Written Answers Nos. 695-714
695. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of women’s refuge centres nationwide and on a per capita basis; the amount of funding that has been provided for a women’s refuge for each county in the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16482/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraTusla, the Child and Family Agency has statutory responsibility for the care and protection of victims of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (DGSBV). I have requested Tusla to respond to the Deputy directly on the information sought.
696. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he received correspondence from a person (details supplied) regarding funding; if so, the steps he has taken following the request; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16505/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis issue has previously been brought to my attention at a meeting with the organisation's Board and management. The ongoing management of the organisation referred to by the Deputy is a matter for their Board, including the challenges being presented due to the recent Covid-19 restrictions.
My Department provides substantial funding to this organisation, which plays an important role in providing young people with opportunities for developmental experiences and informal learning. All of the youth funding provided by my Department has been maintained fully throughout the ongoing period of restrictions. In addition, I secured an increase in 2021 for youth services, including an increase for the organisation referred to by the Deputy. I have no plans to provide additional funding to this organisation.
My officials are in regular contact with youth sector representatives in relation to the impact of the pandemic and associated health restrictions. It is of importance that Exchequer funding to youth services nationally is protected and I am satisfied that Government has been able to continue to support them. My officials will continue to work closely with youth organisations and will actively monitor the situation.
697. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to instances of litigation or the threat of litigation arising from the inclusion of social clauses in public procurement contracts in each of the years 2017 to 2020. [16587/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe procurement unit has not drawn the Minister's attention to any instances of litigation or the threat of litigation arising from the inclusion of social clauses in public procurement contracts in each of the years 2017 to 2020.
698. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will support the relocation of at least 400 asylum seekers who are currently on Lesvos Island, Greece, and undergoing particular hardship due to the six-month lockdown in the Moria camp; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16694/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government pledge of last October to resettle up to 50 people from Lesvos was in addition to the commitment that Ireland had already made with the UNHCR to resettle 2,900 refugees to Ireland between 2020 and 2023.
Families have been accepted by Ireland, subject to any assessment, security or otherwise to be undertaken.
My Department is working with the Greek authorities and other relevant stakeholders to effect their relocation to Ireland as soon as possible, with due regard to Covid-19 protocols and restrictions.
In Budget 2021, I secured an additional €5m to support Tusla in providing dedicated services to accelerate the intake of the remaining unaccompanied refugee children in Greece to whom we have committed. Tusla have developed a range of accommodation options to receive and provide specialist care for the children. Changes at European Union level in the procedures for managing the relocation of unaccompanied minors led to a pause in the transfer of all children.
These changes have been successfully implemented at EU level and Ireland has now received a list of unaccompanied minors who may make the journey here, following appropriate security checking and preparation. Tusla are ready to receive these children as soon as they can travel safely. Tusla and my Department are working with the Greek authorities and the HSE to progress the safest travel and relocation options as soon as possible, within the scope of current travel and quarantine restrictions.
699. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to support an organisation (details supplied) during the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions; the form of support he envisages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16715/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe ongoing management of the organisation referred to by the Deputy is a matter for their Board, including the challenges being presented due to the recent Covid-19 restrictions.
My Department provides substantial funding to this organisation, which plays an important role in providing young people with opportunities for developmental experiences and informal learning. All of the youth funding provided by my Department has been maintained fully throughout the ongoing period of restrictions. In addition, I secured an increase in 2021 for youth services, including an increase for the organisation referred to by the Deputy. I have no plans to provide additional funding to this organisation.
My officials are in regular contact with youth sector representatives in relation to the impact of the pandemic and associated health restrictions. It is of importance that Exchequer funding to youth services nationally is protected and I am satisfied that Government has been able to continue to support them. My officials will continue to work closely with youth organisations and will actively monitor the situation. We very much appreciate the challenges COVID-19 has caused and is causing.
700. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to roll out a reading scheme (details supplied) to other parts of the country. [16722/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Imagination Library Scheme is operated by an International NGO and has no affiliation with this Department. However, as part of First 5, a whole-of-Government strategy to improve the lives of babies, young children and their families, The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY), the Department of Rural and Community Development (DRCD) and the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) are collaborating with local authorities to deliver the First 5 and Our Public Libraries 2022 book bag initiative Connecting Early Learning and Care Services to Local Libraries.
Under this initiative, First 5 Little Library (Na Chéad 5 Leabharlann Beag), 4,500 Early Learning and Care (ELC) services will be offered an opportunity to connect with their local library and receive a First 5 book bag. The network of 330 public libraries will have one or two copies of this book bag available to loan to parents and/or to remain in the library for story times and reading corners. Depending on the size of each setting, they will receive 1, 2, or 3 bags each.
Each book bag will contain five books in a First 5 Little Library branded bag. The books were selected from the Children’s Books Ireland recommended list with input from the Strategic Programmes Committee of the LGMA and procured under the LGMA national book procurement framework contracts which was established earlier this year. The bag will also contain other branded resources including a booklet on getting the most from the books, a leaflet on the library services with the designated contact details for the library and a library card for each setting. The books will target the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) age range of 2.5 years to 5.5 years. Book bags will also be developed in Irish for provision to the Naíonraí groups.
This initiative will happen twice over the course of the year, with the first set of bags being distributed in early May. In October, as part of the Children's Book Festival, a further set of Little Library bags will be procured and distributed to the Libraries and ELC settings.
701. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to the concern among childcare providers about the after-school programme and that the programme will have to close in a significant number of facilities; and the steps he is taking to ensure that after-school services are viable after the pandemic. [16723/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs part of the COVID-19 Resilience and Recovery 2021 - The Path Ahead approved by Government on 23 February, I announced the gradual lifting of restrictions on the operation of early learning and childcare services, subject to continued improvement in the public health situation.
In January, early learning and childcare and school-age childcare (ELC and SAC) services were restricted to children of essential workers and vulnerable children only and the ECCE pre-school programme was suspended. As part of a careful and cautious reopening of priority sectors of society and the economy, ELC and SAC have been opening for other groups of children throughout March on a phased basis:
- From 8 March, the ECCE Programme reopened for all participating children; and
- As of 29 March other restrictions have been lifted so that all other children can return to ELC and SAC services (i.e. those that are not the children of essential workers or not vulnerable children).
To ensure that services were financially supported and in a position to re-open, the Covid-19 Operating Support Payment (COSP) introduced in February was extended until 26 March for eligible services. This was to help offset loss of parental fees for services which are highly reliant on private income.
Both ELC and SAC services continue to be eligible for the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS) and are exempt from the turnover rule. This has been providing a significant level of financial support to ELC and SAC services since it was launched. The Early Learning and Childcare providers continue to be eligible to access without having to demonstrate 30% reduction in turnover as other employers do. The enhanced EWSS is estimated to cover 80% of payroll costs or 50% of full operating costs of this services. ELC/SAC services continue to be entitled to access the EWSS to end June 2021 and all are encouraged to do so.
On 26 March this year, I also announced a new strand of Sustainability funding, COVID-19 Impact Support, which is available to both community and private ELC and SAC services that face financial deficits despite other support measures. This support will remain available throughout 2021. Any ELC or SAC service providers which think they may need this support should contact their local CCC in the first instance to discuss eligibility.
Additional support is also available through the Case Management process. My Department oversees a Case Management process through which local CCCs and Pobal work together to assess and provide support to early learning and care and school age childcare services experiencing difficulties. All services who require support should contact their local CCC in the first instance.
I hope that these measures will ensure that all SAC services can continue to operate viably during and after the pandemic.
702. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department and Tusla are considering an action plan to address the significant drop in sponsorship referrals for children at risk. [16724/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe sponsor arrangements in place under the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) represent a significant step forward from the similar arrangements that were in place for the legacy schemes (CCS/CCSP) which the NCS replaces. It puts in place clear referral criteria and legislative underpinning for such referrals.
It is not readily possible to compare the legacy scheme referrals with NCS referrals as the legacy schemes referrals were not routinely tracked. However research complied in 2017 indicated that approximately 200-300 children were sponsored by TUSLA to the CCS/CCSP childcare schemes in the previous year.
We can confirm that over 670 children have benefitted from Tusla sponsorship referral under the National Childcare Scheme since its launch in November 2019.
Notwithstanding this my Department in conjunction with the referring bodies are focussed on ensuring all children who need such referrals have access to those referrals.
My Department actively supports Tusla in their role as Sponsor Body under the National Childcare Scheme. Ongoing training is available to all Sponsor Bodies, and Tusla is availing of this training. Training takes place via webinar and frequently asked questions are updated based on the questions asked during training and this is shared across Tusla staff. My Department, in conjunction with Tusla, reviews the training material, as well as the communications process to ensure that training reaches all of the relevant Tusla staff.
Training is also available to all childcare providers, through local City/County Childcare Committees nationwide. Childcare providers have been encouraged to engage with their local CCCs should they become aware of any challenges in accessing sponsor referral pathways.
In addition, following the disruption to the sector from Covid-19 following the Christmas period, my Department reached out to Tusla during the Covid-19 crisis to ensure that vulnerable children were supported at this time. Tusla agreed to put processes in place expedite sponsor applications received in this period for children identified as being vulnerable. This has ensured access to early learning and care services for vulnerable children throughout the latest Covid-19 restrictions.
Officials in my Department will continue to monitor the growth of the NCS and the embedding of the sponsor referral process within the relevant bodies.
Should the Deputy be aware of any families or providers who may be experiencing challenges in the sponsor process, they are advised to immediately contact the local CCC. Contact details are available at myccc.ie
703. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the systems his Department has in place similar to the Department of Education that track population growth throughout the country and highlight possible capacity issues on an ongoing basis. [16725/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhile DECDIY does not publish one overarching analysis of population change, my Department uses population data to plan policy and services. The Research and Evaluation Unit within DCEDIY has the benefit of a seconded statistician from the Central Statistics Office, and regularly draws on population data to support policy relevant analysis across the broad remit of the Department. In particular, the Research Unit publishes a series of Statistical Spotlights on key topics such as Traveller and Roma Children; Family and Household Structure in Ireland; Young Carers in Ireland and The Reconciliation of Work and Family Life.
Additionally, DCEDIY uses population growth data to inform the provision of Early Years and Youth programmes:
- For the ECCE (Pre-school) Programme, the Department prepares an annual forecast of demand for ECCE Programme places. Estimates are derived using a range of administrative and survey data sources. The total eligible cohort is derived from birth data provided by the Central Statistics Office. Overall uptake is derived through the examination of trends in uptake since the introduction of the programme, data from Growing Up in Ireland, and data from the Pupil Online Database held by the Department of Education. Since the extension of the Programme in 2016, data on school starting age - also from the Pupil Online Database - has also been used. The Department also accesses data on the number of children in the ECCE-eligible cohort at electoral division level, which provides a robust indication of demand for ECCE places at a local level.
Unlike the ECCE Programme, which enjoys a near universal take-up and straightforward eligibility criteria, there is significant uncertainties when it comes to demand for other early learning and care and school-age childcare. Uncertain demand arises for a number of reasons including parental preferences for centre-based early learning and care and school-age childcare vs. childminding and relative care, female labour market participation rates and intensity and future economic trends. The introduction of the National Childcare Scheme, where eligibility for a universal subsidy is determined by age and eligibility for a targeted subsidy determine by age and income, greatly simplifies the process of estimating demand. The Department has also joined the ESRI SWITCH research programme. This assists with further removing uncertainty with regard to for example parental preferences and female labour force participation rates.
In addition to this, Pobal, on behalf of the Department undertakes an annual survey of early learning and care and school-age childcare service providers. Among the data gathered through this survey is information on the number of children enrolled and those on waiting lists, as well as information on vacant places in these services.
First 5 seeks to build on these efforts. Actions include: strengthening capacity to accurately forecast supply and demand in early learning and care and school-age childcare by undertaking a regular national need assessment.
- The ‘UBU Your Place Your Space’ scheme is a targeted youth funding scheme which provides out-of-school supports in local communities to marginalised, disadvantaged or vulnerable young people between the age of 10 and 24. It is underpinned by the Area Profile, Needs Assessment and Service Requirement (APNASR) process which allows for the gathering and analysis of available demographic data and local knowledge to produce an area profile of their functional area. This data capture pays cognisance to changes in population within Education & Training Board (ETB) areas. The ETB carries out an analysis of the quantitative and qualitative data to identify and evidence the needs of young people which informs future service provision.
704. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department actively encourages childcare facilities to run the ECCE programme both in the mornings and afternoons. [16726/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme provides for children to participate in a universal preschool programme for 15 hours per week over 38 weeks of the year for the two years prior to beginning primary school. It is a very successful programme with an estimated participation of 95% of children in the eligible age range.
Some early learning and childcare services provide just the ECCE programme, whereas others provide ECCE as well as providing a longer duration of service. Some providers offer both morning and afternoon ECCE sessions. As early learning and childcare is delivered by independent providers, in both the private and community sectors, the types of services offered and the hours during which they are offered are matters for individual providers.
705. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the costs incurred to date by his Department for the commission of the national childminding action plan. [16727/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has incurred total costs of €24,547.78 to date in the development of the Childminding Action Plan. Of this total sum, €11,029.39 was incurred between 2016 and 2018 in the development of the report of the Working Group on Reforms and Supports for the Childminding Sector (Pathway to a Quality Support and Assurance System for Childminding: Volume 1 and Volume 2), which guided the development of the Childminding Action Plan. Of the total sum, €13,518.39 has been incurred since 2019 to date, on: the launch of the Draft Childminding Action Plan for the purpose of public consultation; the commissioning of a report on the findings of the public consultation on the Draft Childminding Action Plan; translations of documents into Irish; and the organisation of an Open Policy Debate that was held as part of the public consultation process on the Draft Childminding Action Plan.
706. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of childminder learner fund grants that were awarded in 2020; the number of applications his Department has received; the number of childminders as opposed to educators working in centre-based facilities who availed of the funding; and the uptake to date in 2021 for learner grant funding. [16728/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Learner Fund is a funding stream offered by my Department to practitioners working in early learning and care and school-age childcare seeking to upskill and gain higher qualifications. It has operated for several years by providing either pre-award funding or a post-award bursary. The initiative was initially rolled out from 2014 to support the introduction of the minimum National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) Level 5 qualification requirement that came into force in 2016, to allow practitioners who were already working in a setting to meet the new minimum requirement. Since then, the Learner Fund bursary has been extended to provide financial support for practitioners undertaking a range of other training and education programmes for awards at Level 5 to Level 9 on the NFQ.
As part of the overall Learner Fund, since 2019 Learner Fund bursaries have been opened to childminders who achieve a level 5 or level 6 major award in early childhood care and education recognised on the NFQ and who register with Tusla. Childminders who are registered with Tusla can also avail of the Learner Fund graduate bursary for level 7 and 8 and 9 graduate-level awards in early learning and care.
In 2020, a total of €300,000 was spent on the overall Learner Fund bursary programme. This includes both the graduate and childminder bursaries which operate simultaneously and are funded from the same budget.
The 2020 round of the Learner Fund saw bursaries awarded to 397 applicants for completion of relevant degrees (who may include both centre-based practitioners and childminders), and 3 Tusla-registered childminders for completion of Level 5/6 awards (following receipt of 3 applications). The Learner Fund round for 2021 will open for applications later in the year.
The number of childminders availing of the Learner Fund is expected to remain very low until regulation is extended to all childminders and bespoke training and qualifications are developed for childminders. Currently there are 77 Tusla-registered childminders. In line with commitments in First 5 and the Programme for Government, a Childminding Action Plan will be published in April 2021. The Childminding Action Plan will seek to extend the scope of regulation and supports for childminders, accelerate access to subsidies for childminders through the National Childcare Scheme, and develop bespoke training for childminders.
707. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps he is taking to address the low employment rate of persons with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16931/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities (CES) 2015 - 2024 is the primary disability employment policy framework in Ireland. It is a cross-government approach, bringing together actions by Government Departments and Agencies to address the barriers and challenges to employment of people with disabilities. The CES’s strategic priorities are to build skills, capacity and independence, to provide bridges and supports into work, to make work pay, to promote job retention and re-entry to work, to provide coordinated and seamless supports and to engage employers.
Implementation of the Strategy is undertaken through agreed action plans and is monitored by an Implementation Group with an independent Chairperson, Fergus Finlay. Currently the group is monitoring the CES Phase Two Action Plan which covers the period 2019 – 2021.
Accessing and staying in employment for people with disabilities is difficult but can be achieved with appropriate supports. It requires many Government services to work for that individual and importantly to work together to provide a joined-up service. The Action Plan contains a range of actions, to be carried out by Government Departments and agencies, to advance the strategic priorities and ultimately to increase the numbers of those with disabilities in employment.
Separately, the Government will bring forward legislative proposals this year to increase the percentage target of people with disabilities employed in the public service from 3% to 6%.
708. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the way in which the State is meeting its commitments under the Istanbul Convention, including the provision of refuge spaces and support services, for the years 2019 and 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16932/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Coordination of Policy on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (DSGBV) is led by the Department of Justice. Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has statutory responsibility for the care and protection of victims of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (DSGBV).
The Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women andDomestic Violence (known as the Istanbul Convention) sets out signatory obligations.
With regard to provision of shelter for victims, a policy document "Combating Violence Against Women: Minimum Standards for Support Services", published by the Council, references two possible standards depending on the types of service provision in place. The standard applied by Tusla reflects the community-focused integrated response for victims, where community-based organisations and outreach supports are in place alongside refuges.
A review of domestic violence accommodation, currently underway by Tusla, will examine the capacity of current accommodation for victims of DSGBV and the level of need across the country. The Monitoring Group for the Second National Strategy for Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, led by the Department of Justice, will engage with the findings of the Tusla review and its final recommendations. The Monitoring Group includes representatives from the DSGBV sector as well as officials from relevant Government bodies.
The Convention also requires that signatories supply a freephone national helpline for victims of DSGBV. Tusla provides financial support to Women's Aid and Dublin Rape Crisis Centre to provide two 24-hour helplines for victims of domestic and sexual violence. This funding has increased in the context of COVID-19. In addition to the requirements of the Convention, Tusla also provides funding to the Men's Development Network and Men's Aid to operate two helplines for male victims of abuse.
Tusla also continues to support front-line staff within its own services, commissioned services, and other relevant stakeholders with training in order to support victims in the most effective way.
The Department of Justice led on the 2018 Domestic Violence Act which paved the way for ratification of the Convention. A range of commitments under the Istanbul Convention, particularly in relation to prevention and prosecution, are under the remit of the Department of Justice along with funding for Court accompaniment and other support services.
709. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps he is taking to address rates of violence and abuse experienced by persons with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16933/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee T.D., is responsible for tackling violence experienced by people, including those with disabilites, both inside and outside the home. My Department officials are in contact with their Department of Justice counterparts on an ongoing basis to provide input into Department of Justice measures in this area
710. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the way in which persons with disabilities, including children, and their representative organisations will be involved and participate fully in the monitoring process of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16934/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraParticipation in of people with disabilities and their representative organisations is a requirement under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).
My Department has recently funded and established a Disability Participation and Consultation Network to act as a mechanism for ensuring people with disabilities and their representative organisations are consulted and involved in the development of policy and legislation. In addition, some Departments and Agencies have already established participation and consultation mechanisms.
The Disability Participation and Consultation Network is currently involved in carrying out consultations with people with disabilities on the State’s draft Initial State report under the UNCRPD. In addition, my Department is carrying out consultation work with children, including children with disabilities, that will inform a number of our UN reporting processes including the UNCRPD.
In addition my Department is providing funding for the Shadow Report being prepered by the Coalition of Disabled Persons Organisations.
The Programme for Government commits to the establishment of a UNCRPD Implementation plan. A key aspect of that Plan will be building an oversight mechanism. The Oversight mechanism will be designed to ensure people with disabilities and their representative organisations play a central role in monitoring progress of the plan.
Currently the National Disability Inclusion Strategy (NDIS) is the key framework for policy and action to address the needs of persons with disabilities. The NDIS supports effective progress in delivering on the obligations set out in the Convention. The Disability Stakeholder Group, which is made up of representatives of disability organisations and people with lived experience of disability, is part of the NDIS Steering Group. As such, it plays an active part in monitoring implementation of the strategy.
In respect of independent monitoring of the implementation of the UNCRPD, it is the State’s intention to designate IHREC as Ireland’s Independent Monitoring Mechanism. This designation will be provided for in legislation. IHREC has already established a Disability Advisory Committee in this regard.
711. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of the disability participation and consultation network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16935/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities attaches priority to consulting people with disabilities and to encouraging their participation in the development of policy and legislation. The Disability Participation and Consultation Network was established in 2020 as a mechanism to ensure that people with a disability and their representative organisations will be involved in the development of policy and legislation.
The Network is made up of an Organising Member and four Grant Funded Members who play a central role in coordinating and organising the the work of the Network. The remaining membership of the Network is made up of organisations and indviduals with lived experience of disability.
While the Network is free to set its own agenda for engaging in particpation and consultation work, my Department requested that consultations on the draft initial State Report on the United Nations Convention on the RIghts of Persons with Disabilities be undertaken by the Network. Along with establishing its working practices and procedures, the Network has focused initially on the draft State Report. The Organising Member has run a series of consultation events for members on the draft State Report and the outcomes of those events will be reported to my Department. In addition, the Grant Funded Members have also been involved in consultations with their stakeholders on the draft State Report.
712. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps he is taking to address the absence of targeted interventions with disabled women in the Second National Strategy on Domestic Sexual and Gender-based Violence 2016-2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16936/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee T.D., is responsible for the Second National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence. It is designed to address the needs of a diversity of women and men, including women with disabilities.
713. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps he is taking to expand the deployment of services following the Barnahus model nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16937/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra714. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will make reports relating to a pilot service (details supplied) available including recommendations on the way in which this form of service can be rolled out nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16938/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra717. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps he is taking to expand the deployment of services following the Barnahus model nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16981/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 713, 714 and 717 together.
I thank the Deputy for her questions and I am pleased to report progress on the development of the national Barnahus service for children who have experienced sexual abuse and their families.
The Interdepartmental Group (IDG) leading this initiative comprises representation from my Department, the Departments of Health and Justice, and the key service delivery agencies-Tusla , An Garda Siochána, HSE and Children's Hospital Ireland. The IDG has agreed and adopted a plan for the development of the service nationally, based on learning captured from the development and implementation of the initial Galway service.
The Galway service continues to operate the Barnahus model. A long term building is being remodelled and fitted out to accommodate both the adult SATU (Sexual Assault Treatment Unit) service and the child centred Barnahus centre, which will have separate access.
It is envisaged that Barnahus and SATU services will align where possible to facilitate the close working relationship needed where the victim is a teenager who may need a mix of adult (forensic) services and a child protection service.
The IDG has established the National Agency Steering Committee (NASC), comprised of senior managers from Tusla, AGS, HSE and Children’s Hospital Ireland. This Committee convened in January 2021 and has had three meetings to date as they organise and oversee operational matters associated with the development and management of Barnahus nationally.
It is proposed that the Barnahus model will operate in three locations- Barnahus West, Barhanus South and Barnahus East where the main service will be located in Galway, Cork and Dublin. Over time it is planned that centres will develop regional outreach capacity.
Barnahus developmental budget requests for staff for health, therapy, child protection and criminal matters will be progressed by the respective agencies through the estimates process to the relevant Departments.
The IDG will continue to meet and hold a policy and advisory role for the overall service. Progress challenges and supports for the development of the national service will be reported through IDG members and the reporting structure in place for the NASC.
