Written Answers Nos. 486-513
486. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the details of his engagement with the Minister for Health on the provision of childcare for front-line workers during the level 5 lockdown; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5424/21]
View answerI have spoken with Minister Donnelly on a number of occasions since the full level five restrictions were put in place on the 30th December on this specific issue. The provision of suitable childcare for the children of frontline healthcare workers, particularly for those with new childcare needs as a result of the closure of schools, is a significant concern for the Government. My officials have been examining options as regards this and are engaging with colleagues in the Department of Health to address the issue.
Following Cabinet approval on 26 January for the continuation of additional measures under full Level 5 restrictions, I have announced new funding measures to support the Early Learning and Care and School Aged Childcare (ELC and SAC) sector to cover the period 1 February to 5 March. These measures have been developed in order to ensure that childcare services which are open can continue to operate safely and in line with public health advice, with a particular focus on addressing the childcare needs of those working in essential services and for vulnerable children.
The pre-school (ECCE) programme will continue to be suspended during these extended restrictions, however all other early learning and childcare services can remain open for children whose parents work in an essential service and for vulnerable children.
The new funding arrangements are as follows:
- Services open during this period will continue to receive 70% of the value of ECCE programme funding and 100% of funding provided under other Department schemes (i.e. the National Childcare Scheme (NCS), the Community Childcare Subvention Plus (CCSP), and the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM)) These services can also receive the additional 30% of ECCE Programme funding if they commit to certain conditions that includes waiving fees for parents not using the service and retaining staff where possible.
- Services closed during this period, where the closure is approved by the Department, will receive 70% of the value of ECCE programme funding and 100% of funding provided under other Department schemes (i.e. NCS, CCSP, and AIM). This funding will be conditional on a commitment to waive fees for parents and retain staff where possible.
- A newly designed Covid-19 Support Payment is being put in place to support some providers with a significant reliance on parental fee income to waive fees during this period while remaining sustainable.
487. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when legislation to increase parental leave from two to five weeks will be introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5426/21]
View answer490. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the increase in parent's leave will be implemented in view of the commitment to increasing paid parent's leave in budget 2021. [5533/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 487 and 490 together.
The Parent’s Leave and Benefit Act 2019 introduced two weeks of paid Parents' Leave for each parent to be taken in the first year after the birth or adoptive placement of a child. Under proposals approved by Government in December 2020, each parent will be given an additional three weeks of paid Parents' Leave, and the period in which it can be taken will be extended to the first two years after the birth or adoptive placement of a child. Legislation is currently being developed in this regard and it is anticipated that it will be introduced in early 2021.
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.
488. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the guidelines under the current level 5 restrictions for parents visiting vulnerable children in residential centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5429/21]
View answerThe Deputy refers to an operational matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. I have therefore referred the matter to Tusla and asked that a direct reply issue to the Deputy in due course.
489. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on a matter (details supplied) concerning a mother and baby home site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5436/21]
View answerI understand the distress which development proposals associated with the Bessborough site have caused for those most centrally connected to this issue. I share their concerns in relation to the risks associated with this development. For these reasons, I made submissions to An Bord Pleanála and Cork City Council to encourage them to consider the interim and final reports of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes, and the views expressed by former residents of this institution, when deciding on the planning applications for development at the site of this former institution. I understand that Cork City Council has in recent days refused to grant permission for part of the proposed development.
As the Deputy will be aware, I do not have any statutory powers under the Planning and Development Acts, and in responding to the specific details provided, it is also important to clarity that the State does not own this site.
Memorialisation is one of the eight themes encompassed within Strategic Action Plan which has been agreed by Government in response to the findings of the Commission of Investigation. I am open to engaging with all of my Government colleagues in advancing these measures as we work collectively to respond to the legacy of mother and baby homes and related institutions.
491. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the capital funding opportunities that will arise for a facility (details supplied) in County Mayo; if there are plans to allocate dormant accounts or other funding in 2021; if so, the timeline for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5544/21]
View answerTusla, the Child and Family Agency, is responsible for the administration of the Family Resource Centre (FRC) Programme that involved the allocation of approx. €18m in 2020 towards the core costs of 121 existing FRCs.
I can inform the Deputy that my Department and Tusla have secured €0.62m in Dormant Accounts Funding for 2021 to support for the Family Resource Centre (FRC) Programme. This funding will allow established FRCs to carry out maintenance works, to purchase essential equipment and furnishings, and undertake additional works and service developments required to respond to the impact of Covid-19. The purpose of this funding is not for the establishment of new FRCs.
I have requested that Tusla respond directly to the Deputy with regard to any potential capital funding opportunities for the facility to which the Deputy refers.
492. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the current position in respect of support for crèches in cases where they are providing care for children of essential workers but are now finding that they are in receipt of insufficient funding to remain open; if additional support will be provided for these key services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5557/21]
View answerFollowing the Government announcement on 26 January of the extension of the current Level 5 restrictions to 5 March, I have announced new funding measures to support the Early Learning and Care and School Aged Childcare (ELC and SAC) sector up to 5 March.
The pre-school (ECCE) programme will continue to be suspended during these extended restrictions. Other early learning and childcare services can remain open for children whose parents work in an essential service and for vulnerable children.
The new funding arrangements are as follows:
- Services open during this period will continue to receive 70% of the value of ECCE programme funding and 100% of funding provided under other Department schemes (i.e. the National Childcare Scheme (NCS), the Community Childcare Subvention Plus (CCSP), and the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM)) These services can also receive the additional 30% of ECCE Programme funding if they commit to certain conditions that includes waiving fees for parents not using the service and retaining staff where possible.
- Services closed during this period, where the closure is approved by the Department, will receive 70% of the value of ECCE programme funding and 100% of funding provided under other Department schemes (i.e. NCS, CCSP, and AIM). This funding will be conditional on a commitment to waive fees for parents and retain staff where possible.
- A newly designed Covid-19 Support Payment is being put in place to support some providers with a significant reliance on parental fee income to waive fees during this period while remaining sustainable.
Central to the funding arrangements is the enhanced EWSS, which early learning and childcare providers continue to be eligible to access without having to demonstrate reduction in turnover as other employers do. The enhanced EWSS is estimated to cover 80% of payroll costs or 50% of the full operating costs of the average service.
Despite the new funding arrangements outlined above, along with access to the EWSS, some services may be left with a short-term sustainability concerns due to lower income levels arising from current restrictions. Officials within my Department are currently developing a specific strand of funding to support sustainability issues arising out of the impact of full and part time early learning and care and school age childcare services opening only for the children of essential workers and vulnerable children. Services with sustainability concerns arising in January will be able to apply for this sustainability funding retrospectively. Further details will issue in due course.
My Department also oversees a case management support facility through which local CCCs and Pobal work together to assess and provide assistance to ELC and SAC services in difficulty. This support can include help with completing and interpreting analysis of staff ratios, fee setting, cash flow difficulties, as well as more specialised advice and support appropriate to individual circumstances. Any service that has concerns about their viability during the current Level 5 restrictions should contact their local CCC in the first instance.
493. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if additional supports will be made available to crèches (details supplied) so that they can meet their costs during this difficult period; if the Covid restrictions support scheme will be made available to them as a support mechanism while their income has been reduced; if so, if the scheme can be claimed retrospectively for the period of restrictions; if these supports will apply to all crèches in similar circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5571/21]
View answerFollowing the Government announcement on 26 January of the extension of the current Level 5 restrictions to 5 March, I announced new funding measures to support the Early Learning and Care and School Aged Childcare (ELC and SAC) sector up to 5 March.
The pre-school (ECCE) programme will continue to be suspended during these extended restrictions. Other early learning and childcare services can remain open for children whose parents work in an essential service and for vulnerable children.
The new funding arrangements are as follows:
- Services open during this period will continue to receive 70% of the value of ECCE programme funding and 100% of funding provided under other Department schemes (i.e. the National Childcare Scheme (NCS), the Community Childcare Subvention Plus (CCSP), and the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM)) These services can also receive the additional 30% of ECCE Programme funding if they commit to certain conditions that includes waiving fees for parents not using the service and retaining staff where possible.
- Services closed during this period, where the closure is approved by the Department, will receive 70% of the value of ECCE programme funding and 100% of funding provided under other Department schemes (i.e. NCS, CCSP, and AIM). This funding will be conditional on a commitment to waive fees for parents and retain staff where possible.
- A newly designed Covid-19 Support Payment is being put in place to support some providers with a significant reliance on parental fee income to waive fees during this period while remaining sustainable.
- Central to the funding arrangements is the enhanced EWSS, which early learning and childcare providers continue to be eligible to access without having to demonstrate reduction in turnover as other employers do. The enhanced EWSS is estimated to cover 80% of payroll costs or 50% of the full operating costs of the average service.
- Despite the new funding arrangements outlined above, along with access to the EWSS, some services may be left with a short-term sustainability concerns due to lower income levels arising from current restrictions. Officials within my Department are currently developing a specific strand of funding to support sustainability issues arising out of the impact of full and part time early learning and care and school age childcare services opening only for the children of essential workers and vulnerable children. Services with sustainability concerns arising in January will be able to apply for this sustainability funding retrospectively. Further details will issue in due course.
- My Department also oversees a case management support facility through which local CCCs and Pobal work together to assess and provide assistance to ELC and SAC services in difficulty. This support can include help with completing and interpreting analysis of staff ratios, fee setting, cash flow difficulties, as well as more specialised advice and support appropriate to individual circumstances. Any service that has concerns about their viability during the current Level 5 restrictions should contact their local CCC in the first instance.
494. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide a hard copy of the final report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes provided that hard copies have already been made available to those who gave evidence to the Commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5667/21]
View answerThe statutory obligation on the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes was to submit its Final Report to me as the specified Minister under its establishment Order. The Commission was not in a position to provide copies of its Report to individuals. However, a printed hard copy of the Final Report of the Commission is being made available to any survivor who wishes to have one, at no cost, from my Department.
The Report was published in digital format in the first instance so as to immediately make it available to the widest possible audience. This is particularly important having regard to the sheer size of the report and the challenges which arise in disseminating hard copies, due in part to current necessary public health restrictions.
On 13 January, my Department issued an email to our contact list of survivors and advocates and posted a notice on our website, to outline how survivors and their advocates could secure a copy of the report. My Department can be contacted at 01-6473200 from Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 6pm, or by emailing motherandbabyhomes@equality.gov.ie.
The Department also has an abridged version of the Report available, containing chapters such as the Executive Summary, Recommendations, and of course, the report from the Confidential Committee, if this format is preferred.
My officials have procured the services of third parties to print and deliver the hard copies of the report. With the consent of those seeking copies of the report, names and addresses will be shared with a third party service provider, and this will be done in full compliance with General Data Protection Guidelines.
495. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department is honouring commitments made on the number of Syrian refugees to be resettled here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5675/21]
View answerI wish to assure the Deputy that the Irish Refugee Protection Programme in my Department continues to work towards achieving the 2019 Government pledge to welcome up to 2,900 refugees between 2020 and 2023.
Unfortunately, Covid-19 and its related restrictions has interrupted the resettlement of refugees across the globe.
The Irish Refugee Protection Programme conducted a selection mission in Beirut in March 2020. That mission, although cut short due to Covid-19 restrictions, resulted in the arrival of 198 Syrian refugees to this country late last year. A further cohort of 17 Syrian refugees, selected from a 2019 mission, arrived from Jordan at that time.
The Deputy will recall that Ireland also committed, in 2020, to welcome 50 persons and 14 unaccompanied minors following the fire in the camp on the Greek island of Moria, and work has been underway over the last number of months to facilitate the soonest possible transfer of those persons to Ireland.
While there is much uncertainty due to Covid-19, I can confirm that my Department is actively engaging with the relevant national and international stakeholders with a view to fulfilling Ireland's pledges, in the interest of international solidarity in global refugee protection.
496. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of social workers that have left Tusla from June 2020 to date in 2021. [5680/21]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that my officials have asked Tusla to respond directly to you on this matter.
497. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding direct provision. [5705/21]
View answerI am aware of the petition urging the Government to end the current system of Direct Provision for accommodation and other services to international protection applicants who require such supports.
The 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.
A large scale programme of consultations involving Government Departments and State bodies has taken place. The Ombudsman, the Ombudsman for Children, the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, and the City and County Managers' Association were some of the bodies included in these consultations. In addition, representatives of accommodation centre residents and civil society organisations with refugee policy/practice expertise and housing policy/practice expertise (including Approved Housing Bodies) have been consulted.
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 it will now be submitted to Government in February.
The replacement of the direct provision system is complex. It is recognised by all involved that it will take some time. In order to meet our legal obligations to provide accommodation and other support services for protection applicants, existing accommodation centres will continue to operate in the short to medium term. However, in doing so we will be focusing on the provision of own-door accommodation and facilities to allow for independent living (access to cooking and laundry facilities and communal family areas outside bedrooms) and greatly reducing any need for the use of hotels and guest-houses as an emergency measure.
498. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to a scoping exercise and report his predecessor commissioned into forced and illegal adoption practices in Ireland; and when he plans to release its findings. [5715/21]
View answer499. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his predecessor consulted with Tusla and the Adoption Authority of Ireland on the scoping exercise and report into forced and illegal adoption practices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5717/21]
View answer500. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the sample size used to carry out the scoping exercise and report into forced and illegal adoption practices in Ireland; and the methodology deployed. [5718/21]
View answer502. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will request Tusla to further investigate forced and illegal adoption practices in Ireland in view of the overwhelming evidence that emerged from the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes testimonies that this practice was widespread. [5720/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 498, 499, 500 and 502 together.
The scoping exercise to which the Deputy refers was commenced by my predecessor following Tusla’s discovery of evidence of illegal birth registrations in the files of the defunct St. Patrick’s Guild Adoption Society between the years 1946 and 1969.
While it had long been suspected that illegal birth registrations were carried out in Ireland, the files of St. Patrick’s Guild were unique in that there was a marker on the files specifying that children were adopted from birth.
The scoping exercise was commissioned to investigate whether there is sufficient reliable evidence of that practice in the records of other adoption agencies and similar institutions. The then Minister appointed Ms Marion Reynolds, an experienced social worker from Northern Ireland, to oversee a review of a sample of the files held by the Adoption Authority of Ireland (AAI) and Tusla.
The Independent Reviewer worked with the AAI and Tusla to identify a sample of files to review to determine if they contain comparable evidence of illegal birth registrations. Records were selected from: adoption agencies; nursing homes which acted as ‘informal adoption agencies’; and boarding out services selected geographically to provide national coverage.
The report of the Independent Reviewer ('Sampling Review') was not published upon its completion so as not to encroach on the work of the Commission of Inquiry into Mother and Baby Homes and Certain Related Matters. A copy of the report was provided to the Commission.
Now that the Commission has published its final report, I intend to publish the Sampling Review into illegal birth registrations in the coming weeks.
501. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of childcare and early years facilities that are open for front-line workers. [5719/21]
View answerOn Tuesday 26 January, Government made the decision to extend the suspension of the ECCE programme and to continue to restrict access to other early learning and childcare services to the children of essential workers and to vulnerable children. It is currently planned for these arrangements to be in place until 5 March, with the timeframe remaining subject to review in the context of the evolving public health circumstances.
Latest data gathered from the City/County Childcare Committees show that more than 1,800 early learning and childcare services are open nationally. The majority of services are operating at an average occupancy of 25%, however there is a wide range (5% to 70%) in occupancy levels across the sector.
New funding arrangements have been put in place for period 1 February to 5 March that will enable these services to remain open, even at very low levels of occupancy while also retaining their staff and waiving fees for parents who are not using early learning and childcare services at this time. These funding arrangements are:
- Services open will continue to receive 70% of the value of ECCE programme funding and 100% of funding provided under other Department schemes. These services can also receive the additional 30% of the value of ECCE Programme funding if they commit to certain conditions that includes waiving fees for parents not using the service and retaining staff where possible.
- Services closed, where the closure is approved by my Department, will receive 70% of the value of ECCE programme funding and 100% of funding provided under other Department schemes. This funding will be conditional on a commitment to waive fees for parents and retain staff where possible.
- A newly designed Covid-19 Operating Support Payment has been put in place to support some providers with a significant reliance on parental fee income to waive fees during this period while remaining sustainable.
EWSS remains central to these funding arrangements. With enhanced EWSS rates until end March 2021, EWSS is estimated to cover 80% of payroll costs or 50% of full operating costs of these services.
503. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if funding is available for the European Youth Parliament which is hosting a virtual conference in County Cork in the coming weeks. [5786/21]
View answerMy Department has no role in relation to the funding of the European Youth Parliament.
However, the Deputy may be interested to know that my Department provides funding to support the participation by young people in Ireland in the EU Youth Dialogue. The EU Youth Dialogue facilitates and empowers young people to influence decision making on a local, national and European level and fosters connections between young people and decision-makers, including through the selection of Irish youth delegates to participate in the European Youth Conference.
It is implemented in Ireland through the Young Voices programme, which is delivered by the National Youth Council of Ireland in partnership with the National Working Group on EU Youth Dialogue, which is chaired by my Department.
504. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will respond to concerns relating to the final report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes in numerical order (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5788/21]
View answer507. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a reply will issue to correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5823/21]
View answer509. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if clarity will be provided on issues raised in correspondence (details supplied) in relation to the mother and baby home report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5933/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 504, 507 and 509 together.
I thank the Deputies for raising the concerns of former residents of these institutions. In addition to the information provided in this reply, my Office will arrange for responses to issue to the individuals concerned.
In responding to the Final Report of the Commission of Investigation, the Government has approved the development of a Strategic Action Plan. The plan encompasses a comprehensive suite of 22 measures, which are intended to respond to the priority needs and concerns of former residents and their families. Most importantly, we will take a survivor-centred approach in the development and implementation of these measures. The Action Plan centres on a number of distinct themes including: access to personal information; archiving and databases; education and research; memorialisation; dignified burial, and restorative recognition.
This is a hugely important process for all connected to these institutions and I will be working with colleagues and survivors to advance these matters as a priority. The Government's Strategic Action Plan is now available to view on my Department's website at www.gov.ie/dcediy.
As a first step, an Interdepartmental Group (IDG) has been established to develop proposals for a bespoke ex-gratia Restorative Recognition Scheme to provide financial recognition in respect of the issues examined by the Commission of Investigation. I want the scheme to be designed as early as possible in 2021. The IDG is tasked with reporting by the end of April to enable specific proposals to be brought to Government.
I have also prioritised the preparation of Information and Tracing legislation to give individuals the fullest possible access to their birth and early life information. The database and related records which were transferred recently from the Commission of Investigation to Tusla will greatly support timely access to such information in accordance with this proposed new legislation.
In relation to the proposed developments at Bessborough, I understand the distress which the timing of this proposal has caused for those most centrally connected to this issue. I share their concerns in relation to the risks associated with this development. For these reasons, I made submission to An Bord Pleanála and Cork City Council asking that any decisions on the proposed development on the Bessborough site take appropriate account of the Commission’s Interim and Final Reports and the wishes of survivors and the families of the children who died while resident in this institution. I understand that planning permission for one part of the development has been refused in recent days by Cork County Council.
While there are understandable questions in relation to the holding of inquests, it is important to acknowledge the independence of each Coroner in the discharge of their statutory functions in this regard. Specific queries on the role of the Coroner's service should be directed to my colleague the Minister for Justice who is responsible for policy and legislation in this area.
505. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the role of childcare committees; if it is within their remit to control and put in place an upper limit on the number of childcare places in a particular area to ensure the viability of existing providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5791/21]
View answerThere are 30 City/County Childcare Committees (CCC) located nationwide who are funded by my Department. The role of CCC includes:
- Assisting services in respect of compliance responsibilities
- Assisting services in respect of the Case Management process/sustainability issues
- Delivering training/workshops to services
- Assisting services in respect of Regulatory requirements
- Providing supports to childminders
- Providing information and advice to services in relation to the funding programmes
- Providing information and advice to parents in relation to local early learning and childcare provision, funding programmes and supports (e.g. Access and Inclusion Model)
It is not within the remit of CCC to control or put in place an upper limit on the number of early learning and childcare places in a particular area.
My Department oversees a case management support facility through which local CCCs and Pobal work together to assess and provide assistance to early learning and childcare services in difficulty. This support can include help with completing and interpreting analysis of staff ratios, fee setting, cash flow difficulties, as well as more specialised advice and support appropriate to individual circumstances. Any service that has concerns about their viability should contact their local CCC in the first instance.
506. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the additional three weeks parental benefit for parents of children born after 1 November 2019 will come into effect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5793/21]
View answerThe Parent’s Leave and Benefit Act 2019 introduced two weeks of paid Parents' Leave for each parent to be taken in the first year after the birth or adoptive placement of a child. Under proposals approved by Government in December 2020, each parent will be given an additional three weeks of paid Parents' Leave, and the period in which it can be taken will be extended to the first two years after the birth or adoptive placement of a child. Legislation is currently being developed in this regard and it is anticipated that it will be introduced in early 2021.
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.
508. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when he will bring forward legislation to meet the programme for Government commitment to extend parental leave by three weeks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5907/21]
View answer510. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the announced extension to parental leave will come into effect as per Budget 2021. [5941/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 508 and 510 together.
The Parent’s Leave and Benefit Act 2019 introduced two weeks of paid Parents' Leave for each parent to be taken in the first year after the birth or adoptive placement of a child. Under proposals approved by Government in December 2020, each parent will be given an additional three weeks of paid Parents' Leave, and the period in which it can be taken will be extended to the first two years after the birth or adoptive placement of a child. Legislation is currently being developed in this regard and it is anticipated that it will be introduced in early 2021.
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.
511. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the position regarding funding streams or low-interest credit streams for new crèche start-up businesses, particularly those that are being established in close proximity to new housing developments and which provide an obvious amenity and important local service to an increasing population; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5953/21]
View answerThere are no capital funding schemes available at present from my Department for the construction of new early learning and childcare services. Existing or prospective early learning and childcare providers can receive expert advice on establishing, or expanding, an early learning and childcare service from the national network of City / County Childcare Committees (CCCs), who can provide detailed information on grants and low cost local enterprise loans and commercial borrowing options that may be available.
Once a service is registered with Tulsa to operate as an early learning and childcare service, it can enter into funding agreements with my Department to deliver its funding programmes including the National Childcare Scheme and the ECCE pre-school programme.
Childcare was identified as a strategic priority in the National Development Plan, with capital funding earmarked to develop the early learning and childcare infrastructure over its duration. This Plan is currently under review. Subject to the outcome of that review, my Department will prepare a plan to deliver on capital investment under the NDP with the aim of ensuring the demand for high-quality early learning and childcare meets supply.
I wish to advise the Deputy that the following information has been received from Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment in response to this question.
Local Enterprise Office input.
The 31 Local Enterprise Offices nationwide are a ‘first-stop-shop’ for providing advice and guidance, financial assistance and other supports to those wishing to start or grow their own business and act as a ‘signposting’ service for all Government supports available to the SME sector.
The Local Enterprise Offices do not provide direct grant-aid to areas such as retail, personal services, local professional services or construction/local building services, as it may give rise to the displacement of existing businesses.
The Local Enterprise Offices have moved their training programmes, workshops and networking meet-ups online and new entrepreneurs can now enrol for the Start Your Own Business (SYOB) Programme in this manner. The objective of SYOB is to assist participants in assessing an idea, its viability and then making an informed decision on whether to proceed or take a step back.
The programme is designed to guide participants through the various aspects of business and business planning with no prior business knowledge necessary. It runs over 6-8 modules with varied course structure and schedule. At conclusion participants will have the tools to complete a business plan and an action plan to develop their business idea.
The Local Enterprise Offices also run a Mentor Programme, this is a service offered free of charge, where clients work with an experienced mentor to identify solutions to areas of exposure within their business and develop strategies that are more robust, address issues and maximise potential opportunities, including those around Covid-19 challenges.
In conjunction with the SYOB Programme, a mentor can provide invaluable insights and direction to those starting their business journey and can assist new business owners by planning the steps needed to make their business idea a success.
Microenterprise Loan Fund input
The Microenterprise Loan Fund operated by Microfinance Ireland assists businesses with fewer than ten employees.
Microfinance Ireland provides loans of up to €25,000 to microenterprises and fills the lending gap in the market by lending to business that cannot obtain loans from other commercial lenders. It lends to business that do not meet the conventional risk criteria applied by commercial lenders and applies interest rate charges for its lending which are not reflective of its credit risk. In particular, its “Start-Up Loan” is aimed at helping businesses to get up and running.
There are no fees or charges on start-up loans from Microfinance Ireland. Loans are available with fixed repayments which helps in planning financial commitments during the important early stage of the business and are available with interest-only payments for the first 3 months.
Once a Start-Up loan is approved, MFI can also provide invaluable mentoring support from an experienced business mentor on the Local Enterprise Office (LEO) Mentor Panel. Mentoring is a vital extra support tool to help your business, particularly in the early stages.
The Deputy may wish to contact the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment directly for further information.
512. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps he will take to ensure that at least one bound copy of the final report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes is available for public reading and reference in each public library in line with envisaged reopening following the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions. [5966/21]
View answerA copy of the Final Report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes is being made available at no cost to any survivor who requests one. My Department can be contacted at 01-6473200 from Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 6pm, or by emailing motherandbabyhomes@equality.gov.ie. Relevant details have been published on my Department's website and circulated through our contact list of survivors and advocates.
The Department also has an abridged version of the Report, containing the main chapters such as the Executive Summary, Recommendations, and of course, the key chapters containing Survivors’ own stories, for any survivor who requests one. These are also available for any survivor who requests one through the same mechanisms. My Department has limited stocks of both formats but additional copies will be produced to meet demand.
When the public health situation permits, my Department will make printed copies of the full report available to specified public facilities, such as libraries. Further details of these arrangements will be publicised in due course.
In addition to our commitment to provide copies upon request, a number of copies of the full report have also been provided to the Department of Foreign Affairs to facilitate distribution to Consulates in the UK and USA, Canada and Australia to assist access for the diaspora.
513. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he has read a survey by a union (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6018/21]
View answerI am aware of the publication of the results of the SIPTU Big Start Campaign's Early Years Professionals Survey 2020. Many of the issues highlighted in the survey, in particular the level of pay among those working in early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SLC), are issues on which I have been actively engaging since becoming Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.
I am very conscious need for significant improvement in pay and working conditions for practitioners in ELC and SAC services. The level of pay they receive does not reflect the value of the work they do for children, for families and for the wider society and economy. It also contributes to challenges of recruitment and retention of staff, which are key to the consistency of care provided to children. The risk of practitioners seeking to leave the sector is one that is highlighted in the SIPTU Big Start Campaign's 2020 survey. The most recent published data indicates that the average hourly wage in the sector was €12.55 in mid-2019.
As the State is not the employer, my Department does not set wage levels nor determine working conditions for staff working in the sector. My Department has, however, over a number of years provided a range of supports to service providers to enable them to improve wages and working conditions. However, wages in the sector remain too low. Given the importance of the issue, it is imperative that my Department continues to engage with provider and staff representatives.
In December 2020, working in partnership with SIPTU and CSI/IBEC, I began a short process in which interested parties were invited to discuss how best to address issues of pay and conditions in the sector and how a Joint Labour Committee might support this. Dr Kevin Duffy, former Chair of the Labour Court, chaired the meetings, which concluded in the last few days. Dr Duffy will shortly submit to me a report outlining the issues and possible solutions raised in the process, and making a recommendation on next steps. I am hopeful that implementation of his recommendation will support progress in addressing pay and conditions in the sector.
