Written Answers Nos. 542-564
542. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection if there is a scheme in place to help persons on social welfare who suffer from gluten-related dietary restrictions with the cost of coeliac friendly foods; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18386/22]
View answerDiet supplement, administered under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, is payable to qualifying persons, in receipt of the supplement prior to February 2014, who have been prescribed a special diet as a result of a specified medical condition. There are currently approximately 1,500 people in receipt of diet supplement at a cost of €0.75 million in 2021.
A review of the costs of healthy eating and specialised diets by the Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute was commissioned by my Department during 2013. The research showed that the average costs across all of the retail outlets of the diets supplemented under the scheme could be met from within one-third of the minimum personal rate of social welfare payment, i.e. the Supplementary Welfare Allowance rate, which was then paid at €186 per week (and is currently paid at €206 per week). The diet supplement scheme was discontinued for new applicants from 1 February 2014 on the basis of this evidence.
Recipients continue to receive the diet supplement at their existing rate of payment for as long as they continue to have an entitlement to the scheme or until their circumstances change. This measure ensured that nobody was immediately worse off by the closure of the scheme.
In cases of particular hardship, officials continue to have the legislative power to award a supplementary welfare allowance payment in cases of exceptional need.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
543. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of consultants to her Department in 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022; and she will provide an outline of the role of each. [18895/22]
View answerThe procurement of external consultancy services is essential to support my Department in providing high quality service to the public in a cost effective and efficient manner. Consultants are engaged for a fixed period following procurement exercises conducted in accordance with Department procedures that are compliant with EU and national legislation and with guidelines set down by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. All consultancy related payments in my Department are made from the consultancy budget (A2(vii) subhead).
A breakdown of annual expenditure on consultancy and IT external service provision, and a list of purchase orders for €20,000 and above, is available on my Department’s website at gov.ie - Department of Social Protection Policy on Procurement (www.gov.ie)
Below are the costs and description for Consultancy in 2020, and the provisional costs for 2021 and 2022 to date.
|
- |
2022 |
|
|
BearingPoint Ireland Ltd |
€21,123 |
Consultancy Support in the setting up of PUP Scheme Area and in establishing the Central Jobseeker Processing Unit |
|
Hyperion Systems Ltd |
€4,732 |
SAFE - Expert Advice |
|
Crowe Advisory Limited |
€2,706 |
Financial and Economic Services |
|
2021 |
||
|
BearingPoint Ireland Ltd |
€122,508 |
Consultancy Support in the setting up of PUP Scheme Area and in establishing the Central Jobseeker Processing Unit |
|
Mazars |
€58,733 |
Government Banking Services implementation |
|
Institute for Employment Studies |
€57,518 |
Design, development and procurement of future contracted public employment services |
|
The Economic and Social Research Institute |
€49,315 |
Poverty and Social Inclusion Research Programme 2020-2023 |
|
BearingPoint Ireland Ltd |
€47,145 |
Customer Contact Strategy Implementation |
|
Ernst & Young Business Advisory Services |
€42,143 |
Outsourced IS internal audit expertise |
|
KPMG |
€30,062 |
Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIA) |
|
Crowe Advisory Limited |
€26,445 |
Financial and Economic Services |
|
Project Botticelli Limited |
€25,830 |
Migration of Analytics Platform |
|
Hyperion Systems Ltd |
€23,408 |
SAFE - Expert Advice |
|
Ruth A Fitzgerald |
€16,680 |
Transposition of the IORP II Directive |
|
KPMG |
€12,100 |
Actuarial Peer Review services |
|
2020 |
||
|
Institute for Employment Studies |
€123,318 |
Design, development and procurement of future contracted public employment services |
|
Hyperion Systems Ltd |
€80,773 |
SAFE - Expert Advice (Consult Hyperion) |
|
Ernst & Young |
€69,198 |
Outsourced IS internal audit expertise |
|
ESRI |
€62,713 |
Measurement and Analysis of Household Income and Living Conditions (2016-2018) |
|
Crowleys DFK |
€40,313 |
Accounting Services |
|
KPMG |
€22,775 |
Data Protection Impact Assessments |
|
Crowe Advisory Limited |
€12,705 |
Financial and Economic Services |
|
KPMG |
€10,086 |
Update of Actuarial Review of the SIF (2015) - 2020 |
|
Ruth A Fitzgerald |
€1,820 |
Transposition of the IORP II Directive |
|
Paul Cunningham |
€1,495 |
HRC Guidelines Review |
544. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of IPAS in Cork for those persons arriving from Ukraine; and if there is a point of contact for persons to secure or offer accommodation. [17426/22]
View answerTo date more than 10,000 of those fleeing the conflict in Ukraine who have arrived in Ireland have been referred to the International Protection Accommodations Service (IPAS) for accommodation.
In light of the continued significant numbers of people coming in to the State, and the potentially substantial numbers that may arrive, my Department is contracting all forms of accommodation, including in Cork.
A dedicated team in my Department is focused on the provision of accommodation to Ukrainian refugees.
We have also established a dedicated team at the City West Convention Centre that meets new arrivals from Ukraine. Alongside this, we are participating in hubs in Cork and Limerick cities, led by the Department of Social Protection to support new arrivals. Wexford County Council is supporting my Department in maintaining a presence at Rosslare Port. We have specifically prepared reception areas and they include designated spaces for children and adults and quiet spaces.
Deputy, please see below figures detailing total arrivals to Ireland (Ukrainians and 3rd country nationals) as of 30 March:
|
Entry point |
Dublin Airport |
Dublin Port |
Cork Airport |
Rosslare Port |
Shannon Airport |
Other Ports/ Airports |
TOTAL |
|
Arrivals |
12,798 |
276 |
370 |
1,222 |
599 |
29 |
15,294 |
It is not possible to provide a county breakdown as the situation is constantly changing as numbers are increasing rapidly and as accommodation is often short-term in nature.
545. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on establishing online supports (details supplied) or similar supports for those Ukrainian refugees who lack transport or childcare to attend supports in person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17497/22]
View answerAs this query speaks to multiple support services across various Departments in relation to an online platform, I would suggest that you direct your question to the Department of an Taoiseach which has a co-ordinating role in relation to the ongoing Ukraine situation.
My Department is responsible for the provision of emergency accommodation. Over 10,000 people have already been accommodated by my Department so far.
546. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the rental accommodation supports that will be made available to Ukrainian refugees who require own door accommodation as opposed to congregated settings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17498/22]
View answerThe provision of rental accommodation supports are matters for my colleagues, the Minister for Social Protection and the Minister for Housing.
547. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the account which is being made of refugees in non-IPAS sourced accommodation; the efforts that are being made to assess the implications this may have on demand for schools and other services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17499/22]
View answerAs this query relates to implications on school demands and other services I would suggest that you make contact with my colleague, the Minister for Education. in relation to this matter.
548. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on establishing a one stop shop type service by county for Ukrainian refugees who have completed the processes currently available at the reception hubs. [17500/22]
View answerCommunity fora are being established in each local authority area, chaired by each local authority, as the means of coordinating support from public bodies, community groups and volunteers to support Ukrainian refugees in each county. Their role will be to coordinate the identification of refugee needs and to link them to key services in each local authority area.
549. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of staff who are currently absent from work on full pay due to suspension or workplace disputes in his Department and in agencies and public bodies within his area of responsibility; the number who have been absent from work for up to three, three to six, six to 12 and over 12 months, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17593/22]
View answerThere are no staff from my Department absent from work on full pay due to suspension or workplace disputes. My officials have asked the State Agencies under my remit to respond to you directly on the matter.
550. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of persons currently residing in direct provision who have been granted asylum and refugee status; the longest time period that a person has remained living in a direct provision centre after they had been granted asylum and refugee status; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17621/22]
View answerThe number of persons with some form of status residing in International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) accommodation at end February 2022 was 2,265.
There are currently seven households that have been granted some form of status currently residing in IPAS accommodation over four years. The longest household with status is six years and four months.
Whilst we cannot comment specifically on individual cases, some households require a greater level of support transitioning into the community with regard to their medical, welfare and legal requirements to facilitate their move on to appropriate accommodation.
IPAS has a dedicated team who work together with the assistance of Peter McVerry Trust (PMVT)/DePaul Ireland to support and assist those with status to progress on from IPAS accommodation into the community.
551. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the case of a person (details supplied) has been brought to his attention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17622/22]
View answerAs the Deputy will appreciate, matters relating to private family law do not fall within the remit of my Department and are a matter for the Minister for Justice.
The Courts are, subject only to the Constitution and the law, independent in the exercise of their statutory functions and the conduct of any family law case is a matter for the presiding judge. The Courts Service has a dedicated email address for the provision of information to members of the Houses of the Oireachtas: oireachtasenquiries@courts.ie
Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, is the statutory body with responsibility for child protection and welfare services. Tusla has no function in monitoring or enforcing court ordered access visits.
552. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the arrangements for childcare and play areas in congregated settings that are located outside town centres for those Ukrainian refugees who require same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17640/22]
View answerMy Department has developed a comprehensive action plan to respond to the Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) needs of Ukrainian children and their families.
Key actions include:
- Facilitating access to my Department’s funding schemes – the Early Childhood Care and Education Programme (ECCE) and the National Childcare Scheme (NCS)
- Identifying ELC places available locally and nationally for Ukrainian children
- Proactively engaging with ELC services to explore the scope for any expansion in ELC capacity - with applications to Tusla to increase capacity in ELC services fast tracked, where possible.
- Providing an “ELC matching service” to link Ukrainian children to ELC services.
- Providing information and a host of supports to ELC services to help them meet the needs of Ukrainian children and their families, including training on trauma-informed practice and guidance on how ELC services can best support children and families in the context of the conflict in Ukraine.
- Providing information, supports and practical resources to Ukrainian families to support children’s early learning and opportunities for play, including information and Parent and Toddler Groups, designated play areas in temporary accommodation and links to wider supports for early learning, including the network of local libraries.
- Providing stay and play sessions within hotel or group accommodation facilities.
To support the implementation of this action plan, my Department has engaged with the Early Learning and Childcare Stakeholder Forum and is mobilising a range of organisations, including Pobal, Better Start, City/County Childcare Committees (CCC), Tusla and the National Voluntary Childcare Organisations. My Department is also engaging with the Department of Education to ensure our approach is aligned, where appropriate, to the approach taken in schools.
CCC are asked to provide play activities through stay and play sessions to Ukrainian children and families within any hotel or group accommodation facilities within their CCC area. My Department will allocate a budget to each CCC dependent on the number of accommodation sites in order to purchase play materials/resources to support this work. Supports are also available from Better Start Quality Development Specialists if need arises in any CCC area.
Latest data from Pobal shows there are an estimated 39,000 vacant ELC places across the country to meet the ELC needs of Ukrainian children and their families. This capacity may not be available in all areas where these children and families are accommodated however and places available may not meet specific needs, for example ELC places for young children. CCC are currently proactively engaging with services in relation to capacity and together with my Department will work to resolve specific capacity issues, as they arise.
553. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he can advise on matters raised in correspondence by a person (details supplied) in relation to rural preschools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17839/22]
View answerCore Funding is a new funding stream for Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) services introduced in Budget 2022 and informed by the work of the Expert Group to develop a new funding model for ELC and SAC, outlined in Partnership for the Public Good: A New Funding Model for Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare.
Core Funding is a payment to providers designed to support quality, 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. Core Funding aims to offer better financial sustainability to providers in return for a cultural shift to a partnership relationship between providers and the State that reflects the public good dimension of ELC and SAC.
On 7th March I announced the rates and values for the Core Funding, and launched the online Ready Reckoner tool. The Ready Reckoner is accessible to all and is designed to give an idea of what services can expect to receive based on their characteristics. It also allows different scenarios of provision to be tested. This will show the benefits of applying for Core Funding when it is possible to do so.
Where providers are experiencing difficulties completing the Ready Reckoner, I would encourage them to engage with their local City/County Childcare Committee (CCC) who can provide support.
The majority of Core Funding (i.e. €183 million of the €221 million) will be distributed based on a service's capacity - opening hours, opening weeks and the age group of children for whom services are provided as well as number of places available. This €183 million includes allocations for improvements in staff pay and conditions (€138 million), for administrative staff/time (€25 million), and a contribution to non-staff overhead costs (€20 million). The rationale for distributing Core Funding based on capacity is that capacity encompasses the primary characteristics that determine the service's costs of delivery. Structuring Core Funding primarily based on capacity will support sustainability and stability for services, since they will have an allocation each year that will not fluctuate in line with children's attendance.
In addition to the €183 million allocated on the basis of capacity, a further €38 million is allocated to contribute to support graduates to be Lead Educators across ELC and to support graduates as Managers in ELC or combined ELC and SAC services. Heretofore funding has only been available in respect of graduate Room Leaders in the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme.
Services whose provision is led by a graduate will receive this Graduate Premium, on top of their other funding. The Graduate Lead Educator Premium in Core Funding is paid as a top up on the number of hours of provision that is led by a graduate with a relevant qualification and three years' experience. The Graduate Manager Premium is paid as a top up on the number of hours of operation of a service whose manager is a graduate with a relevant qualification. An ELC Graduate Manager who also works as a Lead Educator can only attract one graduate premium.
Core Funding will address some of the existing disparities in funding levels across ECCE and non-ECCE provision, providing funding proportionate to the age ratio of children being cared for and supporting the employment of graduate Lead Educators across ELC provision. While Core Funding will operate in addition to and alongside ECCE (standard capitation), AIM, CCSP and NCS, it replaces ECCE higher capitation and incorporates funding previously allocated to the discretionary Programme Support Payments (PSP), with an increased allocation, from September 2022.
The significant majority of ELC and SAC services will see substantial increases in income through Core Funding. It is important to state that no service will lose out because of Core Funding.
My Department has issued a funding guarantee to providers. All services will receive at least the same level of funding in Core Funding as they received from higher capitation and PSP in the 2021/22 programme year, assuming the numbers of children, graduate staff and type of service offered remains the same
Services for whom the Funding Guarantee will apply and those who will see just small increases from Core Funding are ECCE services in receipt of higher capitation for large groups of children and with high occupancy levels. Such services are currently in receipt of the highest levels of public funding relative to the staffing levels required for operating those types of services, €110-€120 per hour of service provided, substantially in excess of the average staffing costs for this type of provision.
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 and that this additional investment is best allocated by linking the quantum of funding to services with their underlying costs of delivery.
This is 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. First 5 and Core Funding recognise that the workforce is at the heart of high-quality ELC. Strong international evidence shows that children achieve better outcomes when staff are well qualified. First 5 seeks to continue to build an appropriately skilled and sustainable professional workforce, and includes a commitment to achieve a graduate-led workforce 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.
554. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the application forms for redress will be sent to survivors of Mother and Baby homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17937/22]
View answerI am acutely aware of the sense of urgency surrounding the establishment of the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme and I am focused on delivering the Scheme as soon as possible. Last week, I secured Government approval for the draft Heads of Bill for the Payment Scheme and for the referral of these draft Heads of Bill to the Office of Parliamentary Council for drafting. I have sought priority drafting of the Bill to ensure that it can be introduced to the Houses of the Oireachtas as soon as possible. I have also referred the draft Heads of Bill to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for pre-legislative scrutiny, again requesting their assistance in meeting the urgent need to deliver this Scheme for survivors as soon as possible.
Once the legislation has been passed by the Oireachtas and the Executive Office to deliver the Scheme has been established, the Scheme will be open for applications. I hope that this will be possible by the end of 2022.
555. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the breakdown including by gender and nationality of the number of single persons who have entered the International Protection Process in 2022, presenting with a date of birth which would make them under 18 years of age at the time their case was opened but are living in International Protection Accommodation Services accommodation and noted as not being unaccompanied minors. [17947/22]
View answerAs of February 2022, 1,347 children were living in International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) accommodation under the care of their parents who were seeking international protection. There are no unaccompanied minors in IPAS accommodation.
556. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will consider increasing the subsidy under the national childcare scheme in recognition of the increase in crèche fees due to increased running costs for crèches to support parents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18028/22]
View answerThe package of measures announced in Budget 2022, which will be implemented throughout the course of 2022, is designed to ensure that fees to parents do not increase and that the full affordability benefits of the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) are felt without being absorbed in fee increases.
The NCS comprises two types of subsidies:
- A universal subsidy is payable for children between the ages of 24 weeks and 36 months (or until the child qualifies for the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme if later) who are availing of childcare services from an approved childcare service provider. The universal subsidy is not means-tested and is available to all qualifying families of any income level.
- An income-related subsidy is payable for children from 24 weeks to 15 years of age who are availing of childcare services from an approved childcare service provider. The level of subsidy is determined by the family’s assessable income (i.e. gross income minus tax, PRSI and other deductibles and minus any applicable multiple child discount).
As part of Budget 2022, I announced two changes to the NCS which will result in more parents getting more subsidised hours of early learning and childcare in Tulsa registered services.
- The universal subsidy will be made available to all families with children under 15 years of age.
- There will be a change in the practice of deducting hours spent in pre-school or school from the entitlement to income-related subsidised NCS hours. This means that the full awarded subsidised NCS hours will be available regardless of whether children are in pre-school or school.
In addition, a new Core Funding stream will be introduced for ELC and SAC services to support improved quality, affordability, and sustainability. Core Funding will require a commitment not to increase fees to parents from the September 2021 rates. This means that parents will not be faced with fee increases, and the full affordability effects of the NCS and ECCE Pre-school Programme, will be felt by parents.
Providers who do increase their fees will be required to revert to September 2021 levels on or before September 2022 in order to be eligible for the new Core Funding stream.
557. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the funding streams that are available for Foróige clubs to acquire their own premises to operate out of; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18033/22]
View answerThe annual capital budget available to the Youth Affairs Unit of the Department is approximately €3 million and this funding is utilised to meet the capital needs of all national youth organisations, youth services and youth clubs which are in receipt of youth funding from the Youth Affairs Unit.
This limited annual capital funding is distributed among over 30 national youth organisations, over 250 funded UBU Your Place Your Space youth services and over 1,500 youth clubs which are funded by the Youth Affairs Unit. The funding is made available in the form of small grants for the purchase of essential equipment or small scale minor works. In view of the overall limited capital funding available, grant funding is not available for any major refurbishments, construction projects, or purchases of buildings or land.
558. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a person takes parental leave for one child in the form of two six-week blocks can they take the other 14 weeks or is this time lost (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18103/22]
View answerFamily leaves are an important tool for working families to balance their working lives with the needs of their families and the current entitlements for parents in Ireland includes a range of options, both paid and unpaid.
Under the Parental Leave Act 1998 (as amended), an employee who is a relevant parent in respect of a child under the age 12 is entitled to 26 weeks unpaid parental leave for each child. Where a child has a disability or long-term illness, the entitlement can continue until the child is 16. A relevant parent is a parent, an adoptive parent, or a person acting in ‘loco parentis’.
An employee must give their employer written notice of their intention to take parental leave at least six weeks in advance of taking the leave and a confirmation document setting out the details of the leave should be signed by the employee and employer at least four weeks in advance of the commencement of the leave.
Under the legislation, the leave can be taken as one continuous period of leave or in 2 separate periods of not less than 6 weeks each. With the agreement of the employer, the leave may also be taken in the form of working days or hours.
Where a dispute arises in relation to the entitlements of an employee under the Parental Leave Act, a complaint can be made to the Workplace Relations Commission.
559. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the current policy with respect to remote working options for staff in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18184/22]
View answerFollowing Public Health advice staff in my department were supported to work remotely since March 2020. Further to the revised Public Health advice staff are currently attending the office at least 2 days per week.
A central policy framework for Blended Working in the Civil Service was launched on 31 March 2022. This framework will inform my Department's blended working policy which is currently being drafted. It is expected that the blended working policy will be in place in Q2 2022.
560. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there are plans to allocate or increase resources to community organisations in an area (details supplied) that are currently delivering services and supports and those who wish to deliver services and supports to persons in the community who have fled from Ukraine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18211/22]
View answerTo date more than 10,000 of those fleeing the conflict in Ukraine who have arrived in Ireland have been referred to the International Protection Accommodations Service (IPAS) for accommodation.
In light of the continued significant numbers of people coming into the State, and the potentially substantial numbers that may arrive, my Department is contracting all forms of accommodation.
The Government is committed to delivering a whole of Government, humanitarian response to people fleeing the war in Ukraine and seeking protection in Ireland. Community response fora are being established in all local authority areas, chaired by local authorities, to coordinate the provision of supports to Ukrainian refugees.
561. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the supports that are being provided in an area (details supplied) by his Department to persons in the community who have fled from Ukraine; if this will include holistic supports to children and young persons who may need specialist supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18212/22]
View answerTo date more than 10,000 of those fleeing the conflict in Ukraine who have arrived in Ireland have been referred to the International Protection Accommodations Service (IPAS) for accommodation.
The Government is committed to delivering a whole of Government, humanitarian response to people fleeing the war in Ukraine and seeking protection in Ireland.
My Department is liaising with all relevant departments and agencies to ensure that there is joined up support for refugees from Ukraine who need it in communities across the country. This includes the provision of supports to children and young people, including in relation to childcare and access to education.
562. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the measures that will be undertaken to integrate children, young persons, young adults and families who have fled from Ukraine into communities in an area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18213/22]
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 Rural and Community Development.
563. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he and-or Tusla are in possession of the records of children born to parents in St. Ita’s Hospital, Dublin who were subsequently adopted; and if so, the location in which these records are stored. [18293/22]
View answerAs the subject matter of the Deputy's question relates to an operational matter I have referred the matter to Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, and the Adoption Authority of Ireland, for a direct reply.
564. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a home (details supplied) is included in the mother and baby homes redress scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18319/22]
View answerThe Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme will provide financial payments and a form of enhanced medical card for people who spent time as mothers or children in Mother and Baby or County Home Institutions.
It is recognised that there are people who suffered stigma, trauma and abuse in other institutions, and outside of institutions also. However, the institutions covered by the Scheme are those identified by the Commission of Investigation as having a main function of providing sheltered and supervised ante and post-natal facilities to single mothers and their children. Westbank Orphanage is, therefore, not included in the Scheme as it does not meet those criteria.
