Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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150. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his views regarding the recent statements made by the chief executive of the Child and Family Agency regarding the major funding difficulties faced by the new agency; and if he will be seeking additional resources under his Department’s Vote to ensure that the agency has sufficient resources to fulfil its statutory remit. [36225/14]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The financial allocation for Tusla, The Child and Family Agency, in 2014, its first year of operation, was set at €609 million. This is comprised of €602 million in current funding and €7 million in capital funding. It is acknowledged that delivering the range of service required of the Agency, within this budget, is challenging.

Notwithstanding the significant level of resources provided, certain areas of expenditure, such as legal costs, have in the past proven difficult to manage within the allocated budget. It is also noted that other areas of expenditure such as private residential and foster care have experienced strong demand in 2014.

The Agency is implementing significant reform to seek to achieve greater value for money and efficiencies in such areas and the progress in this regard is subject to ongoing monitoring and review with my Department.

Officials in my Department continue to closely monitor the cash position of the Agency and are working with the Agency to determine an evidence based full year cash requirement. No final determination has yet been reached in this regard.

In the event that supplementary funding is required to meet the running costs of the Agency in 2014 the matter will be discussed with DPER as part of the ongoing budgetary discussions.