Tuesday, 6 Jul 2021

Written Answers Nos. 393-417

Disability Services

Questions (393)

Johnny Mythen

Question:

393. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide a report on the access to disability services for children in CHO5. [36407/21]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

I wish to advise the Deputy that I am not in a position to comment as responsibility for disability services has not yet transferred to my Department. These matters are more appropriate for the attention of my Cabinet colleague, the Minister for Health.

Departmental Data

Questions (394)

Kathleen Funchion

Question:

394. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated first and full-year cost of employing an extra 50 aftercare workers. [36442/21]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

I wish to inform the Deputy that my officials have asked Tusla to respond to you directly on the matter.

Child Protection

Questions (395)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

395. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which he has plans to expand or improve facilities for children with particular reference to children at risk or potentially at risk; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36470/21]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

Thank you for your question. My department and the agencies under it's remit are continuously looking to improve services and facilities available to children, especially vulnerable children.

For 2021, I increased the allocation to Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, to a total of €878m, an increase of €61m over 2020 (€817m).

The additional resources will allow Tusla to:

- Continue work to reduce the number of children awaiting the allocation of a social worker (reduce number of unallocated cases),

- Address significant demand led cost pressures in residential care,

- Provide care and protection through quality services for victims of domestic, sexual and gender based violence,

- Continue to improve organisational and service performance to achieve better outcomes for vulnerable children, young people and their families,

- Support Tusla to meet commitments to transfer additional separated children to Ireland as quickly as possible,

- Manage and safeguard records following their transfer from the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes to the Child and Family Agency (Tusla),

- Improve and embed robust processes to adhere to GDPR regulations and address the Data Protection Commissioner’s concerns.

- Increase capital investment to support Tusla services, and advance the Agency’s Estates Strategy

Tusla’s annual Business Plan 2021 outlines funding allocations and key priorities for 2021. including:

- An additional 100 front-line staff

- Further support for DSGBV services

- Increased funding for, and ability to take in more children under the refugee programmes

- Support for additional Tusla residential services

- Funding to address new developments in the areas of ICT, GDPR, Organisation Reform and to facilitate the transfer of mother-and-baby home records to Tusla

As well as it business plan, Tusla has released it's three year corporate plan covering 2021- 2023.

Tusla's strategic goals and key objectives over 2021 - 2023 include:

- Ensuring children, young people, families and communities receive a consistent, quality and integrated response from all Tusla services

- Delivering an independent regulatory service focused on the safety and wellbeing of children and young people through continuous improvement and partnership with stakeholders

- Ensure that Tusla staff and leaders are supported and empowered to continuously learn and improve so that children, families and communities benefit from their service

- Ensure our local teams and services are facilitated and supported by national systems and resources that promote integration and accountability

More information on the progressive targets and initiatives in the corporate plan can be found here:

opac.oireachtas.ie/Data/Library3/Documents%20Laid/2021/pdf/CEDIYdocslaid130521_130521_142550.pdf

In addition to the work Tusla undertakes my Department also has numerous initiatives enacted to monitor and improve the welfare of children. For example, Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures (BOBF), the first overarching national policy framework for children and young people (aged 0-24 years). Almost all policy areas have a direct or indirect effect on children and young people’s lives. The purpose of this framework was to coordinate policy across Government to achieve better outcomes. A follow on to the good work of BOBF is being derived at the moment.

Child Protection

Questions (396)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

396. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which it is intended to develop an early response or alert system to address issues arising in respect of children at risk; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36471/21]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

Thank you for raising such an important matter. The onus falls to all of us to report concerns that a child may have been, is being, or is at risk of being abused or neglected. Tusla has developed a comprehensive referral system through which organisations, the public and mandated people can share their concerns for a child potentially at risk of neglect or abuse. In 2020 there were in excess of 60,000 referrals to Tusla.

It is not necessary to prove that abuse has occurred to report a concern to Tusla. All that is required is that there are reasonable grounds. It is Tusla’s role to assess the information that it receives with any other available information. A child protection assessment will be carried out where risk is identified and in other situations.

Where a referral to Tusla does not reach a threshold for a child protection assessment the referral can be referred to Prevention, Partnership and Family Support (PPFS). The best way to improve outcomes for children is to intervene at an early stage to resolve problems and prevent harm. PPFS is a comprehensive programme of early intervention and preventative work which has been undertaken by Tusla. The programme takes three main approaches:

- Supporting the participation of children and young people in decisions that affect them.

- Supporting parents in developing their parenting skills.

- Implementing an area-based approach to identifying and addressing needs earlier and in a coordinated manner

The Children First Act 2015 places a legal obligation on certain people, many of whom are professionals, to report child protection concerns at or above a defined threshold to Tusla. These mandated persons must also assist Tusla, on request, in its assessment of child protection concerns about children who have been the subject of a mandated report.

Mandated persons are people who have contact with children and/or families who, by virtue of their role, qualifications, training and experience, are in a key position to help protect children from harm. Mandated persons include key professionals working with children in the education, health, justice, youth and childcare sectors. Certain professionals who may not work directly with children, such as those in adult counselling or psychiatry, are also mandated persons.

Tusla operates a National Out of Hours Service (OHS) & Emergency Out of Hours Service (EOHS). Initially established in 2015 incorporating the pre-existing Emergency Place of Safety Service. The core function of the Tusla Out of Hours Social Work Services is to ensure the safety and welfare of children who are not receiving adequate care and protection outside of normal office hours. The service can provides emergency care placements for children as required and support and assistance to An Garda Síochána and foster carers . In 2020 Tusla received 2,281 referrals to the National Out of Hours Service with 583 referrals in Q4 2020 alone. Over 2020 the Out of Hours service placed 525 children in emergency foster care or residential placements.

In addition all organisations, including government departments, schools, health services, religious bodies, public sector agencies, clubs and leisure sector, private and voluntary bodies that provide services to children have a duty to develop a Child Safeguarding Statement. This should incorporate

- promoting the general welfare, health, development and safety of children

- adopting and consistently applying a safe and clearly defined method of recruiting and selecting staff and volunteers

- developing tailored guidance and procedures, in accordance with Children First: National Guidance, for staff and volunteers who may have reasonable grounds for concern about the safety and welfare of children involved with the organisation

- identifying a designated liaison person to act as a liaison with outside agencies and a resource person to any staff member or volunteer who has child protection and welfare concerns. The designated liaison person is responsible for reporting allegations or concerns of child abuse to the Child and Family Agency or to An Garda Síochána

- ensuring that the organisation has clear written procedures on the action to be taken if allegations of abuse against employees/volunteers are made

- raising awareness within the organisation about potential risks to children’s safety and welfare

- developing effective procedures for responding to accidents and complaints and should be published or made available on request.

Child Protection

Questions (397, 405)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

397. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans for a review of cases of children at risk brought to the attention of his Department during the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36472/21]

Bernard Durkan

Question:

405. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which adequate reporting facilities are available in respect of children at risk; if the augmentation of such services is required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36480/21]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

I propose to take Questions Nos. 397 and 405 together.

I can advise that Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has continued to provide essential services to children and families throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. Tusla’s work has focused on ensuring continuity of critical supports and services to vulnerable children and families whilst balancing this need with public health advice to keep children, families and frontline staff as safe as possible during the pandemic.

At the beginning of the pandemic the CEO of Tusla, Bernard Gloster determined that the three priority areas within the organisation were:

- Child Protection (including Out of Hours Social Work Services)

- Children in Care (including parental access and court hearings)

- Domestic and Sexual Gender Based Violence services.

When Covid-19 restrictions were first introduced, with schools closing in March 2020, referrals decreased to child protection and welfare services. The decrease was from an average of 1,505 per week, to 968 (36% decrease) per week for the initial four week period. Following a local and national media campaign referrals increased, to over 1,300 referrals per week. All indications are that year on year comparisons will show an increase in referrals received in 2020. The most recent monthly referral data shows to the end of October 2020 Tusla had received 52,082 referrals, over the same period in 2019 Tusla received 49,963 referrals already an increase of 4%.

In June 2020, my Department developed an information and media campaign entitled SupportingChildren.gov.ie. For the first time this brought together information on all the services, structures and supports which are in place for vulnerable children, young people and their families during the Covid pandemic. Critically this also included the range of step-up actions and innovations that were also being advanced to support these groups. I can inform you that this initiative is about to begin again. It is important that this vulnerable cohort of children and their families know that support continues to be available during these challenging times.

My Department established a Covid response group. Under the umbrella of this team the various facets of the Department keep me informed as to issues affecting children and young people and the impact of Covid-19. The group collates information on the impact of Covid on a variety of services including Tusla Children Residential services, the Oberstown Campus, Youth services, Domestic Sexual & Gender Based Violence services, International Protection Accommodation Service, Traveller and Roma services. They also contribute to and monitor the responses put in place to mitigate issues that arise.

You will be aware of the heightened concern for the safety of partners and children where there is domestic violence. The Department of Justice is coordinating a Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (DSGBV) group across Departments and agencies to ensure a coordinated focussed approach to this worrying problem. Under the Child and Family Agency Act, 2013, Tusla, the Child and Family Agency has statutory responsibility for the care and protection of victims of DSGBV. In Budget 2021, my Department negotiated an additional €30m for Tusla, specifically allocated for DSGBV services. This includes core funding of €28m and an additional €2m to assist DSGBV organisations in offsetting the effects of COVID-19 on day-to-day services.

The Programme for Government sets out a number of commitments regarding DSGBV, including an audit on segmentation of DSGBV responsibilities across government departments and agencies, which will inform future investments in this area. Tusla is also undertaking a review of emergency accommodation nationwide. This will assess the current and requisite distribution of safe emergency accommodation. Substantial progress has been made on a number of processes which contribute to the review, including a literature review, consultations with stakeholders, geographical and census data analysis, consultation with service users and policy analysis. 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 the report will be published this April.

It is of the utmost importance that the needs of those who experience domestic violence are met in the most appropriate way possible, including children.

In addition through correspondences and parliamentary queries submitted to my Department, issues affecting children and opportunities to prevent abuse and neglect are brought to the fore. During a crisis such as we face now, if anyone has a concern for the safety and welfare of a child or young person they should bring it to the attention of the appropriate authorities without delay.

Youth Services

Questions (398)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

398. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which the need has arisen to develop and expand youth services with particular reference to issues that may have arisen during the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36473/21]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

Young people have been severely affected by the restrictions to protect public health during this pandemic. This has been borne out by multiple research reports including “How's Your Head?”, a national consultation commissioned by my Department.

In recognition of the vital role played by youth work in providing support to young people, funding levels have been maintained throughout the current challenging period. My Department has also engaged with the sector to develop sector specific guidance which were updated at each point there was an update in the Covid-19 measures.

I secured an increase of €5 million in funding for youth services in 2021. €66.8 million is being provided to youth services nationwide this year. Funding during Covid-19 restrictions was maintained. The additional funding allocated to youth services in 2021 will support the delivery of universal and targeted youth services nationwide, with a particular view to the role played by youth services in fostering resilience and developing the social and personal competencies of young people.

In terms of developing new youth services, I secured an additional €1 million for the provision of new UBU Your Place Your Space services in 2021. Six Education and Training Boards (ETBs), who did not form part of the Sample Services process in 2016 and 2017, were pre-selected to establish new services. These ETBs are:

- City of Dublin ETB

- Donegal ETB

- Kerry ETB

- Laois and Offaly ETB

- Louth and Meath ETB

- Waterford and Wexford ETB

Youth Services

Questions (399)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

399. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which his Department continues to liaise with youth representatives with a view to establishing the highest possible contact and dialogue in order to meet their requirements to an even greater extent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36474/21]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

My Department maintains close contact with the national youth organisations funded under the Youth Service Grant Scheme and I, and officials from my Department, meet formally with these organisations twice a year to share knowledge and information on developments in the youth sector. Although this schedule has been impacted by Covid-19, my officials and I have maintained engagements with the National Youth Council of Ireland, Youth Work Ireland, Foróige and Scouting Ireland, among others, in recent months. Officials from my Department meet formally with youth organisations on an individual basis when the need arises and also maintain informal contacts.

The Deputy may be aware that we provide funding to all 16 Education and Training Boards (ETB) around the country to support youth services and that each ETB has a Youth Officer. Youth Officers provide an important support role to my Department in the co-ordination and administration of youth services at local level. My officials hold quarterly meetings with them and these meetings assist my Department in identifying service needs and emerging issues, particularly for vulnerable young people.

My Department has engaged with the youth sector during Covid to develop sector specific guidance which are updated in tandem with the evolving Covid-19 developments. My officials continue to engage regularly with youth sector representatives in relation to the impact of the pandemic and associated health restrictions on young people and youth services.

Immigration Support Services

Questions (400, 402)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

400. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which the integration programmes available through his Department continue to be of direct assistance to the relevant cohort; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36475/21]

Bernard Durkan

Question:

402. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of cases in respect of which satisfactory integration programmes have been initiated in each particular area throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36477/21]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

I propose to take Questions Nos. 400 and 402 together.

The Government is committed to the development and nurturing of an all-inclusive society in Ireland. We are in the process of implementing a number of key strategies which are helping to promote inclusion and diversity across Irish society. The Migrant Integration Strategy 2017 – 2020 is one such strategy and, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, a decision was taken to extend the Migrant Integration Strategy to run until the end of 2021.

The Strategy targets all migrants who are legally in the State. It contains 76 actions which are delivered by Government Departments, local authorities, local communities, the business sector, sporting and arts organisations and NGOs across a number of policy areas relevant to the integration of migrants, including employment; education and social inclusion. It also addresses racism and xenophobia, representing a whole-of-Government approach.

There are a number of funding streams available to support the integration of migrants.

- My Department administers a National Funding Programme to promote the Integration of migrants and the National Integration Fund 2020 had funding of €2.2 million available over a three year period. The Fund supports communities to promote the integration of migrants and their children into Irish society and selected projects will help to combat racism and xenophobia.

- In addition, the Communities Integration Fund supports local initiatives. There were 112 successful applications who received grants of up to €5,000 under the 2020 Fund. Applications for the 2021 Communities Integration Fund were open until 2 July 2021 and are now being assessed. The 2021 Fund also has total funding of €500,000 available for these projects.

- Funding from European sources also supports migrant integration activities, including the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) and the European Social Fund (ESF). The 2019 AMIF allocation provided funding of €4,487,919 to 19 projects - 4 of which operate nationwide. There are also 4 operating in Dublin, 2 in Cork, and 1 each in Monaghan, Kildare, Meath,1 in Kildare, 1 in Meath, Limerick, Clare, Galway, Waterford, Mayo and Kerry.

- The 2016 European Social Fund (ESF) Integration and Employment of Migrants allocated funding of €3,288,498 to 5 projects. Two of the projects operate nationwide and the others were located in Dublin, Meath and Kilkenny. Those projects are due to conclude in 2021 and a funding call for further ESF funding is likely to take place this year.

Departmental Policies

Questions (401)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

401. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps he has taken or continues to take to address social and or economic disadvantage amongst the youth cohort; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36476/21]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

I want to assure the Deputy of my commitment to young people and their families, including those who are vulnerable, marginalised or disadvantaged.

In July 2020, my Department launched UBU Your Place Your Space which allocates targeted youth funding of €41.8 million to youth services. UBU funded youth services provide out-of-school supports to marginalised, disadvantaged or vulnerable young people in their communities to enable them to overcome adverse circumstances and achieve their full potential.

The first cycle of UBU Your Place Your Space runs to December 2023 incorporating a new reporting and continuous improvement approach as part of the model. I secured an additional €1 million for the rollout of new services under the scheme in 2021.

In addition, my Department has worked closely with the youth sector throughout the period of restrictions to ensure that young people most in need of supports continue to receive them. All funding has been maintained fully.

Finally, I secured an increase of €5 million in funding for youth services in 2021. A total of €66.8 million is being provided to youth services nationwide this year. This additional funding allocated to youth services in 2021 will support the delivery of universal and targeted youth services nationwide, with a particular view to the role played by youth services in fostering resilience and developing the social and personal competencies of young people.

Question No. 402 answered with Question No. 400.

Equality Issues

Questions (403)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

403. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which equality issues continue to arise within his Department; the extent to which these issues are being addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36478/21]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

Significant advances have been made in recent years to address inequality in Irish society, with the Government’s commitment to fostering a diverse, inclusive and equal society re-affirmed through the Programme for Government commitments to achieve social solidarity, equality of opportunity and economic equity for all.

The suite of national equality strategies, overseen and coordinated by my Department, act as the central policy framework adopted by Government to address inequality across Irish society. The strategies include the National Strategy for Women and Girls (NSWG), the National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy (NTRIS), the Migrant Integration Strategy (MIS), the National Disability Inclusion Strategy (NDIS), the National LGBTI+ Inclusion Strategy, the National LGBTI+ Strategy for Youth and the Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities (CES).

The implementation of each equality strategy is overseen by a steering committee which draws together State and non-State actors to deliver a better quality of life for all through targeted actions to promote social inclusion and improved access to public services. I chair the meetings of the committees charged with the monitoring and oversight of the strategies, with the exception of the National Disability Inclusion Strategy steering group which is chaired by my colleague the Minister of State, Deputy Anne Rabbitte, and the Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities which is chaired by Fergus Finlay.

As some of these strategies near their conclusion, I will work with stakeholders to examine what has been achieved over their term and how we can bring forth the next iterations of those strategies and ensure they are even more robust and effective.

The role of monitoring the prevalence of discrimination and prejudice in Irish society is undertaken by the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) which is Ireland’s national human rights and equality institution and is an independent public body that accounts directly to the Oireachtas. Its purpose is to promote and protect human rights and equality in Ireland and build a culture of respect for human rights, equality and intercultural understanding in the State. In mid-October 2020 the transfer took place of the Governance function of IHREC from the Department of Justice and Equality to my Department.

The Programme for Government also contains a commitment to examine the introduction of a new ground of discrimination, based on socio-economic disadvantaged status, to the Employment Equality and Equal Status Acts. Work is underway to examine how this commitment can be implemented.

On 22 June 2021, I announced my intention to conduct a review of the Employment Equality and Equal Status Acts to examine the functioning of the Acts and their effectiveness in combatting discrimination and promoting equality. The first phase of a public consultation process will be launched shortly, inviting the views of the public and interested organisations on their own experience of the legislation and where they would recommend amendments. Further consultation will continue in the autumn with a view to bringing legislative proposals on some aspects on the Programme for to Government in 2022.

Departmental Data

Questions (404)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

404. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children currently in foster or other care in State or private institutions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36479/21]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

Thank you for your question about the numbers of children in care. Due to the impact of the cyber attack on Tusla, the Child and Family Agency's, systems I am happy to provide the latest figures available to the Department.

Tusla's role is to offer care and protection for children in circumstances where their parents have not been able to provide the care that a child needs. Tusla has a statutory responsibility to provide these services under the provisions the Child Care Act, 1991, the Children Act, 2001 and the Child Care (Amendment) Act, 2007. Children who require admission to care are accommodated through placement in foster care, placement with relatives, or residential care.Tusla is committed to the principle that family life affords the best environment for raising children and the objective of external intervention should be to support families within the community. Tusla's approach is to place children in a family based setting with 91% of children in foster care placements.

At the end of February there were 5,873 children in the care of Tusla, one more than January 2021 (5,872) and 83 fewer children in care than the same time last year (5,956).Of children in care, 91% (5,328) are in foster care, with 65% ( 3,811) in general foster care and 26% ( 1,517) in relative foster care. A smaller group of children in care 7% ( 426) are in residential placements and 2% (119) are in “other” care placements, including, for example, specialist disability services and specialist placements abroad.

At the end of February 2021, 13% (740) of children in care were placed with private providers. This is 14 more than January 2021 (726) and 45 more than February 2020 (695)Of the 740, 57% (421) were placed with private in foster care, eight more than January 2021 (413) and 21 more than February 2021 (400).There were 38% (279) of children in placements with private providers were in residential care , six more than January 2021 (273). This number (269) is up 18 on February 2020 (261). The remaining 5% (40) children were in other private placements.

Question No. 405 answered with Question No. 397.

Early Childhood Care and Education

Questions (406)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

406. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated fall in the number of ECCE places for September 2021; the indicative number of children who will commence and continue in ECCE in September 2021; the way this compares with 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36481/21]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme is a universal free two-year pre-school programme available to all children within the eligible age range.

The total number of children registered for ECCE in the 2020/21 programme year was 102,422.

For the ECCE 2021/22 programme year my Department estimates a slight decrease in enrolments, as a result of changing demographics and a drop in birth rates, rather than a decrease in the popularity of the ECCE programme.

Child Protection

Questions (407)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

407. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which he remains satisfied that adequate counselling, support and rescue services remain available through his Department to meet the requirements of at-risk children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36482/21]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, is required under the Child and Family Agency Act, 2013 to support and promote the welfare and protection of children; to support and encourage the effective functioning of families and to provide services relating to the psychological welfare of children and their families. Tusla funds the Health Services Executive to supply psychology services on its behalf. Under existing agreements with the HSE, Tusla pays €7m annually for psychology services provided by the HSE. Tusla also purchases additional therapy services amounting to approximately €4m annually.

In specific situations, Tusla offer therapeutic services by directly employed staff, including psychology staff, play therapy, art therapy, Marte Meo, psychotherapy and family therapy.

In addition to direct service provision, Tusla provides grant aid to community and voluntary agencies for the provision of a wide range of family support services including specific funding for counselling services. Tusla provides funding to a range of agencies including Barnardos, the Daughters of Charity, Foroige, and Extern Ireland; all of which provide counselling support to children.

Children placed in foster care or residential care may access services close to their home or placement and there is significant flexibility in the arrangements to match children’s needs. For children in the care of Tusla, where there is an essential and critical therapeutic need identified and the HSE is not in a position to respond, private therapeutic services may accessed. These therapeutic services are accessed based on the unique needs of each child and delivered as part of their care plan.

For young people in Special Care, detention, or at risk of requiring same, Tusla provides an Assessment Consultation Therapy Service (ACTS) through a national multidisciplinary clinical team comprised of counsellors with expertise in substance misuse, psychologists, family therapists, social workers, social care workers, and speech and language therapists. This service is based in Dublin with regional teams in Limerick and Cork.

The team provides assessment and focused interventions to young people who have high risk behaviour associated with complex clinical needs. ACTS also supports other professionals in their ongoing work with young people and their families.

ACTS offers on-site therapeutic services on an in reach basis. The service extends into the community for young people at significant risk by continuing involvement with young people following secure care placements when their needs exceed the threshold of community services.

As a national service ACTS can support young people when they return to community settings to help them re-engage with local mainstream services. ACTS works with young people, staff in residential units, families and carers, local area social workers, school staff and others.

Tusla works collaboratively with Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, the Courts and other services in respect of relevant matters.

Question No. 408 answered with Question No. 65.

Direct Provision System

Questions (409)

Brian Stanley

Question:

409. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children who were resident in direct provision centres in each of the years 2017 to 2020. [36558/21]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

The table below confirms the number of children who resided in IPAS (International Protection Accommodation Service) accommodation centres between the years 2018 to 2020. Unfortunately, there are no statistics available for 2017.

As the Deputy will be aware, I have now published a “White Paper to End Direct Provision and to establish a new International Protection Support Service”. The White Paper sets out a new Government policy to establish a new ‘International Protection Support Service’ which I envision will be fully operational by December 2024.

Number of Children in Direct Provision by Year

Year	No of Children
2017	Statistics not available
2018	1547
2019	1675
2020	1985

Vaccination Programme

Questions (410)

Neale Richmond

Question:

410. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he has considered allowing students going on Erasmus in the 2021-2022 academic year to receive their Covid-19 vaccination in advance of their departure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35831/21]

Written answers

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science

The management of the vaccination programme is a matter for the HSE, in line with guidelines from the High Level Task Force on COVID 19 Vaccination. The priority of this Government is to support the roll-out of the programme in accordance with the guidelines published.

The latest position is that people aged 18 – 34 years who wish to seek accelerated vaccination can seek access to a Janssen COVID-19 vaccine in their local participating pharmacy, subject to supplies. Furthermore, those aged 18-34 opting for an accelerated vaccination will also be able to register from Monday 12 July for an appointment during July for a Janssen or AstraZeneca vaccine through Vaccination Centres.

Full information regarding the accelerated scheme is available on the Government website at: www.gov.ie/en/press-release/eba88-covid-19-vaccine-rollout-at-pharmacies-expanded-to-include-younger-age-groups/.

Departmental Data

Questions (411)

Noel Grealish

Question:

411. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the amount of interest his Department has been charged for savings or other funds on deposit in Irish banks since negative interest rates were introduced by year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35935/21]

Written answers

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science

The National Training Fund, under the remit of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, has paid €609,275 negative interest since negative interest rates were introduced. Please see attached table which breaks this down by year. To note that prior to the formation of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science in 2020, the National Training Fund was under the remit of the Department of Education and Skills.

Negative Interest paid on NTF Funds

Year	Negative Interest €
2015	223,140
2016	232,531
2017	104,248
2018	15,504
2019	11,962
2020	11,991
2021 (to 30/06/21)	9,900
Total	609,275

Third Level Education

Questions (412)

Emer Higgins

Question:

412. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if students particularly those pursuing part-time and evening courses will have the option to continue attending college remotely when classes resume for the new semester; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35947/21]

Written answers

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science

Higher education institutions are autonomous bodies as set out in the Universities Act 1997, the Institutes of Technology Acts 1992 to 2006 and the Technological Universities Act 2018, and are therefore academically and administratively independent. This includes in relation to how courses are delivered, and it is not within my remit to determine whether individual courses are delivered in-person or online.

Following Government approval, I published A Safe Return: Plan for a safe return to on-site Further and Higher Education and Research in 2021/22. The Plan reflects the essential nature of higher and further education and training, and research activities, and in that context, provides for comprehensive on-site activity for the next academic year, with almost full scale on-site activities.

At a very minimum, workshops, tutorials, classroom based activities and smaller lectures will be allowed and libraries, research facilities and labs will be opened. Institutions and providers will continue to put in place plans to ensure that the overall number of people on campus at a given time continues to be moderated.

Under the Plan, larger scale lectures will take place on-site if the public health situation continues to improve as expected but some moderation in numbers may still be required. The safety measures which will be in place such as social distancing, face masks, ventilation will be in accordance with prevailing public health advice taking into account the essential nature of further and higher education and research.

Whether students will have the option to continue attending remotely once on-site attendance resumes will be matter for individual institutions, and students seeking further information should engage directly with their institution on this matter.

Departmental Data

Questions (413)

Sorca Clarke

Question:

413. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of students with a disability who have progressed from second to third-level education in 2019, 2020 and 2021, in tabular form. [35980/21]

Written answers

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science

The HEA collect data on enrolments of students with a disability data by way of the Equal Access Survey for full-time undergraduate 1st year new entrants, where respondents can self-identify as having a disability. This survey does not provide details on how many of these students came from the Irish second level school system.

The table attached gives the undergraduate data for the most recent years available. The data given for the 2019/20 year is the latest available. Data is not available for 2018/19 as the Equal Access Survey was anonymised that year due to data protection concerns.

FT UG 1st Year New Entrants	2016/2017	2017/2018	2019/2020
Responded yes to disabled in Equal Access Survey	4,459	4,155	5,305

Departmental Data

Questions (414)

Sorca Clarke

Question:

414. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of third-level students with a disability who have achieved HETAC level 7 or higher in 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form. [35981/21]

Written answers

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science

The HEA collect data on enrolments of students with a disability by way of the Equal Access Survey where respondents can self identify as having a disability.

Therefore these numbers are only an indication as the data only captures graduates that were full-time undergraduate 1st years in the same HEI. The postgraduate level data can only be used as s reference guide, since linking is based on internal student ID, and those that answered the equal access survey and identified as having a disability.

The table attached gives the data for the 3 most recent years available, 2016/17, 2017/18 and 2018/19 .

Award Type (at least level 7)	2016/2017	2017/2018	2018/2019
Higher Diplomas	19	11	15
Honours Degrees	1,887	2,141	2,468
Masters Research	10	11	10
Ordinary Degrees	474	496	525
PhD	9	11	15
Post Graduate Diplomas	10	17	17
Postgraduate Certificates	3	9	10
Taught Masters	186	235	219
Undergraduate Diplomas	21	16	24
Total	2,619	2,947	3,303

Third Level Education

Questions (415)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

415. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science when a SUSI payment will issue in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36019/21]

Written answers

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science

As part of a comprehensive customer service and communications strategy provided by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI), to ensure that all necessary avenues are open to applicants to receive the information they need, a dedicated email and phone line service is provided by SUSI for Oireachtas members. This was established to meet an identified need for applicants who choose to engage the assistance of their public representatives in making enquiries about their grant applications.This service, which was set up at the behest of Oireachtas members, complements the established channels provided by SUSI which include online application tracking, a dedicated website, a telephone helpdesk, email and social media, including Facebook and Twitter. Enquiries may be emailed direct to SUSI at [e-mail]. Staff in SUSI are responding to email queries within a matter of days.

With regard to the specific application outlined by the Deputy, I have been advised by my officials that SUSI will be in a position to make a payment on receipt of confirmation from the college of the registration of the student (which is expected in the next week). My officials have also been advised that the student needs to submit his bank details to SUSI.

Freedom of Information

Questions (416, 417, 418)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

416. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he is satisfied in the context of the freedom of information publication scheme that all logs are published and up to date in compliance with the Freedom of Information Act 2014; if not, the reason they are not published; and if he will update them as a matter of priority. [36126/21]

Catherine Murphy

Question:

417. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the amount collected on an annual basis since the Freedom of Information Act 2014 commenced in respect of fees attached to freedom of information requests submitted to his Department. [36144/21]

Catherine Murphy

Question:

418. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of freedom of information requests refused by his Department since the Freedom of Information Act 2014 commenced for the reason that search and copy costs would exceed the maximum threshold; the number of requests that were subsequently granted following engagement with the requester to narrow the scope of the request; and the costs associated with same. [36162/21]

Written answers

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science

I propose to take Questions Nos. 416 to 418, inclusive, together.

The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science was established on 2nd August 2020. Since its establishment, my Department has refused no FOI requests on the basis that the search, retrieval & copying fees exceeded the threshold. It has not been necessary to engage with any requesters to narrow the scope of the request and the costs associated with same. My Department has collected no fees in respect of search, retrieval and copying fees and no fees in relation to Internal Reviews of original decisions.

My Department has an administrative shared service arrangement in place with the Department of Education for the provision of FOI Services. Our practice is for routine publication of appropriate information in accordance with the Model Publication Scheme as agreed cross departmentally, available on the Department of Education website. All of the information within the scheme is under constant revision to ensure that it is kept relevant and up to date by the respective business units as well as the FOI Unit. For the purposes of the Disclosure Log, there will be separate disclosure logs published for both my Department and the Department of Education for 2021.

Question No. 417 answered with Question No. 416.