Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

251. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the extent to which she has identified the areas of child support services deemed to be most deficient and needing attention; when she expects to be in position to fully address the situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40408/16]

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

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 . 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.

My Department funds the County and City Childcare Committees and Childcare Committees Ireland to provide business support to services. Funding is also provided to Better Start to provide a quality support service and to Pobal who undertake compliance visits on behalf of this Department and the Department of Education and Skills who provide education focussed support to childcare providers.

My Department also administers a range of funding schemes and targeted programmes that support the provision of youth services for young people who are at risk of drugs, 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 €51m has been provided to my Department for these schemes.

The Deputy will be aware that my Department provides funding for the Child and Family Agency, Tusla. Budget 2017 provides €713 million for Tusla, representing an increase of €37 million on the current spending allocation for 2016. Tusla provides a comprehensive range of services and supports for children at risk and their families. These include: Child Welfare and Protection Services; Services previously delivered by the Family Support Agency and the National Educational Welfare Board; Preschool Inspection services; and Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence services.