Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

32. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her attention has been drawn to the fact that there are no assurances of the necessary funding which makes it likely that a service (details supplied) will have to close by April 2019 with the loss of six jobs and numerous clients; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7149/19]

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Minister is very familiar with this case; I asked her about it several times since the middle of last year. I asked that she would do what she could to secure the necessary funding to avert what is now the imminent closure of the Cottage Home family support service in Shankill, which provides vital intervention and support services for vulnerable families and children to keep them out of residential care and foster care. It only needs €400,000, but it appears that Tusla is saying that it does not have the money. I really do not understand how it cannot secure that money in order to secure the future of the service.

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I agree with the Deputy that this organisation provides valuable services to children and families in the south Dublin area. The Deputy previously tabled questions in relation to this service. Since that time, I have met with the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Ross, representatives from the Cottage Home and representatives from Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. At this meeting, all stakeholders were provided with the opportunity to express their concerns. I subsequently raised the issue of the future funding of the Cottage Home with Tusla. I wrote to Tusla requesting clarification on budgetary projections for spending on family support services in the Dublin south and south-east Wicklow areas, and any shortfalls in Tusla's budget which would hinder it from meeting identified needs.

Tusla has informed me that it does not have any additional funding to support this service. The Cottage Home is located in the Tusla Dublin south-Dublin and south-east Wicklow area. Tusla has fully committed its funds for family support services in this area. As a result, there is no budget available to fund the Cottage Home family support service, which has never received funding from Tusla. However, Tusla funds the residential service run by this organisation. In 2018, Tusla funding to the Cottage Home’s residential service came to a total of €1.6 million.

Tusla has advised that it is currently compiling a commissioning plan for services in the area. Tusla’s commissioning approach involves looking at the priority needs within each area to ensure that all resources allocated will enable Tusla to achieve the best possible outcomes for children. Tusla’s overall aim, as cited in its commissioning strategy, is to ensure total resources are used: "In the most beneficial, effective, efficient, equitable, proportionate and sustainable manner in order to improve outcomes for children".

Tusla has planned a stakeholder event as part of its commissioning process in Dublin south and Dublin south-east Wicklow planned for the coming weeks. It has informed me that it will invite the Cottage Home to be involved in the process.

Tusla has examined a number of options to source funding for this service while maintaining existing funded services, but has been unsuccessful to date. Should the service have to close, Tusla will work with the Cottage Home to ensure it can provide the required alternative services to children and families.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I do not doubt that the Minister has tried, but I just do not understand this. Hundreds of millions of euro have been wasted on the national children's hospital, and we are looking for €400,000 to keep a service that we know works. It provides support for 50 vulnerable families and their children, which saves the State a lot of money down the road. If this service is closed, and the support provided to those families disappears, many of these children will end up in residential care and in foster care, which will cost the State more money. Why would it be allowed to close for the sake of €400,000? I just do not believe that the Minister cannot come up with €400,000 for a service that she and Tusla acknowledge works. It is frankly unacceptable. I cannot believe €400,000 cannot be found. We can find more than €400 million to pay builders who have ripped the country off, but we cannot find €400,000 for a service that is absolutely vital. It is not on.

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I understand the Deputy's questions and I appreciate his representation. He asked what I have done and I have indicated that I did a number of things. I went back to Tusla and asked whether it was possible and if there were additional moneys. The Cottage Home does great work, as the Deputy has indicated. I have met representatives from it. It is true, as the Deputy has indicated, that prevention work potentially saves money down the line. I acknowledge that. Tusla has been interrogated on this issue and it does not have additional moneys. Although, given the scale of other issues, €400,000 does not seem to be a significant sum of money, it is significant generally speaking, in the context of the budget that Tusla has to provide services for families and children in various regions. There is not the money at this time.

The second part of my answer is that they have been invited to come and look at the planning as we move into the additional time. There may be a possibility, although I am aware it may be too late for the service and I deeply regret that.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I do not doubt that the Minister has made efforts and I know she knows the value of this. However, in that context, I find it shocking that, although the Minister knows the service should not close, the service is going to close, almost certainly, in April, because €400,000 cannot be found. How many Supplementary Estimates have we had for health in current and capital spending? Could we have a few Supplementary Estimates for services such as this? I am serious. It does not seem like rocket science to go to the Minister, Deputy Donohoe, and ask for a small Supplementary Estimate for a measly €400,000 to save six jobs and provide this service to 50 vulnerable families. I do not think anyone in this House would object. It should be done on moral grounds but also on value-for-money grounds for the State. Without a shadow of a doubt, it will cost the State more if this service goes. I appeal to the Minister, if there is anything else she can do along those lines, to do it.

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I understand the Deputy's passion. Currently, in the context of the budget for that region, if there was a decision to give them the €400,000, it would have to be taken from some other services that no doubt are also doing a good job. That is important to outline. On requesting Supplementary Estimates, I am not necessarily ruling it out but there are certain time periods for doing that. The challenge is that many other services are also looking for funds, and the funds are not there to meet the need. We need to continue to increase the budget; there is no question about that. It could cost more if the service closes and that is a good argument. I will use those arguments when I go back to the Minister for the next set of budget negotiations.