Written Answers Nos. 173-192
174. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the way the once-off transition fund works for after-school services; if it will be based on the EWSS model; how the core funding will work; the criteria for core funding; what based on capacity rather than attendance means in terms of core funding; and if the services will still get individual payments for children through NCS. [8696/22]
View answerThe recommendations of an Expert Group to develop a new funding model for Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) 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.
Budget 2022 announced a once-off Transition Fund for ELC and 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.
The basis for calculating the Transition Fund will be different from the Revenue-administered EWSS. Further communications will issue to ELC and SAC providers in the coming weeks.
Budget 2022 also announced the new Core Funding stream. Core Funding will operate from September 2022 to support improved quality, affordability, and sustainability.
Core Funding will be available to registered ELC and SAC providers, including full day care providers, ECCE-only providers, and stand-alone school-age providers, subject to the service agreeing to come into contract for the scheme. It will be a payment directly to services who choose to participate in the scheme.
The total available budget for Core Funding is equivalent to €207 million in a full programme year, contingent on an Employment Regulation Order being agreed by the Joint Labour Committee. Core Funding will be allocated to services based on their capacity and the qualifications of those working in a service in line with the following three elements, with the majority of Core Funding (i.e. €172 million of the €207 million) distributed via the first of these elements:
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
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)
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)
Higher levels of funding will be available for capacity for younger children, to support the higher operating costs for these children arising from the higher staff ratio requirements.
Participation in Core Funding for ELC and SAC providers will require a commitment not to increase fees to parents from September 2021 rates in return for the increased State funding. This feature of the scheme will ensure that parents feel the full affordability benefits of the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) and the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme. Services will also be required to offer the NCS and/or the ECCE programme to all eligible children/parents, in line with their operations.
Services will also be invited to report on the quality development measures they are pursuing.
The values for places for children of different ages offered by a service take into account the regulatory requirements. Under the Regulations, the number of places a service can offer depends on the size of rooms and the age of the children. It also depends on the number of staff present, with staff:child ratio requirements linked to the age of children. Services will declare the capacity they offer and a Core Funding value will be calculated based on that capacity. A service’s Core Funding will then scale depending on the opening hours and weeks of the service.
The structure of Core Funding is based on the recommendations of the Expert Group on the new funding model for Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare. Structuring it in this way means that services will have an allocation each year that will not fluctuate in line with children's attendance.
Core Funding is designed to operate alongside the existing funding schemes, including the ECCE programme and the NCS, subject to enhancements including those outlined above. Therefore, the NCS will continue to provide subsidies for children in attendance and ECCE will continue to provide capitation.
A Ready Reckoner to support services to determine the potential value of Core Funding to their service will be available in early March along with further communications to the sector about the funding and the full contract requirements.
The level of investment being made available for Core Funding is an acknowledgement that high quality ELC and SAC costs more than the current income to the sector. The aim of Core Funding is to allow providers’ costs to increase to improve quality but to ensure these costs are not passed onto parents in fees and that services are not made unsustainable.
This is part of Government’s commitment to realising the First 5 target of investment of approximately €1 billion by 2028. Core Funding introduces a strategic way of funding the sector and begins to implement the recommendations of the Expert Group to develop a new funding model.
175. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of Ireland’s implementation of the EU child guarantee after public consultation ended; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8736/22]
View answer177. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of the action plan to support a new EU child guarantee to ensure that every child has access to healthcare, education, childcare, adequate nutrition and decent housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8738/22]
View answer178. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps that are being taken to establish an EU and international unit to co-ordinate actions on child poverty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8739/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 175, 177 and 178 together.
My Department recently established an EU and International Unit which, among other responsibilities, will lead on the coordination across Government of the necessary actions emerging from the EU Child Guarantee. While this unit in my Department will lead on coordination matters, policy responsibility for Child Poverty resides with colleagues in the Department of Social Protection.
The Department of Social Protection also leads on the Roadmap for Social Inclusion 2020 – 2025, aimed at reducing poverty and improving social inclusion. Relevant Officials are in contact in relation to agreeing a new child poverty target under the Roadmap, and identifying a programme of work to address child poverty under the successor framework to Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures (BOBF). In this regard I have scheduled a meeting with Minister O’Brien this month to further this work.
The EU Child Guarantee provides Ireland with an opportunity to re-focus and, where necessary, re-evaluate our approach in tackling child poverty and promoting children’s well-being. The objective of the Guarantee is to prevent and combat social exclusion by guaranteeing access for children who are in need of a range of key services and as such forms a subset to the wider issues revolving around child poverty.
The EU Child Guarantee calls on Member States to guarantee for children in need, free access to early childhood education and care; education (including school-based activities); and healthcare; and to ensure effective access to healthy nutrition, a healthy meal each school day and adequate housing. An online consultation in relation to the National Action Plan for the implementation of the EU Child Guarantee ran from 1st December 2021 until 14th January 2022. Twenty-one submissions were received from various organisations, a synopsis of which was compiled and issued for further consideration by relevant Departments.
As part of the obligations for Ireland under the Child Guarantee, DCEDIY is currently developing a National Action Plan for the Child Guarantee, in collaboration with a range of Government Departments. Responses from all relevant Departments are expected in the coming days. Following the refinement of text following inputs received, an Interdepartmental Group (IDG) will be convened to assist in the drafting and finalisation of the plan.
The effective implementation of Better Outcomes Brighter Future (BOBF) and its cross government and cross sectoral engagement will inform the implementation of the Child Guarantee National Action Plan to ensure it is collaborative, integrated and, ultimately, impactful. Identifying the most appropriate and effective structures to pursue the reforms necessary to improve outcomes for our most disadvantaged children and young people will be a particular focus of work to define the implementation structures and processes.
Finally, it is anticipated that Ireland’s National Action Plan for the Child Guarantee will be published by March 2022 following Government approval, and submitted to the EU Commission.
176. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what efforts are being taken to tackle any potential increase in child poverty rates due to the rising cost of living and energy prices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8737/22]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that I am not in a position to comment on these matters which are more appropriate for the attention of my Cabinet colleague, the Minister for Social Protection.
179. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the new actions that his Department will carry out in response to the Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures Annual Report 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8740/22]
View answerThe sixth and final Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures Annual Report, alongside the Indicator Set, demonstrated that we have made strong progress in our efforts to meet the needs and aspirations of children and young people living in Ireland. I am committed to further strengthening and sustaining our efforts, building on achievements and addressing some of the enduring problems that adversely affect children's lives.
My Department is now working on the successor national policy framework which will run from 2023-2028. On the 27th January, I launched a public consultation giving children and young people, parents, practitioners and others working with children and young people, as well as the wider public, the opportunity to input into the successor framework. This consultation seeks general views on what is going well in children and young people's lives, and what is not going well. This is the first public consultation on the new framework, which will be followed by more targeted consultations in the coming months.
The new policy framework will be developed to incorporate the EU Child Guarantee National Action Plan, which I will bring to government shortly. The plan will address a number of critical matters: securing free access to early childhood education and care; education; healthcare for children in need; healthy nutrition; and adequate housing.
With a strong focus on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, and having regard to the government's wellbeing framework, the new framework will be one which can promote social progress and better standards of life and deliver the special care and assistance due to all children, particularly the most vulnerable.
180. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 1163 of 19 January 2022, if he will address a series of matters (details supplied) in relation to the proposed changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8458/22]
View answerLast year, Government approved the development of a licensing model for individuals working on certain construction and quarrying related activities, replacing the existing construction and quarrying skills certification schemes. Government also approved the drafting of the general scheme of a bill to establish the model.
Work is underway on this, with a stakeholder consultation process currently ongoing. Consequently, there are currently no details available regarding any systematic changes for the CSCS and QSCS qualifications. The current CSCS and QSCS system is operating as normal and will not change until the new licensing system is in operation.
In relation to SafePass, SOLAS is continuing to work on the development of an alternative online training and assessment delivery model which is equitable with existing construction skills course delivery in being accessible to all eligible workers, providing real time course participant supports and ensuring assessment integrity.
First time applicants for SafePass will be required to complete face to face training and assessment as per the current practice, with a choice of online or face-to-face delivery for those renewing their SafePass cards. There are currently no plans to integrate the CSCS or the QSCS system into this delivery model.
181. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 1164 of 19 January 2022, if he will provide information in relation to the sale of a property (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8459/22]
View answerThe site referred to by the Deputy was purchased in 2018 by Laois Offaly Education and Training Board (LOETB). Prior to purchase the site was leased by Board na Móna to FÁS from February 2008 at an annual cost of €10,000.
FÁS expended €7.969m erecting and equipping buildings on the site mentioned for training purposes. The buildings and equipment transferred to LOETB in 2014 by means of statutory instrument.
LOETB completed the site purchase from Bord Na Móna in 2018 for a total price of €240,000.
182. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide a schedule of foreign travel episodes arranged by his Department for elected representatives, Ministers and their staff and-or special advisers since 1 January 2018 to date in 2022; and if he will provide a schedule of locations of the travel arranged or advised on, to include the final destination of travel episode, by year, and the full cost of same. [8506/22]
View answerThe Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science was established in June 2020.
The tables below detail all spending on foreign travel by the department from the establishment of the department to date.
Minister Simon Harris
|
2021 |
France (Paris)/Belgium (Brussels) |
€3,856.81 |
|
2021 |
Northern Ireland (Derry) |
€1,106.45 |
Minister of State Niall Collins
|
2021 |
Belgium (Brussels) |
€965.38 |
183. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of speech and language therapists who graduated from respective third level colleges in each of the years 2018 to 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8520/22]
View answerThe data requested by the Deputy is outlined in the table below, broken down by Higher Education Institution, course and year.
|
HEI / Course |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
|
National University of Ireland, Galway |
25 |
23 |
22 |
32 |
|
Bachelor of Science (Speech and Language Therapy) |
25 |
23 |
22 |
32 |
|
Trinity College Dublin |
43 |
42 |
50 |
55 |
|
Clinical Speech and Language Studies |
38 |
32 |
38 |
44 |
|
Clinical Speech and Language Studies (Dysphagia) |
|
|
1 |
2 |
|
MLitt in Clinical Speech and Language Studies |
|
1 |
|
|
|
PhD in Clinical Speech and Language Studies |
2 |
4 |
1 |
|
|
Speech and Language Processing |
3 |
5 |
10 |
9 |
|
University College Cork |
19 |
33 |
30 |
33 |
|
BSc (Speech and Language Therapy) |
19 |
33 |
30 |
33 |
|
University of Limerick |
30 |
30 |
21 |
22 |
|
Doctor of Philosophy Speech and Language Therapy |
2 |
|
|
|
|
Master of Science Speech and Language Therapy |
|
1 |
|
|
|
Speech and Language Therapy (Professional Qualification) |
28 |
29 |
21 |
22 |
|
Grand Total |
117 |
128 |
123 |
142 |
184. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide a progress report on the proposed three new centres of excellence being established in the Cork, Limerick and Clare and Mayo and Sligo Leitrim education and training boards due to be established by 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8735/22]
View answerThe WWETB National NZEB Training Centre is the first facility in Europe to offer a suite of trade-specific NZEB courses. On-site retrofit programmes are currently provided in Waterford Wexford ETB and Laois Offaly ETB including through Mount Lucas National Construction Training Centre. These training courses introduce participants to the legislative concepts required to meet the standards of NZEB in a flexible, responsive environment.
There are three Centres of Excellence being established in the Cork, Limerick Clare and Mayo Sligo Leitrim ETBs. The establishment of the centres has been delayed due to COVID-19 impacts on the ETBs and are now due to be in place by Quarter 4 2022.
The location of these three Centres are:
- Cork ETB: Fermoy, Co. Cork
- MSLETB: Collooney, Co. Sligo
- LCETB: TBC
There are 104 students enrolled on NZEB and retrofitting programmes across the existing centres to date in 2022. The majority of courses are three days in duration and are validated by City and Guilds. WWETB is continuing to develop their offering to meet the needs of the sector and are developing a blended model with 2 days online and one day in the training centre.
185. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason that there is no dedicated course for retrofitting for new entrants; if there are plans to establish dedicated courses for retrofitting and apprenticeship programmes to address competition for labour in retrofitting and construction industries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8744/22]
View answer186. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the way that he plans to ensure there are sufficient numbers of apprenticeships for new entrants to meet the targets of the new national home retrofitting scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8745/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 185 and 186 together.
There are a range of options for people who wish to train in retrofitting. There are short term courses for those who are involved in the construction industry and longer courses for those who are not, The majority of courses are three days in duration. This is a blended model with two days online and one day in the training centre. A pilot Virtual Reality programme is in development also to support NZEB/retrofit training. These courses are provided through Skills to Advance. They are free, flexible and fast.
Longer training programmes of one – three weeks will be offered to existing skilled, semi-skilled workers, construction professionals and new entrants to the construction/retrofitting sector in retrofitting external cladding, attic & wall insulation along with other areas that will be identified by the training providers.
There are a total of 4,550 retrofit and NZEB standard places to be provided by the end of 2022 and my Department is working with the Construction Industry to increase demand for these places.
187. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the annual cost of the salaries of any recently appointed ministerial Garda drivers to his Department; the cost of the annual salary of the existing civilian Garda drivers in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9031/22]
View answerI can confirm to the Deputy that neither the Minister of State nor I have the services of Garda ministerial drivers.
188. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice if she will provide a schedule of foreign travel episodes arranged by her Department for elected representatives, Ministers and their staff and-or special advisers since 1 January 2018 to date in 2022; and if she will provide a schedule of locations of the travel arranged or advised on, to include the final destination of travel episode, by year, and the full cost of same. [8509/22]
View answerI will write to the Deputy directly with a detailed account of foreign travel arranged for elected representatives, Ministers and their staff, and or special advisors in the period specified.
|
Year & Month |
Location |
Cost (€) |
Details |
|
|
2018 |
||||
|
January |
Sofia |
3,132.11 |
JHA |
|
|
February |
Manchester & London |
888.4 |
UK visit to examine community/ private sponsorship for refugees |
|
|
March |
Brussels |
444.32 |
JHA |
|
|
March |
Australia |
19,827.17 |
St. Patrick’s Day Programme |
|
|
March |
New York & Pittsburgh |
15774.9 |
St. Patrick’s Day Programme- |
|
|
May |
Stockholm |
1247.99 |
ICMEO Conference |
|
|
May |
Stuttgart |
341.46 |
ECRI Conference in Strasbourg |
|
|
June |
Luxembourg |
1200.08 |
JHA |
|
|
July |
London |
1,138.24 |
British Irish Intergovernmental Council - |
|
|
September |
Vienna |
2,370.92 |
Security and Migration – Promoting Partnership and Resilience Ministerial Conference - |
|
|
September |
London |
423.99 |
Visit to meet with UK APPG |
|
|
October |
Luxembourg |
4,059.17 |
Ministerial visit |
|
|
November |
London |
1,357.98 |
Remembrance Day |
|
|
December |
Brussels & Marrakech |
9,203.41 |
JHA in Brussels & UN Conference on Global Compact for Migration in Marrakech |
|
|
2019 |
||||
|
February |
Bucharest |
996.21 |
JHA |
|
|
March |
New York |
1,937.58 |
St. Patrick’s Day Programme |
|
|
March |
Atlanta & Savannah |
5770.28 |
St. Patrick’s Day Programme |
|
|
May |
London |
727.18 |
British Irish Intergovernmental Council |
|
|
June |
Luxembourg |
8072.74 |
JHA |
|
|
July |
Helsinki |
3,454.47 |
JHA Helsinki (via London) |
|
|
July |
Paris |
1,223.87 |
Paris Meeting on Migration |
|
|
September |
London |
673.08 |
Opening of the Legal Year in England and Wales |
|
|
September |
Paris |
1970.87 |
ECRI event |
|
|
October |
Cyprus |
4,399.32 |
Presidential State Visit |
|
|
October |
Luxembourg |
N/A |
JHA Government jet |
|
|
December |
Brussels |
1,777.52 |
JHA |
|
|
December |
London |
476.33 |
Irish Youth Foundation event |
|
|
December |
Geneva |
1638.38 |
CERD |
|
|
December |
Geneva |
2442.67 |
Global Refugee Forum |
|
|
2020 |
||||
|
February |
Brussels |
365.17 |
JHA |
|
|
March |
Brussels |
241.98 |
JHA |
|
|
2021 |
||||
|
August |
Brussels |
307.16 |
JHA |
|
|
December |
London |
846.45 |
British Irish Intergovernmental Council - |
|
|
December |
Brussels |
688.51 |
JHA |
|
|
Venice |
Venice |
146.44 |
Council of Europe Conference of Ministers of Justice |
|
|
2022 |
||||
|
January |
London |
893.51 |
Meeting with British Home Secretary and Justice Secretary |
|
|
February |
Lille |
717.90 |
JHA |
|
|
March |
Brussels |
Not yet available |
JHA |
|
|
March |
USA |
Not yet available |
Saint Patrick’s Day |
|
|
March |
Prague & Budapest |
425.07 |
Saint Patrick’s Day |
|
|
March |
Brussels |
Not yet available |
Emergency JHA |
|
|
May |
New York |
1,668.78 |
UN International Migration Review Forum |
|
|
May |
Rotterdam & Brussels |
Not yet available |
The Department did not pay for the Minister’s travel to Rotterdam. Minister, Special Advisor and Private Secretary travelled from Rotterdam to Brussels for EU Child Sexual Abuse Conference |
|
|
June |
Luxembourg |
Not yet available |
JHA |
|
|
June |
Stockholm |
1,321.72 |
UN Stockholm+50 Meeting |
|
189. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice the total expenses paid to retired members of An Garda Síochána; the number who received payment having appeared at the Disclosures Tribunal; the reason some claims for expenses were not paid; the number of persons that were not paid; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8547/22]
View answerI have requested the information sought by the Deputy and will forward it as soon as the information is to hand.
190. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Justice if her attention has been drawn to a person’s (details supplied) case; and if she will instruct the IPO to prioritise this application due to the high risk facing his family in Palestine. [8566/22]
View answerFor reasons of maintaining full confidentiality, it is not my Department's practice to comment on whether an application for asylum or subsidiary protection has been made in the State. An applicant for such protection status, or their legal representative, should contact either the International Protection Office (IPO) or the International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT) directly, as appropriate.
The IPO may be contacted: by email to info@ipo.gov.ie; by telephone to the IPO Customer Service Centre at 01 6028008 or in writing to Customer Service Centre, International Protection Office, 79-83 Lower Mount Street, Dublin 2.
The IPAT may be contacted either: by email to info@protectionappeals.ie; by telephone at 01-4748400 (or Lo-Call 1890 201 458), or in writing to Corporate Services Division, The International Protection Appeals Tribunal, 6-7 Hanover Street East, Dublin D02 W320.
A person can apply for family reunification under the International Protection Act 2015 if they have been granted a declaration as a Convention Refugee, are a beneficiary of Subsidiary Protection or if they have been granted Programme Refugee status.
Under Section 56 of the 2015 Act, the following family members are eligible for family reunification:
- Spouse - the marriage must have subsisted on the date the application for international protection in the State was lodged;
- Civil Partner- the civil partnership must have subsisted on the date the application for international protection in the State was lodged;
- Parent(s) and their children (under 18 and unmarried) if the sponsor was under 18 and unmarried on the date the application for family reunification in the State was lodged; and
- A child of the sponsor, who is under the age of 18 and unmarried when the sponsor made an application for family reunification in the State.
Applications for Family Reunification under the 2015 Act can be made to my Department by email to FRU_IPA@justice.ie or in hard copy to Family Reunification Unit, Department of Justice, 13-14 Burgh Quay, Dublin 2.
Full details on the application process can be found on my Department's website at: www.irishimmigration.ie/coming-to-join-family-in-ireland/family-reunification-of-international-protection-holders/.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas mail facility (inisoireachtasmail@justice.ie) which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up-to-date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the parliamentary questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.
191. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice the number of persons from 2011 to date subject to a section 3 deportation order who engaged with the voluntary returns unit to facilitate their leaving the State; the number of confirmations received that the notified person has left the State; the number of departmental staff currently assigned to the voluntary returns unit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8569/22]
View answerUnfortunately, it has not been possible to collate the statistics requested by the Deputy within the time available. I will write to the Deputy directly when the information is to hand.
|
Year |
No. 15 Day Letters issued to self-pay VR applicants |
Total confirmed self-pay VR applicants |
No. 15 Day Letters issued to IOM VR applicants |
Total confirmed IOM VR applicants |
|
2011 |
34 |
73 |
42 |
402 |
|
2012 |
38 |
90 |
34 |
359 |
|
2013 |
35 |
86 |
35 |
340 |
|
2014 |
16 |
50 |
17 |
192 |
|
2015 |
6 |
22 |
5 |
110 |
|
2016 |
15 |
44 |
4 |
143 |
|
2017 |
50 |
87 |
3 |
96 |
|
2018 |
89 |
122 |
11 |
91 |
|
2019 |
83 |
150 |
13 |
111 |
|
2020 |
51 |
96 |
13 |
107 |
|
2021 |
34 |
64 |
8 |
68 |
|
2022 (to 09/12/2022) |
1 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
|
Overall Totals |
452 |
889 |
185 |
2,019 |
192. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Justice the measures that will be undertaken by the Government in cases of parental alienation to provide out of court assistance and support for parents to prevent difficult situations from becoming toxic and unresolvable. [8648/22]
View answerTo better inform further discussion on parental alienation, my Department arranged for research to be carried out. Following a competitive tender process in May, research commenced on this important work in June. The aims of the research include to:
- Identify the various definitions and characteristics of parental alienation being used internationally.
- Investigate what is known about the prevalence of this issue (in Ireland or internationally) through examination of the literature.
- Identify and outline the various approaches and responses being taken in other jurisdictions to deal with the issue of parental alienation (legislative and otherwise).
- Describe, outline and evaluate any studies which have examined the effectiveness of these various international approaches and assess the relevance of these studies to the Irish context.
I am pleased to say that a draft report was received by my Department at the end of November and is now being reviewed. It is also my intention to commence a public consultation on the topic in the coming weeks. Both the research and consultation will, I expect, create a deeper understanding of the issue, and inform my Department’s consideration of policy and law in this area. The best interests of the child will of course be paramount in any considerations.
I recognise that going through the breakdown of a relationship can be a difficult and traumatic time for children and parents and that reform of the current family justice system is needed to better support families through such times.
The Programme for Government contains a commitment to enact a Family Court Bill to create a new dedicated Family Court within the existing court structure and provide for court procedures that support a faster and less adversarial resolution of disputes in specialised centres.
In September 2020, Government approved the drafting of a Family Court Bill along the lines of the General Scheme, which has been published. This has been referred to the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel for drafting. Work is ongoing on the drafting of the Bill, with a view to its publication as soon as possible this year.
My Department is in the process of finalising a Family Justice Strategy, which will set out a high-level vision and key medium and longer-term objectives for the development of a national family justice system in parallel with the establishment of a dedicated Family Court structure as envisaged by the forthcoming Family Court Bill.
To develop the new strategy, a Family Justice Oversight Group was established by my Department. To assist its work, this Group has engaged in a phased consultation process where relevant stakeholders, the public, children and young people who engage with the family justice system gave their views on how a modernised family justice system should look.
One of the areas being considered by the Group is additional training for those working within the family justice system that would benefit all those who engage with the system. A number of other issues are being considered for inclusion in the emergent Family Justice Strategy, including the availability of and access to support services; the potential use of less adversarial approaches to the resolution of disputes, where possible and appropriate; information dissemination and awareness raising; and oversight of the implementation of any proposed reforms.
