Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 3 February 2015

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Children and Youth Affairs

Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 40 - Children and Youth Affairs (Revised)

5:30 pm

Photo of Caoimhghín Ó CaoláinCaoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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I wish to make a couple of remarks. I welcome the Minister and his team from the Department.

I wish to refer to the briefing for the select sub-committee that was prepared by the Department. There may be other figures that I have been able to link up in the limited time available to me.

In terms of the Child and Family Agency, the Estimate for 2015 refers to a sum of €631 million and a 4.8% increase. The Minister's commentary mentioned a budget of €643 million and an almost 6% increase. Can he rationalise the discrepancy between the amounts? I refer to page 5 of the 26 pages of the briefing prepared by his Department on Vote 40 under the heading of current expenditure - A.3 Child and Family Agency. The figure shown is €631 million, which represents a 4.8% increase. Perhaps I have missed something. I ask the Minister to refer to the matter.

I am concerned about another matter. I am sure the Minister would support further funding to provide additional support to the Child and Family Agency. I have recently indicated concerns to him, in a series of parliamentary questions, following what I regard as alarming information that there has been a re-classification of some cases where children are determined to be at risk. This has been measured and only those at a particular level of risk then get the focus and address. That situation would cause me considerable concern. There seems to have been a re-determination of the trigger for action within Tusla regarding interventions. Can the Minister comment on the matter? Is he in a position to do so? I have tabled parliamentary questions on the matter but have not had an opportunity to check if responses have been returned. I share that concern with him. That to me, and to those who have spoken to me of this matter, is indicative of the fact that Tusla, by its own admission, could not cope under current budgetary restrictions in terms of the scale of concerns that are presenting. There are two elements to my query - the clarification of the discrepancy in figures and a query about a much more important matter. I ask the Minister to comment on both matters.

Before we discuss the headings I wish to again welcome the establishment of the commission of investigation into mother and baby homes and similar institutions. As the Minister will recall from last Wednesday, the final passage of the Government's resolution had the support of the House, which is important.

Both Deputy Troy and I sought to present amendments on behalf of our parties. I note with hope the spirit of the Minister's remarks, in terms of the commission's potential to expand its address, depending on matters or issues that present in the course of its tenure. I urge the Minister or whoever may be Minister for Children and Youth Affairs on the day, to be mindful of the two days of debate we had around the establishment of the commission of investigation and its terms of reference. They should be mindful of that discussion and of the spirit of the House. I do not refer only to Opposition voices. I acknowledge that these voices also came from the Government side. We do not want to see anybody left behind.

Finally, I seek clarification on a point regarding a reference at the foot of the C8, dealing with total administration but there is no designated letter and number on the entry. It refers to grants to organisations part funded by the national lottery. In the 2014 Estimates-----