Written Answers Nos. 21-40
21. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the measures he has undertaken to ratify the optional protocol to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15777/23]
View answerIreland ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) on 20 March 2018 and our implementation of the Convention is monitored by the UN Committee through the review of periodic state reports. Ireland submitted our first implementation report to the UN Committee in 2021. The UNCRPD Optional Protocol creates important additional mechanisms through which our implementation of the UNCRPD can be monitored and evaluated. That is why I fully support ratification and why it is a clear commitment in the Programme for Government.
The timeline for ratification was originally anticipated to follow the conclusion of Ireland’s first review period before the UN Committee. Due to delays at UN level, Ireland’s appearance before the Committee will now be delayed, and for this reason Minister Rabbitte and I have indicated that we are open to the earlier ratification of the Optional Protocol.
My Department is continuing to scope out the requirements for earlier ratification. This scoping work is necessary due to the long-standing position of the state in relation to honouring international agreements. As a matter of foreign policy, Ireland does not enter into binding international treaties until we are confident that the obligations set out within can be complied with. As such, the ongoing scoping exercise is procedurally necessary.
While I am not yet in a position to give an exact date for ratification, it is a priority for me to ensure that the Optional Protocol is ratified at the earliest possible date. Until ratification, we will continue to fully implement the UNCRPD and look forward to engaging with the UN Committee when a review of Ireland's first State Report is scheduled.
22. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps he is taking to provide respite services for disabled people and children with disabilities and their families in County Cork. [15564/23]
View answerThe Minister of State, Anne Rabbitte T.D., and the Health Service Executive, recognise that respite services provide valuable supports to families across the country. With regard to CHO 4 in particular, I am advised that there are regional children’s and adults respite fora in place.
A Regional Children’s Respite Forum was established in 2022. The Forum Committee manages referrals and respite service provision in the Cork area. Children up to the age of 18 years with a disability, who are in receipt of services from a Children’s Disability Network Team (CDNT) in Cork Kerry Community Healthcare, can apply for respite and/or home support services. Applications are reviewed, assessed and approved based on agreed access criteria.
In Cork, overnight respite services for children under 18 years of age are delivered by a range of organisations namely, Cope Foundation, Enable Ireland, St. Josephs Foundation, CoAction and the Brothers of Charity. There is also a number of sessions of day respite provided to children which consists of centre based day and outreach services.
A Regional Adults Respite Forum is also in place. In Cork, adult overnight respite services are provided for adults over 18 years and delivered by a range of organisations namely , Cope Foundation, Enable Ireland, St. Josephs Foundation, CoAction, Abode, Praxis Care, Rehabcare and the Brothers of Charity.
23. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he monitors the extent to which local authorities are applying the criteria of need for childcare places in the issuing of conditions surrounding new developments. [14947/23]
View answerThe availability of high-quality early learning and childcare that is affordable and accessible is a key Government priority and my Department relies on a number of data sources to monitor supply and demand.
The annual data captured by Pobal on behalf of my Department - through the Early Years Sector Profile Survey - is one important data source that allows us to monitor supply and demand. In addition to this survey data, my Department also relies on data from the register of services held by Tusla and data provided by services as part of their application for Core Funding.
My Department also regularly conducts surveys with parents. Indeed, since 2020, five parent surveys have been undertaken by Ipsos MRBI on behalf of my Department.
In addition, the City/County Childcare Committees proactively engage with early learning and childcare services to identify unused capacity and to explore the potential for services in increase capacity where there is evidence of unmet early learning and childcare needs of families.
Heretofore, data from Local Authorities has not been gathered by my Department.
However, as part of work currently underway in my Department to update the 2001 National Planning Guidelines for the development of Early Learning and Childcare settings, which is being undertaken with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage will soon issue a survey of Local Authorities that will seek to capture the type of data referred to by the Deputy.
Moreover, arising from our engagement with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage on updating the 2001 National Planning Guidelines, my Department has recently been included in the updated list of prescribed bodies that need to be notified on certain planning matters, including the formulation of County Development Plans and Local Area Plans. This welcome development will greatly strengthen the role my Department plays in ensuring the supply of early learning and childcare meets demand.
24. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an update on the assessment of needs waiting lists for occupational and speech therapy; the measures his Department is taking to tackle these waiting lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15661/23]
View answerFirstly, it is important to note that children do not require an Assessment of Need (AON) to access health services and parents may refer their child directly to their local Children’s Disability Network Team (CDNT).
AONs carried out under the Disability Act 2005 are multidisciplinary assessments, rather than an assessment under one discipline. There are 4,613 applications for an Assessment of Need under the Disability Act 2005 that are overdue at year end 2022.
Using AON statistics collated from Q4 2022, the HSE estimate that c.65% and 60% of the above figure may have a requirement for Occupational Therapy Services or Speech and language Services respectively.
Arising from High Court judgment in 2022, the HSE’s procedure for Assessment of Need was found not to meet the requirements of the Disability Act.
The HSE’s National Clinical Programme for People with Disability (NCPPD) has led the process of developing Interim Clinical Guidance to replace the Preliminary Team Assessment. This new Interim Clinical Guidance has now been clinically approved and is currently being assessed, from a legal perspective, by my Department. It is expected that this Interim Guidance will allow clinicians assess children in a manner that is clinically appropriate and legally robust, balancing the statutory requirement of assessments and the imperative for therapy interventions.
Over €11m has been allocated to address waiting lists for clinical assessments identified through the Assessment of Need process. This funding will be utilised to fund a number of initiatives including the procurement of assessments from the private sector nationally. In parallel, a large scale international procurement process is being progressed.
25. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he has identified the need for new supply in early childhood education and childcare; and if he has developed any proposals for capital support in areas of shortage. [14946/23]
View answerEnsuring high quality early learning and childcare is accessible and affordable is a key priority for me and there are a number of funding programmes available through my Department that seek to improve capacity.
The new Core Funding scheme has a range of objectives that includes capacity growth.
Though this scheme is only in place since 15 September 2022, initial analysis shows that there have been a significant growth in capacity – with capacity growth for cohorts (such as babies and toddlers) and in areas where there has been significant pressure on places.
To meet the cost of this capacity growth, I increased the original allocation for Year 1 of Core Funding to €259 million. In addition, the full year value of Core Funding will increase by €28 million to €287 million in Year 2 of the Scheme.
Funding earmarked for the Scheme in Year 2 will be informed by the emerging data from Year 1 and other evidence and may focus on promoting further capacity expansion.
In addition, my Department secured some €70 million 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 Modernisation 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.
The closing date for Pillar 1 was 16 December last and applicants will be advised on the outcome of the appraisal process shortly.
Pillars 2 and 3 will operate over the period 2024-2025. Details for these Pillars, which will be informed by, inter alia, the results of the Annual Early Years Sector Profile survey which will commence in April this year, will be announced later this year
26. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the definition of youth work in the Youth Work Act 2001 will be updated to reflect the additional roles, responsibilities and significance that youth workers have within their communities; if he has engaged with youth workers in relation to this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15789/23]
View answerThe Youth Work Act 2001 defines youth work in terms of it being a planned programme of education designed for the purpose of aiding and enhancing the personal and social development of young persons through their voluntary participation.
My Department provides grant funding to support a range of youth services which are delivered by youth organisations and carried out by both paid youth workers and volunteers. This substantial funding is provided to support the wide range of activities that youth workers carry out within their community.
In terms of engagement with the sector, the Department maintains close links with young people, their representatives and youth organisations through a range of structures and regular formal and informal engagement takes place to ensure that needs are addressed.
Concerns about the definition of youth work in the Youth Work Act 2001 have not been raised with my Department by youth workers or youth organisations.
My Department is happy to engage with youth workers or youth organisations on this matter.
27. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 85 of 9 February 2023, the status of the review of projected timelines for the implementation of the White Paper to end direct provision and to establish a new international protection support service; his plans to publish the outcomes of the review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15740/23]
View answer30. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of the programme for Government commitment to end direct provision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15741/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 27 and 30 together.
Since publishing A White Paper to End Direct Provision and to establish a New International Protection Support Service, my Department has placed a significant focus and drive on delivering these reforms.
Implementation of the White Paper began with the appointment of dedicated staff – a ‘Transition Team’ –in this department to lead the transition to the new system.
Governance structures were established to oversee transition to the new model in the form of a Programme Board and an External Advisory Group.
A high-level Implementation Plan was drafted and completed setting out how the provisions contained in the White Paper would be introduced. The plan looked to prioritise and pilot certain elements of the model in 2022 in order to build capacity for the project.
Much progress was made and priority was placed on progressing elements of Phase Two including the development of the accommodation in the community model, the acquisition of properties, the development of the income support payment, the development of the local Integration model, all with a view to commencing the movement of IPAS residents into Phase Two accommodation towards the end of 2022.
The war in Ukraine however has had an unavoidable impact on the timelines and deliverables for the White Paper. Alongside this, there has been a substantial increase in the number of people seeking International Protection with over 15,000 new people seeking accommodation in 2022.
It is not clear if the increase in International Protection arrivals is a once-off impact due to the pent up demand after Covid and the impact of the war in Ukraine or is a trend that will continue through-out 2023 and beyond. This increase in numbers has huge implications for the implementation of the White Paper as the assumptions underpinning it are based on 3500 new arrivals each year, which are based on 20 years of data.
In this vastly changed context since the publication of the White Paper, an overall review of the projected timelines and deliverables is currently underway. This is a complex exercise that is reassessing the projections underpinning the White Paper with respect to numbers of arrivals and how this impacts on key deliverables and timelines.
The review is also considering whether it is preferable to prioritise the implementation of certain aspects of the White Paper reforms over others. The objective of such an approach would be to progress with key reforms that are achievable in the current altered context and build must needed accommodation capacity in the system. This could enable progress on a meaningful reform programme that adheres to the key principles of the White Paper. The review will also focus on identifying new approaches that will help the system to manage with the uncertainty and its demand led nature and address future needs including assessing the requirement for An Agency.
I anticipate the review to be completed early in quarter two with a new set of proposals and timelines to be then brought to government.
While the review is ongoing certain aspects of the White Paper are progressing. This includes:
- The ongoing development of an integration programme to support the principle of ‘integration from day one’ as set out in the White Paper. Negotiations are currently ongoing with the CCMA and the LGMA to put in place a permanent model of Integration Support Workers in each Local Authority.
- The delivery of some Approved Housing Body managed and supported accommodation for vulnerable applicants. In 2022, 37 Phase Two properties were purchased. It is planned that some International Protection applicants will start moving into these properties in the first half of 2023.
- A focus on increasing the state accommodation owned capacity including progressing the buying of pre-existing buildings and advancing progress on the construction of purpose built centres.
- Development of a dedicated information hub and online orientation programme including language supports;
- A funding framework for 2023 for Children and Young People Services Committee (CYPSC) to further develop, enhance and expand the provision of their support services to families in the International Protection system.
- Commissioning NGOs to provide targeted supports.
While the delivery of the White Paper has been impacted by the war in Ukraine, the implementation of the new model of accommodation and supports for International Protection applicants is and will continue to be a key priority for my Department. As I have, highlighted work is progressing in key areas, that I believe will have a positive impact on the system and improve the lives of those living in International Protection accommodation.
28. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children who died, either while in State care or while known to child protection services, in each of the past ten years and to date in 2023. [14889/23]
View answerThe National Review Panel (NRP) for the investigation of serious incidents including the deaths of children in care and known to the child protection service was set up in 2010 as part of the Implementation Plan associated with the Report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse (2009) (Ryan Report) to review deaths and serious incidents of children in care.
I can confirm that 23 deaths of children in State Care were notified to the National Review Panel between the years 2014 to date in 2023. State Care in this context refers to children in the care of Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, in fostering or residential placements. Three deaths were notified to the National Review Panel in 2013 prior to the establishment of Tusla.
Of those 23 deaths, the majority (11) were as a result of natural causes. There were 8 deaths as a result of suicide and the remaining deaths were as a result of either medical conditions or substance abuse.
|
Year |
Number of Deaths |
|
2014 |
3 |
|
2015 |
3 |
|
2016 |
1 |
|
2017 |
5 |
|
2018 |
1 |
|
2019 |
1 |
|
2020 |
1 |
|
2021 |
4 |
|
2022 |
4 |
|
2023 to date |
0 |
In respect of children known to Child Protection Services, there have been 176 deaths reported to the National Review Panel in the years 2014 to date in 2023. The majority of these deaths were by natural causes (84), followed by suicide (30). The remaining deaths were categorised as homicides, drug overdoses, road traffic accidents, other accidents and unknown. In 2013, prior to the establishment of Tusla, there were 13 deaths reported of children known to child Protection and Welfare services.
|
Year |
Number of deaths |
|
2014 |
19 |
|
2015 |
16 |
|
2016 |
23 |
|
2017 |
17 |
|
2018 |
11 |
|
2019 |
20 |
|
2020 |
23 |
|
2021 |
20 |
|
2022 |
18 |
|
2023 to date |
9 |
29. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide details of his engagements with survivor and relative groups concerning potential interventions at the sites of former mother and baby homes. [15562/23]
View answerConsultation with survivors and relative groups was an important part of development of the Institutional Burials Act 2022. After taking Office I visited the site of the former Mother and Baby institution in Tuam, Co. Galway, and met with survivors and relatives of those who died while resident there. I carefully considered the issues raised by them in the development of the Act, which provides the underlying legislative basis for an intervention, whereby the remains of those who died in residential institutions, and who were buried in a manifestly inappropriate manner, may be recovered and re-interred in a respectful and appropriate way.
On 4 October, the Government made an Order under the Act to establish an independent Office to lead an intervention at the Tuam site. The making of the Order follows on from Resolutions in the Dáil and Seanad in September approving the draft Order that was agreed by Government in July. Progress at the various stages, including in relation to the recruitment campaign for a Director to oversee the intervention at the site, has been communicated to survivors and any other stakeholders who have expressed an interest in receiving updates on these issues from my Department through our dedicated mailing list.
I have also engaged with groups associated with other former institutions and I am aware of concerns in relation to the appropriate treatment of sites as well as calls for investigations.
In relation to Bessborough, the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes and certain related matters concluded that it is likely that some of the children who died while resident there are buried in the grounds but was unable to find any physical or documentary evidence of this. As no evidence of locations was found, the Commission did not consider it feasible to excavate the full available site, which amounts to 60 acres.
I have publicly emphasised my view that any proposed development at the Bessborough site should have due regard to the Commissions’ reports and give adequate consideration to the views of all survivors and family members, including requests for appropriate access and respectful memorialisation in due course.
In addition, last November, the Minister for Housing Local Government and Heritage wrote to all City and County Councils requesting that Development Plan processes give adequate consideration to incorporating appropriate measures to ensure the protection of unrecorded burial sites associated with an institution.
31. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an update on the children's disability services in Cork. [15707/23]
View answer33. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the actions being taken to resolve the staffing crisis in children's disability services in Cork. [15708/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 31 and 33 together.
As this refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
32. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason for the delay in payments to those providing accommodation for asylum seekers; his plans to ensure that these payments going forward are made in a prompt manner to ensure that these providers do not decide to remove the provision of their accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15774/23]
View answerDeputy, I can confirm that there are no delays in payment to International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) providers who provide accommodation to international protection applicants/asylum seekers.
My Department has no information to suggest that any provider is removing the provision of their accommodation due to a failure to enure prompt payment.
In relation to payments to providers of accommodation to Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection, the unprecedented demand for accommodation and by association the level of transactions involved is significant. With over 750 contractors paid monthly, the payments process is an operation of considerable scale.
The Department is obliged to ensure that invoices are correct and, while some are straightforward, many require queries to the provider and additional documentation to confirm what is owed.
I acknowledge that due to the quantum involved, some providers are experiencing delays in receiving payment. My Department is mindful of the impact and has been proactive in implementing a number measures to substantially reduce the backlog.
The number of staff in this area has been doubled since the start of the year, these additional resources are making a difference and payments made to date in March have totalled €120 million which represents a significant increase on previous months.
34. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if pay scales for youth workers will be reviewed and updated to reflect their counterparts within the public sector; if youth work will be recognised as a profession; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15790/23]
View answerMy Department provides some €73 million in current funding to support a range of youth services and opportunities which are delivered by youth organisations and carried out by both paid youth workers and volunteers.
My Department has no role in the setting of pay scales or other matters that belong properly to the individual employer. The youth workers involved are employed directly by the organisation in receipt of funding.
There are currently no plans to review the professional status of youth workers.
35. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an update on progress being made to address the backlog of applications through the tracing.ie portal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15394/23]
View answerThe Birth Information and Tracing Act was signed into law on 30 June 2022, all services established under the Act are open to applications since 03 October. As of Monday 27 March a total of 7,526 applications for information have been received by he Child and Family Agency, Tusla and the Adoption Authority of Ireland (AAI), with over half of that total being received within two weeks of commencement.
Of the 7,526 applications, 4,455 are applications made to Tusla, and 3,071 to AAI. These applications are in addition to the 3,489 applications made to Tusla for tracing services since 03 October, and 3,106 preferences registered to the Contact Preference Register held by the AAI since it opened on 01 July. Tracing services are not subject to statutory time frames.
As of Monday 27 March, the two agencies have processed and completed 2,948 requests for information, 1,513 by Tusla, and 1,435 by AAI, 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 215 matches for relatives for whom they are facilitating contact.
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 have re-assigned 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.
36. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the plans to ensure that child protection statements provided by organisations are adhered to and implemented to the correct standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15100/23]
View answerThe Children First Act 2015, which was fully commenced in December 2017, provides for a number of key child protection measures, including raising awareness of child abuse and neglect, providing for mandated reporting of child protection concerns and improving child protection arrangements in organisations providing services to children.
The Act places specific obligations on particular organisations that provide ‘relevant services’ to children and young people, including a requirement to keep children safe from harm while they are using the service, to carry out a risk assessment and to develop a Child Safeguarding Statement (CSS). This is a written statement that sets out the service provided and the principles and procedures in place to ensure, as much as possible, that a child or young person using the service is safe from harm. The types of organisations and services to which these statutory obligations apply are set out in Schedule 1 to the Act.
Providers of relevant services are obliged to provide a copy of their CSS on request to Tusla, a parent or guardian of a child availing of the relevant service or to requesting members of the public. Tusla has established a Child Safeguarding Statement Compliance Unit (CSSCU) to support the implementation of this provision. CSSCU maintains a register of non-compliance for service providers who fail to provide a copy of their CSS to Tusla when requested to do so. Members of the public with concerns about Child Safeguarding Statements can bring these concerns to the attention of the CSSCU.
Also under the Act, mandated persons are required to report child protection concerns at or above a defined threshold to Tusla. The Act defines harm as assault, ill-treatment, neglect or sexual abuse, and covers single and multiple instances. Mandated persons are people who have contact with children and/or families and who, because of their qualifications, training and/or employment role, are in a key position to help protect children from harm. The list of mandated persons is set out in Schedule 2 of the Act and it includes teachers, health care professionals and persons employed as managers of homeless provision or emergency accommodation facilities.
The Act operates side-by-side with the non-statutory obligations provided for in Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children 2017 . These guidelines have been in place since 1999 and were fully revised and published in October 2017 to include reference to provisions of the Act.
The Children First National Guidance outlines that all organisations working with children and young people should create a culture of safety that promotes the welfare of children and young people availing of their services. All organisations working with children and young people should develop and put in place specific policies and procedures to create a safe environment, for example, around reporting child protection concerns, recruiting and managing staff and child safeguarding awareness and training.
It is the responsibility of each Government Department to ensure that children and young people are kept safe while accessing services provided or funded by them. The Children First Act provides for each Government Department to prepare a Sectoral Implementation Plan, which sets out the programme of measures either in place or planned to ensure compliance with Children First legislation and Guidance. These plans apply not only to that Department but also to any organisation providing a relevant service to children and receiving funding from the Department in that regard.
Together, the Children First legislation and Guidance set out the obligations of relevant services to prevent, as far as practicable, deliberate harm or abuse to the children availing of their services. While it is not possible to remove all risk, organisations should put in place policies and procedures to manage and reduce risk to the greatest possible extent. Tusla has developed helpful resources on statutory obligations as well as safeguarding best practice for organisations working with children and young people. These are available on their website.
37. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if it is proposed to introduce a grant scheme to assist in the provision of large-scale pre-school accommodation and the upgrading of existing accommodation, as existing grant levels will not be sufficient to ensure adequate childcare accommodation in the coming years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15755/23]
View answerMy Department successfully secured €70 million under the revised National Development Plan allocation for the Building Blocks Capital Programme.
The Building Blocks Capital Programme includes three Pillars:
- An Improvement Grant to improve energy efficiency standards, while also supporting the continuous improvement of the physical environment of services. The closing date for this scheme, the Building Blocks Improvement Grant, was 16th December last and applicants will be advised of the outcome in the coming weeks,
- A Capacity Grant to address capacity gaps, by funding an expansion in existing services and investing in the development of new services where most needed,
- An Innovation Grant to pilot a range of innovative initiatives such as outdoor early learning and childcare services.
Work is underway in the design and delivery of the Capacity and the Innovation Grant schemes. These schemes will be designed to meet current and long-term Early Learning and Childcare infrastructure needs. I hope to announce details of these schemes later this year.
38. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps he is taking to provide capital funding to family resource centres. [15565/23]
View answerTusla, the Child and Family Agency, administers the Family Resource Centre (FRC) Programme which provides funding support to 121 FRCs across the country. My Department allocates core funding for the FRC Programme and, since 2019, an additional €1.5m has been provided in funding, which has meant that yearly funding has amounted to €18m for this programme rising to over €20m post Covid.
I recognise and value the very positive impact of the work of the Family Resource Centres in supporting families and local communities. The centres provide a holistic service of child, family and community support and advocacy to all children and families in their community. This universal accessibility allows for early identification of need, provision of appropriate interventions, and timely referrals to appropriate services for more intensive and targeted work as required.
I should inform the Deputy that the funding from my Department represents only a portion of the total funding available to Family Resource Centres nationally. Family Resource Centres draw on various sources of funding provided by other Government Departments and Agencies. Tusla does not have a dedicated budget for capital or building works for third party organisations.
A spending review of Tusla-funded family support services is ongoing. A summary of the review was published in December 2022 and two detailed chapters are expected in the near future. This review will help inform future priorities for investment in these services.
I will continue to engage with Tusla, and Family Resource Centres on the key issue of their funding and sustainability of the valuable services they provide to our communities. I will consider Tusla's provision of Family support services in my Performance Framework for Tusla for the period 2024-2026.
In the meantime, Tusla continues to work with community-based family support organisations to best meet the needs of vulnerable children, families and communities.
39. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the measures his Department is taking to improve monitoring and oversight of disability services; if there are plans to introduce a statutory authority to audit disability standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15662/23]
View answerOn the 1st March 2023, responsibility for policy, functions and funding relating to specialist community-based disability services (SCBDS) transferred from the Department of Health to the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, coinciding with the commencement of the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022.
The transfer entails important changes in how the Health Service Executive (HSE) is governed, given that the HSE will now be required to report to two Ministers for separate, but interlinked, elements of its statutory functions. My Department will now have policy, oversight and funding responsibility for c. €2.6 billion in specialist disability services supporting approximately 80,000 people with disabilities.
One of the central principles and opportunities of the transfer of functions is to ensure a legally and operationally robust governance framework that provide for appropriate budgetary and performance management of the specialist disability services delivered by or on behalf of the HSE. The legislative framework is underpinned by a high-level agreement between the two Ministers and a Memorandum of Understanding between both Secretaries General, which will provide the administrative framework for ongoing close collaboration between both Departments and the HSE.
My Department will work to enhance and strengthen strategic direction, planning and service delivery in specialist disability policy and services. This will assist the important transition from a medical model of support towards a holistic, rights based approach that supports people with disabilities to live autonomously. Ongoing consultation and cooperation between the two departments is essential to maintain and further improve integrated service delivery and mainstream first pathways in meeting the needs of persons with a disability.
In line with the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies, a comprehensive Oversight Agreement with the HSE will be developed to reflect DCEDIY’s responsibility for funding, policy and oversight of specialist disability services. This overarching agreement will outline the governance and monitoring arrangements between DCEDIY and the HSE. Once developed, the Oversight Agreement will replace the interim arrangements currently in operation to ensure continuity immediately post-transfer. Performance will be measured against budget, activity targets and the key performance indicators (KPIs) agreed in the HSE’s annual National Service Plan.
In relation to quality standards, the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) is an independent authority established under the Health Act 2007, to drive continuous improvement and to monitor safety and quality in Ireland’s health and personal social care services.
The Health Act 2007 requires all providers, public, private and voluntary organisations, to identify residential services (older persons, people with disabilities and children) that meet the criteria for a designated centre and to apply to the Chief Inspector within HIQA to have those centres registered.
HIQA determines which services come within its ambit in accordance with the relevant statutory provisions. The Chief Inspector does not have authority to inspect or regulate residential services that are not designated centres.
Work is advancing on preparing regulation of home care and home support services, in light of feedback from public consultation. In addition, the HSE is setting up a multi-stakeholder implementation group for the Report on National Expert Review Group on Home Sharing, 2017, to review what can be done in relation to amending the Health Act 2007 so that Home Sharing has a legal / regulatory basis.
40. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there are any plans to introduce a disability awareness card in conjunction with the European disability card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15655/23]
View answerThe European Commission has announced its intention to introduce a legislative proposal to create a European Disability Card that will be recognised in all Member States. Development of the proposal is currently in its early stages. The Commission conducted a call for evidence to inform an impact assessment in late 2022. A public consultation is currently open for feedback.
The Commission hopes to present its proposal by Q4 2023. The proposal will then be subject to negotiations between the Council and the European Parliament.
Given that development of the European Disability Card is still in its initial stages, the scope and concrete objectives of the card are not yet clear, nor is it clear what national measures will be taken to support implementation of the card.
A pilot programme carried out in some Member States to inform the European Disability Card proposal focused on the areas of culture, leisure, sport and transport.
Ireland looks forward to participating actively in negotiations at EU level on the European Disability Card going forward and sees it as an important tool for promoting greater inclusion of people with disabilities across the EU.
