Written answers
Thursday, 17 July 2014
Department of Children and Youth Affairs
Programme for Government Priorities
Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
793. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will provide in tabular format the commitments under the programme for Government for which his Department is responsible; the progress made to date with regard to each commitment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32390/14]
James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
The Department of Children and Youth Affairs has a lead role in respect of seven Programme for Government (PfG) commitments. It is also leading on one cross-Departmental commitment.
I have set out in the table attached the relevant commitments and a summary of the current status in respect of each.
| PfG Ref: | Commitment – Department of Children and Youth Affairs | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2.1.5 | A referendum to amend the Constitution to ensure that children’s rights are strengthened, along the lines recommended by the All-Party Oireachtas committee | Completed. Referendum held in November 2012. Currently the subject of Supreme Court proceedings. |
| 3.14.1 | We will maintain the free preschool year in Early Childhood Care and Education to promote the best outcomes for children and families. We will improve the quality of the preschool year by implementing standards and reviewing training options. | In addition to maintaining the free preschool year, Budget 2014 provided €4.5m to improve the quality of preschool services through: a Learner Fund to assist existing staff meet the new qualification requirements being introduced in September 2015; the establishment of a Quality Support Service which will assist services in implementing Siolta and Aistear; and the recruitment of additional Early Years Inspectors to strengthen the existing inspection regime. In addition, capital funding totalling €2.5m has recently been allocated to 163 community childcare providers. |
| 3.14.2 | As resources allow, this Government will invest in a targeted early childhood education programme for disadvantaged children, building on existing targeted preschool supports for families most in need of assistance such as the young Ballymun project. | Following a call for proposals and an assessment process, a further ten areas around the country were admitted into the design phase of the Area Based Childhood Programme. This is in addition to the three existing initiatives which have already entered the Programme. Existing Tallaght CDI Young Ballymun Northside Partnership (Darndale/Moatview/Belcamp) New sites Bray Ballyfermot/Dublin 10 Clondalkin/Archways Dublin Docklands Finglas (Barnardos-led project) Grangegorman/NW Inner City Knocknaheeny (Cork) Limerick Louth (Drogheda & Dundalk) Midlands (to be included as part of Northside project) A further twelve applicants will be given access to a mentoring programme in the implementation of evidence-based programmes to improve outcomes for children and young people. This is a very important initiative that will lead the way in improving the lives of children and young people who are experiencing disadvantage. The Programme has attracted 50% co-funding from Atlantic Philanthropies bringing total funding to nearly €30 million. |
| 3.32.11 | We will end the practice of sending children to St. Patrick’s Institution. | 16 year old boys are no longer detained in prison facilities. All boys up to and including 16 year olds, whose detention is ordered on remand or on sentence by the Courts, are detained at the Children Detention Schools. All sentenced 17 year olds are no longer detained in St. Patrick’s Institution and have now been transferred to the Wheatfield Place of Detention. The only children now remaining at St. Patrick’s Institution are 17 year olds who are remanded in custody pending trial. They continue to be detained in a dedicated unit pending their transfer to Oberstown. Construction is continuing on the new €56.4 million facility at Oberstown with the first three new residential units to be available for occupation in the fourth quarter of 2014, which will be used to facilitate the transfer of responsibility for the 17 year olds. |
| 4.1.1 | We will fundamentally reform the delivery of child protection services by removing child welfare and protection from the HSE and creating a dedicated Child Welfare and Protection Agency, reforming the model of service delivery and improving accountability to the Dáil. | Completed. The Child & Family Agency was established with effect from 1 January 2014, putting in place a new regime of governance and accountability for child and family services. The Agency has a dedicated remit for child welfare, protection and family support services and involves the merging of Child and Family services from the HSE with Family Support Agency and National Education Welfare Board services. The Agency has a budget of over €600 million and a staff of approximately 4,000, and represents one of the largest single public sector reforms undertaken by Government. |
| 4.1.2 | We are committed to implementing the recommendations of the Ryan Report including putting the Children First Guidelines on a statutory footing and legislating for the use of “soft information”. | The Children First Bill was published in April 2014 and a date is awaited for Committee Stage in Dáil Éireann. The legislation will place obligations on professionals and organisations working with children to report suspected child protection concerns, to share information and to engage in inter-agency and multi-disciplinary working. The publication of the National Children and Young People’s Policy Framework 2014-2020 meets one of the key recommendations of the Ryan Report to bring together relevant policies including those relating to prevention and early intervention initiatives, early childhood education, area based approaches to address child poverty, and addressing youth homelessness and aftercare provision. |
| 4.1.6 | We will enact legislation to consolidate and reform the law on adoption | Progression of the Adoption (Amendment) Bill will be on foot of the Children's Referendum, currently the subject of Supreme Court proceedings. The Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill is advancing, with plans to publish the Heads of Bill as soon as possible. |
| Cross Departmental Commitments | ||
| 3.37.5 Listed under PfG Cross - Departmental commitments – DCYA has lead responsibility | A new approach is needed to break the cycle of child poverty where it is most deeply entrenched. We will adopt a new area based approach to child poverty, which draws on best international practice and existing services to tackle every aspect of child poverty. Initially, this model will be rolled out to up to ten of Ireland’s most disadvantaged communities, in cooperation with philanthropic partners to co-fund and manage the project. | See update under 3.14.2 above. |
No comments