Written Answers Nos. 1-37
5. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the reason the CEO of Tusla has resigned; if she has met with the person since the resignation; if the CEO highlighted issues of concern to her; and the steps she will take to recruit a replacement. [38072/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Board of the Child and Family Agency, Tusla, informed me on 30 August, 2018 of the decision of the Chief Executive Officer, Mr Fred McBride to resign from his position.
The resignation is to take effect from 30 September 2018. Mr McBride has completed five years with Tusla, first as Chief Operations Officer and then as Chief Executive Officer, and has decided to leave the organisation at this point.
I know that the Board accepted the Chief Executive Officer’s decision with regret, and acknowledged his contribution to the Agency over a period of five years.
I want to thank Mr McBride for his dedication and commitment to the work of Tusla, and to the well-being of children and young people. I believe he has made a very valuable contribution to the development of Tusla as an organisation, and I wish him well for the future.
I have not met with the Chief Executive Officer since the announcement of his resignation, nor have I had any discussion with him since then. I have, of course, had meetings and discussions with the CEO on a regular basis since I became Minister for Children and Youth Affairs in May 2016.
Under Section 28(1) of the Child and Family Agency Act, 2013, the Board of the Child and Family Agency is responsible for the appointment of the Chief Executive Officer in accordance with the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act, 2004.
The Board of the Child and Family Agency is currently considering the process for the appointment of a new Chief Executive Officer.
14. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the steps she is taking to support stay-at-home parents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37903/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is committed to supporting parents in caring for young children at home in a range of ways.
Within the remit of my Department, a number of schemes provide support to parents whether they work full time, part time, or look after their children at home.
For example, from this month, all children will be entitled to access two years of free pre-school through the Early Childhood Care and Education programme (ECCE) during the two years before they start primary school. Some 114,000 children are expected to benefit, many of whom will be children of stay-at-home parents.
Furthermore the current targeted childcare schemes are available to families where parents are in receipt of certain social welfare payments, medical cards, or GP Visit cards, again many of whom are stay-at-home parents.
A universal childcare subsidy is available to all parents of children under the age of three, or whenever the child becomes eligible for ECCE, regardless of whether parents are working or not. The Affordable Childcare Scheme, ACS, which is under development will make childcare subsidies available on the basis of family income and will be available to stay-at-home parents. This is underpinned by the Childcare Support Act 2018.
My Department also provides funding for local parent and toddler groups to organise activities for parents and young children in the community to support their development through play. Working parents and stay-at-home parents participate.
More widely across Government, there are various initiatives that support stay-at-home parents. A child benefit payment of €140 per child per month is available for all children. Budget 2018 increased the home carer tax credit to €1,200 per year.
There has also been a number of new measures to support parents to spend time at home with children in their early years. Two weeks of paternity leave and benefit for fathers was introduced in 2016. In 2017, there was an extension to maternity leave and benefit to mothers of babies born prematurely.
My Department is currently drafting a cross-Government early years strategy. The strategy will include a range of measures to support families given the fundamental importance they play in shaping children’s outcomes. I look forward to updating the House on those developments later this year.
15. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the rationale for not ordering the publication of a review (details supplied), preventing full public scrutiny of its findings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37906/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra36. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when she plans to publish the operational review of the children’s detention centre at Oberstown; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37915/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 15 and 36 together.
The Operational Review of Oberstown Children Detention Campus was commissioned by the Board of Management of Oberstown in September 2016. The final report was received by the Board in February 2017.
It is imperative that a report of this kind should observe due process and fair procedures, so that all persons referred to are treated appropriately. The Board of Oberstown has taken legal advice on the question of publication.
On the basis of careful examination, the Board was not in a position to satisfy itself, or me, that fair procedures had been applied before the report was finalised and submitted. In light of this advice, and of my own careful consideration of the matter, I have concluded that it is not appropriate to publish the full report.
However, the recommendations of the report, all of which are at the kernel of how we move forward, were published in July 2017 and are being implemented as part of a significant package of reform in Oberstown.
I am pleased that over the past 2 years there is evidence of positive change in the day to day operations. I met with some young people when I visited Oberstown on a number of occasions in recent months. These young people were anxious that the many positives about Oberstown should be highlighted.
In addition to the Operational Review, the Board commissioned a number of other reports at the same time, with a view to engaging external expertise to support the development of the Campus. These reviews included security, health and safety and behaviour management.
I established a Review Implementation Group which began work in March 2017 and has collated, categorised and analysed these recommendations. The Group’s final report, received in December 2017, produced a coherent plan to implement the various recommendations. Many of the recommendations are matters relating to the operations of the Campus.
Others relate to the oversight, strategy and policy activity of both the Board of Management and the Irish Youth Justice Service within my Department. The updated Action Plan from the Review Implementation Group was completed in May 2018 and was published on my Department’s website.
HIQA is authorised by me under Sections 185 and 186 of the Children Act 2001 to undertake inspections of Oberstown Children Detention Campus. The most recent was an unannounced inspection over 5 days last March.
In this context, HIQA accepted an invitation from Oberstown to review the report of the Operational Review. I would hope that the report of the findings from the inspection, which is due to be published shortly, will reflect the positive improvements at Oberstown. I understand the report will be published in the next few weeks.
A key priority for my Department is the implementation of key recommendations to bring about improvements in standards, which is now well underway. My Department will support and, where appropriate, monitor the changes which need to take place to ensure that international standards and best practice are observed and that any barriers or challenges to maintaining an ethos of care are identified and addressed.
16. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her views on whether family resource centres are in receipt of an appropriate level of funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37972/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraTusla, the Child and Family Agency, administers the Family Resource Centre Programme.
Among my key priorities for 2018 was further investment in Family Resource Centres in local communities that deliver services to families, especially in disadvantaged areas across the country.
In 2018, I was pleased to secure a budget allocation of some €753 million for Tusla, an increase of some €40 million over 2017.
This increase in funding included an additional allocation of some €3 million for the Family Resource Centre Programme, bringing the total funding this year to €16.5m.
The investment has allowed Tusla to expand the Programme this year, with the inclusion of 11 additional centres, which brings the total number of Family Resource Centres to 120.
I allocated additional funding of up to €10,000 to all pre-existing Family Resource Centres this year. In financial terms, funding to the Programme is now the highest it has been for almost a decade.
Tusla has advised that funding for individual Family Resource Centres can differ, depending on a range of factors, including:
- the size and population of the catchment area,
- the degree of economic disadvantage in the area, and
- the existing distribution of services in the area.
Decisions with regard to funding levels in 2019 will be taken in the context of the Estimates process. For this reason, it is not possible at this stage to advise on what level of funding will be available to the Family Resource Centre Programme next year.
I am pleased to have been in a position to support the work of Family Resource Centres this year, through the targeting of additional resources to services that will impact positively on vulnerable children and families.
I am committed to the further development of Family Resource Centres and I will continue to seek funding for them as part of the Budget discussions for 2019.
17. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the degree to which she is satisfied that children's support and welfare services are adequately geared and focused to deal with all situations that arise quickly and effectively when brought to the attention of the authorities; if specific issues have emerged in the past which might indicate otherwise; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38005/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am satisfied that children’s support, welfare and protection services are geared towards and focused on dealing with the situations brought to the attention of the authorities, because we have a national agency dedicated to doing just that.
Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, was established in 2014 to bring the exact focus that the Deputy is talking about to the welfare and protection issues affecting children and their families.
All urgent and emergency cases receive immediate attention by the local duty social work team. Other cases are screened as they arrive into Tusla and are referred to family support services or dealt with by child protection teams, as needed.
I am very aware of cases awaiting allocation to a dedicated social worker. These cases are given appropriate attention by the duty team, which can include checking with professionals who see the child regularly, or visiting the child and family at home, getting additional information about the child's situation and in some instances, where a child is in care, organising a Care Plan Review and visiting the child.
The Deputy may be aware that this week is Tusla's Child and Family Support Week. Tusla aims to provide information and raise awareness of the support services that are provided to parents, children, young people and communities right across Ireland. I urge everyone to familiarise themselves with the services in their area, and to look out for the events scheduled throughout the week.
It is important that Tusla works in an open, transparent way, and their child protection and welfare function is subject to scrutiny against standards. Tusla is inspected internally, by the Health Information and Quality Authority, and specific cases are referred to the National Review Panel.
The transition to a single national agency responsible for the welfare and protection of children has not always been easy and much work remains to be done. Challenges are ongoing in respect of the recruitment and retention of staff, the integration of key services for children and families and the vital cross agency working that allows for quick and effective responses to all the situations referred to or dealt with by Tusla.
18. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans to develop targeted supports for parents and guardians in County Wexford paying for childcare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37905/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department’s childcare schemes are run on a national basis and hence are available to all counties. The staff and Boards of 30 City and County Childcare Committees assist my Department in ensuring that schemes and other initiatives we operate nationally meet local need.
The Government is committed to continuing to increase investment in high-quality childcare, prioritising families on low incomes. As part of our commitment to improving access to high quality and affordable childcare we have introduced a number of new developments:-
The universal Early Childhood Care and Education programme (ECCE) has been expanded to two full programme years from September 2018.
A new universal subvention payment worth up to €1040 per annum for children under 3 was introduced from September 2017.
A variety of targeted programmes provide for the most vulnerable children in Ireland and reinforce our strong social inclusion and equality agenda. The Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) Programme is a childcare programme targeted to support parents/guardians on a low income to avail of reduced childcare costs at participating community childcare services.
This scheme was expanded to the Community Childcare Subvention Plus (CCSP) Programme to enable privately owned childcare services to provide the same level of targeted subvention childcare for lower income families.
My Department is making strong progress in developing the new Affordable Childcare Scheme. The ACS will replace all of the existing targeted schemes. Officials from my Department, along with colleagues in Pobal, have been working to develop the legal, technical and administrative infrastructure required.
The scheme will provide financial support for parents, establish a sustainable platform for investment in the childcare sector for decades to come, and crucially allow us to continue to invest in giving our children the best start in life.
19. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if a geo-survey of a location (details supplied) will be committed to in order to ensure the preservation of the integrity of the cemetery, especially the angels' plot; and if her attention has been drawn to the possible implications of the sale. [37990/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, Sean Ross Abbey is one of the institutions currently being investigated by the statutory Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes and certain related Matters.
As part of its terms of reference the Commission is directed to investigate and to make a report on burial arrangements in respect of persons who died while resident in these institutions.
It is a matter for the independent Commission to determine the methodology and approach it deems appropriate in the course of its investigations. The Commissions of Investigation Act 2004 provides the Commission with significant powers to support the conduct of its investigations.
Given the on-going work of the Commission, I have no plans to carry out any parallel or separate investigations at the site of this former institution. Any future decisions or actions will be informed by the outcome of the Commission's investigations on this and related matters.
With regard to the potential sale of any site or premises previously connected to the institutional care of unmarried mothers and their babies, the issue may not be the sale in itself, but the potential impact that might arise from a redevelopment of the site, and its effect on possible burials on the grounds on the site. Such a redevelopment could, of course, be proposed by existing owners as well as any potential new owners.
If any such a development was to be proposed, I understand there is scope within the planning process to address the existence and preservation of burial grounds and any related archaeological and heritage considerations.
20. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her attention has been drawn to the eleven HIQA reports to date in 2018 on foster services; and if she is satisfied that all recommendations and areas of concern are being addressed. [37909/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy attention is drawn to every report HIQA publishes.
I can inform the Deputy that there have now been 12 HIQA reports published in 2018 on foster care services. Each report contains an action plan, agreed with HIQA in advance of its publication, to address all areas of concern. A designated Tusla official is given responsibility for executing the action plan within a specified time-frame. HIQA then undertakes follow-up inspections to examine progress being made.
In 2018, HIQA carried out themed inspections of foster care across seven Tusla areas. Five private foster care providers have also been thematically inspected. These announced inspections have examined the recruitment, assessment, approval, supervision and review of foster carers.
A number of positive findings have been reported this year: General assessments of foster carers have been of good quality. Foundation training of newly approved foster carers has also been generally good. There was also some good practice in relation to support and supervision.
However, HIQA reports have also raised concerns, such as a national approach to recruitment and retention of foster carers. The areas/providers in which HIQA have found such deficiencies will develop initiatives to improve on the numbers of approved foster carers via recruitment and retention strategies.
HIQA will follow up on progress in accordance with respective action plans. There are also challenges in the recruitment and retention of social work staff, who are a vital part of the success of foster care service.
Overall, foster care in Ireland is of a good standard, largely due to the dedication of foster carers and their social work teams. The concerns HIQA have raised serve to highlight what needs to be improved. I, and my officials, will continue to actively engage with Tusla with a view to addressing all concerns and delivering the highest possible standard of foster care.
I value the important work HIQA does to assess and monitor the quality of our foster care services.
22. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the reason for the delay in enacting the Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill 2016. [37913/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill 2016 has passed Second Stage in the Seanad. As I am sure you know, the Bill seeks to respect the rights to identity and privacy, which sometimes conflict with one another.
Given the constitutional context, striking the balance between these rights is proving challenging. It is an important piece of legislation for many people. Attempts to introduce a Bill, as far back as 2001, have failed.
I am conscious of Deputies' interest in this important issue, and of our shared desire to move things forward. It is essential that the Bill progresses as quickly as possible, as it places the information and tracing service on a statutory footing for the first time.
It will also protect relevant records by bringing them into the custody of the Adoption Authority of Ireland, It will create offences for the concealment, destruction, mutilation or falsification of such records.
The Bill impacts on people who are the subject of illegal registrations, as well as adopted people. Officials are currently reviewing its provisions, in the light of the recent evidence emerging on illegal birth registrations, to ensure that it is robust in addressing this issue. If additional amendments to the Bill are required to ensure this, this can be addressed as the Bill goes through the Houses.
My intention is that the Bill will be enacted by the end of the year. I recently met with advocacy groups and my Oireachtas collegues which was informative and helpful. I intend to progress the Bill to Committee Stage in the Seanad as soon as possible.
I look forward to working with members of this House and of the Seanad so that all of us who wish to see this Bill implemented as soon as possible can work together to achieve this.
23. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the methodology of the scoping exercise into illegal birth registrations, illegal adoptions and other irregularities at mother and baby homes including the number of files and homes that will be included in the exercise; and when it is due to be completed. [37907/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked an Independent Reviewer, Ms Marion Reynolds to oversee a further analysis of relevant records held by Tusla and the Adoption Authority in the first instance.
The purpose of the exercise is to see if clear evidence of illegal registrations is evident in other records. The first meeting between Ms. Reynolds and the nominated representatives from Tusla and the Adoption Authority of Ireland took place in mid- June and I was expecting the final report within four months, i.e. by mid-October. However I have recently been advised that due to the complexity of the review, and in particular, issues arising in relation to data protection and the GDPR, it will be mid-December before Ms Reynolds will be in a position to provide me with the final report. I expect that details in relation to the methodology used in the review and the records reviewed, will be set out in that report.
The selection of records for examination will be agreed with the assistance of a statistician and the methodology overseen by Ms Reynolds.
Given the volume of records involved, in my view, we must first judge the likely incidence of cases that can actually be identified, through this analysis. I will then be in a position to judge the next steps which may be required.
The analysis of records can only be applied to those records which are currently in the custody of the State, i.e. to those records that are in the possession of either Tusla or the Adoption Authority of Ireland.
The work of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes will also be important in dealing with a range of other adoption related matters.
It is examining adoption practices in the cases of mothers and children who were resident in the institutions, within its terms of reference. The Commission is also required to examine the interaction of Mother and Baby Homes with other institutions, organisations and individuals who had involvement with children from these institutions.
For example, the Commission is examining the practices and policies within adoption societies involved in the placement of children from these institutions. This will provide an important insight into any potential irregularities involved.
I believe that the further analysis of records which has commenced, together with the ongoing work of the Commission, will be extremely important in helping us shape any further steps to be taken.
24. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes has been able to give equal attention to the other 15 institutions; and her views on the need to examine the other 15 institutions. [37992/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes and certain related Matters is an independent statutory investigation. I am not therefore in a position to provide detailed progress updates on this work. Any available updates would be posted by the Commission directly to its website.
The Commission's terms of reference, attached as a schedule to Statutory Instrument No. 57 of 2015, task the Commission with examining a range of specific concerns in respect of 14 named institutions. The terms of reference also require the Commission to identify a representative sample of those County Homes which provided comparable services to unmarried mothers and their children. The Commission has selected 4 named County Homes for this purpose.
While there are significant variations in the respective scale and duration of the operation of the different institutions, the Commission is required to equally address all the specified matters of public concern in respect of each setting.
For ease of reference, the Mother and Baby Homes and the selected sample of County Homes are as follows:
(A) Mother and Baby Homes:
1. Ard Mhuire, Dunboyne, Co Meath;
2. Belmont (Flatlets), Belmont Ave, Dublin 4;
3. Bessboro House, Blackrock, Cork;
4. Bethany Home, originally Blackhall Place, Dublin 7 and from 1934 Orwell Road, Rathgar, Dublin 6;
5. Bon Secours Mother and Baby Home, Tuam, Co. Galway;
6. Denny House, Eglington Rd, Dublin 4, originally Magdalen Home, 8 Lower Leeson St, Dublin 2;
7.Kilrush, Cooraclare Rd, Co. Clare;
8. Manor House, Castlepollard, Co Westmeath;
9. Ms. Carr’s (Flatlets), 16 Northbrook Rd, Dublin 6;
10. Regina Coeli Hostel, North Brunswick Street, Dublin 7,
11. Sean Ross Abbey, Roscrea, Co Tipperary;
12. St. Gerard’s, originally 39, Mountjoy Square, Dublin 1.
13. St. Patrick’s, Navan Road, Dublin 7, originally known as Pelletstown; and subsequent transfer to Eglington House, Eglington Rd, Dublin 4, and
14. The Castle, Newtowncunningham, Co. Donegal.
(B) County Homes
1. St. Kevin's Institution (Dublin Union)
2. Stranorlar County Home, Co. Donegal (St. Joseph's)
3. Cork City County Home (St. Finbarr's)
4. Thomastown County Home, Co. Kilkenny (St. Columba's).
25. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her attention has been drawn to the considerable shortages that exist within the ECCE system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37969/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI understand that the Deputy's question refers to capacity in the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) scheme, the fact that service providers may prioritise full time children over ECCE-only children, and that service providers do not always guarantee a childcare place for the second year of ECCE.
From September this year, the annual number of ECCE enrolments will be approximately 114,000. Given that over 118,000 places were filled in the last programme year, no significant overall capacity issues are anticipated for those expected to register for ECCE from September 2018. This is endorsed by preliminary data, to be published before the end of the year, from the annual Pobal Sector Profile, relating to ECCE places. My Department will continue to monitor this situation as registrations are received for the 2018/19 programme year.
Notwithstanding this, I recognise that there can be pressure in some localities. I would urge anyone experiencing difficulty securing an ECCE place to contact their local City or County Childcare Committee for assistance.
From September 2018, the ECCE Programme reverted to one single entry point only, in September, with eligible children entitled to two full years of ECCE provision for the first time, fulfilling a commitment made in the Programme for Government. I believe that we have sufficient places to deliver on this important commitment.
With regard to capacity generally in the system, my Department provided a total of €4.61 million in Capital funding in 2018 specifically for the creation of new childcare places. This represents the creation of some 1,950 additional early years childcare places, of which 1,253 are for ECCE.
In relation to the question of prioritising full day places and not guaranteeing places for a second ECCE year, these are primarily matters for the service providers, who are free to set their own policies in this regard. However, my Department actively seeks to ensure adequate capacity to allow service providers latitude to accommodate all children. If a gap in capacity is objectively identified, we can consider a range of measures to address this in collaboration with the local Childcare Committee.
26. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she is satisfied with the progress made by Tusla with regard to failings identified in the 14 June 2018, HIQA report which included issues such as record keeping, the development of safety plans for children and the handling of allegations, including those made by adults regarding abuse suffered as a child; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37917/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI understand that the Deputy is referring to the report of the Statutory Investigation into the management of allegations of child sexual abuse against adults of concern by Tusla, which I directed HIQA to undertake, and which was published in June of this year.
I can inform the Deputy that I am satisfied with the progress made by Tusla to date.
Tusla has developed a time bound action plan, as required by recommendation one of the report, to address all areas of non-compliance with National Standards for the Protection and Welfare of Children identified by HIQA, and all recommendations made throughout the report. This includes actions to address the issues raised by the Deputy. Specifically, a records management policy and a module for the National Child Care Information System will be developed to address deficits in record keeping. Safety planning and retrospective cases will be formalised, the terms will be defined and new processes will be implemented throughout the service. A revised policy on managing allegations, including retrospective allegations of abuse, will be implemented nationally.
The report also recommends the establishment of an Expert Assurance Group to support and advise Tusla and my Department on the implementation of the recommendations in the report.
I am pleased to report that I have established this Expert Assurance Group, which is chaired by Dr Moling Ryan. The members of the group have governance, social work, HR, child protection and legal expertise. The group has met and terms of reference are agreed. The group will continue to meet monthly and will formally consider Tusla's progress in implementing its action plan.
My Department will continue to work with Tusla and to support the Expert Assurance Group to progress and monitor the implementation of the recommendations of this important report.
27. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the position regarding funding for a location (details supplied). [37914/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, my Department does not directly provide childcare - rather we administer a number of schemes and initiatives to support accessible, affordable and high quality childcare. These schemes are available to regulated childcare providers which include individuals, companies and community/not-for-profit groups.
The organisation Pobal, and 30 City and County Childcare Committees around the country, are funded by my Department to assist in the administration of our schemes and initiatives and to support providers, both private and community/not-for-profit services. Following the closure of the existing childcare provider in this location, I requested that Pobal and Longford County Childcare Committee (CCC) work with local bodies and potential partners in relation to the re-establishment of a service for the local community.
Unfortunately, we did not receive a viable proposal for the creation of a childcare service at that time. However, my Department is currently in discussions with Longford CCC with the aim of progressing a procurement process to secure a suitable operator for a childcare service in this area. Funding to assist a childcare provider remains available pending the outcome of this procurement process.
28. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her attention has been drawn to the latest ESRI and Pobal research on childcare costs; if she will address the fact that mothers who face high childcare costs work fewer hours; her views on whether high childcare costs act as a barrier to employment for women, especially lone parents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37908/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere is no doubt that the cost of childcare presents a challenge to families in Ireland and in particular for mothers who wish to return to work. A recent survey conducted by ICTU found that childcare costs sit alongside housing costs within the top two out of pocket expenses for families and this can only be amplified in the case of lone parents. This is consistent with more extensive research elsewhere. The early years sector has suffered from historical underinvestment over the last decades, resulting in Ireland lagging behind the European average for investment in this critical infrastructure.
It is for this reason that I have worked tirelessly since becoming Minister for Children & Youth Affairs to address this issue affecting so many Irish families. The investment in this sector has increased by 80% over the period 2015- 2018. Last year I introduced a range of measures focused on lowering the cost of childcare including a new non means tested subsidy of up to €1,040 for young children under three years of age and an increase of up to 50% in targeted subsidy rates for families that need it most with up to €145 per week available to children up to 15 years of age.
The response to these measures has been extremely positive. Targets have been exceeded with over 84,000 registrations since the introduction last September, demonstrating the need to support families with their childcare costs through further significant, sustained investment.
Earlier this year the entitlement to financial support for childcare was put on a legislative footing for the first time in the history of the State with the passing of the Childcare Support Act. The development of the IT and administrative infrastructure for the Affordable Childcare Scheme is also continuing apace. There is no easy fix to the challenge of childcare costs in Ireland but we are now firmly putting the building blocks in place to benefit families for years to come and with continued investment I believe we are making progress to achieve the childcare system that families in Ireland deserve.
29. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the status of her Department's planned examination of its relationship with Pobal with a view to forming a closer statutory relationship; if the terms of reference for this examination have been agreed upon; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38007/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraPobal is a not-for-profit company, which works on behalf of the Irish Government in managing programmes that contribute to social inclusion, equality and reconciliation.
Pobal operates under the aegis of the Department of Rural and Community Development (DRCD). Consequently, any decisions regarding its structure or statutory relationships require the consideration of my cabinet colleague, Minister Ring, the officials of his department, and the Pobal Board.
The services Pobal provides to my Department are managed under a multi-level governance framework, specifically service level agreements, programmes of work, and individual programme agreements, all of which are monitored closely via regular high level management meetings. As I previously stated in my answer to PQ 18842 from the Deputy on the 1st May 2018, my Department has no immediate plans to revise the basis of our relationship with Pobal.
I am currently advancing a cross-Government, ten year strategy for babies, young children and their families which I will publish before the end of the year. It will contain significant content relating to the provision of accessible, high quality and affordable childcare, as well as the governance, administrative systems and investment required to achieve these objectives. It is anticipated that this strategy will outline the parameters in a number of Early Years policy areas and any reviews planned within the Early Years section of my Department will be guided by it.
One such review the Early Years Strategy will set out important context for is the review of the systems and structures which exist nationally and locally to support childcare provision in this country. As I outlined to the Deputy in response to his May 2018 PQ, this review will include an analysis of the services provided to my Department by the City and County Childcare Committees, Pobal, and various National Voluntary Childcare Organisations; and the interactions between my Department and these entities.
This review will be undertaken after the content and priorities of the long-term strategy have been finalised.
30. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the extent to which her Department supports youth organisations with a view to ensuring a supportive backdrop and preparation for adulthood throughout the upcoming generation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38006/18]
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 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 administers a range of funding schemes and programmes to support the provision of youth services to young people throughout the country including those from disadvantaged communities. The funding schemes support national and local youth work involving approximately 1,400 youth work staff working in youth services and communities throughout the country.
I am pleased to confirm that I have allocated an extra €1.5m in current funding to support the provision of youth services in 2018. This will bring the total youth funding by my Department to €58.9m. The additional funding is being used for programmes that target disadvantaged young people.
These funding schemes include the Youth Service Grant Scheme under which funding is made available on an annual basis to thirty national and major regional youth organisations. In 2018, some €10.65m has been allocated under this scheme.
The funding provided under this scheme is intended to ensure the emergence, promotion, growth and development of youth organisations with distinctive philosophies and programmes aimed at the social education of young people. The goal of the youth organisations in receipt of this funding is to empower all young people to develop the knowledge, skills and confidence to realise their full potential and to actively participate in an inclusive society.
My Department provides leadership at a national level in implementing the National Youth Strategy 2015-2020 and ensuring the national policy is connected to local implementation. The strategy is based on the understanding of youth as a distinctive period of development between childhood and adulthood. It takes account of the social and economic factors that influence young people during this period, and the important roles of parents, families, friends and other adults and communities play in their lives.
The strategy sets out how stakeholders, including youth organisations, can work together to impact positively on the lives of young people and the funding provided under the Youth Service Grant Scheme assists with the implementation of these objectives.
The Local Youth Club Grant Scheme supports youth work activities at a local level. These grants are made available to all youth clubs and groups through the local Education and Training Boards. The scheme is open to some 1,600 youth groups and clubs, with an estimated 89,000 club members around the country. The scheme, which is open to new entrants, is advertised locally and applications for funding are invited by the Education and Training Boards from local groups in their respective areas. Each year, some 600 local youth clubs benefit from the scheme. In 2018, I have provided an additional 13% in funding to the scheme, bringing the total allocation to €1.79m.
31. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the budget for the school completion programme; the status of the report of the expert panel convened to identify and examine a potential revised model of good practice and governance of the school completion programme; the number of children who come into contact with the programme; if staffing levels are adequate; and her plans to replenish its budget to ensure the effective delivery of same. [37910/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am very conscious that the School Completion Programme delivers a valuable service for some of our most vulnerable young people. I want to achieve the best possible results for these young people for the professionals who deliver the service.
As referred to by the Deputy, the Board of Tusla convened an expert panel to identify and examine a potential revised model of good practice and governance of the School Completion Programme.
When I examined its findings, I decided to carry out some further discussions with a number of other stakeholders. To this end I hosted School Completion Consultation event in Farmleigh House on January 29th last. Matters discussed included best practice and governance within the School Completion Programme. There was a range of views expressed as to how both these elements could be improved.
In order to advance matters I have now decided that my Department will establish a task group to scope out a policy blueprint for the SCP and the EWS going forward. This group will take into account the findings of the expert panel and will consult with relevant stakeholders.
The Educational Welfare Service (EWS) of Tusla has advised that approximately 38,000 children and young people come into contact with the programme annually.
The funding available to the SCPs for the School year 2018/2019 stands at €24.7m. My Department is currently working with the EWS to ensure the necessary resources are available to ensure that staffing levels are sufficient to deliver a high quality service.
I can assure the Deputy that my Department and the EWS are fully committed to the future of the School Completion Programme and will continue to work to ensure that it will deliver the best possible outcomes for young people at risk of early school-leaving.
32. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her attention has been drawn to the fact that children with additional learning needs cannot access an ECCE place and additional specialist preschool support; her views on whether this is appropriate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37971/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am aware of the specific matter raised by the Deputy. Officials from my Department are in contact with colleagues in the Health Service Executive to examine the range of issues involved for a child seeking to access both specialist pre-school services and the ECCE scheme simultaneously.
While there is no specific provision in the ECCE rules which prevents a child attending a specialist HSE pre-school from also attending the ECCE programme, there remains issues to be addressed. A critical question is whether attending two parallel pre-school services, on a five days a week basis, is in the best interests of the child, particularly where this might lead to an individual child attending structured, education focused pre-school services for up to 6 hours a day. The Deputy will be aware that pre-school education has been purposely designed to be shorter in hours than Junior Infants in Primary School in recognition of the younger age of the child and other developmental considerations.
A meeting is scheduled between officials from my Department and the HSE to examine these issues. Following this consideration, I have asked my officials to revert to the Deputy, particularly in the context of the individual case previously raised. I would like to clearly state that the paramount consideration in examining this matter is the best interests of the child.
The Deputy may be aware that several thousand children with disabilities access and participate in the ECCE programme every year. The Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) introduced in September 2016, and which continues to be rolled out, has greatly assisted ECCE services to offer inclusive services and to better meet the needs of children with disabilities. Whilst AIM provides supports under 7 levels, some of which are universal and some targeted, we know that over 6000 children with more complex disabilities have so far benefited from the targeted supports. An independent review of the first year of AIM's operation is expected to be finalised before the end of the year.
33. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the status of the affordable childcare scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37902/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra34. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if the affordable childcare scheme is on target to launch in September 2019; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38031/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra37. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the status of the roll-out of the affordable childcare scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37968/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 33, 34 and 37 together.
I am delighted to update you on the positive progress my department is making in developing the new Affordable Childcare Scheme.
Officials from my Department, along with colleagues in Pobal, have been working hard to develop the legal, technical and administrative infrastructure for the new Affordable Childcare Scheme. The scheme will provide financial support for parents, establish a sustainable platform for investment in the childcare sector for decades to come and- crucially- allow us to continue to invest in giving our children the best start in life.
The legislation establishing the new Affordable Childcare Scheme, the Childcare Support Act 2018, was signed by the President on Monday, 2nd July. The Act will be underpinned by detailed secondary legislation and formal policy guidelines. Work is currently ongoing on both of these and also on the development of regulations to provide, for the first time, for the registration of school-age childcare services by the Tusla Early Years Inspectorate. These latter regulations will be introduced in advance of the Affordable Childcare Scheme to allow school-age childcare services to register and thereby participate in the scheme from its inception.
With regard to the ICT system to underpin the scheme, my Department recently concluded a full open tender public procurement process and I have awarded a contract for the development of the system. The launch of the scheme is dependent on this ICT system. As such, now that a contractor is in place, my officials are finalising a detailed project plan and I will shortly confirm and communicate a planned start date for the Affordable Childcare Scheme.
Work is also progressing well on the administrative and communication elements of the scheme. This includes significant work in preparing timely and user-friendly information, resources and supports for parents, providers and other stakeholders. In tandem with the development of these resources, I am also committed to ongoing consultation and engagement with all stakeholders in the run-up to the introduction of the scheme.
The Affordable Childcare Scheme is ambitious in scale and complex in its design but I am delighted that we are making good progress and confident of the lasting impact it will have once launched.
In order to fast-track some of the benefits of the new scheme, last September I introduced a series of measures to make childcare more affordable for Irish families. These involved an increase of up to 50% in current targeted childcare subsidy rates and a new universal subsidy for all children aged between 6 months and 3 years who are in a Tusla-registered setting. To date, these measures have seen very good take-up rates and 84,000 children have benefited. The measures will continue to be available over 2018 and 2019, remaining in place until the Affordable Childcare Scheme goes live.
35. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the status of a report (details supplied); the implications for the funding of the organisation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38030/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraScouting Ireland commissioned Mr Ian Elliott to carry out a review into the organisation’s handling of an allegation of a serious sexual assault on an adult volunteer by another adult volunteer. I have not yet received a copy of this report.
While this alleged assault took place in 2009, it was only reported within the organisation in 2016. Following on from Mr Elliott's report on child protection matters, Scouting Ireland engaged a barrister to conduct a full investigation into this allegation, particularly with regard to the handling of the matter by certain senior volunteers. I will be receiving both reports once the investigation is completed.
In 2017 Scouting Ireland previously engaged Mr Ian Elliott to conduct a review of its child safeguarding/protection policies and procedures. An interim report was produced in October 2017 and a final report was produced in January 2018. Both of these reports were subsequently submitted to my Department in March 2018.
In view of the information available to me relating to the governance arrangements within Scouting Ireland I decided, in April this year, to withhold the drawdown of further funding to the organisation under the Youth Service Grant Scheme until I could be satisfied that the organisation's governance standards were up to the required level.
In May, I appointed Ms Jillian van Turnhout, as an independent expert, to examine the governance and related issues within Scouting Ireland. In accordance with her Terms of Reference she was asked to provide me with a clear assessment of Scouting Ireland's governance arrangements. Ms van Turnhout submitted her final report on the Review of Scouting Ireland to me on 14th June. The report contained a number of recommendations in the areas of safeguarding, management of the organisation, governance proposals and charities regulation. Ms van Turnhout also indicated that the restoration of funding to Scouting Ireland should be clearly linked to the successful implementation of these recommendations.
The Board of Scouting Ireland subsequently confirmed its decision to fully implement all the recommendations contained in the Review of Scouting Ireland report. On 25th June I decided to provide Scouting Ireland with interim funding for a further three month period up until the end of September. This funding was provided in view of the significant progress achieved by Scouting Ireland in the implementation of a number of the required recommendations and to provide it with an opportunity to implement the outstanding recommendations.
In providing this interim funding I requested that Scouting Ireland provide me with a further report by 24th September detailing progress in the implementation of the outstanding recommendations contained in the Review of Scouting Ireland. On receipt of this report I will be in a position to consider if Scouting Ireland has achieved the strong governance standards required of organisations in receipt of public funding which would allow for the full restoration of funding to Scouting Ireland.
My hope is that Scouting Ireland will address all the outstanding issues relating to the standards of governance within the organisation. As Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, I believe the organisation does very good work and I would love to see it continue to play an important role in the lives of our children and young people.
