Michael Harty (Clare, Independent)
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641. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will rescind the withdrawal of counselling grants in the interest of vulnerable children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8354/17]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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I wish to inform the Deputy that I share his concerns regarding this scheme, and that I have met with Tusla, the Child and Family Agency to express these concerns, which they have taken on board. I wish to assure the Deputy that at present schools in receipt of the grant will continue to do so, up to September 2017.

I have been advised by Tusla that the School Counselling Grants scheme, was established in 1994, to provide counselling support for children affected by bereavement or loss. In 2011 this scheme was closed to new entrants while under the remit of the Family Support Agency. The scheme came under the remit of Tusla upon its establishment in 2014.

Tusla has informed me that the School Completion Projects have until April to complete the Annual Retention Plan for the School Completion Programme. This provides an opportunity, within the return, for the Projects to inform Tusla of its counselling needs.

Tusla recognises the necessity for bereavement and loss counselling in schools and those schools in receipt of funding under the School Completion Programme may utilise up to €5,000 of this funding for such services. In addition Tusla provides child counselling through the Agency’s Family Support Services funding. In 2016 funding for child counselling was increased under this scheme by €154,000 to €680,000. In particular child counselling funding to approximately 70 Family Resource Centres around Ireland was increased to €242,000.

Tusla is the main funder of Barnardos Children’s Bereavement Service, which works to support children and families coping with bereavement. Funding of €154,600 was provided to this service in 2016. The Agency is also committed to the funding of Rainbows Ireland, which provides group based support to children dealing with loss following parental separation/divorce or a death. The Rainbows programme is currently delivered in over 250 schools and community based centres around the country. Funding in 2016 was increased by €15,000 to €250,000 annually. Together with the Irish Hospice Foundation Tusla co-funds the Irish Childhood Bereavement Network, which works to improve awareness and support of bereaved children. It provides information on how to support bereaved children targeted at professionals, teachers, schools and families. Tusla provided €35,000 in funding to this initiative in 2016.