Tusla – Child and Family Agency statement on Budget 2017 allocation

Tusla – Child and Family Agency has been informed by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs that it will receive additional funding of just under €37 million for 2017, as well as funding for capital expenditure in 2017, bringing the Agency’s annual funding for 2017 to €713 million.

Pat Smyth, Acting CEO, Tusla, welcomed the Government’s commitment to children, saying “Although much work remains to be done, in almost three years of existence Tusla has succeeded in reforming and improving services and is proving responsive to the needs of children by building on the strengths of families and communities in Ireland.”

Responding to the 2017 funding allocation, Jim Gibson, Chief Operations Officer, Tusla, stated “Tusla welcomes the increase in funding allocated by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, which builds on the funding received for 2016 and is a further step in the Agency’s path to sustainability in line with its Corporate Plan 2015-2017.

“The increase in funding for 2017 will allow Tusla to continue prioritising a number of areas of work, including the reduction of unallocated cases, developing the capacity of special care services and developing Tusla’s organisational and governance structures. The increase also enhances Tusla’s capacity to respond to policy and legislative requirements in the areas of Children First, adoption, aftercare and homelessness, early years services, the school attendance strategy and disability equality and will allow Tusla to proceed with planned recruitment to address areas of greatest need within the Agency.

“In its business case to the Department of Children and Youth Affairs in advance of the budget, Tusla outlined the funding required to put the Agency on a sustainable footing. Tusla remains committed to continuously reviewing and improving its services for children and families and will continue to deliver these to the highest standards possible within the Agency’s financial constraints. We acknowledge the on-going support of the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and look forward to continuing to work with the Minister and Department into the future to develop and improve the services we provide to children and families.”

ENDS

For further information:

Ruth McCourt / Eleanor Reidy, Tusla Press Office, 087 634 8373