Jonathan O'Brien
Question:177. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to set out the supports provided by the National Educational Welfare Board to Traveller students. [20494/14]
View answerTraveller Community
Questions (177)
Written answers
As the Deputy may be aware the functions and operational responsibilities of the former National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB) are now part of the new Child and Family Agency, which was established on 1 January 2014. Since this date the staff of the former NEWB, including its Educational Welfare Officers, have transferred to the new Agency.
Under the Education (Welfare) Act 2000, the Child and Family Agency is obliged to ensure that ‘each child attends a recognised school or otherwise receives a certain minimum education’. Through the work of its educational welfare officers (EWOs), the Agency responds to instances where children, including children from the Traveller community, are not attending school regularly, leading to concerns for their educational welfare. While EWOs have a number of statutory powers in relation to school attendance, much of their work involves early prevention and targeted intervention with children and families, in collaboration with schools and other support services. In that regard, the needs of Traveller students are fully considered.
Through its Educational Welfare Services, the Agency also has operational responsibility for the two components of the School Support Programme under the DEIS initiative supporting approximately 700 designated schools serving socially and educationally disadvantaged communities. The Home-School-Community Liaison scheme targets children at risk of not reaching their potential in the educational system because of family-based issues which adversely affect engagement in school, pupil attainment and retention. It focuses directly on the significant adults in children’s lives, works in an enabling way with parents to develop their capacity as a key resource in their children’s learning and seeks direct benefits for the children themselves. Children and families from the Traveller community can be identified by HSCL for additional supports.
The School Completion Programme works directly with targeted students at risk of early school leaving through a range of in-school, after-school and holiday period interventions designed to retain them in the formal education system to completion of post-primary senior cycle, as well as addressing the needs of students who are out of school. In particular, Traveller students participate in SCP homework clubs which may be organised within Traveller sites and in collaboration with local youth services or Traveller organisations. SCP data estimate that approximately 11% of students participating in the Programme were identified as Travellers.
The Agency participates in the Traveller Education Strategy Advisory and Consultative Forum under the auspices of the Department of Education and Skills to monitor implementation of this key policy framework for Traveller Education with the objective of improving educational outcomes for Traveller children. The Agency representative has convened a working group within the Forum to develop collaborative relationships and working protocols between Educational Welfare Services and Traveller support organisations.
The development by the Agency’s Educational Welfare Services of an integrated intervention model around school attendance, participation and retention issues generally will be a significant vehicle by which the needs of Traveller children and families can be addressed in collaboration with schools and other support services.
Child Care Costs
Questions (178)
Michael McCarthy
Question:178. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will consider, in consultation with the Department of Finance, the implementation of tax relief or tax credit options for reducing the costs of child care; her views on same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20512/14]
View answerWritten answers
I am aware of the relatively high cost of childcare in this country and of the difficulties that this presents, particularly where both parents are in employment outside of the home. To help address the issue, funding of €260 million is provided annually by my Department to support a number of targeted childcare support programmes that assist parents in accessing quality and affordable childcare.
For example, the Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) programme provides funding to community-based childcare services to enable them to provide childcare at reduced rates to parents in receipt of social welfare payments or parents in employment who are on low or relatively modest incomes. My Department also implements the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme which provides one free pre-school year to all eligible children before they commence primary school.
Tax incentives for working parents who incur childcare costs were previously proposed, and the issue of tax allowances or credits was considered, prior to the introduction of the targeted childcare supports. A number of issues emerged at that time which did not favour the introduction of childcare tax relief. A review of the childcare support programmes is being undertaken by my Department this year with a view to identifying areas where they could be enhanced and improved to ensure the best use of the investment which is currently being made in this area. All proposals relating to childcare supports will be considered as part of this review.
Water Fluoridation
Questions (179)
Aodhán Ó Ríordáin
Question:179. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Health when the report on fluoride in the public water supply commissioned by his Department will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20388/14]
View answerWritten answers
The Department of Health keeps the policy of water fluoridation under constant review. As part of this ongoing work, a review of evidence on the impact of water fluoridation at its current level on the health of the population and on the environment is being conducted by the Health Research Board on behalf of the Department. This review will be completed by December 2014.
Medical Card Applications
Questions (180)
Tom Fleming
Question:180. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite and award a discretionary medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20377/14]
View answerWritten answers
The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible. The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to medical cards and GP visit cards, which the Deputy may wish to use for an earlier response. Contact information has issued to Oireachtas members.
Home Care Packages
Questions (181)
Colm Keaveney
Question:181. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Galway will receive a response to an application for the home care package based on urgent medical need; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20379/14]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
Nursing Homes Support Scheme Applications
Questions (182)
Colm Keaveney
Question:182. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) may expect a decision on an application to participate in the fair deal scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20380/14]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
Medical Card Reviews
Questions (183)
Mary Mitchell O'Connor
Question:183. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Health to explain the reason a medical card is automatically cancelled when under review if the requested information is not returned by a certain date without informing the applicant of such cancellation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20381/14]
View answerWritten answers
The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible. The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to medical cards and GP visit cards, which the Deputy may wish to use for an earlier response. Contact information has issued to Oireachtas members.