legislative framework requires that evidence is given in private to facilitate fact finding while also protecting the rights of all individuals and groups to fair procedure. The Commission may hear all or part of the evidence of a witness in public if it is satisfied that it is in the interests of both the investigation and fair procedures to do so, or where the Commission agrees to the request of a witness to provide all or part of his or her evidence in public. These are operational considerations for the independent Commission.

Family Resource Centres

Ceisteanna (1328)

Catherine Connolly

Ceist:

1328. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of family resource centre funding applications received under the last round of funding by county in tabular form; the criteria used in determining the outcome of the applications; the nature of the appeals process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15110/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

In Budget 2018, I secured an additional €3.0m for Tusla to support the Family Resource Centre Programme. The additional funding provided is being used to support the 109 existing Family Resource Centres, and also provides for expansion of the Programme with the inclusion of 11 new centres. Following a public application process, Tusla recently announced the eleven centres which are being included in the Programme this year. 

Tusla received a high number of applications, 47 in total, for inclusion in the programme. The criteria considered included the size and make-up of the geographical area; the social and economic conditions of the specified area; and the overall population breakdown of the area that would be serviced by the centre. The criteria also considered the structure of the organisation(s) applying to the Programme; their objectives, targets, and current relationships with other organisations; and the inclusion of available research, community projects, and needs assessments with the application. Tusla has advised that there is no process in place for appeals.

It is important that the needs of children and families are met in the best way possible, particularly in areas of disadvantage. Through its Prevention, Partnership and Family Support network, Tusla will continue to provide supports through the targeting of additional resources to services that will impact positively on vulnerable children and families. I will continue to support the work of Family Resource Centres and family support services throughout the country.

The number of applications to the Family Resource Programme, and their county of origin, are outlined in the following table.

 

County

Number of Applications

1.

Carlow

0

2.

Cavan

1

3.

Clare

2

4.

Cork

7

5.

Donegal

2

6.

Dublin

6

7.

Galway

2

8.

Kerry

1

9.

Kildare

2

10.

Kilkenny

1

11.

Laois

1

12.

Leitrim

0

13.

Limerick

3

14.

Longford

1

15.

Louth

1

16.

Mayo

1

17.

Meath

2

18.

Monaghan

3

19.

Offaly

1

20.

Roscommon

1

21.

Sligo

0

22.

Tipperary

4

23.

Waterford

1

24.

Westmeath

0

25.

Wexford

2

26.

Wicklow

2

 

 

 

 

Total

47

Family Resource Centres

Ceisteanna (1329)

Catherine Connolly

Ceist:

1329. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when the next round of funding for family resource centres will become available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15111/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

As part of Budget 2018, I secured an additional €3.0m for Tusla to support the Family Resource Centre Programme in 2018, and was pleased to announce the inclusion of an additional 11 community organisations to the Programme.

It is not possible at this stage to speculate as to the level of funding that may be available to Tusla to further support the Family Resource Centre Programme in 2019. This issue will be clarified in the context of the 2019 Estimates process, and having regard to the overall level of funding available to Tusla next year.

I very much value the excellent work of the Family Resource Centres as they seek to combat disadvantage and to provide supports for the improvement of family life. The Family Resource Centre Programme emphasises the involvement of communities in tackling the problems they face, working inclusively with service users, and creating successful partnerships between voluntary and statutory agencies at community level.

Children First Guidelines

Ceisteanna (1330)

Anne Rabbitte

Ceist:

1330. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her Department has written to employers of persons designated as mandated reporters under the Children First Act 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15177/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

My Department has not written to employers of persons designated as mandated persons under the Children First Act. As with any regulatory regime, it is a matter for each organisation to establish whether it has any statutory obligations under the Act and to discharge those obligations accordingly.

Children First Guidelines

Ceisteanna (1331)

Anne Rabbitte

Ceist:

1331. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her Department has offered in-person training for persons designated as mandated reporters under the Children First Act 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15178/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

It is the responsibility of each organisation to ensure that its staff receive adequate and appropriate child welfare and protection training to meet their child protection obligations under the Act. 

To assist organisations in this regard, my Department and Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, worked collaboratively to produce a suite of information and training resources, which were launched on 2nd October 2017. 

These resources included the revised and updated edition of Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children, which was prepared by my Department, and an e-learning training module, entitled Introduction to Children First, which was prepared by Tusla.

The e-learning programme is a 90 minute training module which is universally available and free of charge. The module covers the recognising and reporting of child abuse, the role of mandated persons, and the safeguarding responsibilities of organisations working with children. The training module is available through the Tusla website www.tusla.ie .

Children First Guidelines

Ceisteanna (1332)

Anne Rabbitte

Ceist:

1332. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if a more specific definition of the term "relevant person" will be provided, who will serve as the first point of contact in respect of an organisation dealing with children and young persons as set out on page 30 of the Children First Guidelines 2017, if this person is a child protection officer; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15179/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Section 8 of the Children First Act defines a relevant person as "a person who is appointed by a provider of a relevant service to be the first point of contact in respect of the provider's child safeguarding statement."

It is a matter for each provider to appoint a relevant person for the purposes of the child safeguarding statement. While this person may be the child protection officer of an organisation, there is nothing in the legislation which requires this.

Children First Guidelines

Ceisteanna (1333)

Anne Rabbitte

Ceist:

1333. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her Department monitors organisations working with children and young persons to verify whether they have developed a child safeguarding statement. [15180/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

My Department will not be monitoring all organisations providing relevant services to children to establish whether they have developed a child safeguarding statement.

The obligations of all Government Departments regarding oversight and compliance with the Children First Act are set out in section 27 of that Act. 

Section 27 requires each Government Department to prepare and publish a Sectoral Implementation Plan that outlines the programme of measures to be taken to ensure that the Department, and any body that provides a relevant service and receives funding from that Department, comply with the provisions of the Act.

The Sectoral Implementation Plan for my Department, which was published in March 2018, is available on www.dcya.gov.ie. It contains information about:

a) relevant services provided by or on behalf of the Department;

b) measures taken or proposed to be taken to promote, review and report on compliance with the provisions of the Act and of the guidelines issued by the Minister under Section 6;

c) monitoring and review procedures, and 

d) such other matters (if any) as the Minister considers appropriate.

The Deputy may wish to note that sections 12 and 13 of the Children First Act provide that Tusla has the authority to establish a maintain a register of non-compliance to those organisations who fail to produce a child safeguarding statement when requested to do so. Tusla has recently established a Child Safeguarding Compliance Unit and is currently developing a strategy to support implementation of this provision. As this is a new statutory obligation for many organisations, Tusla will focus on encouraging and supporting providers of relevant services to meet their statutory obligations and will endeavour only to place relevant service providers on the register where a supportive approach has proved unsuccessful.

Children First Guidelines

Ceisteanna (1334)

Anne Rabbitte

Ceist:

1334. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her Department applies a sanction to organisations that have a statutory responsibility under the Children First Act 2015 to conduct a risk assessment and to prepare a child protection statement and they fail to do so; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15181/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Children First Act 2015 was fully commenced on 11 December 2017. The provisions commenced on that date include those relating to the obligations on organisations providing services to children to keep children safe from harm, to carry out risk assessments and to prepare and publish Child Safeguarding Statements.

Providers of relevant services to children were required to meet their statutory obligations [i.e. to undertake a risk assessment and to prepare and publish a Child Safeguarding Statement] within three months of the date of commencement, i.e. by 11th March 2018.

Sections 12 and 13 of the Children First Act make provision for the Child and Family Agency to establish and maintain a register of non-compliance for providers of relevant services who fail to provide a copy of the Child Safeguarding Statement to Tusla when requested to do so. Tusla has recently established a Child Safeguarding Compliance Unit and is currently developing a strategy to support implementation of this provision. As this is a new statutory obligation for many organisations, Tusla will focus on encouraging and supporting providers of relevant services to meet their statutory obligations and will endeavour only to place relevant service providers on the register where a supportive approach has proved unsuccessful.

Child Protection Guidelines

Ceisteanna (1335)

Anne Rabbitte

Ceist:

1335. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if the criteria by which Tusla social workers assess a child protection welfare concern that has been reported to the agency at the initial stage will be published; the criteria used to assess whether the concern should be given further examination; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15182/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Tusla's response to all reports of child welfare and protection is detailed in the Tusla Child Protection and Welfare Practice Handbook, which is available on the Tusla website (www.tusla.ie).  This covers both the immediate and initial areas of consideration and the various responses Tulsa offer to children and families to ensure child protection and welfare concerns receive the right response at the right time for the right reasons.

A child welfare concern can be a problem experienced directly by a child, or the family of a child, that is seen to impact negatively on the child's health, development and welfare, and that may need assessment and support, but is not presenting as child protection.

A child protection concern  arises when there are reasonable grounds for believing that a child may have been or is at risk of being physically, socially or emotionally abused or neglected.

The first consideration when receiving a referral is the immediate safety of the child. All referrals to the Social Work Service of Children and Family Services are screened on the day they are received irrespective of the source.

Upon receipt of a referral, the Duty Social Worker carries out preliminary enquiries to clarify the nature of the concern, records the personal details of the child and family, and checks the Social Work records for previous contact.

Unless the concern is resolved in the course of the referral process, an initial assessment is undertaken. This will include meeting the child and meeting the child’s parents, as well as contacting professionals involved in order to develop an understanding of the child and their circumstances. The purpose of the assessment is to reach a preliminary conclusion about unmet need and risk of harm in order to plan and provide an appropriate response.

Where, following initial assessment or at any other juncture in the child protection and welfare process, it is necessary to carry out a more specific or comprehensive analysis of a child‘s circumstances, a further assessment will be undertaken. Further assessment may be in the form of a core social work assessment or may be based on specialist assessment by an allied service – e.g. addiction services, child psychology or adult mental health.

When an initial assessment concludes that a child has unmet needs requiring Social Work intervention but the child is not at ongoing risk of significant harm, a Family Support Plan is agreed with the family and reviewed at intervals not exceeding 6 months. The Family Support Plan may be developed at a formal meeting or by informal contacts with the child, family and professionals involved.

Where, following initial assessment, the primary concern is physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse or neglect, and it is determined that a child is at ongoing risk of significant harm, the child protection process outlines the pathway that must be followed. Formal oversight of the safeguarding of this cohort of children by the Principal Social Worker for Children and Family Services is a crucial feature of the child protection process.

The criteria for a member of the public or a mandated person to consider a referral of a child protection or welfare concern is also detailed in Children First National Guidance and in Tusla's Children First Guide for the Reporting of Child Welfare and Protection Concerns. All these documents are accessible to the public through the Tusla website.

Consultancy Contracts Data

Ceisteanna (1336)

Alan Kelly

Ceist:

1336. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the amount of expenditure on consultancy by her Department in each of the years 2015 to 2017; the number of consultants engaged by her Department in those years; the names of the consultancy companies awarded contracts; and the steps that have been taken to reduce the expenditure on consultancy and the reliance on consultants by her Department in these years and for the future. [15204/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

My Department engages a wide variety of professional services to provide advice within a particular field of expertise where such expertise is not readily available within my Department. This ranges from archaeology services to the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes to ICT related professional services, such as web design and maintenance. Other areas include graphic design, copy editing, proof reading, audit and HR related services such as learning & development supports.

The amount of expenditure spent on such consultancies in the period 2015 to 2017 is set out in the table. This expenditure related to eighty four individual consultants or consultant companies. These figures do not include details of legal opinions or advices received as they are not defined as consultants.

2015

2016

2017

Overall Total

Total Expenditure

€552,584

€643,743

€1,251,263

€2,447,590

Name of Company

Aidan Harte T/A Munster Archaeology

Atlas Geophysical Ltd.

Axiseng - Professional Service

Beaumont Hospital - Risk Assessment

Brenda O'Hanlon

Brian Harvey Social Research

Capita

Carmel Corrigan

Carole C Devaney

Centre for Effective Services

Dan Mulvihill & Assoc. Consulting Engineers Ltd

Dara Dooge

Darragh Buckley

Deirdre Fullerton - Insights

Deirdre McGuillicuddy

Nick Frost

Dermot O' Brien

DIT

Downes Associates

Dr Anne Sanson

Dr Brian Farrell

Dr John Bynner

Dr Satya Brink

Dr. Nelleke Bakker

Dymphna Devine

Educative

Elliot & Fitzgerald -Warehouse Premises & Land Valuation

EMC Radar Consulting

Ernst & Young

Eurofins Forensic Services Ltd

Foroige

Fusio

Glasgow Caledonian University

Hugh Kavanagh

ICA Training

Imelda Coyne

IT Executive Focus

James Gallen

James Hutton Limited

Javelin Direct Marketing - Oberstown Brochure Design

Jim Halley T/A 2 Collaborate Ltd

JJ Campbell & Associates - Engineering Consultancy

John Malone - Process Auditor

Kathleen C O'Flaherty

Linda Lynch

Liz Harper

Malayo Ltd

Mandy Johnston

Mazars

Media Coop Productions Ltd.

Michael Little

Middlequarter

Mindful Facilitation

Monsignor Gordon F Read

Naomi Eisensdtadt

Niamh Malone

Niamh McCullagh

NJN Consulting

Noel Fitzgerald

NYCI

O'Hanlon Media

OSC Consulting Engineers Ltd

Paul Boland Consultancy

Paul Harrison

Paul Snell

Penhouse Design Ltd

Persuasion Republic

Peter Smyth Consultancy

Print Media Services Ltd.

Professor Gordon T Cook

QSR International (UK) Ltd

Research Matters Ltd.

Sandra Roe

Scottish Universities

Screenlink

Shorecontrol Safety

SouthPaw Pictures

Susan Carey

Tallaght West Childhood Development Initiative

TCD

Tom Beegan & Associates

UCC - Deirdre Horgan

UCC - Ursula Kilkelly

UCL Consulting (Ingrid Schoon)

In order to reduce costs, my Department avails of Framework Agreements negotiated by the Office of Government Procurement (OGP) where possible. A number of areas where consultancy costs are being experienced do not always lend itself to OGP frameworks. This can arise particularly in the area relating to the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes and the Irish Youth Justice Services.

My Department is developing its internal resources to help reduce dependance on certain types of consultancies such as internal audit, HR and ICT advice.

Legislative Measures

Ceisteanna (1337)

Pearse Doherty

Ceist:

1337. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of legislative measures both enacted and published by her Department which originated in work carried out by the Law Reform Commission in each of the past ten years in tabular form; the details of each legislative measure in the corresponding year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15342/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Since the establishment of the Department of Children and Youth Affairs in 2011, none of the legislation enacted or published by this Department originated in work carried out by the Law Reform Commission.

Child and Family Agency Staff

Ceisteanna (1338)

Pearse Doherty

Ceist:

1338. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of permanent staff employed by Tusla in each of the years 2014 to 2017 and to date in 2018. [15581/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Tusla has advised that the number of permanent staff employed by Tusla in each of the year 2014 to 2017 and up to the 28 February 2018 (latest data available), is as follows:

2014

 

2015

 

2016

 

2017

 

Feb-18

 

Headcount

WTE

Headcount

WTE

Headcount

WTE

Headcount

WTE

Headcount

WTE

3666

3265.61

3835

3238.79

3738

3326.81

3821

3424.09

3859

3433.53

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