Written Answers Nos. 655-678
655. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will provide an update on her engagement with a group (details supplied) in regard to a care facility in County Cork; her plans to meet the group; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39438/17]
View answer665. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will be an advocate to ensure three-way communication between Tusla, representatives of a community and an organisation (details supplied) when a location is being selected. [39566/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 655 and 665 together.
I am aware that concerns have been raised by the local community regarding a proposed Children’s Residential Centre. However, as this is an operational matter, it is not appropriate for me, as Minister, to intervene.
Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has informed officials in my Department that direct engagement with representatives of a local residents’ group has occurred, with a meeting held last Friday 15th September. This presented an opportunity for representatives of the local community to re-state their concerns, obtain clarifications and hear from Tusla about the registration, monitoring and context under which children's centres operate.
656. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of households that are currently part of band A, band AJ and band B of the community childcare subvention scheme. [39457/17]
View answerThe detailed information sought by the Deputy is not currently available as registration of children for the Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) programme only began on September 18th and will continue until the 13th of October 2017. Community Childcare Subvention Plus (CCSP) child registrations commenced in late August and are continuing. In the 2017/18 programme year the bands and eligibility have changed with children who would have qualified for band B in 2016-17 now being spilt between band B and a new band, band D.
While the number of households is not readily available, the below figures refer to the number of unique children who availed of CCS and CCSP under band A, band AJ and band B in the 2016/17 programme year:
|
Band |
|
|
Band A |
14,121 |
|
Band AJ |
4,459 |
|
Band B |
8,452 |
In addition, a new universal subsidy is available for all children aged between 6 months and 3 years of age (or until they qualify for ECCE if later than 36 months) in registered childcare. This amounts to as much as €20 a week or €1,040 per year for children in full time childcare. An estimated 33,000 children may avail of the universal element of the CCS scheme.
657. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the maximum income thresholds for band A, band AJ and band B of the community childcare subvention scheme. [39458/17]
View answerThe eligibility of the applying parent is determined in the main by their status with the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection and whether they hold a medical card. As such, maximum income thresholds do not apply. In the 2017-18 programme year the bands and eligibility have changed with children who would have qualified for band B in 2016/17 now being split between band B and a new band, band D. The eligibility criteria and subsequent childcare and subvention options are set out in the following Table.
Table 1 CCS/CCSP Band Eligibility
|
Level of service |
Band A (with Medical Card) |
Band AJ (with medical card) |
Band B |
Band D |
|
One Parent Family Payment Widow’s/Widower’s Pension Pre-retirement Allowance Farm Assist State Pension Blind Pension Guardian’s Payment Illness/Injury Benefit Disability Allowance Carer’s Benefit/Allowance Back to Work Enterprise/Education Allowance Community Employment/Rural Social Scheme Domiciliary Care Allowance Family Income Supplement (FIS) Secondary School Students Invalidity Pension Official Tusla Referrals (no medical card required) HSE Public Health Nurse referrals (no medical card required) TÚS Part-time Job Incentive Scheme Gateway Gateway |
Jobseekers Benefit/Allowance* Supplementary Welfare Allowance** |
Medical Card Parents who are in receipt of Social Welfare payments listed under Band A/AJ but have no medical card |
GP Visit Card** (6yrs+ only) Parents who no longer qualify for Band A/AJ this year but who were verified as being on Band A/AJ at the end of the previous school year |
|
|
Full-day payment (5hrs +) |
€145 |
€80 |
€70 |
€50 |
|
Part-time payment (3:31 – 5:00) |
€80 |
€80 |
€35 |
€25 |
|
Sessional payment (2:16 – 3:30) |
€45 |
€45 |
€25 |
€17 |
|
Half-session payment (1:00 – 2:15) |
€22.50 |
€22.50 |
€12.50 |
€8.50 |
*parents who qualify for Band AJ under Jobseeker’s allowance/benefit receive maximum subvented childcare of €80 for full day care per week
**parents who qualify for Band AJ under Supplementary Welfare Allowance payments receive maximum subvented childcare of €80 for full day care per week
658. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if an organisation (details supplied) is a registered charity; and if she is satisfied that this organisation is fit for purpose. [39522/17]
View answer664. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if an organisation (details supplied) is a registered organisation with charitable status. [39564/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 658 and 664 together.
It is my understanding that this question relates to a new Children’s Residential Centre, about which concerns have been raised by the local community. The centre in question is operated by a private company, which has registered with Tusla in the appropriate manner. 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.
The Foundation in question does not operate any Children's Residential Centres and Tusla has no contract with it to do so. If the Deputies have a concern about the status of any charity, I suggest that they contact The Charities Regulatory Authority (CRA), Ireland's national statutory regulatory agency for charitable organisations.
659. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will provide a report on a recent incident (details supplied). [39559/17]
View answerI appreciate the distress involved in the situation referred to by the Deputy; however, it is not appropriate for me to comment on an individual case. However, I can inform the Deputy that the case has been referred to the National Review Panel for independent review and the Health Information and Quality Authority has been advised as per established guidance.
660. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the funding provided by her Department to an organisation (details supplied), by county, in each of the past three years and to date in 2017. [39560/17]
View answer661. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the contents of the mission statement, as agreed with an organisation (details supplied). [39561/17]
View answer662. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the operational detail of a daily programme within a specific unit (details supplied). [39562/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 660 to 662, inclusive, together.
I have referred these questions to Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, for direct response to the Deputy concerned.
663. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the agreed location selection criteria for a specific unit (details supplied). [39563/17]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, to respond directly to the Deputy with the most up-to-date information.
666. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if progress has been made in efforts to reopen a child care facility (details supplied) in County Longford; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39634/17]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, my Department does not directly provide childcare - rather we fund the provision of childcare through individuals, companies and community/not-for-profit groups. Therefore, following the closure of the existing childcare provider in this location, I requested that Pobal and Longford CCC work with local bodies and potential partners in relation to the re-establishment of a service for the local community. I also made once-off funding available in this respect.
Unfortunately, my Department has yet to receive a viable proposal for the creation of a childcare service in this area. Pobal and Longford CCC are therefore still pursuing options locally in this regard. Once-off funding remains in place, and I am open to receiving proposals from local/community groups who may be in a position to assist.
667. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will review the funding provided through Tusla for family resource centres (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39661/17]
View answerThere are over 100 Family Resource Centres currently in receipt of funding from Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. Tusla provides funding to the centres under an annual Service Level Agreement. This funding is provided by way of a contribution towards the running costs of the centres. The 2017 Tusla allocation to Family Resource Centres is €13.512m.
Family Resource Centres are independent organisations. They are managed by a Voluntary Board of Management which is representative of the local community. The centres operate independently of Tusla and each individual centre is responsible for the recruitment of employees and the terms and conditions under which they are employed.
Tusla fully appreciates the role that Family Resource Centres play in offering early intervention support to families in difficulty.
As previously highlighted to the Deputy, it is not possible at this stage to advise on what level of funding will be made available by Tusla to Family Resource Centres in 2018. This issue will be clarified in the context of the annual Estimates process and having regard to the overall level of funding available to Tusla in 2018.
668. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of visits made to family resource centres since 2007, by year. [39818/17]
View answerI have requested information from Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. I will forward the reply to the Deputy once I have been furnished with this information.
The deferred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
669. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the amount of funding her Department has provided to family resource centres since 2013, by year. [39819/17]
View answerActing as a focal point within their communities, Family Resource Centres provide a holistic service of child, family and community support and advocacy to all children and families in their communities.
Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, provides funding to over 100 Family Resource Centres. The 2017 allocation by Tusla to Family Resource Centres is €13.512m.
It should be noted that prior to 2014, funding was provided to the Family Resource Centres by the former Family Support Agency, which was incorporated into Tusla in 2014.
The following table sets out the level of funding provided to Family Resource Centres in the period 2013-2017.
Family Support Agency/ Tusla Funding to Family Resource Centres 2013-2017
|
Years |
Tusla Funding provided to Family Resource Centres- (€m) |
|
2013 |
14.31 |
|
2014 |
13.51 |
|
2015 |
13.09 |
|
2016 |
13.5 |
|
2017 |
13.512 |
Source: Family Support Agency (2013) / Child and Family Agency (2014 – 2017)
In 2016, additional once off funding of €1.422m was provided to Family Resource Centres to assist in the upgrade of equipment and infrastructure.
670. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if his attention has been drawn to the impending sale of a building (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39191/17]
View answer671. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if he will discuss with the Charities Regulator the legitimate concerns of the public in Newbridge relating to the sale of a building (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39193/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 670 and 671 together.
Pursuant to the Charities Act 2009 the Charities Regulator is required to be independent in the performance of its functions. It is the policy of the Charities Regulator not to comment to third parties in relation to specific applications for registration or any pre-investigation work because to divulge information to a third party could prejudice a future decision. In the circumstances it would not be appropriate for me nor my officials to enter into any discussions with the Regulator as sought by the Deputy. I am advised that the entity selling this building is not currently a registered charity and as such matters relating to the sale of the hall rest with the trustees.
If the Deputy has concerns that a charitable organisation is in breach of the Charities Act 2009, I suggest that such concerns should be brought to the attention of the Charities Regulator. All concerns received by the Charities Regulator are actively reviewed.
672. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if a new funding mechanism for the upgrading of libraries will be made available by his Department in order that libraries such as Sligo Central Library in Sligo town can develop new premises to better cater to the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39210/17]
View answerThe provision of premises and facilities in the public library service is generally a matter for each local authority in its capacity as a library authority.
Notwithstanding this, my Department is providing approximately €20m under the Libraries Capital Investment Programme 2016-2021 to support 17 priority capital projects submitted by local authorities. Funding under the programme is currently fully allocated; however, my Department has sought additional funding for the programme under the Government's mid-term capital expenditure review.
Sligo County Council has been advised that the development of Sligo Central Library and all other proposals on hand for funding will be reconsidered should additional capital monies become available.
673. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development his plans to roll out the scheme to renovate properties and old buildings in small towns and villages from its present pilot status to a nationwide programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39086/17]
View answerThe Government’s Action Plan for Rural Development contains a number of measures which have the objective of rejuvenating Ireland’s rural towns and villages to make them more attractive places in which to live and work, and to increase their tourism potential.
An enhanced Town and Village Renewal Scheme was launched on 13th April last, with a focus on improving the economic development of our rural towns and villages. It is envisaged that this scheme will support up to 300 towns and villages over the next 12 months. I intend to announce the successful applicants shortly.
My officials have separately been examining the potential for developing a pilot scheme to encourage residential occupancy in rural towns and villages. The pilot is not yet in operation. This pilot will consider ways in which properties that are currently not in use in town centres can be renovated to allow them to be used for residential purposes. This will help to rejuvenate town centres while also helping to contribute to the housing needs of individuals.
The initiative is being developed in consultation with relevant Departments and details of the scheme will be announced when they are finalised.
674. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when groups should expect to hear from the Department regarding the second-round decisions on CLÁR funding and on whether they have been successful; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39289/17]
View answerThe 2017 CLÁR programme was launched on 31 March 2017 to provide funding for small scale infrastructural projects in disadvantaged rural areas that have experienced significant levels of de-population. Funding under the programme was available this year under four separate Measures:
|
Measure |
|
|
Measure 1: |
Support for School and Community Safety Measures |
|
Measure 2: |
Play areas |
|
Measure 3: |
Targeted Community Infrastructure |
|
Measure 4: |
First Responder Supports |
The closing date for applications under the programme was 5 May 2017 and over 500 applications were received across the four Measures.
Successful projects were announced in May and June, with a total of just under €7 million allocated to approximately 230 projects across the four Measures. Details of the approved projects are available on my Department's website at http://drcd.gov.ie/subheader1/clar.
There are currently no plans to revisit existing applications under the 2017 scheme or to open the CLÁR programme for new applications again this year. The provision of funding for the CLÁR programme for 2018 will be considered as part of the annual Estimates process.
675. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if his Department will provide supplementary funding under the CLÁR programme for essential works in a facility (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39380/17]
View answerThe 2017 CLÁR programme was launched on 31 March last, with a closing date of 5 May 2017. The programme provides funding for small scale infrastructural projects in disadvantaged rural areas that have experienced significant levels of de-population.
Funding for the 2017 CLÁR programme was available this year under four separate Measures:
|
Measure |
|
|
Measure 1: |
Support for School and Community Safety Measures |
|
Measure 2: |
Play Areas |
|
Measure 3: |
Targeted Community Infrastructure |
|
Measure 4: |
First Responder Supports |
In total, more than 500 applications were received across the four Measures, with a combined value of €15 million.
In general, applications were assessed on the basis of their eligibility under the scheme criteria and on the quality of the documentation supporting their proposals. Approximately 230 applications were approved in May and June for funding totalling €7 million.
I can confirm that an application was received under the programme from the project referred to by the Deputy. However, insufficient documentary evidence was provided in support of the application, as required by the scheme criteria, and the application was unsuccessful as a result.
There are currently no plans to revisit existing applications under the 2017 scheme or to open the CLÁR programme for new applications again this year. The provision of funding for the CLÁR programme for 2018 will be considered as part of the annual Estimates process later this year.
676. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if his attention has been drawn to a matter (details supplied) that could impact on the survival of rural post offices; his plans to address this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39673/17]
View answerThis matter is not within my remit. The organisation referred to by the Deputy is a statutory body under the remit of the Minister for Education and Skills.
The Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment is responsible for policy matters related to An Post.
677. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the amount of the €28 million paid to local authorities under the regional and rural sub-heads in 2016 that was allocated for County Wexford; the amount that has been spent by Wexford County Council; the amount submitted to his Department accounting for this expenditure to date in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39726/17]
View answerTable 1 provides details of the amounts of funding provided to Wexford Co. Council in 2016 in respect of Rural Development Programmes which at that stage were under the remit of the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. The table also shows the amount of funding expended under each of these programmes up to 31 August 2017.
All funding provided to Local Authorities under these programmes in 2016 was in line with the sanctions received from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and on the basis of funding agreements with the Local Authorities.
Responsibility for the administration of the programmes in question has transferred to the Department of Rural and Community Development. My Department is continuing to work closely with all relevant Local Authorities to ensure that any remaining funding allocated to them is spent promptly and in accordance with the original project proposals.
Table 1 – Allocation to Wexford Co. Council in 2016 under national Rural Development Programmes
|
Programme/Scheme |
2016 Allocation |
Amount spent as of 31st August 2017 |
|
Rural Economic Development Zones (REDZ) |
€100,000 |
€15,325 |
|
Town & Village Renewal |
€380,000 |
€300,114 |
|
Rural Recreation |
€189,455 |
€82,740 |
|
Totals |
€669,455 |
€398,179 |
678. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if his Department has received an application for funding to upgrade a road (details supplied); the scheme under which this application is being considered; the progress made to date in considering the application; when it is expected that a decision will be made in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39845/17]
View answerMy Department does not currently operate a scheme for road upgrades. However, I am in the process of examining the possibility of introducing a Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) in 2017 to support the maintenance and improvement of non-public roads and laneways, many of which are in rural areas. In this regard, my Department wrote to relevant Local Authorities recently to establish the level of demand for such a scheme and the capacity of the Local Authorities to complete works under a scheme by the end of this year. Decisions in relation to the selection of individual roads in any such scheme are a matter for each Local Authority.
Local Authorities were asked to provide information to my Department by 14 September to assist me in making an informed decision regarding the potential impact and feasibility of introducing an LIS. The information provided by the Local Authorities is now being considered and a decision in relation to any potential scheme will be made shortly.
