Written answers

Tuesday, 17 October 2017

Department of Children and Youth Affairs

Child Protection

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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41. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the degree to which she remains satisfied regarding the adequacy of the response to children at risk in the home or in care, having particular regard to the need to ensure early intervention and follow up; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43735/17]

Photo of Katherine ZapponeKatherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has a statutory duty to promote the welfare of children who are not receiving adequate care and protection.

Tusla provides a continuum of prevention and early intervention care supports to children and their families who are experiencing difficulties. Approximately 60% of all referrals to Tusla require this type of support.

Tusla has made real progress in dealing with cases where children, identified as needing a social worker are waiting for a specific social worker to be allocated to them. This will remain a top priority for the Child and Family Agency. My Department and I will continue to support them in their efforts. I am very pleased to have been able to secure an additional €40m for Tusla in Budget 2018. The use of this extra funding will include the recruitment of 300 additional staff.

I have been reassured to know that all urgent cases are dealt with immediately, and that Tusla ensures that the children in most need of a social work service receive one. The duty team social work system actively reviews the risk to these children, and new information informs the waiting time for allocation.

Tusla’s Child Protection Notification System holds the names of children deemed to be at current risk. All these cases have a dedicated social worker, a Child Protection Plan and regular multi-disciplinary Child Protection Case Conferences. If sufficient progress is not being made, a child may be received into care, on a voluntary basis or by applying to the courts for a care order. An Garda Siochana, out of hours GPs, Maternity Hospitals and Accident and Emergency Departments have 24 hour access to this list. This information helps them determine if a child that comes to their attention is already considered at risk.

I am most conscious of the need to enhance early intervention services and I glad to say that this budget has also provided for the establishment of an additional 11 Family Resource Centres.

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