Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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Question 6: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans to expand the pilot out-of-hour social work service currently being tested in two locations as provided for in the implementation plan published following the report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse. [32517/11]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The HSE provides out of hours emergency services for children who are at risk. The service is provided in the greater Dublin area through the crisis intervention service and outside the greater Dublin area through the emergency place of safety service. The crisis intervention service provides an out of hours emergency social work service to young people under the age of 18 who are in crisis. The service operates across the greater Dublin area in counties Dublin, Kildare and Wicklow. Referrals are made by service providers, such as gardaí, hospital and ambulance service personnel, outside normal working hours. The HSE operates the emergency place of safety service outside the greater Dublin area. Under this service, gardaí can access emergency placements for children who are found to be at risk out of hours. This service involves the out of hours placement of a child in a family setting until the next working day, when the local social work service assumes responsibility for the case. As part of this service, gardaí have access to advice and information from a non-HSE off-site social work resource, which is provided on a contract basis. I recently met Garda officials to discuss how this service is working.

The HSE national service plan for 2011 includes a commitment to evaluate a pilot out of hours social work component to supplement the emergency place of safety service. The two pilot projects that are being undertaken are in Cork and in Donegal. The projects involve the provision by local HSE staff of on-call social work support out of hours, when that is deemed necessary by gardaí. Both of the pilot projects have commenced. I have received preliminary reports on how the out of hours service is working. I have to say there has not been a huge demand on the service. I emphasise that the report is a preliminary one. Obviously, it is important that the service is in place. The HSE has established a national oversight group to monitor the progress of the pilot projects. It is hoped a decision on progression to a national roll-out will be made in 2011, following evaluation of the two pilot projects. Progress is being made in this area. The two pilot projects are in operation. Preliminary reports have been received in each case. The reports will be examined by the new oversight group the HSE has established. The next step will be the roll-out of a national service, having learnt lessons from the two pilot projects.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Will the Minister outline her expectations with regard to moving from the two pilot projects to the State-wide roll-out? Does she envisage it will happen in the short term? How quickly does she expect such a situation will be arrived at? What has she deduced from the information that has been received to date? Has anything been recommended in the a preliminary reports? If so, could any of the recommendations be adopted now? Is the Minister proposing to wait until the process has been completed and all the information is to hand? Can anything be learned from what has already been reported? If so, can it be addressed or implemented in the short term in a manner that would make the required difference? As the Minister has said, the pilot out of hours social work service is being tested in two locations. Is she considering extending the pilot project to other testing locations within the jurisdiction on an interim basis in advance of the State-wide roll-out?

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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This has been spoken about for a long time, as the Deputy knows. We have received some elementary information from the two pilot projects. We have the beginning of an assessment of how they are operating. I need to wait until I hear back from the HSE oversight group on the recommendations before I decide how quickly we can move to a national roll-out. Obviously, there will be resource implications. One of the key lessons we have learned from the pilot projects that are taking place is that there needs to be a greater engagement between gardaí and HSE social workers. Gardaí need to be aware of the services in these areas and need to be able to use them. When I met representatives of the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors to discuss some of these issues earlier in the year, they were keen for this service to be rolled out. It is not satisfactory that the Garda has to respond out of hours in order to look after these children. The kind of ideas that are coming forward relate, for example, to the development of a roster of on-call managers who would make themselves available to the Garda for consultation. More of them should be available to gardaí when they are doing this work. I take the Deputy's point that we could begin to implement the lessons that are being learned from the pilot projects. I will ask the HSE to consider ensuring the implementation is not left until after the nationwide roll-out of the whole system. If lessons can be learned from the two pilot projects and incorporated very quickly, I will try to ensure that happens.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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The Minister indicated in her initial reply that the accessing of the out of hours service in the two pilot project areas has not been extensive. Is that the case? I ask the Minister not to allow the early indications that the take-up is not significant to dissuade her from her commitment to ensuring this is rolled out across the board. Regardless of the statistics, the crucial point is that the service is in place. When an out of hours emergency presents itself, people should know that the service is available and can be accessed. Have we examined international best practice to inform our own intent in terms of this roll-out?

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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While I do not have detailed figures, I am advised that activity has not been significant to date. I accept the Deputy's point that we should not over-rely on the take-up to date as one would expect it to be low given that it will take some time for the relevant or appropriate information to file down to those who need it and for the Garda to become more aware of the service. The fact that social work personnel can be available by telephone for consultation and advice and to share information has been well received by senior Garda who regard it as a positive and beneficial development. We will learn from the two pilot schemes and I will heed the Deputy's warning that we should not assume there is a lack of demand. We have figures showing how many children nationally present out of hours to the authorities.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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I commend the Health Service Executive on its work on the pilot scheme in County Donegal. Feedback from staff indicates it has been a positive experience. Given her background, the Minister will be aware that emergency cases do not always occur during office hours. It is critical, therefore, that we have an out-of-hours service. Will the Minister make available to Opposition spokespersons the preliminary reports from the two pilot schemes?

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The reports outline the latest position and plans for the future. I would be pleased to correspond with both Deputies on the information available to me and plans for the future in counties Donegal and Cork.