Tony McLoughlin (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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359. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans to assess specific deficiencies in respect of child care, youth support and-or development services, in particular counties Sligo and Leitrim; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16920/17]

Tony McLoughlin (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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360. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the supports in place to assist children or teenagers who may be vulnerable in child care, youth support and or development services, in particular counties Sligo and Leitrim; the extent to which she continues to liaise with specific groups in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16921/17]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 359 and 360 together.

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 (CCC) (including Sligo and Leitrim CCCs); 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 throughout the country including those from disadvantaged communities. My Department provides funding to Sligo/Leitrim Home Youth Liaison Service Project (€46,421 in 2017), Mohill Community Youth Project (€29,520 in 2017), Leitrim Youth Project (€86,803 in 2017) and Leitrim Traveller Youth Project (€15,103) under the Special Projects for Youth Scheme. In addition, Sligo Youth Information Centre has been allocated €66,921 in 2017.

The Local Youth Club Grant Scheme supports youth work activities at a local level. Each year, some 600 local youth clubs benefit from the scheme. In 2016, €1.065m was allocated to this scheme, of which €58,568 was allocated to Mayo, Sligo, Leitrim Education and Training Board.

I have visited many youth services and projects across the country since taking office and I am committed to continuing to do so. Officials in my Department have regular contact with the larger national youth organisations and with the sixteen Education and Training Boards, including Mayo Sligo and Leitrim ETB. I, along with my officials, meet with 30 national youth organisations every six months.

As the Deputy may be aware, a number of funding schemes supporting youth services were the subject of a Value for Money and Policy Review in 2014. Work on the development of a new funding scheme has been prioritised by my Department, and consultations with youth services are continuing, with a view to introducing the new youth funding programme in line with the review.

My Department is well advanced on an exercise, in conjunction with Pobal, and each Education and Training Board (ETB) Youth Officer, which will map youth service provision across the State. This mapping exercise will assist my Department and the relevant ETB's in developing a detailed socio-demographic profile, in terms of both population numbers and deprivation levels. It is my intention that this mapping exercise will inform future development and investment in youth services.

The Deputy will also be aware that my Department provides funding for the Child and Family Agency, Tusla. In 2017, Tusla has been allocated Exchequer funding of €713 million, representing an increase of €37 million on 2016. Tusla provides a comprehensive range of services and supports for vulnerable children and families. These include: Child Welfare and Protection Services, including family support services; Educational Welfare Services; Pre-school Inspection services and Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence services. Tusla works closely with other care providers including the HSE, in respect of access to primary care services, child and adolescent mental health services, disability and other services. Tusla and the HSE monitor their interagency relationship to ensure that they are working effectively in the best interests of children and families.

My Department is currently working on legislation to reform the Guardian ad litem service. Guardians ad litem perform a very important function in child care proceedings. They are an invaluable source of advice to the Courts and a great support for the children and young people who are involved in these proceedings. The reform proposals will address significant inadequacies in the existing arrangements and will replace the existing ad hoc system with a high quality, child-centred, cost effective national service. Most importantly, it will extend the Guardian ad litem system to benefit the greatest number of children and young people.