Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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39. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the extent to which her Department has been in a position to strategically examine and assess any specific deficiencies in respect of child care, youth support and-or development services with particular reference to identification of any problems arising at the earliest stage; if she is in a position to establish adequate supports to assist children or teenagers who might be vulnerable; the extent to which she and her Department continue to liaise with specific groups in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22940/16]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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It is recognised that particular groups of children and young people can face more challenges in achieving the five national outcomes set out in Better Outcomes Brighter Futures: the National Policy Framework for Children and Young People (2014-2020), and numerous specific commitments of the Framework reflect this.

My Department identified prevention and early intervention as a key cross-sectoral priority for 2015-16. This is being addressed through the Area-Based Childhood programme, the development of a Quality and Capacity Building initiative, and supporting relevant priorities of other Government departments. As part of this, the Advisory Council for Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures, which brings together members of the community and voluntary sector as well as independent experts, has worked on a number of priority areas including homelessness and child poverty. Members of the Council and officials from my Department recently met with representatives from Focus Ireland and St. Vincent de Paul to progress these issues. They have also met with young people working with the Migrants Rights Centre Ireland to discuss issues facing undocumented young people.

My Department commissions, conducts and consults a wide variety of analysis of the requirements of children in their early years, and this is central to policy development. Evidence from the Growing Up in Ireland longitudinal study informed the recent introduction of new childcare regulations, and the July 2015 report of the Inter-Departmental Group on Future Investment in Childcare was also based on a wide consultation.

In relation to youth services, my Department administers a range of funding schemes and programmes to support the provision of services to young people throughout the country. Targeted programmes support the provision of youth services for young people who are at risk of drugs and/or alcohol misuse, early school-leaving, homelessness or who are living in disadvantaged communities. Overall, the funding schemes support national and local youth work provision to some 380,000 young people and involve approximately 1,400 youth work staff in 477 projects and 40,000 volunteers working in youth work services and communities throughout the country. In 2016, funding of €51 million has been secured by my Department for these schemes.

I and officials of my Department continue to meet regularly with many voluntary organisations and groups providing services to children and young people, to see how we can work together to bring about the best possible outcomes.

Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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40. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to address concerns over private residential care homes, specifically that many such homes provide less quality care to children in their care than voluntary and State care homes; the reason Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, relies so heavily on private residential homes rather than State-provided care homes. [23058/16]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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I reject the characterisation put forward by the Deputy regarding the quality of provision across the range of residential services provided by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. In the case of private residential centres, Tusla carries out a robust process of registration, monitoring and inspection. This process ensures that the quality of provision is put in place from the start and maintained as part of the service agreement with the provider. The inspection reports are published on the Tusla website.

A child is placed in a residential setting only where they have an identified need that can be met by this service. This is often where an alternative arrangement, such as a fostering placement, is not considered suitable. Approximately 5% of children in care across the country use residential services. The availability of these services need to be responsive and flexible enough to meet existing demand as well as specialist needs of children, availability in emergency cases, or areas where there is an emerging demand for residential services. Whether operated by Tusla, managed by voluntary groups or run by private companies, the mix of different types of provision provides Tusla with the operational flexibility to meet demand for residential services as it arises.