Robert Troy
Question:268. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will make arrangements to award a higher capitation grant to a Montessori school (details supplied) for the coming year. [20053/16]
View answerChild Care Services
Questions (268)
Written answers
My Department will make direct contact with the service provider in question to inform them of the process involved in order to qualify for the higher capitation payment, and assist them with the process.
For a childcare service to be approved for the higher capitation rate in respect of the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme in 2015-2016 they were required to satisfy criteria regarding qualifications and ratios, which applied to all ECCE rooms/sessions in the service. All pre-school leaders had to satisfy the minimum qualification requirements as approved on the published list of my Department's Early Years Recognised Qualifications (level 7 or equivalent) and have at least three years' experience working in the early years sector. All pre-school assistants were required to be qualified to level 5 on the National Framework of Qualifications. Services also had to ensure that they had enough appropriately qualified staff present for each ECCE session to cover the amount of children present at that time.
Following the announcement of the expansion of ECCE in Budget 2016, and the efforts being made by the pre-school sector to provide sufficient additional capacity, my Department decided to make changes to policy to encourage capacity development. From September 2016, the rules regarding qualifying for higher capitation rate are to change, to allow for Higher Capitation to be paid per room in a service, rather than all rooms being required to meet the criteria.
An advisory group convened in 2011 by my Department recommended that only relevant disciplines that meet the criteria for the higher capitation rate under the ECCE programme can be considered. The advisory group advised that working with children in an early childhood care and education setting is a professional role which requires the achievement of core skills and knowledge which include:
- Child Development 0-6 years
- Early Childhood Learning Theory
- Practice and Child Health and Welfare 0-6 years.
If a provider feels that their qualifications meet the required criteria there is a mechanism to submit their full qualifications portfolio to the Department to have them individually assessed. The full qualifications portfolio should be submitted along with the relevant application form to the qualifications recognition section in the Early Years Policies and Programmes Unit in my Department. My Department cannot make a decision regarding higher capitation payment until such a provider submits their qualifications portfolio to be assessed, and the outcome of this assessment is known, or the qualification is on the DCYA Early Years Recognised Qualifications list.
Early Childhood Care and Education
Questions (269)
Robert Troy
Question:269. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will provide funding in the form of an early childhood care and education scheme capital grant to a group (details supplied). [20055/16]
View answerWritten answers
Capital funding of €4 million is being made available through the Early Years Capital Programme in 2016 for early years pre-school services, both private and not-for-profit/community, that are intending to expand their service to provide for more capacity in the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme. The maximum grant available under this programme is €10,000. The closing date for applications was 8 April, 2016.
Pobal is responsible for the administration of this funding scheme on behalf of my Department. Pobal has conducted the appraisal process and the recommendations of this process for approval of funding, in line with the published criteria, are currently being reviewed by my Department. The award of funding will be based partially on evidence of current need and/or projected future demand for additional ECCE places in 2016/2017 in the catchment area of each applying service. The relevant City/County Childcare Committee have assisted Pobal with demand versus supply data. Value for money is also an awarding criteria and the costs / grant requested relative to the number of ECCE places being created will be taken into account when evaluating grant applications. Grant agreements will be issued to successful applicants in July 2016. The date by which a service's grant and own funds must be fully spent and reported to Pobal is 31st December 2016.
Since the deadline for receipt of applications under the Early Years Capital programme 2016, Pobal have appraised over 1,000 applications and presented their findings to officials in my Department. These recommendations are now under consideration in the Department and the outcome of these applications will be processed shortly. Operating a grant scheme in such a tight timescale has been a significant challenge, but it was decided to proceed given the urgent needs of childcare providers.
I can confirm that a grant application from the service in question has been received and is currently in the review process. Once the Department has reviewed Pobal's recommendations, decisions will be communicated to providers without delay.
Appointments to State Boards
Questions (270)
Catherine Martin
Question:270. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of appointments she has made to State boards since the move to the Public Appointments Service two years ago, to date; the names of those appointed and the relevant position on each board; the names of those persons on the short list; the date when the short list was provided to her; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20061/16]
View answerWritten answers
I am responsible for the appointment of members to the boards of the Adoption Authority of Ireland, the Child and Family Agency (Tusla), Gaisce and the Board of Management for the Children Detention Schools.
Since I assumed office in May this year I have made 13 appointments to the new Board of Management for the Children Detention Schools with effect from 1st June 2016. The Board consists of the chairperson and 12 Ordinary members.
I appointed Professor Ursula Kilkelly, School of Law, University College Cork as Chairperson. Professor Kilkelly is the Dean of the School of Law, University College Cork. She is recognised as a leading expert in issues relating to the detention of children and has published widely on youth justice issues.
Of the 12 Ordinary members, the following 7 were appointed on foot of the requirements of section 167 of the Children Act 2001, as follows:
- Mr Jim Gibson - interim Chief Operations Officer of Tusla, the Child and Family Agency was nominated by the Minister for Health;
- Ms Fionnuala Anderson - an Education Officer in Dublin and Dun Laoghaire Education and Training Board was nominated by the Minister for Education and Skills;
- Ms Sinead O’Herlihy and Mr Fiachra Barrett are members of staff on the Oberstown campus who were nominated for appointment on foot of a local balloting process by Oberstown staff in December 2015;
- Mr Pat Rooney and Ms Elizabeth Howard are local community residents in the vicinity of the Oberstown campus and were nominated by Lusk Community Council, a local Community Group in November 2015;
- Mr Dan Kelleher is a Principal Officer in the Irish Youth Justice Service, Department of Children and Youth Affairs.
I appointed the remaining 5 members of the board on foot of the publication of a notice for expressions of interest on the website www.stateboards.ie in January 2016, under the 2014 Guidelines for appointments to State Boards. I made the following 5 appointments from a short-list of 15 suitable candidates notified to my Department by the Public Appointments Service on 18th of February 2016:
- Mr Charles Irwin is an Accountant with the Professional Development Service for Teachers, Dublin
- Mr Diego Gallagher is a solicitor with Byrne Wallace Solicitors, Dublin
- Ms Emer Woodfull is a practicing barrister at the Law Library, Dublin
- Ms Fiona Murphy is a service coordinator with Extern - a charitable organisation which provides services to children assessed as being high risk requiring intensive community based support
- Mr Michael Farrell is Corporate Secretary in University College Cork.
Public Sector Staff Data
Questions (271)
Fiona O'Loughlin
Question:271. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will provide information on the number of persons of different ethnic and cultural backgrounds currently working in her Department and in other public service organisations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20433/16]
View answerWritten answers
My Department does not record information on the numbers of persons of different ethnic and cultural backgrounds employed by it or in the agencies under its aegis.
My Department currently uses the services of the Public Appointments Service (PAS) for the recruitment of its staff and I am aware that PAS is committed to ensuring that the participation of members of ethnic minority groups, people with disabilities, older candidates, members of the Traveller community and others covered by the Employment Equality Acts 1998 - 2015 is encouraged in the selection process.
I have asked my officials to arrange for the Child and Family Agency (TUSLA), the Adoption Authority of Ireland, the Ombudsman for Children's Office and the Children Detention Schools to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.
Foireann Roinne
Questions (272)
Éamon Ó Cuív
Question:272. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Leanaí agus Gnóthaí Óige cén líon státseirbhíseach atá earcaithe le bliain anuas in a Roinn a bhfuil Gaeilge agus Béarla acu; cén grád ar ar earcaíodh iad; cén líon iomlán státseirbhíseach a earcaíodh i rith an ama sin agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [20442/16]
View answerWritten answers
My Department has recruited 30 civil servants in the last year (excluding temporary clerical officers on short term contracts). None of these posts required a specific competence in the Irish language. My Department is currently filling two positions for which competency in the Irish language is required. Both positions are awaiting allocation of resources via the Public Appointments Service recruitment service.
Appointments to State Boards
Questions (273)
Catherine Martin
Question:273. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of appointments he has made to State boards since the move to the Public Appointments Service two years ago, to date; the names of those appointed and the relevant position on each board; the names of those persons on the short list; the date when the short list was provided to him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20063/16]
View answerWritten answers
The only State body currently under the aegis of the Department of Defence is the Army Pensions Board. The Army Pensions Board is an independent statutory body established under the Army Pensions Act 1927. The Act specifies that the Board shall consist of a chairman and two ordinary members. The two ordinary members must be qualified medical practitioners of whom one must be an officer of the Army Medical Corps. The chairman and the non military ordinary member are appointed by the Minister for Defence with the concurrence of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. The Army Medical Corps ordinary member is appointed by the Minister for Defence on the recommendation of the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces.
Commandant Adam Lagun was appointed to the position of Army Medical Corps ordinary member of the Board in December 2011. This position became vacant in October 2014 due to Commandant Lagun being deployed overseas. On the recommendation of the Chief of Staff, Commandant Syed Shah was appointed temporarily to the Board, from 16 October 2014 to 31 May 2015, to cover Commandant Lagun’s absence. Commandant Lagun resumed as Ordinary member of the Board in June 2015. The position became vacant again in September 2015 with the deployment overseas of Commandant Lagun. On the recommendation of the Chief of Staff, Commandant Zdenek Osecky was appointed temporarily, from 10 September 2015 to 30 June 2016, to cover this temporary vacant position.
On the recommendation of the Chief of Staff, Commandant Lagun was replaced by Commandant Zdenek Osecky in the position of Army Medical Corps ordinary member of the Board in a permanent capacity on 24 June 2016 due to Commandant Lagun’s commitment to UNIFIL/UNDOF for overseas service.
Details of appointments to the Army Pensions Board are published in the Iris Oifigiúil.
Public Sector Staff Data
Questions (274)
Fiona O'Loughlin
Question:274. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will provide information on the number of persons of different ethnic and cultural backgrounds currently working in his Department and in other public service organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20434/16]
View answerWritten answers
No information is recorded on the respective Personal Management Systems as to the ethnicity or cultural background of staff of the Department of Defence or of members of the Defence Forces.
Foireann Roinne
Questions (275)
Éamon Ó Cuív
Question:275. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den an Taoisigh agus Aire Cosanta cén líon státseirbhíseach atá earcaithe le bliain anuas in a Roinn a bhfuil Gaeilge agus Béarla acu; cén grád ar ar earcaíodh iad; cén líon iomlán státseirbhíseach a earcaíodh i rith an ama sin agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [20444/16]
View answerWritten answers
Earcaíodh 19 státseirbhíseach buan sa Roinn Cosanta sa tréimhse 12 mhí go dtí an 30 Meitheamh 2016. Leagtar amach sa tábla thíos mionsonraí faoi ghráid na 19 bpearsanra sin.
|
Grád |
Líon |
|
Príomhoifigeach |
2 |
|
Comhairleoir Dlí (comhionann le Príomhoifigeach Cúnta) |
1 |
|
Ardoifigeach Feidhmiúcháin |
2 |
|
Oifigeach Riaracháin |
3 |
|
Oifigeach Feidhmiúcháin |
4 |
|
Oifigeach Cléireachais |
7 |
As na 19 bpearsanra a earcaíodh, ba bhaill foirne 11 díobh a aistríodh chuig an Roinn Cosanta ó oifig nó roinn rialtais eile agus b'iontrálaithe nua chuig an Státseirbhís 8 díobh. Chomh maith leis an 19 mball foirne buan a earcaíodh sa tréimhse 12 mhí, earcaíodh 6 phearsanra eile ar feadh tréimhsí sealadacha ó 3 go 12 mhí.
Níl aon phost sa Roinn Cosanta ina gcaithfidh pearsanra inniúlacht sa Ghaeilge a léiriú. Níl mórán caidrimh ag an Roinn leis an bpobal agus mar sin níl mórán éilimh ar sheirbhísí trí mheán na Gaeilge. Mar a fhoráiltear ina Scéimeanna Gaeilge reatha agus roimhe seo, baineann an Roinn úsáid as dream pearsanra a cuireadh le chéile ar bhonn deonach chun cabhrú le Brainsí na Roinne seirbhísí a chur ar fáil trí mheán na Gaeilge agus chun freagra a thabhairt ar idirghníomhaíocht le custaiméirí más gá.
Tá seisear sa ghrúpa sin faoi láthair atá sásta cabhrú ar bhonn deonach le seirbhísí i nGaeilge a chur ar fáil agus is leor sin chun freastal ar riachtanais ina leith. Déantar athbhreithniú leanúnach ar an ngrúpa deonach seo.
I gcomhthéacs an mhéid sin, agus í ag earcú foirne le bliain anuas, níor shonraigh an Roinn gur gá do bhaill foirne scileanna sonracha a bheith acu i nGaeilge ná i mBéarla.