Written Answers Nos. 497-515
497. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding NDLS centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17753/19]
View answerThis is a matter for the Road Safety Authority, I have referred the question to the Authority for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response is not received within 10 days.
498. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider adding the SPSV licence to the NDLS list of acceptable forms of identification which can be used when a person is renewing or replacing an existing driver licence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17840/19]
View answerI have no plans to add the Small Public Services Vehicle licence to the National Driver Licence Service list of acceptable forms of identification.
499. Deputy Hildegarde Naughton asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of playgrounds developed annually since 2016 under the capital grant scheme for play and recreation; the breakdown of new or refurbished playgrounds by county; her plans to strengthen the role of the local authority play and recreation network; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17390/19]
View answerThe information requested is outlined in the following tables.
Number of playgrounds developed annually since 2016
|
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
|
22 |
33 |
35 |
|
County |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
Total from 2016-2018 |
|
Carlow |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
Cavan |
2 |
1 |
1 |
4 |
|
Clare |
1 |
0 |
2 |
3 |
|
Cork |
0 |
1 |
3 |
4 |
|
Donegal |
3 |
5 |
3 |
11 |
|
Dublin |
1 |
7 |
5 |
13 |
|
Galway |
1 |
2 |
2 |
5 |
|
Kerry |
0 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
|
Kildare |
0 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
|
Kilkenny |
1 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
|
Laois |
1 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
|
Longford |
1 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
|
Louth |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
Mayo |
1 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
|
Meath |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
|
Monaghan |
1 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
|
Offaly |
2 |
1 |
2 |
5 |
|
Roscommon |
1 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
|
Sligo |
0 |
4 |
0 |
4 |
|
Tipperary |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
|
Waterford |
3 |
0 |
1 |
4 |
|
Westmeath |
1 |
2 |
1 |
4 |
|
Wexford |
1 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
|
Wicklow |
0 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
|
Total |
22 |
33 |
35 |
90 |
Local Authorities that did not apply for Capital Grant Funding
|
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
|
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown |
Cork City |
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown |
|
Leitrim |
Galway City |
Leitrim |
|
Limerick |
Leitrim |
|
|
Louth |
Limerick |
|
|
Sligo |
Waterford |
|
The Department also works with the Local Authority for Play and Recreation Network (LAPRN). The LAPRN was established to bring a more coordinated approach to the implementation of the National Play and Recreation policies, and this Department works closely with the group to develop and promote improved play and recreation facilities. Since 2018 DCYA have established annual meetings with the LAPRN members and established a sub-group of the LAPRN to consult on the application process for Play and Recreation.
500. Deputy Hildegarde Naughton asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will publish the new play and recreation policies further to the completion in quarter 4 2016 of the review of the previous national play and recreation policies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17391/19]
View answerMy Department provides funding through the local authorities for National Play Day and National Recreation Week activities. In 2018, a total of €78,000 was awarded to 20 local authorities for these activities. Additionally, a capital grant funding scheme for play and recreation was introduced in 2013 to provide capital funding to support new and existing play and recreation facilities for all children and young people. In 2018, €250,000 was awarded to 26 local authorities under this scheme.
The Department also works with the Local Authority for Play and Recreation Network (LAPRN). The LAPRN was established to bring a more coordinated approach to the implementation of the National Play and Recreation policies, and this Department works closely with the group to develop and promote improved play and recreation facilities.
The review of the play and recreation policy was considered by officials in my Department. Further work has been done in building towards new play policy and this has been reflected in First 5, A Whole-of-Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families. This is a ten year Strategy which was launched in November 2018.
Under strategic Action 3.3 of First 5 my Department is committed to conducting a mapping exercise of current play policy, practice and provision with a focus on early childhood and, on the basis of findings, to make recommendations for future actions.
Progress has been made under this Action as researchers from DCU have compiled a report mapping out the full range of playgrounds and MUGAs across Ireland which was part-funded by my Department.
501. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the responsibilities of Tusla in supporting families with children that have been diagnosed with autism and are having difficulty in accessing appropriate education places; the number of these families that Tusla has been working with in each of the years 2016 to 2018 and to date in 2019, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17470/19]
View answerThe responsibility for the provision of school places for children with autism lies with the Department of Education in conjunction with the National Council for Special Education. Tusla can provide support to parents who have been unable to find school places but have no role in the provision of specialist school places for children with a diagnosis of autism.
502. Deputy Hildegarde Naughton asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of providers that benefitted from capital funding allocated for the creation of additional childcare places by county in each of the years from 2016 to 2018 and to date in 2019; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17476/19]
View answerCreating new childcare places and increasing the capacity of the childcare sector in Ireland continues to be a top priority for the Early Learning and Care and School Age Childcare Capital programmes. In recent cycles, a significant portion of the overall capital allocation has been reserved each year for this purpose.
As you may be aware, this year's Early Learning and Care and School Age Capital programmes are currently in the appraisal stage, with decisions due to be confirmed in June 2019. Therefore, no grants have yet been allocated under this measure for any purpose.
However, the budget for Strands A (Creation of new 0-3 places) and C (Creation of new school age places) have been set at €4.231m and €1m, respectively.
In 2016, 978 providers benefitted from capital grants allocated to support the addition of new childcare places.
In 2017, 246 providers benefitted from capital grants allocated for the creation of new childcare places. In 2018, the equivalent figure was 118.
Tables prepared by Pobal providing more detailed information, including county-by-county breakdown of funding, are available at the following link:
503. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number or percentage of employees in her Department and in the agencies under her aegis with intellectual disabilities; her plans to increase this number to promote and support the employment of persons with intellectual disabilities as outlined in the Disability Act 2005; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17481/19]
View answerThe Civil Service is an equal opportunities employer and all recruitment campaigns are conducted in strict compliance with the Codes of Practice set out by the Commission for Public Service Appointments and are subject to the Code of Practice on the Employment of People with Disabilities in the Irish Civil Service.
My Department, in common with other Government Departments and Offices, has the following obligations under the Disability Act 2005:
- To promote and support the employment of people with disabilities;
- To ensure, where practicable, that 3% of all staff employed are people with disabilities;
- To report every year on the number and percentage of employees with disabilities.
The specific information requested by the Deputy is currently being collated by the Department. The Department will respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.
504. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her Department and the agencies under her aegis track the numbers of employees they have with an intellectual disability; her plans to do so in order to help set targets and increase workplace opportunities for those with intellectual disabilities such as those outlined in the national disability inclusion strategy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17498/19]
View answerThis information requested by the Deputy is currently being collated by the Department. The Department will now respond directly with the Deputy on this matter.
505. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the steps she is taking to control the cost of childcare, which can cost over €2,000 a month for five-day care in circumstances in which both parents are in employment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17572/19]
View answerThe cost of childcare in Ireland is a major challenge for families in Ireland. Due to decades of under investment , we have inherited one of the most expensive models of early learning and care in Europe. Along with my colleagues in Government, I have been working to incrementally address this under investment.
In recent years, I have secured significantly increased funding for early learning and care (ELC) and school age childcare (SAC). The annual investment towards high quality, affordable ELC and SAC has risen to €574m, which represents an increase of 117% since 2015.
The significant increase in supports I announced in April 2017 represented a major step towards accessible, affordable and quality ELC and SAC after decades of neglect and under-investment by successive Governments. These increases reflect my ambition to support quality ELC and SAC services with appropriately supported staff.
As part of the Government policy to make childcare more affordable, I introduced new measures in September 2017 (September Measures) aimed at improving access to quality, affordable childcare for families in the interim until the introduction of the National Childcare Scheme.
The September Measures included the universal childcare subvention payment (CCSU) of up to €20 per week for families using eligible childcare providers for the care of children aged from 6 months to the first eligible point of entry to the ECCE scheme. This non means tested support amounts to as much as €1,040 per year for children in full time childcare. The total number of children who availed of CCSU in the 2017/2018 programme year (between September 2017 and August 2018) was 39,319. Almost two thirds of services (65% or 2,188) that had CCSP contracts, had at least one child registered under CCSU.
To date 33,410 children have availed of CCSU in the current (2018/2019) year.
The September Measures also included an average 50% increase to the band rates of the CCS/CCSP targeted schemes. In 2017/18 36,367 children benefitted from the targeted CCS strands (CCS and CCSP) compared to 24,715 in 2016/17. This was an increase of 47% on the previous year. The growth in the number of registrations and participating children is associated directly with the increase investment in the early year’s sector. For the period September 2017 to June 2018 the value of the registrations amounted to €363,691,841. These increases were considerable and significantly decreased the amount of payment required of low income families or parents in education or training.
These changes are waypoints towards our goal to deliver genuine affordable, accessible, quality ELC and SAC.
In 2018 the Oireachtas signed the Childcare Support Act; putting the entitlement to financial support for childcare on a legislative footing for the first time.
Furthermore, The National Childcare Scheme (NCS), which is a new, national scheme of financial support for parents towards the cost of childcare, will be a significant move forward in delivering quality, accessible, affordable childcare to families throughout Ireland. NCS will launch this October, with payments flowing from November. The Scheme entails a fundamental shift away from subsidies grounded in medical card and social protection entitlements, and towards a comprehensive and progressive system of universal and income-based subsidies that will benefit a much greater part of the population, and in particularly working families. It is a single, streamlined and user-friendly scheme which will ultimately replace the existing targeted childcare schemes.
By making this shift and by tangibly reducing the cost of quality childcare for thousands of families across Ireland, the Scheme aims to improve children's outcomes, support lifelong learning, make work pay and reduce child poverty. It is also designed to have a positive impact on gender equality in relation to labour market participation and employment opportunities.
The Scheme has already been amended to expand the benefits for working families. As part of Budget 2019, the income threshold levels used for assessing the level of subsidy to which a parent may be entitled were raised.
The significant increase in the Scheme's maximum net income threshold from €47,000 to €60,000 per annum means that an estimated 7,500 more children will benefit from the scheme relative to the original proposals. Over 40,000 other children, already eligible, will see increases to their subsidies.
I am also very pleased that I have managed to adjust the lower income threshold, meaning that maximum subsidy rates will now be paid to all families with a net annual income of up to €26,000 (up from €22,700).
This ‘poverty proofs’ the Scheme by ensuring that families at or below the relative income poverty line will benefit from the very highest subsidy rates under the scheme. It will also make work pay for parents in employment or training as they will now be able to avail of help with their childcare costs.
It will take time to deliver the world class system of early learning and care that families deserve but I am confident that we are moving swiftly in the right direction to achieve this goal.
506. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of persons receiving childcare subsidies through either training and education or childcare subvention; and the number of the recipients that are lone parents. [17605/19]
View answerThe TEC Programme is an overarching childcare programme funded by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and is specifically designed to support parents/guardians on eligible Education and Training Board training courses, as well as certain categories of parents/guardians returning to work, by providing subsidised childcare places. No statistical information regarding lone parent status is gathered as part of the registration process.
In the current programme year 2018-2019, there are 3,157 children registered in TEC programmes.
The Community Childcare Subvention programmes provide childcare funding support targeting low income families in private childcare services and community childcare services. No information regarding lone parent status is gathered as part of the registration process however there are 71,355 children registered in CCS/P programmes.
Eligibility for the CCS/P programmes is determined by the status of the applying parent/guardian with the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection (DEASP). Under the “One Parent Family” eligibility type there are 8,400 parents registered on PIP for the current programme year 2018-2019.
As part of the Pobal Early Years Sector Report 2017-2018, almost three quarters of survey respondents (2,875 services) reported having children attending who come from one parent families. In total, 20,977 one parent families were reported to be availing of childcare in services that responded to the service profile survey. Of these, just over half of one parent families (51%) availed of childcare from community services.
507. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if there has been an impact analysis on the loss of training and education or childcare subvention for vulnerable groups; and if so, the outcome of same. [17606/19]
View answer508. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 34 of 14 December 2016, if she has addressed the matter with the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection; and if so, the position in this regard (details supplied). [17607/19]
View answer509. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if in a two-parent family only one parent must engage with the jobseeker activation measures by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection (details supplied) and the second parent is allowed to fulfil the caring role; and her plans to introduce a childcare scheme that will specifically address this dual role. [17608/19]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 507 to 509, inclusive, together.
Through the National Childcare Scheme and a range of other measures, we are committed to changing Ireland’s childcare system from one of the most expensive in the world to one of the very best. In designing the National Childcare Scheme, extensive research and consultations have been carried out to ensure that this goal is achieved and that the Scheme can help as many families as possible. The National Childcare Scheme will greatly increase the number of families who can access financial support. The Scheme removes many of the restrictive eligibility requirements of the existing support programmes, whereby a parent must be in receipt of certain Social Protection payments or a Medical Card in order to receive targeted supports. This 'poverty-proofs' the Scheme by ensuring that families at or below the relative income poverty line will benefit from the highest subsidy rates under the Scheme. It will also make work pay for parents trying to get back into employment or training as they will now be able to avail of help with their childcare costs. Many working families will, for the first time, be entitled to subsidies which will reduce their childcare costs significantly. Others will see an increase in their level of subsidy. For example, a family with a child aged two in full-time care (40 hours) and currently benefitting from the maximum subsidy of €145 per week under CCS Band A, would see their subsidy increase to €174 per week, an additional subsidisation of €1,500 per annum.
Arrangements are in place to ensure that no one loses out in the initial transition to the new Scheme. So, whilst there may have been fears that, in a small number of cases, where a family currently receiving the maximum amount of financial support for full-time childcare under an existing programme may receive less under the new Scheme, particularly if their child is, in reality, receiving afterschool care only rather than full-time childcare, they will not lose out. The family can continue to access their current targeted supports (i.e. effectively remain on their current payment) until the end of August 2020, 16 months from now.
I have also directed my officials to undertake research and analysis to examine any adjustments to the National Childcare Scheme which might be required to address unusual or anomalous cases, where this is the right thing to do to protect and benefit lower income parents. In this regard, I would highlight that the new National Childcare Scheme has been designed to be flexible, with income thresholds, maximum hours and subsidy rates which can be adjusted in line with Government decisions and as more investment becomes available. As such, any adjustments deemed necessary by Government can be carried out in a quick and responsive manner.
The Scheme is designed so that families who need the most support can receive it. Maximum subsidy rates are payable in all cases where a family meets the lowest income threshold, tapering down smoothly as income increases.
An Income Assessed subsidy is available to families with children aged between 24 weeks and 15 years. This subsidy will vary depending on family income, the child’s age and their educational stage. It can be used towards the cost of a registered childcare place for up to a maximum of 40 hours per week where parents are working, studying or training, or in circumstances where a parent is unavailable to care for a child. Where parents are not working, studying or training, the subsidy will be paid for up to a maximum of 15 hours per week.
In order to qualify for enhanced hours (i.e. up to a maximum of 40 hours per week), both the applicant and the applicant’s partner, if applicable, must meet at least one of the following criteria, they must be:
- In work
- In study
- Transitioning into, or out of, work or study
- Unavailable to provide childcare for the child.
Finally, as set out in my answer to your Parliamentary Question in December 2016, my officials have engaged with the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection (DEASP) and have received reassurance that, if a situation arose where childcare costs increased such that a lone parent in receipt of Jobseekers Transition Payment (JST) would withdraw from a course of education or training, they would not lose their JST payment as a result of the withdrawal. JST recipients have an obligation to engage with DEASP as regards their activation under Jobseekers Transitional payment, but each case is treated individually and their local Case Officer can take into account any circumstances arising which may affect the customer and the welfare of their children.
510. Deputy Seán Barrett asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the reason the decision was taken to decrease enrolment opportunities for the ECCE scheme to once a year in September (details supplied) to allow for all birth dates to be taken into consideration for children to commence free preschool at 2 years and 8 months of age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17685/19]
View answerThe number of entry points reverted to one at the beginning of September 2018. One enrolment period at the start of the pre-school year helps to streamline the administration process and makes it easier for childcare providers to operate and budget for the programme year. It also makes it easier for parents to secure places on the Early Childhood Care and Education programme (ECCE) for their children.
This policy change, along with the reduction of the minimum age requirement to 2 years and 8 months, ensured that from September 2018, all children will be eligible for a full two programme years on the ECCE programme. This measure adds to previous enhancement of the programme and increases the duration of each registered child on ECCE from the original 38 weeks to a potential duration of 76 weeks (two programme years) delivering on a commitment in the Programme for a Partnership Government.
The upper age limit for the ECCE programme remains the same (i.e. a child is not eligible if they will be 5 years and 6 months before the end of the programme year.) The upper age limit for the ECCE programme was set in consultation with the Department of Education and Skills. It ensures that children transition into primary school with their peers and limits the age range of children beginning primary school. Limiting the diversity in age ranges in children beginning primary school education is considered generally to be 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 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 evenly. As stated above, the Department of Education and Skills informed the policy which these rules support.
It must be noted that age limits have been used to determine eligibility since the inception of the ECCE programme in 2010. These rules are a necessary component of any Government scheme and ensure that Exchequer funding is used for its intended purpose.
511. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when the final report from the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes will be delivered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17703/19]
View answerThe Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes has issued five interim reports to date. I have published four of the reports and, subject to Government approval, I plan to publish the Fifth Interim Report shortly.
It is important to acknowledge that the terms of reference for the Commission envisage multiple lines of inquiry on complex issues relating to a number of quite different institutions over a period of more than three quarters of a century.
The Commission submitted its Fourth Interim Report in December of last year. In it the Commission advised that it would not be able to issue its final report within the previously agreed time frame and requested an extension of one year to allow it to complete its work in full. Government has agreed to this extension request and the Commission is now due to complete its work by February 2020.
In my view the public interest, and most importantly the interest of former residents, is best served by facilitating the Commission to conduct the comprehensive analysis required to make accurate and robust findings on the extensive range of sensitive issues before it.
512. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the reason a figure of €6,000 per placement per week as the national weekly cost of private residential placements was provided by Tusla in response to Parliamentary Question Nos. 312 of 13 March 2019 and 1180 of 26 March 2019 in view of the fact that the true costs range from €6,000 to €13,500 as acknowledged in response to Parliamentary Question No. 567 of 9 April 2019 (details supplied). [17737/19]
View answerI am aware that the Deputy has asked a number of questions on matters relating to private residential placements and their related costs. I asked Tusla to respond directly to the Deputy and am aware that Tusla has done so.
I am satisfied that the responses provided by Tusla to the Deputy provide the explanation she seeks. If the Deputy has further questions, I respectfully suggest that she avail of Tusla's offer of further assistance.
Tusla is responsible for the welfare and protection of children. This includes the provision of children's residential services. The tendering for and purchase of residential placements from private providers is an operational matter for Tusla.
513. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the options available for a group that cannot apply for CLÁR funding in view of the fact that 80% of its area is not in a CLÁR area (details supplied). [17219/19]
View answerThe primary objective of the CLÁR Programme is to support small scale infrastructural projects in designated rural areas that have experienced significant levels of depopulation, with the aim of encouraging people to continue to live and work there.
In the normal course, CLÁR eligibility is based on the project in question being physically located within a designated CLÁR District Electoral Division (DED).
Given the nature of the activities to be funded under the Mobility and Cancer Care Transport of the 2019 CLÁR programme, eligibility for this particular measure is based on demonstrating that the majority (at least 80%) of the catchment area being served is within a CLÁR designation.
In the case of the details supplied by the Deputy, Kerry Local Authority or the Local Development Company might be best placed to offer advice on other funding streams that may be available.
514. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if funding will be made available to an organisation (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17234/19]
View answerThe type of project referred to by the Deputy may be eligible for funding under the LEADER Food Initiative.
I launched the LEADER Food Initiative jointly with my colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, in May 2017. The Initiative will provide up to €15 million to support the further development of food and drink businesses throughout rural Ireland.
Supports include funding for the renovation and extension of production facilities, and the purchase of processing equipment. The initiative will also support participants in the artisan food and beverage sector in areas such as market development, competitiveness, and innovation.
The maximum amount of funding available is €200,000 per project and funding will be provided for both capital investment and softer supports related to analysis and development, or training. It also includes support for collaborative proposals where food businesses jointly address common processing and marketing challenges.
The LEADER Food Initiative is managed by my Department with funding from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, and is being delivered using the LEADER methodology. The LEADER Local Action Groups engage with potential applicants, evaluate applications and select projects which are then submitted for approval. The projects are jointly approved by my Department and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
I understand the Kerry Local Action Group, through its Implementing Partner, North, East & West Kerry Development, has been working with the organization referred to by the Deputy to bring forward an application for financial support. This project will be considered on its merits when the application is received.
515. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the estimated first-year and full-year cost to introduce an insurance indemnity for farmers and landholders that participate in the mountain access scheme; and when legislation is expected to be published. [17265/19]
View answerMy Department has been working to develop a National Indemnity Scheme to indemnify private land owners with regard to the use of their lands for recreational purposes. This is a complex issue and the legal rights of landowners must be respected, while trying to facilitate access to their lands for recreational users on a permissive basis. My Department has been advised that an indemnity scheme such as the one envisaged will require legislative provision.
My officials have been in contact with the State Claims Agency and the Attorney General's Office on the proposed scope, roll-out, and the legal processes required to give effect to such a scheme. It is envisaged that this scheme, once introduced, will come into effect in upland areas on a phased basis.
My Department is currently examining different cost options related to the introduction of the scheme and it would be premature to speculate on the potential costs at this stage.
