Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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801. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 29 of 28 March 2017, the specific date on which she hopes to have the Child Care (Amendment) Act 2015 implemented in full. [17662/17]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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My Department is working closely with Tusla to ensure that the provisions of the Child Care (Amendment) Act 2015 can be fully implemented as quickly as possible. The amendment to the Act is primarily concerned with aftercare – the planning and support put in place to meet the needs of a young person who is leaving statutory care at 18 years of age, to assist him or her in making the transition to independent living. The legislation imposes a statutory duty on Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, following an assessment of need, to prepare an aftercare plan identifying relevant aftercare supports for an eligible child or eligible young person. It is anticipated that the relevant provisions of the Act will be commenced in Q2 of this year.

In preparation for the commencement of this new legislation, Tusla has introduced a number of new practices. It has developed dedicated aftercare teams and it continues to roll out inter-agency steering committees to strongly promote good co-ordination of these services at local level. Tusla is identifying gaps in the aftercare service nationally and has undertaken a major recruitment campaign of social care workers to fill aftercare post vacancies.

Tusla has consulted with all key stakeholders in order to finalise the revision of its Aftercare policy. The consultation process has included foster carers, young people / young adults, aftercare staff, social work staff, NGO's, private foster care and residential care providers and other State Departments. All have been invited to events and offered the opportunity to make written submissions. Following these consultations, feedback will be considered, amendments made to the draft document, and the final draft of the Aftercare documents will be presented to the National Policy Oversight Committee in Tusla for approval. The Child Care (Amendment) Act 2015 will be commenced as soon as practicable after approval of the revised policy.

I believe that our young people leaving care deserve high quality supports throughout the system, and that full implementation of the Child Care (Amendment) Act 2015 will be a key element of how our society helps them to make this critical transition in their lives.