Fiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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615. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her Department is adequately resourced to protect children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42822/17]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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I am committed to the protection and welfare of children and believe that there is a moral duty on Government and on society to work together to protect children and to ensure their safety. Within the limits of the budgetary process, I have sought to maximise the resources available for this important work and the effectiveness in the deployment of these resources.

From my Department’s perspective , the Child and Family Agency, has a statutory duty under the to promote the welfare of children who are not receiving adequate care and protection. Any child who resides in Ireland and who is not receiving adequate care and protection can be received into the care of the State if deemed to be the appropriate action required. Tusla is required under the 1991 Act to investigate allegations of abuse, including historical abuse, and to engage with An Garda Síochána where appropriate. Tusla has a key role in supporting some of the most vulnerable children and young people in State care. My Department provides funding for Tusla. In 2017 it 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, including family support; educational welfare; pre-school inspection and domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. These services and supports are provided by Social Workers, Educational Welfare Officers, and Early Years Inspectors. The precise level of funding available to services for children next year will be considered by Tusla in developing its 2018 Business Plan, based on the Performance Statement, which I as Minister for Children and Youth Affairs will issue later this year.