Written Answers Nos. 172-191
172. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of increasing the domiciliary care allowance from €309.50 to €330 per week; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32485/21]
View answerThe estimated full year cost of increasing the Domiciliary Care Allowance to €330 per month is €11.4 million.
The cost shown above is based on the estimated number of recipients in 2021. This costing is subject to change in the context of emerging trends and associated revision of the estimated numbers of recipients.
173. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of expanding the free travel scheme to include persons in receipt of the domiciliary care allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32486/21]
View answerThe free travel scheme provides free travel on the main public and private transport services for those eligible under the scheme. These include road, rail and ferry services provided by companies such as Bus Átha Cliath, Bus Éireann and Iarnród Éireann, as well as Luas and services provided by over 80 private transport operators. There are currently approximately 999,000 customers with direct eligibility. The 2021 funding allocation for the free travel scheme is €95 million.
Providing an accurate projection of the cost of extending the free travel scheme to all children in respect of whom a domiciliary care allowance is being paid is very difficult as the cost is determined by the usage of the extra passes provided and not by the number of newly qualified people. The fact that many operators have reduced fares for children and that in some cases children under five years of age can travel for free would also have to be taken into account. Taking all of this into consideration, I am advised that the yearly cost of the measure suggested by the Deputy could be as high as an estimated €6.1 million.
Any decision to extend the free travel scheme to all children in respect of whom a domiciliary care allowance is being paid would require additional funding for the free travel scheme and would have to be considered in the context of overall budgetary negotiations.
Domiciliary care allowance is a monthly payment of €309.50 to the carer of a child with a disability. The allowance may be used for the additional costs involved in caring for the child and this may include additional transport costs.
Under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme (SWA) the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection may award a travel supplement in any case where the circumstances of the case so warrant. The supplement is intended to assist with ongoing or recurring travel costs that cannot be met from the person's own resources and are deemed to be necessary. Every decision is based on consideration of the circumstances of the case, taking account of the nature and extent of the need and of the resources of the person concerned.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
174. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of increasing the annual carer's support grant from €1,850 to €2,000; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32487/21]
View answerThe estimated full year cost of increasing the Carer's Support Grant by €150 is €21.5m.
This cost is based on the estimated number of recipients in 2021 and is subject to change in light of emerging trends and subsequent revision of the estimated number of recipients.
175. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of making the carer's allowance a qualifying payment for the fuel allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32488/21]
View answerThe Fuel Allowance is a household based payment of €28.00 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €784 each year), paid from October to April, to 370,000 low income households, at an estimated cost of €300 million in 2021. The purpose of this payment is to assist these households with their energy costs. The allowance represents a contribution towards the energy costs of a household. It is not intended to meet those costs in full. Only one allowance is paid per household.
My Department also pays an electricity or gas allowance under the Household Benefits scheme at an estimated cost of €195 million in 2021. This is paid at a rate of €35 per month, 12 months of the year.
Taking account the fact that the fuel allowance is a household based payment and that qualification is not just based on receipt of a qualifying payment but on a number of other complex qualifying criteria such as household composition, providing an accurate projection of the cost by my Department is not possible.
The Government values the role of carers very much and it is for this reason that they receive significant income supports from the Department. In addition to the Carer’s Benefit and Carer's Allowance schemes, carers receive further support in the form of free travel and household benefits (for those who live with the person for whom they care) and the annual Carer's Support Grant in respect of each person for whom they care. In Budget 2021 I was delighted to announce an increase to the Carer's Support Grant by €150 to €1,850. This will benefit over 130,000 carers. Carers in receipt of an increase for a qualified child on their claim also benefit from the Budget 2021 increase to the qualified child rate, by €5 in the case of a child aged 12 or over and by €2 for a child aged up to 12.
Fuel Allowance is a household-based payment, and a Carer will very often live with and be caring for a person in receipt of a qualifying payment for Fuel Allowance. Income from full rate Carer's Allowance is disregarded from the fuel means test if the carer is providing full time care and attention to the Fuel Allowance applicant, his/her qualified spouse / civil partner or cohabitant or qualified child(ren).
If a person is getting certain qualifying social welfare payments and also providing full time care and attention to another person, s/he can keep his/her main social protection payment in addition to receiving the half-rate Carer's Allowance. S/he can also receive an extra half-rate Carer’s Allowance if s/he cares for more than one person. It should also be noted that the payment of half-rate Carer’s Allowance does not preclude a person from qualifying for Fuel Allowance. If a person is in receipt of a non-contributory social welfare payment and a half-rate Carer’s Allowance, then s/he is deemed to have satisfied the means test and Fuel Allowance is payable, subject to all remaining criteria being satisfied. If a person is in receipt of a contributory social welfare payment and a half-rate Carer’s Allowance then s/he will have to satisfy a means test in order to qualify for Fuel Allowance.
The maximum rates of Carer's Allowance for those aged under 66, at €219 (€257 for carers aged 66 or over) where one person is being cared for, and €328.50 (€385.50 for carers aged 66 or over) where there are two or more carees, is significantly higher than that for most schemes administered by my Department.
The means test for Carer's allowance has been significantly eased over the years and is now one of the most generous means tests in the social welfare system, most notably with regard to spouse’s earnings. At present the means test for Carer’s Allowance allows for an income disregard of €332.50 per week for a single person and €665 for a couple. In the case of a single carer, that person may retain a full-rate payment of €219.00 while having an annual income of just under €19,000, or retain a payment of €109.00 per week (just under half rate) while having an annual income of €25,400, or retain the minimum payment of €4 per week while having an annual income of €31,100.
Carers can also engage in employment, self-employment, training or education courses outside the home for not more than 18.5 hours a week.
Any decision to amend the criteria for receiving Fuel Allowance, to include Carer’s Allowance as a qualifying payment, would have to be considered in the overall policy and budgetary context.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
176. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of increasing the income disregard for carer's allowance from €332.50 to €350 per week for a single person and to €700 for a couple; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32489/21]
View answerThe Government acknowledges the important role that family carers play and is fully committed to supporting carers in that role. This commitment is recognised in both the Programme for Government and the National Carers’ Strategy.
The main income supports to carers provided by my Department are Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance and the Carer’s Support Grant. Combined spending on these payments to carers in 2021 is expected to exceed €1.4 billion.
As of May, there were 89,523 recipients of Carer's Allowance. The estimated expenditure for the payment in 2021 is in the region of €953 million.
The means test for Carer’s Allowance is one of the most generous in the social protection system. Currently, €332.50 of gross weekly income is disregarded in the calculation of means for a single person; the equivalent for someone who is married, in a civil partnership or cohabiting is €665 of combined gross weekly income.
By comparison, the income disregard applied to Disability Allowance is €140 per week. For Jobseeker's Allowance, it is €20 per day up to a maximum of €60, and the balance is assessed at 60%. For Jobseeker's Transitional Payment, the weekly income disregard is €165 with 50% of the balance assessed as means.
The ESRI SWITCH microsimulation model is used for the purposes of estimates such as the one requested. The estimated gross expenditure is an additional €1.16m annually. However, it should be noted that is not possible to estimate the increase in the number of persons entitled to the Carer’s Allowance if the means test thresholds were increased. This is primarily because it is not known how many people there are caring and working that are currently over the income limit but who could apply for/become eligible for Carer's Allowance if the income limits were higher. SWITCH cannot model behavioural responses in such cases.
SWITCH showed no distribution/poverty affects arising from the increase suggested by the Deputy. It is important to note that based on the Department's own analysis of the Carer's Allowance, some 92% of the current recipients of Carer’s Allowance have no means or means of less than €7.60 per week and would not benefit by an increase in the disregard. Carers who would benefit from an increased disregard would be in higher income households.
Any changes to the means test must be considered in an overall budgetary context.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
177. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of electric or hybrid vehicles purchased by her Department in 2020 and to date in 2021, respectively in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32859/21]
View answerMy Department did not purchase any vehicles in 2020 or to date in 2021.
By way of context, my Department and its agencies currently have three motor vehicles. The cost of replacing these vehicles with an electrical equivalent is estimated to be in the region of €85,000 (excluding VAT and VRT).
As the energy usage on these vehicles is relatively low, the Department does not consider that there is an economic or major environmental benefit in changing these vehicles at this time.
At the end of their life cycle, consideration will be given to the need to replace them and to the best environmental option at that stage.
178. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the services that are available for survivors of domestic abuse in County Clare by location. [32373/21]
View answerTusla, the Child and Family Agency, has statutory responsibility for the care and protection of victims of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (DGSBV). The response to DSGBV is a cross Departmental and multi-agency issue with policy coordinated by the Department of Justice. Tusla supports some 60 front line DSGBV services around the country, and the Department has increased its funding to Tusla for this sector by some €4.7 million this year. Overall funding now stands at a total of €30 million for 2021.
Clare Haven Services is based in Ennis, and provides emergency refuge accommodation and support to women and children experiencing domestic violence. The service also provides a 24-hour confidential domestic violence help line, court accompaniment services, and outreach supports in several towns throughout County Clare. Depending on the convenience or geographical location of service users, or the availability of refuge spaces, individuals in County Clare may choose to use services in Counties Limerick, Tipperary, Kerry, or elsewhere.
Rape Crisis Midwest is based in Limerick City, and provides an outreach service in the Ennis area for adult survivors of sexual violence and childhood sexual abuse. The organisation also provides telephone support and one-to-one counselling. Individuals may engage with the service via its Limerick base, or the outreach service in Clare. Other supports for survivors of sexual violence are also available in neighbouring counties, if convenient.
In addition to services located in County Clare, Tusla supports national services that assist survivors of DSGBV throughout the country. Women's Aid and Dublin Rape Crisis Centre provide two 24-hour national helplines for victims of domestic and sexual violence. Funding for the two national helplines has increased in the context of increased reports of DSGBV during the COVID-19 pandemic. Tusla also provides funding to the Men's Development Network and Men's Aid to operate two helplines for male victims of abuse. All of these services are available and open to survivors of DSGBV in County Clare.
With regard to emergency accommodation for victims of DSGBV in Clare, Tusla is undertaking a review of these services nationwide. This will assess the current and requisite distribution of safe emergency accommodation. The review's findings and the recommendations of the Monitoring Committee of the Second National Strategy on DSGBV will inform Tusla's future decisions on priority areas for investment and development of services. Tusla has advised me that this report will be finalised in the coming weeks.
It is of the utmost importance that the needs of those who experience domestic violence in County Clare, and across Ireland, are met in the most appropriate way possible. I strongly support the work of Tusla and its funded service providers and I am committed to supporting the Agency in meeting the needs of individuals who experience domestic violence.
179. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will cease the practice of relocating unaccompanied minors whose application for international protection is still being processed when they turn 18 to adult reception centres via direct provision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32500/21]
View answer189. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on the practice of where unaccompanied children who come to Ireland to seek asylum are being removed from their foster families and placed in direct provision when they turn eighteen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32480/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 179 and 189 together.
Thank you Deputy for highlighting this issue.
All children in care are involved in developing their aftercare plan in the years and months coming up to their 18th birthday when, as legal adults, they are no longer in the statutory care of Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. The specialist team working with these children and young adults, the Separated Children's Team, is fully aware of and attentive to their aspirations and needs, especially for those whom their application for international protection has not yet been decided.
As you will know, applications for international protection are processed through the Department of Justice. The Separated Children Team helps the children in their care to apply for international protection, they also provide assistance in completing applications for family reunification. Having decisions relating to their status made as early as possible is crucially important, however, some children arrive in their 17th year and their application may not be processed before they reach their majority.
The vast majority of children in receipt of a service from Tusla's Separated Children team receive some form of residency permission before they are 18, and as such, will not avail of direct provision. If a care leaver is waiting for a final decision on their international protection application, and they turn 18 years of age, they may be referred to the IPAS for accommodation.
Tusla’s current practice; where a young person is deemed to be exceptionally vulnerable, they may continue to be accommodated in a Tusla residential centre or in their foster placement.
In Budget 2021, I secured an additional €5m for Tusla to provide dedicated services to accelerate the intake of children from Greek refugee camps. Tusla officials have developed a suite of care options to include expansion of residential care placements and development of specialist foster care placements. The suite of additional services included additional aftercare supports for separated young people in aftercare.
At the end of 2020 there were 64 children under 18 in the care of the Separated Children Seeking International Protection Team in Tusla and a further 93 young adults between the ages of 18 and 22 were in receipt of an aftercare service.
The impact of the cyber-attack on Tusla systems continues to be felt. Tusla continues to provide a vital service and is working hard to restore their IT systems and access to information. When proper access is restored I will ensure that you are provided with more detail on this matter.
180. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there are plans to revisit the ECCE capitation and the shortfall in funding faced by childcare facilities that run a seasonal service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32170/21]
View answerMy Department is not planning to reviewing the capitation levels paid to the providers of ECCE services for the forthcoming 2021/22 ECCE programme year.
The capitation levels for the 2021-22 ECCE programme year were published by Pobal on 27 May 2021, and are set at €69 per child per 15 hours of ECCE per week, with a higher capitation rate of €80.25 per child per week where the ECCE programme is provided by a childcare practitioner with a relevant qualification of level 7 or above.
ECCE service providers are currently eligible for additional supports from the State due to the Covid pandemic. These supports include an enhanced rate of Employee Wage Support Payment, which covers, on average, 80% of a providers wage bill. In addition, providers who are facing financial difficulties can apply for support from my Department's Sustainability Fund.
As the Deputy is aware, my Department is currently carrying out a review of the Funding Model for the early learning and childcare sector, which includes consideration of the interaction between the existing streams of current funding, including ECCE, and any new Funding Model. The new Funding Model will build on other schemes to leverage improvements in quality, affordability, accessibility and social inclusion.
Any proposals to increase the current ECCE capitation will be considered following the completion of the review of the Funding Model.
181. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to the spiralling costs of childcare in particular in the Dublin 8 area in which parents are being faced by a €200 or 20% increase by some service providers without explanation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32194/21]
View answerI am very concerned to hear of any individual provider proposing to increase charges to parents at a time when the Government continues to support early learning and childcare providers very significantly. In view of the extent of State support, increases are not justified at this time.
One of my key priorities in Government is to achieve affordability of early learning and care and school age childcare. The Programme for Government commits to substantially reducing fees to parents while supporting quality service provision. The Government has been strongly supportive of the sector, particularly since the onset of Covid-19. We have provided substantial additional supports to allow services to operate sustainably throughout the pandemic, acknowledging that there are higher delivery costs and many extra practical and financial challenges to be met. One of the objectives of these supports was to ensure that the higher delivery costs due to public health requirements and lower occupancy were not passed on to parents.
In addition to my Department's funding schemes, all services can currently participate in the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS) which provides an average of 50% of normal operating costs for services, at a value of some €35m to the sector each month. The EWSS has been paid at enhanced rates since October 2020, and is due to continue until the end of December 2021. Most businesses must demonstrate a 30% reduction in turnover to be eligible for supports under the scheme. When the EWSS was introduced in August 2020, I negotiated a special arrangement for registered ELC and SAC services to be exempt from this turnover test and I can confirm that these special arrangements will be extended for Quarter 3 of 2021. Officials in my Department are engaging with the Department of Finance in the context of wider proposals for the EWSS in Quarter 4.
I recognise that early learning and care and school age childcare services are private businesses and are free to set their own policies regarding the charging of fees and contract conditions and I am aware that there are service providers notifying parents of a future significant increase in fees. Given the substantial additional supports allocated to the sector, and the assurance that there will be no sudden withdrawal of Government supports, there is no case for an increase to fees paid by parents.
I might add that where providers require further financial assistance in addition to current supports available, my Department operates a Covid-19 Impact Support Scheme. I would urge providers to apply for funding under this Scheme before taking steps to increase fees charged.
For parents who might wish to find an alternative provider, there are 30 City/County Childcare Committees around the country who can assist in identifying services in their areas. Information on these is available at myccc.ie. Information on services registered with Tusla, including contact details and inspection reports, is available on Tusla's website.
There are a number of measures in place to ensure affordability for parents. Families may be entitled to subsidies under the National Childcare Scheme (NCS), which aims to improve outcomes for children, reduce poverty, facilitate labour activation, and tangibly reduce the cost of early learning and childcare for tens of thousands of families. The scheme comprises of two types of subsidies:
- A universal subsidy for children of pre-ECCE age who are availing of early learning and childcare services from an approved provider. The universal subsidy is not means-tested and is available to all qualifying families of any income level.
- An income-assessed subsidy is payable for children from 24 weeks to 15 years of age who are availing of early learning and childcare services from an approved provider. The level of subsidy is determined by the family's reckonable income.
NCS subsidies are awarded as an hourly rate for a maximum number of hours per week. Where parents are not engaged in work or study, the NCS subsidises up to 20 hours per week. Where parents are engaged in work or study, the NCS subsidises up to 45 hours per week. The definition of work or study is broad, covering all forms of work or study arrangements, and engagement in work or study for just 2 hours confers entitlement to higher maximum hours of subsidised provision. This makes the scheme as flexible as possible.
Looking to the future, my Department will be developing a new funding model for early learning and care and school age childcare that provides additional resourcing to services subject to quality and affordability. An Expert Group has been progressing this work since late 2019 and I expect their report to be finalised in November. An essential and top priority for this Group will be to make recommendations on a mechanism to control fee rates for different types of provision for ELC/SAC.
Extensive research has already been commissioned to inform the work of the Group. Frontier Economics, the Research Partner, have produced and published eight working papers, with three that directly address affordability issues including international comparisons of fees and public investment, approaches to funding the early learning and care sector, and mechanisms to control fees charged to parents. This research identifies international practice and learning that will be of value for the new funding model.
182. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps he will take to regulate the pricing structure of the creche system and to address the fact that not all creches or childcare providers accept the national childcare scheme subsidy, the high cost of insurance facing the childcare industry, the low wages of those working in the childcare sector, the lack of creche spaces and long waiting lists in many areas including Dublin 8 and the shortage of places for children under one year. [32195/21]
View answerOne of my key priorities as Minister is to achieve affordability of quality early learning and care (ELC) and school age childcare (SAC) for families.
With regard to the question of the cost of childcare, the Programme for Government commits to substantially reducing fees to parents while supporting quality service provision. My Department has established an Expert Group which is currently carrying out a review of the funding model for ELC and SAC. This Group will report to me later this year, and its report will inform the development of a new funding model for ELC and SAC, which delivers affordable, quality provision of early learning and care to families.
My Department has provided substantial additional supports to allow ELC and SAC services to operate sustainably throughout the pandemic. One of the key objectives of these supports was to ensure that the potential higher delivery costs due to public health requirements and lower occupancy rates were not passed on to parents. Among these supports is the EWSS, which at enhanced rates, covers up to 80% of staff costs, or 50% of operating costs of services.
With regard to service providers engaging with the National Childcare Scheme (NCS), providers are private business and it is their choice to provide any of my Department's funding programmes, including the NCS.
However, I strongly encourage every provider to participate in the NCS, to enable parents to access the financial supports for early learning and childcare costs which are available to them through the NCS. In advance of the launch of the NCS, my Department provided a suite of supports to ELC and SAC providers including training, transition payments and a capital grant for ICT equipment, to assist with the administration of the NCS. These supporting measures were designed to encourage sign-up, support readiness and facilitate the smooth operation of the NCS.
My Department provides an annual programme support payment (PSP) to compensate providers for the time they have to devote to the administration of DCEDIY funding schemes, including the NCS. Training and support on registering for the NCS is available for providers from all City/County Childcare Committees (CCCs) and from Pobal, the scheme administrator.
At present, over 3,000 ELC and SAC providers are contracted to participate in the NCS. My Department will launch a communications campaign on the NCS in the next month, which will encourage more providers to sign up for the NCS, and also inform parents of the supports which they can receive under this scheme.
I do appreciate the difficulties caused when a parent’s preferred provider does not engage with the NCS. However, parents can access their NCS subsidy through any ELC and SAC provider which is registered to provide the NCS. Their CHICK number, which unlocks their subsidy award, can be used in any NCS-registered ELC and SAC service.
As the Deputy is aware, the DCEDIY funds a national network of City/County Childcare Committees (CCCs) to support and assist families and early learning and childcare providers . A parent’s local CCC will be in a position to provide them with information and assistance with locating a suitable service or childminder in their area that is participating in the NCS. Further information on CCCs can be found at www.myccc.ie.
With regard to the cost of insurance, I understand that there has been a slight increase in brokerage fees for the majority of ELC and SAC providers this year, but that there has not been a general increase in premiums for providers. I understand that insurance costs remain at an average of €60 per child per annum for full time providers.
Neither the Government or the Central Bank of Ireland can direct the pricing or provision of insurance products, as this is a commercial matter which individual companies assess on a case-by-case basis. This position is reinforced by the EU Single Market framework for insurance (the Solvency II Directive) which expressly prohibits Member States from doing so.
Notwithstanding this, insurance reform is a priority for this Government. The Action Plan for Insurance Reform, which was launched on 8 December 2020, contains a range of deliverables in a number of Government Department policy areas. It is intended that the cumulative effect of the implementation of the actions will be to improve the insurance environment, in particular for businesses. I am a member of the Sub-Group for Insurance Reform, chaired by An Tánaiste, which has been set up within the Cabinet Committee for Economic Recovery and Investment to implement these reforms – the sub-group will publish progress reports every six months.
Seeking to secure a more sustainable and competitive market through deepening and widening the supply of insurance in Ireland remains a key policy priority for this Government. In this regard, it is the Government’s intention to ensure that the implementation of the Action Plan can have a positive impact on the affordability and availability of insurance for individuals, businesses and voluntary groups, including ELC and SAC providers.
With regard to the pay of staff in early learning and childcare services, I am very conscious of the need for improvement in pay and working conditions in the sector.
As the State does not employ early learning and childcare practitioners, the Deputy will appreciate that my Department cannot set wage levels or determine working conditions for staff 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.
In December 2020, I began a process to examine the possibility of regulating the pay and conditions of employment of practitioners in early learning and childcare, and to examine the suitability of establishing a Joint Labour Committee (JLC) for the sector, in line with the Programme for Government commitment. On foot of this process, the Minister of State for Business, Employment and Retail has written to the Labour Court, who are currently examining whether to establish a JLC. If established, a JLC could lead to an Employment Regulation Order, which would establish binding rates of pay and conditions for the sector.
Work on the new funding model is relevant here. The recommendations of a dedicated Expert Group are due later in 2021 and will be central to addressing both affordability and quality issues. The Expert Group’s Draft Guiding Principles to underpin a new funding model recognise the importance of the workforce in delivering quality services.
Finally, work on the Workforce Development Plan continues, with final outputs expected by the end of the year. This is expected to include plans for making careers in early learning and childcare more attractive.
With regard to the to the availability of early learning and childcare places, my Department monitors the supply of, and demand for, ELC and SAC places annually through the Early Years Sector Profile report. This survey is conducted by Pobal on behalf of the Department.
Published data from the Sector Profile for the 2018/2019 programme year indicates that existing early learning and childcare provision, in general, meets current needs nationwide in terms of capacity whilst recognising that small pockets of under supply may exist within this.
Nationally the vacancy rate in 2018/19 was 6%, which was an increase from 5% in the previous year. Dublin City had a vacancy rate of 4% in 2018/2019, no change from 4% in 2017/2018.
Capacity data is not available for 2019/2020 owing to the impact of Covid-19 on supply and demand for services, however the nation network of CCCs have been working to monitor the availability of ELC and SAC places during Covid-19. I understand from their valuable work, and from engagements I have had with representatives of the early learning and childcare sector, that the pandemic as resulted in a reduction in demand for ELC and SAC places, in particular for after-school care.
With regard to the availability of places for babies, the Sector Profile shows that while there are vacancies in centre-based care for babies, they may not be available nationwide. The national network of CCCs can advise parents of the availability of centre-based care in their locality, and also of other options, such as childminders.
It is my intention to provide increased support to parents to enable them to have the choice of looking after their children at home up to the age of one. This commitment is set out in First 5, in the first Strategic Action 1.1: Facilitate mothers and fathers to care for their child at home during their first year. My Department is overseeing the introduction of a range of measures across Government to support this commitment.
My Department will continue to actively monitor supply and demand, and will continue to build on the progress achieved over the past decade in order to ensure that ELC and SAC services are accessible, affordable and high-quality, for all age ranges.
183. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will consider funding multisystemic therapy for an organisation (details supplied). [32310/21]
View answerThe issue raised by the Deputy is a matter for Tusla - the Children and Family Agency and the question has been forwarded to them for direct response to the Deputy.
184. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will consider funding additional posts (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32311/21]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that this is an operational matter for Tusla and my officials have asked the Agency to respond directly to you on this matter.
185. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a review can be accepted in exceptional circumstances for a person (details supplied) to resolve a national childcare scheme issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32323/21]
View answerWhile the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) is an initiative of my Department, a Scheme Administrator has been engaged to manage the operation of the Scheme on my Department’s behalf. Pobal acts in this capacity as Scheme Administrator, and it is their role to follow up on individual cases. We would ask that Parents using the NCS be advised to direct queries in relation to applications and the operation of the NCS to Pobal as the Scheme Administrator who are best placed to address them promptly.
My Department has referred this query to Pobal, who confirmed that the first start date of a subsidy awarded to this parent was from 2 November 2020.
NCS subsidies are not paid from the date of application. Rather, NCS subsidies can only be paid once an application has been completed, a CHICK has been registered with a childcare provider and the parent confirms on the system that all details are correct. This measure ensures that public funding is safeguarded and that the investment is following the child.
The parent in question submitted their first application on 19 October 2020, the subsidy was not confirmed from that date. There are a number of steps that take place once an application has been submitted. As the income of both parties is processed, a partner must be given a window to raise an objection to the processing of this data. As such, the income assessment did not begin for this parent until 26 October 2020, and the award commenced on next available payment week starting Monday, 2 November 2020. Email notifications are issued to all applicants whenever they are required to take action to progress their application. In total the entire application process including the week the matter was with the applicant's partner took 2 weeks.
Furthermore, the applicant only confirmed three of the four child registrations; a registration is where the provider registers the child with their service and parents confirm the registration. The parent must confirm registrations before subsidies can be drawn down by the provider.
With regard to the fees charged by the crèche in question, the NCS subsidies parents for the cost of their childcare. Childcare providers set their own fees, sessions and admissions policies. My Department has no role in determining the fees charged by childcare providers.
Regarding HSE employees benefitting from the NCS, we are aware of the issue you raise caused by the cybersecurity attack and have made provision for it, to ensure HSE staff can still be awarded a NCS subsidy. Any HSE employee who has queries and need assistance with this issue should contact National Childcare Scheme Parent Support Centre Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm on 01 906 8530..
Once the period for requesting a review has lapsed, it is not possible for an applicant or a childcare service provider to request a review.
My Department has asked Pobal to contact the parent and the childcare provider in question directly to provide assistance and answer any questions they may have.
The NCS Parent Support line is available to assist parents, and can be contacted by phone at 01 906 8530, Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm.
186. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the way in which his Department is facilitating and addressing subject data access requests by survivors of institutional abuse; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32477/21]
View answerFormer residents of Mother and Baby Homes can make a Subject Access Request (SAR) to my Department for access to their record. My Department is cognisant of its obligations as a data controller when responding to SARs and is responding on a case by case basis to individuals within the timeframes required by the GDPR.
GDPR provides that the one month period for SARs may be extended by a further two months where necessary, taking into account the complexity of the request. The data controller is obliged to inform the data subject of any such extension within one month of the receipt of the request including the reasons for the delay. The deadline for responding to SARs commences from the time the identity of the requestor is verified. My Department is responding to SARs in accordance with its GDPR obligations and engages with each data subject in relation to the progress of their request.
The right of a person to obtain a copy of their personal data, contained in Article 15 of the GDPR, is not absolute. It is specifically limited by reference to the rights of others, which must not be adversely affected by the right of a data subject to obtain a copy of their personal data. Therefore, in responding to a SAR, my Department must consider the rights of the data subject and also ensure that the rights and freedoms of others are not adversely affected. The consideration of adverse effects and the balancing of rights test is a critical part of the SAR process and can be highly complex. My Department also has regard to relevant Regulations such as S.I. No. 82/89 – Data Protection (Access Modification) (Health) Regulations, 1989 where health data is included in a record.
My Department, in consultation with the Attorney General, developed guidelines which set out the steps that must be taken in response to each subject access request.
In order to assist the processing of subject access requests and to vindicate the rights of data subjects, my Department has put in place a multi-disciplinary team which includes legal and data protection expertise. In addition, my Department has engaged external data protection consultants to support the processing of SARs.
Information relevant to making a SAR is available on my Department's website. The webpage also includes a detailed guide to making a SAR that provides responses to Frequently Asked Questions. The guide includes information on the different means available to make a SAR such as by email, post or other means.
In addition, my Department also operates a dedicated telephone information line which provides information to callers on procedures for making a SAR in respect of records relating to the Mother and Baby Home Commission of Investigation.
187. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of the redress scheme for the survivors of mother and baby homes and related institutions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32478/21]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that, as part of its response to the Final Report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes (and Certain Related Matters), the Government committed to establishing a Restorative Recognition Scheme for survivors of Mother and Baby and County Home institutions. This scheme will include a restorative recognition payment and a form of enhanced medical card.
An Interdepartmental Group (IDG) was set up to develop detailed proposals for the Restorative Recognition Scheme, which must then be brought to Government for approval. While the IDG must take account of the recommendations of the Commission, its considerations are not limited to those recommendations. The work of the IDG is underpinned by a human rights focus and informed by consultation with survivors.
To support and inform the work of the IDG, a public consultation process took place during March and April. The input from survivors to that consultation is invaluable in order to develop a scheme that will have their needs at its core. I was delighted with the strong response to the consultation process with approximately 450 written submissions received and 17 online meetings held. The report of the consultation process was submitted to the IDG on the 17th May.
The work of the IDG is almost complete and they will deliver their report to me very soon. On receipt of this, I will submit recommendations to Government for a decision on the Scheme.
188. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated cost of providing an additional 331 domestic abuse refuge spaces to meet Ireland’s obligations under the Istanbul Convention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32479/21]
View answerThe response to Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (DSGBV) is a cross Departmental and multi-agency issue, with overall policy coordinated by the Department of Justice. Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has statutory responsibility for the care and protection of victims of DSGBV. Capital funding for approved housing bodies, including services that provide refuge accommodation, is currently provided by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
The Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence (Istanbul Convention) sets out signatory obligations but does not set out a standard or recommended number of refuges. With regard to the provision of shelter for victims, a policy document "Combating Violence Against Women: Minimum Standards for Support Services", published by the Council, references two possible standards depending on the types of service provision in place. Tusla has applied the standard of one shelter space per 10,000 head of female population, with specific mechanisms for measuring population and calculation of shelter spaces. This standard applied by Tusla, reflects the community-focused integrated response for victims, where community-based organisations and outreach supports are in place alongside refuges.
Tusla has previously advised this Department that the cost of maintaining a single refuge space is in the region of €100,000 annually. Accordingly, the provision of 331 additional spaces would require an additional €33.1 million on an annual basis. This would not include the initial capital costs for the development of these additional spaces.
With regard to emergency accommodation for victims of DSGBV, Tusla is undertaking a review of these services nationwide. This will assess the current and requisite distribution of safe emergency accommodation. The review's findings and the recommendations of the Monitoring Committee of the Second National Strategy on DSGBV will inform Tusla's future decisions on priority areas for investment and development of services. Tusla has advised me that this report will be finalised in the coming weeks.
190. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his response to an organisation (details supplied) withdrawing from the process to create recommendations for the childminding role profile, features of fountain training and childminding network leader; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32481/21]
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 and childminding network leaders and the features of a foundation training programme began prior to the 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.
Officials in my Department have been engaging with the organisation in question on their specific concerns. While discussions are ongoing, I am hopeful that all relevant organisations that have a significant role in representing or supporting childminders will be actively involved in the oversight and advisory structures for the National Action Plan.
191. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the funding that will be provided to deliver 50,000 education and training places to support upskilling and reskilling for the labour market outlined in the Economic Recovery Plan 2021. [32268/21]
View answerThe Economic Recovery Plan 2021 recognised that the accelerated provision of 50,000 education and training places in reskilling and upskilling is a central piece in addressing the employment transition of people who have been displaced by the impact of the current pandemic and in key skills priorities.
These places are being funded from the National Training Fund through €100 million that was allocated in the July Jobs Stimulus and through a further €118.5 million that was provided for in Budget 2021 for the continuation of the Stimulus package and for additional skills places.
This upskilling and reskilling is taking place across a wide range of provision including the SOLAS Skills to Compete intitative, Skillnet Ireland courses, Springboard+, and modular and postgraduate courses in Higher Education.
