17 Iúil 2014, 11:42
A clearer definition of what an aftercare plan is and what it should include could be provided in the Aftercare Bill when published, according to a new report from the Committee on Health and Children.
The report on the General Scheme and Heads of the Aftercare Bill 2014 says that the proposed legislation could set out a review procedure in respect of aftercare plans, including how often and in what circumstances an aftercare plan should be reviewed.
These are among 16 findings and recommendations in the report. Among some of the other recommendations are:
• Consideration could, potentially, be given to broadening the eligibility criteria to include:
? young persons deemed to have ‘exceptional needs’;
? young persons up to the age of 25 years;
? young persons accessing accommodation pursuant to section 5 of the Child Care Act 1991;
? young persons who have been in the care system but who subsequently end their childhood in detention centres;
? young persons who have been adopted following a care placement but where this arrangement subsequently breaks down; and
? young persons who have been in care for less than the required 12 months but whose families are ‘known’ to the Child and Family Agency (Tusla).
• Consideration could be given as to whether or not to place the onus on the Child and Family Agency to re-engage with a young person - where the young person may have chosen not to engage with aftercare services (and has not presented to the Agency).
• The proposed legislation should, arguably, specifically provide for the implementation of an aftercare plan.
• Consideration could be given to ring-fencing a budget for the provision of aftercare services.
Committee Chairman, Jerry Buttimer TD said: “In February 2014, the Government approved and published the General Scheme and Heads of Aftercare Bill 2014. The aim of the Bill as set out in the General Scheme is ‘to provide for a statutory duty on the Child and Family Agency to prepare an aftercare plan for each eligible child and eligible young person’.
“As part of the pre-legislative scrutiny process, the Committee was requested to review and consider the General Scheme and Heads of Aftercare Bill 2014. The Committee met with a number of key stakeholders, including, the Child and Family Agency (Tusla); Barnardos; Focus Ireland; EPIC empowering people in care; and the Children Rights Alliance, with a view to scrutinising the provisions of the General Scheme, and subsequently submitting a report to the Minister.
“This report summarises key issues relating to the General Scheme which have been brought to the Committee’s attention or have otherwise been identified as being potentially relevant. In particular, the report attempts to analyse and set in context some of the concerns expressed by stakeholders.”
Read the report here.
Media Enquiries to:
Ciaran Brennan,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
Committee Membership
Deputies: Jerry Buttimer (Chair), Catherine Byrne, Ciara Conway (Vice-Chair), Regina Doherty, Robert Dowds, Peter M Fitzpatrick, Seamus Healy, Billy Kelleher, Eamonn Maloney, Clare Daly, Sandra McLellan, Dan Neville, Mary Mitchell O’Connor, Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin and Robert Troy
Senators: Colm Burke, John Crown, John Gilroy, Imelda Henry, Marc Mac Sharry and Jillian Van Turnhout