Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputies Connolly and Ó Cuív, supported by Deputy Naughton and other Galway Deputies, for their queries. I welcome the opportunity to clarify the circumstances surrounding Time 4 Us and the wider picture of child contact centres. We all agree that the long-term goal is a quality service delivered to all children in all areas. However, it is important to ensure that any service delivered to children and families is of a high quality. Services must be appropriate to local needs and sustainable.

Child contact centres are safe, friendly and neutral places where children can spend time with the parent or parents with whom they do not live. The centre provides a child-centred environment that allows the child to continue a relationship with the parent at the child's pace and in his or her own way, usually through play and child-centred activities.

Services of this nature are used by children and families in a wide range of circumstances, some of which can be difficult or contentious. These centres may also cater to children whose parents are separated and cannot agree contact arrangements. Children in the care of Tusla, who need support to have access with their families, also use the service. I paid attention to Deputy Connolly outlining aspects of that in this case.

Time 4 Us was established in 2007. The service's purpose is to provide parents who do not live with their children with a facility where they can spend time together. A total of 41 families are currently using the service, 36 of which were referred by the courts or private family law services. I appreciate that Deputy Ó Cuív's concerns relate to the funding of this service, but I will draw his attention to the additional reasons given by the board of directors for closing the service. These include significant challenges in terms of board membership and sustainable governance, which Deputy Connolly referenced. Several members of the board wish to retire in the coming years and the board has struggled to find suitable replacements. It has also struggled to provide staff for weekend cover, which is a time of high demand.

Time 4 Us operates an on-call rota at the weekend to provide support to the staff in the centres. It previously received funding from the Departments of Employment Affairs and Social Protection and Justice and Equality as well as from the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, SVP. In 2016, the service's main funding came from grants from Tusla and the Galway City & County Childcare Committee, with the remainder coming from the SVP. However, the funding from the SVP has now ceased.

A decision has been made by the board of directors to cease the service on 31 March. Tusla will work with the board to identify alternative supports that current service users can avail of in the local area. It is important to ensure that the services provided for access and contact are safe, of the highest quality and sustainable.

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