Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 146: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will provide details of his parental responsibility proposals; the progress made to date; the number of local programmes that have been established to help parents; and when he will commence the system of parental responsibility for criminal damage and cost incurred. [36458/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I presume the Deputy's question relates to the Children Act 2001, as amended. I can confirm that the Children Act, 2001 is fully operational and that the various provisions relating to parental responsibility are all commenced. In this connection I wish to refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 48 dated 2 October 2008.

In the case of children referred by the Court to the Probation Service, the Service can provide parenting support programmes where appropriate. In this connection I wish to inform the Deputy about the Strengthening Families Programme. This is an inter-agency initiative delivered, financed and resourced by a number of different agencies including the Probation Service, Local Drugs Task Forces, the HSE and the National Juvenile Office of An Garda Síochána.

The Programme runs over 14 weeks and comprises 3 modules namely Parenting Skills training, Teen/Children Skills training and Family Life Skills training. The goal of the programme is to enhance and protect the family by encouraging and supporting parents and their children to develop good parenting and communication skills. This programme has initially been delivered in Dublin, Cork and Limerick.

The Probation Service is now in the process of extending their involvement with this programme to 12 locations around the country through its bases in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Waterford, Portlaoise and the North-West. This extended programme will be run through Le Chéile, a Community based organisation working with the Young People's Probation.

In addition, Barnardos, in conjunction with the Probation Service have delivered a "Parenting Plus Skills" programme in 2 locations in Dublin in 2008 and the Le Chéile Mentoring Programmes is currently piloting parent-to-parent mentoring.