Written Answers Nos 1-20
15. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to expand the qualifying criteria for the community child care scheme to allow families who are not in receipt of Social Protection but are on low incomes to be included in the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22964/16]
View answerI share the Deputy's concern to ensure that those on low incomes have access to appropriate childcare supports, irrespective of whether they are in receipt of a social protection payment. With this in mind, the Programme for Government commits to streamlining the existing targeted childcare programmes, including the Community Childcare Scheme, into a new single affordable childcare scheme which would be more accessible for both parents and providers.
This commitment reflects a recommendation of the 2015 Inter-Departmental Group on Future Investment in Childcare in Ireland. That group recommended that all targeted childcare programmes be merged into one single targeted childcare programme with eligibility for a subsidy being determined by income. This would ensure that subsidies are available to all those who qualify on income grounds, rather than just being available to specific groups such as families in receipt of certain Social Protection payments.
A project team has been established to develop the proposed new single affordable childcare scheme and work is underway with a view to having the new scheme in place by September 2017.
I believe that the new scheme will also provide a robust platform for future investment in childcare in Ireland so that childcare is more affordable for more families.
16. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans for early years in detail and timeline for the implementation of the early years strategy on a yearly basis. [23035/16]
View answerThe new Early Years Strategy is due to be finalised by the end of 2016 and work in developing this is at an advanced stage. My first priority in relation to Early Years is to secure the expansion of schemes announced by my predecessor, in Budget 2016. The expansion of the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) free pre-school year is my immediate priority, as is the roll out of the 'Access and Inclusion Model' for Early Childhood Care and Education.
The report of the Inter-Departmental Group on future investment in childcare recommended that a number of schemes operated by my Department be integrated into a new Single Affordable Childcare Scheme. Work on this is progressing rapidly, and I intend for this to be rolled out by September 2017. Alongside this, I am working to improve capacity in the sector. The Deputy will be aware that I recently announced a significant increase in capital funding available this year to the early years sector, from €4m to €6.5m. I will be seeking additional capital in Budget 2017.
In planning for the longer term, I will be seeking to develop capacity, quality and affordability in relation to the care of children under the age of three. I have also established an inter-departmental working group on after-school childcare, and I am working with my colleague the Minister for Education and Skills to advance proposals in relation to school-age childcare.
I am also continuing to advance the Early Years quality agenda. The new Childcare Regulations came into effect on 30 June 2016. From 31 December 2016, all staff working in formal childcare settings will be required to hold a relevant childcare qualification at Level 5, and staff members must hold a level 6 qualification to be permitted to work as ECCE room leaders under the ECCE contract.
To support staff to meet the new qualification requirements, my Department established the Learner Fund which has already allocated €3.5 million to over 3,000 staff for the purpose of upskilling. My Department is continuing to support upskilling in the sector and is working with community childcare facilities to ensure their financial viability.
17. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of children in residential care here, indicating the units and numbers and the private service providers and numbers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22970/16]
View answerThere were 343 children in residential care at the end of April 2016.
- This represents approximately 5% of all children in care.
- Just over half, 185 children, were in private residential care centres.
- I have been informed that there are currently 146 children's residential centres, of which - 81 are privately managed, Tusla manages 39 and 26 are managed by voluntary bodies.
- The most recent figures available show that about 70% of children in residential care are aged 15, 16 and 17 years.
- Children in care, whether in Tusla or privately run centres, remain in the statutory care of Tusla. They should have an allocated social worker and a care plan, developed in partnership with their carers.
- Private children residential centres are registered, inspected and have a service level agreement in place. The placement of a child in private centres is made in accordance with Tusla's Placement Protocols.
18. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her views on the comments of the Ombudsman when she stated recently her concern that 2,177 children are homeless and living in hotels, hostel emergency accommodation and there is an urgent need to move away from this option; and her plans to resolve this issue urgently. [23041/16]
View answer28. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the measures she is taking to offer better support for the increasing number of children in emergency homeless accommodation across the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22962/16]
View answer38. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans to support children who are living in hotels; if this includes helping them to maintain links with their community, family supports and school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23044/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 18, 28 and 38 together.
As Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, I am very concerned about the welfare of homeless children. As the Deputies will be aware, issues in relation to homelessness are a key priority for this Government, as evidenced by the publication of the Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness last Tuesday. While the concerted efforts and actions in the Plan will result in families moving on from emergency accommodation in a shorter timeframe than at present, we must ensure that families and children are supported as much as possible while they are in the emergency accommodation.
To this end, the Action Plan includes the following additional measures to assist families in emergency homeless accommodation to mitigate the challenges they face:
- Additional dedicated child support workers will be appointed in an initiative by the DCYA. The workers will develop support plans for children and families with a particular focus on those with specific needs – a quarter of children presenting as homeless need this additional support.
- Access to early years services. My Department will ask the City and County Childcare Committees to liaise with homeless families and assist them in accessing early years services. A new specific scheme will also be designed from existing resources.
- Home School Community Liaison and School Completion staff will assist children and families experiencing homelessness to maintain regular school attendance and prioritise them within the School Completion Programme.
- A pilot project will be introduced to support the family functioning of homeless families currently in emergency accommodation by providing off-site or near-site family time including play, homework, cooking and washing facilities, family support and parent support.
- The nutritional needs of families and children will be addressed. Some homeless families do not have access to cooking facilities or regular nutritional food, depending on the location of the emergency accommodation. My Department, in partnership with others, will identify problem areas and propose solutions.
- Additional resources will be put in place to strengthen inter-agency arrangements within Tusla including Family Support, Social Work and Educational Welfare.
The Action Plan also contains a number of measures which aim to prevent homelessness amongst other vulnerable groups, including:
- Young people leaving State care and at risk of homelessness will be identified and catered for through appropriate housing and other supports required to meet their needs.
- Tusla will provide additional emergency refuge accommodation spaces so that victims of domestic violence forced to flee the family home do not find themselves homeless. The Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government will provide policy and procedural guidance to housing authorities with regard to the role they can play to assist these victims to secure new, independent tenancies as required.
- A new facility with accommodation for pregnant women who are homeless will be provided by the Dublin Region Homeless Executive, with my Department and Tusla supporting the service.
I will work closely with my colleagues in Government and with all relevant agencies, to ensure that we address this issue as a matter of major importance.
19. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of permanent full-time staff employed in youth detention centres and their roles; the number of roles covered by agency staff; the turnover of agency staff; the strategic plan to ensure stable personnel structures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23055/16]
View answerAt present there are a total of 237 Whole Time Equivalent (WTE) staff employed in Oberstown Children Detention Campus. The breakdown of these posts are detailed in the following table:
|
Grade |
No. of Posts Filled (WTE) |
Secondment |
|
Campus Manager |
1 |
|
|
Director |
2 |
1 |
|
Deputy Director |
3 |
|
|
Head of Care |
1 |
|
|
Unit Manager's Day and Night Managers |
16.5 |
|
|
Hr Manager |
1 |
|
|
Admin Manager |
1 |
|
|
Residential Child Care Worker |
122 |
|
|
Night Supervisor |
33.5 |
|
|
Night Supervisor / Central Security |
12 |
|
|
Grade III |
3 |
|
|
Grade IV |
6.5 |
|
|
Grade VI |
4 |
|
|
Admission Officer |
1 |
|
|
Ex Chef / Catering |
1 |
|
|
Chef Grade I |
1.5 |
|
|
Chef Grade II |
0.5 |
|
|
Supplies Officer Grade D |
1.5 |
|
|
House Keeper |
1 |
|
|
Asst House Keeper |
1 |
|
|
General Operative |
4.5 |
|
|
General Operative Domestic/Hold |
9.5 |
1 |
|
Build Main. Officer |
2 |
|
|
Asst Build Main. Officer |
2 |
|
|
Gardener / Driver |
2 |
|
|
Social Worker |
1 |
|
|
Clinical Nurse Manager 2 |
1 |
|
|
Clinical Nurse / Midwife Manager 1 |
1 |
|
|
TOTAL |
237 |
2 |
Recent recruitment campaigns have resulted in the filling of posts for: 2 Deputy Directors, 2 Unit Managers, 20 Residential Child Care Workers, Staff Information Officer, H and S Investigation Officer
Agency staff are utilised to ensure service delivery across the campus. There are currently 14 agency staff employed in the Oberstown Children Detention Campus. The breakdown is:
|
Agency Staff |
|
|
Residential Child Care Worker |
7 |
|
Maintenance |
2 |
|
Administration Staff |
2 |
|
Health & Safety |
1 |
|
Nurse |
1 |
|
Driver / General Operative |
1 |
|
TOTAL |
14 |
There are ongoing recruitment campaigns to backfill the vacancies. There has been a turnover in the last year of 14 agency Residential Child Care Workers which has resulted in 10 leaving Oberstown and 4 being successful following a recruitment campaign for Residential Child Care Workers.
In order to provide a stable personnel structure there is continuous support for staff across the campus. This includes a Campus Support Service on a 3 day a week basis, an Employment Assistance Programme, a robust training and development plan and a Further Education programme. There is also an agreed roster with a focus on work life balance. There are ongoing efforts to improve the working environment across the campus.
20. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the measures she plans to take to tackle youth unemployment, if she will provide an update on the implementation of the Youth Employability Initiative; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23030/16]
View answerThe Government has a range of measures in place to increase employment opportunities for young people and to tackle youth unemployment. I plan to work closely with all relevant Government departments to implement these measures in the context of the Government’s Action Plan for Jobs.
Last month I announced details of the €600,000 Youth Employability Initiative which is funded under the Dormant Accounts scheme. Under the Initiative 28 youth projects will receive grants to support innovative programmes that target disadvantaged young people who are most at risk of unemployment and who are not in education, employment or training. The programmes will aim to build skills that will enhance their employability and over 1000 young people aged 15 to 24 years across the country will benefit. My Department is setting up a forum with the successful youth projects in order to gather and share the lessons from this Initiative to inform future policy in this area.
My Department administers a range of funding schemes and programmes to support the provision of youth services by the voluntary youth sector, to young people throughout the country. Each year, over 380,000 young people participate in the voluntary youth services. Young people who engage in youth work activities have the opportunity to attain specific skills which can enhance employability. These skills include learning to learn, social and civic competence, leadership, communication, teamwork, and entrepreneurship. These are the ‘soft skills’ that are relevant and applicable to industry and valued and sought after by employers.
In line with the Programme for Government, I plan to build on initiatives such as the Youth Employability Initiative, which can have a significant contribution to make to the Government’s employment agenda particularly for young people who are most marginalised from the labour market.
