Written Answers Nos. 608-620
608. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the advice she has received from NPHET in relation to social distancing in centre-based settings; if NPHET has suggested that reduced capacity will be a requirement for services to reopen; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9901/20]
View answerOn Friday 1 May, the Government released its Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business, which sets out Ireland's plan for lifting COVID-19 restrictions . The re-opening of Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare (ELC and SAC) services will be guided by this framework and will be underpinned by the Government's Return to Work Safely Protocol, expert advice, available evidence and consultation with ELC and SAC stakeholder representatives and providers themselves.
Expert guidance on the safe reopening of childcare services during the COVID-19 pandemic, approved by the Expert Advisory Group of the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET), was published by the HSE Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) on Friday, 29 May. The guidance recommends use of a “play pod” model which restricts interactions between closed groups of children and adults as an alternative to social distancing, on the basis that social distancing is not possible between young children. Based on advice provided by the HPSC I do not propose to change Regulations in relation to either the adult-child ratios or the floor-space requirements for ELC or SAC services as such changes are unnecessary where "play pods" are in use.
Services are now being asked to apply the guidance to their setting and determine what capacity they may offer. It is expected that a significant amount of capacity will be available in individual services that reopen in the summer, subject to, for example, their space, room layout and staffing availability. Whilst there are 4,500 Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare services in the country, fewer than 2,000 of these normally remain open in July and August.
609. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of persons that availed of and the costs incurred by her Department regarding the cycle to work scheme since it was introduced to date by year and cost in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9977/20]
View answerThe Cycle-to-Work scheme was launched by the Government in 2009 to encourage the use of bicycles to travel to and from work. The scheme allows for a civil or public service employer to incur the expense of providing an officer with a bicycle and bicycle safety equipment up to a limit of €1,000, without the officer being liable for benefit-in-kind taxation. Under a salary sacrifice arrangement, a staff member agrees to forego or sacrifice part of salary every pay period (weekly/fortnightly), in order to cover the cost of the bike and equipment provided. The salary sacrifice arrangement must be completed within a maximum period of twelve months. The tax exemption can only be availed of once in any five year period.
As the Deputy will be aware, my Department was established in 2011. The Cycle-to-Work scheme has operated there since 2013 and the information requested is provided as follows:
|
Year |
No. of applications |
Cost |
|
2013 |
2 |
€1,999.00 |
|
2014 |
5 |
€3,842.99 |
|
2015 |
8 |
€5,520.69 |
|
2016 |
7 |
€6,341.51 |
|
2017 |
4 |
€3,403.95 |
|
2018 |
10 |
€8,075.03 |
|
2019 |
7 |
€5,293.00 |
|
2020 |
5 |
€4,924.48 |
|
Total |
48 |
€39,400.65 |
610. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans to commit to a clear set of guidelines which will allow the childcare sector to return to work safely and as soon as possible. [10047/20]
View answerOn Friday 1 May, the Government released its Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business, which sets out Ireland's plan for lifting COVID-19 restrictions. The re-opening of Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare (ELC and SAC) services will be guided by this framework and will be underpinned by the Government's Return to Work Safely Protocol, expert advice, available evidence and consultation with ELC and SAC stakeholder representatives and providers themselves.
In line with the Roadmap, ELC and SAC services are currently scheduled to reopen from 29 June.
Expert guidance on the safe reopening of childcare services during the COVID-19 pandemic was published by the HSE Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) on Friday, 29 May. The guidance recommends use of a “play pod” model which restricts interactions between closed groups of children and adults as an alternative to social distancing, on the basis that social distancing is not possible between young children.
On Friday 5thJune, I launched a range of online resources and guidance to support service providers, practitioners and parents to prepare for the reopening of Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare settings, including childminders. The Guidance for Reopening webpage is available on the First 5 website. This webpage will be updated over the coming weeks with more resources and practice examples.
611. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the criteria to become a member of the advisory group established for the childcare sector. [10046/20]
View answerMy Department and I are engaging extensively with stakeholders in the Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age (SAC) sector.
Consultation with stakeholders has always been central to the work of my Department, and the Early Years Forum (EY Forum) is a key part of this. The EY Forum meets several times a year and includes representatives of providers, parents and academics with an interest in the ELC and SAC sector. I established the ‘EY Forum Plus’ in March 2020 to widen representation by the sector, to aid my Department in developing a response to Covid-19. This group has met on a number of occasions over the past three months.
I recently established an Advisory Group and a Reference Group on the phased re-opening of ELC and SAC services on 29 June 2020. The Advisory Group had its first meeting on 13 May and has met 4 times since. A separate Reference Group representing other stakeholders had its first meeting on 28 May.
In establishing the Advisory Group on the phased reopening of the Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare sector, I provided six places for sectoral representatives, to be filled by members of the Forum Plus group. The sector itself decided on the nominees and these include representatives from the Association of Childhood Professionals, PLÉ, Seas Suas, Early Childhood Ireland, the National Childhood Network and the National Community Forum.
I added Childminding Ireland and SIPTU as members of the group, as they represent key parts of the early years sector not included in the list above, i.e. childcare staff and childminders. Pobal and Tusla are also members of the Advisory Group. I chair the meetings of the group and we have met on five occasions since 13 May 2020.
A number of additional provider representative groups contacted my Department seeking to be added to the membership of the Advisory Group. In response to such requests, I established a Reference Group, to supplement the work of the Advisory Group. The Reference Group includes representatives from the Federation of Early Childhood, the Association of Full-time Day Care Providers, St Nicholas Montessori and a number of service providers. I chaired the first meeting of the Reference Group on 28 May.
612. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if the continuity of funding for the access and inclusion model will be confirmed. [10049/20]
View answerThe Access and Inclusion Model remains a significant policy initiative of my Department and since the launch of the scheme in 2016, over 12,500 children in over 3,300 services nationally have benefited directly from targeted supports.
For the 2020 budget process, I succeeded in securing a further €10 million in funding for AIM supports bringing the total AIM budget to €43 million for 2020.
Following the closure of creches and pre-schools due to the Covid-19 pandemic, existing funding schemes including ECCE and AIM were paused. In addition to a range of financial supports that are available for businesses across the economy, I introduced the Temporary Wage Subsidy Childcare Scheme to support early learning and care and school-age childcare settings to remain viable and continue to pay staff wages with a view to retaining their workforce and allowing for as smooth a transition as possible when reopening services from June 29th.
The ECCE programme, which the Access and Inclusion Model supports, will recommence from the end of August. Detailed planning for the reopening of ECCE and AIM will be finalised in the coming weeks. In the interim, early learning and care providers have already been invited to submit applications for AIM supports for the 2020-21 programme year, to enable supports to be available with the least possible delay when the ECCE scheme recommences.
613. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if correspondence from Gaisce regarding a person (details supplied) has been considered; and if she will reject the recommendation to terminate employment and insist on a fair and just outcome. [10064/20]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that as this matter is currently under review in accordance with Article 34 of the Articles of Association of Gaisce it would not be appropriate for me to comment at this time.
614. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans for UBU youth service projects to ensure projects will not face funding cuts in 2021. [10079/20]
View answerWhile it would be my wish that funding for the youth sector will be maintained, if not increased, in future years, this is a matter for consideration by the incoming Government in the context of the annual Estimates process for 2021.
In respect of this year, and the present circumstances, I have said that the funding provided to youth services across the country is both necessary and essential, and funding levels have been maintained on that basis.
Officials from my Department have been working with representatives from funded youth organisations to develop sector-specific guidance for the resumption of services in light of Covid 19. This guidance was published on 2 June 2020.
615. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the measures she is taking to address the significant shortfall in childcare spaces in Maynooth, Celbridge and Kilcock, County Kildare. [10080/20]
View answerEach year Pobal conducts research on behalf of my Department to examine a number of factors related to early learning and care and school age childcare services in Ireland, including the monitoring of capacity. The Early Years Sector Profile report for the 2018/2019 programme year, provides my Department with valuable information including issues of capacity. The report indicates that existing childcare provision nationally broadly meets current needs in terms of capacity, whilst recognising that small pockets of under supply exist within this.
Early learning and care and school age childcare providers (both community and private) operating in the Maynooth, Celbridge and Kilcock areas completed the survey which informs the sector profile. From their responses at the time of the survey there were 1,642 children enrolled, with 87 vacant places and 190 on the waiting lists to be reconciled. Pobal cautions that its data on waiting lists cannot by itself be used to inform capacity decisions as parents often place their children on more than one waiting list.
Under First 5, and also in preparation for planned investment under the National Development Plan, my Department will be undertaking research to consider in detail the capacity needs of each area across the country.
I recognise that capacity constraints remain in some areas and my Department is actively seeking to further increase capacity through a range of measures including opening up regulation and funding schemes to paid, non-relative childminders.
Finally, if the Deputy is aware of any specific cases of parents having difficulty accessing childcare places, they could make contact with their local City or County Childcare Committee who will be pleased to assist them.
616. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the estimated full year cost of recruiting 40 extra full-time educational welfare officer posts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10227/20]
View answerThe Tusla Education Support Service (TESS) has statutory responsibility under the Education (Welfare) Act 2000 for ensuring all children attend school regularly. Educational Welfare Officers (EWO's) work with families and children to overcome barriers to their school attendance, participation and retention.
TESS has advised the estimate cost of recruiting 40 extra full-time Educational Welfare Officers (EWO) for TESS would be in the region of €2,763,964.00. The overall cost may vary depending on what point of the Educational Welfare Officer salary scale each individual EWO starts on.
In recognition of the need for a strong policy platform for the services delivered by TESS, my Department established a Task Group to support the further development and integration of these services. The work of this group is near completion and a clear blueprint for the development of the three strands of the TESS, including the statutory Educational Welfare Service (EWS) is expected to be finalised shortly.
617. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will address a matter raised in correspondence (details supplied) regarding the early years supports at present; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10267/20]
View answerThe COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in an unprecedented situation that has required a series of emergency responses from the Government.
I am acutely aware of the particular impact the pandemic and the emergency measures have had on childcare providers. I am also very conscious of the importance of childcare sector, particularly in the context of the current conditions and with a view to supporting the economy as we move beyond this crisis.
Recognising this, I launched the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSCS) on 15 April. The aim of the TWSCS is threefold:
- to support the sustainability of the Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare Sector so that it is in a position to reopen after COVID-19;
- to provide parents with a reassurance that they are not required to pay fees during this COVID-19 crisis, while providing them with reassurance that they will maintain places for their children;
- and to give Early Learning and Care Educators security and retain these vital Educators in the sector.
To achieve this, the Wage Subsidy Childcare Scheme provides funding towards a portion of staff wages and services' ongoing overhead costs for the period of the scheme.
My Department recognises the importance of robust oversight of Exchequer funding and ensuring that it is spent on the purposes it was intended for, and information has been provided to the sector on the appropriate use of this funding. My Department also recognises the need to be supportive of providers; hence, payments made by beneficiaries using the overhead funding within four weeks of the end of the scheme may also be deemed eligible alongside payments made during the period of the scheme.
The TWSCS is one of a range of supports available to the sector from my Department and from across Government. Further supports and funding are available from my Department including the Programme Support Payment for the 2019/20 Programme year which will issue in June this year, providing further income for services who apply. A new Capital Programme to support services to re-open will be available shortly. Services may also be eligible for the Restart Grant for Small Businesses, administered by Local Authorities, and other supports available from the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation.
I would also note there are supports available to improve the sustainability of services during normal times, and these remain available to services which may still be facing regular challenges on top of the difficulties imposed by the pandemic.
618. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of persons employed on each childcare committee; the role of each; the way in which their role is changing to reflect the demands of Covid-19; if she envisages them playing a supportive role in the reopening of crèches; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10364/20]
View answerMy Department funds 30 City/County Childcare Committees (CCCs) to act as its local agent in the delivery of the national early education and childcare programmes and the implementation of Government policy. The CCCs were assigned by the National Childcare Strategy (2000) as the key local component in the development of a co-ordinated approach to quality childcare and to advance the provision of childcare facilities in their local areas.
The role of the CCCs is to provide support and guidance to local service providers and parents in relation to the various childcare programmes, and support quality in keeping with national frameworks and policy objectives. My Department sets the key objectives and actions for the CCCs on an annual basis, and they are continuing to deliver on this plan of work within the current constraints of the public health emergency.
CCCs are fully engaged on issues arising within the sector, and are responsive in supporting services throughout these unprecedented times. The role of the CCCs during the Covid – 19 emergency is to continue to provide support and offer guidance and advice to services and parents in whatever way is necessary throughout this difficult period. CCCs will play a key role in providing a range of supports to the early learning and care (ELC) and school age childcare (SAC) sector. CCCs will play a critical role in supporting ELC and SAC services with their return to work preparations, specifically in acting as a local hub with a focus on supporting services to reopen safely. My Department will liaise closely with CCCs in respect of their role in this regard.
The following table shows the number of persons employed by each CCC and their roles as of the end 2019. There are a variety of roles within CCCs, including managers/coordinators/CEO, development officers, information officers, administrators, quality officers, and clerical officers. There are also a variety of working patterns across all staff.
|
CCC Name |
Full Time Staff |
Part Time Staff |
Total Individuals |
Roles |
|
Carlow County Childcare Committee |
3 |
1 |
4 |
1 Manager, 1 Information Officer, 2 Development Officers. |
|
Cavan County Childcare Committee |
3 (+ 1 Childminding Development Officer) |
2 |
6 |
1 Coordinator, 3 Support and Development workers, 1 administrator, 1 Childminding Development Officer. |
|
Clare County Childcare Committee |
2 |
4 |
6 |
1 Manager and 5 Development Officers, 2 of which include the role of Office Administrator. |
|
Cork City Childcare Committee |
6 |
1 |
7 |
1 Acting Coordinator, 1 Administrator, 1 Finance/ Development Officer, 3 Development Officers, 1 staff member on a temporary posting to DCYA |
|
Cork County Childcare Committee |
6 |
4 |
10 |
1 Coordinator, 1 Clerical Officer, 1 training Coordinator, 1 Financial Administrator and 6 Development Workers. |
|
Donegal County Childcare Committee |
2 |
6 |
8 |
1 Manager, 2 administration/finance staff, 3-4 Development staff and 1 Communications Officer |
|
Dublin City Childcare Committee |
6 |
6 |
12 |
1 Manager, 5 Development Officers across business support and quality, 3 Development Officers, 1 Finance Officer, 1 office manager and 1 Information/Communication lead. |
|
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Childcare Committee |
4 |
1 |
5 |
1 Manager, 3 Development Officers, 1 Office Manager and Office Administrator. |
|
Fingal County Childcare Committee |
6 (+ 1 Childminding Development Officer) |
2 |
9 |
1 Finance/Officer Manager, 1 Finance Officer, 1 Administration Clerk , 1 Operations Manager, 3 Development Officers, 1 Programmes Information Officer, 1 Childminding Development Officer |
|
Galway Childcare Committee |
8 |
1 |
9 |
1 Manager, 2 Administration staff and 6 Development Officers. |
|
Kerry County Childcare Committee |
4 |
2 |
6 |
1 Acting Manager, 1 Project Administrator, 1 Quality Officer, 1 Support and Development Officer and 1 Development officer with primary responsibility for Child Minding. 1 staff member on a temporary posting to DCYA |
|
Kildare County Childcare Committee |
5 |
3 |
8 |
1 CEO, 2 Administration staff, 2 Development Officers, 2 Programme Administrators, 1 Communication Officer |
|
Kilkenny County Childcare Committee |
4 |
0 |
4 |
1 Manager, 2 Development Officers and 1 Information Officer/Administrative staff member. |
|
Laois County Childcare Committee |
3 |
0 |
3 |
1 Manager, 1 Information Officer, 1 Support and Development worker and 1 Clerical Worker (position vacant) |
|
Leitrim County Childcare Committee |
3 |
1 |
4 |
1 Manager , 2 Development Officers and 1 Administrator |
|
Limerick Childcare Committee |
8 |
0 |
8 |
1 Coordinator, 3 Development Officers, 1 Administrative Support Worker, 1 Information Officer, and 2 Clerical Officers. |
|
Longford County Childcare Committee |
3 |
2 |
5 |
1 Acting Coordinator, 2 Development Officers and 1 Administrator. 1 staff member of a temporary posting to DCYA. |
|
Louth County Childcare Committee |
1 |
6 |
7 |
1 Manager, 4 Development Officers and 2 Clerical Officers |
|
Mayo County Childcare Committee |
5 |
0 |
5 |
1 Acting Coordinator, 2 Development workers, 1 Administrator and 1 Clerical Officer. |
|
Meath County Childcare Committee |
1 |
9 |
10 |
1 Coordinator, 4 Development Officers, 2 Information Officers, 3 Administration staff |
|
Monaghan County Childcare Committee |
2 |
3 |
5 |
1 Manager, 1 S&D worker, and 3 Finance and Administration staff. |
|
Offaly County Childcare Committee |
0 |
6 |
6 |
1 Manager, 2 Development Officers, 1 Finance & Training and 2 Administration staff |
|
Roscommon County Childcare Committee |
2 |
3 |
5 |
1 Manager, and 4 Development Officers |
|
Sligo County Childcare Committee |
2 |
4(+3 P/T Tusla funded) |
6 |
1 Manager, 2 Development Officers, 2 Administrators, 1 receptionist, and a further 3 p/t funded by Tusla. |
|
South Dublin County Childcare Committee |
7 |
1 |
8 |
1 Manager, 5 Development Officers, 1 Administrator, and 1 Information Officer |
|
Tipperary Childcare Committee |
7 |
0 |
7 |
1 CEO, 1 Deputy CEO, 4 Development Officers and 1 Administrator |
|
Coiste Curam Leanaí Phort Láirge |
1 |
7 |
8 |
1 CEO, 5 Development Officers, 2 Administration/Information Officers. |
|
Westmeath County Childcare Committee |
4 (+1 Childminding Development Officer) |
1 |
6 |
1 Manager, 2 Development Officers, 1 Childminding Development Officer, 2 Administration staff |
|
Wexford County Childcare Committee |
6 |
0 |
6 |
1 CEO , 3 Development Officers and 2 Administrators |
|
Wicklow County Childcare Committee |
3 |
3 |
6 |
1 Manager, 3 Development Officers, 1 Programme and Finance Officer, and 1 Information Officer |
|
Total |
197 |
619. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if new applicants are also eligible to receive funding in relation to the capital programme for the childcare sector; if funding is only for existing childcare providers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10365/20]
View answerSince 2015 my Department has administered an annual capital funding programme, under which service providers are invited to apply for capital funding to increase the capacity of their services, and to maintain and improve their services. Providers can apply for funding if they are registered with Tusla. Services must register with Tusla before they can open and provide childcare services.
In 2020 I secured €7.2m in capital funding for early learning and care (ELC) and school age childcare (SAC). I launched the application programme for the 2020 Capital Programme on 28 February. I suspended the Capital Programme on 26 March, due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
I am currently reviewing the allocation of the 2020 capital budget and I intend to launch a new capital grant programme in the coming days. Under this new capital grant programme, funds will be made available to enable existing Tusla registered childcare providers to carry out preparatory work in advance of opening. The application process, which will be administered by Pobal, will go live in the coming days. The application process will be user-friendly and simple to use. Providers will receive confirmation of the funding they are to receive before they reopen.
620. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if areas in which childcare closures are occurring are being mapped; if areas of insufficient provision to meet demand are being tracked; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10366/20]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware childcare services were instructed to close on the 12th March and will remain closed until it is deemed safe to re-open by the National Public Health Emergency Team. Currently, the Government’s Roadmap sees Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare (ELC and SAC) services, and childminders, opening in phase 3 (29 June).
During this time of extended closure, a small number of services that have indicated their intention to close permanently are being tracked by Pobal’s Case Management team and forwarded to the relevant officials in the Department. In the majority of these cases, the decision to close is unrelated to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Pobal Case Management team are working with Local CCCs to support these services in exploring alternative solutions where possible. However, the final decision on whether a service will close lies with the owner/operator of the service. Where closure is unavoidable, Pobal and the local CCCs will support services with managing an orderly closure and offer assistance to parents with finding alternative ELC/SAC services.
The provision of places within an area is knowledge which is retained by the Local CCC. When a service enters a Case Management process, one of the first pieces of information the Local CCC will gather is an assessment of the available places within the area.
Any service that is considering closure should notify their Local CCC immediately so that support can be provided and local capacity for childcare places can be assessed.
A number of supports were available before COVID to improve the sustainability of services during normal times, and these remain available now. Financial supports are available for community services presenting with sustainability issues following a financial assessment by Pobal. My Department has begun to consider whether this sustainability funding can be extended to private services during the pandemic. Again, all services who require support should contact their local CCC.
