Written Answers. - Parliamentary Debates - Houses of the Oireachtas

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Questions— 14 February 2012. Written Answers Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (Deputy Frances Fitzgerald): Under EU telecoms rules agreed in 2009, the 116000 number is reserved in all EU member states for a missing children hotline. My Department established and led a cross-sectoral Project Team, including representatives of my own Department, the Department of Justice and Equality, ComReg and An Garda Síochána to advance this matter. The position is that ComReg, who have responsibility for allocation of this number in Ireland, received an application to operate the Hotline from the ISPCC. Following cross-departmental consultation and an examination of the issues involved by the Project team, ComReg has now allocated the number to the ISPCC. In the coming months the Project Team will now work to ensure that the Hotline becomes operational as soon as possible and operates in a way that supports and augments existing arrangements to secure child protection. Inter-Country Adoptions 608. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the annual costs of promoting and pursuing inter-country adoption in her Department and at the Adoption Authority of Ireland. [8133/12] Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (Deputy Frances Fitzgerald): The Adoption Authority of Ireland was established on 1 November 2010. It is an independent statutory body charged with implementing the Adoption Act, 2010. The Authority has responsibility for the direct operational implementation of legislation and Government policy. The Adoption Authority is being funded in 2012 from within the Department of Children and Youth Affairs vote. Funding of €3.3 million has been allocated for the current year. Any additional costs to be borne by my Department would be low and would most likely arise as a consequence of a limited number of Ministerial/official visits in relation to intercountry adoption during the year. Adoption Services 609. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the annual costs of providing search and reunion services to adopted persons and natural parents; and the amount of Adoption Authority of Ireland and Health Service Executive annual budgets that are spent on these activities. [8134/12] Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (Deputy Frances Fitzgerald): The Adoption Authority has advised that the direct payroll cost to the Agency for providing information and tracing services is in the region of €300,000 per annum. I have been informed by the HSE that the overall cost to provide information and tracing services nationally by the HSE is in the region of €3 million. This includes salary, travel, office and administration costs. Inter-Country Adoptions 610. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her attention has been drawn to the problems being encountered by the Adoption Authority of Ireland with inter-country adoption applications for new couples seeking to adopt from India; the steps being taken to resolve the issue and problems; if she will outline a timeframe for the matters to be resolved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8202/12] 610
Questions— 14 February 2012. Written Answers Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (Deputy Frances Fitzgerald): The Adoption Authority of Ireland is an independent statutory body charged with implementing the Adoption Act, 2010. The Authority has responsibility for the direct operational implementation of legislation and Government policy. The AAI has advised that it is proposing to send a delegation to India to discuss administrative matters relating to intercountry adoption between our two countries. Departmental Staff 611. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if any remuneration, stipend, expense facility, financial facility or similar payment is being made from the Exchequer to any senior public servant who has retired from her Department beyond any accrued pension entitlements; if any such payment has been sanctioned for current senior public servants who are about to retire from her Department; if she will list the name, positions and details of any relevant moneys paid or scheduled to be paid of any person in receipt of or sanctioned to receive such a payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8267/12] Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (Deputy Frances Fitzgerald): No payments as described by the Deputy have been made, or are planned to be made, to any retired or retiring official from my Department. Child Abuse 612. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the extent to which she has studied the incidents and frequency of child abuse in situations inside or outside the home over the past number of years with particular reference to identification of situations or circumstances which might lead to recurrences; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8388/12] 613. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the extent to which early detection and support services are available in situations whereby children or young adults might be vulnerable to abuse; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8389/12] Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (Deputy Frances Fitzgerald): I propose to take Questions Nos. 612 and 613 together. When we talk about child abuse it is important to remember that in reviewing the number of cases referred to the HSE’s Children and Family Services, child neglect has been identified as the most common form of abuse. There are in fact more cases of neglect than sexual abuse and maltreatment in child protection. I am aware that national and international research has linked incidents of child abuse with domestic violence, parental mental health issues, and alcohol and drug addiction amongst families. There are, however, other factors to be considered including the parent’s role and the societal and environmental factors contributing to the parent’s inability to provide for the basic needs of the child, such as social isolation, poor housing, low levels of employment and poverty. Family support and social work intervention are crucial to identifying, containing and alleviating the circumstances that can lead to child abuse in all its heinous forms. The HSE’s Child Protection and Welfare Practice Handbook, published to complement the revised Children First Guidance which I launched last year, sets out in significant detail the indicators of abuse and how they may be reflected in parental behaviour, in the environment in which the child is growing, and in the behaviour of the child. These indicators allow the relevant professionals to 611
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Written Answers. - Parliamentary Debates - Houses of the Oireachtas

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