Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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411. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the extent to which she has available the necessary resources to address the issue of children at risk as a result of a particular source or cause; the extent to which she has been able to respond directly or through agencies under her remit in such cases; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22453/19]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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I can advise the Deputy that Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, is the appropriate body to receive referrals of children at risk. Tusla collates and publishes data on the number of referrals received, and the actions taken in relation to referrals. I have therefore written to Tusla and asked them to revert to the Deputy directly.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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412. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the degree to which she has dialogue with youth organisations nationally with a view to adequate protection for young persons when required without delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22454/19]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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Before receiving any funding from my Department, youth organisations must enter into a Service Level Agreement with either their relevant Education and Training Board or Pobal who act as funding intermediaries on behalf of my Department. This service level agreement opens the dialogue by outlining the youth services' responsibilities to protect children under the Children First Act 2015. In order to support this, my Department keeps an open dialogue with youth organisations.

The Child Protection Programme for the Youth Sector is based in the National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI) and is funded by my Department. This programme, delivered by NYCI, was initially revised for 2018 to encompass the changes from the enactment of Children First. NYCI and my Department are currently working together to provide a fully revised programme, with one stream for youth volunteers and another for paid staff, in 2019.

As part of this programme, NYCI, at the request of my Department, ran general information session for Management Boards of youth organisations to support them in meeting their responsibilities relating to the Act. An information session was also provided for trainers from Youth Work Ireland and City of Dublin Youth Service Board to enable them to deliver the Board Information session to their respective boards.

In addition NYCI currently chairs the Children First Implementation Group for the Youth Sector. This group provides support to youth organisations in relation to the full enactment of the Children First Act. This group has a meeting scheduled for June 2019.