Written Answers Nos. 64-75
64. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when a centre (details supplied) will receive family resource centre status; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43103/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraTusla, the Child and Family Agency is responsible for the administration of the Family Resource Centre Programme. I can assure the Deputy that Tusla is acutely aware of the level of need in certain areas, and is actively working to improve outcomes for children and young people.
I understand that the Trinity Adult Resource Group for Education and Training (TARGET), the organisation named by the Deputy, applied to Tusla to join the Family Resource Centre Programme in February of this year.
I am also advised that Tusla met with representatives from TARGET to discuss local community needs, and Tusla's commissioning priorities.
Tusla has advised me that while it is not possible to give TARGET Family Resource Centre status in 2019, it has provided annual funding of €50,000 to support TARGET's provision of counselling and psychotherapy services in the community.
I also understand that following recent engagement with the Health Service Executive (HSE), Tusla allocated an additional €12,000 to TARGET this month to co-fund a Clinical Manager post with the HSE for the counselling service. TARGET will therefore receive funding of €62,000 in total from Tusla in 2019.
The Deputy will be aware that in 2018, I allocated additional funding of €1.5 million to Tusla to enable an additional 11 centres to be added to the Family Resource Centre Programme. In 2019, I provided a further €1.5 million to the Family Resource Centre Programme to support and develop the existing network of Family Resource Centres. I have maintained this support for FRCs into 2020.
As a supporter of the work of FRCs, I am anxious to ensure that there is a strong provision of FRCs in the areas that need them, including the area serviced by TARGET. I would note that there are two FRCs in close proximity to TARGET's service in Donaghmede, Baldoyle FRC and Tús Nua FRC in Artane. Both provide important services in the area.
Tusla will continue to work with Family Resource Centres and other community organisations throughout the country. Service needs and funding resources will be discussed with Centres where appropriate.
Tusla is committed to using all available resources for children and families in a efficient, proportionate and sustainable way.
65. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if a fund will be re-established to assist childcare facilities in meeting fire and other safety criteria; if a fire safety audit of all premises in which there are childcare facilities will be conducted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43278/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 2019 I allocated €330,000 of capital funding to aid community/not for profit early learning and care services to address fire safety issues that were highlighted in inspection reports. I am currently planning the capital offering for 2020, and I will look carefully at this area again, taking account of the likely demand for fire and other safety measures.
A key priority for me as Minister for Children and Youth Affairs is to support the early learning and care and school age childcare sector through the provision of capital funding, where it is most needed. The suitability and safety of premises for use as care and learning settings is a key concern in this regard.
Registration of Early Learning and Care settings is granted where Tusla is satisfied that the premises, operation and location of the setting poses no unmanaged risk to children. All registration applications are subject to services being compliant with fire and planning requirements.
In recent years, capital funding has been made available for the maintenance and improvement of community / not for profit services. This funding is made available in order to protect previous State investment where it exists. Funding has also assisted not-for-profit services which may lack the financial capacity to invest funding into maintenance or improvement works.
Capital strands are designed to achieve the strategic priorities for the year as determined by my Department, having regard to the funding available. They annual capital scheme is developed using analysis of the current factors within the childcare sector, learnings from previous capital programmes and feedback and input from stakeholders, including childcare providers and Pobal.
I will look carefully at fire safety and related needs for 2020 when developing the capital offering, and my Department will notify providers as soon as possible.
In relation to fire safety audits, fire safety legislation and compliance with it comes under the remit of the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government. The Tusla Early Years Inspectorate liaises with Local Authority fire services where appropriate.
67. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the way in which she can ensure that children are protected while online; her views on whether self-regulation should not substitute the obligations of the national legislator to safeguard children; if she has consulted with the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment regarding child safety being paramount in the online safety and media regulation Bill; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43155/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraOne of the biggest challenges for our children and young people today is that of online safety. I am acutely aware of the dangers that it brings, and I am committed to playing my part in a co-ordinated Government response.
A range of Government Departments and agencies have a role in relation to internet safety. In recognition of the whole of government approach required, the Taoiseach launched the Action Plan for Online Safety in July 2018. The Action Plan involves a wide range of actions, across six Government Departments - Communications, Climate Action and Environment; Education and Skills; Justice and Equality; Children and Youth Affairs; Health; and Business Enterprise and Innovation.
The Action Plan recognises that online safety is not the responsibility of just one Department, and it deals with the full range and breadth of the issues involved. A Sponsors Group, involving the six Departments and chaired by the Department of Education and Skills, has been established to drive implementation of the Action Plan.
In relation to my own Department, Children First operates on the premise that child protection issues are the responsibility of all, and that child safety and welfare concerns must be dealt with as and where they arise. This responsibility includes keeping children safe from harm online. As part of the Action Plan for Online Safety, my Department committed to amending the Children First Guidance to include a specific reference to the need to consider online safety in the completion of a Child Safeguarding Statement.
An addendum to the Guidance, clarifying the need to consider online safety in the preparation of risk assessments and Child Safeguarding Statements, was finalised and published on my Department’s website in January. In addition, Tusla has revised its template for the completion of Child Safeguarding Statements to refer to the need to consider online risks to children if a service provides access to the internet.
I agree with the Deputy that self-regulation will not be sufficient, and that as a society we need to take action, including legislation. In this context, I am pleased to note that my colleague the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment is preparing the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill at present.
I understand the intention is to bring the draft Heads of the Bill to Government by the end of this year, at which point I will have the opportunity to review the proposed content of the Bill.
I am very supportive of co-ordinated action across Government to protect our children and young people when using the internet, and I will continue to work with my colleagues to ensure we do all we can in this area. The youngest members of our society deserve no less.
68. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the status of the reinstatement of a childcare facility at MacEoin Park, County Longford. [43268/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn May 2019, my Department approved the terms of a procurement process for the provision of childcare services in MacEoin Park in Longford with a view to opening for the 2019/2020 programme year.
Longford County Childcare Committee, which is funded by my Department, oversaw the process. Unfortunately, no suitable application was received and therefore no tender for establishing a childcare facility at MacEoin Park was awarded.
As the Deputy is aware, my Department does not directly provide early learning and care or school age childcare services - rather we administer a number of schemes and initiatives to support accessible, affordable and high quality early learning and care and school age childcare services.
These schemes and their associated funding are available to registered providers which include childminders and private or not -for-profit services. Consequently, whilst my Department is clear about the need to re-establish a service in the area, its scope for direct action is limited.
My Department, Longford Childcare Committee and Pobal are committed to continuing to work with local organisations, including the Local Authority and Longford Community Resources Ltd, to explore further options to re-establish a service in this area of Longford.
69. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the extent to which she is satisfied in regard to the availability of sufficient appropriately qualified staff to deal with the number of children who may have a need for placement in safe surroundings; the extent to which she remains satisfied that the necessary specialised follow-up treatment is available in circumstances in which such children may need help; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43271/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI would like to thank the Deputy for his question, which I understand to be in the main about staffing in residential centres. I am concerned to learn that some centres have a high turnover of staff with a dependency on agency staff.
I am also aware of injuries sustained by some staff in the course of their work and the impact this has on their welfare and the overall staffing stability.
Residential care is a small, but vital part of our care system. At the end of June some 400 children of the 6,021 children in care were in a residential placement and in the main they are adolescents. The basis for successful outcomes for those in residential settings relies on the experience, quality and resilience of the management and staff group.
National Standards for Children’s Residential Services apply to all designated children’s residential centres – private, voluntary and statutory. One of the themes of the National Standards is Responsive workforce which is about having the right number of staff with the right skills to meet the needs of each child.
Recruitment to all forms of Children’s Residential Care Services remains challenging, I wish to confirm that all Children’s Residential Care services are adequately staffed and resourced to meet the needs of the current provision in each centre.
Research and the young people themselves tell us that they want to be cared for by staff who know them, their background, hopes and aspirations. Secure relationships underpin healing and growth.
Tusla is introducing a model of care based on the 'Well Tree' principles. These involve the adoption of the Well Tree model of care and the creation of a wellbeing outcomes framework.
These efforts have the goal that all young people be respected, protected and fulfilled, where their voices are heard, they actively contribute to the decisions that affect them and they are supported to achieve the maximum of their potential now and in the future. Reports on its implementation to date are very positive.
Young people in residential settings need a high support package of care to meet their complex and challenging needs. The ACTS Team (Assessment, Counselling, Therapy and Support Team) which includes clinical psychology and a range of therapists support young people being considered for, or living in, residential care.
I welcome CORU's upcoming accreditation of Social Care Courses, including undertaking high quality placements. The registration of Social Care Workers will lead to the enhancement of social care as a key profession in working with troubled young people.
70. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the reason a refuge (details supplied) was refused funding in Budget 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43274/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI understand that Tusla has not made any decisions about funding for Amber Women's Refuge, the organisation to which the Deputy refers on foot of Budget 2020. Tusla has yet to make any such decisions in relation to the services it funds in 2020.
The Deputy will be aware that Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, supports Amber Women's Refuge as part of its role to provide care and protection for victims of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence.
I was pleased to visit Amber Women's Refuge when I was in Kilkenny earlier this year, on Deputy Funchion's invitation. I commend the staff there on their great work.
Tusla has informed me that Amber Women's Refuge is receiving €506,468 in funding in 2019.
Tusla has advised me that it has not yet engaged with Amber Women's Refuge in relation to funding for 2020. Details of funding and required service provision will be agreed in a Service Level Agreement between Tusla and Amber Women's Refuge in the coming months.
In 2019, I provided Tusla with an additional €1.5m to provide additional targeted supports for domestic and sexual violence services. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that good progress has been made in the roll out of these additional resources by service providers.
The Deputy will also be aware that I announced an increase in the funding allocation to Tusla for 2020. Some €814 million in funding will be available to Tusla next year. This represents an increase in funding of almost 4% over 2019.
Arising from Budget 2020, I will shortly be issuing Tusla with its Performance Statement for 2020 in line with the provisions of the Child and Family Agency Act, 2013. Tusla will, in response to the Performance Statement, prepare a Business Plan for 2020 which will be submitted to me for consideration.
The precise level of funding to be allocated to specific services provided by or on behalf of Tusla will be considered by Tusla, in preparing its Business Plan, having regard to the overall level of funding available in 2020.
It is not my intention to prescribe the specific level of funding to be allocated to individual services. It is more appropriate, in my view, that Tusla first sets out its proposals for this important service area. Tusla will consider its statutory remit and take account of the totality of funding available next year, in this process.
71. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the way in which she can address the shortage of childcare facilities in the Dublin 7 area, the growing demographic of families that are having extreme difficulty in securing places for their children and the way in which some childcare facilities are charging perceived exorbitant up-front fees months in advance for places in the Dublin 7 catchment area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43153/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe number of early learning and care and school age childcare places in Ireland has doubled over the last 5 years in response to the 138% increase in investment. Despite this, there are some areas that continue to experience difficulties and in particular this tends to be for younger age groups, particularly babies and children aged under 3 years.
Pobal conducts research on behalf of my Department each year to examine a number of factors related to childcare services, including capacity.
The latest Early Years Sector Profile report, based on a survey completed in May 2018, outlined a 4% vacancy rate as a percentage of children enrolled in the Dublin city area. This highlights the limited capacity in the area, which may be zero is some neighbourhoods, and this data helps to inform policy development.
Parents in Dublin 7 who are experiencing difficulties accessing a place are encouraged to contact Dublin City Childcare Committee who may be able to assist.
In addition to the investment in childcare subsidies and the free preschool scheme, ECCE, the primary way my Department can support additional capacity is through annual capital funding.
In 2019, I provided €5.9m towards the creation of new places within the Early Learning and Care and School Age Childcare sector. I hope to announce details for a new 2020 capital scheme in the coming months and I would encourage providers in Dublin 7 and elsewhere to consider expansion.
I am also actively pursuing measures to ensure that more childminders can register with Tusla and become eligible for childcare subsidies, thus also improving access to childcare for parents.
As regards fees and deposits charged by Early Learning and Care providers, these are determined by each individual service and my Department cannot direct the costs set by providers. However, I would call upon all providers to recognise the pressures faced by families, and to act responsibly with regard to deposits and fees.
My Department is in the early stages of planning a number of reforms to the funding model for Early Learning and Care, including considering mechanisms to incentivise fee control. This is a complex piece of work and is likely to take some time to complete, but it is aimed at encouraging fee control and incentivising reasonable behaviour in this area by providers.
73. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will work with Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council to ensure the continuation of the supervised playground on Library Road, Dún Laoghaire, including a replacement for an organisation (details supplied) to manage the service and or alternative sources of funding if necessary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43279/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI thank the Deputy for his question. The Deputy may remember my response to a previous question on this issue on 10 July this year.
Funding provided by my Department for playgrounds is limited to capital spend - namely the Capital Grant Funding Scheme for Play and Recreation, applications for which are made through the Local Authority Play and Recreation Network. My Department has never funded the supervision of the playground in question. The funding of supervisory posts such as those referred to in the Deputy’s question would not meet the criteria for this funding scheme, or indeed any other funding scheme operated by my Department. In this regard it is not currently proposed to engage with DLR County Council on the matter.
I understand that the supervision currently in place is being delivered by Crosscare until the end of the year and that the supervision is supervision of play equipment, rather than direct supervision of children or young people. I further understand that the playground is currently open and will remain open.
I can assure the Deputy however that I place a very high priority on ensuring that our children and young people have access to the best possible play and recreation facilities - to ensure the optimal development of their physical and social development.
I am pleased that this particular facility in Dun Laoghaire will remain open to the public to this end.
74. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the role of the board of City of Dublin Youth Service Board, CDYSB, in addressing the issues that arose in the report, Organisation Review of the City of Dublin Youth Service Board; and the implications for the delivery of youth work in the area covered by the board. [43151/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI understand the review that the Deputy refers is an internal organisational review commissioned by City of Dublin Education and Training Board (CDETB), and carried out by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA).
I understand from my colleague, The Minster for Education and Skills, that the findings of this review are currently being discussed within CDETB, who are engaging with relevant parties concerning the review findings. I further understand that once this process has concluded CDETB will update officials in the Department of Education and Skills as to how they intend to proceed.
The management and oversight of youth project funding lies with my Department, with ETBs acting as grant-administering bodies for the disbursement of funding under the various youth funding schemes.
However, as the Deputy will be aware, the overall management and governance of ETBs is the responsibility of the Minster of Education and Skills.
75. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the position regarding the recently investigated crèches (details supplied); the steps being taken to address issues raised by parents of children attending this service provider which continues to be in operation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43272/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the independent Statutory regulator, Tusla exercises its regulatory powers and responds to breaches of regulations within its remit, while respecting fair procedures and natural justice. Given the risk of prejudicing enforcement actions and/or legal proceedings, neither Tusla nor my Department can provide details in relation to any ongoing actions that may be under way in any individual cases.
I can assure the Deputy however - and the parents of children attending the services in question - that Tusla is continuing to monitor each of the services to which the Deputy referred.
I fully acknowledge that parents who may be utilising a service where enforcement action is occurring may be very concerned to know the detail of any actions that may be under way, and the reasons for this. However, the independent statutory regulatory, Tusla, must be allowed to do its work thoroughly. If Tusla's inspection and enforcement actions were to be compromised or prejudiced in any way, that would not be in the interests of children or families.
It is important to stress that wherever there is evidence of a serious risk to children, Tusla bring this to the attention of Social Work services - which is a requirement under the Children First Act - and in such instances parents are informed regardless of whether inspection reports or enforcement actions are ongoing.
More broadly, concerns have rightly been raised by parents and the public about their legitimate interest in knowing the findings of inspections, and the registration status of service providers, as early as possible in the process. Again, there is a need for Tusla to ensure due process, which includes, for example, giving service providers the right to reply and the right to correct potential inaccuracies in inspection reports before publication.
Following the RTÉ broadcast in July, Behind Closed Doors, I wrote to the Chair of Tusla to ask what additional powers Tusla might need. Following Tusla’s reply, my Department is now examining legislative options, which may include mechanisms to inform parents of inspection findings at an earlier stage, to require services to display prominently their inspection status, and to alert parents in relation to the operation of unregistered services.I will be happy to update colleagues when further information in this regard is available.
Finally, I would encourage all service providers to be open with parents, to respect the rights of parents to ask questions, and to keep parents informed regarding their compliance with regulations. Any parent across the country who wishes to consider alternative service provision in their area should make contact with their local Childcare Committee for information. Please see www.myccc.ie for contact details for local City / County Childcare Committees.
