Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail)
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279. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if funding will be provided for a children's worker (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44002/19]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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Under the Child and Family Agency Act, 2013, Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, is responsible for the care and protection of victims of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence whether in the context of family or otherwise.

I provided additional funding of €1.5m to Tusla this year to increase domestic, sexual and gender-based violence service provision. A proportion of this funding was allocated for the national roll-out of a healing programme for children who have been impacted by domestic abuse, and the recruitment of 12 additional outreach workers for women and children affected by domestic violence in identified areas of need.

To date this year, 8 children’s programmes have been delivered in 7 Tusla areas and planning is ongoing to deliver children’s programmes in the remaining 10 Tusla areas by year end. Data will be collected to gather evidence on the effectiveness of such programmes for children.

I have requested that Tusla respond to the Deputy directly with regard to the Deputy's proposal.