Tusla - Child and Family Agency Statement on Budget 2019 Allocation

Tusla – Child and Family Agency welcomes the announcement by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Dr Katherine Zappone that the agency will receive an additional €33m in funding for 2019 from the Department of Children and Youth Affairs.

This allocation brings the agency’s funding to €786m. It will allow Tusla to prioritise key areas such as the programme of reform and implement actions from the HIQA Investigation, enhance the services provided to vulnerable children and families, and set out a plan to successfully meet our commitments in the Corporate Plan 2018 – 2020 and supporting business plans.

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Dr Katherine Zappone said:

“This year I ensured that Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, had for the first time ever a budget in excess of three-quarters of a billion euro. In 2019 that budget will reach €786m – an increase of €33m. This will be used to progress a number of key priorities including the implementation of recommendations made by HIQA following its investigation into the management of child sexual abuse allegations. There is also extra resources for front-line services supporting victims of domestic and sexual based violence. Tusla will also pilot a new approach so that children who are abused do not have to relive their ordeal by re-telling their experience over and over again. Details of the 'One House' Project will be released shortly.”

Pat Smyth, Interim Chief Executive, Tusla welcomed the support of Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Dr Katherine Zappone T.D., and the Government. He said: “The additional allocation of €33m announced today is welcome and will assist Tusla in further developing, and enhancing services for children and families. It is crucial that the allocation is used to prioritise the most urgent areas of work and within the resources and budget available.”

Key areas of focus for the agency as a result of the allocation for Budget 2019 include:

• The Child Protection and Welfare Strategy;
• Implementation of HIQA recommendations;
• Domestic, sexual and gender based violence services;
• The National Childcare Information System;
• Family Resource Centres.

Commenting on the Budget 2018 allocation, Jim Gibson, Chief Operations Officer, Tusla, said: “The allocation of €33m will make a real difference to the work of the agency and to the roll out of various projects, service improvements and further developing key areas outlined in the programme of reform including the Child Protection and Welfare Strategy and the National Childcare Information System which marks the first time in the history of the state that there has been one integrated IT system for social work in the country.”