Written Answers Nos. 936-954
936. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on a fuel allowance application by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2405/23]
View answerThere is no record of receipt of an application for Fuel Allowance for the person concerned. Officials in my department are currently managing large volumes of paper applications for Fuel Allowance. Some of these applications are not yet viewable on my Departments IT system. Additional resources have been assigned along with a telephone service to support customers.
If the person concerned submitted a paper application in the last 5 weeks, it is likely that my Department has received it and they will be informed in writing, when a decision is made. If an application was not submitted the easiest way is online at MyWelfare.ie. As an alternative, I have also arranged for a paper application to be posted to her.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
937. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps that she is taking to provide the school meals scheme in all DEIS and qualifying schools. [2421/23]
View answerThe School Meals Programme provides funding towards the provision of food services to some 1,600 schools and organisations benefitting 260,000 children. The objective of the programme is to provide regular, nutritious food to children to support them in taking full advantage of the education provided to them. The programme is an important component of policies to encourage school attendance and extra educational achievement.
Budget 2022 provided €68.1 million for the programme with an additional €9m provided to allow access to all new DEIS schools from September 2022. Additional funding for the programme has been provided for 2023 bringing the total to €94.4m. This represents a 53% funding increase in the period since 2020.
Funding under the school meals (local projects) scheme can be provided for breakfast, snack, cold lunch, dinner, hot school meals and afterschool clubs and is based on a maximum rate per child per day, depending on the type of meal being provided.
Entry to the School Meals Scheme has been confined to DEIS schools in addition to schools identified by the Department of Education as having levels of concentrated disadvantage meaning that their students would benefit from access to the School Meals Programme. Participation in the scheme is entirely voluntary and schools must reapply for funding in advance of each school year.
In March 2022, the Minister for Education announced an extension of the Delivering Equality of Opportunity in School to an additional 320 schools from September 2022. In July, I announced that the access to the hot school meal option would be extended to the 282 newly designated DEIS primary schools and to the cold lunch option to the 38 newly designated DEIS secondary schools from September benefitting some 60,000 children.
This means that since my appointment as Minister for Social Protection, I have increased the number of schools with access to the Hot School Meal option from 37 to over 500.
I am committed to continuing to expand the school meals programme and building further on the significant extension of the programme in recent years. In this regard, I commissioned the evaluation of the school meals programme to review all elements of the programme.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
938. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 577 of 18 October 2022, if provisions for maternity leave for Members of the Houses of the Oireachtas were not included in Report Stage of the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2022 as committed to by him; and if he will clarify the way in which he now intends to advance this matter. [63136/22]
View answerThe Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2022 is currently awaiting Committee Stage in the Seanad where I intend to bring some technical amendments. The Bill will introduce important entitlements for workers, in particular for workers who are parents or carers, such a leave for medical care purposes and the right to request remote working. As the provisions in this Bill are also required for the transposition of the Work Life Balance Directive, the deadline for which has now passed, it is important that they be advanced as soon as possible.
While I had indicated my intention to bring forward legislative proposals to provide for maternity leave for Members of the Oireachtas as part of this Bill, owing to the urgency of the Work Life Balance Bill and the complexity of these proposals, I have decided to bring them forward separately as a stand-alone Bill.
The Government is very committed to ensuring that Members of the Oireachtas can avail of maternity leave but there are constitutional and practical concerns which must be addressed before legislative proposals can be brought forward.
939. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an update on the management of a redress scheme for victims of abuse of an institution (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63147/22]
View answerThere are no plans to establish a redress scheme in relation to the organisation referred to by the Deputy. It is important to note that this organisation is a voluntary body, governed by its own Board. It receives some of its funding from the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and raises other funding through member subscriptions and fund raising.
When very serious issues involving former safeguarding and governance practices in the organisation emerged in early 2018, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, as a provider of substantial grant funding to the organisation, took a number of steps to satisfy itself in relation to current safeguarding and governance within the organisation:
- Funding to the organisation was suspended pending the appointment of a new Board, which is now in place
- In 2018, the Government commissioned an independent review of governance within the organisation, as well as a follow up review, published in May 2020. The latter found that the recommendations of the 2018 review had been satisfactorily implemented, while identifying a small number of outstanding matters to be addressed in a subsequent report by the organisation to the Department, which was delivered in September 2020.
- The Department required ongoing reports from the organisation in relation to the process of governance reform.
In addition, the organisation in question commissioned its own independent learning review of historical sexual abuse within the organisation. The then Minister met with this reviewer in May 2020 and was reassured, notwithstanding the reviewer’s very serious findings in relation to historical practices, by his satisfaction with current governance and safeguarding practice within the organisation.
These independent reviews indicate that safeguarding is now a strong focus and priority for the organisation and that robust safeguarding and governance structures have been put in place. In revising its safeguarding policies, the organisation has worked closely with Tusla, which has indicated to the funding Department its satisfaction with the revised procedures in place.
940. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide details of the contract his Department signed with a consulting company (details supplied) relating to the location of modular homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63150/22]
View answerMurray Consultants Ltd. were contracted by the Department to support the Department’s communication function and complement ongoing proactive communication activities in connection with the Department’s role in Ireland's response to the humanitarian needs of displaced persons from Ukraine. The contract has now ended.
941. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if it is the policy of his Department to support the introduction of so-called 'community champions' to engage with local communities around issues of concern relating to accommodation of international protection applicants or beneficiaries of temporary protection. [63151/22]
View answerWhile efforts are made to notify public representatives and State agencies in advance of occupying a building, the emergency nature of the response required means that advance communications are not as comprehensive or as early as the Department would like.
Due to the scale of the present crisis this inevitably means that emergency accommodation of those seeking refuge must be occupied on a faster timeline than would otherwise be the case.
Before the opening of any facility the Department engages with local representatives to provide information as soon as possible following the agreement of terms with contractors.
While pressure to secure accommodation limits the amount of time available to provide advance consultation, the Department is working to improve advance communications for elected representatives, local authorities and local communities and to deepen mechanisms for community engagement.
942. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of additional staff who were allocated to his Department to deal with the intake of Ukrainian refugees; if those staff are still working within his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63170/22]
View answer943. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of additional staff who were allocated to his Department to deal with the recent increased intake of asylum seekers; if those staff are still working within his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63171/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 942 and 943 together.
There are a total of 136 staff assigned to units in the Ukraine Division. This includes staff recruited from the Public Appointments Service, staff internally reassigned from within my Department, Ukrainian Temporary Clerical Officers and staff on secondment or temporary assignment from other departments/bodies.
944. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason that he did not provide the Adoption Authority of Ireland with adequate resources in order to respond to all applications for early life information within the statutory timeframe; if his attention has been drawn to the case of a person (details supplied); the steps that he will take to ensure that they are provided with their information in a timely manner; and the steps that he intends to take to ensure that all applications are processed in line with statutory requirements. [63303/22]
View answerOfficials from my Department have been engaging with both the Adoption Authority of Ireland (AAI) and the Child and Family Agency, Tusla in respect of the ongoing implementation of services under the Birth Information and Tracing Act 2022.
Information and Tracing services, as provided for under the Act, opened to applications on 03 October 2022. As of 12 December, a total of 5,956 applications for information have been received by Tusla and the AAI, with over two thirds of that total being received within two weeks of commencement. These applications are in addition to the 2,652 applications made for tracing services since 03 October, and 2,934 preferences registered to the Contact Preference Register since it opened on 01 July.
Processing the initial volume of information requests, reflecting decades of pent-up and increasing demand, is proving to be a challenge. As of Monday 12 December, the two agencies have processed and issued over 800 requests for information, with more due for completion and issue each day.
In addition to Information and Tracing services, applications are continuing to be made to the Contact Preference Register, and the AAI has successfully identified 196 matches for relatives for whom they are facilitating contact.
An additional €1.05m was provided to the Adoption Authority of Ireland and additional funding of €3m was provided to Tusla Adoption Services. These additional resources were to fund additional posts this year, including genealogical and archival expertise and support, as well as run a public information campaign on the legislation.
As Minister I cannot intervene in an individual case. However, I am deeply aware of the disappointment and frustration caused to applicants receiving a notification indicating that there will be a delay in the compilation and release of their information. I have been assured that both agencies are doing their utmost to respond to all the applications received within the shortest possible timeframe. I have also been advised that they are re-assigning additional staff members to work exclusively on processing applications and that they will continue to keep every person who is waiting for information informed about their application.
945. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide the data used to support the allocation of core funding to a sessional model of preschool; if his Department will provide the data demonstrating the way the allocation for a preschool with 22-children single session model is viable; and the way that variations in rent, geographical location, operating cost and inflation have been taken into account. [63309/22]
View answerThe structure of Core Funding is based on the recommendations of the Expert Group outlined in Partnership for the Public Good. The primary sources of data that informed the allocation of Core Funding include:
- Survey data, which is collected from providers on an annual basis
- My Department’s own administrative data on funding to providers
- The Tusla register of providers, which gives the maximum available capacity in services
- Data from Revenue on employments, payroll costs, PRSI etc
- Independent analysis of data on providers’ income and costs
- Data on unit cost of delivery, the breakdown of delivery cost across staff and non-staff costs and cost drivers
- Macro-economic and population trend data
The original allocation for year 1 of Core Funding in Budget 2022 was €207 million. I grew this to €221 million in early 2022 in response to cost pressures, and increased that again to €259 million in September 2022 based on significant capacity growth in the sector. Contributions towards staff pay, administration staff/time and non-staff overheads are contained within the base rate.
The ELC and SAC sector is diverse in nature, however there are certain characteristics which are shared across sector. The Review of Costs in 2018 identified the broad components of services' operating costs, with staff costs accounting for almost 70% of the overall operating costs. The annual collection of income and cost data including the initial analysis of the latest income and cost data collected in 2022 shows that this 70/30 split holds true. This is prior to the significant injection of funding to the sector through Core Funding.
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 (whether filled or not), 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. These are the primary drivers of services costs and this is therefore the most proportionate and transparent manner to allocate funding.
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.
With regards to viability, there is no evidence that the new funding model will render ECCE services unsustainable. My Department has extensive data on providers’ existing and projected income and delivery costs through data from Revenue, surveys and demographic and macro-economic information and has extensively analysed the question of sustainability.
Data available prior to the additional investment of Core Funding in the sector showed a median surplus (income in excess of cost) for the sector as a whole of 4%. However, services with the characteristics correlated with ECCE-only provision had higher levels of surplus than other types of provision – ranging from 14% to 23% depending on the characteristic.
- Do not offer full day: 17% income in excess of cost
- Do not offer wrap-around care: 16% income in excess of cost
- Open exactly 38 weeks each year: 19% income in excess of cost
- Low total numbers of childcare hours: 23% income in excess of cost
- Single-site services: 14% income in excess of cost
- Those whose only income source is ECCE funding: 19% income in excess of cost
Separately, Sole Traders, which constitute a large proportion of ECCE-only provision, had an average income in excess of costs of 23%.
This evidence suggests that ECCE-only services had the highest levels of income in excess of costs compared to other types of provision.
My Officials have published case studies of sessional services which are available at: first5fundingmodel.gov.ie/core-funding/. The case studies of sessional services take account of the new minimum rates of pay underpinned by the EROs as well as average contact and non-contact hours for staff.
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 sessional services. The review will consider the financial situation of the participating services in full, and will not be restricted to questions of sustainability or viability.
The Department continues to examine Core Funding against the current cost pressures, including assurance that the funding model remains appropriate. Additional support, in the form of sustainability funding, remains available to any Partner Services that are not able to meet their costs. This can be accessed through engagement with City/County Childcare Committees (CCCs).
CCCs are receiving very small numbers of services reporting cases of financial unsustainability. Currently, no service has availed of Sustainability Funding through the new strand. This is consistent with the trends we have seen in recent years for low demand for Sustainability Funding with two services availing of financial support across all Sustainability Funding strands in 2022. However, the Department, Pobal and the CCCs continue to closely monitor trends concerning services entering Case Management and will continue to maintain the availability of Sustainability Funding for individual services at risk.
In addition, early learning and childcare services are able to apply for the Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme (TBESS). Under TBESS, businesses engaged in early learning and childcare services who have suffered an increase of at least 50% in the average unit price of electricity and/or natural gas for the relevant billing period in 2022, as compared with the average unit price for electricity and/or gas for the corresponding reference period in 2021, will be eligible under the scheme.
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.
946. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason that his Department is yet to respond to an offer of accommodation for Ukrainian refugees from a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63358/22]
View answerMy Department is focused on providing immediate, temporary accommodation to people fleeing the conflict in Ukraine. This has involved entering into arrangements with over 650 providers including hotels, guest houses and B&Bs, religious properties, with additional capacity operated by voluntary bodies and local authority emergency facilities.
The offer of accommodation has been noted and is appreciated. My Department continues to assess and review all accommodation offers received on an ongoing basis as to their suitability to meet the needs of BOTPs. The focus presently is on those offers of scale that can be activated in a timely fashion and fully meet requirements.
Procurement and contract negotiation with potential and existing providers continues on a daily basis. The Department is also working to pivot certain full board serviced contracts to bed only, to give effect to the recent Government decision. I am advised by my officials that due to unprecedented engagement from those making offers, there have been some delays in responding to some providers. Engagement with suitable providers will take place as soon as possible.
947. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Leanaí, Comhionannais, Míchumais, Lánpháirtíochta agus Óige an aontaíonn an tAire go bhfuil géarghá le plean cuimsitheach chun tabhairt faoi na heasnaimh sa soláthar seirbhísí cúraim leanaí trí Ghaeilge agus sa luath-oideachas trí Ghaeilge sna limistéir pleanála teanga Gaeltachta agus gur cóir go rachfaí i ngleic ach go háirithe le cúrsaí oiliúna trí Ghaeilge a bhunú agus tuarastal ceart a chinntiú don fhoireann sna seirbhísí sin ar mná iad a bhformhór. [63362/22]
View answer949. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Peadar Tóibín den Aire Leanaí, Comhionannais, Míchumais, Lánpháirtíochta agus Óige an aontaíonn an tAire go bhfuil géarghá le plean cuimsitheach le tabhairt faoi na heasnaimh sa soláthar maidir le seirbhísí cúram leanaí trí Ghaeilge agus ar luath-oideachas trí Ghaeilge sna limistéir phleanála teanga Gaeltachta agus go rachfaí i ngleic ach go háirithe le cúrsaí oiliúna trí Ghaeilge a bhunú agus tuarastal ceart a chinntiú don fhoireann sna seirbhísí sin ar mná iad a bhformhór. [63402/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 947 and 949 together.
Tá luach mór ag baint le tacú le seirbhísí a chur ar fáil do pháistí sa Ghaeilge agus iad an-óg. Tá ról tábhachtach ag seirbhísí luathfhoghlama agus cúraim leanaí (ELC) anseo, go háirithe maidir leis an nGaeilge a chur chun cinn mar theanga bheo.
Tá mo Roinn ag obair go dlúth leis an Roinn Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán agus leis an Roinn Oideachais chun sraith chuimsitheach gníomhartha a aontaíodh mar chuid den Phlean Gníomhaíochta 5 Bliana don Ghaeilge 2018-2022 a chur i bhfeidhm, a bhfuil síneadh curtha leis go dtí 2023. Tá na gníomhartha seo ceaptha chun a dhearbhú an tábhacht atá ag suíomhanna luathfhoghlama agus cúraim leanaí chun forbairt agus athbheochan na Gaeilge a spreagadh. Is í aidhm na ngníomhartha seo ná cur leis na bearta, na tacaíochtaí agus na comhpháirtíochtaí atá i bhfeidhm cheana féin i réimse na luathfhoghlama agus an chúraim leanaí lán-Ghaeilge, agus na tacaíochtaí agus na seirbhísí sin a fheabhsú tuilleadh.
In 2022, de réir na ngealltanas sa Phlean Gníomhaíochta 5 Bliana, cheap mo Roinn Comhordaitheoir Tacaíochta Gaeilge a bhfuil freagracht uirthi as an obair a chomhordú chun tacú le forbairt agus úsáid na Gaeilge i suíomhanna luathfhoghlama agus cúraim leanaí na Gaeilge. Tabharfaidh an comhordaitheoir seo treoir do phost speisialtóra luathbhlianta eile de chuid na Gaeilge a cheapadh in 2023.
Tá mo Roinn i gceannas ar obair, i gcomhar le Ranna agus gníomhaireachtaí eile, i mapáil na seirbhísí luathfhoghlama agus cúraim leanaí atá ann cheana féin. Cuirfidh an mhapáil seo bonn eolais faoi phlean cuimsitheach a fhorbairt don earnáil, de réir an tiomantais sa Phlean Gníomhaíochta 5 Bliana.
Ós rud é nach bhfostaíonn an Stát oideoirí luathbhlianta ná cleachtóirí cúraim leanaí atá in aois scoile, ní féidir liom leibhéil pá a shocrú ná coinníollacha oibre a chinneadh don fhoireann san earnáil. Mar sin féin, rinneadh forbairt thábhachtach agus stairiúil le déanaí nuair a socraíodh íosrátaí nua in aghaidh na huaire do róil éagsúla san earnáil, nuair a tháinig na chéad Orduithe Rialacháin Fostaíochta riamh do Sheirbhísí Luathbhlianta i bhfeidhm ar an 15 Meán Fómhair 2022.
Meastar go bhfaca 73% díobh siúd a bhí ag obair san earnáil go raibh ardú ar a bpá dá bharr.
Tá tacaíocht á tabhairt do na hOrduithe ó Bhunmhaoiniú– a bhfuil leithdháileadh €259 milliún aige ina chéad bhliain – chun tacú le feabhsuithe ar phá foirne, chomh maith le táillí tuismitheoirí a reo agus tacú le hinbhuanaitheacht seirbhísí.
Táim tiomanta freisin aghaidh a thabhairt ar dhúshláin eile a d'fhéadfadh tionchar a imirt ar choinníollacha oibre foirne.
I mí na Nollag 2021, d'fhoilsigh mé "Nurturing Skills: The Workforce Plan for Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare, 2022-2028". Tá sé mar aidhm ag Scileanna a Chothú an próiseas leanúnach gairmiúlachta a neartú. Cuimsíonn ceann de na cúig "cholún" de Scileanna a Chothú gealltanais atá dírithe ar thacú le hearcaíocht, coinneáil agus éagsúlacht san fhórsa saothair, agus áirítear leis gníomhartha chun próifíl gairmeacha san earnáil a ardú.
Tagraíonn Colún 3 de Scileanna a Chothú go sonrach don ghá atá leis an gcóras náisiúnta Forbartha Gairmiúla Leanúnaí (CPD) a neartú. De réir gealltanais maidir le Scileanna a Chothú, tá mo Roinn i gceannas faoi láthair ar fhorbairt clár breise ríomhfhoghlama ar líne agus cumaisc, a bheidh ar fáil i nGaeilge agus i mBéarla araon, don fhoireann i suíomhanna luathfhoghlama agus cúraim leanaí, mar chuid de na tacaíochtaí CPD a chuireann mo Roinn ar fáil agus thar a cheann.
948. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if all sections of all Acts passed in the past ten years have been commenced; the number of sections that are outstanding; the number of Acts that have review periods; if the reviews have taken place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63376/22]
View answerI have detailed below the Acts passed since the establishment of this Department in June 2020, set out the numbers of sections outstanding in these Acts and outlined where reviews have taken place:
- The Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity)(Amendment) Act 2022 was signed into law on 17 December 2022, but has yet to be commenced, with all 104 sections outstanding. It is an amending Act therefore no reviews are required.
- The Child Care (Amendment) Act 2022 was signed into law on 19 July 2022 and has been partly commenced. Sections 1, 4, 6 and 13 of the Act have been commenced, with sections 2, 3, 5 and 7-12 yet to be commenced. This Act does not include a review period.
- The Institutional Burials Act 2022 was signed into law on 15 July 2022 and has fully commenced. The legislation provides for a review of the implementation of the Act concerning the operation of the Office of the Director to be established under the legislation, which is due following the submission of a final report of a Director. No review has had to be carried out to date.
- The Birth Information and Tracing Act 2022 was signed into law on 30 June 2022 and is fully commenced. It does have a review period, however this does not fall due until 2 years after coming into operation.
- The Child and Family Agency Amendment Act 2021 was signed into law on 24 November 2021 and commenced in full on 15 December 2021. This Act does not include a review period.
- While the Childcare Support Act in 2018 was signed into law and commenced prior to the establishment of this Department, a review of the scheme was completed in 2021. Section 26 of the Childcare Support Act 2018 requires that the Minister initiate a review of the National Childcare Scheme 12 months after the first payment to a childcare provider. As such, I initiated this review in December 2020. That review was completed by an independent consultant (Frontier Economics) and laid before the houses of the Oireachtas in Q4 2021.
950. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for the number of social workers employed by Tusla in counties Louth and Meath in the years 2019 to 2022, inclusive; the number of vacancies that currently exist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63410/22]
View answerI wish to inform the Deputy that my officials have asked Tusla to respond directly to you on this matter.
951. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the report by the National Disability Authority into the operation and implementation of the Irish Sign Language Act 2017 will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63433/22]
View answer956. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the report on the operation of the Irish Sign Language Act 2017 will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63515/22]
View answer957. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the National Disability Authority will publish its report on the operation of the Irish Sign Language Act 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63523/22]
View answer960. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the timeframe for the publication of the National Disability Authority report on the operation of the Irish Sign Language Act 2017; the reason as to the delay in publishing the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63736/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 951, 956, 957 and 960 together.
The Irish Sign Language Act 2017 (ISL Act 2017) was signed into law on 24th December 2017 and the Act was commenced jointly by myself as Minister of State with responsibility for Disability and Minister Roderic O’Gorman T.D. as the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, on 23rd December 2020, following the transfer of equality functions from the Minister for Justice.
The Act recognises the right of ISL users to use ISL as their native language, and to develop and preserve it. In addition to specific obligations on named Ministers, the Act places a statutory duty on all public bodies to provide ISL users with free ISL interpretation when availing of or seeking to access statutory entitlements and services provided by or under statute. Implementing the Act requires a whole of government approach and as such all public bodies have obligations to fulfil.
Section 10 of the Act requires that a report on the operation of the Act be prepared three years after enactment and every five years thereafter. These reports must be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas.
In line with these requirements, the National Disability Authority (NDA) was commissioned to produce the first report on the operation of the Act. A draft Report was submitted to me in mid-2021, and subsequently circulated to departments and agencies for observations and to ensure accuracy in the preparation of a final version. The Report was finalised in late 2021.
There was a delay in publishing the first report on the operation of the ISL Act to avoid prejudicing an ongoing legal matter. However, publication of the report was kept under review throughout 2022 and following engagement between my department and other relevant departments it was determined that publication could now occur.
The Report was laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas on 12 January 2023 and published on the website of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration, and Youth on 13 January 2023.
The first report on the operation of the ISL Act contains recommendations to strengthen the implementation of the ISL Act, and a whole of Government approach will be required in considering next steps in this regard.
952. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if regulations are currently being drafted as per section 9 of the Irish Sign Language Act 2017, following the pilot scheme in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63434/22]
View answer958. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an update on the publication of the ‘Operation of the ISL Act’ report; if the Irish Sign Language Act 2017 ‘voucher scheme’ will be implemented on a full-time basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63526/22]
View answer961. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the timeframe for the introduction of a permanent Irish sign language voucher scheme; if he will report on the pilot voucher scheme that ran in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63737/22]
View answer964. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will report on the timeline for the publication of the operation of the Irish Sign Language Act 2017; if he will establish the voucher scheme system for the funding of interpretation on a permanent basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63740/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 952, 958, 961 and 964 together.
The Irish Sign Language Act 2017 (ISL Act 2017) was signed into law on 24th December 2017 and the Act was commenced jointly by myself as Minister of State with Responsibility for Disability and Minister Roderic O’Gorman T.D. as the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, on 23rd December 2020, following the transfer of equality functions from the Minister for Justice.
The Act recognises the right of ISL users to use ISL as their native language, and to develop and preserve it. In addition to specific obligations on named Ministers, the Act places a statutory duty on all public bodies to provide ISL users with free ISL interpretation when availing of or seeking to access statutory entitlements and services provided by or under statute. Implementing the Act requires a whole of government approach and as such all public bodies have obligations to fulfil.
Section 10 of the Act requires that a report on the operation of the Act be prepared three years after enactment and every five years thereafter. These reports must be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas.
In line with these requirements, the National Disability Authority (NDA) were commissioned to produce the first report on the operation of the Act. A draft Report was submitted to me in mid-2021, and subsequently circulated to departments and agencies for observations and to ensure accuracy in the preparation of a final version. The Report was finalised in late 2021.
There was a delay in publishing the first report on the operation of the ISL Act to avoid prejudicing an ongoing legal matter. However, publication of the report was kept under review throughout 2022. Following engagement between my department and other relevant departments it was determined that publication could now occur without prejudicing the legal matter which remains ongoing.
The Report was laid before the Houses on 12 January 2023 and published on the website of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration, and Youth on 13 January 2023.
The first report on the operation of the ISL Act contains recommendations to strengthen the implementation of the ISL Act, and a whole of Government approach will be required in considering next steps in this regard.
Section 9 of the Irish Sign Language Act 2017 gives power to the Minister for Social Protection to establish a support scheme to allow access for ISL users to free interpretation to access events, services, and activities. In 2021, the Citizens Information Board (CIB) and the Sign Language Interpreting Service (SLIS) launched a pilot project, supported by the Department of Social Protection, which involved the creation of a Voucher Scheme for users of Irish Sign Language (ISL) to access free ISL interpreting for social, educational and cultural events and services (including medical services) and other activities.
Initially, it was planned that the Irish Sign Language (ISL) Voucher Scheme Pilot Project 2021 would run for a 3-month period, from 30 June 2021 to 30 September 2021. However, an additional month (October 2021) was subsequently added. An evaluation of the pilot was completed in July 2022, commissioned by CIB. Findings from the evaluation are under consideration by the Department of Social Protection and will form part of any future voucher scheme. There are no regulations currently under development relating to Section 9 of the Act. CIB is currently exploring with SLIS possible options as to how a Voucher Scheme can be rolled out, using lessons from the pilot. The Minister for Social Protection, as the Minister responsible for s. 9, can provide any further detail on this matter that may be required.
953. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an update on the regionalisation of community childcare offices. [63499/22]
View answer954. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he has considered the advantageous location of the Westmeath community childcare office in Mullingar in terms of size, location and accessibility for a regional office service. [63500/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 953 and 954 together.
On 29th March 2022 Government accepted the findings of the independent Review of the Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age Childcare (SAC) Operating Model in Ireland that a dedicated state agency is the optimal operating model for the early learning and childcare sector for the years ahead. This Review undertook a comprehensive analysis of the existing operating model, which included, amongst other organisations, the 30 City and County Childcare Committees (CCCs). It is envisaged that this state agency will undertake the functions currently carried out by Pobal Early Years (including Better Start), the CCCs, as well as operational functions currently undertaken by my Department.
A dedicated state agency will assist in the development of a more streamlined structure to better support the delivery of ELC and SAC, and will facilitate my Department in implementing and progressing the significant reform agenda envisaged under First 5, the Whole of Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families.
Significant progress has been made in advancing this ambitious and transformative reform programme. My Department has commenced a comprehensive phase of analysis, planning, consultation, and engagement with sectoral stakeholders to determine how the recommendation arising from the Review can best be implemented. This phase will include a detailed design of a new agency, which will include determining the appropriate national, local and regional structures and locations for the agency. It will also involve an examination of all legal requirements, transition and continuity planning, risk management, and a comprehensive evidence-based cost projection for the establishment and annual running costs of a new state agency. My Department is committed to ongoing consultation with all stakeholders, including CCCs, throughout the design process to ensure that the strengths of the existing model are maintained and that the appropriate balance between national, regional and local structures is established in the reformed model. The specific details and locations of any potential regional presence for the new agency will only be determined following detailed analysis and consultation during the design and planning phase.
This work will culminate in a full agency design and implementation plan which will be presented to Government for approval.
The implementation of this reform programme will likely require considerable lead-in time and the full establishment of the new Agency will take several years to complete. A detailed timeline for the design and implementation of this complex project, which will involve multiple strands of interdependent work streams, is currently being developed as part of the design and implementation planning phase currently underway.
