Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 May 2018
397. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the back-up facilities available on an ongoing basis for children and young adults on leaving institutional care; her plans to improve this service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19132/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, the responsibility of my Department for children and young adults leaving institutional care relates specifically to those who are or have been in the care of the State. As the Deputy will also know, the aftercare provisions of the Child Care (Amendment) Act 2015 came into force on the first of September last. This means that there is now a statutory obligation on Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, to prepare an aftercare plan for each eligible child and young person. This plan encompasses the range of supports that a young person may need from all service providers, including Tusla, to help them make the transition to independent adult life. This might include identifying suitable accommodation, which for many young people may mean remaining with their former foster carer.
A minority of young people leaving care are at a more pronounced risk of entering unstable accommodation due to the complexity of their support needs. Funding is now available to Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) under the Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS) to provide accommodation to these particularly vulnerable young people. The security provided by a tenancy in CAS accommodation combined with the aftercare supports identified by Tusla as part of the aftercare planning process should ensure that these young people have a safe base from which to begin their independent life.
I am pleased to inform the Deputy that I have secured an additional €40 million for Tusla in 2018. This is the third year in succession that Tusla has received a significant increase in its funding, which now amounts to over €753m. The additional resources secured for Tusla in 2018 will assist in meeting key priorities. The additional investment will allow Tusla to recruit a range of additional staff to respond to areas of identified risk, and to meet increased demand for services, including aftercare supports.
