Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

281. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her Department or a body under its aegis reviewed the additional costs arising from the provision in the Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2015 giving legal entitlement to after-care services for all young persons leaving care prior to preparation of the Bill; the cost of extending the eligibility to a full legal entitlement to an after-care plan to young persons who have been taken into State care at 17 years of age but who have not been in care for 12 months or over. [21394/16]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy is aware, the Child Care (Amendment) Act 2015 was signed into law in December of last year. The Act is primarily concerned with aftercare – 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 or her in making the transition to independent living. The legislation obliges Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, following an assessment of need, to prepare an aftercare plan identifying relevant aftercare supports for an eligible child or eligible young person.

Prior to the drafting of the Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2015, a Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) was conducted in 2014 in order to consider the possible implications of the proposed legislative amendments across a range of categories, including potential additional exchequer costs.

The Bill sought to place on a statutory footing the aftercare planning provision that already existed at that time with an accompanying expansion of the cohort to be supported. Initial estimates of associated costs were considered to be minimal given that it was considered that the revised cohort would not in and of itself, present a significant additional expenditure requirement. However, an additional cost element has since been identified and officials from Tusla and my Department are working in this regard to establish an appropriate quantum of costs, which will form part of the estimates negotiations.

Further additional costs of a 17 year old cohort who may not reach the eligibility criteria has not been assessed as to change the eligibility criteria for this group would have implications for the entire cohort.

The thresholds applied have been carefully considered to maximise the impact on those most in need of support and to maintain a careful balance to avoid unwelcome and extended interaction of the State in the lives of children and families who no longer need the Child and Family Agency’s support, and do not wish to have a reminder of past difficulties.