English: Thank you, Presiding Officer. Today's debate provides me with an opportunity to confirm the Welsh Government's commitment to supporting disabled children and their families, and to talk about the significant investment we're making to ensure that they receive the services and support they need. The Family Fund is one element of the support that we have put in place, and it must be seen in the wider context. I wrote to all Assembly Members last November setting out the background and the context to the robust and rigorous approach that was taken in relation to the funding decisions for the sustainable social services third sector grants scheme, which were taken in 2014. This scheme brought together four separate grant schemes, including the Family Fund grant, bringing together some £22 million into a single grant in order to support the delivery and implementation of the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 and to take forward our priorities of enabling all citizens in Wales to achieve their well-being outcomes and to live fulfilling lives. We want to make sure that people have the control and are involved in the decisions that are made about the services that they receive. We are evaluating the impact of the Act to ensure that it's delivering what we set out to achieve. This includes monitoring policies to ensure that they're being implemented and are supporting improvement. This new grant scheme firmly enables third sector organisations as important partners to support our transformational approach to the delivery of sustainable social services in Wales. It's an approach that is based on ensuring equity and fairness for all of those who are in need of care and support. It's neither accurate nor fair to suggest that there has been a cut in support for disabled families through our grants for the third sector. I want to emphasise that the Welsh Government has maintained the overall grant funding levels for the third sector in this area. We've created a fairer approach by supporting the widest range of third sector organisations possible, making sure that every part of the community can benefit from funding available - for example, our approach has allowed us to fund Carers Wales with £670,000 to provide support to disabled children and their families. The project raises awareness of caring, and supports families to manage their caring roles and to be involved in service improvement and delivery. It's also allowed us to fund Learning Disability Wales with £930,000 for a project that supports families to understand their rights and entitlements, to have their voices heard, to control decisions about their care, and to co-design the support that they receive. Similarly, the All Wales Forum of Parents and Carers of People with Learning Disabilities receives over £400,000 to support families of people with learning disabilities to understand their entitlements and to control decisions about their care. It aims to improve early intervention and prevention and to support the co-design and delivery of services. There were 84 applications to the new grants scheme, amounting to funding requests of £69 million. We're funding 32 organisations, and the Family Fund was successful in being awarded the maximum grant available, £1.5 million. The Family Fund was also in the unique position of being awarded an additional £400,000 as a transition grant this year, including £30,000 to help them refocus their funding model to become sustainable in the future. Disabled families tell us that the thing they value most is respite care. So, we've asked the Family Fund to focus on the provision of respite, and we expect them to use at least 70 per cent of their grant providing this. They do, however, maintain the flexibility to fund other things where there's an exceptional need. Where a child has a statement of special educational needs and the provision of ICT equipment is identified as a need then the local authority must ensure that this is provided to support the child's education. It's clear from today's debate that there is agreement that we need to ensure that families can maximise their household income, with money going direct to the family. The most high impact and sustainable way of doing this is not through small, individual grants, but by supporting families to ensure that they're receiving all of the benefits to which they are entitled. Since 2012, we have been providing over £2 million a year to Citizens Advice for their Better Advice, Better Lives scheme, which is unique to Wales. It's not happening in England, it's not happening in Scotland, and it's not happening in Northern Ireland. But in Wales it operates in every local authority, offering face-to-face advice. And this is the most important thing. In 2015-16 alone, the project supported over 1,800 families with disabled children, overall generating over £3.5 million in additional benefits for these families. In the first nine months of the current financial year, the service has supported 1,400 families, generating a further £3,300,000 in benefits: money that these families are entitled to and now are receiving week after week, and not as a one-off payment. So, our Wales-only approach is high impact and it's sustainable. Families in the greatest need can access the Families First programme, and we're providing over £42 million this year and the same amount next year. This includes £3 million ring-fenced for services for families affected by disability. Through the intermediate care fund this year we've provided regions in Wales with an additional £4 million to develop integrated services for people with learning disabilities and children with complex needs. We will continue to support this fund in future years. Also, through our new autism strategic action plan, we have committed £6 million to put in place a national all-age integrated autism service, which will create local teams in all areas, providing support across the age range, including for families. This is in addition to the £2 million we're making available each year through the Together for Children and Young People programme to improve neuro-developmental assessment services. We know that there's more to do and that we need to be innovative in the way that we use financial resources. We're currently refreshing the carers strategy, and, in a written statement I made last year, I made a commitment to examine a national approach to respite care, which we know is so valuable to families. We will review current provision with a view to strengthening the range and availability of respite services. In terms of the Conservatives' amendment, let me be clear, again, that the Welsh Government has not reduced the overall funding available. We have sought to distribute the funding that we have to promote fairness, equity, and to achieve long-lasting, sustainable improvements. I have demonstrated the significant support we are providing for disabled children and their families through the wider delivery of our programme for government. So, to conclude, the funding of one organisation must be seen within the context of the wider strategic approach to delivering improvements to services and support for disabled children and their families. We must also recognise that it's vital that we maximise the impact of all the funding that we provide to support long-term, sustainable benefits for families.
Welsh: Diolch i chi, Lywydd. Mae'r ddadl heddiw yn rhoi cyfle i mi gadarnhau ymrwymiad Llywodraeth Cymru i gefnogi plant anabl a'u teuluoedd, ac i siarad am y buddsoddiad sylweddol yr ydym yn ei wneud i sicrhau eu bod yn cael y gwasanaethau a'r cymorth sydd eu hangen arnynt. Mae Cronfa'r Teulu yn un elfen o'r cymorth yr ydym wedi ei roi ar waith, ac mae'n rhaid iddo gael ei weld yn y cyd-destun ehangach. Ysgrifennais at bob Aelod Cynulliad fis Tachwedd diwethaf yn nodi cefndir a chyd-destun y dull cadarn a thrwyadl o fynd ati mewn perthynas â phenderfyniadau cyllido y cynllun grantiau i'r trydydd sector ar gyfer gwasanaethau cymdeithasol cynaliadwy, a wnaed yn 2014. Roedd y cynllun hwn yn dwyn pedwar cynllun grant gwahanol at ei gilydd, gan gynnwys grant Cronfa'r Teulu, gan ddod ag oddeutu £22 miliwn at ei gilydd mewn un grant er mwyn cefnogi'r gwaith o ddarparu a gweithredu Deddf Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol a Llesiant (Cymru) 2014 ac i fwrw ymlaen â'n blaenoriaethau i alluogi pob dinesydd yng Nghymru i gyflawni eu canlyniadau lles ac i fyw bywydau llawn. Rydym eisiau gwneud yn siŵr fod pobl yn cael rheolaeth ac yn cymryd rhan yn y penderfyniadau a wneir am y gwasanaethau y maent yn eu derbyn. Rydym yn gwerthuso effaith y Ddeddf er mwyn sicrhau ei bod yn cyflawni'r hyn y bwriadwyd iddi ei gyflawni. Mae hyn yn cynnwys monitro polisïau i sicrhau eu bod yn cael eu gweithredu ac yn cefnogi gwelliant. Mae'r cynllun grant newydd hwn yn galluogi sefydliadau'r trydydd sector fel partneriaid pwysig i gefnogi ein dull trawsnewidiol o ddarparu gwasanaethau cymdeithasol cynaliadwy yng Nghymru. Mae'n ddull sy'n seiliedig ar sicrhau cydraddoldeb a thegwch i bawb o'r rhai sydd angen gofal a chymorth. Nid yw'n gywir nac yn deg awgrymu y bu toriad yn y gefnogaeth i deuluoedd anabl drwy ein grantiau ar gyfer y trydydd sector. Rwyf am bwysleisio bod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi cynnal lefelau cyffredinol cyllid grantiau i'r trydydd sector yn y maes hwn. Rydym wedi creu ymagwedd decach drwy gefnogi'r ystod ehangaf bosibl o fudiadau trydydd sector, gan sicrhau y gall pob rhan o'r gymuned elwa o'r cyllid sydd ar gael - er enghraifft, mae ein hymagwedd wedi ein galluogi i roi £670,000 i Gofalwyr Cymru ar gyfer darparu cymorth i blant anabl a'u teuluoedd. Mae'r prosiect yn codi ymwybyddiaeth o ofalu, ac yn cynorthwyo teuluoedd i reoli eu rolau gofalu a bod yn rhan o'r broses o wella a darparu gwasanaethau. Mae hefyd yn caniatáu i ni ariannu Anabledd Dysgu Cymru gyda £930,000 ar gyfer prosiect sy'n cynorthwyo teuluoedd i ddeall eu hawliau a'r hyn y mae ganddynt hawl iddo, i'w lleisiau gael eu clywed, i reoli penderfyniadau am eu gofal, ac i gydgynllunio'r cymorth y maent yn ei dderbyn. Yn yr un modd, mae Fforwm Rhieni a Gofalwyr Pobl ag Anableddau Dysgu Cymru Gyfan yn derbyn dros £400,000 i gynorthwyo teuluoedd pobl sydd ag anableddau dysgu i ddeall eu hawliau ac i reoli penderfyniadau am eu gofal. Ei nod yw gwella ymyrraeth gynnar ac atal a chefnogi'r broses o gydgynllunio a darparu gwasanaethau. Cafwyd 84 o geisiadau i'r cynllun grantiau newydd, ceisiadau am gyllid gwerth cyfanswm o £69 miliwn. Rydym yn ariannu 32 o sefydliadau, a llwyddodd Cronfa'r Teulu i ennill y grant mwyaf sydd ar gael, £1.5 miliwn. Roedd Cronfa'r Teulu hefyd yn y sefyllfa unigryw o gael £400,000 ychwanegol wedi'i ddyfarnu iddi fel grant pontio eleni, gan gynnwys £30,000 i'w helpu i ailffocysu eu model ariannu i fod yn gynaliadwy yn y dyfodol. Mae teuluoedd anabl yn dweud wrthym mai'r hyn y maent yn ei werthfawrogi fwyaf yw gofal seibiant. Felly, rydym wedi gofyn i Gronfa'r Teulu ganolbwyntio ar ddarparu gofal seibiant, ac rydym yn disgwyl iddynt ddefnyddio o leiaf 70 y cant o'u grant i ddarparu hyn. Fodd bynnag, maent yn cadw'r hyblygrwydd i ariannu pethau eraill lle y ceir angen eithriadol. Pan fo gan blentyn ddatganiad o anghenion addysgol arbennig a bod darparu offer TGCh yn cael ei nodi fel angen, yna rhaid i'r awdurdod lleol sicrhau ei fod yn cael ei ddarparu i gefnogi addysg y plentyn. Mae'n amlwg o'r ddadl heddiw ein bod yn gytûn fod angen i ni sicrhau y gall teuluoedd sicrhau cymaint o incwm aelwyd â phosibl, gydag arian yn mynd yn uniongyrchol i'r teulu. Y ffordd fwyaf effeithiol a chynaliadwy o wneud hyn yw drwy gynorthwyo teuluoedd i sicrhau eu bod yn cael yr holl fudd-daliadau y mae ganddynt hawl iddynt, yn hytrach na thrwy roi grantiau bach, unigol. Ers 2012, rydym wedi bod yn darparu dros £2 filiwn y flwyddyn i Cyngor ar Bopeth ar gyfer eu cynllun Cyngor Da, Byw'n Well, sy'n unigryw i Gymru. Nid yw'n digwydd yn Lloegr, nid yw'n digwydd yn yr Alban, ac nid yw'n digwydd yng Ngogledd Iwerddon. Ond yng Nghymru mae'n gweithredu ym mhob awdurdod lleol, gan gynnig cyngor wyneb yn wyneb. A dyma'r peth pwysicaf. Yn 2015-16 yn unig, mae'r prosiect wedi cynorthwyo dros 1,800 o deuluoedd gyda phlant anabl, gan gynhyrchu dros £3.5 miliwn i gyd mewn budd-daliadau ychwanegol ar gyfer y teuluoedd hyn. Yn ystod naw mis cyntaf y flwyddyn ariannol gyfredol, mae'r gwasanaeth wedi cynorthwyo 1,400 o deuluoedd, gan gynhyrchu £3.3 miliwn pellach mewn budd-daliadau: arian y mae gan y teuluoedd hyn hawl i'w gael ac y maent yn ei gael bellach wythnos ar ôl wythnos, ac nid fel taliad untro. Felly, mae ein dull 'Cymru yn unig' yn cael effaith fawr ac mae'n gynaliadwy. Gall y teuluoedd mwyaf anghennus gael mynediad at raglen Teuluoedd yn Gyntaf, ac rydym yn darparu dros £42 miliwn eleni a'r un swm y flwyddyn nesaf. Mae hyn yn cynnwys £3 miliwn wedi'i glustnodi ar gyfer gwasanaethau i deuluoedd yr effeithir arnynt gan anabledd. Drwy'r gronfa gofal canolraddol eleni, rydym wedi darparu £4 miliwn ychwanegol i ranbarthau yng Nghymru ar gyfer datblygu gwasanaethau integredig i bobl ag anableddau dysgu a phlant ag anghenion cymhleth. Byddwn yn parhau i gefnogi'r gronfa hon yn y dyfodol. Hefyd, drwy ein cynllun gweithredu strategol newydd ar awtistiaeth, rydym wedi ymrwymo £6 miliwn i sefydlu gwasanaeth awtistiaeth integredig cenedlaethol i bob oedran, a fydd yn creu timau lleol ym mhob ardal, gan ddarparu cefnogaeth ar draws pob ystod oedran, gan gynnwys ar gyfer teuluoedd. Mae hyn yn ychwanegol at y £2 filiwn a fydd ar gael bob blwyddyn drwy ein rhaglen Law yn Llaw at Blant a Phobl Ifanc i wella gwasanaethau asesu niwroddatblygiadol. Gwyddom fod mwy i'w wneud a bod angen i ni fod yn arloesol yn y ffordd y defnyddiwn adnoddau ariannol. Ar hyn o bryd rydym yn adnewyddu'r strategaeth ar gyfer gofalwyr, ac mewn datganiad ysgrifenedig a wneuthum y llynedd, ymrwymais i archwilio ymagwedd genedlaethol tuag at ofal seibiant y gwyddom ei fod mor werthfawr i deuluoedd. Byddwn yn adolygu'r ddarpariaeth bresennol gyda golwg ar gryfhau ystod ac argaeledd gwasanaethau seibiant. O ran gwelliant y Ceidwadwyr, gadewch i mi fod yn glir, unwaith eto, nad yw Llywodraeth Cymru wedi lleihau'r cyllid cyffredinol sydd ar gael. Rydym wedi ceisio dosbarthu'r arian sydd gennym i hyrwyddo tegwch, cyfiawnder, a chyflawni gwelliannau parhaol a chynaliadwy. Rwyf wedi dangos y gefnogaeth sylweddol yr ydym yn ei darparu ar gyfer plant anabl a'u teuluoedd drwy gyflawniad ehangach ein rhaglen lywodraethu. Felly, i gloi, rhaid i ariannu un sefydliad gael ei weld yng nghyd-destun y dull strategol ehangach o gyflwyno gwelliannau i wasanaethau a chymorth i blant anabl a'u teuluoedd. Rhaid inni gydnabod hefyd ei bod yn hanfodol ein bod yn gwneud y gorau o effaith yr holl arian a ddarparwn i gefnogi manteision hirdymor, cynaliadwy i deuluoedd.