Written Answers Nos. 172-190
172. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated costs associated with extending the school meals programme to cover early years settings and after-school programmes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24776/21]
View answerThe school meals programme provides funding towards the provision of food to some 1,557 schools and organisations benefitting 227,000 children. The objective of the programme is to provide regular, nutritious food to children who are unable, due to lack of good quality food, to take full advantage of the education provided to them. The programme is an important component of policies to encourage school attendance and extra educational achievement.
In recent years entry to the School Meals Scheme has been confined to DEIS schools in addition to schools identified as having levels of concentrated disadvantage that would benefit from access to the School Meals Programme.
Prior to the introduction of DEIS in 2005, all schools and organisations that were part of one of a number of Department of Education and Skills’ initiatives for disadvantaged schools were eligible to participate in the programme, which included Breaking the Cycle, Giving Children an Even Break, the Disadvantaged Area Scheme, Home School Community Liaison and the School Completion Programme. These schools and organisations have continued to remain in the scheme.
The funding currently provided by the Department to early years settings and after-school programmes is provided in table 1 of the Appendix. The Department does not have a role in terms of oversight of the programmes referred to by the deputy and overall participant numbers would need to be established to calculate the cost of an extension to these programmes.
Any decision to extend the current provision would need to be considered in a budgetary context.
I trust that this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
Total allocation to early year’s settings and after-school programmes in 2020/2021
|
Organisation type |
Number of organisations funded |
Children benefitting |
Total allocation |
|
Crèche / childcare/pre-school |
257 |
9,778 |
€1,195,074 |
|
Afterschool services |
10 |
291 |
€56,291 |
|
Schools and Organisations funded for Afterschool Clubs |
243 |
7,390 |
€690,555 |
173. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in the determination of an application for supplementary welfare allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24816/21]
View answerThe person concerned made an application for a Supplementary Welfare Allowance payment on 07/05/2021. Unfortunately the application form had to be returned to the person concerned on the same day as it had not been fully completed. When the fully completed application form has been returned with 3 months up-to-date bank statements for all financial accounts held, the application will be assessed and the person concerned will be advised of the outcome.
The rate of Illness Benefit (IB) paid is based on a person’s earnings in the second last complete tax year prior to the application date. As the earnings for the person concerned were less than €150 per week in 2019, she qualified for IB at a weekly rate of €91.10. IB was awarded with effect from 22/02/2021 and is currently in payment. The person concerned is certified unfit for work until the 28/05/2021.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
174. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount expended by her Department on advertising and awareness raising initiatives related to Covid-19 from March 2020 to date in 2021; the print, online and broadcasting media organisations contracted to provide this service; the amount provided to each in the timeframe concerned; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24935/21]
View answerThe Department delivered 21 public information campaigns related to COVID-19 from March 2020 to date in 2021. The aim of these campaigns was to increase public awareness of the available income supports and the Department’s relevant schemes and services during the COVID-19 pandemic.
COVID-19 public information campaigns in 2020 and 2021 included national and regional print publications, national and regional radio, as well as targeted digital and social media advertising.
The full cost of COVID-19 related public information campaigns from March 2020 to date was €2,165,169.06, excluding VAT, ASAI, agency fees and creative/design costs.
One of these public information campaigns is currently running and has not yet been invoiced.
All public information campaigns are developed and targeted carefully in collaboration with our media buyer using the best mix of media formats to ensure that the Department’s messages reach members of the public effectively, while ensuring value for money.
The Department works with a media buying agency, appointed under an OGP framework, in order to plan and buy advertising effectively and has contracted two companies to provide this service during 2020 and 2021: MEC/Wavemaker Global and Mediavest Ltd. t/a Sparkfoundry.
During the period March 2020 to October 2020 MEC/Wavemaker Global was contracted to provide this service and €1,588,330.93 was the amount provided for COVID-19 campaigns.
From October 2020 Spark Foundry is contracted to provide this service and to date €576,838.13 is the amount provided for COVID-19 campaigns.
The figures outlined above are excluding VAT, ASAI, and agency fees and are those which have been invoiced to date 10 May 2021. Additional invoices are still due on one ongoing campaign.
175. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount spent in each of the years 2018 to 2020 and to date in 2021 on housing assistance payments, rent supplements and any other payment related to housing or rent in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24955/21]
View answerRent supplement continues to play a key role in supporting families and individuals in private rented accommodation, with the scheme currently supporting 19,570 active recipients.
The scheme provides short-term income support to eligible people living in private rented accommodation whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation costs and who do not have accommodation available to them from any other source. The scheme ensures that those who were renting, but whose circumstances have changed due to temporary loss of employment or income, can continue to meet their rental commitments
Since the introduction of HAP, rent supplement continues to revert to its original role of providing short-term support to those who have become temporarily unemployed and require income support to meet their tenancy cost whilst they seek alternative employment.
Under the SWA scheme, my Department can make a single Exceptional Needs Payment (ENP) to help meet essential, once-off expenditure, which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. The ENP is demand led and payments are made 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.
The tabular statement attached provides a summary of Department of Social Protection expenditure, as requested, for the years 2018 to 2020 and to date in 2021.
My department does not have any role to the Housing Assistance Payment which is administered by Local Authorities.
Expenditure 2018-2020 and to date in 2021.
|
Rent Supplement |
Exceptional Needs Payment – Housing |
|
|
2018 |
€175.0m |
€20.0m |
|
2019 |
€125.2m |
€27.5m |
|
2020 |
€133.1m |
€27.9m |
|
2021 Jan-April |
€48.5m |
€10.3m |
Note: ENP Housing expenditure captured in the above tabular statement covers ENPs related to: Rent Deposits, Rent in Advance, Household Appliances, Bedding, Flooring, Furniture, Repairs and Maintenance, and 'New Accommodation Kit Outs'.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
176. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection when pandemic unemployment payment arrears will issue to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25019/21]
View answerI am advised that calculation of the customer’s arrears has recently been completed and payment of €1,200 will be made to the person concerned on May 18.
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
177. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider extending end dates for persons in receipt of the back to enterprise allowance in view of the fact that such persons' businesses have been closed and non-operational during the Covid-19 pandemic and for persons whose allowance runs out in 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25020/21]
View answerThe Back to Work Enterprise Allowance (BTWEA) scheme offers support for people who are long-term unemployed and who are interested in self-employment as a route to entering the labour market. The scheme plays a vital role in supporting the development of new enterprises for the long term unemployed. The BTWEA is payable to self-employed individuals for up to 24 months from the commencement of their new business.
Those in self-employment may have other income support options available from the Department depending on their circumstances. A BTWEA participant, whose 24 month payment comes to an end while their business continues to be impacted by current trading conditions, may continue to be entitled to the Pandemic Unemployment Payment or the means-tested Jobseeker’s Allowance payment.
If there is a particular case that the Deputy has a concern about, my officials would be happy to examine it and advise of the options available.
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
178. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if an application for a State pension by a person (details supplied) will be expedited. [25127/21]
View answerThe person concerned reached pension age on 9 January 2021. An application for State pension (contributory) has not been received to date.
On receipt of an application the person's State pension (contributory) entitlement will be examined by a Deciding Officer and they will be notified of the outcome. Determination of pension eligibility depends on the individual nature of an applicant’s circumstances.
Current social welfare legislation on late claims stipulates that claims may only be backdated for a maximum of 6 months. If eligibility is determined, this aspect will then be considered by the Deciding Officer.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
179. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if or when the second optional protocol on the UNCRC which includes the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography will be ratified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24819/21]
View answerMy Department made a comprehensive submission to the Attorney General’s Office in 2019 seeking confirmation as to whether Ireland was in a position to ratify the Second Optional Protocol to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
The advice received from the AGO stated that while Ireland is largely compliant with the terms of the Protocol, there are some outstanding issues that need to be resolved before the State can proceed to ratification.
My Department has been liaising closely with the Department of Justice and Equality as the outstanding issues identified by the AGO fall within their remit.
We hope to resolve these issues as soon as possible and I will subsequently seek Government approval for ratification at the earliest opportunity.
180. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of young persons in care who have had complaints filed against them by the agency or the residential in which they reside; the number of young persons in care who have been charged with criminal damage relating to their placement; and if Tusla has policies in place to assist social workers and social care managers in relation to charging young persons in care that assault staff or damage units. [24762/21]
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.
181. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to the particular vulnerability of childcare services that provide afterschool care owing to a continuing reduction in income caused by Covid-19 restrictions and remote working by parents; and if his Department will draw up an urgent plan to ensure the sustainability of these essential services. [24774/21]
View answerI am aware of the challenges facing school-age childcare, as well as early learning and care services, caused by the ongoing pandemic. Support is available to concerned services through Case Management. My Department oversees a Case Management process through which local CCCs and Pobal work together to assess and provide support to early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC) services experiencing difficulties. Pobal co-ordinate the overall case management process with the CCC administering on-the-ground case management assistance. This can include help with completing and interpreting analysis of staff ratios, fee setting and cash flow, as well as more specialised advice and support appropriate to individual circumstances.
Financial supports, which may also be accessed through the Case Management process, are available for community services presenting with sustainability issues following a financial assessment by Pobal.
Normally, financial supports are only available for community services. However, there is a COVID-19 Impact Support funding strand available in 2021, which is for both Community and Private services. The funding will be available on a rolling basis throughout 2021 for eligible ELC and SAC services that require further financial assistance in addition to current support measures available and others that may be announced throughout the year.
The CCC should be the first point of contact for any service seeking support; I would therefore urge any SAC or ELC service in difficulty to contact their local CCC as soon as possible if they have not done so already.
182. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the engagement he has had with the Minister for Health on healthcare workers ordinarily residing in direct provision and who are availing of the temporary accommodation scheme being requested to move to unsuitable accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24836/21]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, the closure or otherwise of temporary accommodation premises for the housing of frontline healthcare workers operated by the HSE is entirely a matter for the HSE.
The Social Inclusion Office of the HSE has assured the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) of my Department that there are no plans to discontinue its accommodation scheme and has further agreed with the IPAS to inform them of any changes to, or cessation of, the HSE accommodation scheme which may necessitate the return of international protection applicants to IPAS accommodation. IPAS will continue to engage with the HSE to ensure that arrangements to re-accommodate applicants in their original IPAS accommodation, or as close to it as possible, can be made in advance.
Since the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020, IPAS has made every effort to retain accommodation for residents who chose to avail of the HSE temporary accommodation scheme or who decided to move to other temporary accommodation during the pandemic. However, it has not been possible in every case to retain the original accommodation. For instance, where the accommodation premises is no longer retained under contract with my Department or where a centre has been re-profiled in terms of its room make-up to meet changing demands, the accommodation may no longer be available.
Another issue that has arisen is that IPAS has not always been made aware that a resident who left their IPAS accommodation centre was working in the healthcare sector and left to take up accommodation in temporary HSE accommodation. In such cases, the resident’s original accommodation may not have been retained. In these circumstances, the healthcare workers would be required to re-apply for IPAS accommodation.
In such circumstances, IPAS will endeavour to ensure that alternative like-for-like accommodation is provided as close as possible to their previous accommodation. Persons who wish to return to their IPAS accommodation should engage with the IPAS as soon as possible to ensure that the most appropriate accommodation available is provided. Any resident returning to IPAS accommodation must quarantine in an IPAS isolation facility for a period of 14 days prior to moving to IPAS accommodation. This is to reduce the risk of Covid infection within accommodation centres.
183. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the amount expended by his Department on advertising and awareness raising initiatives related to Covid-19 from March 2020 to date in 2021; the print, online and broadcasting media organisations contracted to provide this service; the amount provided to each in the timeframe concerned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24923/21]
View answerThe following are the amounts expended by the Department on advertising and awareness-raising initiatives directly on foot of COVID-19, from March 2020 to-date.
|
Department Initiative |
Media Organisation |
Total Spend |
|
Reopening of Childcare |
Inventive Marketing Ltd t/a KICK Communications |
€2,804 |
|
Reopening of Childcare |
Mindshare Media Ireland |
€54,679 |
|
First 5 Resources |
Inventive Marketing Ltd t/a KICK Communications |
€873 |
|
Early Years |
Inventive Marketing Ltd t/a KICK Communications |
€57,958 |
|
Let’s Get Ready |
Mindshare Media Ireland |
€4,059 |
|
Supporting Children |
Mindshare Media Ireland |
€202,784 |
184. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of childcare providers by county; and the current capacity of same by county in tabular form. [25026/21]
View answerThe supply of, and demand for, ELC and SAC places is currently monitored annually through the Early Years Sector Profile report. This survey is conducted by Pobal on behalf of my Department. Data from the 2018/2019 programme year, indicates that existing childcare provision, in general, meets current demand nationwide in terms of capacity, whilst recognising that small pockets of under supply may exist within this.
In 2018/2019, 4,598 services were contracted to deliver at least one (then DCYA) funded programme.
The Early Years Sector Profile report also provides numbers of services at a Local Authority level.
The breakdown can be seen in Table 1.
Capacity within the sector is calculated using figures reported by the services on the number of children enrolled and vacant places (capacity is the sum of children enrolled and vacant places).
The overall reported capacity of the sector in 2018/19 was 188,705. The Early Years Sector Profile report 2018/2019 had a response rate of 85%. This can then be extrapolated to a national capacity of 218,745, a 2% increase on the previous year.
The Early Years Sector Profile report also provides reported capacity at a Local Authority level. These figures are not extrapolated. These figures can be found in Table 2.
My Department continues to monitor the data from the Early Years Sector Profile report closely to inform policy going forward. The Pobal Early Years Sector Profile can be found at htps://www.pobal.ie/app/uploads/2019/12/Annual-Early-Years-Sector-Profile-Report-AEYSPR-2018-19.pdf. The 2019/2020 report is due to be published this summer.
A key policy objective of my Department is to improve affordability, accessibility and quality of Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age Childcare (SAC). A 141% increase in investment over the last number of years has led to a doubling in the number of children receiving free or subsidised ELC and SAC. It has also supported the sector to increase the number of places available.
First 5, the ten-year whole-of-Government strategy for babies, young children and their families pledges to build on this progress. Among key strategic actions in First 5 is a commitment to 'maintain and extend the supply of high-quality publicly subsidised ELC and SAC to best serve the developmental needs of babies and young children, ensuring that it also reflects the needs and preferences of parents and families'.
To deliver on this strategic action, a range of actions are under way, including an update of the National Planning Guidelines for the development of ELC and SAC settings, the extension of regulation to all paid, non-relative childminders on a phased basis and the development of a strategic capital investment plan to deliver large-scale capital investment under Project 2040. The development of a new funding model for ELC and SAC also seeks to address issues of accessibility.
More information can be found at: https://first5.gov.ie/
Table 1
|
County |
Number of Providers |
|
Carlow |
54 |
|
Cavan |
67 |
|
Clare |
138 |
|
Cork City |
96 |
|
Cork County |
388 |
|
Donegal |
154 |
|
Dublin-Dublin City |
445 |
|
Dublin-Dun-Laoghaire-Rathdown |
185 |
|
Dublin –Fingal |
326 |
|
Dublin- South Dublin |
255 |
|
Galway |
288 |
|
Kerry |
138 |
|
Kildare |
201 |
|
Kilkenny |
100 |
|
Laois |
85 |
|
Leitrim |
37 |
|
Limerick |
201 |
|
Longford |
36 |
|
Louth |
120 |
|
Mayo |
136 |
|
Meath |
196 |
|
Monaghan |
61 |
|
Offaly |
71 |
|
Roscommon |
58 |
|
Sligo |
76 |
|
Tipperary |
180 |
|
Waterford |
95 |
|
Westmeath |
89 |
|
Wexford |
146 |
|
Wicklow |
176 |
Table 2
|
County |
Current capacity per county (enrolled and vacant places) |
|
Carlow |
2608 |
|
Cavan |
3536 |
|
Clare |
4798 |
|
Cork City |
4435 |
|
Cork County |
16411 |
|
Donegal |
7859 |
|
Dublin-Dublin City |
16732 |
|
Dublin-Dun-Laoghaire-Rathdown |
7196 |
|
Dublin –Fingal |
11678 |
|
Dublin- South Dublin |
9742 |
|
Galway |
11428 |
|
Kerry |
5792 |
|
Kildare |
9731 |
|
Kilkenny |
4033 |
|
Laois |
3540 |
|
Leitrim |
1654 |
|
Limerick |
7920 |
|
Longford |
1787 |
|
Louth |
5164 |
|
Mayo |
4500 |
|
Meath |
7976 |
|
Monaghan |
4068 |
|
Offaly |
2979 |
|
Roscommon |
2843 |
|
Sligo |
3687 |
|
Tipperary |
7207 |
|
Waterford |
4723 |
|
Westmeath |
3835 |
|
Wexford |
5994 |
|
Wicklow |
4849 |
185. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of childcare providers in County Kildare; the current capacity of each in tabular form; and his plans to increase provision of childcare services in the county in view of the expanding population and development in the county. [25027/21]
View answerThe supply of, and demand for, ELC and SAC places is currently monitored annually through the Early Years Sector Profile report. This survey is conducted by Pobal on behalf of my Department. Data from the 2018/2019 programme year, indicates that existing childcare provision, in general, meets current demand nationwide in terms of capacity, whilst recognising that small pockets of under supply may exist within this.
In 2018/2019, 4,598 services were contracted to deliver at least one (then DCYA) funded programme. The Early Years Sector Profile report also provides numbers of services at a Local Authority level. In 2018/19 services 201 services were recorded in Kildare. My Department cannot disclose service level data.
Capacity within the sector is calculated using figures reported by the services on the number of children enrolled and vacant places (capacity is the sum of children enrolled and vacant places). The overall reported capacity of the sector in 2018/19 was 188,705. The Early Years Sector Profile report 2018/2019 had a response rate of 85%. This can then be extrapolated to a national capacity of 218,745, a 2% increase on the previous year. The Early Years Sector Profile report also provides reported capacity at a Local Authority level. These figures are not extrapolated. The reported capacity for County Kildare in 2018/2019 was 9731.
My Department continues to monitor the data from the Early Years Sector Profile report closely to inform policy. The Pobal Early Years Sector Profile can be found at htps://www.pobal.ie/app/uploads/2019/12/Annual-Early-Years-Sector-Profile-Report-AEYSPR-2018-19.pdf. The 2019/2020 report is due to be published this summer.
A key policy objective of my Department is to improve affordability, accessibility and quality of Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age Childcare (SAC). A 141% increase in investment over the last number of years has led to a doubling in the number of children receiving free or subsidised ELC and SAC. It has also supported the sector to increase the number of places available.
First 5, the ten-year whole-of-Government strategy for babies, young children and their families pledges to build on this progress. Among key strategic actions in First 5 is a commitment to 'maintain and extend the supply of high-quality publicly subsidised ELC and SAC to best serve the developmental needs of babies and young children, ensuring that it also reflects the needs and preferences of parents and families'.
To deliver on this strategic action, a range of actions are underway, including an update of the National Planning Guidelines for the development of ELC and SAC settings, the extension of regulation to all paid, non-relative childminders on a phased basis and the development of a strategic capital investment plan to deliver large-scale capital investment under Project 2040. The development of a new funding model for ELC and SAC also seeks to address issues of accessibility.
More information can be found at: https://first5.gov.ie/
186. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of facilities in north County Kildare in receipt of ECCE funds and the other childcare schemes supported by his Department. [25028/21]
View answerMy Department funds numerous childcare schemes to help parents’ access quality childcare at a more affordable cost, these include:
- The National Childcare Scheme (NCS) which launched in November 2019 and replaced a number of pre-existing childcare support programmes and the universal childcare subsidy with a single scheme to help parents meet the cost of quality childcare,
- Community Childcare Subvention Plus (CCSP) programme helps parents on lower incomes to access childcare at a reduced cost in participating privately owned childcare services,
- The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme is a universal free preschool programme available to all children for up to 2 years before starting primary school.
As of 10th May 2021, there were 184 services in Kildare with one or more children registered on NCS, ECCE and/or CCSP/U.
Pobal records service data by county and not by electoral division, therefore data specific to North Kildare is not available.
187. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department’s initiative for the early learning and school age care sector (details supplied) will be completed or at an advanced stage in time for budget 2022 negotiations; if it will provide the basis for an increase in investment in childcare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25093/21]
View answerFirst 5: A Whole of Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families, published in November 2018, sets out an ambitious programme of work across Government Departments to improve the experiences and outcomes of children in Ireland from birth to age 5 across all aspects of their lives in the coming ten years. Included in First 5 is a commitment to designing a new Funding Model to improve the affordability, accessibility and quality of early learning and care and school-age childcare.
In September 2019, my predecessor announced the establishment of an Expert Group to develop the new Funding Model. The Expert Group is tasked with examining the current model of funding and its effectiveness in delivering quality, affordable, sustainable and inclusive services. The group is considering how additional resourcing can be delivered for the sector to achieve these objectives, drawing on international practice in this area. Since their first meeting in November 2019, the Expert Group has met fifteen times and they have made significant progress in their work.
To support the Expert Group's work, Frontier Economics was selected to deliver a significant programme of research to the Expert Group. Frontier Economics has delivered eight research papers to inform the Expert Group's work, covering international comparisons and funding approaches, staffing, affordability mechanisms, access and inclusion, quality, and collaboration.
The Expert Group is also undertaking consultation and engagement with stakeholders. Phase 1 of this consultation and engagement took place between August and December 2020, comprising a call for submissions, a parental poll, two webinars and focused discussions with providers, practitioners and parents. Phases 2 and 3 of consultation and engagement is ongoing, involving a series of facilitated events that bring together different perspectives to engage deeply in the conversation about how the various issues of affordability, sustainability, quality and inclusion interact and how the new Funding Model can best support these objectives.
Work also continues to progress on the development of a Workforce Development Plan (WDP) for the early learning and care and school-age childcare sector. The first phase of the WDP concluded in late 2020. A report on phase one of the WDP is being finalised before publication in the near future.
Phase two of the WDP, which began in February 2021, involves the preparation of detailed policy proposals to be prepared by five working groups during 2021. These working groups will submit final reports in July 2021 for consideration by the Steering and Stakeholder Groups of the Workforce Development Plan, before a final WDP report is published at the end of 2021.
It is expected that a report on the Expert Group’s recommendations on the new Funding Model will be submitted to me in November 2021 for consideration before submission to wider Government. I anticipate that both the work of the Expert Group and Workforce Development Plan will contribute to informing the Budget 2022 process. First 5 commits to at least doubling investment in early learning and care and school-age childcare by 2028 and the new Funding Model will be a key vehicle to ensure that such significant additional investment delivers for children, families and the State.
Material relating to the Funding Model, including meeting papers, research papers, and reports, is available on a dedicated website, www.first5fundingmodel.ie .
188. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his response to the finding (details supplied) in the Ombudsman for Children's report Safety and Welfare of Children in Direct Provision. [25165/21]
View answerI welcome the Report of the Ombudsman for Children’s Office (OCO) “Safety and Welfare of Children in Direct Provision” and my Department accepts its recommendations in full.
The International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) of my Department has embarked upon a series of actions, planned for the short to medium term which will build upon existing work to ensure the recommendations of the OCO will be implemented as quickly as possible.
IPAS and Tusla have committed to increased collaboration and coordination in the coming period. IPAS will continue to work with Tusla during 2021 to develop interagency protocols and operating procedures that will support the sharing of case information between Tusla and IPAS and to track and monitor referrals and cases from beginning to end.
A new Resident Welfare Team has recently been established within IPAS to case-manage individual families, and single residents, identified as having special reception needs and to ensure that those needs continue to be identified and addressed in the most appropriate way possible. The Resident Welfare Team will be a multi-disciplinary team with experts from the fields of education, health and childcare seconded. Additional resources have been sanctioned to support the work of this team and recruitment is underway.
All existing centres and all new centres are required to develop a child safeguarding statement. IPAS will work with Tusla to ensure compliance with child safeguarding statements and Children First legislation. An IPAS Audit of compliance will also take place this year in cooperation with Tusla. IPAS will be ensuring that child safeguarding statements are translated and made available to all residents. Additional child safety training will also be rolled out to all centre managers as COVID restrictions allow.
I note the discrepancy in the figures mentioned in the report referenced by the Deputy. The difference between the number of cases recorded by IPAS as referred to Tusla and the number of cases recorded by Tusla relating to children resident in IPAS accommodation between April 2017 and July 2020 arises because the Child and Family Services unit of IPAS is only notified of referrals that have originated from IPAS dedicated and temporary accommodation centres and from the Emergency Reception and Orientation Centres (EROCs) for Programme Refugees. IPAS is not notified of individual referrals made to Tusla by schools, hospitals, sports clubs and members of the public as IPAS is not the designated authority to which such reports should be made. Nor is it appropriate for IPAS officials or centre management to be party to details of such family matters where it has no legislative authority.
Since the recent publication of the report, Tusla has committed to publishing its Direct Provision Policy for 2021 for all staff working with children and families living in Direct Provision accommodation. The Policy states that each Direct Provision accommodation centre will have a named point of contact within the relevant Tusla area.
In addition, Tusla is reviewing its IT system to plan for the next stage of the development of the National Child Care Information System (NCCIS) and consideration will be given to enable referrals for children living in IPAS accommodation, along with other specified groups of children, to be tracked on a national basis.
189. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the status of progress towards the objectives of the student accommodation strategy in view of the disruption to the construction sector over 2020 and to date in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25143/21]
View answerThe National Student Accommodation Strategy (NSAS) was published in 2017 and is designed to support the delivery of an increased level of supply of purpose built student accommodation (PBSA) by reducing planning barriers for public and private sector developers of student accommodation and seeking to address financing barriers for our higher education institutions. The aim is to reduce the cost to the student by ensuring that there is a sufficient level of accommodation to meet future demand. The target as set out in Rebuilding Ireland and the NSAS is the provision of 7,000 bed spaces by end 2019 and a total of 21,000 additional PBSA beds by 2024. The 2019 target was surpassed, with 8,346 bed spaces completed by the end of the year. As of the end of 2020 more than 10,000 bed spaces have been completed.
However there has been a slowdown in construction in the student accommodation sector, as there has been throughout the construction industry, due to the impact of COVID-19. As Ireland continues to progress with the re-opening of the economy, it would be expected that the number of student accommodation projects being completed or moving on-site would once again increase. My Department will continue to carefully monitor the situation in order to ensure a strong supply pipeline for student accommodation. As the Deputy is aware, my position is the current policy needs reflecting on and I am working with colleagues across Government on this.
190. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will advise on a matter raised in correspondence (details supplied); if it is possible for student to elect to graduate early with a level 7 BA degree instead of continuing for a further year during a level 8 BA Hons course; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24805/21]
View answerWaterford Institute of Technology is autonomous within the meaning the Institutes of Technology Acts 1992 to 2006. Under this legislation WIT is independent and is entitled to regulate its own academic affairs and administrative processes, including in relation to the awarding of degrees. It is not within my remit to intervene in these matters.
WIT is a prescribed public body under the remit of the Office of the Ombudsman and as such the Ombudsman may examine complaints from members of the public who believe that they have been unfairly treated by certain prescribed bodies. If a student feels that they have been unfairly treated by or are not satisfied with a higher education institution’s decision, it is open to them to contact the Office of the Ombudsman. The Ombudsman can investigate complaints about administrative actions or procedures as well as undue delays or inaction. The Ombudsman provides an impartial, independent and free dispute resolution service.
