Written Answers Nos. 41-60
41. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there will be an increase in his Department's core funding to support the childcare sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15665/23]
View answerIn September 2022, 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) 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.
In Budget 2023, an additional €28 million was secured to increase the Core Funding allocation to €287 million for Year 2 of the Scheme. I have committed €4 million of that additional allocation in Year 2 to remove the 3-year experience rule for graduate premiums (subject to an amendment to the EROs) with the remaining €24 million to introduce other developments to the Scheme. Further interrogation of the new Core Funding application data is required in order to most effectively design developments in Year 2 of the scheme.
Budget 2023 allocates €1,025m to early learning and childcare – a clear demonstration from Government of the value of the sector. I am committed to working with Partner Services delivering early learning and childcare for the public good.
42. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he has engaged with childminders regarding their concerns about increased regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15557/23]
View answerThe National Action Plan for Childminding 2021-2028 commits to develop new, childminder-specific, regulations that are proportionate and appropriate to the home environment and the family setting in which childminders work. This is a necessary step in enabling non-relative childminders to register with Tusla and take part in the National Childcare Scheme, thus allowing parents who use childminders to access subsidies. I am keen to open the National Childcare Scheme to childminders at the earliest possible opportunity, but I am very conscious that the drafting of new regulations needs considerable care in order to get the regulations right, and needs engagement with childminders themselves.
That is why I have ensured there are childminders on the Steering Group for the National Action Plan as well as on all four Advisory Groups, including the Advisory Group on Regulation and Inspection of Childminding. That is also why engagement and consultation with childminders has been key to the process of bringing childminders into the scope of regulation ever since work on this began in 2016, when the Government established a working group on reform and asked Childminding Ireland to chair it. The Draft Action Plan was based on the report of this working group chaired by Childminding Ireland, and there was extensive consultation with childminders – and parents – on the Draft Action Plan.
Consultation will continue this year, with childminders and the wider public as we work on drafting the new regulations. I wish to acknowledge that positive engagement with childminders at local level is and will continue to be critical to success. An Advisory Group on Consultation and Communications has been formed to support the other Advisory Groups in their consultations.
43. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an update on the targeted domestic and international recruitment campaigns that are in place to hire staff for the children's disability network teams; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15558/23]
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.
44. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps he is taking to address staffing shortages among children's disability network teams in County Cork. [15563/23]
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.
45. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the progress being made to regularise childminders into Government supports. [15718/23]
View answerThe National Action Plan for Childminding 2021-2028 commits to extending regulation and supports to paid, non-relative childminders who work in their own homes over the coming years. The National Action Plan sets out a phased approach with a preparatory phase followed by an extended transition phase, to allow childminders a lead-in time for any requirements. This supportive, phased transition process aims to facilitate the largest possible number of childminders to enter the regulated sector, the sphere of quality assurance, and access to Government subsidies, while recognising the time and supports required for this reform.
Phase 1 of the National Action Plan, which began in 2021 and is expected to take 2 – 3 years to complete, involves detailed planning and putting in place the building blocks for the transition. Phase 1 also includes developing and rolling out training that is specific to childminders, further research on costs and on ways to support childminders most effectively, and re-examining the funding and financial supports available for childminders.
A Steering Group was formed in 2021 to oversee implementation. The Steering Group includes representation of childminders, parents and other key stakeholders. The Steering Group is supported by four Advisory Groups (membership of which also includes representation of childminders and parents) in relation to: regulation and inspection; training and support; funding and financial supports; and stakeholder engagement, consultation and communications. The Steering Group's first annual progress report was published on my Department’s website in February.
In line with the commitments in the National Action Plan, in January I secured Government approval to proceed with plans to remove the exemption in the Child Care Act 1991 from non-relative childminders who care for children in the childminders’ home. To bring all childminders within the scope of registration and subsidies requires amendment of this Act. This legislative change will allow us to introduce new, childminder-specific regulations. A number of consultations with childminders will be taking place over the coming months, the results of which will help to shape the draft regulations.
46. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children in CHO 9, Dublin, currently awaiting an assessment of need; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15746/23]
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.
47. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what supports he will put in place for people with disabilities facing eviction after the lifting of the eviction ban this week; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15765/23]
View answerThe Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has lead responsibility for housing matters. It leads on housing matters for all citizens, including people with disabilities. This is in line with the ‘mainstreaming first’ principle pursued by Government in respect of people with disabilities (Section 26 of the Disability Act 2005).
Furthermore, under Section 36 of the Disability Act 2005, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has express responsibility to prepare a sectoral plan which shall contain information concerning, among other things, “housing and accommodation for persons with disabilities ”.
The Deputy will be aware that from 1 March, 2023, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth assumed responsibility for Specialist Community-Based Disability Services. These services include residential placements for certain persons with disabilities who cannot be supported at home. There are over 8,000 such placements, and services are provided by a range of service providers including the HSE, Section 38, Section 39 and private for-profit organisations.
The HSE will monitor and oversee the provision of these placements as part of its ongoing monitoring and oversight of services with relevant service providers.
48. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the plans his Department has to instruct local authorities on using their sensitivity and discretion on any reporting of families to Tusla if the lifting of the eviction ban comes into force, with outstanding parents affected already being hugely concerned for the welfare of their children, with the added stress of fearing a report being made on a procedural basis, simply due to a prospective inability to find suitable accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14645/23]
View answerChildren who are with their families in emergency homeless accommodation are in the care of their parents or guardians, who have the primary responsibility for their protection. Homelessness as part of a family group is not, of itself, a basis for making a report to Tusla. Some children who are homeless as part of a family group may be referred to Tusla due to other child protection or welfare concerns that may impact them.
Tusla assesses child protection concerns and also concerns about the welfare of children. Families in homelessness and other challenging circumstances may benefit from the Partnership, Prevention and Family Support Service within Tusla. Other families may be engaged in the Meitheal process, in which a network of supports is developed for the child and family. Schools, youth clubs and other community based organisations participate in Meitheals.
While the role of parents is to protect their children, society also has a duty to promote the welfare and safety of children. The 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.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 Children first 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. The guidance sets out how reports about reasonable concerns of child abuse or neglect should be made by the general public and professionals to Tusla and what organisations need to do to keep children safe. These guidelines have been in place since 1999 and were fully revised and published in October 2017 to include reference to provisions of the Children first Act.
49. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the actions his Department is taking to combat child trafficking in the State. [14888/23]
View answerStatutory and operational responsibility for the delivery of child protection and welfare services is a matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency.
The International Protection Office, An Garda Síochána or the Border Management Unit contact Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, when separated children seeking international protection or unaccompanied minors arrive at an Irish port, to assess the child’s circumstances.
A 'separated child' is someone under 18 years of age who is outside their country of origin and separated from both parents or their previous legal / customary primary caregiver, but may arrive with other relatives or known (non-related) adults, including when those relatives or known adults have been provided with authorisation to travel with or care for the child.
An 'unaccompanied minor' refers to third-country nationals or stateless persons below the age of eighteen, who arrive on the territory of the Member States unaccompanied by an adult responsible for them.
Under Tusla’s obligations re the Child Care Act, 1991, and Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children, 2015, Tusla considers the risk of harm that a young person(s) may be in, including working with other state agencies on the possibility that the child may have been trafficked.
Tusla’s assessment of the child’s circumstances includes an assessment into how the child arrived in Ireland, and any concerns in relation to child trafficking. Separated children may present for reunification, sometimes with an agent, to be reunified with a family member in Ireland.
If required, the child is received into care until a more extensive child protection and welfare assessment can be undertaken and inter-agency working continues as required. If the outcome of the Social Work assessment is that the child is at risk of harm and should not be reunified with the alleged guardian/parent, then in accordance with Tusla and An Garda Síochána joint working protocol, Tusla forwards notifications of child abuse (indicating suspected trafficking) to An Garda Síochána, who determine if a crime has been committed and any criminal investigations into trafficking is a matter for An Garda Síochána to investigate.
The Government is firmly committed to ratification of the Second Optional Protocol to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
In consultation with the Office of the Attorney General, several legislative measures have been implemented which were necessary to ensure that Ireland is in compliance with the obligations of the Optional Protocol. Enactment of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017 and the Criminal Justice (Victims of Crime) Act 2017 were significant steps on the pathway to the ratification of the Optional Protocol.
Further smaller legislative amendments relating to the extra-territorial jurisdiction requirements under Article 3.1 will ensure that the State is in compliance with certain outstanding aspects of the Protocol. These amendments are included in the General Scheme of the Criminal Justice (Sexual Offences and Human Trafficking) Bill 2022, which underwent pre-legislative scrutiny in December 2022. The Report on Pre-Legislative Scrutiny by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice was published on 8 March 2023 and can be found at www.oireachtas.ie/en/committees/33/justice/. The Report is being reviewed by the Department of Justice and all recommendations therein are being carefully considered as drafting of the text of the Bill is finalised.
The Minister for Justice, Mr Simon Harris, TD hopes to secure government approval to publish the text of the Bill in the coming months after which it will be introduced into the Oireachtas. Once enacted, Ireland should be in a position to ratify the Second Optional Protocol.
The Criminal Justice (Sexual Offences and Human Trafficking) Bill 2022 will also put a revised National Referral Mechanism (NRM) on a statutory footing, making it easier for victims of trafficking to come forward, be identified, and access support.
The NRM is the framework through which the State fulfils its obligations to protect and promote the human rights of trafficking victims, working in partnership with civil society.
The proposed new NRM was approved by Government in May 2021 and is a key component in combating human trafficking. It is a clear demonstration of Ireland’s commitment to identifying and supporting victims of this abhorrent crime and it will strengthen our international reputation in this area.
In addition to this, work to develop a new National Action Plan on human trafficking is advanced.
This whole of Government plan sets out how the multi-agency work to combat this criminal activity and support victims will be taken forward.
The Department of Justice advises that it has engaged with a working group to draft the new National Action Plan high-level goals and outcomes. A draft Action Plan has been prepared and engagement with stakeholders is continuing.
The forthcoming National Action Plan on trafficking will further reflect our commitment to maintain a close working relationship with our colleagues in Northern Ireland, including the development of joint projects where relevant. One of the draft actions of the National Action Plan is to explore how we can further work together to identify key learning points and common themes from victim referrals.
It is expected the new Action Plan will be finalised and submitted to Government shortly for approval to publish.
50. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the level of capital funding available to his Department this year for the upgrading of existing childcare facilities and the provision of new childcare accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15754/23]
View answerMy Department successfully secured €70 million under the revised National Development Plan (NDP) allocation for the Building Blocks Capital Programme, designed to meet current and long-term Early Learning and Childcare infrastructure needs.
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.
- A Capacity Grant to address capacity gaps, to fund 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.
My Department has allocated €9m for The Building Blocks - Improvement Grant for Early Learning and School-age childcare facilities. 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.
There was a very significant number of applications received and it is my intention that applicants will be advised of the outcome of the appraisal process shortly.
Work is underway in the design and delivery of the Capacity and Innovation Grant schemes and I hope to announce details of these schemes later this year.
51. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what stage the recruitment and training of new staff for a premises (details supplied) is at in order to progress to a seven-day service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15553/23]
View answerAs this question relates to operational matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
52. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason that funding was not put in place to retain a respite centre (details supplied), as currently there is no provision of separate respite for children and adults; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15773/23]
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.
53. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will examine additional payments for foster carers in order to recruit more foster carers into the system. [15715/23]
View answerAs of the end of 2022 approximately 89% of children in care were being cared for by foster carers. While this record compares favorably internationally, I am aware that there is an ongoing difficulty in maintaining the number of foster carers in Ireland in line with demand for these placements.
I am aware that while the overall number of children in care has decreased by 621, or by 9.7% over the past 5 years, the number of foster carers has decreased even more significantly by 521 since Q1 2017, representing a fall of 11.6%. This trend has contributed to a reduction in foster care placements as a proportion of all children in care over that period, from 92% to 89%.
I can inform the Deputy that my Department is aware of concerns raised by stakeholders in respect of the basic rates of the foster care allowance and issues around recruitment and retention of foster carers. I can inform the Deputy that a priority of mine going forward will be to secure an increase to the foster care allowance in future budgets.
Subsequent to Budget 2023 I met with the CEO of Tusla 2023, and discussed the issue of payments for foster carers. It was agreed that a single additional once off cost of living payment in respect of each child in foster care would be paid. This payment, which was the equivalent of an additional weekly payment, was made to foster carers in November of last year. It was my intention that this once off payment would go some way to alleviating the financial pressures foster carers are currently facing.
Additionally I have been engaging with Tusla around the issue of travel costs incurred by foster carers when they are facilitating access or medical visits for the foster child. Tusla committed to reviewing the current supports available to foster carers in respect of mileage payments. An initial paper has been received from Tusla on the 21st of March 2023 and this is currently being reviewed by officials from my Department.
I can assure the Deputy that I will continue to work with Tusla and with my Government colleagues and any other relevant stakeholders going forward, seeking to review and improve the suite of supports available to foster carers.
54. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the actions his Department is taking to support those still in direct provision who have been naturalised to exit the system and integrate into society. [15170/23]
View answerAt the end of February 2023, there were 5,060 people with status (PWS) living in accommodation provided by the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS).
International Protection applicants (IPAs) who have been granted an international protection status or a permission to remain have the same access to housing supports and services as Irish and EEA nationals.
There are a number of supports available to PWS. The Department has a specific team in IPAS who work in collaboration with DePaul, the Peter McVerry Trust, officials in the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the County and City Management Association to collectively support PWS, to access housing options.
Those in IP Accommodation may be entitled to the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) – the tools of Homeless HAP including the place finder service where applicable are available to PWS once the Local Authority (LA) has assessed them as eligible for such.
DePaul and Peter McVerry Trust give assistance as required to households with housing applications, property searches, interviews, viewings. They liaise with the appropriate Local Authority contact to discuss local arrangements for processing of deposits, advance rent and scheme administration.
They also support the person’s integration into the community by providing information about vocational and training courses, CV preparation and aid with medical issues.
Earlier this year my Department launched The Communities Integration Fund (CIF) where €500,000 will be made available to local community-based projects nationwide to support the integration of migrants. Within the CIF, grants of up to €5,000 will be allocated to successful organisations to support integration initiatives.
60. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of non-EU students taking up medical places in universities in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7503/23]
View answerAccording the HEA's Student Record System, in the 2021/22 academic year in total there were 7,200 students enrolled across all years of medicine programmes. Of these, 3,600 were non-EU students.
The 2021/22 statistics are the most recent available. However, since this time, a significant agreement has been reached with the medical schools to increase the number of places for Irish and EU students.
Last July I announced, along with the Minister for Health, an agreement to increase the number of annual intake places available for Irish and EU students by 200 per annum. This increase is being phased in and 120 of the 200 places will be available for Irish and EU students from September 2023.
It must be understood that the funding model for medical education in this country has relied on the cross-subsidisation of places for Irish and EU students by the fees paid by non-EU students.
The agreement to increase the level of funding for existing places, to move them to a more sustainable basis was key to unlocking this expansion in Irish and EU place.
As the Deputy may be aware, the Higher Education Authority has conducted an expression of interest process for Higher Education Institutions interested in building capacity in Medicine, along with Nursing, Pharmacy, Dentistry and Veterinary.
I am working closely with the Minister for Health to facilitate the expansion of medical education places for Irish and EU students. We both briefed the Cabinet Committee on Health earlier this week on the progress already made and the prospects for further expansion. I expect to receive the final report of options for my Department to consider from the HEA shortly and following consultation with the Department of Health intend to bring proposals to Government thereafter.
