Written answers

Wednesday, 18 January 2023

Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

Family Support Services

Photo of Paul MurphyPaul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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1009. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to the lack of support that is available to parents who have tragically lost a child who is over one-year-old; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2195/23]

Photo of Paul MurphyPaul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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1010. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on whether one charity, which is partly funded by Tulsa, offering eight sessions of counselling is not adequate to support those facing the loss of a child; and if he will outline his Department’s plans to improve this and offer the supports needed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2196/23]

Photo of Paul MurphyPaul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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1012. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason that supports are in place for those who have lost a child who is under one-year-of-age and not for those who lose a child that is over the age of one year; and if he will ensure that the supports needed are provided to all grieving parents. [2198/23]

Photo of Roderic O'GormanRoderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1009, 1010 and 1012 together.

Tusla Family Support Service Counselling is delivered via commissioned community and voluntary sector organisations. In 2021, funding was allocated to 225 organisations around Ireland to deliver these services, including 90 Family Resource Centres. Tusla expenditure on Family Support Service Counselling was €6,798,000 in 2021. The FSS Counselling Budget will benefit by a 4% increase in 2023.

Family Support Service Counselling includes support to bereaved parents following the death of their child. This support is not restricted to parents who are bereaved of their child under the age of one year old.

Bereavement services funded that specifically support parents bereaved of a child or children include Firstlight and Anam Cara.

FirstLight’s range of services includes home visits where a newly bereaved family is offered a visit to their home by a professional therapist, one-to-one counselling, couples therapy, support groups with other bereaved parents; and adolescent counselling or play therapy for siblings. It is a national service with a network of therapists across Ireland and also offers a national 24-hour service helpline. Tusla funding for 2023 will be approximately €85,000.

Anam Cara operates monthly face-to-face and online support groups for bereaved parents that focus on peer support but are facilitated by a trained professional. Groups operate across Ireland. Anam Cara also offers bereavement support evenings which provide talks that focus on parental grief. In 2022 Tusla supported training offered by Anam Cara to community-based counselling/ psychotherapy Services focused on parental grief to support referrals by Anam Cara to counselling/psychotherapy services where parents may require one-to-one support. Tusla funding for 2023 will be approximately €22,000.

Other services funded by Tusla that also support bereaved parents include Bethany Bereavement Support, the Miscarriage Association of Ireland and A Little Lifetime Foundation. Tusla also funds a number of services that are focused on supporting children and their families, including following the death of a siblings. These include Rainbows Ireland, Barnardos Children’s Bereavement Service and the Irish Childhood Bereavement Network.

Photo of Paul MurphyPaul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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1011. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on whether it is acceptable for parents who are suffering from the loss of their child to have no concrete answers in relation to the reason that their child passed away; if he will ensure that a full investigation is carried out into the sudden death of any child and provide their parents with full information; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2197/23]

Photo of Roderic O'GormanRoderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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This is a matter for my Cabinet colleague, the Minister for Justice.

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