Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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22. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the extent to which he is satisfied that child developmental and support services remain adequate to meet requirements; if any augmentation is contemplated in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20488/15]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Child Development services are mainly under policy direction from the Department of Health and are principally provided by the HSE through Public Health Nurses and Community Medical services and through General Practitioners contracted to provide primary care services.

At the end of February 92.3% (9,818 out of 10,637) of children reaching 10 months have completed their child health developmental screening. Children who were not screened are followed up if there are concerns, and families with worries about their child’s development are welcome to discuss this with their General Practitioner or Public Health Nurse, outside the designated child health checks. The HSE is currently reviewing its delivery of child health services.

In addition, as part of the roll out of free primary care services for children under six, recently announced by the Minister of Health on behalf of the Government, children will be able to avail of two free health and well being checks at ages two and five, with their family doctor.

As part of its programme of work in relation to Prevention, Partnership and Family Support, Tuslahas been implementing Meitheal as a National Practice Model to ensure that the needs and strengths of children and their families are effectively identified and understood and responded to in a timely way, so that children and families get the help and support needed to improve children’s outcomes, and realise their rights. It is an early intervention, multi-agency (when necessary) response tailored to the needs of an individual child or young person.

Meitheal is voluntary and can only be undertaken when the parent/carer provides their written consent. Meitheal is used in partnership with parents to help them share their own knowledge, expertise and concerns about their child and hear the same from practitioners. The ultimate goal is to enable parents and practitioners to work jointly together to achieve a better life for the child.

These reforms in both HSE and Tusla are critically important in ensuring children get the best start in life. The cross-departmental national framework for children and young people - Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures is the framework for supporting the integration of these reforms and in driving a focus on prevention and early intervention through cross-sectoral implementation planning. I am satisfied that the policies, processes and structures set out in Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures and Healthy Ireland will contribute to ensuring that all children reach their developmental potential and that service resources continue to shift towards prevention and early intervention over time