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

I appreciate the Deputy's questions and concerns in this regard. I do not dispute the fact that YAP Ireland has been providing those services. What I am here to identify, however, is that in light of the review of YAP Ireland's work in Galway and Roscommon, it has been identified that the approach that has been developed there does not meet the identified needs of the children in that community in terms of both the length of service provided and the qualified professional staff to enable sustainable and local solutions. I have also been advised that there is no requirement for an advocate employed by YAP Ireland to have a recognised social care qualification. What I am describing in my response to the Deputy, while not disputing what YAP Ireland has done in the past but looking at moving forward, is the creation of a new approach and, in the context of Galway and Roscommon, this approach will be more appropriate in terms of the length of time and the professionals involved.

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