Written answers

Wednesday, 21 March 2018

Department of Children and Youth Affairs

Child and Family Agency Funding

Photo of Tom NevilleTom Neville (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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305. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if Tusla will provide funding to a service (details supplied) to assist it to meet its running costs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13053/18]

Photo of Katherine ZapponeKatherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, administers the provision of funding and the awarding of grants to child and family services nationwide. In line with its Commissioning Strategy, Tusla is committed to using all available resources for children and families in the most efficient, equitable, proportionate and sustainable way.

Tusla has advised that the organisation to which the Deputy refers received joint funding from the Health Service Executive (HSE) and Tusla in 2014 and 2015.

Tusla has developed its framework for the management of and accountability arrangements for grants in accordance with public sector guidelines. Tusla has advised that it did not receive certain required documents in 2016 including; an Annual Report, Scope of Services, audited accounts, or any official report of client numbers from the organisation. Due to the lack of engagement on these items, Tusla did not issue funding to the centre referred to by the Deputy in 2016.

Tusla has also advised that it did not receive a grant application from the centre for 2017 or 2018. In the past year, Tusla has engaged with members of the Board of the centre, referred to by the Deputy, on several occasions to outline the requirements for a successful funding application, and to express its concern in relation to the ongoing issues regarding governance matters.

Over the past two years, Tusla has provided funding to another organisation in the area which provides a high quality counselling service for young people.

Tusla will continue to work with its community partners throughout the country and will consider service needs and funding resources for such groups where appropriate, in accordance with public financial management principles, procedures, and additional reporting requirements.

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