€15 million for Ryan Report Implementation Plan – Minister Andrews

Against the backdrop of harsh corrections in the public finances, the Government has agreed to fund in 2010 measures identified in the Government’s Implementation Plan in response to the Ryan Report.  The precise allocation will be itemised in the Revised Estimates Volume but will be in the order of €15 million.  This provision will support survivors of abuse through the allocation of additional resources for counselling and facilitate the recruitment of not less than 200 additional social workers. 

Speaking this evening, Minister Andrews said, “I said last July that words alone were cold comfort to survivors.  I am confident that today’s announcement will support survivors of abuse through the provision of additional counselling services and will help to improve services for children today through the recruitment of social workers and other supports that will be put in place next year.  I am hopeful that the allocation of €15 million in these straightened times is proof of the Government’s and my commitment to improving children’s services.”

Following the publication of the Ryan Report on May 20^th, the Government accepted all 20 recommendations contained in the Report and tasked me with preparing the Government’s response and Implementation Plan.  This Implementation Plan, which contains 99 specific actions, was published in July and was regarded by many as a fair and honest assessment of the steps required to improve the delivery of children’s services.  Each action is pegged to a specific date for delivery.  The ambition of the plan was welcomed but judgement was reserved till accompanying funding was put in place. 

The Ryan Report Implementation Plan committed to the filling of 270 social work positions between 2009 and 2011.  At the end of October this year, the HSE employed 2,129 social workers.  This is 50 more than were employed at the start of this year. 

Minister Andrews stated, “My target is that in the calendar year, 2010, the HSE will, at a minimum, recruit an additional 200 social workers. These posts will be targeted at the area of child protection and children in care.  Each child in care has a statutory right to have an allocated social worker and a care plan. Up until this point, not all children in care had a social worker.  This is a concrete step to realising this entitlement.” 

The Implementation Plan contained a commitment to purchase additional services on behalf of the National Counselling Service from the non-statutory and private sectors in response to increased demand for counselling services for survivors of abuse following publication of the Ryan and Murphy reports.  The extra funding will allow these additional counselling services to be purchased next year.

It will also allow HIQA to increase the frequency inspection of foster care services and all children’s residential centres, including residential centres and respite services for children with a disability, as was specified in the Plan.  Multidisciplinary assessment services for children and young people at risk will be developed; as will a multidisciplinary team for children in special care and detention.  Aftercare services and advocacy for children in care will be supported. 

The Minister also reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to the introduction of the free preschool year.  “As the Minister for Finance signalled last April, provision of €170 million will be made for the new free preschool year in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE).  This is an exciting development in early years education.  As of the first week in January, all Irish children, within the specified age range, will for the first time be entitled to attend a preschool service free of charge,” said the Minister. 

The harsh economic outlook has necessitated a reduction in the 2010 allocation in respect of the National Childcare Investment Programme (NCIP) by €2.5 million.  The €2.5 million savings will arise in the Community Childcare Subvention Scheme (CCSS) as some of the childcare places currently supported under that scheme will be funded in 2010 under the new ECCE scheme. 

The Community Childcare Subvention Scheme (CCSS), which was due to end in 2010 will be replaced by a new to be introduced in September 2010, which will shift the focus in favour of parents in low paid employment and training or education.  The changes will be as follows:

• Parents currently participating in a Fás or VEC course receive childcare support up to the value of €133.50 per week.  It is proposed, subject to finalising arrangements with relevant Departments, to increase this payment to €170 per week. 
• Currently, parents who are unemployed qualify for the top rate of subvention - €100 per week (Band A).  This band will be widened to take in low income working parents who qualify for Family Income Support (FIS).   
• Band A parents on Job Seekers Benefit/Assistance will continue to be eligible for the top rate of subvention on a part-time basis (i.e. up to five hours of childcare per day).
• Low income working parents above the FIS threshold, for example parents holding medical or GP visit cards, will now be classified as Band B and their current weekly subvention rate will increase from the old rate of €45 to €50 per week.

The Minister said, “the changes to the Community Childcare Subvention Scheme will, I believe, provide a continued, fair and supportive framework for parents.”

The Government will provide €46.6 million next year to the youth sector to support, in the main, voluntary youth organisations, which deliver services to young people in every community, urban and rural, around the country.  Youth work is an important activity in developing young people socially and personally to reach their potential and make a positive contribution to their own communities. It also works with young people to overcome difficulties in their own lives and helps prevent involvement in anti-social and criminal activity.  The Minister said, “though taking a small decrease (3 percent) in funding as a result of this budget, I am confident that current service levels will not be adversely affected.”

Finally, there is provision made in Vote 41 for €3 million euro to finance the holding of a referendum on the rights of the child.  The Joint Committee on the Constitutional Amendment on Children is scheduled to complete its work on December 16^th following which a report will be submitted to Government for its consideration.