Monday, 11 Sep 2017

Child Care Services

Questions (1652)

Jack Chambers

Question:

1652. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her attention has been drawn to the fact that children are missing out on child care in view of the fact that they must be three years of age to avail of a place and child-care providers will not hold places for children that turn three years of age during the school term post September; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37561/17]

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Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

As the Deputy will be aware, the Early Childhood and Education (ECCE) Programme was expanded from September 2016 so that children may start free pre-school from age 3, and can continue in free pre-school once the child is not older than 5 years and 6 months at the end of the relevant pre-school year.

Three different points in the year - September, January and April – are in place to maximise access for these children within the overall eligibility parameters.

An upper age limit in free pre-school was set by the Inter-Departmental Group on Future Investment on the advice of the Department of Education and Skills. Limiting the diversity in age ranges in primary school is considered to be generally in the best interest of children, in relation to peer interaction in junior infants, as well as other educational considerations.

My Department does its best to ensure, in so far as is possible, the equitable treatment of all children and families who apply for childcare funding under the ECCE Programme. In order to ensure objectivity and fairness it is essential that clear rules exist for the scheme and that they are applied in a fair manner. The rules for all of the Department’s childcare programmes are clearly published to ensure transparency and consistent application. An essential component of a programme's rules is an eligibility date to ensure that the programme can be administered and budgeted for in an appropriate manner.

Childcare providers are free to determine their own operational and enrolment policies. If parents are having difficulties finding an Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) place in their area they should contact their local City/County Childcare Committee who will be in a position to assist parents in sourcing a place.

I am keenly aware of the pressures on the sector with regard to availability of places. My Department provided €8.4million for its 2017 Early Years Capital funding programme. This represents a doubling of the €4m provided under the 2016 Early Years Capital Funding Programme. This funding has been made available to early years providers under three strands, the largest of which (€4.2m) will go towards enabling early years services to provide additional childcare places. The maximum grant available under Strand 1 is €50,000 which will allow for the full cost of a minor expansion project in an early years service or the purchase of a temporary structure. 89 projects have been approved for funding under Strand 1. In addition to this, my Department has also provided €4 million for its 2017 School Age Childcare Capital programme. This funding has been made available under three strands, and it is expected to create an additional 5,000 places. The maximum grant available under Strand A is €20,000 which is for the creation of new School Age childcare services, the maximum grant available under Strand B is €10,000 which is for the expansion of existing school age childcare services. A total of 113 projects have been approved for funding under Strand A while 112 projects have been approved for funding under Strand B.

Child Care Services Regulation

Questions (1653)

Kathleen Funchion

Question:

1653. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the purpose of the proposal to submit child care providers' audited accounts to her Department and Pobal agents; the reason a Government body other than the Revenue Commissioners would be granted or need access to the financial information of private individual or self employed businesses; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37577/17]

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Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

Under Circular 13/2014, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER) outline the responsibilities for both Grantors (the Department of Children and Youth Affairs (DCYA) in this case) and Grantees (Childcare Providers in this case) in relation to expenditure of public funds by way of disbursement of grant funding to all bodies, including agencies, companies, committees, advisory groups, charities, or individuals, whether directly from the Votes of Government Departments/Offices or through an intermediary body or series of bodies. The Department endeavours to comply insofar as possible, and is continuously seeking to improve practice in the childcare sector through constructive engagement.

The Grant Funding Agreement between the Department and childcare providers, which covers the various childcare programmes (ECCE, CCS, TEC), requires that Registered Childcare Providers shall separately account for public funds received and ensure that appropriate financial records are maintained to ensure compliance with the requirements of DPER Circular 13/2014.

The change this year, in terms of the financial requirements under the Grant Funding Agreement is that services will be required to provide copies of their annual accounts by default, to Pobal. The Grant Funding Agreement has always required services to keep up-to-date accounts, separately recording public monies, and to make these available on request to the Department or its agent(s).

HIQA Reports

Questions (1654)

Seán Sherlock

Question:

1654. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to the recent inspection report by HIQA on the foster care service operated by Tusla in the Cork service area, if her attention has been drawn to the fact that six of the eight standards assessed were non compliant, five of which were judged to be major non-compliances; the steps she will take to ensure future compliance; and if the necessary resources will be made available to meet standards of oversight and monitoring. [37616/17]

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Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

As part of its 2017 Monitoring Programme, the Health Information Quality Authority (HIQA) are conducting thematic inspections of Tusla's Foster Care Services. These inspections are announced in advance and cover eight standards in the National Standards for Foster Care, relating to the recruitment, assessment, approval, supervision and review of foster carers. The inspection report referred to by the Deputy was carried out under three themes, safe and effective services, leadership and governance, and use of resources. The inspection report found that of the eight standards assessed during the inspection, two standards were substantially compliant, one was non-compliant (moderate) and five standards were non-compliant (major).

The HIQA inspection report found a number of positives and noted that all of the children had an allocated social worker, there were examples of good practice in relation to safeguarding, and training programmes were available to assist foster carers in maintaining the necessary skills and knowledge required to provide high quality care. The standards that HIQA found were non-compliant (major) related to Theme 2, Safe and Effective Services, and Theme 5, Use of Resources. The issues identified by HIQA inspectors related to the recruitment and retention of an appropriate range of foster carers, the assessment and approval of foster carers, and the provision of supervision and support, training and reviews of foster carers. In the area of safeguarding and child protection, some of the inspection findings related to Garda vetting forms not being updated within the required timeframe, and the need for more consistent and better management of complaints and allegations made against foster carers. Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, provided an action plan addressing all the findings of the report, which was agreed with HIQA and published with the report.

Tusla has informed me that all cases raised by HIQA have been reviewed by the area. The inspection report noted that the number of link social workers was a factor in the issues identified by inspectors. Link social workers work directly in the recruitment and support of foster carers. Tusla filled two new permanent social work posts approved in 2016, and two further permanent social workers are to be recruited in 2017. In the interim, two agency staff are in post since end of June 2017. Recommendations in respect of foster carers made by the Foster Care Committee will be actively followed through by the foster care link social worker and a progress report will be sent to the Foster Care Committee by the end of 2017, and annually thereafter.

Tusla has advised that it is committed to overseeing the implementation of the actions and has put in place an oversight group to monitor progress.

Child Care Services

Questions (1655)

Seán Sherlock

Question:

1655. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her attention has been drawn to an organisation (details supplied); if her attention has been further drawn to a proposal to set up operations in a specific location; and her views regarding same. [37617/17]

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Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

I am aware that concerns have been raised in the community in question regarding a proposed Children’s Residential Centre and I understand that Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, and the organisation in question have been in contact with local residents to discuss these concerns.

Under the Child and Family Agency Act 2013, Tusla is charged with offering care and protection for children in circumstances where their parents have not been able to, or are unlikely to, provide the care that a child needs. One of their priorities is to provide safer, more reliable and effective services for children in care and to develop a range of placement options. Children’s Residential Centres, such as the proposed centre in question, are one aspect of this important work.

When a child or young person comes into care, a number of decisions will be made in relation to where they will live, their ongoing education, the supports that they will receive, and the contact that they will have with their families. These decisions are documented in the child’s care plan, which is tailored for the identified needs of the child. While a remote, rural location will not be suitable to every child or young person, I see nothing inherently wrong with having such placements available as part of a wide range of options for children in care across the country.

With regards to this particular centre, I would like to make it clear that the centre must register with Tusla before any young people will be placed there. Like all such centres, it will undergo thorough assessments to ensure that it fulfils its purpose and function, that it has satisfactory management and staffing in place and that it provides appropriate care, safeguarding and planning for the young people in its care. The requirements for placing a child or young person in a Children’s Residential Centre and for the running of these centres are laid out in the Child Care (Placement of Children in Residential Care) Regulations 1995. All Children’s Residential Centres are subject to statutory inspection against National Standards. HIQA are currently in the process of revising these standards.

I would also like to outline the important service provided by these residential centres for some of our most vulnerable children and young people. While foster care is the preferred form of alternative care in Ireland, sometimes this may not be the most appropriate option. A child or young person may instead be placed with Children’s Residential Services. Of the 6308 children in care at the end of Q1 2017, 92% were in foster care, while 5.6% were in a general residential placement.

Children’s Residential Services aim to provide a physically, emotionally and psychologically safe space in which children and young people can heal, develop and move forward in their lives. The vast majority of Children’s Residential Centres nationally are community based which means the young people live in family-sized homes that look like any other house and are situated within the same estates and communities that everybody lives in. Where Children’s Residential Services differ however, is that Centres are staffed on a twenty-four-hour basis by Social Care Workers, Leaders and Managers and are supported in their efforts to look after the children and young people in their care by external Managers, Social Work Services, Inspectors, Monitoring Officers and any others as appropriate.

I would like to acknowledge that scrutiny and oversight of the care provided to these children is of vital importance, and I welcome any concerns being raised. However, I am also very conscious of the stigma that children in care often face, through no fault of their own. It is important to emphasise that being taken into care is not a punishment for any wrongdoing on the part of a child, and Children’s Residential Centres are not detention facilities. Children in care are some of the most vulnerable people in our society and it is of the utmost importance that these children and young people can be placed in a suitable environment that can cater for their needs, within a welcoming wider community.

Question No. 1656 answered with Question No. 1643.

Early Years Sector

Questions (1657)

Niamh Smyth

Question:

1657. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the amount allocated and drawn down in respect of the learner fund in 2016, and to date in 2017 in the Cavan and Monaghan and north Meath areas and right throughout the country in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37719/17]

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Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

The Learner Fund was established to provide access to appropriate programmes of learning for Early Years sector workers.

The initial phases of funding released (Learner Funds 1, 2 and 3) focussed on those Early Years sector workers who lacked a qualification relevant to Early Childhood Care and Education or lacked a qualification in that area which was placed at, or equivalent to, Level 5 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ). A relevant qualification which is placed at or equivalent to Level 5 on the NFQ is the minimum qualifications standard introduced through the Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) Regulations 2016. This standard took effect at the end of 2016. The Learner Funds were introduced as part of a general focus on improving and supporting quality Early Years provision in Ireland, with a specific focus on aiding Early Years workers meet the regulatory requirements in advance of the introduction of same.

Up to the end of 2015, €3,052,648 in funding was allocated and paid through the Learner Funds.

Learner Fund 3 closed for applications in July of 2016. Learner Fund 4 was introduced to allow Early Years sector workers to up-skill to the relevant qualification placed at Level 6 on the NFQ, and closed in October of 2016.

Funding continues to be dispensed to successful applicants through both Learner Fund 3 and 4, and it is not envisaged that the full spend will be achieved until early 2018.

This Department expects to release further Learner Fund monies before the end of the year.

Applications for funding were made through local County / City Childcare Committees (CCC) and payments are being managed by Pobal, who administer the programme on behalf of DCYA in concert with the CCCs. Funding was allocated on the basis of the number of successful applications proposed for funding by each CCC and the spend reflects this.

The total budget for Learner Fund 3 was €406,283. Of this, payments totalling €203,550 were made prior to 2015. The remaining €205,550 was paid in 2016 and is broken down by county in the Table A overleaf.

In relation to Learner Fund 4, the total budget was €915,280. Of this, payments totalling €695,906 have been made for the years 2016/17 while € 219,374 has yet to be drawn down. A breakdown of payments by county to date is included in Table B overleaf.

In 2017, the Department made funding available to provide a bursary to childcare staff who had undertaken higher level courses (Level 7,8 or 9 on the NFQ) at their own expense. A breakdown of payments by county is included in Table C overleaf.

Table A

County	2016 Payment
Galway City and County Childcare	3,780
Donegal County Childcare Committee	0
Meath County Childcare Committee	11,095
Cavan County Childcare Committee	2,010
Fingal County Childcare Committee	17,670
Sligo County Childcare Committee	1,920
Longford County Childcare Committee	7,140
Carlow County Childcare Committee	4,100
Mayo County Childcare Committee	270
Wicklow County Childcare Committee	4,560
Louth County Childcare committee	0
Wexford County Childcare Committee	2,820
Offaly County Childcare Committee	2,940
Laois County Childcare Committee	3,060
South Dublin Childcare Committee	17,610
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown CC	39,360
Kildare County Childcare Committee	16,875
Cork City Childcare Committee	0
Kilkenny County Childcare Committee	2,430
Cork County Childcare Committee	7,530
Clare County Childcare Committee	1,320
Dublin City Childcare Committee	25,680
Kerry County Childcare Committee	6,900
Leitrim County Childcare Committee	2,820
Westmeath County Childcare Committee	4,800
Monaghan County Childcare Committee	4,230
Roscommon County Childcare Committee	1,100
Waterford Childcare Committee	1,020
Limerick County Childcare Committee	6,750
Tipperary Childcare Committee Limited	5,760

Table B

County	2016/17 Payment
Galway City and County Childcare	49,725
Donegal County Childcare Committee	9,900
Meath County Childcare Committee	35,798
Cavan County Childcare Committee	8,500
Fingal County Childcare Committee	56,340
Sligo County Childcare Committee	7,560
Longford County Childcare Committee	5,790
Carlow County Childcare Committee	8,850
Mayo County Childcare Committee	8,010
Wicklow County Childcare Committee	27,480
Louth County Childcare committee	29,835
Wexford County Childcare Committee	12,375
Offaly County Childcare Committee	9,000
Laois County Childcare Committee	25,425
South Dublin Childcare Committee	64,080
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown CC	21,870
Kildare County Childcare Committee	44,468
Cork City Childcare Committee	11,790
Kilkenny County Childcare Committee	16,065
Cork County Childcare Committee	34,875
Clare County Childcare Committee	18,608
Dublin City Childcare Committee	81,180
Kerry County Childcare Committee	16,950
Leitrim County Childcare Committee	1,155
Westmeath County Childcare Committee	18,938
Monaghan County Childcare Committee	9,999
Roscommon County Childcare Committee	7,000
Waterford Childcare Committee	9,923
Limerick County Childcare Committee	30,780
Tipperary Childcare Committee Limited	13,590

Table C

County	Paid 2017
Galway City and County Childcare Committee	45,750.00
Donegal County Childcare Committee	26,250.00
Meath County Childcare Committee	31,500.00
Cavan County Childcare Committee	9,000.00
Fingal County Childcare Committee	30,750.00
Sligo County Childcare Committee	11,250.00
Longford County Childcare Committee	3,000.00
Carlow County Childcare Committee	20,250.00
Mayo County Childcare Committee	21,000.00
Wicklow County Childcare Committee	39,000.00
Louth County Childcare committee	12,750.00
Wexford County Childcare Committee	21,750.00
Offaly County Childcare Committee	6,000.00
Laois County Childcare Committee	21,000.00
South Dublin Childcare Committee	30,000.00
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Childcare Committee	28,500.00
Kildare County Childcare Committee	45,000.00
Cork City Childcare Committee	10,500.00
Kilkenny County Childcare Committee	16,500.00
Cork County Childcare Committee	42,750.00
Clare County Childcare Committee	14,250.00
Dublin City Childcare Committee	50,250.00
Kerry County Childcare Committee	9,750.00
Leitrim County Childcare Committee	3,000.00
Westmeath County Childcare Committee	11,250.00
Monaghan County Childcare Committee	20,250.00
Roscommon County Childcare Committee	12,750.00
Waterford Childcare Committee	14,250.00
Limerick County Childcare Committee	12,750.00
Tipperary Childcare Committee Limited	20,250.00

Child and Family Agency Expenditure

Questions (1658)

Niamh Smyth

Question:

1658. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the amount Tusla has spent on community programmes by county in each of the years 2014 to 2016, and to date in 2017; and the spending on family resource centres, school completion and area based childhood ABC programs by county. [37720/17]

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Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

I can inform the Deputy that the information below is a breakdown of funding by the ABC Programme showing each county as requested. ABC is a four year time bound prevention and early intervention initiative which is co-funded between my Department and the Atlantic Philanthropies for the period of 2013-2017.

ABC Programme	ABC Grant to 31/12/17	Development Funding	Total	County
Youngballymun	€5,635,090	-	€5,635,090	Dublin
Northside Partnership	€3,744,843	-	€3,744,843	Dublin
Tallaght West CDI	€4,926,750	-	€4,926,750	Dublin
Better Finglas	€1,328,927	-	€1,328,927	Dublin
Clondalkin Blueskies Initiative	€1,275,331	€43,969	€1,319,300	Dublin
Ballyfermot Partnership	€818,126	€25,686	€843,812	Dublin
DIT Grangegorman	€1,055,698	€25,000	€1,080,698	Dublin
NCI Early Learning Initiative	€1,516,620	-	€1,516,620	Dublin
Genesis Programme	€1,790,529	€12,850	€1,803,379	Louth
PAUL Partnership	€1,597,653	€21,265	€1,618,918	Limerick
SPECS Bray	€838,000	€6,804	€844,804	Wicklow
Young Knocknaheeny	€1,800,000	€25,000	€1,825,000	Cork

Total Allocation to ABC Sites	€26,327,567	€160,574	€26,488,141

With regard to the School Completion Programme, the allocation for each of the years concerned has been €24.76m. Operational responsibility for the programme transferred to Tusla on its establishment in 2014.

I have referred the question to Tusla for direct response to the Deputy in relation to the remaining elements.

Guardians Ad Litem

Questions (1659)

Niamh Smyth

Question:

1659. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the amount her Department has spent on guardian ad litem services, broken down by county or provider. [37721/17]

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Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

As stated in my response to Deputy Anne Rabbitte on 25 July 2017, Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has informed me that the total amount paid to guardians ad litem was €8,189,175 in 2015 and €6,569,115 in 2016. Supplementary information has now been received from Tusla, confirming the total amount paid to guardians ad litem for 2017, as of the end of July, to be €4,218,779. Tusla has advised me that as these costs are all posted to one Legal Office cost centre, it has not been possible to break down the costs by county. The following therefore is a breakdown, by vendor, of amounts paid for 2015, 2016, and year to date 2017:

GAL Costs	Actuals 2015	Actuals 2016	Actuals Ytd July 2017
BARNARDOS - BEACON	3,822,950	3,422,780	1,535,371
THE INDEPENDENT GUARDIAN AD LITEM	1,304,482	1,834,553	1,236,124
CEILI O'CALLAGHAN CONSULTANCY LTD	251,624	239,482	13,390
CHILD AND FAMILY CONSULTANCY LTD	272,096	237,330	111,366
CHILD FORENSIC SERVICES LTD	162,622	223,241	38,563
JIGSAW TRAINING SOLUTIONS LTD	268,305	209,451	148,636
CELBRIDGE COUNSELLING SERVICE	220,740	193,420	2,844
RENEE HANLEY	141,468	165,799	-33,501
MAEVE DRUMMEY	153,304	138,237	-13,365
CHILD ADVOCACY SERVICES	226,819	128,959	-39,704
NATIONAL CHILDREN'S WELFARE SERVICES	171,574	114,499	143,899
JC GAL SERVICES LTD	94,174	101,102	93,830
SOCIAL WORK CONSULTANCY IRELAND LTD	114,513	92,462	13,142
PAT DONNELLY	34,402	68,100	23,505
SARAH TREACY	60,684	59,885	33,995
CARMEL MURPHY	245,259	55,861	46,202
INDEPENDENT SOCIAL WORK SERVICE	170,740	45,854	52,581
PATRICIA MCKAY LTD	59,841	44,699
INDEPENDENT GUARDIAN AD LITEM SERVIce	181,084	42,637	56,687
CLARE O'HARE	34,026	29,542
CLAIRE QUINN	307,465	27,128
ANTHONY JAMES MACKLIN		25,691	33,055
MARY BIRD, GUARDIAN AD LITEM	15,981	18,893	5,943
PATRICIA MCKAY		12,000	25,182
CLAIRE OCONNOR G.A.L. LTD		9,500	1,907
INDEPENDENT SOCIAL WORK	40,699	8,752
TERESA MONICA SHANNON		5,306	6,472
CHRISTINE JENKINS	13,002	3,894	614
FOLEY CHILD PROTECTION SERVICES LTD		3,705
JOHN P MURPHY	3,456
ALPHA GUARDIAN AD-LITEM SERVICES	111,204
LE CHEILE CHILDCARE SERVICES LTD	125,181
RAYMOND MCEVOY	3,956
MIKE RYAN - MDR CHILD AND FAMILY	26,368		-40,557
TMM GUARDIAN AD LITEM LTD	158,601
DAVID KENNEDY T/A	117,415
MARY O'SHEA T/A MARY MOLLOY	62,353
CLEAR PARADIGMS			48,541
Net Accruals/Prepayments/Journals	-787,211	-993,650	674,056
GAL Costs Total	8,189,175	6,569,115	4,218,778

Please note the 2016 total includes accruals for refunds of VAT due from GAL vendors who had charged VAT in 2014 and 2015. The value of these refunds at end 2016 was €1,581,000. For 2017, due to VAT refunds relating to prior years invoicing, there is significant value of credit notes due to the Agency, which exceeded the value of the invoices submitted by GAL vendors.

Departmental Expenditure

Questions (1660)

Niamh Smyth

Question:

1660. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the investment by her Department since March 2016 in counties Cavan, Monaghan and Meath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37723/17]

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Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

The Deputy might note that my Department provides funding under a range of programmes and schemes including Early Years, Early Childhood Care and Education, Youth Affairs and Participation. Details of funding provided directly by my Department to counties Cavan, Monaghan and Meath in the specified period are set out in the table. As some programmes issue funding by way of an annual grant, it is not possible to proportion it out from March 2016 onwards.

County/ Body	Investment
Cavan	€8.2m
Monaghan	€8.2m
Meath	€17.3m
Louth and Meath ETB	€0.4m
Cavan and Monaghan ETB	€0.3m
Cavan/Monaghan CYPSC	€0.02m

In reviewing the investment figures provided, the Deputy might also note that funding was provided as part of the Local Youth Club Grant Scheme, Capital Funding, Youth Work Function and the Youth Employee Initiative to Louth and Meath Education Training Boards (ETB) and Cavan and Monaghan ETB in the specified period. The distribution of funding between ETB counties is not available to my Department.

In addition, €0.02m was provided to Cavan/Monaghan CYPSC in November, 2016. Cavan/Monaghan CYPSC was separated into Cavan CYPSC and Monaghan CYPSC in 2017. Accordingly, the funding provided to both Cavan CYPSC and Monaghan CYPSC in 2017 is included in the figures for Cavan and Monaghan.

Information and Communications Technology

Questions (1661)

Niamh Smyth

Question:

1661. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the steps she has taken to upgrade the data collection systems in Tusla and in her Department. [37724/17]

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Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

My Department collects and disseminates a wide range of data in relation to children and young people.

From 2011-2016 the National Strategy for Research and Data on Children’s Lives (NSRDCL) guided and supported my Department’s approach to the development of data relating to children’s lives. The final implementation report on this strategy will be published later this year. Key actions relevant to data development and collection in my own Department under the Strategy include:

- The publication of the State of the Nation's Children Report (SONC) which presents a wide range of disaggregated administrative, survey and Census data on children and on factors relevant to children’s lives. The 2016 report, the sixth in the biennial series, was published in March 2017.

- The development of the Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures (BOBF) Indicator Set by my Department to track the progress of children and young people aged 0-24 across the five outcomes outlined in Better Outcomes Brighter Futures (BOBF). A report on the indicator set is scheduled for publication during autumn 2017.

- My Department’s ongoing commitment to and management of the Growing Up in Ireland Study: The National Longitudinal Study of Children in Ireland. So far over 45 reports have been published by the GUI research team at the ESRI and Trinity College Dublin using the GUI data. GUI data are also used frequently by DCYA to inform policy development and service provision.

In addition, a data needs analysis is currently underway within my Department in line with the Government’s Open Data Strategy, the results of which will contribute to the development of a proposal and project plan to support the implementation of a centralised departmental approach to the storage and management of data for monitoring, planning and evaluation purposes. This will also be the first phase towards fulfilment of Output 33 of the Department’s Statement of Strategy, i.e. “a statistical data reporting system developed to support the work of the Department and its stakeholders”.

Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has recently announced the establishment of a new project, Outcomes for Children, National Data & Information Hub. Tusla requires optimum data management, utilising reliable data tools to ensure effective planning services for children. The project will ensure that Tusla can better fulfil its responsibilities by establishing state of the art data platforms through which it can plan its services.

The project will involve the building of an interactive area based geo mapping system to provide information for policy makers, service providers, Tusla management, practitioners, information managers and local communities so that planning and delivery of services are informed by the best available data.

It is being co funded between my Department and Tusla under the Quality and Capacity Building Initiative (QCBI) and is being piloted with eleven Children and Young People's Services Committees (CYPSC) this year, with the aim of rolling it out across all CYPSC areas in subsequent years.

This project is a prime example of collaboration between different statutory bodies and stakeholders, and my Department is providing its full support to both Tusla and the CYPSC as they continue to improve the well being and outcomes for children in Ireland.

I have referred the Deputy's question to Tusla to provide information on other steps taken to develop data collection within Tusla, for direct reply.

Social Workers Recruitment

Questions (1662)

Niamh Smyth

Question:

1662. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the average time it took to recruit social care workers in the Cavan, Monaghan and north Meath areas in 2016, and to date in 2017. [37725/17]

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Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

I wish to inform the Deputy that I am advised by Tusla that their best practise planning allows for 16 weeks recruitment timeline. However, I am informed that individual campaigns may be completed in 8-20 weeks depending on outside factors, such as the candidate release dates and required documentation.

Affordable Childcare Scheme Implementation

Questions (1663)

Ruth Coppinger

Question:

1663. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the cost of the advertising campaign for the affordable child care scheme. [37761/17]

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Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

An information campaign to raise awareness among parents of the range of measures available to make childcare more affordable has been underway since late May. An additional €19m was secured as part of Budget 2017 and officials from my department and Pobal have worked hard to ensure that this money can have a positive impact by lowering the cost of childcare for Irish families from September of this year.

The comprehensive information campaign to raise awareness of the new measures among parents and childcare providers included two radio campaigns (nationwide and local), a targeted online and social media campaign, outdoor billboards nationwide and a Dublin Bus poster campaign. The total cost for this work has come in at just over €200,000.

At the time of writing this reply nearly 80% of eligible childcare providers have contracted to offer the scheme to parents; information on the supports available have been viewed nearly 420,000 times on the dedicated website over three months and more than 8,000 children have registered to receive these supports within the first week of registration.

Question No. 1664 answered with Question No. 1643.

Community Childcare Subvention Programme

Questions (1665)

Joan Burton

Question:

1665. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her attention has been drawn to crèches refusing to participate in the universal child care subsidy citing legal advice; the steps her Department is taking to address the concerns of crèches in respect of the contract; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37896/17]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

I am committed to ensuring that childcare is affordable, accessible and of a high quality.

The increase in supports I have provided from this month for the next programme year represents a major step towards accessible affordable quality childcare after decades of neglect and under-investment by successive Governments.

There are two supports being rolled out under the Community Childcare Scheme. These include universal (non means tested) supports of up to €1,040 per year, and enhanced supports of up to €7,500 per year to assist families to return to employment and/or training and education.

I am pleased to inform the Deputies that as of 7 September 2792 services are in contract to provide CCS Plus.

This represents over 75% of eligible providers, based on the numbers of providers who have previously contracted with the Department (excluding those who only provide the ECCE scheme). That number continues to rise.

I am aware that some providers have expressed concerns around the administration of the new measures, I announced in recent months payments totalling €3.5 million towards “non-contact time” for all childcare providers who register for the enhanced childcare measures under the Community Childcare Scheme. These payments range from €28 per child for the universal scheme up to as much as €203 per child registered on the more targeted supports. This, in addition to €14.5m that has been already paid to childcare services so far in 2017 in recognition of administration associated with ECCE and other schemes, provides for €18m in "non-contact time" payments this year.

I am also aware that a small number of providers have expressed concerns about lack of clarity on contracts. Some have claimed the contracts have not yet been provided. Grant Agreements (which contain the terms and conditions) have been available to all providers since 19 May 2017. The 17/18 version of the rules of all childcare schemes were published on 24 July 2017. There were no fundamental changes made to the rules of the schemes, which were already familiar to providers through the previously named "DCYA Childcare Funding Programme Information and Frequently Asked Questions” document.

My Department will also be procuring an external consultant to prepare guidelines and support documents for providers in the coming months in order to assist the providers in meeting the financial reporting requirements as already laid out in the above documents.

Community Childcare Subvention Programme

Questions (1666)

Joan Burton

Question:

1666. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of crèches that have signed the contract for the new universal child care subsidy; the number of contracts waiting to be processed by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37897/17]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

I am pleased to inform the Deputy that as of 7 September, 2,792 services are in contract to provide Community Childcare Scheme Plus (CCS Plus).

The Universal Provision along with the targeted provisions are provided under this arm of the Community Childcare Scheme.

This represents over 75% of eligible providers, based on the numbers of providers who have previously contracted with the Department (excluding those who only provide the ECCE scheme).

Any service who was previously in contract for any of my Department’s childcare schemes can renew their contract via an online system (“PIP”); this process is virtually instantaneous. The vast majority of providers are in this position.

A small number of providers are required to provide a paper based application to verify their eligibility; this verification includes a check that they have registered appropriately with Tusla as required under the childcare regulations. There are currently around 50 applications on hand with the Department, however as the applications are taken through the local City and County Childcare Committees there may be additional applications in process. My Department works to ensure that these applications are turned around as quickly as possible.

Early Childhood Care and Education Programmes

Questions (1667)

Seán Fleming

Question:

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1668, 1669, and 1684 to 1694, inclusive, together.

The comprehensive document “Ireland and the negotiations on the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union: The Government’ Approach” published on 2 May outlined in detail the structures put in place by the Government to ensure a strategic and whole-of Government response to Brexit that ensures a coordinated approach to the identification of key priority issues for the EU-UK negotiations and the wider domestic response.

Since the publication of the comprehensive document, the Government has sought to further increase its strategic oversight of Brexit through the addition of a dedicated responsibility for Brexit matters to the role of the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade. The Cabinet Committee structures have also been reformed and a new Cabinet Committee has been established to deal with EU Affairs including Brexit.

The Government’s National Risk Assessment 2017, which provides a systematic overview of strategic risks facing the country, was published on 29 August following a public consultation process. The National Risk Assessment acknowledges the significance of risk arising from Brexit, and that Brexit represents an overarching theme that could have far-reaching impacts on nearly all aspects of national life. It identifies areas where Brexit poses a specific risk, particularly in relation to the economy.

As set out in a comprehensive document of 2 May, the Government’s continuing work to ensure that Ireland’s interests are reflected in the EU’s approach to the ongoing EU-UK negotiations is a central dimension of Ireland’s strategic response to Brexit.

Work is also continuing across Government on Ireland’s wider response to the challenges and opportunities posed by Brexit, building on ongoing cross-Government research, analysis and consultations with stakeholders and encompassing the following themes:

- sustainable fiscal policies to ensure capacity to absorb and respond to economic shocks, not least from Brexit;

- policies to make Irish enterprise more diverse and resilient, to diversify trade and investment patterns, and to strengthen competitiveness;

- prioritising policy measures and dedicating resources to protect jobs and businesses in the sectors and regions most affected by Brexit;

- realising economic opportunities arising from Brexit, and helping businesses adjust to any new logistical or trade barriers arising; and

- making a strong case at EU level that Ireland will require support that recognises where Brexit represents a serious disturbance to the Irish economy.

Policy decisions in support of these objectives also arise across a wide range of areas, including the annual budgetary process; the forthcoming National Planning Framework 2040; the new 10-year National Capital Plan; the Review of Enterprise 2025 Policy, and sectoral policies and investment decisions in areas such as agriculture, enterprise, transport, communications and energy.

With regards to my own Department, in January of this year, I hosted a sectoral dialogue with children, young people and key stakeholders in Croke Park at which the views of all interested parties were captured. Since then, the Advisory Council to Better Outcomes Brighter Futures; the National Policy Framework for Children and Young People 2014 - 2020 has considered the report of the event and work is ongoing in relation to the more detailed implications of Brexit. Furthermore, matters in relation to Brexit were discussed by over 100 children and young people in April of this year as part of the annual regional Comhairle na nÓg Networking events. This has enabled my Department to table those issues which may impact on children and young people, post-Brexit, and indeed identify those issues which resonate most strongly with our youngest citizens.

However, it must be stated that such matters are subsets of much larger items which will be considered, in the main, in conjunction with colleagues in the Departments of Finance, Justice and Equality, Education and Health as part of the wider negotiating process. Accordingly, given the limited impact of Brexit on my Department, there is not the requirement to resource a dedicated Brexit Unit. However, while a dedicated unit is not needed, my Department continues to engage with all relevant structures and communication channels – coordinated by the Department of An Taoiseach.