Thomas Gould
Question:180. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in Cork city in receipt of child benefit to date in 2022. [62671/22]
View answerDepartmental Data
Questions (180)
Written answers
Child Benefit is a monthly payment to the parents or guardians of children under 16 years of age. Child Benefit can also be claimed for children aged 16 and 17 if they are in full-time education or full-time training or have a disability and cannot support themselves.
A breakdown of Child Benefit recipients by town or city is not available. County level statistics are kept and the latest figures for County Cork show there are 71,655 people in receipt of Child Benefit, in respect of 136,014 children.
I trust that this helps answer your query.
Social Welfare Benefits
Questions (181)
Brendan Griffin
Question:181. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on an application for fuel allowance by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62716/22]
View answerWritten answers
There is no record of an application for Fuel Allowance from the person concerned, either in paper format or via the new online application facility.
An application form will be sent by post to the person concerned, which they can complete and return by post. Alternatively, they can apply online at www.mywelfare.ie.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Benefits
Questions (182)
Willie O'Dea
Question:182. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on an application on behalf of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62774/22]
View answerWritten answers
The person concerned is currently in receipt of Disability Allowance (DA) payable at the maximum personal rate and receives a half rate allowance increase for two qualified children.
Invalidity pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions.
The department received a claim for IP for the person concerned on 23 November 2022. The person concerned has been awarded IP from 24 November 2022 and first payment will issue on 22 December 2022 by their chosen payment method. Arrears of payment due will issue as soon as possible once any necessary adjustment is calculated and applied in respect of any overlapping payments.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
Social Media
Questions (183)
Seán Sherlock
Question:183. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount spent on social media advertising in 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; and the amount spent per platform. [62812/22]
View answerWritten answers
My Department is committed to ensuring that members of the public are fully aware of the welfare supports, entitlements and services that are available to them. Public information campaigns, including advertising on social media platforms, are an important part of this work.
For the purpose of this response, we have interpreted ‘amount spent on social media’ as media buying costs incurred from public information campaigns, announcements and recruitment notices on social media channels.
Advertising on social media in 2021
Details of the 2021 total spend (ex VAT, ASAI and agency fees) on social media, as well as the spend on each social media platform are outlined below:
|
Meta (Facebook/Instagram) |
€108,305.61 |
|
|
€29,242.31 |
|
|
€3,093.98 |
|
Total Social Media Ad Spend 2021 |
€140,641.90 |
Advertising on social media in 2022
Details of the 2022 total spend (ex VAT, ASAI and agency fees) on social media, as well as the spend on each social media platform are outlined below:
|
Meta (Facebook/Instagram) |
€21,409.87 |
|
|
€14,722.13 |
|
|
€0.00 |
|
Total Social Media Ad Spend 2022* |
€36,132.00 |
* Amounts are those which have been invoiced and paid to date in 2022
Departmental Bodies
Questions (184)
Pauline Tully
Question:184. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will report on the meetings of the transport working group that have taken place in relation to transport and mobility schemes of relevance to persons with disabilities since January 2022 to date; the date that each meeting of this group took place; if a new transport and mobility scheme is being considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62483/22]
View answerWritten answers
The issue of mobility supports for people with disabilities is a key priority for me as Minister of State with responsibility for disability. Important cross-Government action to review and consider proposals for the enhancement of transport and mobility supports has been advanced through the framework of the National Disability Inclusion Strategy (NDIS), and in particular in the context of Action 104 of the NDIS. The Action 104 Transport Working Group was established in 2020 to make progress in this regard.
The first meeting of the Transport Working Group took place on 4 March 2020 and in it the aims and scope of the Transport Working Group were discussed. The work of the group was paused for a time as a result of the exigencies demanded by all Departments in responding to the Covid-19 pandemic. From January 2022 onwards, in resuming its work, I have chaired the Transport Working Group. At the Transport Working Group’s second meeting on 26 January 2022, the Group discussed several key mobility and transport schemes. The main output of the meeting was an agreement to undertake a stocktaking exercise of State-funded mobility and transport schemes to fulfil the ‘review’ element of Action 104. The third meeting of the Transport Working Group took place on 6 September 2022. At this meeting, presentations on relevant transport and mobility schemes included in the Stocktaking Report were made by relevant departments and agencies on the Working Group. It was agreed at this meeting that the final output of the Transport Working Group to complete Action 104 would be a report containing proposals from members of the Group for the enhancement of transport and mobility supports for people with disabilities going forward. This report was discussed at the Working Group's fourth and final meeting on 8 December 2022.
The discussions at the Transport Working Group have been particularly enriched by the contributions of Disability Stakeholder Group representatives, and other disability organisations, who have ensured that the lived experience of people with disabilities remains at the centre of considerations.
The Group's work is now completed, and the final report of the Transport Working Group will be finalised and published in Q1 2023. It will be incumbent on colleagues across Government with responsibility for transport and mobility supports to carefully consider how the recommendations of the Transport Working Group ought to be advanced following the completion of Action 104 and the conclusion of the NDIS in 2022.
Departmental Bodies
Questions (185)
Mark Ward
Question:185. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will review applications regarding the panel established to the Autism Innovation Strategy Oversight and Advisory Group; the persons or bodies that were members of the panel established by his Department; the terms of reference for deciding the person or body chosen for the panel; if this process is complete; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62402/22]
View answerWritten answers
As part of Autism Awareness Month, in April 2021, I announced the Government’s intention to develop an Autism Innovation Strategy.
The aim of the Autism Innovation Strategy is to identify bespoke challenges and barriers faced by Autistic and Neurodivergent people across Ireland and to deliver tangible solutions to address those challenges. The strategy will focus on specific areas that may not be addressed by other national strategies, such as the National Disability Inclusion Strategy or the Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities.
I want Autistic people, their families and supporters to be at the centre of the development process for the Autism Innovation Strategy and of monitoring implementation of the strategy once adopted.
For this reason, I launched an appointment process for the Autism Innovation Strategy Oversight and Advisory Group in June 2022. This group will play a key role in monitoring implementation of the strategy and providing oversight and critical, constructive analysis based on the lived experience and expertise of group members. This appointment process followed an initial public consultation to begin the development of the Autism Innovation Strategy in April-May 2022.
My Department received a high volume of applications and the standard was extremely high. All applications for membership of the Oversight and Advisory Group have now been reviewed and successful applicants have been notified. Members were selected through a combination of appointments from the result of a short-listing process and a smaller number of direct appointments by me as Minister, based on the desirable balance and skillset of the Group.
Shortlisted applications were assessed on the basis of award criteria that were published as part of the guidance documentation for the application process. This guidance material was also published in easy-to-read format.
During the selection process, careful attention was paid to ensuring that the group is majority Neurodiverse, and that the group is balanced and representative in terms of the different perspectives and experiences of group members. Members of the group include Autistic people, parents of Autistic children, professionals working in relevant fields and representatives of organisations with a focus on Autism.
An introductory meeting of the group took place on 14th December 2022. It is equally intended that a further public consultation process will take place in 2023 prior to the adoption of the Autism Innovation Strategy. This will give all interested stakeholders a further opportunity to have their say on the strategy prior to its adoption.
Departmental Schemes
Questions (186)
Pauline Tully
Question:186. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 170 of 24 November 2022, if he will provide this Deputy with copies of the five papers and technical annex submitted to his Department in July 2022 by the criteria sub-group in the Department of Finance in relation to the disabled drivers and disabled passengers scheme; if he agrees with the criteria sub-group that the disabled drivers and disabled passengers scheme needs to be replaced with a fit for purpose, needs-based vehicular adaptation scheme; if a new scheme has been developed; the timeframe for the new scheme to be operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62406/22]
View answerWritten answers
The issue of mobility supports for people with disabilities is a key priority for me as Minister of State with responsibility for disability. Important cross-Government action to review and consider proposals for the enhancement of transport and mobility supports has been advanced through the framework of the National Disability Inclusion Strategy (NDIS), and in particular in the context of Action 104 of the NDIS. The Action 104 Transport Working Group was established in 2020 to make progress in this regard.
I have chaired meetings of the Transport Working Group since January 2022, from which point the participation of the Department of Finance in the work of the Group was facilitated for the purposes of including the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers Scheme in the Group's holistic considerations. This was arranged following correspondence between Minister O'Gorman and Minister Donohoe on the matter.
As part of its work in 2022, the Transport Working Group has engaged in discussions on the adequacy of Government-funded transport and mobility supports with a view towards developing proposals for the enhancement of these supports going forward. The Department of Finance helpfully provided a number of inputs to the Group, based on the work of a Criteria Sub-Group which it convened for this purpose, specifically in relation to the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers Scheme. The membership of the Criteria Sub-Group comprised of former members of the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal and Principal Medical Officers in the HSE. Its purpose was to capture their experiences, expertise and perspectives in relation to the practical operational and administrative challenges of the Scheme, as well as to explore what alternative vehicular arrangements were available for those with mobility issues based on international experience. The main conclusion of the Criteria Sub-Group is that the Scheme needs to be replaced with a fit for purpose, needs-based vehicular adaptation scheme in line with best international practice. The materials provided to the Transport Working Group by the Department of Finance in this regard include an evaluation of the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers Scheme which concludes that it is no longer fit for purpose; a proposal for a new vehicular adaptation scheme; and international evidence in support of its proposal. I can certainly provide the Deputy with copies of the relevant materials, as, I am sure, would my colleague the Minister for Finance.
The discussions at the Transport Working Group have been particularly enriched by the contributions of Disability Stakeholder Group representatives, and other disability organisations, who have ensured that the lived experience of people with disabilities remains at the centre of considerations.
The Group's work is now completed, and the final report - which synthesises submissions made by members of the Transport Working Group for this purpose - will be finalised and published in Q1 2023. As Chair of the Working Group, I do not propose to comment on any specific scheme in advance of the Group finalising its own position.
It will be incumbent on colleagues across Government with responsibility for transport and mobility supports to carefully consider how the recommendations of the Transport Working Group ought to be advanced following the completion of Action 104 and the conclusion of the NDIS in 2022.
In that regard, I would note that the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has a policy coordination role in relation to disability matters but does not hold responsibility for the specific parameters or administration of any transport or mobility supports for people with disabilities.
EU Data
Questions (187)
Thomas Pringle
Question:187. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide details of all fines, including the amounts, that his Department or agencies under the remit of his Department, have paid since the start of the 33rd Dáil term to the European Commission relating to cases for infringements of European Union law or failure to transpose EU law in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62415/22]
View answerWritten answers
I would like to confirm that no fines have been charged to my Department, or agencies under the remit of my Department, since the start of the 33rd Dáil by the European Commission relating to cases for infringements of European Union law or failure to transpose EU law.
Childcare Services
Questions (188)
Jackie Cahill
Question:188. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department’s attention has been drawn to the additional funding that can be made available to parents of children with additional needs under the national childcare scheme to cover the additional costs of care for children with additional needs, whereby the child’s healthcare nurse can fill out a sponsored referral form to the NCS for additional funding by the HSE for childcare hours; the work that is being done by his Department to draw the attention of parents of eligible children to this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62458/22]
View answerWritten answers
The Sponsorship arrangement available under the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) makes special provision for vulnerable children. The NCS Sponsorship arrangement allows designated bodies to refer children to the Scheme where childcare is needed on child welfare, protection, family support or other specified grounds.
Where a referral is made by a Sponsor body, the family will automatically qualify for a subsidy without having to satisfy the Scheme’s eligibility, income or enhanced hours requirements. The Scheme will pay the full weekly cost of childcare for families referred to the Scheme by a Sponsor Body up to the maximum of €264.15 depending on the age of the child and the hours required.
The need for a sponsored referral is a determination for the relevant Sponsor Body and one that they make based on the particular needs of the child in line with their defined criteria as set out in the Childcare Support Act 2018, and further defined by the agreement the Sponsor Body has with the DCEDIY.
The HSE is one of five Sponsor Bodies that has a signed agreement in place with my Department. The HSE may refer children:
1. who are aged under 4 years of age, who are not enrolled in a pre-school programme funded by the Minister or the Minister for Education and who would otherwise not attend a childcare service, and
2. who are deemed to be in need of early intervention and require additional supports under the domains of child developmental needs, parental capacity and environmental factors following completion of a Child and Family Health Needs Assessment by a Public Health Nurse, and
3. where there is an identified need for childcare as an additional support to the home environment to meet child developmental needs.
My Department has undertaken a series of measures to raise awareness of the Sponsorship arrangements for the NCS, including introducing a dedicated phone line and email address for sponsor contacts. Pobal has also provided training sessions to service providers on sponsorship arrangements. We will continue to raise awareness about the Sponsor Programme on the NCS, which has sponsored over 5,595 children since the Scheme launched in 2019.
For details on the Sponsor process, I would encourage contacting the NCS Sponsors Team on 01 906 8535 from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday or by email at sponsors@ncs.gov.ie.
Childcare Services
Questions (189)
Neale Richmond
Question:189. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the level of core funding provided to childcare providers in each county in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62500/22]
View answerWritten answers
On 15th September, I launched Together for Better, the new funding model for early learning and childcare. This new funding model supports the delivery of early learning and childcare for the public good, for quality and affordability for children, parents and families as well as stability and sustainability for providers. Together for Better brings together three major programmes, the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme, including the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM), the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) and the new Core Funding scheme, with a fourth programme - Tackling Disadvantage - under development.
I am delighted that, to date, over 4,100 providers, 94% of services, have signed up to Core Funding and agreed to deliver their services accepting the new public management requirements of this scheme.
Interim Funding was in place to bridge the gap between the end of the Transition Fund (August 31) and the introduction of Core Funding (September 15). This enabled a smooth transition from one scheme to the other once the Employment Regulation Orders EROs) were in effect.
Core Funding has a budget of €259 million in full year costs for year 1 of the programme (September 2022-August 2023) to start the partnership for the public good between the State and providers.
The significant allocation on offer through Core Funding in year 1 is conditional on a fee freeze, support for new wage rates through the EROs and financial and operational transparency. These are central objectives of Core Funding - ensuring the substantial additional investment in the sector delivers for parents and for workers and allows the State to be assured that its funding is being spent appropriately.
The combined value of Core Funding, including Interim Funding, payments that have been made as of 12th December and payments that will issue by the end of 2022 by county are listed below in tabular format.
|
County |
Payments in 2022 |
|
Carlow |
€983,895.48 |
|
Cavan |
€1,514,032.14 |
|
Clare |
€1,811,960.93 |
|
Cork |
€7,771,712.71 |
|
Donegal |
€2,867,422.15 |
|
Dublin |
€23,880,623.83 |
|
Galway |
€5,306,120.55 |
|
Kerry |
€2,439,886.42 |
|
Kildare |
€4,250,254.69 |
|
Kilkenny |
€1,623,219.57 |
|
Laois |
€1,652,590.69 |
|
Leitrim |
€524,854.14 |
|
Limerick |
€3,560,916.38 |
|
Longford |
€688,393.30 |
|
Louth |
€1,837,803.98 |
|
Mayo |
€1,569,888.72 |
|
Meath |
€3,323,372.51 |
|
Monaghan |
€1,762,148.79 |
|
Offaly |
€905,200.82 |
|
Roscommon |
€1,008,678.79 |
|
Sligo |
€1,360,913.39 |
|
Tipperary |
€3,066,821.52 |
|
Waterford |
€1,855,222.38 |
|
Westmeath |
€1,427,871.59 |
|
Wexford |
€2,291,871.18 |
|
Wicklow |
€2,448,482.70 |
|
Grand Total |
€81,734,159.35 |
A full list of participating Partner Services by county can be found at first5fundingmodel.gov.ie/together-for-better/.
Core Funding is a very significant new injection of funding into the sector and I have secured an increase of €28 million in the Core Funding envelope for year two of operation (September 2023-August 2024). Approximately, €4 million of the additional funding for Year 2 will achieve the removal of the 3-year experience rule for graduate premiums, with an additional €24 million earmarked for other developments to the Scheme, informed by the emerging data from Year 1 of operation. Further interrogation of the new Core Funding application data is required in order to most effectively design developments in Year 2 of the scheme. Developments may focus on promoting further capacity expansion, investing more in the base rate or to taking more targeted initiatives to invest in specific parts of the sector.
Budget 2023 allocates €1.025 billion to early learning and childcare – a clear demonstration from Government of the value of the sector. Together for Better aims to transform the sector and I am committed to working with Partner Services delivering early learning and childcare for the public good.
Childcare Services
Questions (190)
Neale Richmond
Question:190. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the level of funding provided to childcare providers under the ECCE scheme from 2015-2022 broken down per county; the number of childcare providers that received funding per year per county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62501/22]
View answerWritten answers
The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme is a universal two-year pre-school programme available to all children within the eligible age range. The programme runs from September to June each year and is aligned with the primary school calendar. There are currently in excess of 106,000 children enrolled on the ECCE programme
The accompanying spreadsheet shows ECCE funding, by county, from 2017 to date. Prior to September 2016 ECCE funding was not recorded by county.
In 2015, €168,529,525 was paid in ECCE funding increasing to €207,508,000 in 2016.
It is important to note that as ECCE runs from September to June, funding for the programme overlaps two financial years, which is reflected in the accompanying spreadsheet.
International Protection
Questions (191)
Catherine Connolly
Question:191. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of international protection applicants currently accommodated in Citywest convention centre; of this number, the number of children under the age of eighteen years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62527/22]
View answerWritten answers
Deputy, as of 12 December 2022, there are 764 International Protection applicants currently accommodated in the Citywest Convention Centre. Of that number, 68 are under 18 years of age.
As of today, there are almost 18,000 people accommodated in the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) accommodation system as a whole. At this point in 2021, there were approximately 7,250 persons in IPAS accommodation.
These figures are in addition to the arrival of over 61,600 Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection in the last 10 months, as a result of the war in Ukraine.
To date, almost 50,000 BOTPs have sought and received accommodation assistance from the State.
The pressure on this Department to accommodate over 67,000 people currently has led to significant shortages, particularly for people seeking international protection.
All of the limited accommodation capacity within the IPAS system is currently being used. Given the significantly increased numbers of arrivals in the context of accommodation shortages, the Department has no option but to consider all offers of accommodation.
My Department is availing of all offers of accommodation made to it, including the use of office buildings and sports facilities, to address the accommodation shortfall. These options are necessary in order to provide shelter to international protection arrivals, to meet basic needs and to prevent homelessness.
Emergency centres have been opened in all parts of the country. There have been circa 40 accommodation locations utilised since January across 13 counties.
My officials continue to seek to acquire further accommodation to increase IPAS capacity and, on 18 January 2022, published a request for tender (RFT) to procure additional accommodation for singles, couples and families seeking international protection. The RFT was re-published in October and closed on 8 November.
Early Childhood Care and Education
Questions (192, 193)
Seán Sherlock
Question:192. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of new early years places funded through his Department's annual capital programme by year and by location in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62618/22]
View answerSeán Sherlock
Question:193. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the allocation to date of the €70m building blocks capital programme per county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62619/22]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 192 and 193 together.
My department has secured funding under the revised National Development Plan for the Building Blocks Capital Programme, which is being designed to meet current and long-term Early Learning and Childcare infrastructure needs. This Programme includes three Pillars:
1. A €9 million Improvement Grant to improve energy efficiency standards, while also supporting the continuous improvement of the physical environment of services.
2. A €45 million Capacity Grant to address capacity gaps, to fund an expansion in existing services and investing in the development of new services where most needed.
3. A €15 million Innovation Grant to pilot a range of innovative initiatives such as outdoor early learning and childcare services.
In September, I was pleased to announce the €9m Building Blocks - Improvement Grant for the Early Learning and Childcare Sector.
Grants will range from €35,000 to €75,000 across two separate strands: Green Energy and Retrofit. The Green Energy Strand will support the Climate Action Agenda and the Programme for Government, which aim to transition to a carbon neutral economy by the end of 2050 and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 51% by 2030.
Services that sign up for the Core Funding Scheme are eligible for funding under for the Building Blocks - Capital Programme. The capital grant scheme opened to applications on Friday 28th October 2022 and the closing date is Friday 16th December 2022. Successful applicants will be notified in early 2023.
I will be announcing details of the Building Blocks - Capacity Grant in the coming months. This grant scheme will address the capacity gap and will provide an investment of up to €45m in the expansion of existing facilities. Funding is expected to flow in 2024.
As the Building Blocks schemes have just been announced, no new early years places have been provided to date. My Department is prioritising the delivery of the Building Blocks - Capacity Grant.
Question No. 193 answered with Question No. 192.
Departmental Programmes
Questions (194)
Seán Sherlock
Question:194. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the hot meals pilot in ELC commenced; the number of services that are currently benefitting from the pilot; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62620/22]
View answerWritten answers
Following my announcement of the hot meals pilot scheme on the 22nd of November, my Department are collaborating with Pobal to recruit nine services as pilot sites. Given that a large number of settings already provide this service, the aim of this pilot is to provide an in-depth, qualitative test of the logistics and impact of hot meal provision across other types of setting.
Additionally, this pilot will be testing the delivery of different meal options. These include:
- A breakfast or snack
- A breakfast or snack, plus a packed lunch to take home
- A hot meal or snack
The provision of healthy food in Early Years settings will have a positive impact on children’s health, well-being and development, as well as their social participation.
The roll-out will commence in Q1 of 2022, and results of the pilot scheme will inform decisions regarding a wider roll out. Additionally, the pilot will inform my Department’s ongoing work to develop a DEIS-type model for early learning and childcare, which aims to provide services with a proportionate mix of universal and targeted supports to support children and families accessing their services who are experiencing disadvantage.
Early Childhood Care and Education
Questions (195)
Duncan Smith
Question:195. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps that he is taking in ensuring that funding for sessional childcare facilities and those wholly reliant on ECCE fees will be restructured to provide for the continued viability of these services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62627/22]
View answerWritten answers
The Government is investing significantly in the early learning and childcare sector and there is an ambitious new funding model being introduced to improve stability and sustainability for providers. There are supports, financial and otherwise, available to services who need them.
On 15th September, I launched Together for Better, the new funding model for early learning and childcare. This new funding model supports the delivery of early learning and childcare for the public good, for quality and affordability for children, parents and families as well as stability and sustainability for providers.
Together for Better, the new funding model comprised of the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme, including the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM), the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) and the new Core Funding scheme, is about getting the most out of the three early learning and childcare programmes, for children, parents, providers, the workforce, and society overall, and ensuring stability and sustainability in the sector.
Core Funding has a budget of €259 million in full year costs for year 1 of the programme (September 2022-August 2023). Core Funding is designed specifically as a supply-side funding stream, paid directly to providers, related to the costs of delivery. Core Funding is based on operating hours, number of places offered by services, and the age group of children for whom the places are offered, given the staffing requirements determined by the regulatory ratios for different care categories, as well as allocations for graduate leaders in services. Structuring Core Funding primarily based on capacity means that Partner Services have an allocation each year that does not fluctuate in line with children’s attendance. Core Funding allows for substantial increases in the total cost base for the sector, related both to pay and non-pay costs, without additional costs being passed on to parents.
Core Funding contributes to services’ sustainability and significantly increases income for the overwhelming majority of services and provides greater funding stability. Already 94% of services have signed up to Core Funding and the scheme remains open for applications.
ECCE-only services across the country form an integral part of the early learning and childcare system. Their exact operations can vary but typically, they open to children for 15 hours per week, 38 weeks per year. The funding model for sessional services is now primarily a combination of the ECCE capitation they receive per child registered with them, (potentially including a top up AIM capitation if there is a staff member with the necessary qualification undertaking an inclusion role, plus additional AIM funding to employ additional staff or reduce adult child ratios if required to support the inclusion of all children), and the Core Funding grant services receive based on the capacity of their service and the qualifications levels of staff, as well as any optional extras they may charge parents.
Core Funding operates alongside ECCE and NCS and by contrast to the other funding streams, provides payment in respect of the number of child places rather than based on child registrations or attendance. This intentional and deliberate differentiation of approach in the new funding model means the Core Funding element of a service's income is a more stable income source that will not fluctuate year on year. This idea of funding capacity is a key new approach in Core Funding, which many providers advocated for through stakeholder consultation during the design of Core Funding. This mixture of supply-side and demand-led public funding provides a welcome balance to the funding model, and assists services who may be experiencing lower than anticipated child registrations for a number of reasons.
Under Core Funding, the overwhelming majority of services will see an increase in their funding, most will see very substantial increases, and no services will see a decrease in funding if their circumstances remain the same. ECCE services without a graduate lead educator will see capitation increase by at least 9.5% through Core Funding. ECCE services with a graduate lead educator will almost all see increases in income, although it may be smaller proportionally given the significant level of funding available under the old funding model. A very small number of services, approximately 60 of the 4,100 signed-up, will see no increase with their income matched to 2021/2022. For this small number of services who do not experience an increase, a Funding Guarantee applies. This tops-up Core Funding payments to match the difference in ECCE higher capitation and PSP from last year, provided they offer the same amount of graduate led provision as last year. These are larger ECCE-only services – with 20+ children in a session.
To date, the sector level data available to my Officials has not indicated widespread financial viability issues connected to these services. Likewise, my Officials have not seen other indications, such as increased closures or call on sustainability funding, to indicate financial viability issues for small, sessional services. However, I have been unequivocal that I do not want any services to be faced with financial sustainability issues and am fully committed to working with these services to support them in delivering early learning and childcare for the public good.
I have secured an increase in the Core Funding envelope for year two of operation (September 2023-August 2024) of €28 million (11% increase), the precise allocation of which will be determined by evidence and analysis emerging from year one of the operation of the scheme.
Given the concerns raised by some small, sessional services, and in order to provide additional timely and robust data in preparation for developments to Core Funding in year 2, I will be undertaking an independent financial review of small, sessional services.
The review will involve services volunteering to participate in the research project that aims to gather evidence on financial viability to underpin policy development and possible targeted measures through the new funding model.
Services that are experiencing difficulty and who would like support are encouraged to contact their City/County Childcare Committee (CCC) to access case management supports. Services can be assisted on an individual basis through this route and it also allows for trends and themes across the country to be identified that can inform a more systematic response if necessary.
CCCs are receiving very small numbers of services reporting cases of financial unsustainability. Just two services have applied for sustainability funding in 2022 and their difficulties pre-date Core Funding becoming available. Any provider who is experiencing challenges is encouraged to contact their CCC.
Budget 2023 allocates €1.025 billion to early learning and childcare – a clear demonstration from Government of the value of the sector. Together for Better aims to transform the sector and I am committed to working with Partner Services delivering early learning and childcare for the public good.
Disability Services
Questions (196)
Cormac Devlin
Question:196. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the measures and initiatives that he has taken to support disability rights and inclusion since 27 June 2020. [62772/22]
View answerWritten answers
As Minister of State with responsibility for Disability, I have been committed to advancing measures and initiatives to support disability rights and inclusion. Advancing disability rights, addressing the challenges and barriers faced by people with disabilities, and fostering inclusion and equality, is very important to me, as I know it is to my colleagues across Government.
Much of the progress that we have achieved since June 2020 has been advanced across Government through the National Disability Inclusion Strategy and through the Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities, both of which my Department coordinates. Under the auspices of these strategies, a huge range of actions have been committed to and progressed on issues at every level of government.
Also, the Programme for Government contains a number of cross-Government commitments to advance disability rights and inclusion across Ireland by continuously advancing our implementation of the UNCRPD, which the state ratified in 2018.
Since June 2020, we have established the Disability Participation and Consultation Network, to act as a standing consultation mechanism through which the voices of people with disabilities and their representative organisations can be included in the development of law and policy, as envisaged and required under the UNCRPD.
Significant advancements have also taken place in relation to the abolition of the outdated system of wardship in Ireland and the establishment of the Decision Support Service through the development of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill, which will be enacted and commenced in Q1 2023.
The Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill will also amend the Disability Act 2005 to double the statutory target for the employment of people with disabilities in the public service from 3% to 6%.
I am also pleased to have established the Disability Participation and Awareness Fund in 2021, which was and continues to be aimed at raising awareness and supporting people with disabilities to participate inclusively in their communities.
I am committed to continuing my support for disability rights and inclusion going forward as we develop, together with the input of people with disabilities and their representative organisations, the successor strategy to the National Disability Inclusion Strategy in 2023.
Social Media
Questions (197)
Seán Sherlock
Question:197. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the amount spent on social media advertising in 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; and the amount spent per platform. [62799/22]
View answerWritten answers
Social Media Advertising Spend for Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth 2021/2022
|
Year |
Platform |
Spend (€) |
|
2022 |
|
10,458 |
|
|
22,259 |
|
|
|
2,412 |
|
|
Total |
35,129 |
|
|
2021 |
|
62,828 |
|
|
18,114 |
|
|
Snapchat |
3,607 |
|
|
Total |
84,549 |
EU Data
Questions (198)
Thomas Pringle
Question:198. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide details of all fines, including the amounts, that his Department or agencies under the remit of his Department, have paid since the start of the 33rd Dáil term to the European Commission relating to cases for infringements of European Union law or failure to transpose EU law in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62422/22]
View answerWritten answers
The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science was established in 2020 and since that date no fines have been issued by the EU on the Department for failing to transpose EU Directives.
Research and Development
Questions (199)
James Lawless
Question:199. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the progress made in the research and innovation sectors since 27 June 2020; the new initiatives undertaken; and the additional funding provided for them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62479/22]
View answerWritten answers
On 1 January 2021, responsibility for Ireland's research and innovation (R&I) policy transferred from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE) to my Department. DETE had already commenced development of a new national R&I strategy to succeed Innovation 2020 and my officials continued this work. This led to the launch of Impact 2030: Ireland’s Research and Innovation Strategy on 18 May 2022. Impact 2030 was informed and influenced by extensive stakeholder engagement and is a Whole-of-Government strategy that leverages our national performance to date to advance the strategic development of Ireland’s R&I system between now and 2030.
Significant progress has been made to deliver Impact 2030's 30 Flagship Initiatives under five Pillars, with three new oversight and governance structures driving implementation of Impact 2030. The Impact 2030 Steering Group, comprising the five largest R&I funding Departments (which account for 95% of public funding for R&I) and the Department of the Taoiseach, steers R&I policy and leverages public and private investment in R&I. The Impact 2030 Implementation Forum, comprising Government Departments and Agencies that fund and/or perform R&I, works together to maximise the collective return on public investment in R&I and is responsible for delivery of each of the three three-year Work Programmes to implement Impact 2030. Reflecting international good practice, my officials will establish a national Impact 2030 R&I Advisory Forum for members of the R&I community to advise on the strategic development and direction of the national R&I system. The terms of reference for this Forum are currently being developed and membership will be determined following a public Request for Expressions of Interest.
Finally, the 2020-2021 Research and Development Budget Survey, published by my Department in December 2021, showed that overall public investment in R&I has increased year on year since 2016 and reached an estimated €949.1m in 2021. My Department will publish the 2021-2022 edition of the survey soon.