Written Answers Nos. 453-472
453. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to an issue where persons in long-term receipt of occupational injuries benefit are automatically excluded from the fuel allowance, regardless of their income being below the qualifying threshold (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48598/22]
View answerThe Fuel Allowance is a payment of €33 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €924 each year) from late September to April, which is supporting more than 370,000 households in 2022 at an estimated cost of €366 million. The purpose of this payment is to assist these households with their energy costs. The allowance represents a contribution towards the energy costs of a household. Only one allowance is paid per household.
The criteria for Fuel Allowance are framed in order to direct limited resources in as targeted a manner as possible. This ensures that the Fuel Allowance payment goes to those who are more vulnerable to fuel poverty including those reliant on social protection payments for longer periods and who are unlikely to have additional resources of their own.
In Budget 2023, I was pleased to announce that, from January 2023, the Disablement Benefit payment which is paid under the Occupational Injury Benefit Scheme will be disregarded when assessing means for Fuel Allowance purposes.
This measure will ensure that a household will no longer be debarred from receiving Fuel Allowance solely because a person in the household is in receipt of Disablement Benefit.
The amount of Disablement Benefit a person receives will also be disregarded when assessing means for Fuel Allowance purposes.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
454. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection the specific weeks in which the additional payments from her Department outlined in the cost-of-living package (details supplied) will be made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48610/22]
View answerIn response to the ongoing cost of living pressures, as part of Budget 2023, I secured €1.2 billion in funding to provide for a wide range of lump-sum payments to assist individuals and families.
My Department is currently working on putting in place the necessary IT systems to administer the various lump sum payments and I intend to publish a timetable in the coming days so that people will have certainty as to when each payment will issue.
455. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of a working family payment renewal by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48637/22]
View answerWorking Family Payment (WFP) is an in-work payment which provides additional income support to employees on low earnings with qualified children.
Once WFP is granted, it is payable for 52 weeks at the same rate, as long as the customer continues to be engaged in full-time paid employment as an employee for at least 38 hours every fortnight. The previous application for WFP for the person concerned expired at the end of the 52 week period on 28/09/2022.
A WFP renewal application was received by the Department from the person concerned and further information was requested. A reply was received and a Deciding Officer reviewed the renewal application. WFP was awarded to the person concerned. The first weekly payment and all arrears owing have issued to their selected financial account. The person concerned was notified on 29/09/2022 of this decision.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
456. Deputy Joe Flaherty asked the Minister for Social Protection if the once-off cost-of-living double week’s payment scheduled for October 2022 includes recipients of the widow’s pension. [48639/22]
View answerIn response to the ongoing cost of living pressures, my Department will spend approximately €1.2 billion in one-off measures during the coming months to help individuals and families through this difficult period.
The Autumn Cost of Living Double Payment will be paid to those schemes which are eligible to receive the Christmas Bonus, with one addition - the removal of the 12 month duration requirement for certain schemes - allowing short-term jobseekers and Supplementary Welfare Allowance customers to qualify for the October support.
As both the Contributory and Non-Contributory Widow, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's Pension are eligible for the Christmas Bonus, recipients of these payments will receive the Autumn Cost of Living Double Payment.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the deputy.
457. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection if the €500 announced for invalidity recipients in budget 2023 applies to partial capacity payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48648/22]
View answerIn response to the ongoing cost of living pressures, my Department will spend approximately €1.2 billion in one-off measures during the coming months to help individuals and families through this difficult period.
Provision of the once-off grant payment of €500, for persons in receipt of the Disability Allowance, Blind Pension, Invalidity Pension and the Carer’s Support Grant is in response to the particular challenges faced by these groups at this time.
The Partial Capacity Benefit scheme has been designed to allow persons in receipt of this payment to continue to receive a percentage of their previous payment (i.e. 50%, 75% or 100%) while in employment. The scheme has also been designed so there are no restrictions on the number of hours a person in receipt of the payment can work, and there are no restrictions on earnings / earnings limits. People who have moved on to Partial Capacity Benefit, from an Invalidity Pension payment, retain their Partial Capacity payment while in employment for three years (156 weeks).
As those in receipt of Partial Capacity Benefit are in employment without any restriction on earnings, they will not be eligible for the €500 grant. However, they will be eligible for the Autumn Cost of Living Double Payment later this month, and the Christmas Bonus in December. Those with children may also be eligible for the Double Payment of Child Benefit in November.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
458. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the supports and or choices that are available to parents who deem themselves in a position that they cannot provide appropriate care for their children; if Tusla has care services available for the adult and child (details supplied). [47874/22]
View answerTusla, the Child and Family Agency, has statutory responsibility under the Child Care Act, 1991, to safeguard children who are not receiving adequate care and protection and to identify children at risk of harm. Tusla provides a continuum of services including early intervention and family support services, child protection and welfare services and alternative care services to identify and respond to the needs of the children and families who are referred.
Anyone can report a concern about a child to Tusla, and information on how to do so is available on the Tusla website. Reports can also be made to An Garda Síochána (AGS). Children who are in a situation of immediate risk may initially be dealt with by AGS or Tusla but usually both agencies work together in such cases.
Where immediate or potential danger is identified to a child from a parent or guardian, this referral is treated with the highest priority and response by Tusla. In the first instance Tusla will ensure, under its Signs of Safety national practice guidance, that the child is safe and that an immediate safety network is identified to support the child and parents. Simultaneously, Tusla will endeavour to work in partnership with the parent(s) or guardian(s) to assess the cause of the difficulties and provide, or refer to, the necessary services. A safety network for the child will be identified and implemented under the Signs of Safety national practice model to ensure the immediate safety of the child or children within the family. Where it is assessed, following completion of an intake and initial assessment process, that significant child protection concerns exist and potential risk of harm to the child by the parents is identified, a child protection case conference is convened. At such a conference a decision may be made to place the child on the child protection notification system (CPNS). Where this threshold of risk is not met (that is, a child protection case conference is not required or the child is not placed on the CPNS), a Tusla led safety plan will be implemented for the child.
If the outcome of the initial screening and visit to the child and family as part of the initial social work preliminary enquiry is that a child cannot stay in the care of their parent or guardian due to immediate risk of significant harm to the child’s safety or life, consideration will be given to whether there are appropriate extended family members to provide immediate care for the child and also whether consideration of admission to foster or residential care, age appropriate to the child’s care needs, is necessary to ensure the child’s /young person’s safety. An admission to care will occur either with the voluntary consent of the parent(s) or guardian(s) or by Tusla making an application to the district court for an emergency care order or interim care order application.
In some circumstances where child protection concerns exist in relation to new born infants Tusla, following a detailed assessment by the social work teams, may consider as appropriate to the child’s safety and the parent’s needs, whether a residential parenting assessment unit for mother and baby is required. This would potentially be a matter for Court oversight and representation by legal teams. The appointment of a Guardian ad litem would also be considered by the Court in these circumstances.
Where necessary Tusla seeks to engage relevant services and professionals to provide appropriate supports for parents. Acute crises for parents that necessitate interventions by mental health or addiction services would be a matter for the HSE in close liaison with Tusla teams in respect of care arrangements of the children concerned.
Tusla is also tasked with providing family support services in accordance with Section 8 of the Child and Family Agency Act, 2013, which are provided directly and by commissioning family support services through its community and voluntary sector partners.
Family support services are focused on early intervention with the aim of promoting and protecting the health, well-being and rights of children, young people and their families. At the same time, particular attention is given to those who are vulnerable or at risk.
The number of family and community supports are wide and varied. Tusla is engaged in the following family and community supports:
- Family Resource Centres
- Family therapeutic services
- Prevention Partnership Family Support
- Parenting Information/ Parenting 24/7
- Child and Youth Participation
- Meitheal
- Psychological Services
- Early Years (pre-school)
- School Age Services
- Alternative Education and Registration Services
These services include those delivered directly by Tusla, including those provided under the Prevention, Partnership, and Family Support (PPFS) service, and those which are funded or co-funded by Tusla. Tusla also directly supports family support services through structures such as Family Resource Centres (FRCs) and the Area Based Childhood Programme.
Tusla has also established Child and Family Support Networks (CFSNs), which are collaborative networks of community, voluntary and statutory providers. CFSNs seek to improve access to support services for children and their families. Each network consists of services that play a role in the lives of children and families in that area. Local CFSNs co-ordinators can be contacted to provide further details on the services available in a local area.
459. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of domestic flights for work purposes taken by him, Ministers of State in his Department and Department staff for each of the years 2019 to 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form. [47908/22]
View answerThere were no domestic flights taken by the DCEDIY Minister, Minister of State or any official during the period from 2019 to date.
460. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to the delays in payments to persons hosting Ukrainian refugees (details supplied). [47936/22]
View answerSince the outbreak of the war in Ukraine on 24 February, and the invoking of the temporary protection Directive by the European Union shortly afterwards, my Department has worked intensively as part of the cross-governmental response to the Ukraine crisis.
The operational challenges brought about by responding to the conflict are significant. Our country has never experienced an influx of displaced persons like the one that we have seen over the past months.
My Department’s role is focused on the immediate, short-term accommodation needs of those who have fled here. To date, more than 50,000 people have arrived in Ireland and in excess of 39,000 of those have been referred to this Department seeking accommodation from the State.
Overseeing provision of accommodation on this scale during this timeframe for all those who require it remains immensely challenging. Due to the urgent need to source accommodation, a broad range of accommodation types have been contracted.
The priority is to place people fleeing the conflict in safe and secure accommodation.
The Government is committed to delivering a humanitarian response to welcome people seeking protection in Ireland as part of the European Union's overall response. The scale of response to this crisis has been unprecedented and Irish people have displayed an incredible level of generosity in their support and pledges of accommodation.
My Departmental officials are working to clear a backlog of payments which has affected a number of providers of accommodation to Ukrainian Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection in recent weeks. This has arisen due to the extraordinary volume of contractors (over 500) currently working with the Department to provide accommodation to meet the ever-increasing demand. My officials have advised me that this backlog has been substantially shortened. I have instructed that outstanding queries, including the one highlighted by the Deputy, be dealt with as swiftly as possible.
I trust this information is of assistance.
461. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to take further action to provide those who were subjected to differential treatment in childcare institutions with effective remedies, further to a statement issued by United Nations special rapporteurs (details supplied) expressing concern that children of African and Irish descent were subjected to differential treatment because of their race, colour and or descent, leading to further violations of their human rights, in particular to provide redress for the harms caused due to racial discrimination and systemic racism to which children of African and Irish descent were subjected through the mother and baby institutions payment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47943/22]
View answer476. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the actions that his Department is taking to give effect to the United Nations human rights experts calls for redress for systemic racism and racial discrimination in childcare institutions (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48330/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 461 and 476 together.
The Government takes its responsibility to investigate and address historic wrongs and allegations of human rights abuses very seriously. Since 1999, Ireland has undertaken investigations into allegations of abuse in several institutional settings. These investigations have sought to establish the facts relating to the operation of the institutions, as well as the manner in which those who were resident in them were treated.
In establishing the independent statutory Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes in February 2015, the then Government sought to ensure an independent and thorough investigation of what happened to vulnerable women and children in these institutions during the period 1922 to 1998. Notably, the Commission was specifically tasked with investigating concerns related to systematic discrimination within these institutions.
Following publication of the Final Report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes, An Taoiseach offered a formal apology on behalf of the Government, the State and its citizens to all those who spent time in these institutions. In this apology, An Taoiseach acknowledged the failings of the State, over many decades, to protect vulnerable citizens, and to uphold their fundamental rights. The State apology recognised the “additional impact which a lack of knowledge and understanding had on the treatment and outcomes of mothers and children with different racial and cultural heritage, those who faced mental health challenges, or those with physical and intellectual disabilities”.
It was further acknowledged that “such discriminatory attitudes exacerbated the shame and stigma felt by some of our most vulnerable citizens, especially where opportunities for non-institutional placement of children were restricted by an unjust belief that they were unsuitable for placement with families”.
This State apology marked a starting point for further measures designed to address the needs and concerns of survivors and their families.
I am acutely aware that there is no financial payment which could make up for the immense pain and suffering endured by so many of our citizens whose lives have been affected by these issues.
The Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme is just one aspect of the overall redress package of supports and measures set out in the Government’s Action Plan for Survivors and Former Residents of Mother and Baby and County Homes Institutions which seeks to provide an inclusive and enduring response to the priority needs of all survivors.
The proposed structure of the Scheme, with increasing financial payments depending on length of stay, recognises that higher payments should be made to those who were subjected to institutional conditions for a prolonged period.
This allows for a simple and non-adversarial application process, in which applicants will not have to prove abuse and the State can shoulder much of the administrative burden.
My Department and other state authorities are working to ensure survivors see tangible results as early as possible.
462. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the new National Strategy for Women and Girls for 2022 to 2025 will be published. [47944/22]
View answerSignificant advances have been made in recent years to address inequality in Irish society, with the Government’s commitment to fostering a diverse, inclusive and equal society re-affirmed through the Programme for Government commitments to achieve social solidarity, equality of opportunity and economic equity for all.
My Department leads on cross-government policy to promote gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls, and the National Strategy for Women and Girls 2017-2021 has provided us with a whole-of-Government framework through which women’s empowerment continues to be advanced.
Some recent achievements in gender equality in my Department include:
- The enactment of the Gender Pay Gap Information Act 2021 which requires employers with over 250 employees to report on their gender pay gap. Reporting is beginning this year.
- Significant advances have been made in the provision of family leaves, including the extension of Parent’s Leave and Benefit to seven weeks for each parent and extending the entitlement to Adoptive Leave to fathers through the Family Leaves and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2021.
- I will also shortly introduce to the Houses of the Oireachtas the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill to transpose the remaining aspects of the EU Work Life Balance Directive including the right of workers to Carers' Leave of five working days per year, and providing workers who are parents of children up to 12 years old, and carers under the Directive, with a right to request flexible working arrangements. The Bill will also extend the current entitlement to breastfeeding breaks from six months to two years.
- Provisions for the introduction of Domestic Violence Leave to enable persons experiencing domestic violence to have time off work, including to attend court to secure orders against the person perpetrating such violence are been developed and will be introduced as part of the Bill at Committee Stage.
- Other ongoing work includes the establishment of an Interdepartmental Network in 2021, co-chaired by my Department and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, to implement gender and equality budgeting. The group will facilitate the embedding of the Equality Budgeting Initiative across all Government departments, and guide its continued progress.
The Programme for Government “Our Shared Future” includes a commitment that the Government will develop and implement a new National Strategy for Women and Girls.
I will work with stakeholders to examine what has been achieved over the term of the strategy and consider how we can develop a new strategy which is even more robust and effective.
In this regard, my Department has commissioned a study to evaluate the processes for implementation of three equality strategies, which includes the National Strategy for Women and Girls as well as the Migrant Integration Strategy and the National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy. The study is expected to be published in early 2023, with work to build the new Strategies taking place thereafter.
463. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide the study commissioned by his Department to evaluate the processes for implementation of three equality strategies, which includes the National Strategy for Women and Girls and the Migrant Integration Strategy and the National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy. [47945/22]
View answerThe Programme for Government includes specific commitments that the Government will develop and implement a new National Strategy for Women and Girls, and a new Migrant Integration Strategy, in addition to reviewing the National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy and ensuring that the successor strategy has a stronger outcomes focused approach.
I will work with stakeholders to examine what has been achieved over the term of these strategies and consider how we can develop new strategies which even more robust and effective.
In this regard, my Department has commissioned a study to evaluate the processes for implementation of three equality strategies, which includes the National Strategy for Women and Girls as well as the Migrant Integration Strategy and the National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy. The study is expected to be published in early 2023, with work to build the new Strategies taking place thereafter. I will make this study available once it has been completed.
464. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the progress that he has made in his discussions with the Catholic Church and the Church of Ireland regarding contributing towards the mother and baby home redress scheme. [47947/22]
View answerThe Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth is involved in a process of engagement with all the Religious Congregations and Church Leaders with a view to discussing with them how they might contribute to the Payment Scheme. This engagement is ongoing.
While the negotiations are ongoing they are being treated as confidential. Accordingly, it would not be appropriate to say anything further on the matter at this time. A full report on the outcome of discussions will be provided to Government when the process is concluded. It is hoped to conclude this process of engagement in the shortest possible timeframe but it is expected that it may take a number more months.
465. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48007/22]
View answer
Question No. 202 answered with Question No. 201.
466. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when funding will be made available to a childcare service (details supplied); and if this funding will be backdated to when the service initially received this recommendation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48010/22]
View answerApplications for AIM Level 7 supports are submitted to Pobal through the Early Years Hive online platform.
Where an application is complete and eligible, it will be referred to the Better Start Early Years Specialist Service who may visit the service provider and child, or conduct a Service Observation Review (SOR) to identify whether AIM Level 7 support is critical to the child’s meaningful participation in the ECCE programme in that pre-school service.
A Better Start Early Years Specialist will then make a written, evidence informed recommendation, which is sent to an Appraisal Officer in Pobal for review. It is on this basis that a decision will be made.
Whilst we can to speak to particulars of this case, any such appraisal is processed as efficiently as possible after the observation has occurred to determine need.
AIM level 7 funding is awarded to ensure a child’s meaningful participation in AIM. As such, funding can only be given where the room assistant is employed and in place to support the child’s participation. As per the AIM Rules 2022/2023, backdating of Level 7 payments is not permitted.
467. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the consideration that was given to the Vienna Protocols in the drafting of the procedures for the examination of sites of potential mass graves in State-run or funded institutions. [48081/22]
View answer468. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on the concerns of the many victims and survivors regarding the methodology of the appointment of the director, the advisory board and the establishment of the correct expertise concerning the forthcoming examination of the Tuam site under the Institutional Burials Act 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48082/22]
View answer469. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will publish, once available, the criteria for the post of director concerning the forthcoming examination of the Tuam site under the Institutional Burials Act 2022, along with any candidates' information also supplied to prospective applicants to demonstrate the experience that is required, particularly at an international level, along with the requirements or definitions of that role as created by him. [48083/22]
View answer470. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on supporting the principle that validation through co-design and decision-making by an extended advisory board and or the wider consultation is necessary to establish a broad victim, survivor and public confidence in the processes defined by the Institutional Burials Act 2022 and its methodologies. [48084/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 467 to 470, inclusive, together.
The Institutional Burials Act 2022, which I commenced in July 2022, provides the underlying legislative basis for an intervention, whereby the remains of those who died in residential institutions in respect of which a public body has or had a relevant role, and who were buried in a manifestly inappropriate manner, may be recovered and re-interred in a respectful and appropriate way. It also provides for the identification of remains and their return to family members, where possible.
The legislation was developed in response to the abhorrent situation at the site of the former Mother and Baby institution in Tuam, Co. Galway, where it was confirmed that children’s remains had been discovered that were interred in a manifestly inappropriate manner and the Government was advised that a full forensic-standard excavation, recovery and identification of those remains could not take place under current legislation. To avoid delays in responding to any similar situations that may arise in the future, the Act is not site specific and also allows for excavations and identification programmes at other institutional sites should manifestly inappropriate burials be discovered.
I am satisfied that the Act provides for significant consultation in relation to an intervention. Most notably, the Act requires the appointment of an Advisory Board to guide and support the Director of an intervention in his or her role. The Board, which is to be chaired by a former coroner or someone with coronial expertise, will have members with a range of expertise and backgrounds, including scientific experts, former residents and/or family members of the deceased. A Director is required to consult with the Board at regular intervals, including at key decisions points in an intervention. Other consultation and engagement mechanisms include a requirement that a Director make final arrangements for recovered remains in line with the wishes of family members as well as a requirement that a Director provide regular updates on an intervention to family members, stakeholders and the public.
The Act provides that, following the establishment of an Office of Director, a relevant Minister appoint a Director to manage and oversee an intervention. My officials are currently liaising with the Public Appointments Service in relation to the recruitment process for a Director of Authorised Intervention, Tuam. The criteria and other relevant material relating to the recruitment and appointment of the Director will be published as part of the recruitment process. Preparations are also underway in my Department for the appointment of an Advisory Board and the details of the appointment process will be available in due course.
Tendering for the specific expertise required to undertake an intervention is a matter for a Director appointed to manage and oversee the process. In this regard the Act requires that a Director ensures that excavation, recovery and post-recovery analysis of remains is undertaken by appropriately qualified persons at a forensic standard and in accordance with international best practice and professional rules and guidelines.
I understand that the Vienna Protocol was prepared to provide guidance in relation to the treatment of remains of people of Jewish origin. The Institutional Burials Act was not designed to contain specific provisions regarding different religious or ethnic groups. However, it does provide for a Director to have regard to any known religious practices of the deceased when making final arrangements for remains where there are no family members or stated wishes.
471. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 412 of 20 September 2022, if he will examine the information (details supplied) and reconsider the request for those workers in Section 56 agencies who have not had their pay restored, to receive a pay increase in line with inflation and the cost-of-living; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48118/22]
View answerSection 56(14) of the Child and Family Agency Act 2013 stipulates that 'an arrangement under this section shall not give rise to an employment relationship between a service provider, its employees or agents on the one hand and the Agency on the other'. Rather, the agencies who are party to this section are responsible for the recruitment and remuneration of their own employees and the terms and conditions of their employment.
I understand an exception to the above is the matter of a limited number of Section 56 agencies who were previously Section 38 agencies and who employ a number of staff members with an entitlement to public sector pensions. I understand Tusla is aware of the issue and is carrying out a comprehensive assessment of the case for the small cohort of employees involved, and Tusla is discussion with the organisations concerned.
472. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children that Tusla accommodated in private residential care in each of the years 2015 to 2021 and to date in 2022. [48153/22]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, the question has been forwarded to Tusla for direct reply to the Deputy.
