Written Answers Nos. 1111-1134
1111. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to communication issues between IPAS and other State bodies and charities as in a case (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19612/22]
View answerMy Department is providing accommodation where requested to people fleeing the conflict in Ukraine. Over 16,500 people have sought International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) accommodation to date.
All suitable options in relation to the immediate accommodation needs of those who have fled to Ireland are being considered. In this regard, negotiations are currently taking place with a range of accommodation providers across Ireland.
IPAS has contracted approximately 5,000 hotel rooms, with additional capacity also being pursued through hotels, guest houses and B&Bs, accommodation pledged by the general public, religious properties, accommodation operated by voluntary organisations such as Scouting Ireland, and local authority facilities. In addition, arrangements are also in place with Airbnb to use some of their accommodation.
Sourcing increased accommodation as arrival numbers increase is immensely challenging and good communication on arrivals is important and does take place through agreed channels. My Department is attempting to establish the facts in respect of the incident to which the Deputy refers, and is not in a position to comment further at this time.
1112. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if persons can make a formal submission to the consultation process in relation to primary medical certificates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19619/22]
View answerThe issue of accessible public transport and appropriate personal mobility supports for people with disabilities is an important one. Recognising the critical role of mobility as a precursor for real independence, I chair a Working Group under Action 104 of the National Disability Inclusion Strategy. This Action states that:
"We will lead a review of transport supports encompassing all Government funded transport and mobility schemes for people with disabilities, to enhance the options for transport to work or employment supports for people with disabilities and will develop proposals for development of a
coordinated plan for such provision. This plan will have regard to making the most efficient use of available transport resources.".
The nature of that work is to analyse the range of schemes and programmes across the State and examine whether or not they function in a coherent manner that properly supports people with disabilities, and to formulate proposals for coordinated improvement. Individual departments and agencies continue to hold primary responsibility for their own statutory schemes and funded programmes in this context.
The Working Group is comprised of representatives of relevant departments, agencies and stakeholders, including members of the Disability Stakeholders Group, experts by experience, and Disabled Persons Organisations. At its January meeting the Group agreed to conduct a "stock taking" exercise to assess the current state of transport supports.
The legislation underpinning the operation of the Disabled Drivers and Passengers Scheme is the responsibility of the Minister of Finance, who established that Scheme by Statutory Instrument under the provisions of the Finance Acts. These regulations include the criteria for primary medical certificates, and any alteration to same would ultimately be a matter for the Minister for Finance to pursue via Statutory Instrument.
1113. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of persons employed by his Department and bodies under the aegis of his Department with a rate of pay below the living wage of €12.30; the role that those persons occupy within his Department or relevant body; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19623/22]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, any adjustments to the salaries of civil and public servants are set out in BUILDING MOMENTUM - A new public service agreement, 2021-2022.
A suggested living wage of €12.30 per hour would equate to an annual salary of €23,747, based on a standard civil service net working week of 37 hours. DPER Circular 04/2022 sets out the adjustments to the pay of certain civil servants on 1 February 2022 and is available on gov.ie/circulars.
As the information requested is not readily available in respect of the agencies under my Department's remit, I have asked them to furnish this information directly to the Deputy.
1114. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will advise on correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19648/22]
View answerIn December 2021, Government adopted the 25 recommendations contained in an Expert Group report, Partnership for the Public Good: A New Funding Model for Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age Childcare (SAC).
The new funding model will support delivery of ELC and SAC for the public good, for quality and affordability for children, parents and families. To achieve this, there is a need for greater State investment and greater public management of provision.
Core Funding is the new funding stream to start this partnership for the public good between the State and providers. Its primary purpose is to improve pay and conditions in the sector as a whole and to improve affordability for parents, as well as ensuring a stable income to providers.
Core Funding will operate alongside the National Childcare Scheme and the ECCE programme and constitute additional income for providers on top of funding for these schemes, as well as income from parental fees.
One of the key conditions of Core Funding will be the requirement for providers to maintain fees at or below September 2021 levels. This will ensure that parents feel the full affordability effects of the National Childcare Scheme and the ECCE programme. Core Funding will also include conditions in relation to quality improvements in services and transparency in relation to operations.
Extensive information has been communicated to the sector, including detail on the way in which Core Funding will be allocated to individual services. A Ready Reckoner calculator has also been launched to assist providers in estimating the impact of Core Funding for their individual service.
Core Funding is distributed in a fair and reasonable manner that is related to services’ costs of delivery. Sessional services with standard capitation, Full Time, Part Time and School Age services will all see substantial increases in funding. Most ECCE services currently in receipt of higher capitation rates will also benefit significantly. No service will lose out.
City/County Childcare Committees (CCCs) have received training in order to assist providers in calculating their potential Core Funding allocations. I would encourage providers to contact their local CCC for guidance and support in understanding the impacts and benefits of Core Funding for their service. Contact details for CCCs are available at www.myccc.ie/where-is-my-nearest-ccc and providers can reach out for support at any time.
It is important to acknowledge that Core Funding will intentionally 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 as well as graduate Managers. 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) from September 2022. This distributes public funding in respect of graduate staff more fairly across ELC provision.
Core Funding is related to the costs of delivery. Services opening for longer hours or offering more places will receive a higher value of Core Funding than other services. This is because their costs of operation are higher. The majority of Core Funding (i.e. €183 million of the €221 million) will be distributed in this way based on a service's capacity. 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). It is important to note that sick pay, and other employer costs, are factored in to the estimated staff costs allocation in Core Funding. In addition, 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 ECCE programme.
In response to queries received by my Department on a number of matters, including many of those highlighted in the correspondence detailed, such as the impact of Core Funding on smaller Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) services, detailed information relating to Core Funding is now available at www.first5fundingmodel.gov.ie/core-funding.
The new funding model being implemented aims to transform the sector to one that is increasingly publicly funded and publicly managed, delivering a service for the public good, through a partnership between the State and providers, to the benefit of children, parents, practitioners, and society overall. This transformation starts with Core Funding and the new approach will entail a shift in the relationship between the State and providers in relation to delivering ELC and SAC, with new responsibilities on both sides. Core Funding is open to all registered providers subject to their agreement to the terms and conditions of the funding. It is my ambition that the maximum number providers choose to participate in this partnership to deliver ELC and SAC for the public good and come into contract for Core Funding. Core Funding however is optional for providers.
I look forward to working together in partnership with providers to deliver ELC and SAC services for the public good.
1115. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason the Reception and Integration Agency ceased publishing detailed monthly reports regarding direct provision and asylum in Ireland which were routinely published from 2004 to 2018; if there are plans to make such detailed information reports available at any point in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19661/22]
View answerThe Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) was replaced by International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) in 2019. This change of structures and the demands of the Covid pandemic created delays in the publication of information. However, information that would previously have been contained in RIA’s annual reports is now made available by IPAS on the Gov.ie website.
1116. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when he plans to make medical cards available to all survivors of mother and baby homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19696/22]
View answerI am acutely aware of the sense of urgency surrounding the establishment of the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme. Last month, 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 administrative infrastructure required to deliver the Scheme has been established, the Scheme will be open for applications for both financial awards and enhanced medical cards. I hope that this will be possible by the end of 2022.
A person will be eligible for an enhanced medical card if they were resident in a relevant institution for 6 months or more.
1117. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason that early year educators are not recognised as official educators with an appropriate pay scale the same as that for primary school teachers despite having the same if not more inspections than primary schools, including inspections from the Department of Education and Science; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19701/22]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, the State is not the employer of early years educators or school-age childcare practitioners, and my Department does not set wage levels nor determine working conditions for staff in the sector. However, I am very conscious of the need for significant improvement in their pay and working conditions. The level of pay they receive does not reflect the value of the work they do for children, for families and for the wider society and economy, and I am doing all that is in my power to address the issue.
I began a process in December 2020, which examined the possibility of regulating pay and conditions and the suitability of a Joint Labour Committee for the sector. This process culminated in the establishment of a Joint Labour Committee, which began meeting in December 2021.
In Budget 2022, I announced a new Core Funding stream which, among other objectives, will support service providers to meet new higher rates of pay that may be negotiated through the Joint Labour Committee.
In December 2021, I launched Nurturing Skills: The Workforce Plan for Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare, 2022-2028, which aims to strengthen the ongoing process of professionalisation for those working in early learning and care and school-age childcare.
Early years educators, school-age childcare practitioners and childminders play a key role in supporting children’s development and well-being, working in partnership with families. Recognising their central importance for the quality of provision, Nurturing Skills aims to support the professional development of the workforce and raise the profile of careers in the sector.
1118. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the acknowledgement that a number of survivors do not accept the accounts given in the final report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes as a true and full reflection of what they said to the confidential committee or the commission of investigation as agreed as part of the settlement of eight judicial review cases taken in relation to that report has been published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19707/22]
View answerOn 17 December last, I agreed to settle eight judicial review cases in relation to the Final Report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes in light of the evidence given by the applicants in the two lead cases to the Court on the procedural matter of being identifiable.
As part of this settlement, I published an acknowledgement alongside the Final Report in December stating that a number of survivors do not accept the accounts given in the Final Report as a true and full reflection of what they said to the Confidential Committee or the Commission of Investigation. It specifies particular paragraphs which are not accepted by those survivors who believe the paragraphs in question relate to them or the evidence they gave.
I also acknowledged that, because draft extracts of the report were not furnished, survivors did not have the opportunity to request the Commission to correct statements that some survivors believe to be wrong.
The full acknowledgement to these survivors can be found at:
www.gov.ie/en/publication/316d8-commission-of-investigation/.
1119. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason that a residential centre (details supplied) has been refused for a tender to accept young people into its care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19720/22]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, the question has been forwarded to Tusla for direct reply to the Deputy.
1120. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the salaries and expenses paid to advisers, Ministers and-or Ministers of State in his Department in 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form. [19741/22]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware my Department was established in 2020. As Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, I have appointed two Special Advisers in my Department. The appointments have been made in accordance with Instructions for Ministerial Appointments as published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. These instructions set specific conditions to be met in respect of such appointments including salaries to be applied and details can be found on www.gov.ie/en/publication/9ad159-special-advisers-pay/. Both my advisers have been placed on the Principal Officer scale and are currently on the second point of that scale.
Ministerial salaries are a matter for the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and as of 1 February 2022 the salary for a Minister is €82,730. The Deputy may wish to note that this information is available at www.gov.ie/en/publication/a8bc7-pay-of-oireachtas-members-and-office-holders/.
1122. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will outline all of the secondment arrangements within his Department; the conditions related to such secondments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19863/22]
View answer1132. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of persons currently employed in his Department who have been seconded in from the public sector; the number of departmental officials seconded where the moneys are recouped from the body the person is seconded to or where the Department pays for the person with no recoupment from the other organisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20056/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1122 and 1132 together.
My Department operates the guidelines in relation to secondments which are set out by DPER and approved by the Civil Service Management Board and can be found at www.hr.per.gov.ie/en/corporate-pages/career/mobility/secondment/.
9 staff members are currently on secondment from my Department to other areas of the Civil Service.
As outlined in the DPER guidance, where the secondment is between two Civil Service organisations, a secondee’s HR and pay record, and responsibility for maintenance of same, will transition to the receiving organisation for the duration of the assignment.
There are currently 17 individuals seconded into my Department from the Public Sector of which 10 are Civil Servants. Recoupment arrangement's are in place for the remainder.
1123. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will address a matter regarding offers of accommodation for refuges (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19880/22]
View answerMy Department is focused on providing short term accommodation to people fleeing the conflict in Ukraine. Approximately 13,000 people have been placed in International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) accommodation to date.
IPAS has contracted approximately 5,000 hotel rooms, with additional capacity also being pursued through all suitable means including, hotels, guest houses and B&Bs, religious properties, accommodation operated by voluntary bodies such as Scouting Ireland, and local authority emergency facilities. Given arrival numbers sourcing suitable accommodation continues to be a challenge.
My Department is working very closely with the local authorities, through the County and City Management Association (CCMA) to identify emergency short term options to meet continued demands for accommodation.
The Department understands that a total of 24,036 offers of accommodation have been pledged through the Irish Red Cross portal. Of these pledges, 5,714 are for independent units and 18,322 are for shared accommodation. Work is on-going involving a number of stakeholders to draw down these pledges.
Overseen by the Irish Red Cross, assisted by the Defence Forces and others over 1,200 calls are now being made each day to those who have pledged. The Irish Red Cross has stated that all those who pledged assumed vacant accommodation will be called by the end of this week with calls to others being completed by the end of next week. Contacting parties by phone can involve repeated calls. The Department has provided increased supports to the Irish Red Cross to assist them with the overall process.
Once lists of suitable properties are received by the Department they are forwarded without delay to those assisting with placements. These include the Local Authorities and others. Progress is being made on placements.
Placing those in need in shared accommodation is a process that takes time due to the vetting process involved.
1124. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he plans to open a round of early learning and care and school-age capital funding in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19923/22]
View answerThe works eligible for capital funding are determined by my Department on an annual basis, having regard to the needs of children, families and providers, and to Departmental priorities.
During 2021, my Department successfully secured €70m in the revised National Development Plan (NDP) allocation. This will enable significant capital investment in early learning and childcare during 2023-2025. Investment under the NDP will consist of three pillars: Modernisation, New Capacity and First 5 Initiatives. Further information on the Department’s NDP allocation and the application process will be communicated to the sector in the near future.
Capital funding has been reduced in 2022 to €0.5m as my Department focusses on the preparation of distribution of NDP funding from 2023 onwards. This will include setting eligibility criteria, designing and developing the application process, and establishing approval criteria. This 2022 allocation is for Childminding and Parent and Toddler Groups, who maintain 2021 allocations. In addition, my Department has secured some €750k of unspent 2021 capital funding which will be carried into 2022. This a targeted approach commencing with non-for-profit services that have been informed they must resolve fire safety compliance issues in order to complete their re-registration with Tusla. Eligibility for funding will be dependent on a financial assessment of need. CCCs are currently making contact with these services at local level.
1125. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if financial assistance is going to be provided to Irish households who accommodate Ukrainian refugees purely to cover the increase in household costs associated with such a charitable action particularly in view of the increasing cost of living; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19925/22]
View answerProperties were pledged through the Irish Red Cross Portal on a voluntary basis, and the generous response from the public to this appeal is much appreciated. While there are presently no financial supports for people offering pledged accommodation, the matter is being kept under review by Government.
1126. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the State plans to source accommodation from commercial operators, outside of the hotels and guesthouses that have already been sourced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19926/22]
View answerMy Department is providing accommodation where requested to people fleeing the conflict in Ukraine. Around 15,000 people have been provided with International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) accommodation to date.
IPAS has contracted approximately 5,000 hotel rooms, with additional capacity also being pursued through hotels, guest houses and B&Bs, accommodation pledged by the general public, religious properties, accommodation operated by voluntary organisations such as Scouting Ireland, and local authority facilities. In addition, arrangements are also in place with Airbnb to use some of their accommodation.
My Department is considering all suitable options in relation to the immediate accommodation needs of those who have fled to Ireland from the conflict in Ukraine. In this regard, negotiations are currently taking place with a range of accommodation providers across Ireland.
1127. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to a situation (details supplied); the number of persons in this situation; if a breakdown exists by local electoral area; the type of accommodation persons are living in; the supports and help available to them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19958/22]
View answerTusla, the Child and Family Agency, receives separated children seeking international protection (SCSIP) into care via two routes: those who have been relocated under the Irish Refugee Protection Programme (IRPP) and those who present independently at ports and other points of entry to Ireland.
To date in 2022, 103 SCSIP have been referred to Tusla, with 93 children currently in Tusla’s care.
These numbers do not include separated children that have come to Ireland from Ukraine, as these children are granted one year’s Temporary Protection. Since the commencement of the war on Ukraine on 25th February, 116 separated children from Ukraine have been referred to Tusla. Of these, 59 were received into care/accommodation. There are currently 44 separated children from Ukraine in Tusla's care.
In relation to the supports and help available to SCSIP, Tusla has a dedicated social work team. Over the past 20 years the SCSIP Team has developed expertise through Ireland’s participation in International Refugee Protection Programmes and by caring for separated children seeking international protection who arrive unannounced at Irish ports, including airports.
SCSIP who arrive at ports of entry to Ireland are referred to Tusla for a child protection needs assessment. In the first instance, Tusla makes every attempt to contact relatives of the child and to reunite the child with family members. If children cannot be reunified with family, they are received into the care of Tusla.
These children are placed by Tusla either in small specialist residential care centres, or with specifically recruited foster families under a Fáilte Foster care programme. The children are automatically entitled as children in care to a medical card and access to education services.
In addition, a Social Worker is allocated to them to develop a care plan and monitor the progress of the child / young persons care. The care plan may involve specialist English language tuition, intensive educational supports and therapeutic work in respect of trauma.
The basis for care of a SCSIP is different from the general child in care population; as they are received into care for protection and welfare reasons due to their separation from their primary carers, which can be as a consequence of war or persecution. Children who arrive in Ireland outside of a dedicated refugee programme are supported in their application for refugee status.
The Deputy is seeking information on the a breakdown of SCSIP who live outside the direct provision system by electoral area, as this is an operational matter for Tusla I have referred the matter to Tusla, and asked that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.
1128. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there is a forum for members of the public to make submissions to the primary medical certificate review; if a public consultation will be arranged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19978/22]
View answerThe issue of accessible public transport and appropriate personal mobility supports for people with disabilities is an important one. Recognising the critical role of mobility as a precursor for real independence, I chair a Working Group under Action 104 of the National Disability Inclusion Strategy. This Action states that:
"We will lead a review of transport supports encompassing all Government funded transport and mobility schemes for people with disabilities, to enhance the options for transport to work or employment supports for people with disabilities and will develop proposals for development of a
coordinated plan for such provision. This plan will have regard to making the most efficient use of available transport resources.".
The nature of that work is to analyse the range of schemes and programmes across the State and examine whether or not they function in a coherent manner that properly supports people with disabilities, and to formulate proposals for coordinated improvement. Individual departments and agencies continue to hold primary responsibility for their own statutory schemes and funded programmes in this context.
The Working Group is comprised of representatives of relevant departments, agencies and stakeholders, including members of the Disability Stakeholders Group, experts by experience, and Disabled Persons Organisations. At its January meeting the Group agreed to conduct a "stock taking" exercise to assess the current state of transport supports.
The legislation underpinning the operation of the Disabled Drivers and Passengers Scheme is the responsibility of the Minister of Finance, who established that Scheme by Statutory Instrument under the provisions of the Finance Acts. These regulations include the criteria for primary medical certificates, and any alteration to same would ultimately be a matter for the Minister for Finance to pursue via Statutory Instrument.
1129. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the funding that is allocated by his Department, either directly or through the distribution of European Union funding, to groups based in Northern Ireland, by the amount received by each group in each of the past three years, in tabular form. [19991/22]
View answerThe table below sets out the allocations, both current and capital, made by my Department to organisations with a cross border role (Special EU Programmes Body) or are funded to provide services within this jurisdiction but whose head offices are based in Northern Ireland (Irish Methodist Youth & Children's Department and Co-Operation Ireland. .
My Department provides funding to the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) in respect of the Children and Young People’s objective of the PEACE IV programme. This is a cross-border EU co-funded initiative and 85% of the funding amount shown in the table is recouped from the European Regional Development Fund. The SEUPB is responsible for the management and provision of this funding to youth projects delivered in partnership by organisations based in Northern Ireland and in the Republic of Ireland.
Funding Allocated to Northern Ireland Groups
|
Northern Ireland Group |
DCEDIY Funding 2019 |
DCEDIY Funding 2020 |
DCEDIY Funding 2021 |
DCEDIY Funding to date 2022 |
|
Current Funding |
|
|
|
|
|
Irish Methodist Youth & Childrens Dept. |
€31,290 |
€32,542 |
€34,169 |
€35,194 |
|
Co-operation Ireland |
€31,077 |
€31,077 |
€31,380 |
Nil to date |
|
Special EU Programmes Body (EU Contribution: 85%) |
€1,883,753 |
€2,244,000 |
€1,624,176 |
€423,318 |
|
Capital Funding |
|
|
|
|
|
Irish Methodist Youth & Children’s Dept. |
Allocated: €12,609 Spend: €10,995 |
|
Allocated: €3,417 |
Nil to date |
|
Total Allocation |
€1,958,729 |
€2,307,619 |
€1,693,142 |
€458,512 |
1130. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department and public bodies and agencies that operate under his remit facilitate internships by students engaged in full-time or part-time further and higher education courses; if so, the number of interns his Department and public bodies and agencies that operate under his remit accept annually; if any or all of these interns receive remuneration of any kind; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20001/22]
View answerMy Department is currently facilitating two student placements, neither of which are remunerated by my Department.
My officials have asked the State Agencies under my remit to respond to you directly on the matter.
1131. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if financial assistance will be offered to those accommodating Ukrainian refugees such as persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20043/22]
View answerProperties were pledged through the Irish Red Cross Portal on a voluntary basis, and the generous response from the public to this appeal is much appreciated. While there are presently no financial supports for people offering pledged accommodation, the matter is being kept under review by Government.
1133. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the legislation allowing for parent's leave to be extended from five to seven weeks will be signed into law given that applications for parent's leave are required to be submitted six weeks prior to commencement and a parent wishing to take the full seven weeks starting July 2022 will need to apply by mid-May 2022; and if he expects the legislation will be passed in time to accommodate such. [20085/22]
View answerUnder the Parent’s Leave and Benefit Act 2019 (as amended), working parents are entitled to five weeks of paid parent's leave for each relevant parent, as defined in the legislation, to be taken in the first two years after the birth or adoptive placement of a child.
Provision has been made in Budget 2022 to increase the number of weeks of Parent’s Leave and Benefit available to eligible parents from five weeks to seven weeks from July 2022. This will be introduced by way of Regulation as provided for under the Parent's Leave and Benefit Act 2019 (as amended).
It has been decided that the additional two weeks' leave and benefit will apply to parents of children who are under the age of two in July 2022 (or adoptive children who have been with their parents for less than two years at that point).
A date for the commencement of the extension is not yet available as the practical arrangements for the payment of Parent's Benefit are being finalised with the Department of Social Protection. A decision will be made shortly to facilitate parents to make applications for the leave in good time.
1134. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of persons who previously entered the international protection process in 2022, presenting with a date of birth which would make them under 18 years of age but who are now living in IPAS accommodation and noted as not being unaccompanied minors following participation in the age assessment procedure by gender and nationalities in tabular form given that the outcome of age assessments is entirely a matter for Tusla. [20114/22]
View answerThis information is currently being collated by my officials. As such, my Department will require more time to fulfil this request. Details will be supplied to the Deputy as soon as they are available.
