Wednesday, 14 Jan 2015

Written Answers Nos. 501-519

Inniúlacht sa Ghaeilge sa Státseirbhís

Questions (501)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

501. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Leanaí agus Gnóthaí Óige bunaithe ar an treoir a thug an Roinn Caiteachas Phoiblí agus Athchóirithe do gach Roinn, cad é líon agus cad iad gráid na bpost dá mbeidh státseirbhísigh atá inniúil sa Ghaeilge agus sa Bhéarla ag teastáil; cad é líon na bpost sin a bhfuil duine leis an gcumas cuí Gaeilge agus Béarla iontu cheana féin, arna bhriseadh síos de réir gráid; cén cháilíocht Ghaeilge atá riachtanach do na poist sin; i gcás nach bhfuil an treoir ón Roinn Caiteachais Phoiblí agus Athchóirithe comhlíonta, cad é údar na moille agus cén uair a dhéanfar an scrúdú; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [1426/15]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

Tá 6 oifigí i láthair i mo Roinn atá in ann a gcuid oibre a dhéanamh trí Ghaeilge. Tá plean forbartha lucht oibre á ullmhú faoi láthair agus tá súil agam go bhfuil sé seo críochnaithe go luath.

Departmental Expenditure

Questions (502)

Barry Cowen

Question:

502. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will provide in tabular form the total photography costs for his Department per annum in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014; the costs incurred from use of the ministerial allowance; a list of occasions for which photographers were booked; the photographers used; a breakdown of costs associated with each occasion that a photographer was used; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1440/15]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

Please find below in tabular form as requested, the information you require. It is the policy of my Department to keep costs in relation to the use of photographers to a minimum. My Department has a detailed project planning process for each event and the decision to book a photographer is based on the merits of the event. Increasingly my Department utilises its own staff to take photographs in-house thereby reducing costs. My Department actively promotes the participation of children and young people including through mechanisms such as Comhairle na nÓg and Dáil na nÓg. Photography is used on occasion at such events in order to highlight the work of the children and young people and in recognition of the particular technical skills required. Events marking children and young people's participation are highlighted below.

Photographers were booked for the following events:

Children and Young Peoples Participation Events

Date of Event	Event	Cost
11/07/11	Report on consultations with young people on Reform of the Junior Cycle in 2nd level schools	€590.20
27/07/11	Report of consultations with children living in the care of the State.	€590.20
18/11/11	Dáil na nÓg Event	€820.00
15/10/12	How we see it: Report of a survey on Teenagers Body Image	€436.97
07/11/12	Life as a Child and Young Person in Ireland	€493.72
09/11/12	Comhairle na Óg National Showcase	€828.55
15/11/13	Dáil na Óg 2013	€1,094.70
20/11/14	Comhairle na Óg National Showcase	€522.75

Other Events

Date of Event	Event	Total Cost
23/11/11	Research Launch	€375.00
28/08/12	Report of Task Force	€493.72
23/09/12 to 25/09/2012	Visiting Vietnamese Delegation with Vietnamese Minister for Justice, Adoption Authority and Irish Vietnamese Society	€1409.22
04/10/12 to 5/11/2012	Children's Referendum Information	€1709.70
04/03/13	Standards for Local Youth Groups	€436.97
20/06/13	EU Presidency International Conference Event	€120.00
19/09/13	Dublin Castle Networking of Four Youth Organisations	€500.00
20/09/13	Launch of Board of Child & Family Agency	€300.00
16/04/14	Launch of Better Outcomes Brighter Futures	€189.80

Departmental Expenditure

Questions (503)

Barry Cowen

Question:

503. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will provide in tabular form the use of external public relations firms employed by his Department per annum in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014; a list of uses of the external public relations firm; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1448/15]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

Please find below in tabular form as requested, the information you require.

Name of Public Relations Firm	Details of Service Supplied	Date of Service	Expenditure (incl VAT)
MKC Communications	Service to assist with information and communication initiatives for the Children's Referendum, Report of the Child Death Review Group and the Child & Family Agency.	July - December 2012	€39,595.00

Departmental Expenditure

Questions (504)

Barry Cowen

Question:

504. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will provide in tabular form per annum the total cost of external IT contractors incurred by her Department in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014. [1456/15]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

My Department does not engage with external contractors for IT related services. The Department of Health operates a shared information and communications technology service, which supports the needs of this Department and its agencies. This arrangement has been in place since the Department was established in July 2011.

National Youth Strategy

Questions (505)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Question:

505. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will provide an update on the development of a National Youth Strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1606/15]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

The National Youth Strategy will focus on the youth-related policy commitments outlined in Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures, the National Policy Framework for Children and Young People. It will be a universal strategy for all young people aged 10 to 24. It will have a particular focus on those who are most disadvantaged or at risk and who have the poorest outcomes and therefore in most need of support.

A National Youth Strategy Task Group, convened by my Department, is overseeing the development of the new Strategy. This Task Group comprises statutory youth interests and voluntary agencies and organisations working with young people. I am keen that all stakeholders have a role to play in the development of the new National Youth Strategy and a comprehensive consultation process is underway at present.

It includes online surveys of young people and those working with young people and three major stakeholder consultation events planned for later this month. These events are for young people, the youth sector, NGOs working for and with young people, Education and Training Boards, Government departments, agencies, business and academia and other youth interests. The events will include consultation on the priorities for the new Strategy and the findings of the recently completed Value for Money and Policy Review of Youth Programmes. The Review makes recommendations for the future operation of youth funding schemes and their development in the years ahead to ensure effective, value for money services that will be evidence based and improve outcomes for young people.

The consultation will run into February 2015 and I anticipate that the Strategy will be completed promptly thereafter.

School Completion Programme

Questions (506)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Question:

506. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the details of funding for the school completion programme which has been cut by 33% since 2008; and if it is intended that it be reinstated in order that vulnerable school children may be supported to stay in education. [1650/15]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

The School Completion Programme aims to retain young people in the formal education system to completion of senior cycle and to generally improve the school attendance, participation and retention of young people who are risk of educational disadvantage. The Programme is a targeted intervention aimed at school communities identified through the Department of Education and Skills’ DEIS Action Plan for Educational Inclusion. It involves 124 locally managed projects and related initiatives which operate across 470 primary and 224 post-primary schools across the country and provides targeted supports annually to approximately 36,000 children.

Since 1 January 2014, the Child and Family Agency has operational responsibility for the School Completion Programme, including the allocation of funds to local projects. In 2014, an allocation of €24.756 million has been provided for the School Completion Programme. The amount allocated to the Programme for 2014-2015 takes account of the savings requirements in the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure 2012-2014. I am advised that the Agency has approved local projects' school retention plans for the 2014/2015 academic year. The first instalment of 2014/15 funding issued to local projects last September. Further payments totalling approximately €9.5m have issued over the past month, with a third instalment in May 2015.

The estimate for the Child and Family Agency for 2015 is €631 million, a 4.3% increase on its 2014 allocation. My Department has recently issued a Performance Statement to the Agency under Section 45 of the Child and Family Agency Act, 2013. This includes my priorities for consideration in the development of the Agency's 2015 Business Plan. The Business Plan will set out the Agency's proposed activities, programmes and priorities for 2015, including provision for the School Completion Programme, in the light of the monies available.

A review of the School Completion Programme has commenced. It is being carried out by the ESRI following a procurement process managed by the Agency. The programme has been in operation since 2002 and I believe that it is timely that a review be carried out. The review of the School Completion Programme is an important initiative in planning for the future development of the programme. It will assist in identifying the reforms necessary to consolidate the programme on a sustainable footing for the future. Preliminary information gathered in the review indicates that the School Completion Programme encompasses a broad and diverse range of measures and interventions that have been developed by local projects over the years. The intention is to learn more about the most successful of these, share the learning across the programme and ensure that available funds are targeted to those services that provide the greatest contribution to good educational outcomes for children and young people at risk of educational disadvantage.

Departmental Expenditure

Questions (507)

Tom Fleming

Question:

507. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will provide details of all consultancy firms engaged by his Department during 2014; if he will also provide details of all the relevant fees paid to those firms during the period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1662/15]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

The data provided in the table below relates to consultancy firms engaged by my Department in the year 2014. The amounts stated are the agreed fees invoiced to the Department. Final payments to the service providers are reduced to take account of Professional Services Withholding Tax.

Consultancy Firms engaged during 2014	Fees (2014)
Cnag ar an Doras	€32,595.00
Change Exploratory - Chris Chapman	No payment to date
Peter Smyth Management Consultancy Ltd.	€10,332.00
Carmel Corrigan	€ 4,000.00
BFK Brand Ltd.	€24,404.43
Capita Business Services Ltd.	€ 8,200.00
Kieran McGrath	€13,500.00
Bramell Lane Ltd.	€29,151.00
Lisney Chartered Surveyors	€ 2,152.50

Back to Work Allowance

Questions (508)

Noel Coonan

Question:

508. Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the position regarding the difficulty a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary is encountering with the back to work enterprise allowance programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1685/15]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

The Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) programme provides funding to community childcare not-for-profit services to enable them to provide childcare at reduced rates to disadvantaged and low income working parents.

There are in the region of 900 community childcare services participating in the CCS programme and they qualify for funding on the basis of the level of service they provide and the profile of the parents benefitting from their service. Support is provided to parents based on information gathered during a designated week in the month of October, and it is only parents who satisfy the qualifying criteria in this particular week who qualify for support under the programme. If a child leaves the service after qualifying for CCS support, they may be replaced by another eligible child. The only other children eligible for CCS support outside of this designated week are children aged 0-12 months.

There were more than 20 community childcare services providing the CCS programme in County Tipperary last year with 11 of these located in Tipperary North. The local County Childcare Committees will advise parents of the participating services in their area.

The annual investment in childcare supports is in the region of €260 million and this Department was successful in maintaining this funding despite the recent budgetary constraints. I appreciate the difficulties that parents are experiencing in accessing affordable and suitable childcare but the funding available to my Department does not allow me to expand or enhance the current support programmes.

A number of representations in relation to this matter were received in my office and replies recently issued outlining the position.

Child Protection Guidelines

Questions (509)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Question:

509. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her views on reports that Tusla has moved the threshold for the protection and welfare of children from adequate care and protection to children being at risk of significant harm, and that harm is now being measured on whether the impact on the child is severe; if these changes have been introduced in view of the fact that Ireland has approximately half the number of social workers per capita when compared to neighbouring countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1771/15]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

While the Child and Family Agency is working to standardise thresholds for social workers assessments of children to determine their risk, it is not accurate to say that the threshold for the protection and welfare of children has moved from adequate care and protection of children to children at risk of significant harm.

Social workers use national prioritisation criteria following assessment which inform case management decisions. It is important to state that assessment is a dynamic process and children's prioritisation ratings can change.

The main principle underlying the Child and Family Agency's prioritisation criteria is that children at greatest risk of harm are given the highest priority. This is overseen by the principal social worker in each area who ensures that all cases are reviewed regularly both on an individual basis in supervision with social work teams and on a service wide basis every month.

The turnover of social workers in the Agency's first year of operation (2014) was 6.7% which compares favourably with other countries. Since its establishment, the Agency has recruited 155 social workers and a further 193 posts are currently at various stages of recruitment. Also, a pilot Maternity Leave scheme has been introduced whereby temporary staff can be offered a 12 month contract to cover maternity leave. In addition and in recognition of the challenging nature of child welfare and protection work, new entrants and graduates have a reduced workload for their first year, with opportunities for regular supervision with experienced practitioners.

The Agency has a funding provision of €643 million in 2015 including over €12 million in capital funding. This represents an increase of €34 million over 2014 and will assist the Agency in providing a timely and responsive service to children and families in need.

Child Care Services Funding

Questions (510)

Timmy Dooley

Question:

510. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the amount to be allocated to a community childcare facility (details supplied) in County Clare; when the organisation is likely to receive same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1785/15]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

My Department implements a number of programmes to support parents with the cost of childcare. The pre-school service referred to by the Deputy is participating in these programmes and provides childcare services under the Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) programme, the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme and the Childcare Education and Training Support (CETS) programme.

The CCS programme provides funding to community childcare not-for-profit services to enable them to provide childcare at reduced rates to disadvantaged and low income working parents. Participating services qualify for funding on the basis of the level of service they provide and the profile of the qualifying parents eligible for support under the programme. This group was approved for CCS funding of €63,138 for the year 2013/14. A preliminary payment for the school year 2014/15 has been made to the service and further payments will be made following the verification of the parental returns submitted to Pobal.

The ECCE programme is a free and universal programme which provides a free pre-school year to all eligible children. For the academic year 2014/2015, based on standard rate payments of €62.50 per child per week and an enrolment of 15 children, this service will be entitled to a total funding in the region of €35,000 under this programme.

The CETS programme supports parents who are endeavouring to enter or return to the workforce and who are participating in training or educational courses for this purpose. Funding of €4,259 was allocated to this service for the calendar year 2014. In relation to 2015, funding will be determined by the number of children enrolled throughout the year whose parents qualify for support under the programme.

Capital funding of €2.5 million was provided under the Early Years Capital Programme 2014 for the maintenance and upgrade of community/not-for-profit childcare services. This group was approved capital funding of €36,841 under that programme of which 90% or €33,157 was paid out.  The final 10% of the grant is dependent upon the review by Pobal of the financial return submitted by the service. It is expected that this review will be completed shortly .

EU Directives

Questions (511)

Brendan Smith

Question:

511. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will provide in tabular form the number of EU directives which remain to be implemented within his Department; the name of these directives; the timeframe for the implementation of these directives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1788/15]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

There are no such EU Directives within the remit of my Department.

Legislative Process

Questions (512, 513)

Micheál Martin

Question:

512. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will provide in tabular form the number, name and date of Bills initiated in his Department that have been subject to the pre-legislative scrutiny procedure in the Oireachtas. [1809/15]

Micheál Martin

Question:

513. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will provide in tabular form the number, name and date of Bills initiated in his Department since September 2013. [1824/15]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

I propose to take Questions Nos. 512 and 513 together.

Table 1 shows the requested details relating to the Children First Bill 2014 which was the subject of pre-legislative scrutiny before it's presentation by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to the Oireachtas. Table 2 shows the Bills that were presented by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to the Oireachtas since September 2013. The Adoption (Amendment) Bill 2013 was presented in the Dáil on 16 December 2013 and was enacted on 20 December 2013. The Children First Bill 2014 was presented on 10 April 2014 and is currently before the Dáil.

Table 1

Name	Number	Presented
Children First Bill 2014	30 of 2014	10 April 2014

Table 2

Name	Number	Presented
Adoption (Amendment) Bill 2013	133 of 2013	16 December 2013
Children First Bill 2014	30 of 2014	10 April 2014

Departmental Staff Redeployment

Questions (514, 515, 516)

Barry Cowen

Question:

514. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of secondments from his Department to external private firms in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and to date in 2015; the firms involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1839/15]

Barry Cowen

Question:

515. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of secondments based in his Department from external private firms in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and to date in 2015; the firms involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1853/15]

Barry Cowen

Question:

516. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if his Department has a policy regarding secondments from and within his Department to external firms; when the policy was initiated and last updated; the details of the policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1867/15]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

I propose to take Questions Nos. 514 to 516, inclusive, together.

The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Circular 3/2013 sets out the arrangements for a Staff Exchange Scheme between the Civil Service and the Private Sector. This Circular introduced a new Staff Exchange Scheme along the lines of the previous Temporary Staff Transfer Scheme provided for under Department of Public Service Circular 10/79.

The Scheme involves placement of civil servants from Government Departments in private sector companies for a minimum period of three months and up to a period of one year. The private sector executives would, in turn, be placed in a Government Department for a similar period. There were no expressions of interest from any staff member in my Department to participate nor were any applications from the private sector to work in my Department under the scheme received.

Congregated Settings Report

Questions (517)

Fergus O'Dowd

Question:

517. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if he will commence a programme of investment that will ensure the implementation of the congregated settings report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49656/14]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The HSE’s report “Time to Move on from Congregated Settings – A Strategy for Community Inclusion”, (2011) proposes a new model of support in the community by moving people from institutional settings to the community, over a seven year time frame. The plan will be rolled out at a regional and local level and will involve full consultation.

In terms of housing, the Department of Health and the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government are working in collaboration to support the transition of people with a disability from institutions to social housing in the community under the Government's National Housing Strategy for People with Disability 2011 to 2016.

As part of the implementation process, in 2013 and 2014 one million euro was transferred from the Department of Health’s Vote to the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government’s Vote to provide for the ring-fenced social housing costs of up to 150 people leaving disability or mental health institutions. In 2015, one million euro has been allocated to the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government to continue this process.

Congregated Settings Report

Questions (518)

Jerry Buttimer

Question:

518. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Health if he will provide additional funding for a dedicated programme of capital investment to ensure the implementation of a 2011 report (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1515/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The HSE’s report “Time to Move on from Congregated Settings – A Strategy for Community Inclusion”,(2011) proposes a new model of support in the community by moving people from institutional settings to the community, over a seven year time frame. The plan will be rolled out at a regional and local level and will involve full consultation.

In terms of housing, the Department of Health and the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government are working in collaboration to support the transition of people with a disability from institutions to social housing in the community under the Government's National Housing Strategy for People with Disability 2011 to 2016.

As part of the implementation process, in 2013 and 2014 one million euro was transferred from the Department of Health’s Vote to the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government’s Vote to provide for the ring-fenced social housing costs of up to 150 people leaving disability or mental health institutions. In 2015, one million euro has been allocated to the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government to continue this process.

Medical Card Applications

Questions (519)

Tom Fleming

Question:

519. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health the position regarding an application for a medical card in respect of persons (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49440/14]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

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. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office who will follow up the matter with them.