Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 24 March 2022
42. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans for early intervention and family supports in County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15373/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraTusla, the Child and Family Agency, provides early intervention and family support services, through both internal Tusla family support provision and the commissioning of services through its community and voluntary sector partners.
Under the Prevention, Partnership and Family Support Programme, 121 Child and Family Support Networks (CFSNs) have been set up across the country. The networks help to support integrated and co-ordinated supports for children, young people and families at local community level. Members of CFSNs come from a variety of agencies and local community and voluntary services such as primary care, social work, early years services, sports clubs, youth probation services, schools, etc. There are two of these networks in County Louth. CFSNs also facilitate the coordination of the use of Meitheal, the Tusla-led early intervention national practice model that identifies a child’s and their families’ needs and strengths, and brings together a team around the child to deliver preventative support.
Tusla will continue to provide services in Louth via its Prevention, Partnership and Family Support Programme. This includes Tusla’s family support teams, its child and family support network coordinators and Springboard family support service. Tusla will also continue to support and fund commissioned family support services in Louth.
Tusla is currently working as part of the Children Services Strategy Group with its partners in Northern Ireland to submit an application under the Peace Plus funding stream which is likely to include family support. Tusla continues to work and support the MACE project (which was under the previous cross border funding stream) which focuses on services and interventions for children who have experienced multiple adverse experiences.
Tusla has worked with partners and stakeholders to develop a parenting plan for Louth Meath and also has a number of initiatives that are being supported via the Louth Children and Young People’s Services Committee (CYPSC) such as Trauma Informed Training. Tusla is an active member of the Drogheda Implementation Board which has a Family Support, Children, Young People and Education Subgroup which is focusing on the needs of children and young people in the Drogheda area.
Tusla will continue to provide early intervention and family support services in Co. Louth, based on local needs identified by the Tusla local Area Manager.
