Written Answers Nos. 774-785
774. Deputy Colm Brophy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the total sum of money that will be available to her Department from dormant account funding for 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3864/17]
View answer775. Deputy Colm Brophy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the projects she plans to support with the dormant account funding allocated to her Department for 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3865/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 774 and 775 together.
The Dormant Accounts Fund Action Plans contain a number of specific measures intended to support children and disadvantaged young people for which my Department has primary responsibility. A resource allocation of €5.166 million has been made available in 2017 to my Department to support a number of ongoing projects and programmes and relevant details are set out in the following table for the Deputy's information.
|
Projects and Programme |
Funding Allocation (€000) |
|
Phone App for young people in State care |
94,000 |
|
Aftercare Information Packs |
22,000 |
|
Quality and Capacity Building Programme |
3,115,000 |
|
Localise Service Skills for Life Programme |
100,000 |
|
Youth Employment Initiative |
33,000 |
|
Total |
3,364,000 |
The balance of €1.8 million will be used to fund a number of projects yet to be finalised under the 2017 Action Plan.
776. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 1709 to 1712, inclusive, of 17 January 2017, if she will provide a breakdown of the costs quoted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4164/17]
View answerThe latest information is that all of the young people who have expressed an interest in coming to Ireland are boys of 16 and 17 years of age. Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has advised that the young people will need residential assessment, and then, it is likely in the majority of cases, residential placement until they are 18 when aftercare supports will be provided.
The most recent estimate indicates a full year cost to Tusla, for approximately 40 young people, will be almost €8 million based on initial estimates and is subject to review pending completion of needs assessments for young people. These estimated costs are broken down as follows:-
|
Description (Indicative) |
Cost |
|
Staffing |
|
|
Social workers (additional) |
€310,000 |
|
Aftercare workers (additional) |
€180,000 |
|
Psychologists (additional) |
€180,000 |
|
Services |
|
|
Therapeutic |
€300,000 |
|
Legal |
€600,000 |
|
Accommodation |
|
|
3 x new Private Units |
€3,600,000 |
|
1 x new Aftercare Unit |
€1,200,000 |
|
Tusla reconfiguring existing facilities |
€1,500,000 |
|
Total |
€7,870,000 |
These estimated costs are similar to the costs incurred for children residential services generally. At the end of November 2016, there was a total of 325 children in residential care.
As Tusla completes the needs assessment, the care needs of the young people and the related costs will become clearer. The €8 million refers to a full year cost but as the young people will be arriving on a phased basis the cost for 2017 should be considerably less.
777. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the amount of funding a group (details supplied) received in 2016; and the amount it should expect to receive in 2017 and when. [4292/17]
View answerTusla, the Child and Family Agency, has statutory responsibility for the care and protection of victims of domestic, sexual and gender based violence whether in the context of the family or otherwise. At all times, Tusla’s key priority is to ensure that the needs of victims of domestic and sexual violence are being met in the best way possible.
A network of 60 organisations provide services to victims of domestic, sexual and gender based violence in Ireland, including 20 services providing emergency refuge accommodation to women and children and 24 community-based domestic violence services. Tusla has established a more co-ordinated approach for provision of these services with a dedicated national budget and a single line of accountability. National investment in domestic, sexual and gender-based violence services will increase this year.
Tusla has advised that it allocated €131,539 to the Centre referred to by the Deputy, in 2016. Tusla is currently engaging with organisations in the domestic, sexual and gender based violence services sector regarding funding and service arrangements for 2017 and will be confirming funding to individual organisations in due course.
I have emphasised to Tusla, the priority that I attach to the provision of services for those impacted by domestic violence. In 2017, Tusla is giving priority to implementing actions contained in the second National Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence Strategy, in preparation for ratification of the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combatting Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (the Istanbul Convention), which includes improving access to services geographically, including the provision of additional short-term and safe, emergency accommodation for women and children.
778. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of children that have been taken into care and whose parents are homeless in each of the past four years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4340/17]
View answerTusla, the Child and Family Agency, has advised that it does not collect the data requested by the Deputy. I should say that homelessness as part of a family group is not, in of itself, a basis for seeking to receive a child into care. However where there is a specific child protection concern, Tusla can investigate and take the child into care, if necessary.
Children in emergency homeless accommodation are in the care of their parent/s and a key role of a primary carer is that of protection. If there is a specific child protection concern, it should be reported immediately to Tusla for appropriate response. Tusla provides family support and works with relevant services to maximise the supports available to children and families who are homeless. Where underlying problems are identified, for example mental health issues, it can refer the family to the appropriate service.
779. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her attention has been drawn to the recent announcement in budget 2017, that Garda vetted, first aid trained and tax compliant child minders are unregistered and thereby excluded from budget 2017, could be a breach of EU competition laws for the Government by funding one mode of child care business, which is centre based, to the detriment of other businesses in this sector, such as professional child minders and by creating a market dominance and a monopoly for centre based child care businesses. [4426/17]
View answerI understand that the Deputy is referring to the Single Affordable Childcare Scheme, announced as part of Budget 2017. Until last year, the targeted childcare subsidy schemes operated by my Department were only available to parents whose children were enrolled in community childcare services. During 2016 this was expanded to allow private childcare providers to participate for the first time. I intend that the Affordable Childcare Scheme will further expand the availability of subsidised childcare by increasing the number of providers participating.
In particular, the Affordable Childcare Scheme will for the first time be open on an equal basis to all Tusla-registered childcare providers, regardless of whether they are centre-based providers or home-based child minders. In addition to more than 4,000 centre-based childcare providers, which operate independently in a market context, all Tusla-registered child minders will be eligible to participate in the scheme. It is open to any child minder who cares for more than three unrelated preschool children in the child minders own home to register with Tusla.
It is acknowledged that the number of Tusla-registered child minders is currently small. In order to meet the needs of parents whose preference is to use a child minder, and to build capacity to cater for increased demand in future years, the Department has commenced talks with Childminding Ireland (CMI) in recent months to explore a number of options around how quality can be assured within the child minding sector.
A Working Group has been established, chaired by CMI, and including officials from Tusla and the DCYA, to make recommendations on reforms and supports for the sector in the short, medium and long term, and the feasibility and implications of the migration from voluntary to mandatory regulation. These will include recommendations in relation to child minders who are not currently eligible to apply for registration with Tusla (those minding three or fewer pre-school children, or those minding school age children only).
All existing legislation and international obligations will be considered in the drafting of legislation to underpin the Affordable Childcare Scheme.
780. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of staff under the aegis of her Department in the clerical officer, staff officer or equivalent grade; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4932/17]
View answerThe number of staff in the Department at the grades of clerical officer, staff officer and equivalent grades is set out in the following table, as of 30 January 2017.
|
GRADE |
HEADCOUNT |
WHOLE-TIME EQUIVALENT (WTE) |
|
Temporary Clerical Officer |
8 |
8 |
|
Clerical Officer |
37 |
34.50 |
|
Staff Officer |
6 |
4.70 |
|
TOTAL |
51 |
47.2 |
781. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the position regarding former officers of the Defence Forces who wish to rejoin; the criteria that must be met if an officer wishes to rejoin; if policies will be put in place to facilitate such returning members; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3943/17]
View answerThe manpower requirement of the Defence Forces is monitored on an ongoing basis in accordance with the operational requirements of each of the three services. Personnel are posted on the basis of operational needs across the organisation both at home and abroad. As there is significant turnover of personnel in the Permanent Defence Force, targeted recruitment takes place so as to maintain personnel numbers at or near the agreed strength level. Retention of personnel is also a key priority for the Defence Forces.
One of the key policies supporting personnel retention is the opportunity for extensive personal and professional development offered by the Defence Forces. However, it is also the case that the extensive training that personnel receive makes them very attractive to employers within the private sector. It is within that context and the emergence of skills gaps in certain disciplines within the Defence Forces that the reappointments of former officers may be considered.
There have been relatively few requests and subsequent reappointments of retired personnel. Of those who have returned their reappointments have generally been on the basis that their experience would be an asset to the organization and to fill an identified skills gap, for example in the case of Medical Officers. It is in this context, the range of issues arising in respect of applications from former members of the Defence Forces for reappointment is kept under active review.
782. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will consider awarding a 1916 medal to a person (details supplied). [4014/17]
View answerI can confirm that my Department is currently examining an application for the posthumous award of a 1916 medal in respect of a veteran of the same name as that referred to by the Deputy.
A decision has not yet been made in this case as research is ongoing in relation to the identity and military service of the individual in question. I am advised that a decision is expected to be made in the near future.
783. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he has made a decision on the payment of a further allowance to Naval Service personnel serving on the humanitarian mission in the Mediterranean Sea; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4140/17]
View answerMembers of the Naval Service have already received the main allowance due to them for their participation in the humanitarian rescue operation in the Mediterranean. The issue of further recompense in respect of this mission was the subject of a claim under the Defence Forces Conciliation and Arbitration Scheme. There was adjudication hearing in respect of PDFORRA’s claim in relation to their members service as part of the Operation Pontus missions. This hearing took place on Wednesday 26 October 2016, following which, further discussions took place between my Department and PDFORRA. The outcome of these discussions is currently under consideration by the Department in consultation with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and I hope that the matter should be concluded within the next few weeks.
784. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if his attention has been drawn to the fact that residential properties in the Curragh Camp do not have meter point reference numbers which restricts the ability to change electricity supplier; if there is a reason for this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4465/17]
View answerElectricity to residential properties in the Curragh Camp is supplied through a private/military network within the Camp. Because of the nature of the supply from the ESB into the Camp extensive work would have to be undertaken to put in new connections from the ESB networks directly to the residential properties in order to enable the allocation of meter point reference numbers. This, given the small number of residential users, would not be viable as there would be substantial infrastructure costs involved.
In relation to changing suppliers, you should also be aware that the Office of Government Procurement (OGP) issues tenders periodically to ensure that best value for money is obtained when purchasing electricity for use within the public sector. Electricity is supplied to all of the Camp through the OGP contract.
785. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of staff under the aegis of his Department in the clerical officer, staff officer or equivalent grade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4933/17]
View answerThe number of whole time equivalent staff in my Department in the grades of Clerical Officer, Staff Officer and equivalent grades at 31 December 2016 was as follows:
|
Grade |
Numbers |
|
Clerical Officer or equivalent |
105.09 |
|
Staff Officer or equivalent |
18.10 |
