James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Troy for raising this issue and I welcome the opportunity to clarify the Government's approach to the funding of ISPPC services, including Childline. The Irish Society for the Protection of Cruelty to Children has a long history of service delivery and advocacy on behalf of children. I acknowledge the work of the society over the years in providing support services to children and their families.

The ISPCC has indicated that its Childline service will have a shortfall of €1.2 million by the end of this year. The service currently operates on a 24-hour basis, but the ISPCC has stated that as a result of the shortfall in funding, the night-time service may have to be discontinued.

While the costs of the Childline service have always been met by ISPCC fundraising activities, Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, funds the ISPCC in respect of core running costs and towards a number of projects on a regional basis. The level of funding provided in 2014 is €476,000. Separately, my Department funds the ISPCC to provide the missing children's hotline, which takes calls in relation to any missing child, including from the general public, family members, or potentially, the missing child themselves.

Childline is a free, confidential service that can be accessed seven days a week, 365 days a year. It was set up by the ISPCC in 1988. The focus was changed from 1992 to an active listening service for all children and the service was extended to a 24-hour basis in 1998. The Childline service is used by children who want to talk, rather than children with serious child welfare and protection issues and the overwhelming majority of calls, thankfully, do not relate to serious child welfare or protection concerns.

I have met with the ISPCC and I am aware that a fall in the level of public donations for Childline has created financial difficulties for the service. The ISPCC informed me that it was embarking on a major fundraising campaign, and also that it would provide details of the nature and cost of the service. I have asked officials in my Department to meet with the ISPCC, along with Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, to examine how best such a service can be provided to the greatest benefit of children.

The Government will continue to promote and support the welfare and protection of vulnerable children and families. We are making significant improvements in this regard. Key initiatives to date include the establishment of the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, in June 2011; the establishment of the Child and Family Agency in January 2014; a proposal to which the Deputy alluded, to amend the Constitution to ensure that children's rights are strengthened was put to the people in a referendum in November 2012; and Better Outcomes: Brighter Futures, the National Policy Framework for Children and Young People 2014-2020, was published in April 2014. It is Ireland's first overarching children and young people's policy framework which spans the age ranges from birth to 24 years.

In addition, there has been the introduction of a suite of child protection legislation, including the Criminal Justice (Withholding of Information on Offences against Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act, 2012, the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012 and the Children First Bill 2014. The provisions of Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children in 2011 have been revised and updated. The Children First Bill will put key elements of the Children First Guidance on a statutory footing. Key provisions in this regard include introducing a mandatory requirement to report child welfare and protection concerns to Tusla, and to assist in investigation of such concerns if required. Every organisation that provides services to children is required to develop a child safeguarding statement. The Children First interdepartmental group will be put on a statutory footing. The Children First Bill has completed Second Stage in the Dáil and Committee Stage will be scheduled early in 2015.

I assure Deputies that I am committed to ensuring children benefit to the greatest extent from every euro we spend. In that context, I have asked my Department to meet again with the ISPCC and Tusla so that we can work towards a sustainable service focused on achieving the best possible outcomes for all our children.

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