Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 3 December 2020
271. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the degree to which he remains satisfied regarding the availability of community child support services including the provision of support for afterschool activities through youth clubs and similar bodies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41004/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI want to assure the Deputy of my commitment to supporting young people and their families, particularly at the present challenging time.
Structured services and activities, such as those provided by the youth sector, play an important role for young people, supporting their development, and fostering their wellbeing and resilience. I am pleased to report that funding to the youth sector has been protected throughout the period of restrictions, and youth services responded quickly to the crisis, adapting and innovating in order to maintain services and supports. At the same time, crucial outreach and detached services have continued throughout the restrictions to reach the most vulnerable young people and their families.
I can also confirm that I secured an additional €5 million in current funding for youth services nationally as part of Budget 2021. This additional funding allocated to youth services in the coming year will support the delivery of universal and targeted youth services nationwide.
It is equally important that we meet the demand for high quality, accessible and affordable school-age childcare services.The Programme for Government commits to increasing the range of such services and my Department has provided support for the development of school-age childcare places through dedicated capital grant funding. Between 2017 and 2019, almost €6 million was awarded in capital funding to support the creation of new school-age childcare places nationally and to support the quality of provision.
School aged children are also eligible for subsidised childcare under the National Childcare Scheme. Up to 45 subsidised hours per week are available where parents are engaged in work, training or study, and up to 20 subsidised hours where parents are not engaged in work, training or study.
In addition to these services, my Department and Tusla, the Child and Family Agency have a robust suite of services in place including the Prevention, Partnership and Family Support Programme.
This programme seeks to strengthen and develop Tusla’s prevention, early intervention and family support services and includes the Tusla ABC Programme intended to address multidimensional child poverty using an area-based approach.
Tusla has also developed Child and Family Support Networks across Ireland, and supports Children and Young People’s Services Committees which have a central role in service planning at a county level.
In addition, Family Resource Centres deliver services locally in domains such as education, community group support and counselling services.
My officials continue to work closely with relevant statutory agencies and other delivery partners to ensure that children and young people are supported during the ongoing period of restrictions.
