Written Answers Nos. 383-401
383. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of the Roadmap for Social Inclusion 2020-2025; the reason no national anti-poverty strategy was in place for the years 2017-2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43400/20]
View answerThe Roadmap for Social Inclusion was approved by the previous Government on 9 January 2020 and published on 14 January 2020. It is a whole-of-government strategy with a five year timeframe and a mid-term review at the mid-point, in 2022. This will facilitate an evaluation of the impact of the Roadmap commitments. The Roadmap will build on the work of its predecessors with the aim of reducing the number of people in consistent poverty in Ireland and increasing social inclusion for those who are most disadvantaged. This is reflected in its clearly stated ambition to “Reduce consistent poverty to 2% or less and to make Ireland one of the most socially inclusive countries in the EU”.
The Roadmap translates this ambition into seven Goals underpinned by 66 unique Commitments (actions) that will be taken to help deliver these goals. While the commitments and targets were agreed pre-Covid, the implementation of the Roadmap and delivery of the commitments remain of central importance. The Programme for Government reaffirms the Government's commitment in this regard, noting that the Roadmap will be rigorously implemented. I chaired the first meeting of the Social Inclusion Roadmap Steering Group in November and I was pleased to see that progress is underway on the majority of the commitments, notwithstanding the additional challenges faced by all Government departments this year as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Roadmap is the successor to the National Action Plan for Social Inclusion 2007-2016 and the Updated National Action Plan for Social Inclusion, which covered the period 2015-2017 and was developed to reflect the policy changes and new social and economic realities that emerged from the recession and ensuing recovery. During 2018 and 2019, my Department engaged in a public consultation process and engaged extensively with Government Departments to develop a robust, whole of government strategy with a focus on reducing poverty and increasing social inclusion for those who are most disadvantaged in our society.
Together with the work undertaken by my Department, as reflected in the targeted measures contained in Budgets 2018, 2019 and 2020 and again in the recent Budget 2021, work to address poverty and social exclusion also continued across Government to deliver actions under the range of sectoral plans that have social inclusion and poverty reduction as key objectives, in areas such as education, health, housing, equality, children, integration and community development. The Roadmap for Social Inclusion recognizes the strong role that sectoral plans play in reducing poverty and improving social inclusion and therefore does not seek to replicate them. It does however set a level of ambition as to what is to be achieved which will inform and be reflected in sectoral and service plans across government as they are renewed and updated over the coming years.
I thank the Deputy for her question and hope this clarifies the matter.
384. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on the new youth guarantee; her plans and intended deadlines to ensure those under 29 years of age can receive an offer of employment, education, traineeship or apprenticeship within a period of four months of becoming unemployed or leaving formal education, as committed to under the new youth guarantee (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41672/20]
View answerPrior to the pandemic youth unemployment in Ireland stood at just over 10 percent in Q1 2020 based on the CSO’s Labour Force Survey data, with approximately 20,000 persons aged under 25 on the Live Register. By Q3 2020 these figures had increased to 20 percent and 25,000 respectively. Moreover, if we include PUP recipients in the figures, by the end of November, over 47 percent of young people in the labour force were unemployed, with one-in-four current PUP recipients (approx. 88,000) under the age of 25. However, these figures include young people in full time education who are in receipt of PUP, who would not normally be included in traditional measures of unemployment.
Experience from previous downturns has shown us that the impacts of labour market shocks can be weighted towards younger people. Much of this impact can be related to employers operating a “last in, first out” approach when enforcing cutbacks and reducing their workforce. Recent research by my Department has shown that young people make up a significant share of workers in those sectors most greatly impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic and associated public health restrictions; namely the hospitality and retail sectors.
While many young people, in particular those in receipt of PUP, will return to work as restrictions hopefully, continue to ease, it is inevitable that some jobs will be permanently lost.
This is why the European Commission believed it was important to reinforce the existing Youth Guarantee (YG) to aid in alleviating the impact of the Covid-19 crisis on young people accessing the labour market and in gaining jobs.
As Minister for Social Protection, and in light of the current challenges faced by the young people in the labour market, I welcome the Council of the European Union’s recommendation on a reinforced Youth Guarantee.
Central to the reinforced programme is the extension of the widening of the youth age bracket to include young people aged 25-29. This change acknowledges changes ongoing in our society at present; including the fact that school-to-work transitions and sustainable labour market integration now take longer because of the changing nature of work, extended periods spent in education and the skills in demand.
My Department and the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science have set plans in place to support and assist those, including young people, whose jobs are permanently lost due to Covid-19 and the impact of public health restrictions on the economy. These measures include;
- Expanding the caseload capacity of Intreo Centres during Q1 2020 with the assignment of 100 job coaches to provide enhanced employment services and supports. Case officer support to help people with job search advice and assistance is shown to be the most effective means of helping people move into employment.
- Extending the current contracts of existing contracted public employment service providers into 2021.
- Expanding the benefit of the JobsPlus recruitment subsidy to employers who hire young people. Under this scheme an employer receives the JobsPlus subsidy of €7,500 once they employ a young person (under 30 years of age) who has been unemployed for just 4 months. A higher subsidy of €10,000 is paid for recruitment of a person who was long term unemployed (over 12 months). This will help make it more attractive to recruit young people who face difficulties in securing a footing in employment. My Department will begin actively promoting this Scheme to employers early in the new year, and 8,000 places will be available for young jobseekers throughout 2021.
- Providing access to additional full-time and part-time education, including targeted short-term courses, with over 35,000 new education and training places for those currently unemployed.
- Providing incentives to employers to take on more apprentices, with the provision of a grant of €3,000 to employers for each new apprentice recruited until June 2021. By end September, over 3,000 new apprenticeships with over 600 employers were registered.
- Facilitating access to the Back to Education Allowance and Back to Work Enterprise Allowance to those displaced by the pandemic by waiving the usual qualifying period of 3-9 months. My Department will actively promote this scheme to suitable candidates. Additional provision has been made in Budget 2021 of €3.5million – equivalent to an extra 700 places.
A core element of the reinforced Youth Guarantee is to support young people in gaining valuable work experience and developing the right skills for a changing world of work. Building on the success of the Youth Employment Support Scheme (YESS), my Department is at an advanced stage in developing a new work placement experience programme for those out of work for at least six months. This programme will seek to encourage employers to provide jobseekers with the necessary workplace skills to compete in the labour market and to help break the vicious circle of “no job without experience, no experience without a job”. It is intended that the programme will support mentoring to encourage jobseekers to expand their horizons and avail of new learning options which can help them to grow into a new career. There is a target of over 10,000 persons, regardless of age, to be placed on this six-month scheme by end 2021.
Work is also at an advanced stage by my Department to develop Pathways to Work , the national employment services strategy for the period 2021-2025. The strategy will seek to incorporate the core elements of the reinforced Youth Guarantee and build on the support measures outlined above as we assist young people on their journey to work. Publication is expected in early 2021, following the launch of the Government's National Economic Plan.
385. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will clarify the position regarding the means test for social welfare payments as it applies to jobseeker’s allowance and non-contributory old age pensions with regard to the treatment of capital on deposit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43446/20]
View answerThe Department operates a range of means-tested social assistance payments, including Jobseeker's Allowance (JA) and the State Pension Non-Contributory (SPNC). Social welfare legislation provides that the means test takes account of the income and assets of the person (and their spouse/partner, if applicable) applying for the relevant scheme.
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.
In assessing means for social assistance payments including JA and SPNC, account is taken of the value of capital and property belonging to the person and their spouse or partner. The family home is not liable for assessment.
The capital assessment formula for both schemes is outlined in the table below
|
Amount of Capital |
Weekly Means Assessed |
|
Up to €20,000 |
Nil |
|
€20,000 - €30,000 |
€1 per each €1,000 |
|
€30,000 - €40,000 |
€2 per each €1,000 |
|
Over €40,000 |
€4 per each €1,000 |
The first €30 of weekly means from any source is disregarded in the means test for SPNC. This means that a claimant of SPNC, with no other income, can have capital of €40,000 (which would result in a weekly means assessment from capital of €30) and this would have no impact on their payment.
Any proposals to amend the means test for social assistance schemes would need to be considered in an overall budgetary and policy context.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
386. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason those in receipt of maternity benefit do not receive the Christmas bonus; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43583/20]
View answerThe Christmas Bonus is paid to social welfare recipients, such as pensioners, people with disabilities, carers, lone parents and the long-term unemployed in recognition of their long-term financial dependence on their social welfare payment for all, or most, of their income. Short-term schemes, including Maternity Benefit, do not qualify for the Christmas Bonus.
In recognition of the impact that the Covid-19 pandemic has had on employment levels and the sudden financial impact on individuals, the Bonus was paid this year, on an exceptional basis, to people who have been in receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment for a period of four months or more and are in payment on the date the Bonus is paid. It was also paid to people on jobseeker payments who have been in receipt of these payments for four months or more.
The decision to reduce the time from 15 months to four to become eligible for the Bonus was made to ensure that it is paid to those who have been made unemployed for a significant period since the first shutdown of businesses, and also to reflect the exceptional situation brought about by the pandemic.
Maternity Benefit is a short-term scheme payable for 26 weeks and, as such, has never been a qualifying payment for the purpose of the Christmas bonus.
Any changes to the eligibility criteria for the Christmas Bonus would have to be considered in the overall policy and budgetary context.
387. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason those in receipt of illness benefit do not receive the Christmas bonus; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43584/20]
View answerThe Christmas Bonus is paid to social welfare recipients such as pensioners, people with disabilities, carers, lone parents and the long-term unemployed in recognition of their long-term financial dependence on their social welfare payment for all or most of their income.
In recognition of the impact that the Covid-19 pandemic has had on employment levels and the sudden financial impact on individuals, the Bonus was, on a once-off basis only, paid this year to those in receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment for a period four months or more and who are in payment on the date the Bonus is paid. It was also paid to people on equivalent jobseeker payments who have been in receipt of these payments for four months or more.
The reason Illness Benefit is not a qualifying payment for the Christmas Bonus is that, in the great majority of cases, Illness Benefit is a short-term payment for those who are certified by their GP as needing to take time out from their employment due to illness.
People who are permanently incapable of work may be eligible for Invalidity Pension, subject to satisfying the relevant medical and social insurance contribution criteria. Those who are substantially restricted in undertaking suitable employment arising from a medical condition may be eligible for the means-tested Disability Allowance, subject to the relevant medical criteria.
Recipients of both Invalidity Pension and Disability Allowance are eligible for the Christmas Bonus, and may also be eligible for other benefits including Fuel Allowance and the Household Benefits Package.
Any change to the current eligibility criteria for the Christmas Bonus payment would have to be considered in the overall policy and budgetary context.
388. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason those in receipt of carer’s allowance cannot avail of the fuel allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43585/20]
View answerThe 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.
My Department also pays an electricity or gas allowance under the Household Benefits scheme at an estimated cost of €194 million in 2020. This is paid at a rate of €35 per month, 12 months of the year.
The Government values the role of carers very much and it is for this reason that they receive significant income supports from the Department. In addition to Carer’s Allowance, carers receive further support in the form of free travel and household benefits (for those who live with the person for whom they care) and the annual Carer's Support Grant in respect of each person for whom they care. In Budget 2021 I was delighted to announce an increase to the Carers Support Grant by €150 to €1,850. This will benefit over 130,000 carers. Carers in receipt of an increase for a qualified child on their claim will also benefit from the Budget 2021 announced increase to the qualified child rate, by €5 in the case of a child aged 12 or over and by €2 for a child aged up to 12.
Fuel Allowance is a household-based payment, and a Carer will very often live with and be caring for a person in receipt of a qualifying payment for Fuel Allowance. Income from full rate Carer's Allowance is disregarded from the fuel means test if the carer is providing full time care and attention to the Fuel Allowance applicant, his/her qualified spouse / civil partner or cohabitant or qualified child(ren).
If a person is getting certain qualifying social welfare payments and also providing full time care and attention to another person, s/he can keep his/her main social protection payment in addition to receiving the half-rate Carer's Allowance. S/he can also receive an extra half-rate Carer’s Allowance if s/he cares for more than one person. It should also be noted that the payment of half-rate Carer’s Allowance does not preclude a person from qualifying for Fuel Allowance. If a person is in receipt of a non-contributory social welfare payment and a half-rate Carer’s Allowance, then s/he is deemed to have satisfied the means test and Fuel Allowance is payable, subject to all remaining criteria being satisfied. If a person is in receipt of a contributory social welfare payment and a half-rate Carer’s Allowance then s/he will have to satisfy a means test in order to qualify for Fuel Allowance.
The maximum rates of Carer's Allowance for those aged under 66, at €219 (€257 for carers aged 66 or over) where one person is being cared for, and €328.50 (€385.50 for carers aged 66 or over) where there are two or more carees , is significantly higher than that for most schemes administered by my department.
The means test for carers allowance has been significantly eased over the years, and is now one of the most generous means tests in the social welfare system, most notably with regard to spouse’s earnings. At present the means test for Carer’s Allowance allows for an income disregard of €332.50 per week for a single person and €665 for a couple. In the case of a single carer, that person may retain a full-rate payment of €219.00 while having an annual income of just under €19,000, or retain a payment of €109.00 per week (just under half rate) while having an annual income of €25,400, or retain the minimum payment of €4 per week while having an annual income of €31,100.
Carers can also engage in employment, self-employment, training or education courses outside the home for not more than 18.5 hours a week.
Any decision to amend the criteria for receiving Fuel Allowance, to include Carer’s Allowance as a qualifying payment, would have to be considered in the overall policy and budgetary context.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
389. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if advance local consultation now takes place in respect of proposed direct provision centres to be provided by private operators; if such local consultation takes place in respect of a possible centre at a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42870/20]
View answerI can confirm that my Department has no plans to open an International Protection Accommodation Centre in the premises referred to by the Deputy.
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.
All properties selected under the tender process must be able to meet the requirements of the National Standards for accommodation centres. This requirement applies to the provision of new centres and to any renewal of a contract with a current provider. Once a premises is deemed suitable, negotiations will begin with the proposed service provider.
During the assessment and prior to the conclusion of the negotiations, the relevant Local Authority is consulted to see if there are any legal or compliance issues in relation to the property.
Following the conclusion of negotiations and the signing of the contract between the service provider and my Department, engagement begins with local representatives and other key stakeholders. This includes the other Government Departments and organisations that provide key services and supports to residents, like the Departments of Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Education and Skills, Health, the HSE and Tusla.
While I can fully appreciate that community engagement as early as possible in the process is preferable, the Deputy will appreciate that this type of engagement is not possible prior to the commercially sensitive negotiations being concluded and the contract being signed with my Department as, until then, there is no guarantee that the negotiations will be successful or that a centre will actually open.
390. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of legislation on the gender pay gap. [43406/20]
View answerAddressing the factors behind the gender pay gap is a key commitment in the National Strategy for Women and Girls 2017-2020. It is a multi-faceted task involving a number of Government Departments and agencies. Initiatives to address the gender pay gap can also be expected to have a positive impact on disparities in income for women across and after their working lives.
The aim of the Gender Pay Gap Bill is to provide transparency on the gender pay gap and incentivise employers to take measures to address the issue insofar as they can. The Bill was published on 8 April 2019 and completed Dáil Committee Stage in June 2019. It has since then been reintroduced by the Government, and Report Stage is currently awaited. Work is advancing on legislative amendments to be introduced during Report Stage. It is hoped therefore that the Bill will be enacted in the very near future.
391. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if Tusla undertook a root-and-branch assessment of the current service before deciding to initiate changes to the service provision with regard to the expansion of the geographical area in mid-County Kerry; if all the local community services and agencies in the region with local knowledge were invited by Tusla at the planning stage to input and provide feedback regarding these changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42908/20]
View answer393. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if young persons and families will be referred immediately by neighbourhood youth projects with regard to the expansion of the geographical area of Tusla; and if not, if there will be a social work-type centralised referral system such as used currently by Tusla (details supplied). [42910/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 391 and 393 together.
Following clarification received from the Deputy on this matter, I have referred the information provided to Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, and have requested that Tusla respond to the Deputy directly.
392. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there will be an increase in funding and staff numbers for Tusla to cover the service area proposed within the new system; if so, the percentage; and if not, the way in which the current staff will carry out their present role and cover the rest of the county as well. [42909/20]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that Tusla has shared proposals for the restructuring of the Agency with my officials.
As per Section 53 of the Child and Family Agency Act 2013, the appointment of employees to Tusla requires my approval and the consent of my colleague, Mr. Michael McGrath TD, Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and I can confirm that Tusla’s proposals for restructuring and the appointment of associated senior staff are under consideration at this time.
I have asked Tusla to respond to the Deputy directly with regard to the provision of services on a county basis.
394. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of adults and children who accessed Tusla-funded domestic violence refuge accommodation to date in 2020; the average length of time families spent in such accommodation; and the number of beds available on a given night in 2019. [42921/20]
View answerTusla, the Child and Family Agency, provides funding and coordination supports to some 60 organisations that deliver a range of services for victims of domestic, sexual and gender based violence throughout the country.
In 2020, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth is providing Tusla with core funding of €25.3m for almost 60 organisations that deliver services for victims of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (DSGBV). Tusla has advised that it is also issuing €2m to DSGBV services for once-off costs in 2020, primarily in response to the challenges arising from COVID-19 this year.
With regard to statistics on the use, length of stay and capacity of Tusla-funded emergency domestic violence accommodation and engagement with potential service users, I have requested that Tusla respond to you directly on this matter.
395. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of adults and children remaining in direct provision centres after their leave to remain has been granted for the most recent date available. [42922/20]
View answerAs of the end of November 2020, there were 727 adults and 300 children who have been granted status, residing in accommodation centres provided by my Department.
Considerable work is being undertaken to support these residents to move out of accommodation centres and into secure accommodation in the community. My Department has a specific team who work in collaboration with Depaul Ireland, the Jesuit Refugee Service, the Peter McVerry Trust, officials in the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, and the City and County Managers Association to collectively support residents with status or permission to remain to access housing options. A total of 1,051 persons with status moved into the community so far this year, of whom 749 received assistance from the support services outlined. This compares to a total of 837 people who moved to community housing in 2019 from accommodation centres.
396. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of families and the number of unaccompanied children who have arrived in Ireland from the Moria camp in Greece to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42936/20]
View answerIreland strongly supports the principle of solidarity and recognises that assistance is required for Member States who face a disproportionate number of applicants and particularly where incidences such as that which occurred in the Moria camp in Lesbos can cause additional hardship.
Under the Irish Refugee Protection Programme (IRPP) Ireland has committed to accepting 50 people in family groups from the camp at Moria on Lesbos. Officials from my Department have been in contact with EU counterparts to confirm this pledge and to begin the process of resettling refugees to Ireland.
We await details from the European Commission of the family groups and unaccompanied minors and clarification regarding logistics for the interview missions required to transfer refugee families to Ireland. The necessary arrangements are in place to receive migrants who had been in Moria, however as yet the process which the Commission and Greek authorities are undertaking to identify those who will travel is ongoing and as such no migrants originating from the Moria camp have yet traveled to Ireland.
Following the fires in Moria, unaccompanied minors who had been living in that camp were dispersed to other parts of Greece by the Greek authorities. The Greek State is now endeavouring to assess the total population of minors living in precarious conditions, estimated to be approximately 700 minors. In order to match an unaccompanied minor with an appropriate state for placement, the assessment will take into account the child’s best interests, and each member state’s commitment. Following the assessment, the Greek State will propose a consolidated list to the European Commission.
I am working to accelerate the reception of the additional refugees which the Government has committed to taking in particular unaccompanied minors. However, this will not occur until the Greek authorities have completed their assessment of the situation on the ground in Greece.
Notwithstanding the ongoing process in identifying refugees from Moria, and in spite of obvious Covid-related challenges this year, Ireland has continued to accept refugees under the Irish Refugee Protection Programme in 2020, with 195 new arrivals originating from Syria.
I secured an additional €5 million in Budget 2021 to support the intake of unaccompanied minors from Greece under the International Protection Programme, and a number of options are being progressed by Tusla and my officials to expand the number of available care placements. These include the expansion of care placements, the development of specialised foster care placements, and provision of aftercare supports when children turn 18. The intention is that any rapid expansion does not negatively impact the quality of the service provided, and that Ireland’s standard of treating unaccompanied minors as children first, and not only refugees or asylum seekers, is maintained.
397. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the timeline for publication of the White Paper to replace the current direct provision system; the funding that will be provided for reforms required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42937/20]
View answerThe Programme for Government contains a commitment to ending the Direct Provision system and replacing it with a new International Protection accommodation policy, centred on a not-for-profit approach. The Government has also committed to the development of a White Paper which will set out how this new system will be structured and the steps to achieving it.
My Department is currently developing the White Paper, which will set out options, together with the recommended direction, for the new model of accommodation and services for International Protection applicants and the transitional processes needed to implement the model. Options for developing a not-for-profit approach are currently being examined in this regard.
Good progress has been made on drafting the White Paper and work is now focusing on testing the accommodation proposals that will be contained in it. In view of the extent of change proposed, the White Paper will take some more time than originally envisaged and I now expect it will be published in the second week of February.
I am providing a total of €225 million in funding for International Protection Seekers Accommodation for the coming year in Budget 2021. The increased funding, €145 million over what was provided in 2020, will enable my Department to begin the process of implementing the Programme for Government commitment to end the Direct Provision system and to plan for the transition to an alternative model of provision. Funding issues across Government will be included in the final White Paper when completed.
398. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the progress in bringing forward the start date for the extended paid parent’s leave to earlier in the new year than was originally proposed in budget 2021; when the leave will be commenced for parents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42943/20]
View answerI am pleased to confirm that, in order to support parents of children born during the strict lockdown measures, the Government intends to extend Parents’ Leave from two weeks to five weeks for each parent of all children born or adopted on or after 1 November 2019.
The Government also intends to extend the period in which Parents’ Leave can be taken up until that child turns two years or, in the case of an adoption, two years after the adoption placement date of the child. This extension will apply to parents who may have already availed of their existing entitlements.
Heads of a Bill to effect these changes were approved by the Government this month and it is anticipated that legislation will be introduced in the New Year.
Payment of Parents’ Benefit is a matter for the Minister for Social Protection, and I understand that it will take time for the relevant IT system changes to be made. As a result, the estimated timescale for the necessary updates being put in place is April 2021 .
However, I am examining whether it may be possible for Parents’ Leave to be taken in advance of these changes and the benefit claimed retrospectively, once the legislation has been enacted. I will take advice from Parliamentary Counsel to ensure that it is possible to draft the legislation in this way. I will ensure that parents are fully informed of their entitlements in this regard as soon as possible.
Myself, the Minister for Social Protection and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform have discussed this issue with the view to progressing it as soon as possible.
As part of the same legislation, I will also be bringing proposals on adoptive leave. This will allow all adopting couples, whether same sex or opposite sex, to have the right to select which of them would be the qualified adopter for the purposes of taking adoptive leave and benefit. This is an important provision which was committed to in the Programme for Government.
The proposed adoptive leave proposals will also enable married male same-sex adopting couples to be eligible for adoptive leave. It will also enable all adopting couples – same-sex and opposite-sex – to be able to choose which of the couple should take the adoptive leave. At the moment, adoptive leave is structured so that the adopting mother takes the leave. The new provisions would enable either the adopting mother or the adopting father to be eligible to take adoptive leave once the choice has been made by the couple.
399. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of residential care units for children provided by Tusla directly; the cost of this provision; the number of children placed in such residential provision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43137/20]
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.
400. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the method by which the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes is obliged to make every reasonable effort to notify persons who gave evidence to the confidential committee of their entitlement to request that their personal information be redacted prior to that evidence being deposited with his Department as part of the commission's archive; and if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the commission has contacted persons by phone and not in writing in the first instance. [43204/20]
View answerIn accordance with the Commission of Investigation (Mother and Baby Homes and certain related Matters) Records, and another Matter, Act 2020, the Commission is obliged to make every reasonable effort to notify persons who gave evidence to the Confidential Committee of their entitlement to request that their personal information is redacted prior to that evidence being deposited with my Department as part of the Commission's archive. Notably, the legislation does not prescribe the methods to be employed by the Commission in notifying relevant persons. This reflects the understanding that each person who attended the committee completed a form indicating the means by which they could be contacted, with many opting for mobile phone contact only, with no contact to be made by email or by post. As such, the legislative approach respects the preferences indicated by those who attended the Confidential Committee.
Many of the witnesses who described their personal experiences to the Confidential Committee did so in the legitimate expectation that their confidentiality would be protected. Others may wish to ensure their name is attached to their story. Most importantly, the amendment made to the records legislation following the Seanad debate protects the agency of each person who provided a personal story to the Confidential Committee to decide if they want their name included in the records which the Commission must transfer to the Department. Any person who wishes to have their name redacted must tell the Commission this in writing.
It should be noted that this process only applies to material provided to the Confidential Committee. As such, it relates only to the stories which people voluntarily came forward to tell with the understanding that they were doing so in a 'safe and uncontested space' where they would remain anonymous. It does not relate to any broader evidence or documents, eg. Institutional records or evidence given under oath.
In terms of what personal identifying information stands to be redacted, the Commission has confirmed that, as per the leaflets prepared for the Confidential Committee, the typed record of the story recounted by the individual is created in a manner which, at the outset, does not contain identifying information either in relation to the person who came forward to tell the story or in relation to any other person. As such, the only identifying information is the name and contact details of the individual which are attached/ indexed to the story.
I understand that the Commission is making initial contacts with relevant persons by telephone but it is important to clarify that I have no role in the arrangements by which the independent Commission is contacting witnesses.
401. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the additional supports that will be available to survivors of mother and baby homes (details supplied); the services over and above the national counselling service that will be available to survivors of mother and baby homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43206/20]
View answerIn preparing for the publication of the final report of the Commission on Mother and Baby Homes, I have highlighted to survivors the counselling supports available to those who may feel they need additional support. Many of the stakeholders I have engaged with in recent weeks have highlighted these issues to me, and I recognise the importance of ensuring former residents’ mental health is prioritised and supported.
Additional funding resources have been made available by the Health Service Executive in 2020 to put in place dedicated and enhanced counselling and separate patient advocacy services for former residents of these institutions. I am continuing to liaise with my colleague, the Minister for Health, to ensure that available capacity is used to the best effect in delivering a strong, responsive and timely service for survivors.
In relation to counselling, the National Counselling Service is a specialist service with 20 years of experience in providing counselling and psychotherapy to a wide range of clients including those who have experienced psychological difficulties due to time spent in institutions. Counselling is available face to face, by telephone or online through secure video. Access to the National Counselling Service for former residents may be made by direct self-referral or by written referrals from health care professionals, such as GPs.
In addition, an out of hours service, Connect Counselling, is also available to provide support and is currently providing an enhanced service from 6pm to 10pm every day (7 days a week). This service is staffed by a professional team experienced in the work of past trauma and in particular childhood trauma. A new webpage with all relevant information for former residents of Mother and Baby Homes has been set-up by the HSE.
An information line has also been established in my Department and all relevant contact information for these supports is available on my Department's website.
Publication of the report, when it occurs, may be a difficult time for all of those affected. I am assured by the Minister for Health that available capacity in these services will be primed to respond to the anticipated increased demand when the report is published and thereafter.
