Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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1145. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of requests for additional funding, staff resources or expertise that have been made by Tusla since January 2014, in tabular form; the purpose of the requested additional funding, staff resources or expertise; the section to which this request related; the response to each request; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25039/18]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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As the Deputy will be aware, funding requirements and how resources should be prioritised and allocated across each area of Government spending are generally considered as part of the annual estimates cycle and budgetary process. As part of the process and in accordance with the arrangements in place in my Department for evaluating yearly funding requirements, Tusla is required to submit a detailed business case setting out the basis for its funding requirements. My overriding objective is to realise funding allocations which reflect policy priorities and that sufficient resources are directed towards those areas of greatest impact on children and young people.

When Tusla was established in 2014, they received an initial allocation of €609 million. On the basis of its annual estimates engagement with the Department, Tusla has received year-on-year increases resulting in an annual allocation for 2018 of €754 million. This represents an overall increase of €145 million or 24% in the period since establishment. Details of the annual funding allocations, including the current and capital resource provisions, are set out in the following table:

The extra resources allocated to Tusla has significantly strengthened its base funding, facilitated the agency in meeting identified service pressures and areas of particular risk. In line with statutory requirements under the Child and Family Agency Act 2013, Tusla publishes its annual business plan which outlines proposed activities and performance targets for each year which includes proposed allocation of the total resources (both financial and human).