Written Answers Nos. 486-496
487. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine if he will list all the current positions, where the appointment was made by his Department held by retired senior civil servants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42659/12]
View answerOne Assistant Secretary General was re-engaged by my Department on a part-time contract basis to fulfil my duties relating to the main productive sectors and to fulfil key priorities for the agri-food sector during Ireland’s Presidency next year. One Senior Research Officer is engaged on a contract for services basis for a limited period. His contract is due to expire on 1 March 2013. Normal pension abatement rules apply in these cases.
488. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her reasons for cutting funding for the education officer in Dublin south east inner city; her plans, if any, to ensure that the work of the education officer over the past 17 years is continued; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41331/12]
View answerThe youth affairs unit of my Department supports the delivery of a range of youth work programmes and services for all young people, including those from disadvantaged communities, by the voluntary youth sector. Targeted supports for disadvantaged, marginalised and at risk young people are provided through the Special Projects for Youth Scheme, the Young Peoples Facilities and Services Fund Rounds 1 and 2 and Local Drugs Task Force Projects.
Funding of €56.806 million has been provided to my Department to support the provision of youth services in 2012. Some 477 projects and youth services throughout the country receive support under the schemes. The annual funding allocations for youth projects are determined by my Department and the funding is administered, on behalf of my Department, by a number of grant administering agencies that includes the City of Dublin Youth Services Board (CDYSB) of the CDVEC.
Funding is provided to CYC by my Department for the provision of services for young people including an allocation of €1,010,735 in 2012 under the Youth Service Grant Scheme. An allocation of €44,506 for the provision of services in Dublin South East inner city has also been provided.
No decisions have been made by my Department in relation to the 2013 funding for youth services throughout the country nor in relation to the funding allocations to be provided for individual projects, including the CYC.
Any proposals or recommendations that a body administering funding on behalf of my Department such as CDYSB makes in relation to the distribution of funding in its locality on account of its local knowledge of the needs of young people would require the approval of my Department before they are implemented.
My Department will be making every effort to advise organisations and projects of their 2013 allocations as soon as possible.
489. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the childcare support available to a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41753/12]
View answerThe Childcare Education and Training Support (CETS) programme was introduced in September 2010 and is implemented by my Department. The eligibility criteria under which trainees and students qualify for the programme is determined by FÁS and the Vocational Educational Committees (VECs). The CETS programme provides €145 towards the weekly cost of full time childcare places to participating childcare services for trainees and students who are deemed qualified by FÁS or the VEC. Students on part-time courses are funded on a pro rata basis.
I understand that the person concerned was certified in the previous school year as eligible by the VEC and availed of the CETS programme on the basis of qualifying under the VTOS programme. However, I understand that the VEC has not certified this person as eligible for a place this year under the programme.
My Department also implements the Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) programme which provides funding to community childcare not-for-profit services to enable them to charge reduced childcare rates to low income and disadvantaged families. For the purpose of the CCS programme, disadvantage and low income are determined by reference to a range of means-tested allowances and payments including receipt of a social welfare payment, Family Income Supplement (FIS) and qualification for a medical or GP visit card.
Local City/County Childcare Committees (CCCs) will advise parents of the community childcare services participating in the programme which would be convenient to them and Cork City Childcare Committee can be contacted at 021 4507942.
490. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will provide details of the cuts to funding of pre-schools in the Dublin Central constituency; the alternatives he proposes to put in place if pre-schools close as a result of his reduction in funding. [41897/12]
View answerMy Department currently provides funding, in the region of €230 million annually, to support three childcare programmes - the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme, the Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) programme and the Childcare Education and Training Support (CETS) programme.
Due to the economic situation, officials in this Department engaged in the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure last year. While the Department was successful in maintaining all three support programmes despite the budgetary constraints that the Government is facing, it was necessary to revise certain payment rates and subvention levels under each programme.
The ECCE programme provides a free pre-school year to all eligible children in the year before commencing primary school. Approximately 95% of children in the year before school are availing of the free pre-school provision at this time. The ECCE programme is being maintained on a universal and free basis but a reduction of €2 per week was made to the capitation rates paid to providers from September 2012. However, to give some flexibility to childcare services to manage this modest reduction, the staff to child ratio for the pre-school element of childcare will increase from a ratio of 1:10 to a ratio of 1:11.
The ECCE programme, which will be evaluated and developed as resources permit, continues to provide a guaranteed source of income, payable in advance of each term, to participating childcare services, and is considered a very beneficial support for the private childcare sector at this time of economic difficulty.
The CCS programme enables community-based childcare services to provide childcare at reduced rates to disadvantaged and low income families. From September 2012, the higher subvention rate payable for full day care, under this programme, of €100 per week has been reduced by €5 to €95. Parents in receipt of a social welfare payment but who do not have a medical card entitlement qualify from September 1, 2012 for a payment of €50 per week for full day care.
The CETS programme was introduced in September 2010. The eligibility criteria under which trainees and students qualify for the programme is determined by FÁS and the Vocational Educational Committees (VECs). From 1 September 2012, the CETS programme provides €145 towards the weekly cost of full time childcare places to participating childcare services for qualifying FÁS and VEC students for the duration of their course. Students on part-time courses are funded on a pro rata basis. This had been the only category of parents who paid no contribution to the cost of their childcare requirements. Childcare services providing FÁS and VEC places will, from 1 September, be allowed to charge a weekly fee of not more than €25 per full-time childcare place.
491. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she has reviewed the arrangements by which private contractors supply residential units for young persons who are subject to care orders by the State as a consequence they live in such care homes between the ages of 16 and 18; if the support received by such young persons is on a par with a Health Service Executive run unit; if not, the way it differs; the cost difference between the private and publically provided service; the support service that is received in each environment including transition arrangements once they reach 18 years; if follow up analysis has been done in relation to the outcomes for both scenarios; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41308/12]
View answerSection 38 of the Child Care Act 1991, provides that the Heath Service Executive may make arrangements with suitable persons to ensure the provision of an adequate number of residential services for children in its care.
All children’s residential centres are inspected to ensure that the children living in the centre are receiving the care and protection that they require. The National Standards for Children’s Residential Centres provides a basis for consistently promoting quality of care in children's residential centres. T he HSE registers and inspects non-statutory voluntary and private children’s residential centres against these standards. A copy of the standards is available on my Department's website at www.dcya.ie.
The process of assessing standards of care in the centres is undertaken by a HSE inspector who visits the centre and gathers information through interviews and meetings with the centre management, staff members and young people, analysis of case files and centre records and contact with guardians, social workers and other professionals as appropriate. Centres are thoroughly inspected and where an inspection report identifies non-compliance with a regulation, the centre will not be registered and re-registered again until compliance has been achieved.
All young people who have had a care history with the HSE are entitled to an aftercare service based on their assessed needs. Section 45 of the Child Care Act 1991 places a statutory duty on the HSE to form a view in relation to each person leaving care as to whether there is a "need for assistance" and if it forms such a view, to provide services in accordance with the legislation and subject to resources. The basis of an aftercare service is an individual needs assessment which identifies a young person’s need for accommodation, financial support, social network support and training and education. The level of support required will vary for each individual from advice to accommodation to further education, employment or training and social support. The core eligible age range for aftercare is 18 years to 21 years. The HSE policy allows flexibility for this to be extended up to the age of 23 years to complete a course of education.
492. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans to improve the national standards for aftercare in respect of 18 to 23 year olds when they are moving from supported residential units to private rented accommodation; the action that is being undertaken; the Departments that are involved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41309/12]
View answerSection 45 of the Child Care Act 1991 places a statutory duty on the HSE to form a view in relation to each person leaving care as to whether there is a "need for assistance" and if it forms such a view, to provide services in accordance with the legislation and subject to resources. Under the 1995 Child Care Regulations , the HSE is required to consider a child's need for assistance in accordance with the provisions of Section 45, two years prior to the child leaving care.
All young people who have had a care history with the HSE are entitled to an aftercare service based on their assessed needs. The core eligible age range for aftercare is 18 years to 21 years. The HSE policy allows flexibility for this to be extended up to the age of 23 years to complete a course of education.
Some 90% of children in care are in foster care and a large number of these remain living with their foster families, supported financially by the HSE, on reaching 18 years of age. Many of these young people continue in education and training as planned. This remains a key component of aftercare for young people when they leave care.
The basis of an aftercare service is an individual needs assessment which identifies a young person’s need for accommodation, financial support, social network support and training and education. The level of support required will vary for each individual from advice to accommodation to further education, employment or training and social support.
The HSE National Aftercare Service is underpinned by a National Policy and Procedures Document which was developed in cooperation with the key stakeholders, including the voluntary sector agencies representing children in care and those involved in aftercare provision and my Department. The policy commits to promoting and achieving the best outcomes for young people leaving care and in ensuring consistency of support to these young people.
An intra-agency National Aftercare Implementation Group, comprised of NGO groups representing aftercare, child advocacy, foster care and other groups, was established by the HSE to monitor progress in implementing the national policy. This group aims to provide a standard, intra and inter-agency approach to the delivery of aftercare services in partnership with the wider voluntary and statutory sector. Discussions are ongoing on the development of a joint protocol between the HSE and the County and City Managers Association Housing sub group to improve the provision of appropriate and supported accommodation for care leavers. The experience in implementing the National Aftercare Policies and Procedures and the involvement of a range of important stakeholders in this process provides an opportunity to further improve policy and legislation in this area.
The Deputy will be aware that I am currently examining options, in association with the Attorney General, to strengthen legislation to make explicit the HSE's obligations in the provision of aftercare. I have asked Gordon Jeyes, National Director for Children and Family Services in the HSE to prepare a report on aftercare. This report will include, inter alia, the key findings of the group, examples of best practice, assessment criteria and effective aftercare supports. This report will guide the development of policy to underpin the strengthening of legislation for services in this important area.
493. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will publish details of all allowances paid to staff in her Department; the business case made by her Department in respect of these allowances to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform; the cost of each individual allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41408/12]
View answerUnder the recent review of allowances, Departments were requested to provide individual business cases where Departmental specific allowances or premium payments were in payment. Allowances or premium payments in payment to civil servants across more than one Department ("common" or "general" allowances) were reviewed directly by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and individual business were not required. As all allowances currently paid to civil servants at my Department are in the "common" or "general" category no individual business case was necessary.
The following "common" or "general" civil service allowances are currently paid to a small number of officers at my Department.
|
Allowance |
Description |
Rate |
|
Child Allowance |
Paid to certain officers serving on 31 December 1978 in former marriage differentiated grades |
€113 per annum (per child) |
|
Footwear Allowance |
Paid to Services Officers in respect of uniform requirements |
€65 per annum |
|
Franking Machine Allowance |
Paid to Services Officers on franking duties for 15 hours or more per week.(Half the rate applies to those on franking duties for less than 15 hours per week). |
€1,701 per annum |
|
Machine Allowance |
Paid to Service Officers assigned to machine duties. |
€851 per annum |
|
Key Holder Allowance |
Payable to Service Officers with responsibility for the keys of an official building on a 24 hour/ seven day basis |
€1,861 per annum |
|
Private Secretary |
Paid to the Private Secretaries of the Minister and the Head of Department in respect of additional attendance outside hours, additional expenses and the particular nature and demands of the position. (Overtime is not payable in addition to the allowance) |
Minister €20,685 Head of Department €10,951 |
|
Private Secretary (Retained) |
Paid to former Private Secretaries. (50% of the allowance may be retained following completion of duties). |
Minister €9,826 |
|
Higher Duties Allowance |
Paid to persons required to take over the duties of a more senior grade for an extended period of time. Assistant Principle Allowance Directors Allowance Director of Irish Youth Justice Service |
€4,715 per annum €11,978 per annum €7,600 per annum |
|
On-call allowance |
Paid to persons making themselves available outside normal working hours and for the continuation, maintenance and delivery of services. |
€14,475 per annum |
494. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if it is possible for youth groups in Belfast to register directly with the Presidents award Gaisce; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41493/12]
View answerMembers of youth groups in Belfast who wish to avail of Gaisce -The President’s Award may register with the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award in Northern Ireland for the Joint Award Programme. On completion of the programme they can choose to have the Gaisce Award presented. This arrangement arises from an agreement under the umbrella of the International Award Association whereby a young person in Northern Ireland has a choice to pursue the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award or the Joint Award Programme. Both programmes are identical in content and process however the Joint Award Programme literature carries the brands of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, Gaisce - The President’s Award and the International Award and the term The Award is used to describe the programme. Prior to the agreement the only option available to young people in Northern Ireland was to complete the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.
495. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the funding being provided to Dublin City Council for youth work compared to 2011; the reason for any change in the funding in view of the important work being done in this field; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41710/12]
View answerThe Youth Affairs Unit of my Department supports the delivery of a range of youth work programmes and services for all young people, including those from disadvantaged communities, by the voluntary youth sector. Funding of €56.806m is being provided by my Department to support the provision of youth services throughout the country in 2012. This funding covers the provision of targeted supports to disadvantaged, marginalised and at risk young people through the Special Projects for Youth Scheme, the Young Peoples Facilities and Services Fund Rounds 1 and 2 and through Local Drugs Task Force Projects. In all some 477 youth projects throughout the country are supported under these schemes.
In 2011, €2,070,000 was allocated to a number of youth projects and programmes which are administered by Dublin City Council on behalf of my Department. This funding allocation for 2012 was €1,963,000.
The reductions in the allocation for the provision of youth services throughout the country have been necessary because of the challenging fiscal and economic situation facing the country at this time. In seeking to achieve the necessary savings in the budget, my Department has sought to protect, as far as is possible, front line youth services and to minimise the impact on youth services for the most vulnerable young people.
496. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will provide an update on the introduction of a Scandinavian style childcare system; the timeframe in which such a system will be implemented; if she will provide a detailed breakdown of the cost of introducing such a scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41840/12]
View answerThe Government currently supports the provision of early childhood care and education through three support programmes - the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme, the Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) programme and the Childcare Education and Training Support (CETS) programme.
There are currently no proposals to reform these schemes or childcare provision generally. However possible developments relating to early years care and education are being considered as part of the preparation of the new Nation Early Years Strategy 2012. This new strategy will cover a range of issues affecting children in their first years of life and will seek to identify best practice in other jurisdictions that might be applied here.
