Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for her response. Needless to say I would not have raised this question as a priority issue if I had not deemed it a serious priority for Galway. YAP Ireland has provided service for the past 16 years and has looked after people and provided a community for alternative care. The Minister has described what Tusla is looking for. YAP Ireland has a service level agreement nationally with Tusla. With regard to its own levels of governance, this decision goes directly against Tusla's corporate plan for 2018 to 2020 and its commitment to have a wide menu of services available to work with children, young people, and families in need. What the Minister is after describing is exactly what YAP Ireland does in Galway. It provides that wrap-around service. It may not be for nine months and it may not be for children exiting care, but guess what YAP Ireland does? It prevents children falling into the whole care set-up. That is what it is about. It provides a 26 week service during which there is a worker who works with not only the child, but with the family.

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