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

I thank the Deputy for providing me with the opportunity to discuss the funding provided by Tusla for ParentStop in County Donegal and the recent decision by ParentStop to cease its services at the end of the year, as I understand it. ParentStop is one of many organisations funded by Tusla which provides valuable supports for parents and children. Since the publication of its parenting support strategy in 2013, Tusla has developed and expanded the range of parenting supports available to families across the country.

ParentStop has performed a non-stigmatising, expert and unique function in supporting families in County Donegal in a complex range of situations and across the continuum of care, as the Deputy eloquently outlined. In 2018 ParentStop supported 602 families. Supports include one-to-one sessions for families with complex needs, intensive supports for children and brief intervention supports for children and families. ParentStop also provides supports for families dealing with a range of issues, including separation, addictions, financial worries, online safety, obesity, mental health concerns, bullying, stress and peer pressure.

As one of ParentStop's core funders, Tusla has been aware of the organisation's recent financial difficulties and supported measures to prevent its closure. The HSE is ParentStop's other main funder. Between 2016 and 2019, annual funding provided by Tusla for ParentStop increased by €31,000 to €68,625. In 2018 Tusla provided an additional €7,000 for ParentStop to address its recurring annual deficit. Tusla provided a further exceptional annual increase of €24,000 for ParentStop in 2018 following the withdrawal of funding by the north-west regional drugs and alcohol task force. In 2019 Tusla provided further once-off funding of €18,640 to assist the organisation to invest time and resources in developing a sustainable funding model. Tusla has informed me that all funding options available to support ParentStop have been exhausted and that, unfortunately, ParentStop has decided that it cannot continue to operate within the funding allocations available from its core funders.

It is important that Tusla assign its resources to the areas which it perceives to be in greatest need, ensuring the best possible outcomes for children and families. Funding of services is informed by Tusla's commissioning approach. Tusla seeks to fund services in the most beneficial, effective, efficient, proportionate and sustainable manner in order to improve the outcomes for vulnerable children and families. Under Part 8 of the Child and Family Agency Act 2013, Tusla funds a range of organisations which provide services for vulnerable children and families, including those providing parenting supports. Tusla remains committed to commissioning and developing supports for parents and deeply regrets the decision of ParentStop to cease operations at the end of 2019.

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