Written Answers Nos. 771-790
771. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the breakdown of the estimated €115 million (details supplied) current spending related to implementing the new direct provision system; the number of budgetary cycles the spending will be take place over; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42429/21]
View answerThe White Paper to End Direct Provision and to Establish a New International Protection Support Service (published in February 2021) provides preliminary estimates of per annum current expenditure required for the implementation of the new model of accommodation and supports for international protection applicants. Current expenditure requirements will continue to be developed as part of the detailed implementation planning process for the introduction of the new system. The breakdown of the figures referred to in the question is supplied in the below tables. These figures are included in the White Paper at pages 95 to 100 inclusive.
|
Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration & Youth |
|
|
Phase One Reception & Integration Centres |
Estimated Cost |
|
Accommodation per annum for 2,000 individuals (including food, utilities, wifi; furnishings, maintenance). |
€22m |
|
Childcare in Phase 1 (4 months) based on the National Childcare Scheme sponsor rates for children in IRPP reception centres |
€1.7m |
|
Operating costs for Reception & Integration Centres, including integration support case-workers |
€3.4m |
|
Maintenance Costs |
€2.0m |
|
Total |
€29.1m |
|
Phase Two Accommodation in the Community for up to 14 months |
Percentage Accommodated |
Expenditure |
Percentage of total costs |
|
Approved Housing Bodies or other Not-for-Profit Housing Bodies (families and single applicants, approx 1,400 persons) |
40% |
€1.4m |
17% |
|
AHB for 1,750 vulnerable persons. |
50% |
€1.8m |
22% |
|
Other Accommodation Strands (families and single applicants, approx 350 persons) |
10% |
€0.2m |
2% |
|
House soft furnishings for families and single persons under the FEAD |
- |
€0.05m |
Less than 1% |
|
Support to assist ‘kitting out’ a new International Protection home |
- |
€4.8m |
58% |
|
Total |
100% |
€8.3m |
100% |
|
Childcare |
Expenditure |
Percentage of total |
|
Childcare in Phase 2 (12 months) |
€5.8m |
71% |
|
Tusla Phase 2 (12 months) |
€1.9m |
23% |
|
ECCE grant Phase 2 (12 months) |
€0.5m |
6% |
|
Total |
€8.2m |
100% |
|
Income Support Payments |
Expenditure |
Percentage of total |
|
Income Support (12 months) |
€34.2m |
86% |
|
International Protection Child Payment |
€1.6m |
4% |
|
Housing Assistance Equivalent Payment |
€3.5m |
9% |
|
Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance (250 x €150)+(250 x €275) Phase One |
€0.1m |
Less than 1% |
|
Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance (250 x €150)+(250 x €275) Phase Two |
€0.1m |
Less than 1% |
|
Return to school kits under the FEAD programme |
€0.04m |
Less than 1% |
|
Total |
€39.5m |
100% |
|
Employment Services |
Expenditure |
Percentage of total |
|
Outreach |
€1m |
100% |
|
Phase One Integration Programme |
Expenditure |
Percentage of total |
|
Development and Testing |
€0.2m |
100% |
|
Integration Support Workers – Phase Two |
Expenditure |
Percentage of total |
|
Resettlement Workers x 30, Intercultural Workers x 30 |
€4m |
44% |
|
Training and Support rollout |
€0.05m |
Less than 1% |
|
Integration Funding |
€5m |
55% |
|
Total |
€9.05m |
100% |
|
Vulnerable People Programme |
Expenditure |
Percentage of total |
|
Supported Accommodation for Vulnerable People – NGO managed (approx 1750 persons) |
€19.1m |
94% |
|
Integration support programme |
€0.6m |
3% |
|
Trauma programme |
€0.6m |
3% |
|
Total |
€20.3m |
100% |
|
Staffing Year 1 of the new model |
Expenditure |
Percentage of total |
|
Transition Team |
€1.2m |
100%
|
Department of Social Protection Current Expenditure
|
Area |
Expenditure |
Percentage of total |
|
Daily Expenses Allowance Phase One (4 months in Reception and Integration Centre) |
€3.7m |
95% |
|
Staffing Phase Two (Administering income supports on behalf of DCEDIY) |
€0.2m |
5% |
|
Total |
€3.9m |
100% |
Department of Education Current Expenditure
|
Area |
Expenditure |
Percentage of total |
|
Primary and post primary |
€8.9m |
100% |
Department of Further and Higher Education Research Innovation and Science Current Expenditure
|
Area |
Expenditure |
Percentage of total |
|
English Language Provision Phase One (6 months) |
€8.5m |
85% |
|
English Language Provision Phase Two (12 months) |
€1.5m |
15% |
|
Higher Education Student Support Scheme |
€0.03m |
Less than 1% |
|
Total |
€10m |
100% |
Department of Justice
|
Area |
Expenditure |
Percentage of total |
|
Salary Costs |
€12.1m |
41% |
|
Operational Costs |
€8.6m |
29% |
|
Legal Aid Board |
€8.8m |
30% |
|
Total |
€29.5m |
100% |
Department of Health/HSE
|
Area |
Expenditure |
Percentage of total |
|
Current Health Care Costs |
€8.4m |
100% |
|
Total |
€8.4m |
100% |
772. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his advice on a matter (details supplied) in relation to the opening of a preschool; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42505/21]
View answerAs the Deputy's question relates to an operational matter for Tusla, I have referred the matter to Tusla for a direct reply.
774. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to ratify the second optional protocol of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child; the details of the outstanding issues that need to be resolved by the Government to enable ratification [42542/21]
View answerI would like to reiterate my ongoing commitment to the ratification of the Optional Protocol.
My Department made a comprehensive submission to the Attorney General’s Office in 2019 seeking confirmation as to whether Ireland was in a position to ratify the Second Optional Protocol to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
The advice received from the AGO stated that while Ireland is largely compliant with the terms of the Protocol, there are some outstanding issues that need to be resolved before the State can proceed to ratification.
My Department has been liaising closely with the Department of Justice and Equality as the outstanding issues identified by the AGO fall within their remit.
The Department of Justice is giving consideration as to what legislative measures may need to be put in place to ensure that the full range of offences covered by the Protocol can be prosecuted on an organised and transnational basis. The aim is to resolve any outstanding issues so that we can move towards the ratification of this important international treaty at the earliest opportunity.
775. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention and that of Tusla has been drawn to cases of abuse at a school (details supplied) in Dublin 1; if he and or Tusla have engaged with the school and or the Jesuit Order in respect of the ongoing inquiry; the steps he and Tusla have taken to contact past victims; and if he will outline the supports he has made available. [42553/21]
View answerTusla, the Child and Family Agency's, primary concern is the immediate protection of children. Their work in relation to retrospective cases, reported to them, offers support to survivors and ensures there is no current risk to other children.
The cases of abuse, in Belvedere College in the 1970's, have been brought to my attention. Tusla confirm that no referrals were made at any time in respect of either of the two teachers as 'Persons Subject to Allegations of Abuse' (PSAA). Both individuals are deceased. Tusla cannot assess cases where PSAAs are deceased as there is no ‘current risk to children’.
The Jesuit Society of Ireland recently published the PSAA names and encouraged former students who may have suffered abuse to come forward. Subsequently, other referrals (arising out of the publication of PSAA names) have been made to Tusla by the Jesuit Society. Where cases meet the threshold for assessment, they are dealt with under Tusla’s 2014 Policy and Procedures for Responding to Allegations of Abuse and Neglect and if sought Tusla advises and directs people towards appropriate counselling services.
I am aware that the Jesuit Society is currently conducting an enquiry into the allegations of sexual abuse by the former teachers at the school. The Society has appointed a Child Safeguarding Manager in the Jesuit Safeguarding Office as a confidential contact for anyone with information in relation to these or other cases of abuse.
I welcome the Order's apology and current actions to address these matters. I encourage any person who has experienced abuse, or has reason to believe that a child is at risk of abuse, to speak to Tusla, or the Gardaí.
776. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps being taken to facilitate remote working within his Department in particular to encourage remote working for those who live in the regions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42701/21]
View answerMy Department is currently working in line with Government COVID-19 guidance, which provides for home working to continue where possible. A central policy framework for Blended Working in the Civil Service will be finalised in conjunction with employee representatives over the coming months. This framework will inform the development of organisation level blended working policies tailored to the specific requirements of each Department/Office, whilst ensuring a consistency of approach across key policy areas.
777. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if information is available to persons who were born in a mother and baby home (details supplied) during a particular year in relation to whether or not medical trials were carried out on children who were born at the location; and if so, if records of the children involved exist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42722/21]
View answerOn 28 February last, with the dissolution of the Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation, my Department became the data controller for all the personal data contained in the records and databases that transferred from the Commission.
Former residents of Mother and Baby Homes including the former residents of Bessborrough can make a Subject Access Request (SAR) to my Department for access to their record. My Department operates a dedicated telephone information line to provide information to callers on procedures for making SARs. Information is also available on my Department’s website, including a Guide which provides responses to Frequently Asked Questions.
In lawfully processing the data in the archive to date, my officials have become aware of some data in the archive relating to trials. I would therefore encourage persons who wish to know more about data relating to them in the archive to make a SAR.
Once a SAR is received by my Department, the identity of the requestor is verified and the SAR is then processed. Individuals will be provided with the data that is in the archive relating to them and the data provided may include information on medical trials where there is such information in the archive relating to them. My Department can also advise individuals about other appropriate channels to obtain information about themselves from the archive.
778. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the way in which his Department and public bodies and agencies under his remit are accommodating requests for persons to work from home. [42751/21]
View answerMy Department is currently working in line with Government COVID-19 guidance, which provides for home working to continue where possible. A central policy framework for Blended Working in the Civil Service will be finalised in conjunction with employee representatives over the coming months. This framework will inform the development of organisation level blended working policies tailored to the specific requirements of each Department/Office, whilst ensuring a consistency of approach across key policy areas.
779. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will create a capital budget line to build playgrounds in areas that do not have same. [42773/21]
View answerEvery year since 2013, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (previously Department of Children and Youth) has provided Local Authorities with the opportunity to apply for funding for the refurbishment or development of new and existing play facilities for children and young people through DCEDIY Play and Recreation Capital Grant Scheme.
Under the Scheme, each of the 31 Local Authorities can make one application with a maximum of 3 projects for the refurbishment of existing playgrounds or development of a new playground. This year, applications were received from all 31 Local Authorities for 52 projects and a total of €450,000 was awarded by my Department.
Criteria for the Scheme are developed in partnership with the Local Authority Play and Recreation Network (LAPRN), established for the purpose of bringing a focus on play and recreation within each Local Authority.
Anyone interested in proposing the development of a new playground in their area should liaise with their LAPRN Member in order to work with them so that the project can be considered by them as part of their application for funding under the DCEDIY Play and Recreation Capital Grant Scheme in future years.
780. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his response to HIQA’s report on Tusla’s Child Protection and Welfare Services in Cork. [42774/21]
View answerInspections, both by HIQA and Tusla’s Practice Assurance and Service Improvement team, identify effective service delivery, areas where improvement is required and emerging risks within services.
The recently published HIQA inspection report of Tusla Child Protection and Welfare Services in Cork included findings that:
- The service was not compliant with any of the standards inspected
- Staff shortages were a significant challenge for the area’s service delivery. Lack of social workers was a common theme in the inspection, and the impact of lack of resources was reflected in the area’s capacity to provide a service in line with standards.
- Despite staff shortages there was good practice within the service
- The majority of children and families who were asked about their experiences by the inspectors spoke positively and fairly about the social workers they met and the service they received
- Children and families said changing social workers and having several social workers was difficult for them
- Governance and oversight mechanisms within the area needed to improve
Tusla has put in place an action plan. This plan has been accepted by HIQA. The progress of the plan is being closely monitored by Tusla. My Department will continue to liaise with Tusla senior management regarding quality improvement and risk management in the Agency.
In 2019 my Department established the Social Work Education Group (SWEG), with key stakeholders from social work employers (including Tusla), the higher education sector and representative bodies. The goal of the group is to increase the number of social work graduates from Irish universities.
In March 2021, Tusla offered employment to all suitably qualified graduates. Following a recruitment process, 110 new graduates were offered roles within the Agency.
Following representations by the DCEDIY and other stakeholders to the IDG on Economic Migration, and the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment, social workers were removed from the ‘ineligible occupations list’. Social Workers from outside the EU/EEA are eligible to apply for an employment permit since June 2021.
Tusla has recruited two additional Social Work Team Leaders in the Cork area and is committed to continuous improvement in service delivery to children and families. My Department will continue to closely monitor progress in this area.
781. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of the review of the Equal Status Acts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42909/21]
View answerI have asked officials in my Department to undertake a review of the Equality Acts (Equal Status Acts 2000-2018 and the Employment Equality Acts 1998-2015) which will examine the functioning of the Acts and their effectiveness in combatting discrimination and promoting equality.
The review will include the existing Programme for Government commitments on the introduction of a socio-economic ground for discrimination and to ensure that transgender, non-conforming and intersex people have explicit protection within the equality grounds.
As a first step in the review, I have launched a consultation process inviting submissions on a range of issues including the functioning of the Acts and their effectiveness in combatting discrimination and promoting equality; awareness of the legislation; and whether there are obstacles to taking an action under the Acts. Submissions are also invited on the scope of the current definitions of the nine equality grounds. The closing date for submissions is 29 October 2021 at 5pm.
The outcome of the consultation process will inform the next steps to be undertaken as part of the review and may involve further consultation.
782. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Ministerial phones have been hacked or attempted to be hacked during the term of office. [42919/21]
View answerICT services are provided to the Department by the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO). The provision of ICT security is part of that service.
The Department engages closely with the OGCIO on the issue of cyber security, who in turn engage with the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) to ensure best practice is followed as it relates to all aspects of cyber security, including hacking threats.
For operational and security reasons, the NCSC has advised not to disclose details of systems and processes which could in any way compromise those efforts. In particular, it is not considered appropriate to disclose information which might assist criminals to identify potential vulnerabilities in departmental cyber security arrangements. Therefore it is not considered appropriate to disclose particular arrangements in place in relation to cyber security tools and services.
My Department does not comment on operational security matters.
783. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he has ever used his personal phones for Government business; and if so, if the personal phones have been hacked during his term of office. [42937/21]
View answerI can confirm that I am not aware of any instance of 'hacking' or any unauthorised access to or unauthorised retrieval of information from my personal phone. I have on occasion used my personal phone to communicate with other Government Ministers via call and text message.
784. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of freedom of information requests responded to by his Department in each of the years 2016 to 2020 and to date in 2021; the number of responses that included documents related to text messages and other phone message communications such as messages sent through an application (details supplied) in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42959/21]
View answerSince the establishment of my Department in June 2020, my Department received 96 Freedom of Information requests in 2020 and 160 to date in 2021. When releasing records on foot of these requests, the format of communications referred to by the Deputy did not form part of any responses issued.
785. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of relative and non-relative carers, respectively approved in each month for the past 36 months by Tusla area. [43011/21]
View answerThe Deputy is referring to an operational matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. I have therefore referred the matter to Tusla, and asked that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.
786. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of private foster placements in each of the past 36 months by Tusla area. [43012/21]
View answerThe Deputy is referring to an operational matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. I have therefore referred the matter to Tusla, and asked that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.
787. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he and or his special advisers and or officials use or have used services (details supplied) to communicate in the past 18 months. [43066/21]
View answerI can confirm that neither myself, my special advisers nor my senior officials use the services described on Departmental devices to communicate. I have used one of the named services to communicate with other Green Party TDs on party matters on my personal phone.
788. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when his Department will publish legislative proposals for paid leave relating to domestic violence as agreed on 8 December 2020. [43164/21]
View answerSince its formation, this Government has made clear that tackling domestic, sexual and gender-based violence is a priority. The Programme for Government contains a commitment to investigate the provision of paid leave and social protection provision to victims of domestic violence with a view to establishing a statutory entitlement to paid domestic violence leave.
My Department is currently finalising policy proposals for consideration by Government and has examined both international models of domestic violence leave and best practice in this regard. It has researched the development of a suitable model for rollout in Ireland.
My Department has also engaged in a targeted consultation process with relevant stakeholders and social partners to examine how a scheme of paid leave should operate to address the needs of victims most effectively, including with the monitoring committee of the Second National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence, employers' groups and trade unions and with stakeholders of the National Equality Strategy Committees falling under my Department’s remit.
A report is being prepared based on this work which will be brought to Government in the coming weeks. The report will include recommendations on how best to support employees experiencing domestic abuse, including leave.
789. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if consideration has been given to the possibility of extending carer’s leave for employees across all sectors; if he has investigated such a measure to the point by which costings have been calculated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43188/21]
View answerSection 6 of the Carer's Leave Act 2001 provides that employees with at least one year's continuous service are entitled to take up to 104 weeks of carer's leave to enable them to provide full-time care and attention to a person who is in need of such care.
The 2001 Act provides, as part of its definition of employee, 'a person of any age, who has entered into or works under (or, where the employment has ceased, entered into or worked under) a contract of employment'. The application of the Act is not limited by economic sector.
Carer's Leave is unpaid but an employee may also qualify for Carer's Benefit or Carer's Allowance, the payment of which is a matter for the Minister for Social Protection.
790. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the funding streams within his Department which may be of potential assistance to ongoing fundraising effort outlined in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43195/21]
View answerFunding for the provision of youth services is administered on behalf of my Department by the Education and Training Boards, which allocate funding for local youth clubs and services via applications to the UBU Your Place Your Space the Local Youth Club Grant schemes. Funding of almost €42 million will be made available under UBU Your Place This Space in 2021 while over €2 million will be made available under the Local Youth Club Grant scheme this year
During the unprecedented periods of restrictions due to Covid-19, all of the youth funding provided by this Department has been maintained fully. This includes funding provided to national youth organisations, to local targeted youth services under UBU Your Place Your Space, and to youth clubs. In 2021, I secured an increase in 2021 for youth services, including an increase for Scouting Ireland.
In addition, funding has been made available through the Local Youth Clubs Grants Scheme and through the Covid-19 Small Grant Scheme. This funding can be accessed by local scouting organisations through their ETB.
My officials are in regular contact with youth sector representatives in relation to the impact of the Covid-19 restrictions, and will continue to work closely with youth organisations in monitoring the overall situation.
In this instance, the group in contact may wish to contact their local Education and Training Board to assess their eligibility for funding.
