Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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369. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the extent to which his Department remains in contact with, and supportive of, statutory and voluntary agencies providing counselling and support to young persons deemed to be in danger of self-harm; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8287/15]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The Child and Family Agency, Tusla, works closely with other care providers including the HSE, in respect of access to primary care services, child and adolescent mental health services, disability and other services. Tusla and the HSE have in place both a Memorandum of Understanding and a Joint Protocol for inter-agency collaboration which underpins the provision of these services for children. The purpose of the Memorandum of Understanding is to set out the partnership agreement between the HSE and Tusla to continue pre-establishment levels of service across both organisations. The objective of the Joint Protocol is to specify a pathway and associated responsibilities for children and families whose needs cross between Health Service Divisions and Tusla.

Both the Memorandum of Understanding and the Joint Protocol are subject to regular monitoring and review to ensure that they are working effectively in the best interests of children and families.

Responsibility for policy in relation to the treatment and support for young people with mental health problems and those requiring medical care as a result of self-harm rests with the Department of Health.