Written Answers Nos. 1237-1251
1237. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if financial supports could be put in place to reopen a facility (details supplied) for the continued integration of refugees at a location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17124/23]
View answerI am informed that the leisure centre attached to the Abbeyfield Hotel Reception and Orientation Centre in Ballaghaderreen closed in December 2022 due to issues with some of the equipment necessary for the operation of the swimming pool.
The operators of the centre are engaged with various contractors around replacing the equipment in question and they are not in a position at this time to provide a definitive timeframe around the re-opening of the leisure centre.
I believe that the leisure centre plays a crucial role in the interaction between the local residents and the residents of the ROC and I hope that it will re-open as soon as possible.
I have instructed my officials to continue engagement with the centre operators in that regard.
1238. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the average staff turnover rate in early learning and care services, broken down by service type (details supplied) and within each service type, by the size of providers, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17202/23]
View answerMany early learning and childcare services report staffing difficulties in relation to recruitment and retention. In general, staffing pressures in the sector are caused not by insufficient supply of qualified personnel, but by high levels of staff turnover.
Recruitment and retention difficulties are undoubtedly linked to pay and conditions. On 15 September 2022, the first ever Employment Regulation Orders for Early Years Services came into effect, setting new minimum hourly rates of pay. The Orders are being supported by Core Funding – which has an allocation of €259 million in its first year – to support amongst other things, improvements in staff wages, alongside a commitment to freeze parental fees and support sustainability of services. As announced in Budget 2023, the Core Funding allocation will increase by €28 million for the second year.
I have also committed to addressing other challenges which may impact on the recruitment and retention of staff in the sector. In December 2021, I published "Nurturing Skills: The Workforce Plan for Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare, 2022-2028". Nurturing Skills aims to strengthen the ongoing process of professionalisation for those working in the sector. One of the five "pillars" of Nurturing Skills comprises commitments aimed at supporting recruitment, retention and diversity in the workforce, and it includes actions to raise the profile of careers in the sector.
The below table shows average staff turnover rates for 2020/21 according to responses to the Annual Early Years Sector Profile reports, based on services that had stated 'Yes' to having staff vacancies in the survey. The data for 2021/22 is not yet available.
The methodology used to establish the turnover rate for each service involved factoring out any possible reduction or expansion in staff numbers. Four data types were used to calculate turnover as follows:
• Number of staff working in the service
• Number of staff who left in the past twelve months of the year in question
• Number of staff working in the service who had worked there for less than twelve months
• Number of staff vacancies at the time of completing the survey.
The staff turnover rate records staff who leave a service, rather than staff who leave the sector. When asked about the destinations of staff who had left their service, respondents indicated that 28% were known to have gone to another ELC or SAC service, 44% were known to have left the sector, 11% were known to have left Ireland, 9% were known to have permanently left the service for reasons related to COVID-19 (not including temporary layoffs) and respondents were unsure of the destinations for the remaining 8%.
The overall average staff turnover rate in 2020/21 was 19% across all services that responded to the Annual Early Years Sector Profile survey. The table shows the breakdown by type and size of service. It should be noted that some services offer more than one service type e.g. full day and sessional, etc. In the data presented in the table, a service with a capacity of under 50 places is classified as small, a service with a capacity of 50–99 is classified as a medium service, and a service with a capacity of 100 or more places is classified as large.
|
Service Type & Size |
2020/21 |
|
Full Day |
|
|
Large |
23% |
|
Medium |
23% |
|
Small |
26% |
|
Total |
23% |
|
Part Time |
|
|
Large |
22% |
|
Medium |
22% |
|
Small |
22% |
|
Total |
22% |
|
Sessional |
|
|
Large |
21% |
|
Medium |
21% |
|
Small |
16% |
|
Total |
18% |
|
SAC |
|
|
Large |
23% |
|
Medium |
22% |
|
Small |
27% |
|
Total |
24% |
|
Overall |
19% |
1239. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps he is taking in response to the finding in the National Report of Children's Disability Networks Team Staff Census and Workforce Review for 2022 that there are 707.32 vacancies across the 91 CDNTs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17216/23]
View answer1240. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps he is taking in response to the finding in the National Report of Children's Disability Networks Team Staff Census and Workforce Review for 2022 that the total therapy hours provided decreased by 6% in 2022 compared to 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17217/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1239 and 1240 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.
1241. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a property (details supplied) is to be used for emergency accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17236/23]
View answerLast year, over 15,000 people arrived in Ireland seeking accommodation while their applications for international protection are processed by the International Protection Office (IPO).
In the first thirteen weeks of 2023, over 2,600 people have arrived seeking international protection in Ireland. In addition, the Department has had to re-accommodate almost 2,000 people in situations where hotel and short term emergency locations have ended in 2023.
At the time of writing, there are almost 500 international protection applicants who have not been accommodated. Many of them are in the unfortunate position of having no accommodation at all.
In this severely pressurised context, my Department is currently responding to an offer from an accommodation provider in respect of the properties mentioned in Dublin 6.
A full assessment of the property is underway at present and, if a contract is agreed, the property will be used to accommodate international protection applicants.
1242. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will ensure that the national childcare scheme payments for afterschool clubs are accessible by children who require less than five days' care; if he will ensure that children who use these services three days a week will not be penalised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17261/23]
View answerThe National Childcare Scheme (NCS) is designed to substantially reduce costs to families using eligible early learning and childcare. It is designed to be flexible, recognising that childcare needs are different for each family.
The NCS was designed following extensive consultations with all key stakeholders (including but not limited to early learning and childcare providers).
The NCS is designed to fit around the needs of families. The family agrees the number of hours to be used with provider and (within overall scheme limits) these hours are registered with the scheme administrator. Those hours can be used over any number of days within the week. There are absolutely no restrictions on the attendance pattern of families or the number of days they use. The family only needs to agree with the provider the number of hours
I am aware of incorrect information circulating that if hours are missed, for example if a child is picked up early one day, that the payment will be reduced. I would like to be clear on this issue and dispel any myths in relation to this issue which may cause anxiety to parents as this is an area. My Department received extensive feedback on this matter in the design phase and the NCS has been consciously designed to be more flexible than its antecedent schemes.
To use a common example, a parent registers for 40 hours and picks up their child early on Friday thereby using only 37 hours, the provider would still receive a payment for 40 hours. The parent would need to consistently use 37 hours for 8 continuous weeks before a notification would issue that they are not using the claimed amount and request they adjust this within 4 weeks. This creates a balance between a very flexible system for families whilst ensuring an efficient use of public resources by ensuring public monies are not used to subsidise empty places.
Another common example would be a family taking 2 weeks holidays. The subsidy will continue to flow for those 2 weeks.
My Department is currently running additional communications initiatives to highlight the advantages of the scheme and combat this misinformation.
I would note that the it is matter for the provider to decide their service offer and their fee structure. They may choose not to offer a 3 day service. They are private businesses and they are free to run their model as they see fit within the parameters of the scheme. Decisions to charge parents on this basis are matters independent of the scheme and actions of the Department.
I would note however that the NCS subsidies now form part of a wider suite of funding supports and those supports should facilitate greater flexibility among providers.
On 15 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 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.
A key principle of the funding model is that it is family orientated and that, in so far as possible, it should be cognisant of the reasonable needs and choices of parents.
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. Unlike the NCS, it is not a subsidy mechanism for fees rather the payment is made on the capacity of the services (whether places are filled or not).
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.
My Department is actively monitoring any issues reported by parents and will adjust policy as required and where the evidence compels such interventions to support accessible and high quality early learning and childcare provision.
1243. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what additional staffing resources have been provided during 2022 and to date in 2023 to the Clare children’s disability network team for the purpose of reducing waiting lists in County Clare; if he will confirm what additional measures have and will be taken to further improve service delivery in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17274/23]
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.
1244. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will engage with the HSE to investigate whether providing group speech and language therapy while children await therapy sessions would be possible to ensure that more children get access to speech and language therapy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17318/23]
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.
1245. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he has considered allowing children to access therapies in a neighbouring CHO, if that CHO has capacity to offer additional services and their own CHO does not; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17319/23]
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.
1246. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he sought and received planning advice in respect of a building to accommodate persons seeking international protection (details supplied); if his attention or that of his officials has been drawn to the fact that Kildare County Council has determined that the building is a protected structure; if his attention or that of his officials has been further drawn to the fact that a letter regarding non-compliance with planning has issued in respect of the building's current use; if his attention or that of his officials was drawn to ongoing issues with the sewage and wastewater system; if he will confirm whether there is a common area provided for those now accommodated; if he will provide the date on which the contract for its use was activated in respect of the building and the duration of same; if he will provide the detail of who is party to the contract; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17323/23]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, last year, over 15,000 people arrived in Ireland seeking accommodation while their applications for international protection are processed by the International Protection Office (IPO). In the first fifteen weeks of 2023, almost 3,000 people have arrived seeking protection.
In addition, the Department has had to re-accommodate almost 2,000 people in situations where hotel and short term emergency locations have ended in 2023. As at 17 April, there are 513 newly arrived international protection applicants who have not been accommodated by IPAS, many of whom have no accommodation at all.
In this severely pressurised context, the Department has been informed that the provider for the property in question has referred the declaration made by Kildare County Council for review by An Board Pleanála. It is important to note that the provider has advised the Department that in the opinion of their planning consultant, the change of the property's use to provide accommodation for international protection applicants does not amount to a material change of use and that planning permission is not required.
Pending the outcome of these matters, the Department has decided to utilise the facility such is the pressure on the state accommodation system currently.
In light of the very real and immediate pressure, it was decided that the property must be used immediately to accommodate 80 female International Protection applicants. IPAS began to move in the new residents on Friday 31 March.
While the Department notes the concerns of local residents regarding the use of the property the Department must avail of all accommodation offers made to it in order to meet the basic needs of applicants, to comply with Ireland’s obligations under national and EU law and to prevent homelessness in as far as it can.
With respect to sewage and waste water, the provider has been made aware of the issues faced by a local resident and has assured the Department that should any issues be forthcoming they will be addressed immediately. The provider has also confirmed to the Department that there is ample common areas for residents in the property. Contractual matters in respect of IPAS properties are considered commercially sensitive, however, emergency contracts of this kind are normally for a period of 12 months initially.
We recognise that some local residents will not be happy with this decision, however, it is one that is absolutely necessary in light of the legal obligations on the State and on myself as Minister.
1247. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide additional funding to the MS care centre to provide an additional 1.128 bed-nights per year for people with multiple sclerosis in Ireland, to allow residents to learn more about their MS and find ways to self-manage their condition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17326/23]
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.
1248. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the parents of a person (details supplied) will receive a response/reply to their application for additional hours with Enable Ireland (currently in receipt of five hours per week); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17340/23]
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.
1249. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an update on the progress made with implementing the white paper on ending direct provision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17371/23]
View answerSince 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 is 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.
1250. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when IPAS will issue a payment to an accommodation provider (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17413/23]
View answerMy Department is prioritising maintaining a practice of more timely payments, including providing more resources to address any issues. Any delays in making payments are deeply regretted and my Department is according this issue very high priority.
I am advised that my officials are engaging positively with the provider and on the successful conclusion of this engagement it is expected that a payment will issue shortly thereafter.
The delay in payment was due to the large volume of invoices being received by my Department. Additional resources have been assigned within my Department, in addition to outsourcing of some tasks to accelerate processing. The volume of payments issuing is steadily growing. My Department will continue to press on to eliminate the backlog while ensuring appropriate governance is in place to safeguard the proper spending of Exchequer funding.
1251. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when overdue payments for accommodating Ukrainian refugees will issue to a hotelier (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17424/23]
View answerMy Department is prioritising maintaining a practice of more timely payments, including providing more resources to address any issues. Any delays in making payments are deeply regretted and my Department is according this issue very high priority.
I am happy to confirm that, as part of this prioritisation, the older outstanding invoices relating to this property, up to and including January 2023, have been discharged in the past fortnight. My officials are engaging with the provider in relation to the remaining invoices.
The delay in payment was due to the large volume of invoices being received by my Department. Additional resources have been assigned within my Department, in addition to outsourcing of some tasks to accelerate processing. The volume of payments issuing is steadily growing. My Department will continue to press on to eliminate the backlog while ensuring appropriate governance is in place to safeguard the proper spending of Exchequer funding.
