Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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672. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her Department has undertaken any study or research in association with the Department of Justice and Equality regarding the damage to children affected by parental imprisonment; the way in which this could be addressed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7067/17]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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My Department has not engaged in any specific study related to potential damage to children affected by parental imprisonment.

However, I note, my cabinet colleague Tánaiste Frances Fitzgerald T.D. has been advised by the Irish Prison Service of the Department of Justice and Equality, that following publication of the Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT) report entitled: “Picking Up the Pieces: The Rights and Needs of Children and Families Affected by Imprisonment” in November 2012, the Director General of the IPS established the Families & Imprisonment Group (FIG) chaired by a Prison Governor, tasked with examining existing visiting facilities for all prisoners and in particular to address the needs of children and families as highlighted in the report.

The Irish Prison Service recognises

- the importance for those in prison of maintaining, and if at all possible, developing their relationships with their children and families.

And

- that parent-child visitation is one of the most important elements to ensure the well-being of children when their parent is imprisoned.

Parent-child visitation can substantially decrease the negative impacts of imprisonment by preserving the child’s relationship with the parent. Maintaining contact during imprisonment has also been correlated with reduced recidivism rates by the parent.

Following a period of research, which included a detailed survey of existing visiting facilities and supports, the Families & Imprisonment Group (FIG) identified a number of essential pillars that should be in place to ensure that visits in Irish Prisons become a core element of rehabilitation and support for both the people in our care and their families. The essential pillars identified by the FIG are as follows:

- Communications

- Physical Improvements

- Staff training

- Parenting courses and resettlement interventions

- Community Partnerships

A pilot parenting programme entitled ‘Parenting Plus’ was developed in partnership with Childhood Development Initiative (CDI) and delivered in Limerick prison in 2015 and 2016 as part of an overall ‘Family Links’ Programme. The programme aims are:

- To support small groups of prisoners to better understand their parenting role, and to develop practical skills which support them in positive parenting;

- To develop a parenting programme specifically for the prison population, which is effective and replicable;

- To support partners of prisoners to engage positively with their children and to offer families consistent language and approaches;

- To maximise opportunities for positive parent-child engagement within the limitation of a custodial setting;

- To increase awareness of and responsibility for supporting, positive parenting as an important element of imprisonment and resettlement planning.

A number of significant objectives have been achieved so far; most notably enhanced staff training, delivery of the ‘Parents Plus’ parenting programme, the establishment of more family-friendly visits, and refurbishment of visit spaces.

In addition, Family Liaison Officer training has been provided by the IPS to enable participants to:

- Understand the role and function of a Family Liaison Officer;

- Understand the logic model process, and the rationale and evidence underpinning the Family Links programme;

- Have knowledge regarding community services and structures supporting and working with children and families;

- Have an understanding of the experience of being a parent in prison and the impact on family dynamics;

- Heightened empathy for, and ability to support, parents in prison.

An independent evaluation of the Family Links Programme in Limerick which was undertaken by the University of Limerick was launched by the Tánaiste yesterday (13 February) in Dublin.

Finally, I note that children may be impacted by events affecting their parents, for instance parental ill health, mental health problems or parental absence, by way of the need to work away from home or by imprisonment.

Where this is the case, parents can seek assistance from family support services in their communities by direct referral or through a child welfare referral to Tusla. Such services can provide child counselling, family therapy or art and play therapies to help children understand and deal their feelings, and to assist the parent who is caring for them.

In relation to children (under 18) in detention any issues of concern are addressed by their individual care regimes.