Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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54. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her views on whether Tusla has both the capacity and the resources to ensure aftercare plans for all children who are leaving care; and her further views on whether the resources are available to deliver on all aftercare plans in time for the commencement of the Child Care (Amendment) Act 2015. [33537/16]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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As the Deputy is aware, I secured an additional €37m for Tusla in Budget 2017, which will bring its total allocation to €713m. Tusla will shortly prepare a Business Plan for my consideration which will set out how it proposes to allocate its total funding for the year. This will include its spending plans for implementing the legislation on aftercare, as well as all of the other services it provides.

I am committed to implementing the Child Care (Amendment) Act 2015 which entitles eligible young people to a formal aftercare plan, prepared by Tusla in collaboration with the young person leaving care. I am pleased that the Act creates an explicit, as opposed to a current implicit, statement of Tusla’s duty to satisfy itself as to the young person's need for assistance and support as they leave care. My Department is working closely with Tusla to ensure that the provisions of the Act can be fully implemented as quickly as possible in the coming months.

In order to fulfil its obligations, Tusla will have to increase the number of aftercare workers available to help young people identify and plan for their needs.

It is important to note that the costs arising here relate only to implementing the provisions of the aftercare legislation itself. Young people leaving care typically receive supports relating to accommodation, further education, employment and training, which are funded by other Government Departments. The role of Tusla is to provide advice, guidance, support and signposting, which are key elements of this service and these supports are available to all care leavers. This means that the part of Tusla’s budget for 2017 which is ultimately allocated to aftercare services under the Child Care (Amendment) Act 2015 will represent just a small proportion of the total spending by the State on those in receipt of aftercare services.

At present, there are some 1,900 young people receiving aftercare services from Tusla and approximately half of these young people remained with their carers while 6% were in a residential placement. Data provided by Tusla show that in the first six months of 2016, approximately 315 young people were discharged from care by reason of turning 18. Of these, 98% were assessed as being eligible for an aftercare service (308) and 91% were availing of the aftercare service (280).