Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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283. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of young adults discharged from State or foster care upon turning 18 years of age in 2014 and in 2015; the number or percentage of these young persons aged 16 and 17 years who had aftercare plans in place in preparation for leaving care and prior to being discharged, by region; and the cost of putting an aftercare plan in place for all children leaving care. [4214/16]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Aftercare is the term used to describe the planning and support put in place to meet the needs of a young person who is leaving statutory care at 18 years of age, to assist him/her in making the transition to independent living.An aftercare programme is based on an assessed need, and an aftercare worker can make arrangements for various supports, including support for accommodation, and accessing training and education.

Provisional figures for the end of September 2015 show that there were approximately 1,573 young people aged 18 to 22 years in receipt of an aftercare service, with 57% in full-time education or training.

The numbers of 16 and 17 year old young people in care with an aftercare plan is a new metric which was not collected prior to 2015. The following table shows the provisional aftercare statistics collected by the Child and Family Agency, Tusla, to the end of September 2015:

Table 1: Provisional aftercare data to 30/09/2015

* Please note that the figures listed are approximate, as some returns require validation.

Provisional data provided by Tusla show that in 2014, approximately 484 young people were discharged from care by reason of turning 18. Of these, 98% were assessed as needing an aftercare service, and at the time of recording, 90% had been offered a service.

The cost of developing an aftercare plan has not been determined as every plan is different for each young person and takes account of their individual circumstances. Tusla has introduced a Standardised National Aftercare Allowance of €300 per week to address the previously inequitable approach of different rates of financial supports being made available for young people leaving care around the country. The introduction of this aftercare allowance demonstrates Tusla's commitment to an aftercare service that offers consistent supports to ensure that young people leaving care and aftercare reach their potential in adult life.