Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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547. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will he provide funding for a campaign to raise awareness of parental mental health, the impact on children, and the provision of information relating to local parenting support services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3042/24]

Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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548. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will take the necessary steps to establish a network of local peer support groups, utilising the Parent Peer Support Fund, in communities for parents and families dealing with parental mental health issues within the home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3043/24]

Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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549. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will ring-fence funding for the provision of targeted intensive supports for parents facing mental health issues, such supports to be tailored to meet the specific needs of each family; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3044/24]

Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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550. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will engage with the relevant bodies to allow the parenting status of all adults engaged with mental health services to be recorded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3045/24]

Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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551. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to take the necessary steps to ensure that all adults with children under 18 who are engaging with adult mental health services should be offered a referral automatically to local family/parenting support services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3046/24]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 547, 548, 549, 550 and 551 together.

The provision of parent and child mental health services in Ireland lies specifically within the remit of the Department of Health and the Health Service Executive (HSE). However, my own Department plays an important role in supporting the well-being and mental health of parents and children. In the case of those children who are accessing HSE mental health services, it may be appropriate for a referral to be made to provide additional parenting or family support and this can be undertaken by a professional based on their assessment of the needs of the family. In circumstances whereby a child engaged with adult mental health services, I am advised that Tusla would be supportive of information being shared with parents/carers by the HSE professionals about family and parenting supports services within their area, but would not recommend automatic referral.

Under Supporting Parents: A National Model of Parenting Support Services, my Department is working to geomap all parenting support services provided by Tusla, making these more accessible for parents and practitioners to identify. My Department is also promoting parenting supports on our social media channels and on dedicated supporting parents’ pages on gov.ie.

The Parent Peer Support Fundis an action under Supporting Parents: A National Model of Parenting Support Services. 2024 is the second year of the Parent Peer Support Fundand I am pleased to advise that the funding was increased for 2024 from €50,000 in 2023 to €75,000 in 2024 and the fund will now reach more communities. Currently there are a wide array of services and organisations in receipt of funding; these include peer supports for single parents, those parenting a child with additional needs, migrant parents, young parents and parents with children in hospital. Applications are considered from parent peer support initiatives nationwide, including those specific to parental mental health.

Similarly, under Supporting Parents: A National Model of Parenting Support Services, an awareness fund has been established to promote parenting support activities in Children and Young People's Services Committees (CYPSC) areas. Initially piloted in 10 CYPSC areas, this fund has been increased in from €50,000 in 2023 to €135,000 in 2024 and funding will now be awarded to all 27 CYPSC areas to promote parenting supports. It is at the discretion of each CYPSC to prioritise promotion of the parenting support services in their areas based on assessed needs.

CYPSC ensure effective inter-agency coordination and collaboration to achieve the best outcomes for all children and young people in its area. This is achieved through effective planning, coordination of supports locally through funding from my Department and Tusla and other Government Departments such as the Department of Health. CYPSC have identified mental health supports as their top priority and are responding to emerging needs accordingly. CYPSC carry out extensive work on mental health initiatives in communities around the country and this work is coordinated with local partners and the community and voluntary sector including state agencies. CYPSC are utilising their programme funding and Healthy Ireland funding, to plan and coordinate supports such as mental health and well-being supports for marginalised children and young people, mental health awareness and knowledge for parents and how to access supports and online well-being supports for young people amongst other initiatives.

Family and Parenting support services are funded by Tusla and others to provide tailored community-based services and awareness raising for those families who would benefit from information, advice, support and assistance in bringing up their children, so that these children will reach their full potential. The majority of these services are accessible without referral directly to Tusla – either by referral/contact by other professionals directly into the service or by self-referral by the family.

Tusla’s Family Support Programme encompasses a wide range of activities that strengthen positive informal social networks through community based programmes and services. The main focus of these services is on early intervention, aiming to promote and protect the health, well-being and rights of children, young people and their families. At the same time, particular attention is given to those who are vulnerable or at risk. The services include family support provided by Tusla, Family Resource Centres, Family Centres, in-home services, home visiting, counselling and therapy services and parenting programmes. These services include those delivered directly by Tusla, including those provided under the Prevention, Partnership, and Family Support (PPFS) service, and those that are funded or co-funded by Tusla but operated by organisations in the community and voluntary sector.