To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans are in place to manage the process of change between existing health boards and trusts in the Province and the new Health and Social Services Authority in relation to services for children, young people and families. (83686)

By April 2007 the 18 existing trusts will be formally dissolved and the five new Health and Social Care trusts will become fully operational. The new Health and Social Services Authority will subsequently be established by April 2008. The new authority will have a role in commissioning the full range of services, including those for children, young people and families, either centrally or through the Local Commissioning Groups. The services will be delivered by the five new trusts and, where appropriate, the community and voluntary sector.

Specific plans are being developed to ensure that continuity and appropriate governance and accountability arrangements are maintained for services to children and families and, where necessary, strengthened in the move to the new commissioning and service provision arrangements. This work is being taken forward collaboratively by the Department, boards, trusts and the Northern Ireland Social Care Council with input from representatives of service users and carers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what expenditure is planned on each of the measures contained in Theme 3 of the Children and Young People Funding Package on improving education provision and support for looked-after children and vulnerable young adults in 2006-07; and on what timetable. (83687)

The information is as follows;

1. Supporting and equipping foster carers to discharge their role effectively as "First Educators" of the children in their care:

The planned expenditure for this initiative in 2006-07 is £1.04 million. The service will be provided by a voluntary organisation (or consortia), selected in the autumn following a public tender process. Interim arrangements are currently being finalised to deliver the scheme in the meantime.

2. Supporting staff in residential care settings to promote improved educational outcomes for the children in their care:

An outreach worker will be employed in each of the education and library board areas to support staff in residential care settings to promote improved educational outcomes for the children in their care. Expenditure in 2006-07 is expected to be some £200,000.

A further one-off figure of £0.1 million is available in 2006-07 to refresh computer equipment in children’s homes. Expenditure in the Western health and social

services board has been approved and its trusts are currently purchasing equipment. The other three boards are finalising their costs. The boards have been asked to implement this initiative as quickly as possible.

3. Enabling young people who are not yet ready for independence to remain living with their foster carers, and to encourage more young people leaving care to continue in education or training up to age 21:

The planned expenditure for this initiative in 2006-07 is £0.75 million. At the end of June 2006, this funding has supported 80 young people in foster placements. By March 2007, we expect this initiative will enable a further 70 young people to benefit from this scheme.

4. Empowering children and young people in care to engage actively in the process of ensuring the system works in their best interests:

The planned expenditure for this initiative in 2006-07 is £0.66 million. The service will be provided by a voluntary organisation (or consortia), selected in September following a public tender process. Interim arrangements are being finalised to deliver the scheme in the meantime.