Charity warns of HSE plans

CUTBACKS by the HSE to child and family support services would be a significantly shortsighted measure and a possible reaction to financial mismanagement and overspending in other areas of the services, the head of a leading children’s charity has warned.

Barnardos chief executive Fergus Finlay said the group has learned of funding cuts to some of its 40 family support services, which will take effect this year, and it waiting to see what the impact will be.

“The suggestion that the HSE intends to further slash funding for child and family support services by up to 20% from December 2011 is simply shocking,” said Mr Finlay said.

“As it is, child and family support services across Ireland are underfunded and understaffed. Many of our services are operating a waiting list, such is the demand for services.

“Let me assure you there is absolutely no waste in this area.”

Mr Finlay was speaking following reports in the Irish Catholic that the HSE is warning of cuts to family and child support services by up to 20%.

ISPCC director of services Caroline O’Sullivan said she hoped the reports of cuts were inaccurate.

“If those figures are in any way accurate then that is an horrific cut and would not make any sense because of the way the people at the top are talking.”

Ms O’Sullivan said this time last year she would have said that child welfare was not being taken seriously, but since the appointment of Gordon Jeyes, the HSE’s national director of children and family services, things were really beginning to change.

“We are not there yet but things are changing and child protection is being spoken about in conjunction with child welfare.

“I see a huge opportunity for us here to fix things that we did so wrong over the years. So, certainly, big cuts will be going against what we are listening to.”

Ms O’Sullivan said it was well known that there was not as much money to go around, but that organisations simply had to do more for less.

However, sources elsewhere said that there is real concern for smaller family support groups who are struggling to keep their head about water.

The head of a leading family support agency, who did not want to be named, said she felt it was more difficult to focus attention on child welfare, rather than the more prominent issue of child abuse.

“There is a battle going on to keep family support in there and make it a priority. Certainly, all the research shows that the economic and social benefits of early intervention and supporting families make savings in the long run.”

A HSE spokesperson said budgets for next year are not confirmed as yet.