Written Answers Nos. 750-774
750. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the additional supports that will be provided to childcare facilities that open before September 2020, in view of the fact they face additional costs (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12752/20]
View answerI fully appreciate that the Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) sector faces significant challenges in reopening, and I acknowledge that this is not a normal return to business. In recognition of this, a number of supports have been put in place to assist the sector in reopening.
I recently announced a major funding package to facilitate the reopening of ELC and SAC services from 29 June, including a once-off capital grant of €14.2M. All registered centre based services re-opening between 29 June and the beginning of September can avail of this grant.
This grant can be used by services to help them to adhere to the reopening guidelines by improving hygiene facilities and outdoor play areas. It should be noted that the definition of a capital asset is an asset intended for use on a continuing basis with an expected life of more than one year. Therefore capital grants cannot be used to purchase PPE and other consumable items.
There is a high level of flexibility being allowed in respect of the items that may be purchased, in recognition of the fact that services will have very different needs depending on factors such as what they already have, what age groups they cater to, and the physical layout of their premises. A list of eligible categories of items has been shared with ELC and SAC services.
In addition to capital, the package of supports includes a re-opening grant of €18m to assist ELC and SAC services in meeting operational costs, including additional staffing costs. This may cover extra staff required to help with pick-up or drop-off times, or to provide cleaning to meet hygiene standards. ELC and SAC services will be required to verify that the reopening support payment has been used to cover additional costs. Any overheads that are additional costs associated with reopening can be assigned to this purpose.
In addition the Revenue-operated Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS) is continuing for employees of ELC and SAC services that reopen on 29 June, which will continue to provide support with staffing costs. There is a variety of conditions relating to the TWSS. Revenue update their guidance frequently and it is essential that services participating in the scheme are alert to these materials.
In developing this funding model I recognise that a reduced number of children are likely to attend ELC and SAC services in the initial weeks of reopening. This necessitates a tailored model, which will allow providers to operate with potentially less parental income. It will also ensure that ELC and SAC providers will not have to charge higher fees than they did pre-COVID-19, even though the costs of providing ELC and SAC may increase in some circumstances. This will benefit parents and children returning to services.
This suite of measures will run from 29 June to 23 August. Further details on all of these measures have been made available in FAQs that have been distributed to all ELC and SAC services.
My Department will review the operation of these measures in July and will then make further arrangements for services normally reopening in late August/early September. I acknowledge that the Deputy makes specific reference to this September in her question, but through these supports my Department is responding to the immediate need to reopen ELC and SAC services, in line with the Government’s Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business. As the Deputy will be aware, this plan for a phased reopening is under continuous assessment with regard to wider developments as they unfold. DCYA will continue to analyse the needs of the sector in the context of the country’s phased reopening going forward.
751. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if school age children are permitted in day care and Montessori facilities from 29 June 2020. [12753/20]
View answer760. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if crèches can reopen their afterschool facilities; the guidance issued to them on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13080/20]
View answer762. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will consider the concerns raised by a healthcare worker that cannot access childcare (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13082/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 751, 760 and 762 together.
The Government Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business allows for the phased reopening of both Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare services from 29 June.
On Friday 5 June, my Department published 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: https://first5.gov.ie/practitioners/reopening
As with services for pre-school children, school-age childcare services may reopen from 29 June. There is nothing in the Government Roadmap or in the guidance provided by my Department that limits services to reopen for children under the age of six only.
The resources available on the First 5 website include guidance to help support providers in managing allocation of places when services reopen where demand for places is greater than the capacity within a service. Where possible it is proposed that children should be enabled to return to the service they used pre-COVID-19.
On 10 June a major funding package was announced to facilitate the reopening of Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare services from 29 June. This funding includes capital and reopening grants to support services reopening over the summer. All DCYA subsidy schemes will resume, as may the charging of fees to privately paying parents.
It must be noted that my Department is not the owner/employer of school-age childcare services; they are private businesses and specific decisions on whether, when and how to reopen are a matter for the individual service provider.
Parents are encouraged to discuss any concerns they may have with their service provider.
752. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the costs associated with the pilot meal programme being planned in early learning and care under First 5, the Whole-of-Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families 2019-2028; the settings that will be covered; the number of children that will be covered in the pilot; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12774/20]
View answerFirst 5, the Whole-of-Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families 2019-2028 commits to piloting a meals programme in Early Learning and Care (ELC) settings. In 2019, as part of Budget 2020, funding was secured to pilot this initiative. The meals programme will be trialled in a sample of approximately 45 community, not-for-profit ELC settings. The focus of the pilot is for children participating in the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme.
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the pilot was due to run for the full duration of the 2020/2021 ECCE programme year (i.e. 38 weeks from September to June). Pilot timelines have been altered due to the closure of ELC settings but it is intended to run the pilot from January 2021 to the end of June 2021.
A range of meals options will be piloted, including a hot meals option. Rates for meals will be based on the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection’s School Meals Programme. A Working Group to oversee this pilot will soon be established to lead the development, roll-out of the pilot and the commission of services of an external evaluator. No decision has yet been made on how the settings will be selected.
Following the conclusion of the pilot and the evaluation, consideration will be given to extending this meals programme to a larger number of ELC settings and on a more a permanent basis.
754. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if early childcare facilities will have to re-register children post-Covid-19; and his views on whether it would be more appropriate and less time consuming if these facilities removed children that are not returning from their listings. [12896/20]
View answerMy Department, in conjunction with Pobal, the agency which administers the childcare funding schemes operated by my Department, has established a simplified registration system for children who are returning to childcare on or after 29 June, and who are availing of the Department funded CCSP scheme.
My Department considered the option suggested by the Deputy of requiring childcare providers to deregister children who did not return to services immediately on reopening, but concluded that this option would cause a greater admirative burden for providers, as children who returned to a service after the day it reopened, would need to be deregistered and then registered again on the CCSP scheme. My Department rejected this option as it would cause an additional administrative burden for providers.
Pobal and the County Childcare Committees (CCCs) are available to provide support and guidance to childcare service providers through this process.
755. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the reason he indicated on 20 May and 3 June 2020 that the report into Tuam Mother and Baby Home would be published on 26 June 2020, in view of the fact on 12 June 2020 it was announced the report would be delayed by a further six months; and if his attention was drawn to the fact on 20 May 2020 that the publication of the report would be delayed. [12897/20]
View answer756. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if a guarantee will be given that the publication of the Tuam Mother and Baby Home report will not be delayed further in view of several postponements to its publication, the most recent due to the Covid-19 crisis. [12898/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 755 and 756 together.
The information which my predecessor provided to the House on both 20 May and 03 June in response to parliamentary questions on the expected delivery of the final report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes and certain related Matters by 26 June was correct and accurate.
Notably, the receipt of an update from the Commission on the 03 June was signalled in the response of the same date. My predecessor indicated that the correspondence would need to be considered in conjunction with her then Government colleagues. In its short Seventh Interim Report, which was subsequently published on 12 June, the Commission says its final report is very close to completion but it had encountered delays as a direct result of Covid-19 restrictions. For this reason, the Commission requested an extension to complete its work in accordance with the provisions of the Commissions of Investigations Act 2004.
At its meeting on 12 June, the then Government agreed to amend the Commission’s terms of reference to provide for the extension sought. The final report is now due to be delivered on 30 October 2020 at the latest, and not six months as indicated by the Deputy in her question.
In granting these extensions, the then Government considered that the public interest was best served by facilitating the Commission to produce an evidence based determination on what happened to vulnerable mothers and children in these institutions. The Commission has engaged with hundreds of former residents in its work and is attempting to comprehensively analyse information at a level beyond what has been possible to date. In agreeing to another extension of time the priority was to safeguard this substantial work so that the independent Commission can comprehensively address these crucial questions and conclude matters as expeditiously as possible in accordance with the legislative framework.
With regard to the nature of the guarantee sought by the Deputy, it is important to clarify that a Commission of Investigation is independent in the conduct of its investigations. It must of course operate within its terms of reference and the previous Government, in granting the extensions sought, had been satisfied that the Commission was using its best endeavours to conclude its report on this painful period in our history.
The Deputy should note that when a Commission submits its final report there are a number of procedural matters which must be addressed before the relevant Minister could seek the approval of Government to publish the report. For this reason there will always be a time interval between receipt of such reports and the separate arrangements for their publication.
I understand that many former residents and their families will have been deeply disappointed with the Commission's need for additional time. I know that they understand that this Commission is investigating personal and sensitive matters which happened over a period of more than 75 years. So there are multiple lines of inquiry being pursued in the course of this complex statutory investigation.
My Department will continue to use existing channels of communication to ensure that former residents, their families and supporters are the first to be know of any developments in respect of these matters. I share the wish of all interested parties to see the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes and certain related Matter to conclude its work as quickly as possible.
757. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if childminders can still apply for the childminding development grant; if so, the deadline for applications for the grant; if the grant has been replaced by the childminder reopening grant which is half the value; if other additional grants will be made available to childminders to help further develop or alter their service in view of Covid-19 restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12907/20]
View answerI can confirm that the Childminding Development Grant will continue to be available in 2020. The Childminding Development Grant scheme will be open for applications from 6 July 2020 until 14 August 2020. The Childminding Development Grant has not been replaced by the Childminding Re-opening Grant.
In light of the announcement on 25 June by the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection of the extension of the Enterprise Support Grant for self-employed micro-enterprises that are re-opening their business and transitioning from the Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment, the value of the Childminding Re-opening Grant has been increased in value from €500 to €1,000, which is the same value as the Childminding Development Grant. This change will ensure whole-of-Government consistency with supports provided for the re-opening of small businesses from the 29th June. Childminders who have already applied for the Childminding Reopening Grant will, if eligible for payment, be awarded €1,000, rather than the €500 applied for.
Childminders who are registered with Tusla and who were in contract to provide DCYA programmes on 12 March may be eligible for the Reopening Support Payment and the Covid-19 capital grant that are available to DCYA-funded providers.
758. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 904 of 16 June 2020, the spending which may be found to be in breach of spending rules under the Covid-19 subsidy scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12926/20]
View answer759. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the status of the verification process under the temporary wage subsidy childcare scheme; the number of childcare providers that have been engaged with; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12927/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 758 and 759 together.
The 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 the 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, the Temporary Wage Subsidy Childcare Scheme (TWSCS) was launched on April 15th.
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 TWSCS provides funding towards a portion of staff wages and a contribution towards services' overhead costs. Details of how to sign up have been made available through the Pobal programme platform used by childcare providers.
My Department recognises the importance of robust oversight of Exchequer funding. This includes ensuring that funds provided under the TWSCS are used for intended purposes: to meet employee pay costs in conjunction with the Revenue operated Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme and contribute towards ongoing overhead costs. As part of ensuring that the TWSCS is fully understood by participants, my Department and Pobal have provided extensive information on this scheme, including the administrative and verification requirements.
A verification process, which will involve Pobal communicating with a sample of scheme participants to verify the use of the funding provided under the scheme, will commence in the coming weeks. Funding provided under the wage top up element of the scheme must be used towards payroll in line with the requirements of the scheme. Funding provided under the overhead element of the scheme must be used to meet ongoing overhead costs. Pay costs, capital costs, and costs not related to childcare are examples of non-eligible expenditure under this scheme.
My Department will take a reasonable and supportive approach to assessing the use of funding provided to services in this difficult time. I hope that all participating providers will use the money provided under the scheme in the manner set out in the Funding Agreement. A wide variety of items qualify as eligible expenditure, and my Department's priority is to support services to reopen in line with public health advice.
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.
761. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he is considering measures to increase the availability of childcare for school aged children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13081/20]
View answerThe Government Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business allows for the phased reopening of both Early Learning and Care and School Age Childcare services from 29 June.
My Department continues to invest significant resources in the childcare sector generally. Over the last five Budgets investment in childcare has increased by 141%, which reflects the emphasis being placed on improving access to affordable, high quality services. A significant funding package is now available to support services, including school-age services, with reopening following Covid-19-related closures. The funding is expected to support the retention of capacity in the sector.
Under the National Childcare Scheme which opened for online applications on 20th November 2019, school-age childcare services who are registered with Tusla are able to avail of subsidies under the new scheme. The Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) (Registration of School Age Services) Regulations 2018 came into force on 18th February, 2019, enabling school-age childcare services to register with Tusla and participate in the National Childcare Scheme.
The number of early learning and care and school-age childcare places in Ireland has doubled over the last 5 years, assisted by an annual programme of capital grants. In 2019, grants of up to €20,000 were available to school age childcare providers for the creation of new school age places where demand for these was clearly evidenced. In 2020 school-age services are able to avail of capital and reopening grants to support their reopening.
My Department also works in collaboration with the Department of Education and Skills to support access to school-age childcare places in the context of the inter-departmental Action Plan on School-Age Childcare. The Department of Education and Skills has published guidelines to assist school authorities on how their premises might be utilised for school-age childcare and other activities where it can be facilitated by the school patron/trustees.
763. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his plans to reopen childcare services which operate in schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13160/20]
View answerGuided by public health advice from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC), early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC) services can resume from 29 June. On 10 June 2020, a €75m funding package was announced to facilitate the reopening of ELC and SAC 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.
In relation specifically to the reopening of childcare services that operate on school premises, officials in my Department have been in contact with colleagues in the Department of Education and Skills.
The Department of Education and Skills have advised that the use of school facilities lies with the relevant school authority in consultation with the property owner, and that priority should be given to the interests of the school, teachers and pupils.
The Department of Education and Skills’ policy is to encourage the use of school facilities, where possible, for community, training and education-related activities. It encourages schools to facilitate requests wherever possible but on the basis that it would not impede capacity to cater for any proposed Department of Education and Skills’ summer programmes for students with special needs or from a disadvantaged background. The Department of Education and Skills advises that summer programmes should be given first priority for use of school facilities.
To assist schools in considering applications for use of their facilities, the Department of Education and Skills in consultation with representatives of schools has drafted guidelines on the use of school property outside of school hours which is available here
https://www.education.ie/en/Publications/Policy-Reports/guidelines-on-the-use-of-school-buildings-outside-of-school-hours.pdf
These guidelines are not intended to be exhaustive or prescriptive but are provided to assist schools in considering applications for the use of their facilities.
The use of school facilities should be managed at local level between the childcare service provider and the school.
764. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the actions being taken to ensure that first-time applicants for the universal subsidy under the national childcare scheme can still apply for the subsidy, notwithstanding the fact that online application via MyGovId appears to be halted due to the unavailability of appointments to obtain the public services card; if an alternative method for application has been established in view of the unavailability of such appointments; if applicants will be backdated from date of eligibility in view of the fact late application may occur through no fault of their own due to the circumstances outlined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13168/20]
View answerMy Department is aware of the current situation with regard to the Public Service Card, however parents can still apply for the National Childcare Scheme without obtaining a Public Services Card. They can do so by completing a paper application form and returning by post. For information on how to apply by post, parents can contact the Parent Support Centre on 01 906 8530, Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm.
I would also note that parents who already hold a Public Services Card and a basic MyGovidID account can still create a MyGovID verified account, and thereby complete an online application for the National Childcare Scheme. Details on how to do this can be found by logging into a MyGovID basic account, available at www.mygovid.ie .
As such it is open parent to apply at the any stage for an NCS award through online or offline means.
Regarding the issue of backdating subsidies, it has always been communicated by my Department that subsidy awards are payable from the week they are claimed, and not the date of application. It is a key aspect of the scheme that all claims are paid in arrears based on the attendance of a child. As such, the child must be registered with a childcare provider and the provider must confirm that attendance. This is a key financial and governance control to ensure we are maximising the benefits of public monies and that the investment is following the child.
Further information and resources for parents are available at www.ncs.gov.ie
765. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the financial difficulties facing family resource centres nationwide as a direct result of Covid-19 restrictions (details supplied); the steps he has taken to address the difficulties; his views on the fact that many centres will struggle to remain open unless urgent assistance is provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13217/20]
View answerTusla, the Child and Family Agency administers the Family Resource Centre (FRC) Programme. There are 121 Family Resource Centres currently in the FRC Programme. In 2020, Tusla is providing funding of some €18 million to the FRC Programme.
Tusla has maintained consistent contact with FRCs during the COVID-19 national emergency, and continues to provide core funding to FRCs to ensure that staff continue to receive an income at this time. Tusla has advised my Department that it is aware of the concerns of FRCs regarding the loss of potential income, and has provided advice to services about additional resources and supports that may be available. This includes the Government’s COVID-19 Stability Fund for community and voluntary organisations, administered by the former Department for Rural and Community Development, a package of some €35 million. The Restart Grant referred to is a matter for the former Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation.
Tusla has directed €70,054 towards assisting 23 FRCs respond to Covid-19 over the last few months. In addition to core funding, additional once-off funding of €618,000 is being made available in 2020 through the Dormant Accounts Fund to support maintenance costs in FRCs. Tusla is considering all applications for this Dormant Accounts fund at present and expects to advise FRCs of the outcome of their applications shortly.
766. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the management and owners of a childcare facility (details supplied) are asking parents if they want the facility to not comply with the public health requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13224/20]
View answer767. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if a childcare facility can disregard the childcare health requirements in the provision of the service; if so, the consequences of a childcare facility that disregards public health requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13225/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 766 and 767 together.
It would not be appropriate for my Department or Tusla, the independent statutory regulator for early years services, to comment on individual cases of this nature.
In line with the provisions of Regulation 23 of the Child Care Act, 1991 (Early Years Services) Regulations, 2016, all registered pre-school service providers have a statutory obligation to take all reasonable measures to safeguard the health, safety and welfare of children attending their service. This includes measures to prevent and control the spread of infectious diseases, including Covid-19, within their service.
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 29 May. The guidance recommends, amongst other measures, the use of a “play pod” model to restrict 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.
Working in conjunction with the Health Surveillance Protection Centre, Tusla has also prepared and issued guidance and a self-assessment checklist to all registered providers to assist them with complying with their regulatory obligations in the safe reopening of their services in line with ongoing public health measures.
Regulatory inspections which had been suspended as a result of the recent public health restrictions, are due to recommence in early July. During the initial resumption of inspections, Tusla will assess the procedures put in place by providers to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in line with their self-assessment checklist.
Tusla will work with providers to address any identified non-compliance through the inspection process in the first instance. As statutory regulator, however, Tusla retains the power to escalate findings of non-compliance to enforcement actions where necessary, in order to safeguard the health, welfare and development of children in early years settings.
Any concerns regarding the operation of an early years service, including concerns about infection control measures, can be notified to the Unsolicited Information Office of Tusla’s Early Years Inspectorate. All such concerns will be screened and assessed to determine if they fall within the remit of the Regulations. Such information will then be used to determine the focus and timing of inspections. Contact details for the Unsolicited Information Office are available on the Tusla website at: https://www.tusla.ie/services/preschool-services/where-to-get-advice-if-i-have-a-difficulty-or-a-complaint-about-a-service/
768. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if a review of the case of persons (details supplied) will be expedited; and if he will liaise with Tusla and the Ombudsman for Children in order to decide the type of review and enquiry necessary in relation to the matter. [13299/20]
View answerThank you deputy for raising this important matter. I was very impressed by the strength of the women involved in coming forward to share the experience of the abuse they suffered at the hands of their father. Their courage is to be commended.
In looking at the question of an enquiry into the role of public officials in this matter, I have to bear in mind that not all court proceedings have concluded in this matter. Tusla, the Child and Family Agency has engaged in a file review of children's services, from files available to it the previous South Eastern Health Board and the HSE. They have confirmed there is evidence of family support and social work contact starting in the mid 1980’s. All efforts are being made to expedite this work. While findings from this work will help inform any further review/enquiry into this matter Tusla cannot account for role of Public Health Nursing, general HSE community services, teachers and AGS during this period.
I have asked to be kept informed of progress with the review.
769. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will address an issue with regard to the second ECCE year for the coming term (details supplied). [13308/20]
View answerI acknowledge that continuing uncertainty about the operation of the ECCE programme may be challenging for both service providers and parents. Decisions on the operation of the ECCE programme, including funding arrangements, will be announced in the coming weeks. The decisions to be made are complex and must balance a number of important issues.
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 early learning and care services.
Services are 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 when they reopen, subject to, for example, their space, room layout and staffing availability.
It must be noted that the Department is not the owner/employer of early learning and care services; they are private businesses and specific decisions on how to reopen are a matter for the individual service provider.
In saying that, my Department is working closely with the sector to address the many questions that exist in relation to reopening of services, including the issues around capacity and how the ECCE pre-school programme will operate when it recommences.
770. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when Ireland will ratify the UN child protection protocol. [13315/20]
View answerI understand that the Deputy's intention was to refer to the Second Optional Protocol to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. My Department has been working diligently to progress the ratification of this important treaty.
In 2019 the Department made a comprehensive submission to the Attorney General’s Office seeking confirmation as to whether Ireland was in a position to ratify the Protocol. The advice that we received stated that while Ireland is largely compliant with the terms of the Protocol, there are some outstanding issues that need to be resolved before the State can proceed to ratification.
My Department has been liaising closely with the Department of Justice and Equality and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade since the issues fall within their remit. We hope to resolve the issues identified by the AGO as soon as possible and conclude this process by the end of 2020.
771. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of current and retrospective child abuse cases that have been deemed founded and unfounded, respectively by Tusla between May 2016 and June 2020, in tabular form; the number of the founded cases that have been notified to either him, An Garda Síochána or the Minister for Justice and Equality; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13376/20]
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.
772. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if a review of child safety measures and welfare in an organisation is requested if an allegation of retrospective child abuse within an organisation is deemed founded by Tusla; the evidence that would need to emerge to warrant such an investigation or review to be called for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13377/20]
View answerThe statutory bodies with primary responsibility for child welfare and protection are Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, and An Garda Síochána. Both have distinct functions, powers and methods of working. Tusla has a statutory duty under the Child Care Act 1991 to promote the welfare of children who are not receiving adequate care and protection. If Tusla suspects that a crime has been committed and a child has been wilfully neglected or physically or sexually abused, it will formally notify AGS without delay.
Tusla assesses all child welfare and protection concerns that are reported to it. This includes assessing retrospective or historic allegations of abuse with regard to potential current risks to children. The Minister or Department is not generally notified in relation to the details or outcomes of these assessments.
Unfortunately we are aware of many examples of organisations not upholding high standards of child protection in Ireland in the past. However, a number of policy and legislative improvements have been made to child protection standards in recent years. In particular, the Children First Act 2015, which was fully commenced in 2017, provides for a number of key child protection measures, including improving child protection arrangements in organisations providing services to children.
The Act places an obligation on providers of relevant services to keep children safe from harm, to carry out a risk assessment and to develop a Child Safeguarding Statement (CSS) that outlines the policies and procedures that are in place to manage any risks identified. The Act also provides for Tusla to establish and maintain a register of non-compliance for providers who fail to provide a copy of the CSS to Tusla when requested to do so. Tusla has established a Child Safeguarding Statement Compliance Unit (CSSCU) to support implementation of these provisions of the Act. The register of non-compliance is available on the Tusla website www.tusla.ie.
In addition, the Act provides for each Government Department to prepare a sectoral implementation plan which sets out the programme of measures either in place or planned to ensure compliance with Children First Guidance and legislation. The plans also apply to any organisation that provides a relevant service to children and receives funding from the relevant Department in that regard.
A request for any additional reviews of child protection measures in an organisation would depend on the circumstances involved and the governance relationships in place.
773. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will be requesting a review of child safety measures and welfare in an organisation (details supplied) in view of an allegation of retrospective child abuse within the organisation being deemed founded by Tusla; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13378/20]
View answerI refer you to your Parliamentary Question No. 746, reference number 13374/20, for the answer to this duplicate question.
774. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if childcare providers using the ECCE or the NCS schemes can avail of a separate stream of funding to cover the cost of renting a premises; and if not, if such costs should be met from their own revenue. [13381/20]
View answerMy Department does not provide a funding scheme to cover rent and other business overheads of service providers, including those who provide the Department funded NCS and ECCE schemes. My Department provides subsidies to childcare care providers to reduce the fees charges to parents, or in the case of ECCE, to ensure that parents so not have to pay any fees.
Childcare is provided by private operators, 75% of whom are private sector entities, generally companies or sole traders, and 25% of whom are community based organisations. The cost of rent, staff costs and other overheads are a commercial matter for each provider.
