Tuesday, 13 Dec 2016

Written Answers Nos. 655 - 678

Youth Services Funding

Questions (655)

Kevin O'Keeffe

Question:

655. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the status regarding the provision of funding for a youth officer for Mitchelstown, County Cork. [39405/16]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

The Youth Affairs Unit of my Department provides a range of funding schemes, programmes and supports to the youth sector. Funding of €51m for current expenditure is available from my Department in 2016 to support the provision of youth services and programmes to young people throughout the country including those from disadvantaged communities. The funding schemes support national and local youth work provision to some 380,000 young people. It is estimated that the voluntary youth services involve approximately 1,400 youth work staff in 477 projects and 40,000 volunteers working throughout the country.

I am aware that in 2014, proposals were made to provide short-term funding towards the cost of a youth worker post in Mitchelstown, and that my Department was not in a position to provide funding at that time.

The Deputy will be aware that a number of funding schemes supporting youth services were the subject of a Value for Money and Policy Review in 2014. The review involved an in-depth scrutiny of the impact youth service provision has on young people’s lives. The review made a number of recommendations for the future operation of the youth schemes and their development in the years ahead.

Work on the development of a new funding scheme has been prioritised by my Department and consultations with youth services are continuing with a view to introducing the new youth funding programme in line with the review over the coming years.

My Department has embarked on an exercise, in conjunction with Pobal and each Education and Training Board (ETB) Youth Officer, which will map youth service provision across the State. This mapping exercise will assist my Department and the relevant ETB in developing a detailed socio-demographic profile in terms of both population numbers and deprivation levels. It is my intention that this mapping exercise will inform future development and investment in youth services.

Departmental Expenditure

Questions (656)

Niall Collins

Question:

656. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the total photography costs for her Department per annum since March 2011, inclusive of costs, incurred from use of the ministerial allowance, in tabular form; the occasions for which photographers were booked; the photographers used; the breakdown of costs associated with each occasion that a photographer was used; if there is a policy regarding the booking of photographers within her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39465/16]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

Please find in the following table, 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 Event	€1,094.70
20/11/14	Comhairle na Óg National Showcase	€522.75
27/11/15	Dáil na nÓg Event	€424.35
20/11/16	Comhairle na Óg National Showcase	€528.90

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
12/02/15	Establishment of Mother and Baby Homes Commission	€90.08

Consultancy Contracts Data

Questions (657)

Niall Collins

Question:

657. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the external consultant reports commissioned by her Department since March 2011 per annum, in tabular form; the costs per report; the company involved; the title of the report; and the publication date. [39481/16]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

I have set out in the following table the full range of external consultant reports commissioned by my Department. Costs may include, where applicable, copy editing, design and other costs relating to publication. Separate material is provided in respect of the Growing Up in Ireland study.

Name of External Report	Date of Commission	Date/expected date of Publication	Name of External Consultant	Cost of Report
Audit of Children and Young People’s Participation in Decision Making in Ireland	November 2009	November 2011	Cnag ar an Doras and Sandra Roe (joint contract)	€19,890.42
National Consultation with Children Living in the Care of the State	November 2010	July 2011	Cnag ar an Doras	€25,610.00
Body Image Survey Report	March 2011	October 2011	Anam Cara	€6,800.00
Youth Work: A Systematic Map of the Research Literature	September 2011	June 2013	Social Science Research Unit, Institute of Education, University of (EPPI-Centre) London.	€67,000.00
Valuation report	November 2011	Internal use only	Elliott Fitzgerald Ltd.	€1,230.00
Needs Assessment for the Redevelopment of www.childrensdatabase.ie	December 2011	Internal use only	Centre for Effective Services	€18,400.00
Every Child a Home: A Review of the Implementation of the Youth Homelessness Strategy	December 2011	July 2013	Centre for Effective Services Penhouse Design Intacta Print Carole Devaney for proofing of report and of briefing note	€6,000.00 €5,522.70 €4,706.57 €1,360.00 Total: €17,589.27
Comhairle na nÓg and Garda Siochana survey on the Attitudes of Gardaí to Young People. Questionnaire for Gardaí and Young People	July 2012	Internal use only	Anam Cara	€7,650.00
Public Knowledge and Attitudes Relating to Children’s Rights, Welfare, Protection and Services	July 2012	Internal use only	Behaviour and Attitudes Qualitative Research – Group Facilitation Quantitative Research – Interviews Barometer Research	€42,864.98 €59,040.00 €1,107.00 Total: €103,011.98
Ireland’s Consolidated 3rd and 4th Report to the United Nations Committee in the Rights of the Child	July 2012	July 2013	Ms. Carmel Corrigan – Drafting of Report Ms. Carol Devaney – Editing, Formatting and Indexing	€12,600.00 €4,760.00 Total: €17,360.00
Strategic Human Resources	December 2012	April 2013	Mazars	€20,602.50
Internal Audit Report: Early Childhood Care and Education Scheme Internal Audit Report: ICT Shared Services Arrangements	December 2012 December 2012	Internal Use only Internal Use only	Capita Business Services Ltd Capita Business Services Ltd	Combined for both reports €23,803.00
Summary Report for Young Voices Have Your Say- Structured Dialogue	January 2013	March 2013	Cnag ar an Doras	€4,918.00
Care Issues Review	March 2013	Internal use only	Victor McElfatrick	€3,556.56
Report on Structural Damage	March 2013	Internal use only	Frontier Engineering Group Ltd.	€7,668.74
Staff Roster Review	April 2013	Internal use only	McGuinness Killen Partnership	€6,715.80
Role Review for Child & Family Agency	May 2013	November 2013	Mazars	€16,512.75
Care Issues Review	September 2013	Internal use only	Conal Devine & Associates	€13,636.21
Internal Audit Report: Community Childcare Subvention / Childcare Education and Training Supports Programmes	January 2014	Internal Use only	Capita Business Services Ltd	€8,200.00
Care Issues Review	February 2014	Internal use only	Kieran McGrath	€13,500.00
Policy Analysis and Development on Remission of Sentence	March 2014	Internal use only	Bramell Lane Ltd	€29,151.00
Land Valuation Report	August 2014	Internal use only	Lisney Chartered Surveyors	€2,152.50
Internal Audit Report: National Children’s Detention Facility	October 2014	Internal use only	Capita Business Services	€12,623.00
Report on the process, methodology and work of the Comhairle na nÓg National Executive 2014-2015	November 2014	Internal report	University College Dublin	€7,915.05
Internal Audit Report: Programme Integration Platform	November 2014	Internal use only	Capita Business Services	€15,675.00
Internal Audit Report: Transactions Audit	November 2014	Internal use – Not yet complete	Capita Business Services	€16,858.00
Report on Ireland’s Implementation of EU Youth Strategy	November 2014	Internal use only	Carmel Corrigan	€6,300.00
"Becoming an Active Player" - Report on meeting of Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures Advisory Council	December 2014	Internal use only	The Change Exploratory Ltd.	€1,600.00
Internal Audit Report: Programme Integration Platform	January 2015	Internal use only	Capita Business Services	€16,858.00
Internal Audit Report: DCYA Governance of Child and Family Agency (Tusla) (Working Title)	February 2015	Internal use – Not yet complete	Capita Business Services	€12,100 (to date)
Report on the National Youth Strategy for online survey results, consultation events with stakeholders and consultation event with young people	February 2015	September 2015	Sandra Roe	€4,800.00
Report of the involvement of children and young people in the recruitment of the Ombudsman for Children	March 2015	December 2015	Sandra Roe	€6,000.00
A report of consultations with children and young people for Ireland 2016	May 2015	March 2016	Ursula Kelly - UCC	€9,827.70
Review of Public Spending Code Return (Quality Assurance)	June 2015	Internal use only	Capita Business Services	€4,125.00
Report of the process of consulting children and young people living in Direct Provision	July 2015	January 2016	Ursula Kelly - UCC	€9,948.00
Audit of education and training on children’s rights and children’s and young people’s participation in decision-making in all third level and further education programmes and continuing professional development programmes in Ireland	September 2015	March 2016	Ursula Kelly - UCC	€19,978.00
Report of the workshop discussions at Dáil na nÓg 2015	October 2015	January 2016	Sandra Roe	€4,000.00
Updating the Comhairle na nÓg Toolkit	November 2015	June 2016	Cnag ar an Doras	Per diem rate – number of days to be determined
Provision of Services Pursuant to A National Consultation with Children (aged 3-5) on the National Early Years Strategy	December 2015	For internal use to inform the Early Years Strategy.	Imelda Coyne Trinity College, Dublin	€23,865.00
Scoping Report on the Development of Data Relating to Children	December 2015	February 2016	Research Matters Ltd	€20,726.55
A review of public policy on play and recreation in Ireland	May 2016	Internal use only	DIT	€13,200.00
Evaluation of the strategic options to deliver an ICT system to support the Single Affordable Childcare Scheme	July 2016	Internal use only	IT Executive Focus	€27,950.00 - Phase 1
Review for the Strategic Development of the National Quality Standards Framework	October 2016	February 2017	Middlequarter	Not finalised
Report of the workshop discussions at the Comhairle na nÓg Showcase 2016	October 2016	January 2017	Marino Institute of Education	€9,203.00
Report of consultations and meetings of Phase 1 of the Children’s Poverty Truth Commission	October 2016	July 2017	University College Dublin	Per diem rate – number of days to be determined
Report of Evaluation of Phase 1 of the Children’s Poverty Truth Commission	October 2016	July 2017	Queens University Belfast	Per diem rate – number of days to be determined

Growing Up in Ireland

Note on Growing Up on Ireland

In 2006 a contract to carry out the first phase the National Longitudinal Study of Children in Ireland was awarded by the Department of Health and Children (through the Office of the Minister for Children & Youth Affairs) to a consortium comprising the ESRI and TCD. Since then the Study has adopted the working title of 'Growing Up in Ireland'. Following another public procurement competition a contract was awarded to the ESRI/TCD consortium to carry out the second phase of the study over the period 2015-2019. As part of the overall contract the ESRI/TCD are required to prepare and publish reports from time to time. The Department of Children and Youth Affairs meets the costs of printing these reports.

Since the establishment of this Department in 2011 the total cost of printing has been €31,967.14.

Public Relations Contracts Data

Questions (658)

Niall Collins

Question:

658. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the details of the use of external public relations firms employed by her Department per annum since March 2011 in tabular form; the list of uses of the external public relations firm; the internal Department policy with regard to employing external groups; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39497/16]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

Please find in the following table, as requested, the information you require. With regard to my Department's internal policy on external groups providing public relations services, such groups are hired as needs arise, where it is felt their professional expertise can be of assistance to my Department.

Name of Public Relations Firm	Details of Service Supplied	Date of Service	Expenditure
MKC Communications	Service to assist with information and communications initiatives for the Children's Referendum, Report of the Child Death Review Group and the Child & Family Agency.	2012 to 2013	€39,595.00

Ministerial Correspondence

Questions (659)

John Brady

Question:

659. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she has used any private unsecured e-mail accounts for official business; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39579/16]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

I have not used any private unsecured email accounts for official business.

Child Care Services Funding

Questions (660)

Jim Daly

Question:

660. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs whether a round of funding will be made available in 2017 under the early years capital grant scheme (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39795/16]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

Capital funding of €4.5m in respect of the Childcare Sector was made available in Budget 2017 and I intend to bring forward proposals for a grant funding scheme to access this funding in early 2017. I intend that this funding will be available to childcare services seeking to improve the capacity, quality and/or efficiency of their services.

Over 1,000 services received capital funding under the 2016 capital programme - one of my first decisions as Minister was to provide a €2.5M increase in the funding allocation for this programme, enabling all qualifying applications to be fully funded. The grants that were awarded this year were used to build/fit out/refurbish rooms or extensions to childcare facilities, make alterations to buildings or to buy additional play equipment (to a maximum of €5,000) to facilitate an increase in childcare places. I am pleased that this funding has been fully utilised and a significant number of new childcare places will be available to children entering the ECCE programme in January 2017 as a result.

Recreational Facilities Provision

Questions (661)

Jim Daly

Question:

661. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will confirm the financial supports that are available for investment in capital infrastructure for a community playgroup (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39796/16]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

My Department administers a Capital Grant Funding Scheme for Play and Recreation. The Scheme was introduced in 2013 to support new and existing play and recreation facilities for children and young people. The total amount of funding available under the Scheme in any year is €250,000, with a maximum grant of €20,000 to any Local Authority.

Applications are invited for projects providing:

- New and innovative play and recreation spaces and facilities (New and innovative projects can include new facilities, equipment, designs and /or the utilisation of non- traditional play spaces)

- Refurbishment or upgrading of existing play and recreation spaces and facilities

Funding criteria for the Scheme were developed in conjunction with the Local Area Play and Recreation Network (LAPRN), a group established in 2012 to introduce a more coordinated and interagency approach to achieving the main goals of the play and recreation policies, at both national and local level. The following criteria are applied to applications:

- Play and recreation spaces and facilities must be available for use by all children and young people in the locality at times when they are free to use them i.e. outside of school hours

- All facilities and equipment must be accessible to children and young people with additional needs

- All facilities and equipment must be youth-friendly and safe

- All projects funded under the scheme must provide evidence, or a commitment to providing evidence, that children and young people have been or will be consulted about the project for which funding is requested

- All projects funded under the scheme must provide confirmation that No-Smoking signage will be displayed in play spaces and facilities funded under this scheme.

Community groups can apply to this Scheme through the Local Authority in which the facility/equipment will be available. Matched funding is a requirement of the Scheme and can be in the form of funds raise by voluntary groups, or a Local Authority contribution of finance or in kind funding.

Subject to the availability of funds, applications will be invited in early 2017.

Foreign Adoptions

Questions (662)

John McGuinness

Question:

662. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the action she has taken to date to prioritise the completion of an agreement between her Department and the Kazakhstan authorities under the Hague Convention to authorise the adoption of children from Kazakhstan; when an agreement is likely to be concluded; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39841/16]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

The Adoption Authority of Ireland has advised me that a delegation from the Embassy of Kazakhstan in London attended a meeting in the Dublin with the Authority on 25th February 2016 to discuss the possibility of future adoptions from Kazakhstan.

At that meeting Kazakhstan indicated their openness to receiving an application for accreditation from an Irish adoption agency. The Authority requested Helping Hands Adoption Mediation Agency to begin the process of seeking accreditation in Kazakhstan. Helping Hands has submitted an application to Ministry of Justice in Kazakhstan and a decision on the application is pending. The Authority has advised that for inter-country adoption to be undertaken, the Kazakhstan authorities have stated that any accredited agency will be required to establish a permanent presence in Kazakhstan. The need, if any, for an administrative arrangement is not currently being addressed by the Authority pending the outcome of application for accreditation by Helping Hands.

Departmental Legal Cases

Questions (663)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

663. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her Department has been involved in any court proceedings that involved non-disclosure agreements in the past five years; and if so, the specific court ruling that prevented knowledge of the court proceeding being made known and knowledge of the participants to the court proceeding from being made known for each of these agreements. [39862/16]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

No agreements as referred to by the Deputy have been entered into by my Department.

Community Childcare Subvention Programme

Questions (664)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

664. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the status of an application under the community child care subvention programme by an organisation (details supplied) in County Donegal; the reason for the delay in processing same; when payment can be expected; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39915/16]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

Child registrations for the 2016/2017 Community Childcare Subvention programme were submitted by childcare service providers referenced by Deputy during the period of 19th September to 14th October 2016.

As with all providers, once these registrations are submitted, the PPSNs therein are subject to a verification process to check for DSP allowances and HSE Medical/GP visit cards held during that period. This verification process can take a number of weeks.

Information was published by Pobal on 25th November that CCS funding, based on these verifications and the identification of specific entitlements accruing to each child, would issue on 9th December 2016.

In respect of the service in question they submitted 64 child registrations for which the entitlements were confirmed on 25th November. Payments for 3 remaining eligible children will issue next week, with a fourth to be paid shortly thereafter.

Children and Family Services Provision

Questions (665)

Gerry Adams

Question:

665. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the status of the additional supports for families in emergency accommodation and in particular the additional access to early years services, school completion programmes and free public transport that has been provided to families; and the costs of these additional supports. [35450/16]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

My Department is currently preparing to rollout administrative changes to the Community Childcare Subvention Scheme to provide access for homeless children. I will be announcing this in the coming days.

Under Tusla, the Home School Community Liaison Coordinators and School Completion Programme staff are prioritising extra supports to children whose families are living in emergency accommodation. These supports are provided as part of existing provision and no extra cost is associated with either support.

Examples of supports currently in place include - food provision (breakfast, lunch), accommodating children to arrive in and leave school at times that facilitate parents, provision of uniforms, books etc. where required, provision of in school and after school supports and activities where appropriate, checking in with parents regularly and assisting parents in accessing other services, checking in with children daily and being available to meet and talk to the child.

In certain cases School Completion Programmes organises transport on a short term basis while other provision is being arranged to enable children to attend school.

Transport costs can be an additional burden upon families residing in hotel accommodation on an emergency basis. As provided for in Rebuilding Ireland: An Action Plan on Housing and Homelessness, arrangements are being put in place to provide access to free public transport for family travel and for school journeys for those homeless families in the Dublin Region that are residing in hotel accommodation. Accordingly, each family will be given five 24-hour family LEAP cards, which will be valid for use on all Dublin transport systems, allowing for family days out at weekends or during holiday periods. Furthermore, arrangements are also being put in place to provide for free public transport, where required, for school children travelling between hotel emergency accommodation and school.

The Dublin Region Homeless Executive is implementing these initiatives. It is currently overseeing the distribution of the initial tranche of family LEAP cards though their Family Homeless Action Teams, who will also identify the families’ needs in relation to school journey cards and arrange for their distribution as early as possible following the distribution of the family cards.

Early Childhood Care and Education Funding

Questions (666)

Sean Fleming

Question:

666. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when a payment in respect of a child care facility (details supplied) will be made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40054/16]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

I believe the Deputy is referring to the Higher Capitation payment under the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme. The service in question were notified that their application for the Higher Capitation payment was successful on 19th October 2016. Officials from my Department have made enquiries with Pobal, who administer payments on behalf of my Department for the ECCE Programme, and I can confirm that this service have received the appropriate payment, and are fully paid up to 20th January 2017.

The service should be advised that the information pertaining to Higher Capitation payments is displayed differently on the Programme Implementation Platform (PIP) to previous years. This information can now be found in the "Special Allocations" section on PIP.

Should this service have any further queries I would urge them to contact Pobal.

Legislative Programme

Questions (667)

Michael Moynihan

Question:

667. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the name and number of Bills in preparation in her Department and published by her Department since May 2016; the stage each Bill is at in the Houses of the Oireachtas; the number of Bills from her Department signed into law; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40130/16]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

Since May 2016, the Minister has published the Adoption (Amendment) Bill 2016 and the Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill 2016. The Adoption (Amendment) Bill was passed by Dáil Eireann on 30 November 2016 and will proceed to the Seanad early in the New Year. The Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill 2016 was published on 23 November 2016. In addition, work is at an advanced stage in relation to the development of the Heads of the Guardian Ad Litem reform proposals. It is anticipated that draft Heads containing these proposals, the Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2016, will be circulated to other government departments before the end of this session.

Eight Bills from the Department of Children and Youth Affairs have been signed into law as follows:

1. Child Care (Amendment) Act 2015

2. Children First Act 2015

3. Children (Amendment) Act 2015

4. Adoption (Amendment) Act 2013

5. Child and Family Agency Act 2013

6. Child Care (Amendment) Act 2013

7. Thirty-First Amendment of the Constitution (Children) Act 2012

8. Child Care (Amendment) Act 2011.

Child Care Costs

Questions (668)

Maureen O'Sullivan

Question:

668. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the initiatives either activated or planned by her Department to reduce preschool child care costs for parents; and if she has examined models used in other countries as a possible template. [40193/16]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

Reducing the cost of childcare is a key priority for me and for the Government. We have a number of commitments in the Programme for Government relating to enabling access to high quality and affordable childcare. I am determined to deliver on these commitments.

The introduction of the Affordable Childcare Scheme (ACS) in September 2017 will provide more accessible and more affordable childcare both on a universal and a targeted basis, to families. This will represent a major milestone in childcare in Ireland.

Since September 2016, the extension of ECCE had made free pre-school available, for 15 hours per week, to all children from the time they turn three, until they go to school. Children can enter at three points in the year. On average, children will benefit from 61 weeks, up from the current provision of 38 weeks. Access to the average 61 weeks of ECCE can reduce the cost of childcare by €4,000 per child. The current ECCE programme is accommodating 67,000 children and this figure will increase to 127,000 next year.

My Department extended the terms of the Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) Programme in March 2016 so that it could be provided by private childcare providers across the country as well as community/not-for-profit providers. This was to ensure that eligible families, regardless of where they live, can access this important childcare subvention. The full rate of CCS reduces childcare costs by €95 per week, and is available to parents in receipt of social welfare payments including the One Parent Family Payment or Family Income Supplement. This Scheme will continue in existence until the new Scheme is introduced in September 2017.

The Programme for Government includes a commitment to carrying out an independent review of the cost of providing childcare. This review will be overseen by my Department and will include analysis of the potential benefits and risks of imposing price caps on childcare providers. The results will be considered in the context of the new Affordable Childcare Scheme.

The Department is committed to the provision of childcare options for families that reflect international evidence on how to attain the best outcomes for children. The Inter-Departmental Group (IDG) on Future Investment in Childcare in Ireland was established in 2015 to identify and assess policies and future options for increasing the affordability, quality and supply of early years and school-age care and education services in Ireland. The IDG examined international evidence on childcare provision, specifically those that addressed affordability and quality. Supply side measures were found to be more optimal for reform and quality improvement. The Affordable Childcare Scheme is an example of a supply side approach and reflects a core recommendation of the IDG to replace the existing targeted childcare schemes, which are administratively complex and inadequate in terms of accessibility, with a single, streamlined and more user-friendly scheme. The Affordable Childcare Scheme responds to a specific need to increase the affordability, quality and supply of early years and school-age care and education services in Ireland.

Children and Family Services Provision

Questions (669)

Maureen O'Sullivan

Question:

669. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if Tusla has a dedicated working group providing support for children and parents living in emergency accommodation in view of their needs, due to the specific impacts on children in emergency accommodation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40194/16]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

My Department, as part of a whole-Government approach to homelessness is committed to helping families by supporting implementation of Rebuilding Ireland: the Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness. Tusla, in addition to the measures set out below, is represented in the structures overseeing the implementation of this Action Plan

Together with Tusla, we are working to support parents and children in order to minimise, as much as possible, the impacts of living in emergency accommodation. This year, Tusla provided funding to Focus Ireland for additional child support workers to assist with the challenges facing families in emergency accommodation and I will be requesting Tusla to examine the possibility of funding similar initiatives in 2017.

Tusla is providing guidance for Home School Community Liaison and School Completion staff on helping children and families experiencing homelessness to maintain regular school attendance and has also appointed a Homelessness Liaison Officer to lead on its engagement with homeless services, particularly in respect of child protection issues. The joint protocol between Tusla and the Dublin Region Homeless Executive (DRHE) governing child welfare and protection matters is fully operational and it is intended to replicate this protocol across the State.

A number of other initiatives are underway to help families in emergency accommodation. The DRHE is working to provide free public transport for family travel and for school journeys for those homeless families in the Dublin Region who are residing in hotel accommodation. My Department is funding research to identify issues regarding access to food and potential nutritional impacts on these families and we are also enhancing access to early years services for homeless children. I will announce this new scheme in the coming days.

Departmental Staff Redeployment

Questions (670)

Marc MacSharry

Question:

670. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will provide all examples of entire units that have been re-centralised back to Dublin from within her Department; her Department's rationale for such moves; and if Cabinet approval was sought and given in each case. [40473/16]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

My Department is located entirely in Dublin. None of its units have been decentralised or re-centralised.

Emergency Planning

Questions (671)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

671. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the contingency plans his Department has drawn up to allow the rapid deployment of troops to respond effectively to flooding emergencies and other natural disasters. [39979/16]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Defence

In accordance with the Framework for Major Emergency Management, primary responsibility for responding to severe weather events including flooding rests with the three designated principal response agencies. These are the relevant Local Authority, An Garda Síochána, and the Health Service Executive. In accordance with agreed arrangements, all of the available resources of the Defence Forces are made available, upon request and subject to operational requirements, to support these principal response agencies.

At National level, representation on the Government Task Force on Emergency Planning, by both my Department and the Defence Forces, ensures the fullest coordination and cooperation in the event of an emergency.

Major Emergency Plans have been developed by local and regional authorities and these Plans identify the procedures for requesting assistance from the Defence Forces. The role of the Defence Forces in these situations is dependent on the nature of the incident and the type of assistance requested.

My Department has put in place Memorandum of Understandings and Service Level Agreements with other Governments Departments and Agencies to ensure the maintenance of essential services and to capture the wide ranging supports in both routine and non-routine and emergency scenarios that the Defence Forces may provide.

In November 2016 a detailed letter was prepared by my Department officials to inform the Local Authorities regarding the wide range of capabilities that the Defence Forces can bring to an emergency response. They were also advised of the local call-out arrangements. The call out procedure provides for 24/7/365 contact with the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces.

I am satisfied that when requested, assistance provided by the Defence Forces is provided in a co-ordinated way and that the tried and tested arrangements work well in response to emergency situations.

Naval Service Vessels

Questions (672)

Eamon Ryan

Question:

672. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the proposed programme for the purchase of new naval vessels; and the role it is expected that they will undertake. [40173/16]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Defence

The most significant investment of recent years by the Defence Organisation has been on the procurement of the new Off-Shore Patrol Vessels for the Naval Service. The third ship in the programme, LÉ William Butler Yeats was commissioned in to service in October 2016. A contract for an additional sister ship was placed with Babcock International in June 2016 at a cost of €54.3m, bringing investment in the new ships programme to over €250 million since 2010. The fourth ship is scheduled for delivery in mid 2018.

This aligns with the project planning process in place under the White Paper on Defence which will determine the Defence Organisation’s maritime capability requirements.

The requirement for a fourth ship is regarded as urgent and expedient given the age of the older remaining ships in the fleet, LÉ Orla, LÉ Ciara and LÉ Eithne all of which are over thirty years of age. The additional ship will allow the Naval Service meet its patrol day targets with due cognisance to the significant additional operational requirements for the Naval fleet under Operation Pontus in the Mediterranean Sea.

The White Paper provides for the replacement of the current flagship, LÉ Eithne, by a multi-role vessel (MRV). LÉ Eithne was built in 1984. It is the Government’s intent that this new vessel will provide a flexible and adaptive capability for a wide range of maritime tasks, both at home and overseas.

In addition, the two existing Coastal Patrol Vessels, LÉ Ciara and LÉ Orla are due for replacement in the coming years (also built in 1984). It is outlined in the White Paper that these ships will be replaced with similar type vessels with countermine and counter IED capabilities.

Work has commenced in the Department of Defence on the next phase of the Naval Service Vessel Replacement Programme. The specifications for the replacement vessels will be drawn up and a public tender competition will be instigated to cover the supply of the future ships within the overall available funding envelope.

Departmental Expenditure

Questions (673)

Niall Collins

Question:

673. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the total photography costs for his Department per annum since March 2011, inclusive of costs, incurred from use of the ministerial allowance, in tabular form; the occasions for which photographers were booked; the photographers used; the breakdown of costs associated with each occasion that a photographer was used; if there is a policy regarding the booking of photographers within his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39467/16]

Written answers

Taoiseach and Minister for Defence

The total costs for photography paid by the Department in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 to date is set out in the following table:

Date	Company	Cost
25/3/2011	Maxwell Photography	€393.25 (Including VAT)
9/11/2011	Maxwell Photography	€849.42 (Including VAT)
21/11/2012	Fennell Photography	€116.85 (including VAT)
10/07/2013	Maxwell Photography	€17.22 (including VAT)
21/11/2014	Maxwell Photography	€713.40(including VAT)

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, following an EU-level advertised procurement process, has established a Framework Agreement comprising five firms for the provision of photography services. The Framework was established in February 2012 and is open for use by all Government Departments and Offices. My Department avails of this Framework Agreement for photography needs.

Consultancy Contracts Data

Questions (674)

Niall Collins

Question:

674. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the external consultant reports commissioned by his Department since March 2011 per annum, in tabular form; the costs per report; the company involved; the title of the report; and the publication date. [39483/16]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Defence

The information requested by the Deputy in relation to external consultant reports commissioned by my Department since March 2011 is set out in the following table:

Report	Cost	Company	Publication Date
An independent review of United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) fatalities in 1989	€51,660	Mr. Frank Callanan, S.C.	19 September 2011
Irish Air Corps Safety Management Systems Review	€20,000	Mr. Jacques Michaud	14 November 2013
Research on vessels linked to Roger Casement	€4,605	Mr. John Kearon	Not published
Third Report of the Independent Monitoring Group (IMG)	€22,500	Dr. Eileen Doyle	3 September 2014
Consultancy report to access the impact of an upgrade of Departments financial application software	€24,870.60	Fujitsu Ltd	30 January 2015
Review of the civil Defence Branch	€7,200	Mr. Jim Blighe	Not published
Review of the safe operation of Civil Defence watercraft.	€26,400	MarMan & Associates, Marine Consultants.	Not yet published
Review of communications in Civil Defence	Review Ongoing	Mr. Ciaran Motherway	Not yet published
Independent Review of the investigation of the death of Pte Hugh Doherty and the disappearance of Pte Kevin Joyce (Caomhán Seoighe) on 27 April 1981 while serving with IRISHBATT in the United Nations Interim Force in the Lebanon (UNIFIL)	Review ongoing	Mr. Roderick Murphy	Review ongoing. Publication due in 2017.

Public Relations Contracts Data

Questions (675)

Niall Collins

Question:

675. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the details of the use of external public relations firms by his Department per annum since March 2011 in tabular form; the list of uses of the external public relations firm; the internal Department policy with regard to employing external groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39499/16]

Written answers

Taoiseach and Minister for Defence

My Department has not incurred any expenditure on external public relations since March 2011.

Ministerial Correspondence

Questions (676)

John Brady

Question:

676. Deputy John Brady asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he has used any private unsecured e-mail accounts for official business; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39581/16]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Defence

I can confirm that I have not used any private unsecured email accounts for official business.

Defence Forces Medicinal Products

Questions (677)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

677. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the status of the Defence Forces' use of the drug Lariam; if a distinction was made as to which serving members of the Defence Forces were provided with the drug; if the Defence Forces will continue to use the drug; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39645/16]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Defence

The health and welfare of the men and women of the Defence Forces is a high priority for me and the Defence Forces. Malaria is a serious disease which killed approximately 438,000 people in 2015, with 90% of deaths occurring in sub-Saharan Africa as reported by the World Health Organisation.  It is a serious threat to any military force operating in the area.

There are three anti-malarial drugs in use by the Defence Forces, namely Lariam (mefloquine), Malarone and Doxycycline. The choice of medication for overseas deployment, for both officers and enlisted personnel, including the use of Lariam, is a medical decision made by Medical Officers in the Defence Forces, having regard to the specific circumstances of the mission and the individual member of the Irish Defence Forces. Rank is not a consideration.

Significant precautions are taken by Defence Forces Medical Officers in assessing the medical suitability of members of our Defence Forces to take any of the anti-malarial medications. It is the policy of the Defence Forces that personnel are individually screened for fitness for service overseas and medical suitability.

There are no plans at this time to withdraw Lariam from the range of anti-malarial medications available to the Defence Forces.  The use of and the information on medications is kept under ongoing review. Anti-malarial medications, including Lariam, remain in the formulary of medications prescribed by the Medical Corps for Defence Forces personnel on appropriate overseas missions, to ensure that our military personnel can have effective protection from the very serious risks posed by this highly dangerous disease.

Defence Forces Medicinal Products

Questions (678)

Clare Daly

Question:

678. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if the broad range of studies demonstrating the neurotoxic effects of mefloquine, Lariam, (details supplied) have been reviewed and taken into account by the chief medical officer in coming to the conclusion that the benefits of Lariam as a first line anti-malarial for the Defence Forces outweigh the costs. [39772/16]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Defence

The Director Medical Branch provides military medical advice to the Chief of Staff and the General Staff and is responsible for clinical governance and the development of clinical policy, medical education and training in the Defence Forces. In this context, I am advised that the Director Medical Branch is aware of a broad range of studies relating to Lariam and indeed he is also aware of studies relating to the alternative anti-malarial medications and their side effects and contraindications.

The Deputy will be aware that the choice of medication for overseas deployment, is a medical decision made by the Medical Officers in the Defence Forces, having regard to the specific circumstances of the mission and the individual member.

Significant precautions are taken by Defence Forces Medical Officers in assessing the medical suitability of members of our Defence Forces to take any of the anti-malarial medications. It is the policy of the Defence Forces that personnel are individually screened for fitness for service overseas and medical suitability.

Lariam remains in the formulary of medications prescribed by the Medical Corps for Defence Forces personnel on appropriate overseas missions, to ensure that our military personnel can have effective protection from the very serious risks posed by malaria.

There are no plans at this time to withdraw Lariam from the range of anti-malarial medications available to the Defence Forces. The use of and the information on medications is kept under ongoing review.

The health and welfare of the men and women of the Defence Forces is a high priority for myself and the Defence Forces and this remains the case.