Written Answers Nos. 977-1001
977. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the percentage of State spending and parental spending in 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021 on early learning care and school-aged care in tabular form. [31359/21]
View answerMy Department operates a number of Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) schemes. These schemes are administered by Pobal on behalf of my Department.
Data captured in a survey administered to all centre-based providers nationally in 2018 as part of the Review of the Cost of Providing Quality Childcare Services provided a breakdown of provider income. That Review found that parental fees accounted for, on average, 40% of all overall service income, with the remainder coming from State funding. Data from the Review also found that for over 70% of services, 30% or less of their income came from parental fees. Reliance on parental fees can vary considerably across service types. Services which only or primarily deliver the ECCE programme are likely to have little or no reliance on parental fees. See the following table for a detailed breakdown.
2018 Breakdown of % ELC Providers Income from Parental Fees
|
% of income from parental fees |
Percentage of ELC providers |
|
0% |
32.4% |
|
<0-10% |
21.9% |
|
<10-20% |
10.5% |
|
<20-30% |
6.6% |
|
<30-40% |
5.2% |
|
<40-50% |
4.9% |
|
<50-60% |
4.5% |
|
<60-70% |
5.1% |
|
<70-80% |
3.7% |
|
<80-90% |
2.8% |
|
100% |
2.4% |
In 2019, €497m of funding was allocated directly to services through my Department's ELC schemes. Assuming the same income breakdown for ELC providers as 2018, this funding accounted for approximately 60% of the ELC sector income. It can thus be deduced that approximately €331m (40%) of the ELC sector income came from parental fees in 2019.
Due to the significant disruption to the ELC sector in 2020 and 2021, and the various funding packages provided to support services through Covid-19 related periods of closures and restricted access, some of which had as a requirement of that funding to waive fees for parents not accessing ELC during those periods, it is not possible to provide relevant comparable data for these time periods.
978. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the funding allocated in 2019, 2020 and 2021 to early learning care; and the amount of this allocation that was drawn down for 2019 and 2020, in tabular form. [31360/21]
View answer979. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the funding allocated in 2019, 2020 and 2021 to school-aged care; and the amount of this allocation that was drawn down for 2019 and 2020, in tabular form. [31361/21]
View answer980. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the funding allocated in 2019, 2020 and 2021 to the national childcare scheme; and the amount of this allocation that was drawn down for 2019 and 2020, in tabular form. [31362/21]
View answer981. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the funding allocated in 2019, 2020 and 2021 to after-school provision within the national childcare scheme; and the amount of this allocation that was drawn down for 2019 and 2020, in tabular form. [31363/21]
View answer983. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the funding allocated in 2019, 2020 and 2021 to the training and employment childcare scheme; and the amount of this allocation that was drawn down for 2019 and 2020, in tabular form. [31365/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 978 to 981, inclusive, and 983 together.
My Department runs a number of Early Learning and Care schemes. The schemes are administered by Pobal on behalf of my Department.
The following table shows my Department’s core funding programmes and supports. The table displays the total budget allocation for each programme, as well as the amount drawn down over the last 3 programme years.
|
Year |
Scheme |
Allocation (€m) |
Drawdown (€m) |
|
2019 |
ECCE |
€ 298.1 |
€ 294.5 |
|
AIM |
€ 21.4 |
€ 25.1 |
|
|
NCS and Savers |
€ 157.2 |
€ 151.9 |
|
|
2020 |
ECCE |
€ 208.6 |
€ 216.6 |
|
AIM |
€ 31.4 |
€ 17.4 |
|
|
NCS and Savers |
€ 145.2 |
€ 109.4 |
|
|
2021 |
ECCE |
€ 289.3 |
NA |
|
AIM |
€ 35.0 |
NA |
|
|
NCS and Savers |
€ 205.5 |
NA |
The Deputy should be aware that the 2020 allocation refers to the further revised allocation. Spend in 2020 on schemes is lower due to the suspension of regular schemes during Covid-19 closures.
The Department does not record School Aged Childcare and Early Learning Care separately.
Since 2019, there has been one budget allocation for all targeted schemes. Community Childcare Subvention Plus (CCSP) and Training and Employment Childcare Scheme (TEC) are now known as Savers and contained with the NCS and Savers budget.
Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) and Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) provide exclusively Early Learning and Care funding. However, funding for Early Learning and Care is also available under NCS and Savers.
School age children are not eligible for the ECCE and AIM Programmes. Only the NCS and Savers schemes include an after-school component. It is estimated that, of the budget allocation for NCS and Savers 2021 (€205.5m), approximately €65m is intended for school-aged childcare.
982. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the funding allocated in 2019, 2020 and 2021 to the access and inclusion model; and the amount of this allocation that was drawn down for 2019 and 2020, in tabular form. [31364/21]
View answerThe allocations and draw downs for the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) are set out in the table.
|
Year |
Allocated |
Draw down |
|
2019 |
35,500,000 |
34,290,000 |
|
2020 |
43,000,000 |
31,900,000 |
|
2021 |
48,330,500 |
n/a |
Last autumn I was pleased to announce a €5 million increase in the AIM budget for 2021, which increased total funding from €43 million to €48.3 million. The additional AIM funding allows for a further increase in the number of children with disabilities who can receive targeted supports under AIM, and enabled an increase in the level of payment made to services for additional assistance under Level 7 of AIM. Level 7 capitation increased in January of this year from €195 per week (or €13/hour) to €210 per week (or €14/hr). The additional funding in the 2021 budget also allows for an increase in the number of funded Inclusion Coordinator roles in preschool services.
The under-spend in 2020 reflects the availability of the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS) to registered providers of early learning and care and school-age childcare. This was a significant support in helping service providers to meet the challenges of COVID-19.
EWSS provides wage subsidies for relevant staff members, including newly hired staff. Level 7 of AIM (additional assistance in the preschool room) provides financial assistance to service providers that may be used to cover or subsidise the wages of specific staff members. With the introduction of EWSS, AIM rules were amended to allow the wages of an employee delivering additional assistance in the preschool room to be supported through either the EWSS or AIM Level 7 capitation, but not both. It was open to a service provider to choose whichever of EWSS or AIM Level 7 funding was most appropriate to them.
To date, Pobal data shows over 1,089 AIM Level 7 applications were withdrawn by service providers citing a preference to hire a staff member using EWSS funds rather than AIM funding. These withdrawals account for a drop in AIM Level 7 applications by approximately 25%. As this information is submitted on a voluntary basis, the number of withdrawals due to EWSS funding may be higher than reported. This reductions in the number of AIM Level 7 applications, in addition to a possible drop off in the number of children with disabilities attending services due to Covid-19, has had a major impact on AIM Level 7 expenditure in 2020 and 2021. There are currently 109,242 approved ECCE registrations, which is 3% lower than this time last year. The combination of lower ECCE registrations and the continuation of EWSS will continue to impact on AIM expenditure until at least the end of Q3 2021.
The Access Inclusion Model (AIM), which is an inter-agency initiative led by my Department, supports the participation of preschool children with disabilities in the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme. The key objective of AIM is to support early learning and care providers to deliver an inclusive preschool experience, ensuring that children with a disability can fully participate in the ECCE Programme, thereby reaping the benefits of quality preschool education. AIM is based on the needs of the child in the context of the preschool setting. It does not require any diagnosis, recognising that many children do not have a diagnosis of a disability when starting preschool.
AIM has seven levels of progressive support. Universal supports (levels 1-3) empower early learning and care providers to create a more inclusive culture in their setting through an Inclusion Charter and Guidelines for preschools, and a level 6 qualification in Leadership for Inclusion (LINC).
Targeted supports (levels 4-7) are based on the needs of the child and the preschool setting they are attending. These supports include expert early years educational advice from Better Start Early Years Specialists, capital grants for special equipment and/or minor alterations for preschool settings, and therapy supports. AIM level 7 support provides additional funding to preschools who have a child requiring extra support. Providers can use this funding either to reduce the child-to-adult ratio in the preschool room or to fund an extra staff member as a shared resource with other children in the ECCE setting.
984. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps he is taking to ensure childminders are represented in any decision making group on the future of childminding in Ireland and on recommendations for the childminding role profile; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31422/21]
View answerMy Department developed a National Action Plan for Childminding which was published in April 2021. The Action Plan aims to improve access, through childminding, to high quality and affordable childcare. The Action Plan sets out a pathway over the next 8 years towards regulation, support and subsidies for all paid, non-relative childminders. The Action Plan will involve change and will bring significant benefits for childminders, and for the children and the families using their services.
A National Action Plan for Childminding Steering Group will be established shortly, to drive, oversee and monitor implementation of the National Action Plan. The Steering Group will be supported by four Advisory Groups in relation to: regulation and inspection; training and support; funding and financial supports; and consultation and communications.
The National Action Plan commits to representation of childminders, parents and other key stakeholders on the Steering Group, which will be chaired by my Department. Additionally the National Action Plan commits to representation of childminders on all four Advisory Groups.
Initial work on drafting a role profile for childminders began prior to launch of the National Action Plan, in the context of on-going work on developing a Workforce Development Plan for early learning and care and school-age childcare. In order to draft proposals, a working group was established specifically on childminding. The working group has strong representation of childminding views. Of its 12 members, six are childminders or work exclusively with or for childminders, while other members represent the views of parents, the statutory regulator (Tusla) and organisations which have provided extensive support for childminders. All decisions on the design and implementation of training programmes for childminders will be made by the Steering Group of the National Action Plan for Childminding.
The National Action Plan itself was based on extensive consultation and engagement with childminders, and the blueprint for the National Action Plan was the 2018 report of the Working Group on Reforms and Supports for the Childminding Sector, which was coordinated and chaired by Childminding Ireland. The National Action Plan commits to further consultation with childminders, especially during Phase 1 of the Plan when developing regulations specific to childminders.
985. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the post of director of ICT in Tusla has been filled continuously since 2017; the dates on which positions (details supplied) were advertised and filled; the number of staff these managers have; the number of data breaches in each of the years since 2017, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31448/21]
View answerI wish to inform the Deputy that my officials have asked Tusla to respond directly to you on this matter.
986. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if consideration was given to subsidising broadband connectivity for parents of young children availing of the recently announced Tusla online e-learning course given the huge demand from parents for online supports and services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31457/21]
View answerThe new Tusla online e-learning course for parents titled “Relationships are Key” responds to the demand from parents for easily accessible, online supports. It was developed by the Tusla National Parenting Working group in collaboration with parents. This e-learning course is accessible via computer, mobile phone and other devices. Parents can pick their own topics within the course and work through them in their own time and at their own pace.
987. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he has received an application for a project (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31466/21]
View answerApplications to the Play and Recreation Capital Grant Scheme are submitted through Local Authorities each year. The aim of the scheme is to provide funding to refurbish existing playgrounds/build new playgrounds. The scheme opened to applications from the LAs on April 1 and closed on April 22.
My officials have recently notified the Local Authorities of the amount of funding approved for the projects they submitted. The demand for this scheme was exceptionally high this year with the allocation of €450k oversubscribed by c. 98%.
The breakdown of approved funding by Local Authority area can be found at: https://www.gov.ie/pdf/?file=https://assets.gov.ie/136750/4b1bcf2f-870d-4c8a-8345-2b418eec4cd5.pdf#page=null
The funding provided to Cork City was as follows:
|
Project: Title/Description |
Funding Requested |
Funding Approved |
|
Project 1: provision of Wheelchair accessible swing at Clahduv Park Togher |
€10,000 |
€5,390 |
|
Project 2: provision of Wheelchair accessible swing in Ballinlough Park |
€10,000 |
€5,390 |
|
Project 3: Provision of Wheelchair accessible swing at John O’Callaghan Park Glanmire |
€10,000 |
€5,390 |
Further details about any particular project are available from the Play and Recreation Network member of each Local Authority.
The relevant email address for the LAPRN member of Cork City Council is stephen_scully@corkcity.ie
988. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 will be fully implemented; when the decision support service will be established; the reason that this Act has not been fully commenced six years after enactment; the timeline for commencing each section of the Act not already commenced; the sections involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31476/21]
View answerThe Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 (the 2015 Act) is a very important piece of legislation that changes the existing law on capacity from the status approach of the wardship system to a flexible functional approach, whereby capacity is assessed on an issue- and time-specific basis. It will abolish the wards of court system for adults by repealing the Lunacy Regulation (Ireland) Act 1871. Adults currently in wardship will transition to the new decision-making support arrangements on a phased basis over 3 years from the date of commencement.
The Government made a commitment in the Programme for Government to commencing the 2015 Act, recognising the importance of the much needed reform that it represents. We are working towards a date of June 2022 for full commencement.
The delays in commencement of the 2015 Act arise from two principal factors. The Decision Support Service, which is the organisation that will operate the progressive provisions of the 2015 Act, has to become operational and to be able to respond to the complex decision-making needs of people with capacity difficulties. Amendments are also required to the 2015 Act before full commencement can take place. Work is actively taking place on an Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill, which is expected to be enacted by year end. I will shortly seek Government approval for the General Scheme of the Bill. The amendments will streamline processes, in the interests of those using its provisions. They will also strengthen the safeguards included in the 2015 Act.
Some provisions of the Act have been commenced to enable the recruitment of the Director of the Decision Support Service; the establishment of a multidisciplinary working group in relation to Advance Healthcare Directives; and most recently, on the 1st of February this year, the repeal of the Marriage of Lunatics Act, which means that a ward can now marry if she or he has capacity to do so.
The Decision Support Service has made considerable progress in putting in place the administrative and IT systems needed to operate the 2015 Act. To this end a budget of €5.8 million was secured for the Decision Support Service for 2021, a significant increase on its €3.5 million 2020 budget.
A high-level Steering Group, chaired by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, meets monthly to oversee and drive progress towards full commencement. The Steering Group comprises senior officials from the Department of Health, the Department of Justice, the Mental Health Commission, the Courts Service, the HSE and the Decision Support Service, recognising that successful operation of the 2015 Act will involve multiple stakeholders. They are working towards commencement of the 2015 Act in June 2022, with the Decision Support Service opening for business immediately thereafter.
989. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide a once-off bridging grant of €2 million to an organisation (details supplied) to assist it to provide essential services to its members; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31509/21]
View answerThe ongoing management of the organisation referred to by the Deputy is a matter for their Board, including the challenges being presented due to the Covid-19 restrictions.
My Department provides substantial funding to this organisation, which plays an important role in providing young people with opportunities for developmental experiences and informal learning. All of the youth funding provided by my Department has been maintained fully throughout the ongoing period of restrictions. In addition, I secured an increase in 2021 for youth services, including an increase for the organisation referred to by the Deputy. I have no plans to provide additional funding to this organisation.
My officials are in regular contact with youth sector representatives in relation to the impact of the pandemic and associated health restrictions. It is of importance that Exchequer funding to youth services nationally is protected and I am satisfied that Government has been able to continue to support them. My officials will continue to work closely with youth organisations and will actively monitor the situation. We very much appreciate the challenges Covid-19 has posed for them and continues to pose.
990. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when Ireland will proceed to ratify the Second Optional Protocol to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child; and the reason for the long delay. [31510/21]
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.
The Department of Justice is examining what legislative amendments may be required to ensure that the full range of offences covered by the Protocol can be prosecuted on an organised and transnational basis.
We hope to resolve these issues as soon as possible and I will subsequently seek Government approval for ratification at the earliest opportunity.
991. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of referrals by public health nurses for sponsorship under the national childcare scheme by month from May 2020 to May 2021, in tabular form. [31618/21]
View answerThe HSE is one of five Sponsor Bodies with an agreement with my Department to make sponsored referrals under the National Childcare Scheme. The HSE can sponsor a child under the NCS to enable participation in a childcare service where there is an identified need for childcare as an additional support to the home environment to meet child development needs for a child who is under the age of 4 years and who is not enrolled in a preschool programme funded by my Department or the Minister for Education and who would otherwise not attend a childcare service.
Table 1 provides a monthly breakdown of children referred by the HSE between 1 May 2020 and 31 May 2021. While these numbers represent completed sponsored referrals, not all progressed to a claim being made against the award. Table 2 provides the total figure.
Table 1:
|
Month-Year |
Children referred by the HSE |
|
May-20 |
- |
|
Jun-20 |
5 |
|
Jul-20 |
3 |
|
Aug-20 |
11 |
|
Sep-20 |
38 |
|
Oct-20 |
20 |
|
Nov-20 |
36 |
|
Dec-20 |
14 |
|
Jan-21 |
15 |
|
Feb-21 |
11 |
|
Mar-21 |
22 |
|
Apr-21 |
23 |
|
May-21 |
27 |
Table 2:
|
Sponsor |
Children |
|
All HSE referred children |
202 |
992. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of public health nurse referrals for sponsorship under the national childcare scheme which have been made since May 2020, by CHO area in tabular form. [31619/21]
View answerThe HSE is one of five Sponsor Bodies with an agreement with my Department to make sponsored referrals under the National Childcare Scheme. The HSE can sponsor a child under the NCS to enable participation in a childcare service where there is an identified need for childcare as an additional support to the home environment to meet child development needs for a child who is under the age of 4 years and who is not enrolled in a preschool programme funded by my Department or the Minister for Education and who would otherwise not attend a childcare service.
As clarified to the Deputy, it is not possible to provide a breakdown by CHO area as the NCS does not use this metric. Furthermore, the NCS does not collect any geographic information relating to sponsored children. Therefore the breakdown provided below relates to the county of the referring official within the Sponsor Body.
Table 1 provides a breakdown by sponsor county of children referred by the HSE between 1 May 2020 and 31 May 2021. While these numbers represent completed sponsored referrals, not all progressed to a claim being made against the award. Table 2 provides the total figure.
Table 1:
|
County |
HSE referred children |
|
Clare |
2 |
|
Cork |
14 |
|
Dublin |
152 |
|
Kerry |
1 |
|
Kildare |
2 |
|
Limerick |
13 |
|
Louth |
8 |
|
Meath |
8 |
|
Sligo |
1 |
|
Westmeath |
1 |
Table 2:
|
Sponsor |
Children |
|
All HSE referred children |
202 |
993. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of non-public health nurse referrals for sponsorship under the national childcare scheme by category and month from May 2020 to May 2021, in tabular form. [31620/21]
View answerThe Sponsorship arrangement available within the NCS offers additional supports for families with complex needs. The need for a sponsored referral is a determination for the relevant Sponsor Body and one they make based on the particular need of the child in line with their defined criteria as set out in the Childcare Support Act 2018.
The Deputy has asked separate questions about HSE sponsorship, this answer will address sponsorship by the other four Sponsor Bodies.
Table 1 provides the monthly breakdown of the number of children referred for sponsorship between 1 May 2020 and 31 May 2021. While these numbers represent completed sponsored referrals, not all have progressed to a claim being made against their award.
Table 2 shows the total figures for referrals by each Sponsor Body.
Table 1:
Table 2:
|
Sponsor |
Children |
|
All Department of Education referred children |
6 |
|
All Department of Justice referred children |
231 |
|
All National Homeless Authority referred children |
423 |
|
All TUSLA referred children |
1,019 |
It should be noted that one child may be the subject of multiple sponsored referrals over a year, as such unique counts are not added together when calculating the total figure.
994. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children availing of the universal subsidy and the income-assessed subsidy under the national childcare scheme by age in tabular form. [31621/21]
View answerThe National Childcare Scheme represents the first ever statutory entitlement to financial support for childcare in Ireland. To date, over 56,000 children have benefitted from subsidies under the NCS.
Table 1 supplies data on the number of children with a universal or income assessed subsidy application who have claimed against their award for the week ending 31 May 2021. To note that there are over 42,000 submitted claims for this week but the remainder are subject to provider and/or parental verification and will be paid out on receipt of those verifications. The children’s ages were calculated as of 31 May 2021. Table 2 provides the totals for these categories.
Table 1:
Table 2:
|
Application type |
Children |
|
All income assessed children |
23,775 |
|
All universal children |
8,883 |
|
All children |
32,658 |
For completeness, the numbers of children benefitting from universal and income-based subsidies under legacy schemes are included below. Again, children’s ages have been calculated as at 31 May 2021. Table 3 provides these figures, and table 4 provides the total figures.
Table 3:
Table 4:
|
Registration type |
Children |
|
All income assessed children (CCSP) |
12,458 |
|
All universal children (CCSU) |
1,800 |
|
All children |
14,258 |
995. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the numbers of children qualified for the old CCS and CCSP schemes under band A, band AJ, band B and band D by age in each of the years 2015 to 2020, in tabular form. [31622/21]
View answerThe numbers of children qualified for the CCS and CCSP schemes under band A, band AJ, band B and band D by age in each of the years 2015 to 2020 is provided in an attached spreadsheet supplied by Pobal who are the administrators of the scheme.
997. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the funding allocated in 2020 on the once-off Covid-19 capital grant for providers funded by his Department opening between 29 June 2020 and early September 2020; and the amount of this allocation that was spent in 2020. [31647/21]
View answerMy Department operates a number of early learning and school-age childcare funding schemes, which are administered by Pobal on behalf of my Department. These include capital grants schemes for providers.
The COVID-19 Capital grant consisted of a once-off capital grant for childcare services and childminders registered with Tusla, or notified to their City or County Childcare Committee. This grant was to help services to adhere to the reopening guidelines by improving hygiene facilities and outdoor play areas. Permissible expenditure under the grant included:
- Outdoor play equipment;
- Outdoor shade and shelter to enable outdoor play as much as possible;
- Additional hand-washing and toilet facilities;
- Purchase of partitions or room dividers to enable play pods to remain separate in larger rooms; and
- Installation of screens in reception areas.
The following table shows the amount allocated and the amount drawn down under this scheme.
|
Scheme |
Allocation (€m) |
Drawdown (€m) |
|
Covid-19 Capital |
€ 14.2 |
€ 13.0 |
998. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated additional cost of increasing the learner fund to allow all childcare workers currently holding level 5 qualifications to progress to level 6. [31650/21]
View answerFigures from the current Pobal Annual Early Years Sector Profile 2018/2019 suggest that in mid-2019 there were 26,882 staff working directly with children in early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC) services, of whom 26.8% held a relevant Level 5 major award. On that basis, to support all staff with a Level 5 award to progress to a Level 6 major award would involve supports for at least 7,204 staff.
Currently the Learner Fund provides a bursary of €750 for staff who complete a relevant degree-level qualification (Level 7 or Level 8). However, if this bursary were to be extended on the same terms to practitioners completing a Level 6 award, the cost would be €5,403,000 to support 7,204 practitioners.
However, this would not mean that the Level 6 qualification was free-of-charge to participants as my Department only partly funds ELC and SAC staff to pursue a higher qualification under the Learner Fund.
On the basis of a review of fees for a sample of Level 6 programmes, it is estimated that the full fees for 7,204 practitioners to undertake a Level 6 award would be between approximately €7.2m and €11.5m.
However, it should be noted that the cost to the State might differ depending on the form of support provided. Furthermore, these estimates do not take into account staff turnover in the sector, which would increase the number of staff requiring support in order to achieve the target.
999. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated additional cost of increasing the learner fund to a level which would allow 50% of childcare workers currently holding level 6 qualifications to progress to level 7. [31651/21]
View answerFigures from the Pobal Annual Early Years Sector Profile 2018/2019 suggest that in mid-2019 there were 26,882 staff working directly with children in early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC) services, of whom 41.8% held a relevant Level 6 major award. On that basis, to support 50% of staff with a Level 6 award to progress to at least a Level 7 degree-level qualification would involve supports for at least 5,618 staff.
Currently the Learner Fund provides a bursary of €750 for staff who complete a relevant degree-level qualification (Level 7 or Level 8). If a bursary of this size were to be provided to 5,618 staff, the cost would be €4,213,500.
However, this would not mean that the degree-level qualification was free-of-charge to participants as my Department only partly funds ELC and SAC staff to pursue a higher qualification under the Learner Fund.
The Professional Award Criteria and Guidelines for Initial Professional Education (Level 7 and 8) degree programmes for early learning and care, published in 2019, will require relevant Level 7 degree programmes to be 3 years in duration, with a Level 6 award allowing 1 year advanced entry. On the basis of a review of fees for a sample of relevant degree programmes, it is estimated that the full fees for 2 years' participation in degree programmes for 5,618 practitioners would be between approximately €35m and €56m.
However, it should be noted that the cost to the State might differ depending on the form of support provided. Furthermore, these estimates do not take into account staff turnover in the sector, which would increase the number of staff requiring support in order to achieve a 50% target.
1000. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated additional cost of the roll-out of Aistear across the early years sector. [31652/21]
View answerAistear, the national curriculum framework for early childhood, was developed by the National Council for Curriculum Assessment (NCCA). Since its development 12 years ago it has been used as a tool to support quality on many levels across the range of services that support the learning and care of children from birth to 6 years old. Aistear is relevant to all settings for children from birth to 6 years old, and it includes suggestions on ways in which parents can support their children's early learning. Measures to support the use of Aistear are rolled out in an integrated way with supports for the Síolta national quality framework.
Given the diverse ways in which use of Aistear is currently supported, and its integrated roll-out with Síolta, it is not possible at present to give a single figure for the cost of rolling out Aistear across the early learning and care sector.
The roll-out of Aistear, which is supported by the Aistear-Síolta Practice Guide (published in 2015), is embedded in initial/pre-service training programmes (leading to qualifications at Levels 5, 6, 7 and 8 on the National Framework of Qualifications/NFQ) and in a range of training courses aimed at the continuing professional development of early learning and care practitioners.
Its roll-out is also embedded in the mentoring work carried out by the Better Start Quality Development Service, and in the inspections of early learning and care services that are carried out by both Tusla (the statutory regulator for early learning and care and school-age childcare services) and the Inspectorate of the Department of Education.
Progress continues to be made in the on-going roll-out of Aistear and Síolta across the sector. Recent initiatives include on-going work to reform and strengthen the training awards at Levels 5 and 6 on the NFQ and undergraduate degree programmes, including further embedding Aistear and Síolta within these awards.
The National Síolta Aistear Initiative (NSAI) is a collaboration (begun in 2016) between my Department, the Department of Education, Better Start, and the NCCA. The purpose of the NSAI is to support the implementation of both Aistear and the Síolta national quality framework. Training courses delivered within the NSAI include both foundation or introductory courses that give the background and fundamentals of Síolta and Aistear (4 workshops, delivered through the City and County Childcare Committees) and the Aistear and Play CPD programme (which is delivered by the Better Start Quality Development Service). The budget for the NSAI in 2021 is €500,000.The Aistear and Play CPD programme has been delivered by Better Start since March 2019. It consists of 5 individual workshops (two and a half hours each) and two on-site support visits with an early years mentor to support services to apply the learning from the training course within their setting. In 2019 the National Síolta Aistear Initiative offered 60 Aistear and Play CPD courses, with 15-20 participants per course. Roll-out in 2020 and 2021 has been interrupted by Covid-19. An evaluation of the Better Start Quality Development Service will begin shortly, and a review of the Aistear and Play CPD programme has recently been carried out. The results of these evaluations will help to identify the next steps in the roll-out of Aistear.
1001. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated additional cost of the roll-out of Aistear across the childminding sector. [31653/21]
View answerThe National Action Plan for Childminding, published in April this year, commits to develop bespoke resources to support the quality of childminding provision. Phase 1 of the National Action Plan, which commences in 2021 and is expected to last 2-3 years, will include development of a bespoke Foundation Training Programme for childminders, and development of a Quality Development Programme. During Phase 1, as the scale and scope of these and other quality supports are clarified, more detailed cost estimates will be developed, refining the high-level, indicative cost estimates presented in the National Action Plan.
Aistear, the national curriculum framework for early childhood, was developed by the National Council for Curriculum Assessment (NCCA). Since its development 12 years ago it has been used as a tool to support quality on many levels across the range of services that support the learning and care of children from birth to 6 years old. Aistear is relevant to all settings for children from birth to 6 years old. Measures to support the use of Aistear are rolled out in an integrated way with supports for the Síolta national quality framework.
The roll-out of Aistear, which is supported by the Aistear-Síolta Practice Guide (published in 2015), is embedded both in initial/pre-service training programmes and in a range of training courses aimed at the continuing professional development of early learning and care practitioners.
Its roll-out is also embedded in the mentoring work carried out by the Better Start Quality Development Service, and in the inspections of early learning and care services that are carried out by both Tusla (the statutory regulator for early learning and care and school-age childcare services) and the Inspectorate of the Department of Education.
