Update: UNICEF Report and Child Welfare Issues – Children and Youth Affairs 19th November, 2014

QUESTION NO:  17

 
  To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if arising from the recently published UNICEF report on child poverty, the extent to which he has identified possible child welfare issues of a significant nature and relevant to his Department; his plans to take any specific steps to address any issues arising; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

                                                                                         Bernard J. Durkan T.D.

 
REPLY.
Support for families who require income support to meet basic needs is provided through the social welfare system which is the responsibility of my colleague the Minister for Social Protection. A range of income supports are available to parents, both those who are unemployed and those on low incomes. The Department of Social Protection also has lead responsibility for the National Action Plan for Social Inclusion.

Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures: the National Policy Framework for Children and Young People 2014 – 2020 (BOBF),  which was published and launched by Government in 2014, provides the overarching framework for the development and implementation of policy and services for children and young people. As provided for in the framework, the Department of Social Protection  is the lead department on child poverty and has the lead responsibility for a specific commitment to a national child-specific social target to lift over 70,000 children out of consistent poverty by 2020, a reduction of at least two-thirds on the 2011 level.

My Department is working on a number of initiatives which are relevant in addressing issues related to children poverty.  For example, it is leading the implementation of the Area Based Childhood (ABC) Programme (2013-2016).  The ABC Programme is being co-funded by Atlantic Philanthropies and will have a total funding allocation of up to €29.7 million.  The ABC Programme draws on best international practice to break the cycle of child poverty where it is most deeply entrenched, and improve the outcomes for children and young people and existing services.

In terms of other provision, my Department is spending €260 million annually on childcare support programmes which provide childcare to 100,000 children. A number of these programmes are targeted at those on lowest incomes. The CCS programme provides subvention support to parents on low incomes and parents in receipt of certain social welfare payments, whose children are enrolled in community childcare facilities. Additionally, the 3 Training and Employment Childcare (TEC) programmes – the Childcare Education and Training Programme, the Community Employment Childcare programme and the Afterschool Childcare Programme – provide childcare supports to eligible parents returning to work or to education.  

My Department also provides funding for targeted support for disadvantaged, marginalised and at risk young people through three youth schemes.  The three programmes are Special Projects for Youth Scheme, the Young People’s Facilities and Services Fund and Local Drugs Task Force Projects. In addition, national and regional youth work organisations are supported under my Department’s Youth Service Grant Scheme. In 2014, current funding of €49.78 million has been provided to my Department for these schemes. I am pleased to advise that Budget 2015 has confirmed that funding of €49.78m will again be provided to my Department in 2015 to support the provision of youth services. There will be no reduction in the overall allocation for youth services in 2015 which is a key priorty for youth organisations.

With regard to the child welfare, the Child and Family Agency has a range of services from family support to child protection which aim to support children and families, and enable the Agency to fulfil its statutory responsibility regarding children’s welfare and protection. Neglect can be associated with, but is not necessarily caused by poverty is a common reason for referral to child protection and welfare services.  All referrals to child protection and welfare services are reviewed in order to determine the most appropriate service response so that children and families achieve the best possible outcome.