Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

The Ryan report implementation plan states:

The provision of aftercare by the HSE should form an integral part of care delivery for children who have been in the care of the State. It should not be seen as a discretionary service or as a once-off event that occurs on a young person's 18th birthday.

The implementation plan also makes a number of recommendations in respect of aftercare and states the HSE "will ensure the provision of aftercare services for children leaving care in all instances where the professional judgment of the allocated social worker determines it is required". It makes further recommendations in respect of research and longitudinal studies. A directive is, therefore, in place.

As stated, we carried out an audit of aftercare services and discovered that their provision throughout the country was inconsistent. The one thing over which the Houses have control is legislation. In such circumstances we should not leave matters open to interpretation but rather should spell out exactly what we believe should be the case.

In his Budget Statement in December the Minister for Finance, Deputy Brian Lenihan, announced, as part of the funding related to the Ryan report implementation plan, that an additional €1 million would be set aside for aftercare in 2010. That is a mark of the Government's commitment.