Written Answers Nos. 309-316
309. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the average time it takes to advertise a post that has been left vacant, from the time that the staff member hands in their notice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14475/23]
View answerWhen a vacancy arises, my department seeks a replacement either by an assignment by the Public Appointments Service, or under the civil service mobility or secondment process in accordance with the relevant guidance.
310. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 1770 and 1771 of 14 June 2022, the number of the 85 posts allocated to support services in thirty-three special schools that had on-site therapy services prior to the establishment of CDNTs in 2021 that have been filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14476/23]
View answerAs this refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
311. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if consultation took place with therapy professionals representative organisations (details supplied) with regard to the interim clinical guidance for assessors involved in the assessment of need process; if not, the reason therefor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14477/23]
View answerAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
312. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if national policies and structures are in place for the 91 children’s disability network teams; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14478/23]
View answerAs this refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
313. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total number of IT support staff working in children’s disability network teams; if he is satisfied that this is sufficient; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14479/23]
View answerAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
314. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the protocols and or guidelines he has issued in respect of the use of personal social media accounts by officials in his Department; the number of sanctions imposed by his Department on its own officials in the past ten years to date in respect of social media output by its officials, verbal, written or otherwise; if social media platforms are restricted on his Department’s network; if an application (details supplied) is available to use and or download onto Departmental-issued mobile phones; and if not, if it is barred from use. [14507/23]
View answerThe Department social media policy provides general guidelines for staff on use of social media and is publicly available via the Department's website. The Department has not sanctioned any officials in respect of social media output in the past ten years. Queries on which applications are restricted or available for use on Department networks and mobile phones should be directed to the OGCIO.
315. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason for the delay by his Department in completing the report of the review of the Equality Acts (Equal Status Acts 2000-2018 and the Employment Equality Acts 1998-2015) examining the functioning of the Acts and their effectiveness in combatting discrimination and promoting equality, which was due to be published early in 2023. [14545/23]
View answerMy Department was pleased to receive a significant response to the public consultation on the Review of the Equality Acts (Equal Status Acts 2000-2018 and the Employment Equality Acts 1998-2015). Officials in my Department have compiled a report summarising the issues raised in the public consultation and arrangements for the publication of the report are at an advanced stage. I expect to be in a position to publish the report in the coming weeks.
The submissions received as part of the consultation process raised complex issues which are being given serious consideration as part of the review. It is my intention to bring forward legislative proposals in the coming months, particularly around the key commitments in the Programme for Government.
316. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the ongoing efforts, if any, to provide afterschool services given the necessity for both parents to remain in employment due to high mortgages; if it is anticipated that this issue is being provided for in a meaningful way; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14594/23]
View answerOn 15 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.
Core Funding, which began in September, is the new funding stream worth €259 million in full year costs to start the partnership for the public good between the State and providers. Its primary purpose is to improve pay and conditions in the sector as a whole and improve affordability for parents as well as ensuring a stable income to providers.
Core Funding has provided evidence of increased capacity in ELC and SAC. Initial analysis shows the increased capacity is the type of capacity that is in highest demand relative to supply (i.e. more baby and toddler and school-age place hours). The geographical breakdown across the country also indicates expansion in urban and commuter areas where there has been significant pressure on places.
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 introduces fee management, which in year one is a fee freeze, where providers cannot increase the fees charged from last September 2021. This ensures that parents’ costs do not increase and that the increased National Childcare Scheme (NCS) subsidies are fully felt by parents. 94% of services have now signed up to Core Funding, ensuring that the fee freeze impacts very widely. Core Funding also requires Partner Services to offer the NCS and/or ECCE to all eligible parents to ensure that parents can avail of their full entitlement to subsidised provision.
The NCS provides financial support to help parents meet the cost of childcare. It is available to families with children aged between 24 weeks and 15 years who are attending any participating Tusla registered childcare service, including any Tusla registered school-age childcare services, and any Tusla registered childminder. It should be noted that the National Action Plan for Childminding 2021-2028 commits to enabling all childminders to register with Tusla, thereby opening the National Childcare Scheme to all childminders at the earliest possible opportunity.
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 committed to working with Partner Services delivering early learning and childcare for the public good.
My Department funds a national network of County Childcare Committees (CCC) who provide support and advice to parents and childcare providers including support on applying for the various funding schemes administered by the Department and assistance for parents on all aspects of childcare. Contact details for all of the CCCs are available at www.myccc.ie .
