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

I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the gross amount of funding being made available to my Department in 2019 will be €1.511 billion, which represents an increase of 9% over its allocation for 2018. The allocation includes a current provision of €1.479 billion and a capital allocation of €32 million.

Just over half of the total funding, or €786 million, is targeted at public services within Tusla to protect our children and to provide for their welfare. A further €574 million will help us to build an accessible, affordable and high quality childcare system. I have secured an additional €110 million for Tusla since becoming Minister in 2016. With regard to 2019 funding, I am pleased to confirm that the agency will receive an additional €33 million. This will bring Tusla’s overall allocation to €786 million, an increase of 4% over the 2018 allocation. Some €25 million of the overall increase will be used to meet increasing costs associated with existing services.

In addition to this, the extra funding I secured for Tusla will be used to progress a number of key priorities including the implementation of recommendations made by HIQA following its investigation into the management of child sexual abuse allegations. Together with experts from Tusla, the Garda, children’s rights campaigners and advocates I have been examining how we can improve our support and help to children who have been sexually abused. This is another issue.

Funding has now been secured to allow us to pilot a new approach to ensure children do not have to relive their abuse by having to retell their experience over and over again. A new One House model will be piloted in 2019, and this represents a joint approach across three Departments and three statutory agencies.

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