Written Answers Nos. 145-164
145. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Oideachais cá mhéad dalta atá ar an rolla i ngach Gaelcholáiste i mBaile Átha Cliath agus céard é uaslíon na ndaltaí is féidir a bheith i ngach ceann acu; agus céard iad na pleananna chun spás, ranganna agus foirgnimh bhreise a chruthú chun déileáil leis an éileamh ar an nGaeloideachas sna scoileanna sin nó i scoileanna eile. [47184/21]
View answerIs mian liom a chur in iúl don Teachta go bhfuil sonraí clárúcháin do gach scoil ar fáil ar shuíomh Gréasáin mo Roinne ag www.gov.ie.
Baineann an teorainn de dhaltaí cláraithe le Pátrún na Scoile.
Ba mhaith liom comhairle a chur ar an Teachta freisin go bhfuil sonraí faoi na mórthionscadail reatha agus na Cóiríocht Bhreise Scoile (ASA) ar fáil ar shuíomh Gréasáin mo Roinne ag www.gov.ie.
146. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will clarify the situation of persons placed on a community employment scheme and in situations in which such a scheme may mean working alongside members the public or categories of at risk persons, if the placement officer responsible for the placement must ensure the person being placed on the scheme has been vaccinated against Covid-19; if the responsibility in this area lies elsewhere; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47072/21]
View answerCommunity Employment (CE) is an active labour market programme providing eligible long-term unemployed people and other disadvantaged persons with an opportunity to engage in useful work within their communities on a temporary, fixed term basis.
As the Deputy is aware, as with most other sectors of society, CE schemes have been impacted by the public health restrictions introduced since the onset of COVID-19. My priority has continued to be that CE schemes and CE participants have been fully supported throughout this period. CE participants, whose contracts were due to end during periods of public health restrictions, had their contracts extended on a number of occasions, most recently up to the end of October 2021.
With the successful roll-out of the vaccine programme and in line with Government plans for the full re-opening of the economy, under 'Reframing the Challenge, Continuing Our Recovery and Reconnecting’ my priority and the priority of the Department is to have all CE schemes back providing normal services and supports to long-term unemployed CE participants while delivering essential services to their local communities.
CE sponsoring authorities are the legal employers of their supervisors, assistant supervisors and participants. Department officials have continued to remind CE sponsors, that as employers and service providers they need to fully adhere to COVID - 19 public health guidelines.
My Department officials cannot ask CE candidates whether they are vaccinated prior to being referred to CE schemes, as to do so would run counter to data protection and other privacy rights. While every resident over 12 years of age in Ireland is eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, the Deputy is aware that it is not compulsory to do so.
All employers and service providers operating in the community sector including CE sponsoring authorities continue to face challenges as the economy and society begins to recover from COVID-19. My Department officials will continue to support CE sponsors in the delivery of the wider CE programme throughout this period.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
147. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider raising the income threshold for fuel allowance for persons with disabilities to reflect the increased cost of living for persons with a disability; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46854/21]
View answerThe Fuel Allowance is a payment of €28.00 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €784 each year) from October to April, to over 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.
The criteria for fuel allowance are framed in order to direct the limited resources available to my Department in as targeted a manner as possible. All recipients of non-contributory payments are accepted as satisfying the means-test for fuel. People who are in receipt of a qualifying contributory payment must also satisfy a means test.
Any decision to raising the income threshold for fuel allowance for persons with disabilities would have to be considered in the context of overall budgetary negotiations.
My Department does provide additional support to people with disabilities through the household benefits package (HHB). The HHB package comprises the electricity or gas allowance (€35 a month) and the free television licence. The package is generally available to people living in the State aged 66 years and is also available to people under the age of 66 who are in receipt of certain welfare type payments including Disability Allowance and Invalidity Pension.
Under the supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme, a heating supplement may be paid to assist people in certain circumstances that have special heating needs. If a recipient of a social protection or HSE payment has exceptional heating costs due to ill health, infirmity or a medical condition which he/she is unable to meet out of household income, that person may apply for a heating supplement. There is no automatic entitlement to a payment. Heating supplements are payable at the discretion of the officers administering the scheme taking into account the requirements of the legislation and all the relevant circumstances of the case in order to ensure that the payments target those most in need of assistance.
Exceptional needs payments are also available under the SWA scheme. Exceptional needs payments may be made to help meet an essential, once-off cost which customers are unable to meet out of their own resources, and this may include exceptional heating costs. Decisions on such payments are made on a case-by-case basis.
The Programme for Government commits the Government to use the research into the cost of disability to individuals and families to properly inform the direction of future policy. My Department commissioned Indecon International Consultants to carry out research into the cost of disability in Ireland. The report has been received and my Department is considering it in detail.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
148. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection if persons who first paid a class A contribution after 1991 having previously been a modified rate payer and a homecarer should be assessed for pension solely on their class A record; if so, the reason a person (details supplied) is on a reduced pension; and if a total contribution calculation would alter their position. [46906/21]
View answerUnder social welfare legislation, the date of entry into insurance is the date a person becomes an insured person and enters employment for which a social insurance contribution is payable, once they are 16 years of age. This contribution can be paid at the full, modified or self-employed social insurance rate.
Where a contributor has a mixed social insurance record with both modified and full-rate contributions, and commenced paying full-rate insurance on or after 6th April 1991, their date of entry into insurance is the date on which they first paid any social insurance, be it at a modified or full rate. However, if the contributor had paid a full-rate contribution prior to 6th April 1991 and before they reached 56 years of age, the most favourable date of starting insurable employment is taken.
According to the records of my Department, the person concerned paid her first full-rate (Class A) contribution in the 1996/97 tax year. Since this is after 6 April 1991, the date of entry to be used for calculation of her pension entitlement is the date when she first commenced employment (at modified PRSI rate) on 7 September 1973.
The person concerned reached pension age on 9 March 2021. According to the records of my Department, she had a total of 1,296 qualifying full-rate paid and credited contributions from her date of entry into insurable employment on 7 September 1973 to end-December 2020. This equated to a yearly average of 25 contributions and an entitlement to standard State pension (contributory) at 85% of the maximum rate. The Homemaker’s Scheme was applied to the calculation of her pension entitlement. She was notified in writing of this decision on 3 March 2021.
Her pension entitlement has been reviewed recently. While her yearly average has increased, it remains within the 20-29 rate band and there is no change to her rate of pension payment, at 85% of the maximum rate of State pension (contributory).
An Aggregated Contribution Method (ACM) was introduced in January 2018 as an alternative to the ‘yearly average’ method of calculating pension entitlement for those State pension (contributory) customers born on or after 1 September 1946 and therefore affected by post-2012 Budget pension rates. The ACM provides for up to 20 years of HomeCaring Periods in their pension entitlement calculation for applicants who took time out of the workplace for parenting or caring duties.
The pension entitlement of the person concerned under the ACM calculation method amounts to 77.69% of the maximum pension rate, thus less than the rate of pension awarded under the yearly average calculation. A total of 260 HomeCaring Periods have been included in the ACM calculation.
During the person’s employment in the civil service the rate of PRSI payable was a modified or reduced rate of PRSI. This reduced PRSI rate conveys entitlement only to Widow(er)'s and Orphan's Contributory Pensions and limited Occupational Injuries Benefits. It does not convey entitlement to the State pension (contributory) but the contributions can be used to provide entitlement to a mixed insurance pro rata State pension (contributory) based on combined full-rate and modified contributions. The person’s entitlement to a mixed insurance pro rata State pension (contributory) was also examined, based on her combined full-rate and modified social insurance records. Her rate of entitlement under this calculation is also less than the current rate of pension in payment to her.
Consequently, the person concerned is in receipt of the most financially beneficial rate of State pension (contributory) commensurate with her social insurance record as held by my Department.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
149. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) in County Clare has been refused an application for fuel allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46916/21]
View answerFuel allowance is a means-tested payment to assist householders on long-term social welfare payments towards the cost of their winter heating needs.
The main eligibility conditions for receipt of fuel allowance are that a person must be in receipt of a qualifying payment, satisfy a means test and live alone or with other qualifying persons. The fuel allowance means test is linked to the maximum rate of State pension (contributory). An individual can have weekly income of €100.00 above the maximum rate for State pension (contributory) and still be eligible for fuel allowance.
The person concerned applied for this allowance on 15 October 2019. He is in receipt of an occupational pension in addition to his State pension entitlements. The amount of the occupational pension exceeds the permissible weekly means for fuel allowance qualification purposes.
The person’s application for fuel allowance was disallowed and he was notified in writing of this decision on 7 November 2019.
If the person’s circumstances change, it is open to him to reapply for fuel allowance.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
150. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection the total spend on external contractors, consultancy services and other outsourcing in 2018 and 2019. [46934/21]
View answerRegarding information technology, my Department engages service providers (individuals or organisations) to provide assistance with specific technical skills and projects. The procurement of such services supports my Department in providing a high-quality service to the public in a cost-effective manner and is governed by a comprehensive regulatory framework.
The total expenditure by my Department on consultancy and IT external service provision for the period in question is set out in the following tables. A detailed breakdown of my Department’s expenditure on these areas is available to view on the gov.ie website: assets.gov.ie/42112/a905be30b85b49d29e2fddb221c1cd92.pdf#page=1.
|
2018 |
Total Expenditure |
|
IT External Service Provision |
€36,450,439 |
|
IT Consultancy |
€397,555 |
|
Business Consultancy |
€474,128 |
|
2019 |
Total Expenditure |
|
IT External Service Provision |
€43,632,064 |
|
IT Consultancy |
€163,027 |
|
Business Consultancy |
€471,135 |
In addition, my Department outsources various necessary services, such as cleaning and translation services (for example sign language interpretation, official documents translated into Irish, etc.) where it is cost-effective to do so. Contracts awarded for such services in 2018 and 2019 is set out in out in the following tables. Details of all contracts awarded by my Department over €25,000 and a list of purchase orders for €20,000 and above, is published on gov.ie: www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/Procurement-Policy.aspx
|
2018 Additional Contracts Awarded |
Expenditure |
Duration of Contract |
|
Provision of Customer Communications Services |
€200,000.00 |
12 Months |
|
The Supply of Bulk Email Relay |
€36,540.00 |
24 Months |
|
Provision of Translation Services |
€308,000.00 |
12 Months |
|
The Provision of Sanitary Hygiene Services |
€240,000.00 |
36 Months |
|
Provision of Canteen, Hospitality and Canteen Cleaning Services |
€165,000.00 |
24 Months |
|
2019 Additional Contracts Awarded |
Amount |
Duration of Contract |
|
Provision of Commercial Cleaning Services |
€5,250,000.00 |
24 Months |
|
Provision of Multi Language Interpretation Services |
€150,000.00 |
12 Months |
|
Provision of Media Monitoring Service |
€54,000.00 |
12 Months |
|
Provision of Record Management Services |
€1,000,000.00 |
24 Months |
|
Provision of Translation Services (two contracts, Irish and other languages) |
€580,000.00 |
|
To meet my Department’s policy objectives of providing employment support services to jobseekers to assist them into employment, the Department contracts external employment services through four programmes - JobPath, Local Employment Services (LES), JobClubs and Employability. The externally contracted provision provides the Department with additional employment support capacity and access to specialised skills to meet the job search support and employment services requirements of jobseekers. My Department has committed in a number of policy documents (for example, the Make Work Pay for People with Disabilities Report, the Social Inclusion Strategy, and Pathways to Work) to extend employment support services to a wider range of cohorts including people with disabilities, lone parents and qualified adults. It is important that the Department maintains sufficient employment support capacity to meet current and future needs in order to be able to provide a high-quality service to these individuals and respond effectively and quickly to rises in unemployment like the one caused by the public health crisis. caused by Covid-19. The following table shows the expenditure on same for the relevant period.
Expenditure amounts for 2018 & 2019
|
Year |
2018 |
2019 |
|
JobPath |
€71.7m |
€58.6m |
|
Local Employment Service |
€18.3m |
€18.3m |
|
Job Clubs |
€5.1m |
€4.8m |
|
EmployAbility |
€8.9m |
€8.7m |
151. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection if consideration has been given to providing pro-rata rates of disability allowance in recognition of the low thresholds involved in the means testing of this payment and with regard to the cost of disability regardless of household income; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46965/21]
View answerThere are currently in excess of 156,000 persons in receipt of means-tested disability payments from the Department, comprising some 154,500 persons in receipt of the Disability Allowance (DA) and some 1,060 in receipt of Blind Pension (BP).
The means assessment of DA reflects the fact that there is an expectation that people with reasonable amounts of income or capital are in a position to use these resources to support themselves, so that social welfare expenditure can be directed towards those who need it most.
In the means test for DA, cash income that is assessed includes any income from employment or self-employment (and spouse/partner, if applicable), income from a social security pension from another country and maintenance payments.
Capital assessed as part of the means test includes all monies held in financial institutions or otherwise, the market value of shares, as well as houses and premises owned by a claimant which may or may not be put to commercial use.
The family home is never assessed as part of the means test, regardless of who is the legal owner.
The following table sets out the formula for assessing means from capital for DA.
|
AMOUNT OF CAPITAL |
WEEKLY MEANS ASSESSED |
|
Up to €50,000 |
Nil |
|
€50,000 - €60,000 |
€1 per each €1,000 |
|
€60,000 - €70,000 |
€2 per each €1,000 |
|
Over 70,000 |
€4 per each €1,000 |
Recipients of DA are also supported to pursue employment or self-employment through earning disregards in the means test. A recipient can earn up to €140 per week from employment or self-employment without their payment being affected, while weekly earnings between €140 and €350 are assessed at a 50% rate (i.e. 50% are disregarded for the purposes of the means assessment). Earnings from employment over €350 per week are assessed on a euro for euro basis.
The conditions attached to payment of DA are consistent with the overall conditions that apply to social assistance payments generally. This system of social assistance supports provides payments based on an income need with the means test playing the critical role in determining whether or not an income need arises as a consequence of a particular contingency – be that illness, disability, unemployment or caring.
The continued application of the means test not only ensures that the recipient has a verifiable income need but that resources are targeted to those with greatest need.
The Department continues to keep the range of supports available under review. Any proposed changes need to be considered in an overall policy and budgetary context.
152. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in finalising an agreement on remuneration for community employment supervisors; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47003/21]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, CE supervisors and CE assistant supervisors have been seeking for several years, through their union representatives, the allocation of Exchequer funding to implement a 2008 Labour Court recommendation relating to the provision of a pension scheme for CE supervisors and assistant supervisors who are employed by CE scheme sponsors.
This claim creates some difficulties because the State is not the employer of the CE supervisors.
Within this context, officials from my Department and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform held discussions, over a number of months, on proposals to progress and resolve this complex issue, while having regard to the wider budgetary framework. Officials from my Department also held discussions with unions representing CE supervisors and CE assistant supervisors.
At the start of April this year, agreement was reached with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform on proposals to resolve the long-standing issue. These proposals include a financial package.
I am confident these proposals are a solid basis for progressing and resolving this complex issue. Discussions on the proposals are ongoing between my Department and the unions representing CE supervisors and assistant supervisors. The unions have made a number of observations, and these are being examined at present by my officials in conjunction with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and other Departments.
My officials are continuing to progress this matter as a priority, and I would hope that these discussions can reach a conclusion in the near future.
153. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection if the method of calculating contributary pensions will change in 2022; if retirees who would achieve a better pension payment under the current averaging system will be allowed to continue having that criteria and method used; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47011/21]
View answerThe Pensions Commission was established in November 2020 to examine sustainability and eligibility issues with the State Pension and the Social Insurance Fund, in fulfilment of a Programme for Government commitment.
The Commission has now concluded its work and has submitted its final report to me. The report itself is extremely detailed, running to several hundred pages, and covers a range of complex matters in relation to the Pensions system which will require very careful consideration. I will bring the report to Cabinet in the near future, after which the report will be published. The Government is committed to taking action having regard to the recommendations of the Commission within six months.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy at this time.
154. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 121 of 22 September 2021, if she will provide the number of recipients of parent’s benefit and leave per month since January 2021, in tabular form. [47041/21]
View answerThe Department is not in a position to say how many parents avail of Parents leave in a specific week or month as this data is not collated. Data on the number of Parents benefit claims that have been awarded each month in the period January - August 2021, is available and is set out in the following table. It should be noted that while a claim may be awarded in one month, the leave and benefit could be availed of at a different time, or over a period of months, as it is available to use one week at a time.
|
2021 |
No. of Parents Claims Awarded |
|
Jan |
2384 |
|
Feb |
2217 |
|
Mar |
3170 |
|
Apr |
6700 |
|
May |
4637 |
|
Jun |
4400 |
|
Jul |
4674 |
|
Aug |
4239 |
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
155. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of the publication of the cost of disability report. [47193/21]
View answerThe Programme for Government commits the Government to use the research into the cost of disability to individuals and families to properly inform the direction of future policy. My Department commissioned Indecon International Consultants to carry out research into the cost of disability in Ireland.
The report has been received and my Department is considering it in detail. As part of this consideration, the Department has been briefing and seeking the views of relevant Government departments which have a role to play in the delivery of disability services and supports. This matter is significantly wider than the income support system which is why a whole-of-Government perspective is being taken. Once this process is complete, I intend to submit the report to Government for consideration. A decision regarding the appropriate date of publication will be made once Government has had an opportunity to consider the report fully.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
156. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the position regarding the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015; when the commencement of the decision support service is scheduled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46915/21]
View answerThe Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 (the 2015 Act) is a very important piece of legislation that changes the existing law on capacity from the status approach of the wardship system to a flexible functional approach, whereby capacity is assessed on an issue and time-specific basis. It will abolish the wards of court system for adults by repealing the Lunacy Regulation (Ireland) Act 1871. Adults currently in wardship will transition to the new decision-making support arrangements on a phased basis over 3 years from the date of commencement.
The Government made a commitment in the Programme for Government to commencing the 2015 Act, recognising the importance of the much needed reform it represents. We are working towards a date of June 2022 for full commencement and establishment of the Decision Support Service immediately thereafter. An inter-departmental steering group is meeting regularly to prepare for commencement of the Act.
Amendments are required to the 2015 Act before full commencement can take place. Work is actively underway on an Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill, which will address a number of issues required to streamline processes and improve safeguards for those who will rely on the provisions of the Act. I expect to be in a position to publish a Bill by year-end, and to see it enacted next year.
157. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total spend on external contractors, consultancy services and other outsourcing in 2018 and 2019. [46921/21]
View answerThe information sought by the Deputy is being compiled and will be forwarded as soon as possible.
158. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the timeline for the transposition of the Work Life Balance Directive; the process by which this directive will be transposed and implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46966/21]
View answerThe date for transposition of Directive 2019/1158 of the European Parliament and of the Council on work-life balance for parents and carers is 2 August 2022. The Directive, at Article 20 provides a two-year extension, up to 2 August 2024 for Member States to implement the final two weeks of paid parental leave (parent's benefit).
While many of the provisions of the Directive are already in place or have been implemented, there remain a small number yet to be translated into Irish law and procedures. Legislative proposals to implement the Directive fully are currently being prepared and will be brought to Government in the coming months.
159. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the additional funding that has been allocated to the early childhood care and education sector in order to meet the commitment in the First Five policy document from 2019 to double public expenditure by 2028. [46978/21]
View answerState investment in ELC and SAC has increased by an unprecedented 141% since 2015. This funding has been used to remove barriers to access so that children can enrol and meaningfully participate in high-quality ELC and SAC.
As the Deputy is aware, First 5, the whole-of Government strategy for babies, young children and their families, commits to at least doubling investment in ELC and SAC by 2028. This commitment was made in 2018 when the budget was €484.8 million; the budget is now €637.9 million. My officials are currently engaging in the 2022 estimates process to ensure continued commitment to the implementation of First 5.
A key vehicle to ensure that such significant additional investment delivers for children, families and the State will be a new funding model. An Expert Group has been leading the work on developing this new funding model since 2019. The Group is independently chaired and includes national and international experts in ELC and SAC systems, funding, quality, economics, and relevant policy experts from the Government Departments who will be involved in implementing the new funding model. They have met nineteen times to date and it is expected that their report will be submitted in November 2021.
The timing of implementation of recommendations will determined in the context of the annual estimates process. The full implementation of the Expert Group's recommendations is likely to be a multi-annual process, with funding becoming available on an incremental basis. The Expert Group’s work is informing the Budget 2022 process.
The Programme for Government commits to implementing First 5, and the new funding model will enable that increased investment to deliver the types of services that align with national policy objectives of quality, affordability, inclusion and sustainability.
Further information on the work of the Expert Group and documentation related to the process is available at www.first5fundingmodel.ie.
160. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the engagement his Department has had with member and sector workers in relation to a campaign by a union (details supplied); and the way his Department plans to respond appropriately to the crisis in the early childhood care and education sector. [46979/21]
View answerI meet with representatives of the early learning and care (ELC) and school age childcare (SAC) sector on a regular basis, and I have had a number of meetings in relation to the Big Start campaign.
On working conditions and staffing, the campaign highlights the low wages of those who work in ELC and SAC services. I firmly believe that their level of pay does not reflect the value of the work they do for children, for families and for the wider society and economy. It also contributes to challenges of recruitment and retention of staff, which are key to the consistency of care provided to children.
As the State is not the employer, the Deputy will appreciate that my Department does not set wage levels nor determine working conditions for staff working 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. However, wages in the sector remain too low and I will continue to work with the sector to improve this situation.
In December 2020, working in partnership with SIPTU and CSI/IBEC, I began a short process in which interested parties were invited to discuss how best to address issues of pay and conditions in the sector and how a Joint Labour Committee (JLC) might support this. In agreement with IBEC/Childhood Services Ireland, and SIPTU, I appointed Dr Kevin Duffy, former Chair of the Labour Court, to be the independent chair of this process.
On foot of Dr Duffy’s report, on 11 March I wrote to the Minister of State for Business, Employment and Retail, recommending the establishment of a JLC for the sector. In line with the provisions of the Industrial Relations Acts, the Labour Court recommended establishment of a JLC, and Minister English accepted the Labour Court’s recommendations. The Establishment Order came into effect at the beginning of July. The JLC will provide an opportunity for unions and employer representatives to work together to determine wages and working conditions for ELC and SAC.
The Big Start campaign also highlights issues of affordability and of the level of public investment in the sector. First 5, the whole-of-Government strategy for babies, young children and their families, commits to at least doubling investment in ELC and SAC in the decade to 2028. A key vehicle to ensure that such significant additional investment delivers for children, families and the State will be a new funding model. The new funding model will be the framework for additional investment in services in return for clear evidence of quality and affordability to ensure effective use of public funding.
An Expert Group has been leading the work on developing this new funding model since 2019. The Group is independently chaired and includes national and international experts in ELC and SAC systems, funding, quality, economics, and relevant policy experts from the Government Departments who will be involved in implementing the new funding model. They have met eighteen times to date and it is expected that their report will be submitted in November 2021. It is anticipated that the Expert Group’s work will inform the Budget 2022 process and my officials are already engaged in this.
161. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will consider an inquiry into the findings of a report (details supplied) highlighting that 60% of workers in the early childhood care and education sector earn less than the living wage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46980/21]
View answerIn July I met with some of those involved in writing the report, and I welcome the report's findings and proposals.
On working conditions and staffing, the report highlights the low wages of those who work in early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC) services. I firmly believe that their level of pay does not reflect the value of the work practitioners do for children, for families and for the wider society and economy. It also contributes to challenges of recruitment and retention of staff, which are key to the consistency of care provided to children, as the report notes.
The State cannot determine wages in the sector as it is not the employer. However, I am committed to doing what is in my power to improve wages and working conditions. That is why last December I began a process to examine the possibility of regulating pay and conditions in the sector and the suitability of a Joint Labour Committee (JLC). In agreement with IBEC/Childhood Services Ireland, and SIPTU, I appointed Dr Kevin Duffy, former Chair of the Labour Court, to be the independent chair of this process.
On foot of Dr Duffy’s report, on 11 March I wrote to the Minister of State for Business, Employment and Retail, recommending the establishment of a JLC for the sector.
In line with the provisions of the Industrial Relations Acts, the Labour Court recommended establishment of a JLC, and Minister English has now accepted the Labour Court’s recommendations. The Establishment Order came into effect at the beginning of July. The JLC will provide an opportunity for unions and employer representatives to work together to determine wages and working conditions for ELC and SAC.
162. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the actions the State is taking to realise its obligations under the Istanbul Convention signed in 2011 to provide one space in domestic violence refuges per 10,000 women; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46981/21]
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. Separately, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has responsibility in terms of capital provision for the development of new refuges.
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. A policy document "Combating Violence Against Women: Minimum Standards for Support Services", published by the Council of Europe, 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’s ‘Review of the Provision of Accommodation for Victims of Domestic Violence’ has been completed. Minister Naughton and I brought an Information Memorandum to the Government in July, outlining that this Review will present recommendations on the future configuration of accommodation and services that may be required to holistically meet the needs of victims of DSGBV.
We agreed that the recommendations of the Review will be discussed and actions agreed towards future investment in refuge provision as part of the Third National Strategy on DSGBV, which is due to be published later this year.
The Review was also presented to the Monitoring Committee for the National Strategy on the 23rd September, with a view to achieving a national consensus with the NGO sector on Ireland’s response to these needs. Any decisions with regard to developing or funding new services will be made in accordance with the findings of the Review and these engagements.
It is of the utmost importance that the needs of those who experience domestic violence are met in the most appropriate way possible. I remain committed to working with all stakeholders to develop the required infrastructure for DSGBV policy and services to be dealt with in as efficient a manner as possible.
163. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on the fact that increasing the capitation fund to incentivise workers in the early childhood care and education sector to hold a third-level degree is not trickling down to the workers given that Ireland continues to have some of the highest childcare fees in Europe coupled with the lowest paid workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46982/21]
View answerSince the introduction of the ECCE pre-school programme in 2010, a higher rate of capitation has been applicable to services that meet higher qualification requirements for staff delivering the programme. The primary requirement is that room leaders in the ECCE programme should have a relevant Bachelor’s degree (level 7 or higher on the National Framework of Qualifications). A Focused Policy Assessment of the ECCE Higher Capitation Payment published in 2020 noted the positive impact of this financial incentive in promoting professionalisation. For example, the overall proportion of staff working in early learning and care (ELC) services with a qualification at Level 7 or higher more than doubled from 13% at end 2013 to almost 27% by May 2020.
The Focused Policy Assessment also identified challenges of the Higher Capitation payment, including its limitation to staff delivering the ECCE programme. First 5 (the whole-of-Government strategy for babies, young children and their families) commits to a graduate-led ELC workforce, with graduates in room leader roles with young children of all ages, not just in the ECCE programme.
As the State does not employ early learning and childcare practitioners, the Deputy will appreciate that I cannot set wage levels or determine working conditions for staff in the sector. Nevertheless, I am very conscious of the need for significant improvement in pay and working conditions for practitioners in early learning and childcare services. The level of pay they receive does not reflect the value of the work they do for children, for families and for the wider society and economy. 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 short 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. In line with the provisions of the Industrial Relations Acts, and on foot of the recommendation of the report by the independent chair of the “Pre-JLC” process, the Labour Court recommended establishment of a JLC, and this recommendation in turn was accepted by the Minister for Business, Employment and Retail. The Establishment Order came in to effect on 1 July. A JLC could lead to an Employment Regulation Order, which would establish binding rates of pay and conditions for the sector.
Work is also progressing on a new funding model. 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 a final report expected by the end of the year.
164. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of the restoration of funding cut through the community childcare subvention stream to a service (details supplied) as of 2021; if he will review the decision on which the cut was based; and if he will consider the restoration of this funding. [47040/21]
View answerThe Special funding allocation for Clare Haven for programme year 2020-2021 was an increase on their Special funding allocation of the previous year. As outlined in correspondence to the service on the 1st September, the Sustainability and Case Management team in the Early Years Division’s Finance, Governance and Reform unit (EYFGR) are reviewing the process for Special Service CCSP Programme funding. This review is still ongoing and in the interim, the service has received a preliminary payment for the 2021-2022 programme year.
