Wednesday, 2 Dec 2020

Written Answers Nos. 79-98

Jobseeker's Benefit

Questions (79)

Joan Collins

Question:

79. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 428 of 20 October 2020, if the Christmas bonus will be paid to those on jobseeker's benefit. [40520/20]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

In general the Christmas Bonus is paid to recipients of long-term social welfare payments who are dependent upon their social welfare payment for most or all of their income for what is normally a prolonged period.

As an exceptional measure due to the severe impact of COVID-19 on employment levels and on customers financial circumstances, the bonus will be paid to all jobseekers and Pandemic Unemployment Payment recipients, including those in receipt of Jobseeker's Benefit, who have been in receipt of their social welfare payment for a minimum of 4 months. This four month period does not necessarily need to be continuous.

The rate of payment for the Christmas Bonus will be 100% of a person’s normal rate of social welfare payment and will be included in the normal weekly payment paid in the week commencing 7th December 2020.

I trust that this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Gender Recognition

Questions (80)

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill

Question:

80. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Social Protection the stage of drafting of the proposed legislation giving effect to the commitments outlined in the Programme for Government in relation to gender recognition for children aged 16 to 17 years of age; the expected timeline for referral to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection, Community and Rural Development and the Islands for pre-legislative scrutiny; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40555/20]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

Draft Heads of Bill have been prepared in the matter of amending the legislation regarding obtaining a gender recognition certificate for those aged 16 and 17 years of age. I expect to be shortly in a position to progress this and write to the Chair of the Committee in respect of pre-legislative scrutiny.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Pension Provisions

Questions (81)

David Cullinane

Question:

81. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will advise on a matter raised in correspondence (details supplied); if the pension abatement rule for public sector pensions applies to employment with section 38 and 39 organisations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40556/20]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

As I understand that the Deputy is asking about the potential abatement of a public sector pension that could apply to employment with section 38 and 39 organisations, I would direct the Deputy to my colleague, the Minister for Health, who has policy responsibility for these organisations.

Supplementary Welfare Allowance

Questions (82)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

82. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the correct level of supplementary welfare payable in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40563/20]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

My officials have advised that the person concerned is in receipt of a Basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance at the maximum personal weekly rate of €201. This is the correct rate of payment for a person of her circumstances.

I trust this clarifies the matter.

Exceptional Needs Payment

Questions (83)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

83. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if an exceptional needs payment towards payment of a bill for a funeral can be facilitated in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40564/20]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

According to my officials, there is no recent record of an application for an Exceptional Needs Payment (ENP) from the person concerned in my Department.

Under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, my Department can make a single ENP to help meet essential, once-off expenditure, which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. There is no automatic entitlement to this payment which is payable at the discretion of the officers administering the scheme, taking into account the requirements of the legislation and all the relevant circumstances of the case, in order to ensure that payments target those most in need of assistance.

For the convenience of the person concerned, an ENP application pack has been issued. On receipt of the completed application form and any necessary supporting documentation, the application of the person concerned will be assessed and she will be advised of the outcome.

I trust this clarifies the matter.

Disability Allowance

Questions (84)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

84. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) can qualify for a disability allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40565/20]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

Disability allowance (DA) is a weekly allowance paid to people with a specified disability who are aged over 16 and under 66. The disability must be expected to last for at least one year and the allowance is subject to a medical assessment, a means test and a habitual residency test.

A completed application form for DA must be submitted to the Department in order to have eligibility checked and a formal decision made on entitlement. To date no application for disability allowance has been received from the person concerned.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Employment Support Services

Questions (85)

Neasa Hourigan

Question:

85. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Social Protection the face-to-face social services available to the Roma community; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40579/20]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

My Department is committed to providing a quality service to all of its customers. The face to face social services available to all our customers are also available to the Roma community.

The Government's commitment to improve the lives of the Traveller and Roma communities in Ireland is set out in the National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy 2018- 2021 (NTRIS). My Department’s core commitments in NTRIS focus on Traveller and Roma employment. Staff in my Department also participate on the Employment and Roma Inclusion sub-groups.

All public employment services (PES) are available on a non-discriminatory basis to any person or existing customer. Any person looking for support from my Department can request this, on a voluntary, walk–in basis to any of our services throughout the Intreo network. In addition, an awareness and respect for equality and diversity is an integral component of all staff training in line with our core values.

My Department remains committed to engaging with a wide range of stakeholders with an interest in social inclusion policies. These include the Migrant Consultation Forum established under the Government’s Migrant Integration Strategy; the quarterly customer service conferences; the annual Pre Budget Forum and Social Inclusion Forum. Representatives from the Roma community are invited to all of these events.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Fuel Allowance

Questions (86)

Claire Kerrane

Question:

86. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has considered making the pandemic unemployment payment a qualifying payment for the fuel allowance or allowing time spent on it to be counted towards the 15-month requirement for jobseeker’s to qualify; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40595/20]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The fuel allowance is a payment of €24.50 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €686 each year) from October to April, to an average of 352,000 low income households, at an estimated cost of €261.35 million in 2020. The purpose of this payment is to assist these households with their energy costs. The allowance represents a contribution towards the energy costs of a household. It is not intended to meet those costs in full. Only one allowance is paid per household.

The criteria for fuel allowance are framed in order to direct the limited resources available to my Department in as targeted a manner as possible. Qualifying payments for fuel allowance are those payments that are considered long term payments and an applicant must also satisfy a means test. The PUP was introduced by my Department in March 2020 and is available to all employees and the self-employed who have lost employment due to a downturn in economic activity caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. When introduced the scheme was expected to be a short term measure and applicants do not have to satisfy a means test to qualify for the payment.

Any decision to include the PUP as a qualifying payment for fuel allowance would have budgetary consequences and would have to be considered in the context of budget negotiations taking into consideration the resources available to my Department.

While the PUP is not a qualifying payment for the fuel allowance, similar to the short-term jobseeker’s allowance payment, it does not prevent an otherwise qualified household from receiving the payment. Periods spent in receipt of PUP immediately before receipt of a Jobseeker's payment can be considered towards the 390 days necessary to qualify for fuel allowance on that payment.

Under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, exceptional needs payments may be made to help meet an essential, once-off cost which customers are unable to meet out of their own resources, and this may include exceptional heating costs. Decisions on such payments are made on a case-by-case basis.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Farm Assist Scheme

Questions (87)

Willie O'Dea

Question:

87. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) will receive payment for farm assist after being allowed their appeal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40635/20]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The person concerned was successful in their appeal regarding their Farm Assist claim. I can now confirm that the person concerned will receive their payment including arrears on Friday 4th December 2020.

Social Welfare Eligibility

Questions (88)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

88. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection the advice she can provide on a matter (details supplied) regarding concurrent pensions. [40673/20]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

It is a standard feature of social welfare legislation that a claimant can claim only one social welfare primary payment. It is not possible to be in receipt of both Invalidity Pension and a Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s (Contributory) Pension.

While I have sympathy for the unfortunate circumstances of the person concerned, the position is that to change the underlying principle of entitlement and allow people to claim concurrent payments would involve significant additional expenditure which would prove unsustainable in the longer term.

There are a number of supports in the social welfare system which are of benefit to widows.

- The maximum personal rate of a Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s (Contributory) Pension is significantly higher for those aged 66 or over than it is for a widow or widower of working age, as it is aligned with the maximum personal rate for the State Pension (Contributory).

- A person who loses their spouse or civil partner may be entitled to the Living Alone Allowance in addition to the Widow's Pension.

- People in receipt a Widow's Pension may also be eligible for the Household Benefits Package. In addition, a widow aged between 60 and 65 years, whose late spouse/civil partner received the Household Benefits Package from this Department, may qualify for that package if they otherwise satisfy all other conditions and receive a relevant qualifying payment.

- A Widow's Pension recipient may also qualify to receive Fuel Allowance, subject to the conditions of the scheme, including a means test.

- A Widow's Pension recipient who qualifies for both the Living Alone Allowance and the Fuel Allowance will automatically qualify for the Telephone Support Allowance. This payment aims to help those living alone with the cost of communications and/or home alert security systems.

- Supplementary Welfare Assistance is available from this Department to people struggling financially – this is a means-tested payment. This is administered by this Department’s Community Welfare Service and can be accessed by customers through their local Intreo office.

Full details of these supports are available and updated regularly on the www.gov.ie website.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Questions (89)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

89. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to ensure that all those in receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment who are due arrears receive the arrears before Christmas 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40747/20]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

Since the introduction of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment scheme in March, approximately 815,000 people have applied for payment and in some cases, they have done so on a number of occasions as they moved in and out of employment or where their employer availed of the Revenue Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme. Consequently, there are over 1.4 million applications to be examined to determine if arrears are due. To date, over 13 million individual payments have issued over a 36 week period.

Arrears in respect of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment will arise under two broad headings. Firstly, there may have been an initial time lag in the commencement of payments. During the month of March, the Department of Social Protection received and processed jobseeker claims equivalent in number to a three year claim-load. Almost 59,000 people were paid in the first week of the scheme, increasing to 283,000 people in the following week and over 507,000 people in the third week of the scheme. The focus was on putting claims into payment as quickly as possible was and it was not possible to generate arrears payments at the time. Secondly, arrears may also arise in respect of individual weeks where claims could not be processed due to incomplete applications or data mismatches.

The Department is keenly aware that many people are due some arrears and that every case will be different. In order to address an issue of this scale, the Department has developed an automated process, which will examine each case and look at their overall entitlement to payment and match this against their payment history. The work involved is complex as the Pandemic Unemployment Payment system itself evolved from a manual applications system to one where applications were submitted online and paid over two different payment platforms (one from March to July and the second from July to date).

As PUP claim processing was prioritised in the Department with most claims being paid within a week the majority of PUP claimants (about 66%) are not due any arrears. However in cases where there were delays in issuing the payment or where claims were submitted late (about 34% of cases) some arrears may be due.

I am pleased to inform the Deputy that this week, in addition to the normal weekly PUP payments, the Department of Social Protection has started the process of paying arrears of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment with payments valued at €129.2m issuing to approximately 286,000 people.

The vast majority of arrears cases are being paid today. However, there are a smaller number of cases, and numbering less than 6,000, where the Department is continuing to examine records and any arrears that may be due in these cases will be paid as soon as possible.

I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

State Pension (Contributory)

Questions (90)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

90. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection if she plans to amend the process by which joint savings are assessed as part of the means assessment for dependent adults of recipients of the State pension (contributory); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40762/20]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

A recipient of the State Pension (Contributory) can claim an increase in their pension in respect of a Qualified Adult. A Qualified Adult is the spouse, civil partner or cohabitant of the pensioner who is being wholly or mainly maintained by that pensioner.

Only the spouse or partner of the claimant is subject to a means test. An increase is payable at the maximum rate of payment where the means of the spouse or partner are €100 a week or less, while reduced rates are payable where the means are over €100 and less than €310 per week. No increase is payable where the means of the spouse/partner are in excess of €310 per week.

The means assessed are those of the spouse or partner only, and include:

- income from employment and self-employment;

- income from non-social welfare pensions; and

- the capital value of property other than the family home, as well as savings.

Where savings or assets are held jointly, the spouse or partner's means is taken to be half of the total amount.

When calculating the weekly means from savings, an assessment formula is used. The first €20,000 of capital is fully disregarded; the next €10,000 assessed at €1 per thousand, the next €10,000 is assessed at €2 per thousand, with the remainder assessed at €4 per thousand.

Assuming no other means, a spouse/partner can have savings or other capital of up to €57,500 without affecting entitlement to a Qualified Adult increase payable at the maximum weekly rate. Tapered reduced rates of Qualified Adult increase can continue to be payable where the spouse/partner has capital of up to €110,000.

It should be noted that the value of the family home, regardless of who is the legal owner, is never taken into account in this assessment.

The means assessment reflects the fact that there is an expectation that people with reasonable amounts of income or capital are in a position to use those resources to support themselves so that social welfare expenditure can be directed towards those who need it most.

Any proposals to change the means assessment formula for an Increase for a Qualified Adult on the State Pension (Contributory) would have to be considered in an overall budgetary and policy context.

Jobseeker's Benefit

Questions (91)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

91. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason there are different rules pertaining to the assessment of a spouse’s means from employment and from an occupational pension for a claimant for jobseeker’s benefit; her plans to review same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40763/20]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

A recipient of Jobseeker's Benefit can claim an increase in their payment in respect of a Qualified Adult. A Qualified Adult is the spouse, civil partner or cohabitant of the claimant who is being wholly or mainly maintained by the recipient.

A person's entitlement to Jobseeker's Benefit is dependent on their social insurance contributions and the personal rate of payment is not means tested. Only the spouse or partner of the claimant is subject to a means test.

An increase is payable at the maximum rate of payment where the means of the spouse or partner are €100 a week or less, while reduced rates are payable where the means are over €100 and less than €310 per week. No increase is payable where the means of the spouse/partner are in excess of €310 per week.

The means assessed are those of the spouse or partner only, and include:

- income from employment and self-employment;

- income from non-social welfare pensions; and

- the capital value of property other than the family home, as well as savings.

Where savings or assets are held jointly, the spouse or partner's means is taken to be half of the total amount.

Earnings from employment and self-employment are assessed in full, and there are no deductions allowed in respect of, for example, tax, PRSI, VHI, superannuation and the Universal Social Charge (USC).

Weekly means from employment are calculated by reference to average weekly earnings over the previous six weeks or two months, depending on whether a person is paid weekly/fortnightly or monthly. Weekly means from self-employment are calculated by reference to the average weekly income received in the last complete tax year.

Where a spouse or civil partner has an income from an occupational pension, this income is also assessed as part of the means test. As is the case with earnings from employment or self-employment, this income is assessed on a weekly basis, and no deductions for tax or USC are allowed.

The means assessment reflects the fact that there is an expectation that people with reasonable amounts of income or capital are in a position to use these resources to support themselves so that social welfare expenditure can be directed towards those who need it most.

Social Welfare Payments Waiting Times

Questions (92)

Darren O'Rourke

Question:

92. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact that some employees of a company (details supplied) are still awaiting arrears to be paid for social welfare payments that they were prevented from accessing earlier in the year while on the temporary wage subsidy scheme; when these arrears will be paid; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40764/20]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The priority for my Department up to now has been to ensure that payments are being made currently to workers of the company concerned. To date over 3,200 claims have been put into payment in respect of employees who have applied for a jobseeker's payment. This work is now complete and deciding officers in my Department have commenced reviewing applications in respect of the period pre-September when the Temporary Wage Subsidy scheme was in payment. They are now writing to individual jobseekers requesting that they contact the company for the further information required for this review. The company is aware of this process and are working on the individual requests as they get them.

Entitlement to a casual jobseeker's or short-time work support payment for any day during that period depends, among other things, on whether or not a person received remuneration from their employer for that day. Each case needs to be examined individually to determine if the remuneration paid by the company concerned was in respect of a complete period or only specific days within a period. This will determine if a person may be entitled to a casual jobseeker's payment in respect of the days on which a person did not work.

Because of the volume and complexity of claims involved and the need to go back to individual claimants, the process will take some time.

Once a decision is made on a particular claim, my Department will notify that claimant of the outcome and it will be open to any person who is not satisfied with this decision to seek a review or to appeal that decision to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy

Childcare Services

Questions (93)

Alan Dillon

Question:

93. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to enable those who have signed a grandfathering declaration to continue as childcare workers beyond September 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40535/20]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

The minimum qualification requirement for early learning and care services came into effect on 31 December 2016, as stated in the Child Care Act (Early Years Services) Regulations 2016. These regulations stipulate that all staff working directly with children must hold a minimum of a Level 5 Major Award in Early Childhood Care and Education on the National Framework of Qualifications or a qualification deemed equivalent.

The introduction of the minimum Level 5 Major Award requirement had been initially announced in 2013, and my Department provided extensive financial investment to support staff to achieve the relevant qualification in the form of multiple Learner Fund bursary rounds between 2014 and 2016. Great strides were made by the sector and over 96% of staff in 2019 held the necessary qualification. To accommodate staff who were due to retire, the Department made available an option for unqualified staff who were planning to retire over the coming years, to sign a grandfather declaration that enabled them to work without qualification for a 5-year period up to September 2021.

The minimum qualification requirement was introduced to raise the quality of provision for children and improve child outcomes. First 5,the whole-of-Government strategy for babies, young children and their families, recognises that the workforce is at the heart of high-quality early learning and care. The evidence is irrefutable about the importance of the first five years of life for children's learning. Children achieve better outcomes when staff are qualified. This is undisputed internationally. First 5 seeks to continue to build an appropriately skilled and sustainable professional workforce’. In line with First 5 , my Department is currently leading on a Workforce Development Plan which will set out actions to support professionalisation of the workforce, including achieving a graduate-led workforce and raising the profile of careers in the sector by 2028 (A First 5 objective is that 50% of the workforce will have degrees by 2028).

Any decision to extend the grandfathering arrangement or to lower qualification requirements - even temporarily - would run counter to the direction of Government and international policy in this area and would require a strong evidence base. My Department is continuing to monitor workforce developments in the sector and gather data on recruitment difficulties. New data will be available in the coming weeks as part of the annual Pobal Early Years Sector Profile. It is understood that there is a sufficient supply of qualified workers into the sector - the challenge is that they are not being retained, primarily due to poor working terms and conditions. It is the latter issue that needs to be addressed, and other measures will seek to do this. My Department is committed to continuing to work with the sector to find solutions to problems that meet the needs of children, families and providers.

National Traveller-Roma Integration Strategy

Questions (94)

Neasa Hourigan

Question:

94. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the face-to-face services available to the Roma community during Covid-19 restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40580/20]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

The Government's National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy (NTRIS) 2017 – 2021 represents a whole of Government approach to bring about meaningful change and progress for the Traveller and Roma community in Ireland. It brings Government Departments and Agencies together along with representatives of both Traveller and Roma communities to focus in a structured way on issues needing to be addressed. Progress is monitored by a Steering Committee which includes both Traveller and Roma representatives and Civil Society organisations. On 12 November last, I chaired a meeting of the Steering Group.

Under the Strategy, funding has been made available to Traveller and Roma organisations to support their core activities, and to progress specific commitments in the Strategy. This funding includes special initiatives to promote Traveller and Roma employment and a new pilot programme working with Traveller and Roma families to support children’s education.

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the specific nature and extent of the needs of the Roma community in Ireland, the unique challenges in ensuring that Roma individuals and families can access services and supports, and the particular infrastructure and approach required to secure the inclusion of Roma in mainstream provision. In light of this, a subgroup was convened to identify the specific needs of Roma and to foster discussion on developing responses which are culturally sensitive.

During the current pandemic the Health Service Executive (HSE) operates a self-isolation centre in Dublin. It manages a Roma Covid-19 resource site which includes material in relevant languages. It also funds a Roma helpline and my Department has funded associated interpretation costs. The HSE is also funding Safetynet to carryout mobile screening and services for Roma.

Through Pavee Point, my Department funds Roma health workers who provide support and advocacy to the Roma community.

City and County Child Care Committees

Questions (95, 110)

Emer Higgins

Question:

95. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform will make the necessary funding available for the implementation of the Workplace Relations Commission's agreement of August 2019 between a union (details supplied) and city and county childcare committees. [40590/20]

Bernard Durkan

Question:

110. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he has engaged with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform with a view to making the necessary funding available for the implementation of the Workplace Relations Commission agreement of August 2019 between a union (details supplied) and city and county childcare committees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40738/20]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

I propose to take Questions Nos. 95 and 110 together.

Officials of my Department are currently reviewing the Workplace Relations Commission's consideration of the pay rates of the managers of the City and County Childcare Committees (CCCs).

The CCCs are one of the key support mechanisms of my Department, and I want to acknowledge the important role they play in providing vital support and guidance to early learning and care and school age childcare providers, and to parents. CCCs act as the local agent of my Department in the coordination and delivery of the national early education and childcare programmes and the implementation of Government policy at a local level, and in facilitating and supporting the development of quality, accessible ELC and SAC services for the overall benefit of children and their parents.

In 2005 the Minister for Finance sanctioned the rates payable to CCC managers as comparable tothe rates applicable in the Local Authorities for Grade 6. Officials from my Department have been engaging with representatives from the CCCs, including both manager and Board of Management representatives, and their union representatives, in relation to a proposal for a review of the grading of CCC managers.

Officials from my Department will continue to engage with all parties on this matter as appropriate. It is important to note in this regard that although my Department provides annual funding to the CCCs in respect of all areas of expenditure, including salaries, it is not the employer of CCC staff.

Direct Provision System

Questions (96)

Michael Fitzmaurice

Question:

96. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department has bought or leased housing in an area (details supplied) for direct provision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40625/20]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

My Department has not bought or leased any housing in the area referred to by the Deputy. I can also tell the Deputy that there no plans or discussions to do so.

Premises are sourced either through a full tender process which is administered through the Government’s Procurement Portal www.etenders.gov.ie or through responses to calls for expressions of interest, which are advertised in the national media. My Department is assisted with these tender projects by the Office of Government Procurement.

The tender process which commenced in late 2018, saw regional tender competitions being advertised, assessed and awarded. The competitions were held for the South East, Midlands, Mid-West, South-West, Mid-East, West, Dublin and the Border Regions.

Early Childhood Care and Education

Questions (97)

Alan Farrell

Question:

97. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of childcare providers operating under the ECCE scheme from 2017 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40667/20]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

The number of early learning services contracted to provide the Early Childhood Care and Education Programme (ECCE) programme per year since 2017 is as follows:

Programme Year Total Services

2017/2018 4248

2018/2019 4269

2019/2020 4261

For the current programme year, 2020-2021 3,966 services have contracted up to November 30th and this number will likely increase as new services open throughout this programme year.

National Childcare Scheme

Questions (98)

Kathleen Funchion

Question:

98. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the actions he will take to address the extremely low levels of awareness of the NCS and after school programmes by Tusla social workers; the training that has been provided for Tusla social care workers on the NCS programme; and the guidance given to social workers in order that they can quickly and efficiently refer a child to an afterschool service. [40716/20]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

The Sponsorship arrangement within the NCS to which the Deputy refers offers additional supports for families with complex needs.

The need for a referral is a determination that the Sponsor Body must make based on the particular need of the child in line with the defined criteria of the NCS sponsorship programme. Once a child meets the criteria for sponsorship by a given Sponsor Body, the child can automatically avail of up to 45 hours of childcare per week.

The Child and Family Agency, Tusla, can sponsor a child aged from birth to 17 years for a maximum of 45 hours per week where they meet the following criteria:

- children who are in need of additional care and protection as part of the provision of child care and family support services by the CFA,

- and who are deemed by the CFA to require childcare services in order to promote their welfare

- children whose families are receiving support under Meitheal

- children known to the child protection system (level 2 or level 3)

- children in care

My Department liaises with a central contact point within Tusla for the dissemination of sponsor information leaflets, which are then provided to referring officers.

In conjunction with Tusla and the Scheme Administrator my Department is co-ordinates the training and information needs that arise, ensuring Tusla receive all the training and support required. To that end, since the sector reopened on 29 June, 163 Tusla staff across the country have undergone training for the NCS.

The training as delivered includes information on the obligations and processes as they relate to the particular Sponsor Body and is tailored to reflect the most recent questions that people have from their experiences in the community.

As of week ending 29 November 2020, 598 children are sponsored by Tusla to receive childcare under the NCS.

My Department will continue to work with officials and other key stakeholders to build awareness of the sponsor arrangements.