Bernard Durkan, TD

remains in touch with the various child support agencies with a view to early and strategic intervention in cases of a potential threat to the well-being of children in situations where the extent of vulnerability may lead to depression and/or self-harm

positively intervene to assist children and teenagers who may find themselves attracted to a life of crime by virtue of their environment

children requiring a safe haven outside the home may expect to have their requirements met on an ongoing basis; the number of places available for such children at present

various children support services remain readily available to meet the needs of vulnerable children

extent to which facilities of a corrective and rehabilitative nature continue to be made available to those involved in juvenile crime

scale and level of disadvantaged children throughout the country in both urban and rural settings with a view to identification of the extent to which various intervention

Department continues to offer support to Kildare Youth Services; the degree to which this matches requirement

regarding the adequacy of resources available to his Department to deal with issues of physical and mental wellbeing of children

assistance to voluntary bodies or agencies providing counselling or other support services for children or teenagers with particular reference to those deemed to be at risk or in danger of self-harm

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