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Tuesday, 15 Feb 2022

Written Answers Nos. 522-540

Early Childhood Care and Education

Questions (522)

Jennifer Whitmore

Question:

522. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he has corresponded with childcare providers regarding reforms to the funding model for early learning and childcare services; if his attention has been drawn to the need for childcare providers to be able to plan ahead and the current uncertainty regarding the timeline of the new proposals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7668/22]

View answer

Written answers

On 7 December, I launched Partnership for the Public Good: A New Funding Model for Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare, available at first5fundingmodel.gov.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Funding-Model-FINAL-REPORT-2.pdf.

This report was delivered by an Expert Group which was independently chaired and comprised national and international experts and made 25 recommendations which were accepted in full by Government and are now beginning to be implemented. On the occasion of the launch there was a direct communication to Early Learning and Care and School Age Childcare providers about the report.

As per the recommendations of the Expert Group, the new funding model comprises four key elements:

1. Core Funding, a new supply-side payment for providers designed to support quality (including improved staff pay), sustainability, and enhanced public management, with associated conditions in relation to fee control and cost transparency, incorporating funding for administration and to support the employment of graduate staff;

2. Funding for new universal and targeted measures to address socio-economic disadvantage;

3. The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme, but with funding to support the employment of graduate staff incorporated into Core Funding, and AIM extended beyond the ECCE programme (in line with First 5 commitments);

4. An amended National Childcare Scheme (NCS) to provide enhanced universal support to all families, tailor additional supports to high volume users of services, and resolve certain issues arising from the NCS work/study test or wraparound policy.

The announcement of Budget 2022 signalled the introduction of many elements of this model this year. In particular, €69 million for the new Core Funding stream (equivalent to €207 million in a full year) is being made available from September. Developments to the NCS will also come into effect this year including an extension of the universal subsidy to children of all ages up to 15 and a change to the practice of deducting time spent in ECCE or school from the number of hours of NCS subsidy for which families are eligible.

Core Funding will support providers in meeting their operating costs, including increased costs related to improved quality measures, in return for a commitment that fees to parents will not increase and is contingent on an Employment Regulation Order being agreed by the Joint Labour Committee. Core Funding amounts to an estimated increase of 16% in the total annual income to the sector.

Initial information about the scheme was made available to providers as part of the Budget FAQ: gov.ie/en/publication/b3e97-budget-2022-overview-and-faqs-for-early-learning-and-care-elc-and-school-age-childcare-sac-providers-and-parents/.

Further information was issued on 4th of February. This reiterated that Core Funding will be allocated to services based on their capacity and the qualifications of those working in a service in line with three elements, with the majority of Core Funding (i.e. €172 million of the €207 million) distributed via the first of these elements:

1. Main Base Rate: Number of child places in an age group * Value based on ratio that applies to age group * Hours of operation per week * Weeks open per year

2. Graduate Lead Educator Uplift: Applied at room level, scaling in line with hours per week and weeks per year group is operating (Maximum one Graduate Lead Educator uplift per ELC room)

3. Graduate Manager Uplift: Applied at service level, scaling in line with hours per week and weeks per year service is operating (Maximum one Graduate Manager uplift per service)

A Ready Reckoner to support services to determine the potential value of Core Funding will be available in early March along with further communications to the sector about the funding and contract.

In the interim period in advance of Core Funding, significant additional investment is being made in the sector through the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS), which will remain available to the sector until April 2022, with a continued exemption to the turnover rule for employers in the sector. Following the cessation of EWSS, a once-off Transition Fund will operate from May to August 2022, to support providers in the period leading up to the new Core Funding stream, in return for a commitment not to increase fees from September 2021 levels. The sum paid to each service under the Transition Fund will depend on the service’s capacity and location, and will reflect opening hours.

Early Childhood Care and Education

Questions (523)

Neale Richmond

Question:

523. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when a Montessori school (details supplied) will receive a funding model and contract for the upcoming year for its ECCE payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7884/22]

View answer

Written answers

The ECCE 2022/2023 programme funding agreement will be available to all early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC) providers for signing, in early June 2022.

The new core funding stream announced as part of Budget 2022 will support ELC and SAC providers in meeting their operating costs, including costs related to improved quality measures, in return for a commitment that fees to parents will not increase from September 2021 levels and is contingent on an Employment Regulation Order being agreed by the Joint Labour Committee.

Initial information about the scheme was made available to ELC and SAC providers by my Department as part of the Budget 2022 ELC and SAC FAQ:

gov.ie/en/publication/b3e97-budget-2022-overview-and-faqs-for-early-learning-and-care-elc-and-school-age-childcare-sac-providers-and-parents/.

Further information was issued on 4 February. This reiterated that core funding will be allocated to services based on their capacity and the qualifications of those working in a service in line with three elements, with the majority of core funding (i.e. €172 million of the €207 million) distributed via the first of these elements:

1. Main Base Rate: Number of child places in an age group * Value based on ratio that applies to age group * Hours of operation per week * Weeks open per year,

2. Graduate Lead Educator Uplift: Applied at room level, scaling in line with hours per week and weeks per year group is operating (Maximum one Graduate Lead Educator uplift per ELC room)

3. Graduate Manager Uplift: Applied at service level, scaling in line with hours per week and weeks per year service is operating (Maximum one Graduate Manager uplift per service).

A Ready Reckoner to support services to determine the potential value of core funding will be available in early March along with further communications to the sector about the funding and contract.

In the interim period - in advance of core funding, significant additional investment is being made in the sector through the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS), which will remain available to ELC and SAC services until April 2022, with a continued exemption from the turnover rule for employers in the sector.

Following the cessation of EWSS, a once-off transition fund will operate from May to August 2022, to support ELC and SAC providers in the period leading up to the new core funding stream, in return for a commitment not to increase fees from September 2021 levels. The sum paid to each service under the transition fund will depend on the service’s capacity and location, and will reflect opening hours.

Early Childhood Care and Education

Questions (524)

Neale Richmond

Question:

524. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will consider increasing funding for Montessori schools under the ECCE scheme given that an increase has not been provided since 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7885/22]

View answer

Written answers

A review of the ECCE programme which is due to commence shortly. The review will give an opportunity to providers and parents to express their concerns and will also inform the future development of the programme.

The review will also give a range of stakeholders, including providers and parents, offering an opportunity to not only highlight the strengths of the programme as it has evolved in recent years but also identify potential barriers or unintended consequences that may have emerged as the programme has evolved. This review will then be considered by Government and form the basis of any future changes to the scheme.

The Deputy may also be aware of the recommendations of an Expert Group to develop a new funding model for early learning and childcare, which were adopted by Government in December. This marks a new departure in State funding of the sector and is a significant step towards ensuring high-quality, affordable, sustainable and accessible services.

The Expert Group report informed the transformative package of measures for the sector committed in Budget 2022, including the Core Funding stream. Core Funding will operate from September 2022 to support improved quality, affordability, and sustainability.

Core Funding will be worth up to €69 million in 2022, equivalent to €207 million in a full year.

Early Childhood Care and Education

Questions (525)

Neale Richmond

Question:

525. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to the fact that many Montessori schools are considering going private given that the funding they receive from the State is not sufficient; the steps he is taking to address the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7886/22]

View answer

Written answers

Early Learning and Care (ELC) services are almost exclusively privately operated, with a mix of private for-profit provision and community not-for-profit provision. Income for ELC services comes from a combination of public funding and parental fees.

Currently, the major funding programmes for ELC services are the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme and the National Childcare Scheme (NCS). ECCE provides for fully funded pre school provision for children during term time for the two years before they begin primary school. NCS provides universal and income assessed subsidies to families in line with their income and other circumstances to offset ELC costs. Both ECCE and NCS funding are paid directly to service providers.

On 7 December, I launched Partnership for the Public Good: A New Funding Model for Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare, available at

first5fundingmodel.gov.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Funding-Model-FINAL-REPORT-2.pdf.

This report was delivered by an Expert Group which was independently chaired and comprised national and international experts and made 25 recommendations which were accepted in full by Government and are now beginning to be implemented.

As per the recommendations of the Expert Group, the new funding model will comprise four key elements:

1. Core Funding, a new supply-side payment for providers designed to support quality (including improved staff pay), sustainability, and enhanced public management, with associated conditions in relation to fee control and cost transparency, incorporating funding for administration and to support the employment of graduate staff;

2. Funding for new universal and targeted measures to address socio-economic disadvantage;

3. The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme, but with funding to support the employment of graduate staff incorporated into Core Funding, and AIM extended beyond the ECCE programme (in line with First 5 commitments);

4. An amended National Childcare Scheme (NCS) to provide enhanced universal support to all families, tailor additional supports to high volume users of services, and resolve certain issues arising from the NCS work/study test or wraparound policy.

The announcement of Budget 2022 signalled the introduction of a number of elements of this model this year. In particular, €69 million for the new Core Funding stream (equivalent to €207 million in a full year) is being made available from September. Developments to the NCS will also come into effect this year including an extension of the universal subsidy to children of all ages up to 15 and a change to the practice of deducting time spent in ECCE or school from the number of hours of NCS subsidy for which families are eligible.

Core Funding will be allocated to services based on their capacity and the qualifications of those working in a service. Core Funding will support providers in meeting their operating costs, including increased costs related to improved quality measures, in return for a commitment that fees to parents will not increase and is contingent on an Employment Regulation Order being agreed by the Joint Labour Committee. Core Funding is estimated to amount to an increase of 16% in the total annual income to the sector.

Communications about Core Funding have issued to ELC providers in recent weeks and further information will be made available in the coming weeks. A Ready Reckoner to support services to determine the potential value of Core Funding will be available in early March.

In the interim period in advance of Core Funding, significant additional investment is being made in the sector through the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS), which will remain available to the sector until April 2022, with a continued exemption to the turnover rule for employers in the sector. Following the cessation of EWSS, a once-off Transition Fund will operate from May to August 2022, to support providers in the period leading up to the new Core Funding stream, in return for a commitment not to increase fees from September 2021 levels. The sum paid to each service under the Transition Fund will depend on the service’s capacity and location, and will reflect opening hours.

State Bodies

Questions (526)

Mark Ward

Question:

526. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the role Tusla had in providing supports for children and their families that were accessing CAMHS in south Kerry; if these supports are still in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7889/22]

View answer

Written answers

I wish to advise the Deputy that statutory and operational responsibility for the delivery of child protection and welfare services is a matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. The Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) is managed by the Health Service Executive (HSE) and is a separate entity to Tusla.

For individual children who were accessing the CAMHS Service whilst also known to Tusla Kerry, they were offered a range of supports through Tusla including community family support and social work services.

In October 2020, Tusla Kerry constituted an Inter-agency Liaison Forum with CAMHS, the objective being on both agencies to work collaboratively to contribute to the overall delivery of an effective service.

With the recent ‘CAMHS: South Kerry Look Back’, Tusla Kerry’s Family Resource Centres in the South Kerry Area have been providing direct community based support to a number of the identified 43 children in the Look Back Report. This support is ongoing.

Kerry Children's and Young Peoples Services Committee has an established working group on child and youth mental health which is chaired by an Assistant Director of Mental Health Nursing from the HSE. This group is working to ensure that appropriate services and supports are available in Kerry to meet the mental health needs of children and young people. A particular focus is on strengthening the links between services and communities to ensure smooth transitions into and out of services.

Early Childhood Care and Education

Questions (527)

Kathleen Funchion

Question:

527. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide further details on the once-off measure costing €37 million in relation to the Transition Fund for providers in the early learning and childcare sector; the way the measure will be distributed to providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7995/22]

View answer

Written answers

Budget 2022 announced a once-off Transition Fund for Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) providers to be paid in the period between the cessation of the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS) and the introduction of the new Core Funding stream.

Between May and August 2022, ELC and SAC providers will have access to this Transition Fund. The primary conditionality attached to access the Transition Fund will be that providers do not increase their fees above levels charged in September 2021.

A weekly value will be determined for each service based on their location, size and service type. Services will receive this funding in respect of the weeks during which they are open. There will be a simple application process for providers which will be available in April.

Further communications will issue to ELC and SAC providers in the coming weeks.

State Bodies

Questions (528)

Holly Cairns

Question:

528. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will address the practice of State agencies such as Tusla competing with families trying to buy homes on the open market; if he will commit to a review of such practices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8029/22]

View answer

Written answers

As Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, I am not in a position to speak for other Departments or State agencies involved in the purchase of properties on the open market.

However, I'm sure the Deputy will appreciate that Tusla, the Child and Family Agency has a significant statutory responsibility to provide services for very vulnerable children and young people, often with complex needs, including arrangements for suitable accommodation while in the care of the State.

Over 90% of the approximately 6,000 children in care in this State are with foster parents. The remainder, approximately 500, require accommodation that is provided by, or funded by, Tusla.

Children in care deserve to be accommodated and cared for in the same type of homes as any other children in the state. In order to provide such accommodation for children in care Tusla may purchase properties on the housing market.

Furthermore, in the best interest of children in care, Tusla is moving away from the use of institutional settings. The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has imposed strict guidelines in relation to the scale and "homeliness" of residential care.

On occasion, the duty to provide accommodation may indeed involve pursuing properties sought by other prospective buyers including families and private individuals. I am acutely aware of the difficulties faced by families and other first time buyers in securing homes in the current property market, but I would hope that those individuals would also place a high value on knowing the State has discharged its duty to provide accommodation to the approximately 500 vulnerable children in care who need it, and indeed consider this a most worthy intervention into available supply.

Finally, I would draw the Deputy's attention to the fact that Tusla is not involved in large scale purchasing of properties. In recent years the Agency has purchased or attempted to purchase very few properties.

Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence

Questions (529)

Holly Cairns

Question:

529. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the way that the State is meeting its commitments under the Council of Europe Istanbul Convention including the provision of refuge spaces and support services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8030/22]

View answer

Written answers

Ireland signed the Istanbul Convention in 2015 and ratified the Convention in 2019. The response to Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (DSGBV) is a cross Departmental and multi-agency issue with overall coordination by the Department of Justice. The Deputy may wish to ask the Minister for Justice for a more comprehensive response on how the State is meeting its commitments under the Convention.

Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, is working collaboratively with Government Departments and other agencies to ensure the successful implementation of objectives of the Convention. Tusla has statutory responsibility for the care and protection of victims of DSGBV under the Child and Family Agency Act 2013.

My Department provided Tusla with an increase in core funding of DSGBV services in 2021 to €28 million and an additional €2 million of contingency funding to help services cope with the ongoing effects of Covid-19. This allows Tusla to fund 60 specialist services around the country, including 44 services providing support to victims of domestic violence, 21 of whom provide safe accommodation in refuges. I have allocated further resources to Tusla under Budget 2022 to maintain supports for DSGBV services and address the recommendations arising from Tusla’s Accommodation Review of refuge provision.

Tusla has advised that resources will continue to be used to meet obligations under the Istanbul Convention, including:

- resourcing of the 24 hour national helplines for dv including 24/7 access to translation services;

- addressing disparities in geographical coverage of services;

- delivering additional services to targeted groups at risk;

- provision of therapeutic programmes and access to dedicated supports for all children in refuges;

- establishing additional regional hubs for men experiencing domestic violence.

On the provision of refuge spaces, the Istanbul Convention sets out signatory obligations but does not set out a single standard or recommended number of refuge spaces. Article 23 specifically refers to shelters, which should be accessible and “in sufficient numbers” to provide a place of refuge to victims.

Tusla’s ‘Review of the Provision of Accommodation for Victims of Domestic Violence’ has been completed. The Review assesses the current and requisite distribution of safe emergency accommodation and has examined the current level of refuge provision, evidence of demand for services and unmet need, and analysis of proximity to refuge by local communities. The Review identifies priority locations that would give an improved level of cover in terms of distance from safe accommodation.

The Accommodation Review will assist the whole of Government response in supporting victims of DSGBV and future expansion of services. The Government will engage with Tusla, Non-Government Organisations, that play a key role in this area and Agencies to progress work in this area. It is important that the needs of those who experience domestic violence are met in the most appropriate way possible.

State Bodies

Questions (530)

Kathleen Funchion

Question:

530. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the location of all adoption records held by Tusla; and the safeguards that have been put in place to ensure the safety of the records. [8127/22]

View answer

Written answers

As the subject matter of the Deputy's question relates to an operational matter for Tusla, Child and Family Agency, I have referred the matter to them for a direct reply.

Adoption Services

Questions (531)

Kathleen Funchion

Question:

531. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if all adoption records have been scanned by Tusla; and the standard of same. [8128/22]

View answer

Written answers

As the subject matter of the Deputy's question relates to an operational matter for Tusla, Child and Family Agency, I have referred the matter to them for a direct reply.

Adoption Services

Questions (532)

Kathleen Funchion

Question:

532. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the location of all adoption records held by the Adoption Authority; and the safeguards that have been put in place to ensure the safety of the records. [8129/22]

View answer

Written answers

As the subject matter of the Deputy's question relates to an operational matter for the Adoption Authority of Ireland, I have referred the matter to them for a direct reply.

Adoption Services

Questions (533)

Kathleen Funchion

Question:

533. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if all adoption records have been scanned by the Adoption Authority; and the standard of same. [8130/22]

View answer

Written answers

As the subject matter of the Deputy's question relates to an operational matter for the Adoption Authority of Ireland, I have referred the matter to them for a direct reply.

Childcare Services

Questions (534)

Patrick Costello

Question:

534. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the targeted measures that are currently in place to increase the availability of childcare and creche places in the Dublin 8 area. [8163/22]

View answer

Written answers

My Department continues to monitor capacity, particularly in light of the recent lifting of Covid-19 restrictions:

- City/County Childcare Committees (CCCs) survey services every week to identify the number of services with staff absences owing to Covid-19 and the impact staff absences has on service provision. This weekly survey reveals a marked reduction in service disruption since early January.

- Data on capacity from the Annual Early Years Sector Profile, from June 2020, revealed significant capacity in the sector, across all counties. CCC will undertake a survey of capacity among services in the coming weeks, to update these June 2020 data.

- New research is underway on the ELC needs of parents who work atypical hours or live in rural communities.

- Local CCCs are available to assist parents in finding ELC.

The table below shows 2020/2021 vacant places, enrolled places and overall capacity for Dublin-Dublin city and Dublin-Dublin South as reported by Pobal.

Table 1: Capacity Dublin-Dublin South / Dublin- Dublin City Capacity 2020/2021

Dublin - Dublin South

Dublin - Dublin City

Enrolled

5,577

8,263

Vacant Places

983

1,662

% vacant places

18%

20%

Overall Capacity

(all age ranges enrolled and vacancies)

6,560

9,925

% of overall national capacity (enrolled places and vacant places)

5%

8%

Capital investment in early learning and childcare will be delivered through the National Development Plan (NDP) during 2021-2030. Investment under the NDP will consist of three pillars: Modernisation, New Capacity and First 5 Initiatives. This will enable significant capital investment in early learning and childcare during the lifetime of the NDP as follows:

(1) Modernisation: Much of the existing early learning and childcare infrastructure that was previously delivered by large scale capital programmes is now in need of upgrading and modernisation in order to be fully compliant with new regulations and more recent guidelines, as well as to maximise energy efficiency. This investment will prioritise follow-up funding for buildings that were funded through the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme (EOCP) and the National Childcare Investment Programme (NCIP), with funding also available for previously non-funded infrastructure.

(2) New Capacity: Ireland is approaching the limits of capacity, with shortfalls for early learning and childcare places already evident in some areas and for some cohorts. The rates of participation in early learning and childcare are also lower than European averages. As investment in subsidisation grows in the coming years as committed to in First 5 and the Programme for Government, demand from parents will also increase.

In the coming years, NDP capital funding allocated to early learning and childcare will be used to increase the stock of early learning and childcare infrastructure, in order to address capacity challenges including the undersupply for certain types of provision and in specific areas of the country.

(3) First 5 Initiatives: First 5 (Government Strategy for babies, young children and their families 2019 -2028) was launched in 2018 and was re-committed to in the Programme for Government: Our Shared Future. First 5 envisages a range of innovative initiatives for the early learning and childcare sector, including piloting Family and Early Childhood Centres and piloting outdoor early learning and childcare provision, piloting meal provision. Each of these initiatives have capital requirements.

As outlined in the National Development Plan 2021-2030, access to affordable early learning and childcare is inherently linked to creating an equitable society, sustainable communities and a thriving economy. Early learning and childcare provision is therefore considered under the National Development Plan, along with housing, schools and health facilities as an integral part of national infrastructure.

First 5 commits to increasing investment in early learning and childcare by up to €1 billion by 2028, and includes a range of actions to address availability and affordability, including the development of a new funding model.

On 7th December, Government approved the recommendations of an Expert Group on a new funding model for ELC and SAC contained in the report Partnership for the Public Good. The new funding model is intended, over time, to deliver transformational change including quality improvements to services, better pay and conditions for staff, tackling disadvantage, improved affordability for parents, better management of supply to meet demand, and support for provider sustainability.

The Expert Group report informed the transformative package of measures for the sector committed in Budget 2022. This will see Government investment in the sector reaching €716 million next year, an increase of €78 million from €638 million in 2021. The Budget announcements included a Transition Fund between May and August 2022 and a new Core Funding stream from September 2022.

Children in Care

Questions (535)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

535. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children in the State currently in the care of private fostering companies. [8191/22]

View answer

Written answers

The 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.

Children in Care

Questions (536)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

536. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of private fostering companies or agencies currently operating in the State and or currently contracted by the State. [8192/22]

View answer

Written answers

The 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.

Children in Care

Questions (537)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

537. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children currently in State care that have not been assigned to foster families. [8193/22]

View answer

Written answers

The 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.

Child Protection

Questions (538)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

538. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of phone calls received by Childline in each of the past ten years and to date in 2022. [8194/22]

View answer

Written answers

I understand that the Childline services is operated by the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (ISPCC). The ISPCC is a registered charity governed by a Board of Directors and operates independently. Accordingly my Department does not have the information sought by the deputy.

Information on Childline and the ISPCC is available from their websites. childline.ie/ and ispcc.ie/

Children in Care

Questions (539)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

539. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if private fostering companies operating in the State are subjected to inspections by HIQA. [8195/22]

View answer

Written answers

The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) is authorised by the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth under Section 69 of the Child Care Act, 1991 as amended by Section 26 of the Child Care (Amendment) Act 2011 to inspect services taking care of a child on behalf of the Child and Family Agency (Tusla). This includes non-statutory (i.e. private fostering companies) providers of foster care.

HIQA uses the National Standards for Foster Care (2003) as its framework for conducting inspections for statutory and non-statutory fostering services. Where issues are identified HIQA monitors the progress of service improvement plans that have been put in place to address same.

In order to drive quality and improve safety in the provision of statutory and non-statutory types of foster care services to children, HIQA carries out inspections to:

- Assess if the service provider has all the elements in place to safeguard children and young people and promote their well-being while placed with their service

- Seek assurances from service providers that they are safeguarding children through the mitigation of serious risks

- Provide service providers with the findings of inspections so that service providers develop action plans to implement safety and quality improvements

- Inform the public and promote confidence through the publication of the HIQA’s findings.

Monitoring inspections assess continuing compliance with the regulations and standards, and can be announced or unannounced.

Children in Care

Questions (540)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

540. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the State has withdrawn from using the services of or withdrawn from contracts with private fostering companies operating in the State in the past ten years; if so, the reason the State withdrew from the contracts or from using the services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8196/22]

View answer

Written answers

The 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.

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