Written Answers Nos. 108-112
108. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his views on the need for more quality affordable child care; his views on the need to increase funding for these community-based not-for-profit facilities or provide them with a derogation respecting the mandatory Further Education and Training Awards Council level 5 qualifications, as stands now (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36234/15]
View answerThe introduction of the minimum qualification requirement for staff working in early years services is an integral part of the Early Years Quality Agenda, which is being advanced by my Department. These requirements apply equally to services in the community/not for profit sector as well as in the private sector.
My Department has already made €3 million in funding available to support staff to achieve this minimum level, and a further €0.5m is now being made available to ensure that all staff have the opportunity to upskill in order to meet the requirement. I have already announced that the minimum qualification requirement will be delayed to take account of a number of factors, not least of which is the fact that some community/not-for-profit services rely on Community Employment workers as core staff within the adult:child ratio. I understand that such services would face issues of sustainability if Community Employment workers were to become supernumerary. My Department will work closely with the Department of Social Protection and the community/not-for-profit service providers to agree a way forward for the Community Employment workers in the early years sector.
My Department currently provides approximately €260 million annually to childcare services in both the private and community/not for profit sectors for the delivery of a number of childcare support programmes. This investment supports more than 100,000 children each year. Community/not for profit childcare providers are eligible to participate in all of the childcare programmes implemented by my Department. I announced in Budget 2016 additional annual funding of €85 million to support the achievement of affordable, accessible, high quality childcare. This funding represents an increase of 33% in the annual investment in childcare supports and provides for the significant enhancement of a number of programmes implemented by my Department.
Regarding the specific childcare service referred to by the Deputy, my officials have made enquiries with Pobal, who administer the funding under the Community Childcare Subvention on behalf of my Department. Pobal report that, based on the financial returns made by the service to Pobal, they would have no concerns with regard to the sustainability of the service at this point in time.
109. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding the early childhood care and education scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36810/15]
View answerAt present, the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme covers children who have reached the age of 3 years and 2 months by 1st September of the relevant year. Children born between 2nd February 2011 and 30th June 2012 and who have not previously availed of the ECCE programme in the Sept 2014 pre-school year, are eligible to avail of the provision in the September 2015-June 2016 pre-school year.
From September 2016, I am expanding the ECCE programme to allow children to access free pre-school from the time they are 3 years of age until they start primary school. Children born between 1st January 2012 and 31st August 2013, will be eligible to avail of the ECCE programme with effect from September 2016. Therefore, children availing of the pre-school provision in the current school year will be entitled to further provision if they satisfy the age criteria for eligibility in September 2016.
Childcare providers that have children enrolled in their facility and who are eligible for the free pre-school provision in the current school year must enroll those children on the Programme Implementation Platform (PIP) before Friday the 23rd October if they wish to avail of the capitation payments for all of the current school year.
I understand that an official in my Department has explained the position to the childcare provider in this case.
110. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if the estimated 2015 forecast outturn for the Health Vote as detailed on page 6 of the 2016 Expenditure Report includes a Supplementary Estimate for Health; if so, the extent of same; and if the outturn for Health in 2015 turns out to be greater than forecast in the Expenditure Report, if this increase will be reflected in a greater Estimate for 2016 than the €13,175 million currently being allocated. [36816/15]
View answerThe 2015 forecast outturn, as published in the 2016 Expenditure Report includes a forecast supplementary estimate of €600 million to support services in 2015.
We are closely monitoring the remaining months to attempt to ensure that the 2015 outturn comes in at the current projected level. However, if it becomes apparent that the outturn may exceed the projected level, the position will be examined in terms of its potential impact on the 2016 estimate as published.
111. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the additional costs in 2015 of extra measures, such as the emergency Department task force, and revised measures, such as the details of free general practitioner care for the under sixes, which he announced during the course of 2015 but which were not covered in the 2015 Revised Estimate for Health; and if he will provide same in tabular form. [36679/15]
View answerThe additional measures provided during the course of 2015, not covered by the 2015 Revised Estimate for Health (Vote 38), are set out in the following table.
|
- |
€m |
|
Waiting List Initiative |
51 |
|
Emergency Department Overcrowding and Delayed Discharges |
74 |
|
Winter Initiative |
18 |
Earlier this year, agreement was reached with the IMO on a package of measures, including terms for the delivery of GP care without fees for all children under 6 years and the provision of GP care without fees to all persons aged 70 years and over. These represent the first phase in the delivery of a universal GP service. The new under-6 arrangements are effective from 1st July 2015 while the service for all persons aged 70 years and over commenced on 5th August 2015. The additional full year cost for the under-6 arrangements is €67m. There is no additional cost for persons aged 70 and over.
112. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Carlow who was referred from University Hospital Waterford to Midland Regional Hospital, Mullingar will be seen by a consultant there. [36683/15]
View answerUnder the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.
