Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

147. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the degree to which the welfare and well-being of children is adequately protected, in all circumstances and situations, throughout the country, including children whose parents may have suffered socially and economically in the past number of years, those in direct provision, and children born here whose parents are not naturalised and who may be excluded from employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7766/15]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Better Outcomes Brighter Futures, the National Policy Framework for Children and Young People 2014-2020represents a whole-of-Government approach to improving the lives of children and young people. The Policy Frameworkoutlines five national outcomes which all of Government and indeed all of society should work towards. Children and young people should be:

- Active and healthy with physical and mental wellbeing,

- Achieving full potential in all areas of learning and development,

- Safe and protected from harm

- Enjoying economic security and opportunity, and

- Connected, respected and contributing to their world.

Obviously my Department alone could not achieve all of these outcomes. Therefore primary responsibility for the outcome areas belong to the Department of Health, the Department of Education and Skills, my Department, the Department of Social Protection and the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government respectively. Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures details 163 key policy commitments for children and young people. These cover a wide variety of policy areas, and are being progressed by the relevant departments.

The Child and Family Agency (Tusla) under the remit of my Department, represents the most comprehensive reform of child protection, early intervention and family support services ever undertaken in Ireland. It is an ambitious move which brings together some 4,000 staff and an operational budget of approximately €600m.

The Agency is charged with:

- supporting and promoting the development, welfare and protection of children, and the effective functioning of families;

- offering care and protection for children in circumstances where their parents have not been able to, or are unlikely to, provide the care that a child needs;

- responsibility for ensuring that every child in the State attends school or otherwise receives an education, and for providing education welfare services to support and monitor children’s attendance, participation and retention in education;

- ensuring that the best interests of the child guides all decisions affecting individual children;

- consulting children and families so that they help to shape the agency’s policies and services;

- strengthening interagency co-operation to ensure seamless services responsive to needs;

- undertaking research relating to its functions, and providing information and advice to the Minister regarding those functions; and

- commissioning services relating to the provision of child and family services

One of the main challenges in the area of physical well-being is childhood obesity. In the latter part of 2013, in my role then as the Minister of Health, I jointly launched with my predecessor, Minister Fitzgerald, a three year media and social media campaign aimed at giving practical tips to parents on managing their children’s weight.

As Minister for Children and Youth Affairs I have responsibility for Play and Recreation Policy which have been set out in the policy documents, ‘READY, STEADY, PLAY! A National Play Policy’ and the ‘Teenspace, National Recreation Policy for Young People’. Initiatives being developed at local community level are designed to encourage awareness of the importance of play and recreation throughout the whole of life from early childhood to adulthood and through to later life.

Additionally, my Department administers funding schemes and programmes to support national and local youth work provision to some 380,000 young people which involves approximately 1,400 youth work staff in 477 projects and 40,000 volunteers working in youth work services and communities throughout the country. I am pleased that Budget 2015 has confirmed that funding of €49.78m will again be provided to my Department in 2015 to support the provision of youth services. Many of the youth services operate with young people’s physical and mental well-being as the central pillar of their services and programmes. The Youth Work Sector has particular expertise in working with young people and provides non-formal and informal learning opportunities to support their well-being.

I can inform the Deputy that the direct provision system is under the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Justice and Equality. The Department of Justice and Equality has primary responsibility in the area of asylum and immigration.

The Department of Justice and Equality has established a working group to review a range of issues pertaining to asylum seekers and direct provision. The first meeting of the Working Group on the Protection Process was held on the 10th November 2014, chaired by Judge McMahon. The Working Group consists of children's rights advocates, organisations engaged with asylum groups and representatives from a range of relevant Government Departments, including a representative from my own Department. I look forward to learning of the findings and recommendations of the working group in the Spring of 2015.