Smith Murray: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Smith Murray: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:615;Page:11591] 
7.  
MURRAY SMITH (United Future) 
 to the  
Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment (CYF) 
: Does she stand by her statement in last year’s report on the Department of Child Youth and Family Services’ funding of community activities that “We remain committed to the provision of quality services to meet community needs and to work collaboratively with communities to achieve positive outcomes for children young people and their families.”; if so why? 
Hon RUTH DYSON (Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment (CYF)) 
: 
 Yes I do stand by that statement and the reason why is contained in the question itself. 
Murray Smith 
: Why should the public believe that her department is committed to community solutions when a volunteer grass-roots organisation like the Porirua Rongopai Trust which provides parenting programmes youth activities and other assistance to needy families is told by officials from the Department of Child Youth and Family Services that its funding will be completely cut and that youth activities will instead be mostly left to those organised by gangs because: “The gang scene has changed considerably in recent years and their work amongst young people should be viewed more favourably.”? 
Hon RUTH DYSON 
: I have no information at all that would give me confidence that the so-called quotes that the member is attributing to a staff member of the Department of Child Youth and Family Services are correct. But I would say to the House that all community organisations in New Zealand need to recognise the fact that the baseline review did say that despite the high quality of the services being provided by many organisations through the Department of Child Youth and Family Services funding it would not continue in that way in the future. 
Moana Mackey 
: Can the Minister give examples of how the Government is providing quality services to meet community needs and working collaboratively with communities? 
Hon RUTH DYSON 
: Yes I can. Government funding of community service providers was increased by 6.4 percent this year. In addition to that funding the department purchases services from community providers including approximately $30 million for care services and we are increasing funding for family group conference plans. 
Katherine Rich 
: Why does she maintain such confidence in the Department of Child Youth and Family Services when she has confirmed to me that in February 1209 notifications had not even been entered into the department’s computer and therefore were not counted in the unallocated case list; and how can she be confident that there is not another potential notification like that of Ron Burrows sitting in someone’s in tray unentered? 
Hon RUTH DYSON 
: I am very pleased to be able to confirm to the House and to that member in particular that despite the fact that the notifications had not been entered on the database they had been actioned. That gives me confidence in the staff of the Department of Child Youth and Family Services. 
Murray Smith 
: Is the Minister aware that the same gang youth leaders who appear with the Department of Child Youth and Family Services’ endorsement to be providing activities for young people in Porirua are also actively scouting for fresh recruits for their gangs and in light of this how can she condone the use of gangs for the provision of community and youth work? 
Hon RUTH DYSON 
: As I indicated in my answer to the initial supplementary question from that member I do not have any information that gives me confidence that his allegations have any basis at all. 
Murray Smith 
: How can the Minister justify taking money away from preventive services offered by voluntary community groups such as the meagre $8000 that has been denied to the Porirua Rongopai Trust when the only way to stop the Department of Child Youth and Family Services from continuing to be the broken-down ambulance at the bottom of the cliff is for it to get involved with families well before they reach crisis point and is that not one of the statutory obligations of her department? 
Hon RUTH DYSON 
: Yes it is and I can confirm as I indicated earlier that it is completely untrue that as the member alleges we are moving away from early intervention and prevention services. That is reflected in the fact that this year we have increased our funding to community providers by 6.4 percent.