Written Answers Nos. 745-764
745. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the overall €61.791 million funding allocation for youth work provision in 2020, by schemes (details supplied) in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11679/20]
View answerIn Budget 2020 my Department was allocated €61.789 million in funding to support the provision of youth services nationwide. This funding has been maintained and has enabled the youth sector to continue to provide supports to young people, particularly to marginalised, disadvantaged and vulnerable young people, throughout the current period of Covid-19 restrictions.
The largest share of youth funding directly supports the delivery of targeted youth services on the ground, with €38.8 million provided to funded organisations through the 16 Education and Training Boards (ETBs) countrywide.
National Youth Organisations are benefiting from over €11.5 million in universal funding for 2020 under the Youth Services Grant Scheme. The work carried out by the national youth organisations, through volunteer led groups and clubs, is transformative for young people and is supported through this scheme.
Funding of over €4.1 million is being made available to the 16 ETBs around the country in relation to their governance role and their work supporting youth services.
Funding of over €2.1 million has been made available for the Local Youth Club Grant Scheme this year. This scheme supports youth work activities at a local level by providing small grants to youth clubs and groups.
I was delighted to announce recently that UBU - Your Place, Your Space is on track to meet its formal starting date of 1 July 2020. This reflects the commitment of funded organisations and the ETBs to meeting the scheme timeframes in the context of Covid-19 restrictions, which is to be commended. UBU - Your Place, Your Space provides for services that support young people to develop the personal and social skills required to improve their life chances. The scheme will support young people who are marginalised, disadvantaged, or vulnerable.
The table below outlines the breakdown as requested by the Deputy:
|
Budget for 2020 |
|
|
Targeted Youth Funding Scheme, Revised Youth Funding Scheme (up to 30 June) and from 1 July: UBU Your Place Your Space |
€38.8 million |
|
Youth Services Grant Scheme |
€11.56 million |
|
Youth Information Centres |
€1.3 million |
|
Youth Work Function and Technical Assistance |
€4.1 million |
|
Local Youth Club Grants Scheme |
€2.107 million |
|
New Initiatives and other funding streams |
€0.48 million |
|
LGBTI+ Strategy |
€0.5 million |
|
Miscellaneous, incl Policy and Support Programmes |
€0.6 million |
|
Other National Youth Organisations and Youth Initiatives |
€2.27 million |
746. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the status of the implementation of the UBU targeted youth work scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11680/20]
View answerOn Monday 8th June 2020, following a successful application process, I announced approval of funding allocations for UBU - Your Place Your Space, enabling the scheme to proceed as planned on 1 July 2020. Letters of allocation were issued to all Education and Training Boards (ETBs) who administer funds to successful youth services on behalf of my Department.
UBU - Your Place Your Space provides funding to youth services that support young people to develop the personal and social skills required to improve their life chances. This includes services covering health and well-being, education, employment and social connectedness. The scheme will target young people aged between 10 – 24 years who are experiencing economic, social and cultural disadvantage. The first cycle of UBU - Your Place Your Space runs to December 2023, incorporating a new reporting and continuous improvement approach as part of the model.
I greatly appreciate the efforts, particularly in these difficult times, of the ETBs and youth organisations to ensure that we can open UBU - Your Place Your Space on time on 1 July. This represents a major reform of funding for targeted youth services and it was achieved in the midst of unprecedented restrictions due to Covid-19. The youth sector has responded quickly to the current crisis, adapting and innovating, in order to maintain supports for vulnerable young people. The confirmation of funding allocations, coupled with the Guidance for Youth Organisations on Resuming Full Services, ensures that such services can continue to deliver on this important work throughout the year ahead within the robust framework of the new UBU - Your Place Your Space scheme.
The allocations notified to ETBs for the period July to December 2020 are as follows:
|
Education and Training Board |
Allocation – Jul to Dec 2020 |
|
Cavan Monaghan |
€258,024 |
|
City of Dublin |
€6,894,147 |
|
Cork |
€1,231,063 |
|
Dublin Dun Laoghaire |
€3,765,737 |
|
Donegal |
€182,618 |
|
Galway Roscommon |
€980,203 |
|
Kerry |
€213,979 |
|
Kildare and Wicklow |
€822,128 |
|
Kilkenny and Carlow |
€442,991 |
|
Laois and Offaly |
€113,977 |
|
Limerick and Clare |
€1,396,611 |
|
Longford and Westmeath |
€292,051 |
|
Louth and Meath |
€305,099 |
|
Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim |
€250,032 |
|
Tipperary |
€409,700 |
|
Waterford and Wexford |
€1,224,332 |
|
TOTAL |
€18,782,692 |
747. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the status of the implementation and allocation of the youth climate justice fund; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11681/20]
View answerOn 18 June, 2020 I announced grants to youth organisations under the Youth Climate Justice Fund. In total, I approved grants of almost €465,000 to 23 different youth organisations after accepting the recommendations of a specially convened Selection Committee that carefully considered all applications to the Fund.
I am delighted to be able to approve funding for a wide ranging suite of innovative and dynamic youth-led projects that support and promote Climate Justice. I never fail to be impressed by the passion and commitment of young people on this issue, and the commitment of those who work with them.
The Youth Climate Justice Fund supports youth-led action and innovation at community, regional and national level. A total of 14 applications were received, including three ‘consortium’ applications, representing 23 different youth organisations.
Grants are being awarded to three ‘consortium’ applications including bids led by ECO-UNESCO (with SpunOut.ie, Young Irish Film Makers, No Name Club, Irish Girl Guides and the Girls’ Brigade as partner organisations); Church of Ireland Youth Department (with the Girls Friendly Society as a partner organisation); and National Youth Council of Ireland (including Macra na Feirme, Involve and Young Men's Christian Association as partner organisations.)
Other grants are being been made to Catholic Guides of Ireland, Crosscare, Feachtas Óg-Ghluaisteacht Gaeilge, Foróige, Gaisce, Junior Chamber International (Ireland), Localise Youth Volunteering, Ógras, Scouting Ireland, Youth Theatre Ireland and Youth Work Ireland.
This is the inaugural year of the fund which will close with an Outcomes Conference organised by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs. This conference will be led by the young people involved in the activities supported by this fund and will inform the future development of the fund.
748. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the planned current expenditure by her Department in 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11682/20]
View answerThe Revised Estimates for Public Services 2020, published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, detail gross current expenditure of almost €1.6 billion in respect of my Department for 2020. These Estimates have not been voted on by the Dáil but Restated Revised Estimates, including for my Department, will be presented to the Dáil shortly.
These estimates will reflect, where appropriate, Covid related expenditure. My Department continues to provide supports for childcare providers under the Temporary Wage Subsidy Childcare Scheme through the Covid public health emergency and has just announced a significant support package to facilitate the reopening of childcare services from the 29th of June. These costs will be met from savings from the suspension of funding to providers under the Early Learning and Care and School Age Childcare Programmes. These costs and also costs incurred by Tusla in response to Covid-19 will be reflected in the Revised Estimate for my Department.
As of end May, current expenditure for my Department at €676 million is just over profile and reflects among other matters impacts due to Covid. It is particularly difficult this year and at this point in the year to accurately predict a final outturn, however it is my intention at present that the Vote should remain within its allocation.
749. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if a child (details supplied) will be allowed to remain in preschool for another year with access and inclusion model, AIM, support; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11709/20]
View answerThe Early Childhood Care and Education programme (ECCE) is a two year pre-school programme. There is no routine provision for a third year which may not be in the best interests of a child and may lead to breaching the statutory school starting age.
The application for an overage exemption referred to by the Deputy was declined as the child has already availed of two full years of ECCE and would be 6 years and 4 months starting school if granted an exemption.
Overage exemptions were introduced at the onset of the ECCE programme in 2010. At that time ECCE operated for a 38 week period, or one programme year. For some children with special/additional needs, attending preschool five days a week was not feasible so, therefore, an allowance was made. Their ECCE place was split over two years, e.g. a child may have availed of three days ECCE provision in year one and two days in year two. In order to facilitate this, in the cases where the child would have been overage for ECCE in the latter year, an overage exemption was granted.
Following the introduction of a second ECCE from September 2018 the original rationale for an overage exemption was considered to be no longer valid.
It is important to note that this provision of an overage exemption by my Department for the ECCE programme was never intended as a mechanism to delay a child’s entry to primary education or to address any issue of non-availability of a school place.
The overage exemption process has been the subject of a consultation process and a report was produced by the National Disability Authority (NDA). A key finding of this report is that it is in children's best interest to enrol in primary school with their peers and to transition to becoming a teenager with their peers. It is worth stressing that the only rationale underpinning these considerations is what is in the best interests of the child.
The report also seeks to ensure that schools offer all the assistance necessary to meet the child's needs, with the assistance of the National Council for Special Education (NCSE). I note that the family have made contact with NCSE and I would urge them to continue to engage with the NCSE in this regard and also with their school to make sure it has appropriate arrangements in place to support this child from September 2020.
750. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if guidance will be provided to childcare providers that wish to make structural amendments or additions to their premises to meet Covid-19 health guidelines; and if these providers will need to reapply for fire certificates and planning permission. [11750/20]
View answerMy Department has published detailed guidance for early learning and care and school-age childcare providers to facilitate the safe reopening of services in line with public health advice. This guidance is available at the Guidance for Reopening webpage available on the First 5 website (https://first5.gov.ie/practitioners/reopening). Tusla has also issued guidance and a self-assessment tool to all registered early years providers to assist with their planning for reopening. This is guidance is available on the Tusla website at https://www.tusla.ie/services/family-community-support/pre-school-services/ and on the First 5 website.
When planning for the reopening of services, it is a matter for each registered provider, within the context of their specific service provision, to determine whether structural amendments to their premises are required in order to meet the on-going public health requirements. It is anticipated however, that any alterations for the purpose of meeting COVID-19 requirements may be limited to the use of temporary, demountable partitions in existing spaces, where necessary.
It is a matter for the registered provider involved to ensure that any changes such as adding to the premises are not undertaken in contravention of their existing fire and planning restrictions, and to apply to the relevant authorities for the necessary permissions if required. From a regulatory perspective, any changes involving a structural or material alteration to premises may also require an application for a proposed change in circumstances to Tusla, and any such application must be undertaken on the basis that the proposed changes are in line with the service's existing fire and planning restrictions.
751. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her views on whether PPE should be provided to staff in childcare settings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11751/20]
View answerThe guidance issued by my Department to providers of early learning and care and school-age childcare is based on the advice that the Health Protection and Surveillance Centre (HPSC) has published specifically for childcare settings. The HPSC advice is that additional PPE, over and above normal requirements for childcare services, is not required to be used by childcare practitioners while they are caring for children.
As per normal practice in childcare services, staff should wear disposable single-use plastic aprons, and non-powdered, non-permeable gloves when there is a risk of coming into contact with body fluids (such as when nappy changing). Supplies of these should be readily available in childcare settings.
The National Public Health Emergency Team recommends the use of cloth face coverings in enclosed indoor settings where it is not possible to keep a distance of 2 metres from others. The HPSC has advised that it is generally not appropriate for childcare workers to apply this when caring for children or while engaging with parents in the presence of their children, but the guidance is applicable for interaction between adults when not caring for children.
The HPSC has advised that services should keep a small supply of surgical masks in a readily accessible place for use by a staff member who develops symptoms of COVID-19 or by staff members caring for a sick child if they feel they need to use them.
752. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if childcare providers that make structural or other alterations to their premises to meet Covid-19 guidelines will need to reapply to Tusla for registration. [11752/20]
View answerAs the matter to which the Deputy refers is an operational matter for Tusla, I have requested Tusla to respond to the Deputy directly within 10 working days.
753. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 1007 of 3 June 2020, if she will address the specific matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11783/20]
View answerThe COVID-19 Pandemic has created major challenges for Ireland. The sudden closure of centre-based Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) services including those providing Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) services on 12 March was an unexpected but necessary move to safeguard public health in Ireland.
The closure of ELC and SAC services due to COVID-19 can be considered a Force Majeure situation.
My Department is not obliged to make payments for ELC and SAC programmes under Force Majeure. Clause 12.1 of the Early Childhood and Care (ECCE) grant funding agreement states “The Department of Children and Youth Affairs is under no obligation to fund ‘Force Majeure’ days and do so at their own discretion.”
However, my Department continued to make ELC and SAC programme payments on an ex-gratia basis from 13 March 2020 to 10 April 2020.
This temporary arrangement was an immediate response to the closures for the purpose of the sustainability of the sector while a more appropriate policy response was being considered.
On 10 April 2020 I wrote to all ELC and SAC services to inform them that these temporary funding arrangements were ceased and a new administrative scheme the Temporary Covid-19 Wage Subsidy Childcare Scheme was launched on 15 April.
754. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her Department has a diversity and inclusion policy in place; the measures taken to promote diversity and inclusion from 1 January 2019 to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11819/20]
View answerMy Department is committed to creating a working environment in which differences are recognised and respected and in which all staff are valued as individuals. All HR policies are developed in such a manner to cultivate an inclusive work place.
The National LGBTI+ Inclusion Strategy 2019 – 2021 was launched in November 2019 and my Department has a representative who sits on a Monitoring Committee with Department of Justice colleagues which was set up to oversee implementation of the actions in the Strategy.
Action 2.4 of the Strategy provides for the development of a Civil and Public Service wide LGBT+ Employee and Ally Network. As an initial step, officials in my Department are working on developing a Diversity and Inclusion Network for staff of the Department.
My Department has continually successfully participated in the Willing, Able and Mentoring (WAM) Programme which offers 6 month placements at EO level to graduates with disabilities.
755. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the financial supports available for early years settings. [11863/20]
View answerOn 10 June 2020, I announced a major funding package to facilitate the reopening of early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC) services. In accordance with the Government Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business, and guided by the expert advice of the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HSPC), ELC and SAC services can resume from 29 June. I am pleased that Government have committed a €75m package of funding for reopening services over the summer months. This substantial investment recognises the important role that the ELC and SAC sector plays in the societal and economic infrastructure of the country.
The new funding package contains four significant elements:
- A once-off Reopening Support Payment for DCYA-funded providers opening between 29 June and early September.
- A once-off COVID-19 capital grant for DCYA-funded providers opening between 29 June and early September.
- Continued access for eligible providers to the Revenue-operated Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS)
- Resumption of DCYA ELC and SAC programmes. NCS, CCSP and TEC will be available again for children attending ELC and SAC services from 29 June.
In developing the funding package, I recognise that a reduced number of children are likely to attend ELC and SAC services in the initial weeks of reopening. This funding package is tailored to allow providers to operate with potentially less parental income and to assist in meeting the possible costs associated with complying with public health requirements.
The funding package will also ensure that ELC and SAC providers will not charge higher fees than they did pre-COVID-19. This will benefit parents and children returning to services.
A detailed set of FAQs was published on 12 June to ensure that providers are fully informed of the new funding package. These include information on eligibility and the practicalities of applying.
A key policy priority for my Department is the sustainability of the ELC and SAC sector and hence it has and continues to work intensively to support services to reopen after COVID-19. The reopening funding aims to support providers to reopen, staff to remain in the sector, parents to resume work, and children to benefit from quality ELC and SAC.
756. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the definition of a pod; and the number of children that will be allowed in a pod. [11864/20]
View answerThe "pod" or "play pod" model is recommended by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) as a mechanism for infection control in childcare settings during the Covid-19 pandemic when settings reopen on 29 June.
The “play pod” model is a safe and playful approach to restricting interactions between closed groups of children and adults as an alternative to social distancing, which is not possible with young children. ‘Play-pods’ are not physical structures, they are simply a way to describe a group of children and adults who learn and play together.
The purpose of ‘play-pods’ is to limit the number of people a child has contact with, to facilitate contact tracing, and to support close, positive interactions between children and their adult caregivers, like in a key-person system, which is characteristic of quality childcare provision. This system will also reduce the amount of contact adults have with each other.
The public health advice from the HPSC is that while there is no evidence base on which to define a maximum play-pod size, play-pods should be kept as small as is likely to be reasonably practical in the specific childcare context.
The maximum adult-child ratios required by the Early Years Services Regulations, 2016 and the Early Years Services (Registration of School Age Services) Regulations 2018 are unchanged and so services must continue to operate within them. In most cases there should be either one or two adults in a ‘play-pod’ in order to keep play-pod sizes small. Therefore, play-pod size will be limited by those ratios.
For example, a play-pod that involves 3-6 year olds in full day care may have a maximum size of either nine (one adult and eight children) or 18 (two adults and 16 children). For school age children the maximum pod size may be 13 (one adult and 12 children) or 26 (two adults and 24 children). The ratios for other age ranges or service types should be applied in the same way.
While in the majority of cases there will be no more than two adults in a play-pod, there may be some scenarios where a third adult will be required e.g. where an individual is employed to support a child with additional needs or where Tusla, as regulator, has suggested that an additional staff member is required to help with a group where there is challenging behaviour. In those instances, the additional adult would not result in any additional children in the play-pod.
757. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the supports and funding available for training of staff and potential extra staff that will be in place for childcare facilities further to their reopening as per the Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business. [11865/20]
View answerOn 10 June 2020, I announced a major funding package to facilitate the reopening of early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC) services. In accordance with the Government Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business, and guided by the expert advice of the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HSPC), ELC and SAC services can resume from 29 June. I am pleased that Government have committed a €75m package of funding for reopening services over the summer months. This substantial investment recognises the important role that the ELC and SAC sector plays in the societal and economic infrastructure of the country.
The new funding package contains four significant elements:
A once-off Reopening Support Payment (RSP) for DCYA-funded providers opening between 29 June and early September.
A once-off COVID-19 capital grant for DCYA-funded providers opening between 29 June and early September.
Continued access for eligible providers to the Revenue-operated Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS)
Resumption of DCYA ELC and SAC programmes. NCS, CCSP and TEC will be available again for children attending ELC and SAC services from 29 June.
In developing the funding package, I recognise that a reduced number of children are likely to attend ELC and SAC services in the initial weeks of reopening. This funding package is tailored to allow providers to operate with potentially less parental income and to assist in meeting the possible costs associated with complying with public health requirements.
The funding package will also ensure that ELC and SAC providers will not charge higher fees than they did pre-COVID-19. This will benefit parents and children returning to services.
A detailed set of FAQs was published on 12 June to ensure that providers are fully informed of the new funding package. These include information on eligibility and the practicalities of applying. Further information will issue in the coming weeks and my officials will ensure that the application process will be as straightforward as possible.
A range of online resources and guidance were launched on 5 June to support service providers, practitioners and parents to prepare for the reopening of ELC and SAC settings, including childminders. The Guidance for Reopening webpage is available on the First 5 website.
As ELC and SAC services are private businesses, the training of staff and preparation for returning to work are primarily matters for the ELC and SAC providers as the employer. My Department has been engaging intensively with a number of organisations representing the ELC and SAC sector, through an Advisory Group on Reopening, to ensure appropriate supports are in place to assist the sector in their preparations.
The Guidance for Reopening webpage, developed with the assistance of the Advisory Group, includes health guidance (published by the HSE Health Protection Surveillance Centre), regulatory guidance and practice supports. It also includes a COVID-19 Setting Preparation Plan, developed by Early Childhood Ireland, which details the policies and practices required for the service provider to comply with the Government's "Return to Work Safely Protocol" and to minimise the risk of spread of COVID-19 in their setting.
Online training resources are also being made available on the "Continuing Professional Development Resources for Practitioners" webpage on the First 5 website. Both webpages will be updated over the coming weeks with more resources and practice examples.
If a service is incurring additional costs, the central purpose of the Reopening Support Payment (RSP) is to help services to meet these costs. For example, if an existing staff member is diverted to an activity which is additional to normal (pre-COVID-19) activities arising from reopening, then the expenditure may be assigned to the RSP. Similarly, any overheads that are additional costs associated with reopening can be assigned to this purpose.
All material on reopening ELC and SAC services in a safe and sustainable way if available at https://first5.gov.ie/
758. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the sustainability supports for facilities with high debts as a result of Covid-19 that will be put in place. [11866/20]
View answerOn 10 June 2020, the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs announced a major funding package to facilitate the reopening of Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age Childcare (SAC) services.
A key policy priority for the DCYA is the sustainability of the ELC and SAC sector and hence it has and continues to work intensively to support services to re-open after COVID-19. The reopening funding aims to support providers to reopen, staff to remain in the sector, parents to resume work, and children to benefit from quality ELC and SAC.
The new funding package contains four significant elements:
1. A once-off reopening support payment for DCYA-funded providers opening between 29 June and early September.
2. A once-off COVID-19 capital grant for DCYA-funded providers opening between 29 June and early September.
3. Continued access for eligible providers to the Revenue-operated Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS)
4. Resumption of DCYA ELC and SAC programmes. NCS, CCSP and TEC will be available again for children attending ELC and SAC services from 29 June.
It is hoped that that this funding package will act as a significant sustainability measure for ELC and SAC service providers anticipating to reopen from 29 June. However, a number of supports were available before the COVID-19 pandemic to improve the sustainability of services during normal times, and these remain available now. The Department oversees a Case Management process through which local CCCs and Pobal work together to assess and provide support to early learning and care services experiencing difficulties. Financial supports, which are also accessed through Case Management, are available for community services presenting with sustainability issues following a financial assessment by Pobal. Pobal co-ordinate the overall case management process with the CCC administering initial, and on-going, case management assistance. All services who require support should contact their local CCC in the first instance.
759. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of children referred to Tusla each month in 2018, 2019 and to date in 2020. [11931/20]
View answerThe Deputy is referring to an operational matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. I have therefore referred the matter to Tusla, and asked that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.
760. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of children on the at-risk register of Tusla; and the number of visits carried out by social workers to children on the at-risk register during each month in 2018, 2019 and to date in 2020. [11932/20]
View answerThe Deputy is referring to an operational matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. I have therefore referred the matter to Tusla, and asked that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.
761. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if persons (details supplied) will receive assistance in respect of the ECCE year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12058/20]
View answerThe Early Childhood Care and Education programme (ECCE) is a two year pre-school programme. There is no routine provision for a third year, as this may not be in the best interests of a child and may lead to breaching the statutory school starting age.
The application for an overage exemption referred to by the Deputy was declined as the child would be 6 years and 3 months starting school if granted an exemption.
Overage exemptions were introduced at the onset of the ECCE programme in 2010. At that time ECCE operated for a 38 week period, or one programme year. For some children with special/additional needs, attending preschool five days a week was not feasible so, therefore, an allowance was made. Their ECCE place was split over two years, e.g. a child may have availed of three days ECCE provision in year one and two days in year two. In order to facilitate this, in the cases where the child would have been overage for ECCE in the latter year, an overage exemption was granted.
Following the introduction of a second ECCE from September 2018 the original rationale for an overage exemption was considered to be no longer valid.
It is important to note that this provision of an overage exemption by my Department for the ECCE programme was never intended as a mechanism to delay a child’s entry to primary education or to address any issue of non-availability of a school place.
The overage exemption process has been the subject of a consultation process and a report was produced by the National Disability Authority (NDA). A key finding of this report is that it is in children's best interest to enrol in primary school with their peers and to transition to becoming a teenager with their peers. It is worth stressing that the only rationale underpinning these considerations is what is in the best interests of the child.
The report also seeks to ensure that schools offer all the assistance necessary to meet the child's needs, with the assistance of the National Council for Special Education (NCSE). I would urge the family to make contact with the NCSE in this regard.
762. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if sessional services are allowed open to offer childcare from 29 June 2020 even though they will not be offering ECCE; if such services can apply for the reopening and capital grants announced on 10 June 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12082/20]
View answerOn 10 June 2020, I announced a major funding package to facilitate the reopening of early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC) services. In accordance with the Government Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business, and guided by the expert advice of the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HSPC), ELC and SAC services can resume from 29 June. I am pleased that Government have committed a €75m package of funding for reopening services over the summer months. This substantial investment recognises the important role that the ELC and SAC sector plays in the societal and economic infrastructure of the country.
The new funding package contains four significant elements:
- A once-off Reopening Support Payment (RSP) for DCYA-funded providers opening in the coming months from June 29
- A once-off COVID-19 capital grant for DCYA-funded providers opening in the coming months from 29 June
- Continued access for eligible providers to the Revenue-operated Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS)
- Resumption of DCYA ELC and SAC programmes. NCS, CCSP and TEC will be available again for children attending ELC and SAC services from 29 June.
In developing the funding package, I recognise that a reduced number of children are likely to attend ELC and SAC services in the initial weeks of reopening. This funding package is tailored to allow providers to operate with potentially less parental income and to assist in meeting the possible costs associated with complying with public health requirements.
The funding package will also ensure that ELC and SAC providers will not charge higher fees than they did pre-COVID-19. This will benefit parents and children returning to services.
All providers, including sessional providers, can avail of all elements of the reopening funding package if they meet the eligibility criteria. The criteria are contained in a detailed set of FAQs, published on 12 June. These include information on eligibility and the practicalities of applying.
A key policy priority for my Department is the sustainability of the ELC and SAC sector and hence it has and continues to work intensively to support services to reopen after COVID-19. The reopening funding aims to support providers to reopen, staff to remain in the sector, parents to resume work, and children to benefit from quality ELC and SAC.
763. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her views on a matter (details supplied) relating to the provision of childcare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12089/20]
View answerOn 10 June I announced a comprehensive support package worth €75m to support services to open from 29 June. In addition to the resumption of scheme payments, I have included a number of other measures in this package to support services to reopen, including:
- A Reopening Support Payment (RSP) of €18m for centre-based services, to help them with operational costs
- A capital grant of €14.2m, which can be used by services to adhere to the reopening guidelines by improving hygiene facilities and outdoor play areas,
- The continuation of Revenue’s Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme, to support services in meeting their staff costs.
A key purpose of the above funding is to ensure that ELC and SAC services will not have to charge higher fees than they did pre-COVID-19, even though the costs of providing their service may increase in some circumstances. This was designed to benefit parents and children returning to these services.
All ELC and SAC services can avail of all elements of the funding package for which they are eligible. A detailed set of FAQs was published on 12 June to ensure that providers are fully informed of the new funding package. These include information on eligibility and the practicalities of applying.
The RSP is available at two levels, standard and enhanced. To receive enhanced RSP, among other requirements, the service must open full-time where the definition of full-time is greater than 5 hours per day, 5 days per week. This opening must also be in accordance with the service type on the Tusla register. Eligibility for the enhanced RSP does not require that children must be attending full time; rather, the requirement is that the service is open greater than 5 hours per day. Services that choose not to open full time may instead avail of the standard RSP, so long as they meet the eligibility criteria.
Parents and providers work together to decide on the amount of ELC and SAC that is needed and can be provided. As ELC and SAC providers are private entities, they set their own sessions and admissions policies. This is unrelated to a service provider's entitlement to RSP.
A key policy priority for my Department is the sustainability of the ELC and SAC sector and hence it has and continues to work intensively to support services to reopen after COVID-19. The reopening funding aims to support providers to reopen, staff to remain in the sector, parents to resume work, and children to benefit from quality ELC and SAC.
764. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the way in which a family can request a full disclosure of a complaint that has been made to Tusla; if a family can be provided with the name of the complainant; and if such information can be provided to a Member of Dáil Éireann as a registered third party. [12094/20]
View answerThe processing of complaints through Tusla's complaints system, Tell Us, is an operational matter for Tusla. I have requested Tusla to respond to the Deputy directly on the matter raised.
