Written Answers Nos. 626-643
626. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 150 of 14 January 2021, the position regarding the evaluation of the gateway scheme; if she has received the final report; when she will publish same; the reason for the delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53409/21]
View answerThe Gateway initiative was introduced in 2013 at a time of high unemployment in Ireland, with a target of 3,000 working opportunities.
Gateway provided work placements in Local Authorities for a period of 22 months for those who were unemployed for more than two years. During its lifetime the initiative supported 2,981 individuals.
Given the capacity of other employment schemes such as Community Employment (CE), Tús and the Rural Social Scheme (RSS), as well as the continuing reduction in the numbers who were unemployed, recruitment of participants to Gateway closed in December 2018.
Finalisation of the evaluation of the Gateway programme was delayed somewhat as a result of emergency related commitments of Departmental staff and other contributors to the report during the Covid-19 public health restrictions. However, the evaluation has recently been completed and I expect to receive the final report shortly.
627. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of a project (details supplied); if the research has been completed and published as planned for October 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53410/21]
View answerIn Budget 2020, a budget of €60,000 was provided to support the Irish Hospice Foundation (IHF) in carrying out a research project into funeral poverty in Ireland. The purpose of the independent research by the IHF is to examine how bereavement affects people, particularly the economic impact of death. It seeks to trace the dynamics of bereavement in Ireland, identify immediate and longer-term impacts on families, identify the costs and deficits, and explore ways to mitigate the economic impact.
Funding from the Department is supporting the research, which was originally due to be completed by December 2020. However, I am told by the IHF that the COVID-19 emergency resulted in much of its work on this project being deferred.
I understand from the IHF that the first phase of the project was completed in 2020. Funding support of €31,394.38 for that phase was paid to the IHF in December 2020. The IHF informs me that Phase 1B was completed in August 2021. A further payment of €16,938.33 was then made to the IHF.
I also understand that work is now underway on Phase 2 which is a qualitative phase exploring in-depth the economic impacts that bereavement can have, from the perspectives of the bereaved and the professionals who support them. The IHF team for this is in place and data collection commenced in September 2021. The final phase 2 report is expected to be provided to the IHF by its research team in November 2021.
I further understand that the IHF's current plan is to finalize its work, combining the various phases of the project, in Spring 2022, when it intends to publish its findings.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
628. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Social Protection when in-person oral hearings will resume; the date on which the matter was last reviewed; when it will be reviewed again; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53411/21]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements. When an appeal is assigned to an Appeals Officer for consideration the Appeals Officer makes a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if necessary, holds an oral hearing. The granting of an oral hearing is at the discretion of the Appeals Officer.
Due to the public health restrictions arising from the Covid-19 pandemic, in-person hearings were suspended in March 2020 and have remained suspended since then, with the exception of a small number of weeks in August and September 2020. Oral hearings have been successfully conducted online or by telephone since October 2020 and these types of hearings will continue. Oral hearing arrangements have been kept under regular review and the present position is that, subject to prevailing public health advice, an in-person oral hearing may be convened where the Chief Appeals Officer is of the view that an in-person hearing is essential in any particular case. As outlined above, oral hearings will continue to be held online and by phone.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
629. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of oral hearings that took place in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021 by county; and the number of negative and positive appeals in each county in tabular form. [53412/21]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.
The table below provides the number of Appeals Officer decisions which were made by way of oral hearing in each year from 2017 to the end of September 2021. It also indicates the overall number and percentage which were allowed in full, part allowed or disallowed by an Appeals Officer.
I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that these statistics are not maintained on a county by county basis, and it is not in a position to supply the information sought by the Deputy in relation to the county by county breakdown.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Appeals decided by Appeals Officers
Oral Hearing decisions from 2017 to end of September 2021
|
Allowed |
% |
Part allowed |
% |
Disallowed |
% |
Total |
|
|
2017 |
3,081 |
56.9 % |
363 |
6.7 % |
1,968 |
36.4 % |
5,412 |
|
2018 |
3,118 |
57.8 % |
332 |
6.2 % |
1,947 |
36.1 % |
5,397 |
|
2019 |
3,380 |
58.0 % |
291 |
5.0 % |
2,158 |
37.0 % |
5,829 |
|
2020 |
1,012 |
59.1 % |
78 |
4.6 % |
622 |
36.3 % |
1,712 |
|
2021 (to end of September) |
456 |
62.7 % |
49 |
6.7 % |
222 |
30.5 % |
727 |
630. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps he is taking to amend maternity leave and paternity leave for parents whose child born showing no signs of life or is deceased when delivered before the 24th week of pregnancy or weighs under 500g. [53373/21]
View answerPregnancy loss is a heartbreaking experience for parents and my sympathies are with every person who has suffered such a loss.
I can confirm to the Deputy that there is currently no provision for statutory leave where a pregnancy loss occurs prior to 24 weeks. However, my Department has been examining this issue and intends to commission research to examine how best to support working parents who have suffered pregnancy loss. The findings of this research will inform Government policy to develop a practical, workable response to support those parents.
631. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will address a matters raised in correspondence (details supplied) in relation to the childcare scheme age for crèches; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52088/21]
View answerMy Department does not directly provide after school childcare, but my Department does provide a range of supports for any body who wishes to set up an early learning and childcare or after school childcare service.
Any school which wants to set up an after-school service, and which registers with Tulsa, will be able to access the National Childcare Scheme funding which may reduce the cost of after-school care to parents. Schools may establish such as service themselves, or may provide premises to a Tusla registered provider to deliver after-school care on the school premises. Schools can get support from their local County Childcare Committee (CCC) for information and support on establishing or hosting an after-school service. Details of the CCCs can be found on www.myccc.ie.
In previous years my Department has provided an annual capital grant programme for early learning and childcare providers, which provided funding for areas such as improving outdoor facilities or expanding the number of places available. This annual funding will be replaced with significantly increased investment under the National Development Plan (NDP) during the period 2022-2030.
NDP capital funding allocated to early learning and school age childcare will be used to increase the stock of early learning and school age childcare infrastructure, in order to address capacity challenges including the undersupply for certain types of provision and in specific areas of the country.
My Department is currently developing proposals for the allocation of NDP funding to the early learning and school age childcare sector, and these will be announced in the coming months.
632. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of private foster carers that have been approved in each of the past 36 months by Tusla area. [52197/21]
View answerI would like to thank the Deputy for his question.
Please see below the data in tabular form that we have received from our colleagues in Tusla, showing the number of private foster carers approved in the past 36 months by Tusla area. Please note that this data includes both private and Brussels II foster carers, as the data is collected combined:
It should be noted that data is collected quarterly rather than monthly. Also, the data for Q3 2018 to Q3 2020 for private foster carers in Dublin South Central has been included in the data for Dublin South West / Kildare, West Wicklow. N/A denotes not available.
I trust that you will find the above information satisfactory.
633. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of relative foster carers and general foster carers that have been approved in each of the past 36 months by Tusla area. [52198/21]
View answerI would like to thank the Deputy for his question.
Please see below data in tabular form that we have received from our colleagues in Tusla on the number of relative/general foster carers approved over the last 36 months by Tusla area.
We wish to advise that Tusla cannot provide a breakdown of relative foster carers and general foster carers as they collect the figures combined - thus the combined figures is what is provided below. Also, please note that data is collected quarterly rather that monthly. N/A denotes not available:
I trust the above information is to your satisfaction.
634. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to the case of a family (details supplied); and if the family will be granted refugee status in Ireland. [52244/21]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, the Government has taken an active role in supporting those wishing to leave Afghanistan. It has focused on supporting human rights defenders, activists, LGBTI+ individuals, journalists and judges.
To date letters of waiver have been issued in respect of 489 people. Some 285 people have arrived in the country.
The International Refugee Protection Programme (IRPP) is aware of the case mentioned and it is under consideration.
As the Deputy can appreciate, the IRPP has currently to prioritise those who have already arrived in the country so to ensure that their needs are met appropriately. At the same time, there is a corresponding need to continue to respond to the needs of Syrian refugees who are living increasingly precariously in Lebanon. Arrangements are currently being made to bring to Ireland as quickly as possible those selected during the selection mission to Beirut which took place last month, in view of the deteriorating situation in Lebanon.
635. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of foster carers who have ceased fostering in the past 36 months by quarter and local office. [52258/21]
View answerThe data requested by the Deputy on the number of foster carers who have ceased fostering in the past 36 months by Tusla area has been provided by Tusla, and is set out below in tabular form.
Please note that data is collected quarterly rather that monthly.
636. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the protections in place at present to protect the anonymity of mothers who gave children up for adoption in cases in which that is their choice; if there are proposals to change this to give a child an absolute right to find out who their birth mother was; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52314/21]
View answerThe proposed Birth Information and Tracing legislation will enshrine in law the right of a person to know his or her origins. The priority policy underpinning the proposed legislation is to allow access to identity information to all relevant persons (adoptees, persons whose birth was illegally registered and those in certain care arrangements, for example, persons who were boarded out). This identity information encompasses birth certificates, birth, early life, care and medical information and provided items. The proposed legislation will empower these persons to access records related to their own identity.
The proposed legislation gives consideration to parents’ privacy rights through the following;
- A temporal limitation whereby the relevant person is aged 16 years or over;
- An information session to inform the relevant person in cases where a parent has requested no contact. Full information will then be released to the person.
- Counselling and support for mothers and adopted persons who may wish to avail of it.
The pre-legislative scrutiny process is currently taking place and I am looking forward to receiving the report from the Joint Oireachtas Committee and, subject to the timing of this, I intend to seek Government approval to publish the Bill and introduce it into the Oireachtas this term.
637. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a fee control mechanism will be introduced in advance of the delivery of the additional funding announced for the childcare sector in Budget 2022; if so, the fee control mechanism including the legal form this mechanism will take; the anticipated timing of its introduction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52361/21]
View answerIncluded in Budget 2022 is a transformative package of measures for the early learning and childcare sector. These measures are designed to deliver quality for children, affordability for parents, stability for providers, and support employers to improve pay and conditions for staff. They include fee control measures in respect of a Transition Fund and a new core funding stream.
The allocation for early learning and childcare next year is €716 million, an increase of €78m from €638m in 2021. This excludes supports provided under the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS).
The new core funding stream will become available from September 2022 and is worth up to €69 million to providers in 2022, equivalent to €207.3 million for a full year.
This funding stream marks the start of a multi-annual investment plan and is part of Government’s commitment to realising the First 5 target of investment of approximately €1 billion by 2028. The new corefunding stream introduces a strategic new way of funding the sector and begins to implement the recommendations of the Expert Group to develop a new funding model.
Under the core funding stream, providers will be supported in meeting their operating costs, including increased costs related to improved quality measures. The funding will support the quality of ELC and SAC services by better enabling providers to attract and retain qualified staff, including degree-qualified staff; establish career structures; and introduce or improve other features of provision that are demonstrated to contribute to quality (e.g. non-contact time, planning, training, curriculum implementation). The new funding stream will also ensure that services can remain sustainable and will contribute to cost increases related to non-staff costs (for example, utilities, rent).
A key basis for participation in the core funding stream will be a commitment not to increase fees to parents in return for the increased State funding. This commitment not to increase fees will be central to the new core funding contract, reflecting the substantial additional investment that is being made available. Ireland is following in the steps of many other jurisdictions with the move to increase certainty for parents and for the State in respect of fees, combined with improved stability and sustainability for providers and staff, and a commitment not to increase fees is a part of this.
Further detail on other conditions, including quality requirements, will be available following the publication of the report of the Expert Group to develop a new funding model, due later this year. There will also be an extensive programme of communications with the sector in advance of the launch of the new core funding stream.
Prior the introduction of the new core funding stream, access to the EWSS, including exemption from the turnover rule, will continue for ELC and SAC employers until April 2022. The value of this exemption to the sector is estimated at €116 from November 2021 - April 2022. EWSS, in addition to other Covid-19-related supports which have been available to the sector at different points since March 2020 have allowed fees to remain broadly static during a period of considerable uncertainty.
Between May and August 2022, early learning and childcare providers will have access to a new once-off Transition Fund. Up to €5.5 million per month is available for providers to ensure there continues to be no increases in parents’ fees for early learning and childcare in the period between the end of the EWSS and the introduction of a new funding stream in September 2022.
Both the Transition Fund and Core Funding will be underpinned by contracts between the Department and providers which will set out the requirements in detail.
638. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the hours allocated in term time for children whose parents are not working or in education; the date this entitlement is from; if it commences from now, January 2022 or September 2022; when the universal entitlement will be rolled out to all SAC children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52371/21]
View answerFollowing Budget 2022, two significant reforms will be introduced to the operation of the National Childcare Scheme (NCS). It is intended that these reforms will make it possible for significantly more families to apply to the NCS.
The first change is the discontinuation of the practice of deducting hours spent in ECCE or school from the entitlement to NCS subsidised hours.
Currently, where both parents in a household are in work or study, eligible families can receive a subsidy for up to 45 hours (enhanced hours) per week and, for households where a parent is not in work or study they can receive up to 20 hours (standard hours) per week of subsidy. Where a child is in pre-school, ECCE or school these hours are subtracted from their entitlement to NCS subsidised hours. With this change, parents can avail of all these hours regardless of time spent in school or ECCE.
It is anticipated that this will have the most significant impact on children in socio-economically disadvantaged communities and, on services with high concentrations of families from socio-economically disadvantaged communities. This change will require adjustments to secondary legislation and to the scheme operating system. This work is expected to be completed in Spring 2022 and the change will take effect at that point .
The universal subsidy will be made available to all families with children up to the age of 15 from September 2022. Parents do not have to undergo an assessment to avail of this subsidy. The universal subsidy provides €0.50 cent per hour towards the cost of a registered childcare place up to a maximum of 45 hours a week, which totals €1,170 per annum. It is estimated an additional 40,000 children may benefit from the extension of the universal subsidy.
639. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of foster carers broken down by Tusla local area office. [52700/21]
View answer640. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the percentage of foster carers that are relative carers in each Tusla local area office. [52701/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 639 and 640 together.
Many thanks to the Deputy for his questions. As these questions concern operational matters, they have been forwarded to Tusla for direct reply.
641. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of the assisted decision-making (capacity) (amendment) Bill; the Houses of the Oireachtas committee that will be undertaking pre-legislative scrutiny of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52723/21]
View answerThe Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 (the 2015 Act) is a very important piece of legislation that changes the existing law on capacity from the status approach of the wardship system to a flexible functional approach, whereby capacity is assessed on an issue- and time-specific basis. It will abolish the wards of court system for adults by repealing the Lunacy Regulation (Ireland) Act 1871. Adults currently in wardship will transition to the new decision-making support arrangements on a phased basis over 3 years from the date of commencement.
The Government made a commitment in the Programme for Government to commencing the 2015 Act, recognising the importance of the much needed reform that it represents. We are working towards a date of June 2022 for full commencement.
A high-level Steering Group, chaired by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, meets monthly to oversee and drive progress towards full commencement. The Steering Group comprises senior officials from relevant Departments and agencies. It is working towards commencement of the 2015 Act in June 2022, with the Decision Support Service opening for business immediately thereafter.
Amendments are required to the 2015 Act before full commencement can take place. Work is actively taking place on an Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill and I will shortly seek Government approval for the General Scheme of the Bill. The amendments will streamline processes, in the interests of those using its provisions. They will also strengthen the safeguards included in the 2015 Act.
No decision has yet been made on the Oireachtas Committee that will conduct pre-legislative scrutiny of the General Scheme. However, following the transfer of the Equality function to my Department it is likely to be the Committee on Children, Disability, Equality and Integration.
642. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 652 of 19 October 2021, if the €69 million referenced for a new core funding stream is for 2022 only; the full year cost of this new core funding stream; if the €41 million specified in his Budget day press statement is the total increase he secured for the core allocation in early learning and childcare; and if this €41 million is for 2022 only. [52751/21]
View answerIn Budget 2022 I have secured a total investment of €716m in the ELC and SAC sector next year. The €716 million investment in ELC and SAC includes €37m in a once off measure and a €41m increase in the core allocation.
This will allow my Department to bring forward a substantial and comprehensive package of developments to achieve significant progress on its policy priorities of affordable, high quality, inclusive and sustainable ELC and SAC.
The €716 million investment in ELC and SAC includes €69m for a new core funding stream for providers from September 2022, equivalent to €207.3 million for a full year.
This funding stream marks the start of a multi-annual investment plan and is part of Government’s commitment to realising the First 5 target of investment of approximately €1 billion by 2028. The new core funding stream introduces a strategic new way of funding the sector and begins to implement the recommendations of the Expert Group to develop a new funding model. It is therefore anticipated that the new funding stream will continue to be made available into 2023 and beyond.
Officials within my Department are currently finalising the budget line details in respect of ELC and SAC allocation. Programme subheads within the ELC and SAC allocation will be finalised in the coming weeks with the publication of the Revised Estimates in early December 2022. This will be in respect of 2022 only.
643. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department is working to the figure of €1.5 billion for the restorative recognition scheme for mother and baby homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52779/21]
View answerAs part of its response to the Final Report of the Commission of Investigation, the Government committed to establishing a Restorative Recognition Scheme for survivors of Mother and Baby and County Home Institutions. This Scheme will include a financial payment and a form of enhanced medical card.
An Interdepartmental Group (IDG) was set up to develop detailed proposals for the Scheme, taking account of the recommendations of the Commission but not limited to those recommendations. The work of the IDG was guided by a human rights focus and informed by consultation with survivors which took place during March and April, with a very strong response received to that consultation process.
The work of the Interdepartmental Group is effectively complete, and I look forward to bringing proposals to Cabinet in the coming weeks. It is not possible to provide details on the potential cost of the Scheme in advance of proposals being agreed by Government.
Once the Scheme is approved by Government, I will publish the proposals immediately. My Department will also continue with the significant work necessary and already in progress to establish this Scheme and make it available for applications as soon as possible in 2022.
