Dáil debates
Wednesday, 10 December 2014
Topical Issue Debate
Child Safety
1:10 pm
Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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I appreciate the Ceann Comhairle selecting this important Topical Issue matter for debate. The Minister will be aware that one of the national newspapers today highlighted the serious situation that Childline faces. Childline is the only 24 hour free-of charge listening service of its kind and because it is in such a precarious financial position, for the first time since 1998 the voices of the most vulnerable children will be silenced. There is a shortfall of €1 million and if that is not found before the end of the year, the service risks being closed, from 3 p.m. to 8 a.m.
This 24-hour service has been in place since 1998. It provides an invaluable and critical service to children who are in distress and who may be suffering from abuse, fear and isolation. The ISPCC estimates that 11% of the calls are received at night. Some of the most harrowing tails are received at night time. It is because of domestic arrangements that some of these calls can only be made at night. If this service ceases, 45,000 calls will go unanswered in 2015. These represent 45,000 children who are suffering from isolation, distress and perhaps abuse. A range of issues will go unanswered.
The Government pats itself on the back for initiating the children's referendum. That constitutional amendment, which the people voted for, ensured the rights of the child were enshrined in the Constitution, ensured the voice of the child must be heard and ensured that the best interests of the child is of paramount consideration. Childline is providing a service that the State is failing to provide. We have no out-of-hours social work. According to the ISPCC, up to October of this year, 74 cases have been referred on to the Garda and 38 cases have been referred to the Child and Family Agency.
The Taoiseach is on record pledging the protection of children as a national priority. He stated that children are the most precious possession of all and that safeguarding their integrity and innocence must be a national priority. Earlier this year, in March, the Minister's predecessor, the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald, launched Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures: the National Policy Framework for Children and Young People 2014 - 2020, which states, "Our vision is for Ireland to be one of the best small countries in the world in which to grow up and raise a family, and where the rights of all children and young people are respected, protected and fulfilled; where their voices are heard and where they are supported to realise their maximum potential now and in the future".
Childline survives primarily on the generosity of the people. Unfortunately, because of scandals in CRC and Rehab, there has been a notable drop in contributions. The State only contributes 5%. I ask the Minister, in light of his overarching policy, Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures, the key objective of which is providing a safe environment and protecting children from harm, and ensuring their voices are heard and supported, what funding he will ring-fence to ensure the protection, retention and expansion of this critical service, Childline.
James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy Troy for raising this issue and I welcome the opportunity to clarify the Government's approach to the funding of ISPPC services, including Childline. The Irish Society for the Protection of Cruelty to Children has a long history of service delivery and advocacy on behalf of children. I acknowledge the work of the society over the years in providing support services to children and their families.
The ISPCC has indicated that its Childline service will have a shortfall of €1.2 million by the end of this year. The service currently operates on a 24-hour basis, but the ISPCC has stated that as a result of the shortfall in funding, the night-time service may have to be discontinued.
While the costs of the Childline service have always been met by ISPCC fundraising activities, Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, funds the ISPCC in respect of core running costs and towards a number of projects on a regional basis. The level of funding provided in 2014 is €476,000. Separately, my Department funds the ISPCC to provide the missing children's hotline, which takes calls in relation to any missing child, including from the general public, family members, or potentially, the missing child themselves.
Childline is a free, confidential service that can be accessed seven days a week, 365 days a year. It was set up by the ISPCC in 1988. The focus was changed from 1992 to an active listening service for all children and the service was extended to a 24-hour basis in 1998. The Childline service is used by children who want to talk, rather than children with serious child welfare and protection issues and the overwhelming majority of calls, thankfully, do not relate to serious child welfare or protection concerns.
I have met with the ISPCC and I am aware that a fall in the level of public donations for Childline has created financial difficulties for the service. The ISPCC informed me that it was embarking on a major fundraising campaign, and also that it would provide details of the nature and cost of the service. I have asked officials in my Department to meet with the ISPCC, along with Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, to examine how best such a service can be provided to the greatest benefit of children.
The Government will continue to promote and support the welfare and protection of vulnerable children and families. We are making significant improvements in this regard. Key initiatives to date include the establishment of the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, in June 2011; the establishment of the Child and Family Agency in January 2014; a proposal to which the Deputy alluded, to amend the Constitution to ensure that children's rights are strengthened was put to the people in a referendum in November 2012; and Better Outcomes: Brighter Futures, the National Policy Framework for Children and Young People 2014-2020, was published in April 2014. It is Ireland's first overarching children and young people's policy framework which spans the age ranges from birth to 24 years.
In addition, there has been the introduction of a suite of child protection legislation, including the Criminal Justice (Withholding of Information on Offences against Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act, 2012, the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012 and the Children First Bill 2014. The provisions of Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children in 2011 have been revised and updated. The Children First Bill will put key elements of the Children First Guidance on a statutory footing. Key provisions in this regard include introducing a mandatory requirement to report child welfare and protection concerns to Tusla, and to assist in investigation of such concerns if required. Every organisation that provides services to children is required to develop a child safeguarding statement. The Children First interdepartmental group will be put on a statutory footing. The Children First Bill has completed Second Stage in the Dáil and Committee Stage will be scheduled early in 2015.
I assure Deputies that I am committed to ensuring children benefit to the greatest extent from every euro we spend. In that context, I have asked my Department to meet again with the ISPCC and Tusla so that we can work towards a sustainable service focused on achieving the best possible outcomes for all our children.
1:20 pm
Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister for his reply. We could speak more about the record of the Government on children since the formation of the Department in light of what has been delivered, as opposed to what has been promised, announced, launched or re-launched but what I am speaking about today is the dramatic decrease in funding to a critical and important service for children.
In his reply the Minister stated the Childline service is used by children who want to talk, rather than children with serious child welfare and protection issues and the overwhelming majority of calls, approximately 80%, do not relate to serious child welfare or protection concerns. By my reckoning that means 20% of 45,000 calls next year, which is in the region of 9,000 calls, will relate to child welfare and child protection. At a time when we do not provide out-of-hours services for social workers, at a very minimum we should provide a service that children who need direct access and help can call. Those who give of their time and volunteer for the service say that the most harrowing stories come at night time when children feel safe, when their parents are away or in bed and they can creep down the stairs and use the phone. That is the time the service is most needed.
The Minister referred to Better Outcomes: Brighter Futures. His Government’s vision is for Ireland to be one of the best countries in the world in which children grow up, raise a family and where the rights of children and young people are respected, protected, fulfilled; where their voices are heard and where they are supported to realise their maximum potential now and in the future. In light of the overarching policy framework, will the Minister indicate not what meetings or deputations will take place, but what money will be ring-fenced to ensure this critical service is protected in the future?
James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I refer to Deputy Troy’s opening comment in his riposte about the record of the Government on child care. We could do well to talk about the record of his party in government over 14 years and its failure to disclose for many years the number of children dying in care. Deputy Alan Shatter had to drag that out of the Government over a prolonged period in order to bring it to the light of day. In regard to this service, in the interests of children and ensuring we get the best results for children, we need to examine with the ISPCC, Tusla and my Department how best to continue the service and ensure the best outcomes for children.
Given the Deputy's closing remark about additional funding, I am minded of the modus operandiof his party’s leader and Government in the past, namely, to throw money at everything. Health spending quadrupled over a 14-year period yet we still ended up with the worst trolley count in the history of the State since records began.
Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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The Minister lasted a long time in the Department of Health himself.
James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Yes, indeed, I was there for three and a half years and we made progress.
Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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The Minister did such a good job that the Taoiseach moved him.
James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I made much more progress than the Deputy’s party leader, Deputy Martin, ever made.
Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Please.
James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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However, notwithstanding that, the reality in which the children of this country and their parents and those who care about children are interested is that we have a service that is appropriate to the needs of children. I believe the ISPCC, the new Child and Family Agency, Tusla, and my Department will get the best result by co-operating, examining how the service is delivered, drawing up a business plan, and a service level agreement if necessary, in order that we can all be sure that the money we spend gets the result we require. Evidence-based policy is the only way to ensure the best outcome for children.