Written Answers Nos. 692-707
692. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total percentage of State spending and parental spending in 2021 and 2022 on early learning, care and school-age childcare, in tabular form. [24434/23]
View answerThe Department does not gather data on parental fee income to early learning and childcare services other than occasional research studies, e.g. the independent review of costs. The independent review of costs undertaken by Crowe in 2018 on behalf of my Department found that approximately 40% of the total income to the sector comes from parental fees. This percentage varies significantly across services. Many services rely entirely on State funding while others services rely exclusively on parental fees.
Core Funding Partner Services will be required to provide financial returns in late 2023 detailing their income and costs, which should provide up to date insight in to the financial operations of services.
State spending on early learning care and school-age childcare in 2021 and 2022 is as follows:
(Note: The 2022 outturn figure will be published at end of September when the Appropriation Accounts for the Vote are published at end September 2023.)
|
Allocation (€000) |
Revised Allocation Post Supplementary Estimate for Vote (€000) |
Outturn (€000) |
|
|
2021 |
640,230 |
n/a |
593,523 |
|
2022 |
715,936 |
743,213 |
TBC |
693. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the percentage of childcare agencies' income that is made up of fees. [24435/23]
View answerBudget 2023 allocated €1.025 billion to ELC and SAC, a 48% increase in allocation. This figure includes funding of Pobal, CCCs, VCOs, inspectorates, and sector supports, including the Learner Fund. Actual spending levels may differ from budget allocations. The following table presents beneficiary funding for 2023 allocations (i.e. excluding budgets for sector supports such as Pobal / Better Start, CCCs, VCOs, inspectorates, Learner Fund) provided for the ELC and SAC sector in 2023:
|
Funding Scheme |
2023 (€,000) |
|
ECCE |
264,600 |
|
NCS and Savers |
357,626 |
|
AIM |
43,600 |
|
Core Funding |
265,886 |
|
Capital |
9,000 |
|
Total Beneficiary Funding |
940,712 |
The Department does not gather data on parental fee income to early learning and childcare services other than occasional research studies, e.g. the independent review of costs. The independent review of costs undertaken by Crowe in 2018 on behalf of my Department found that approximately 40% of the total income to the sector comes from parental fees. This percentage varies significantly across services. Many services rely entirely on State funding while others services rely exclusively on parental fees.
Core Funding Partner Services will be required to provide financial returns in late 2023 detailing their income and costs, which should provide up to date insight in to the financial operations of services.
695. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what he intends to do with the abandoned former Tusla facility at a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24490/23]
View answerI have asked Tusla for more information about the property raised by the Deputy. I will arrange for Tusla to reply directly to the Deputy.
It is important to note that any buildings or facilities owned and managed by Tusla are not the property of my Department.
696. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if, given the skills shortage in areas such as construction, healthcare, teaching, farming, and caring, there are plans to progress a skills audit of people in the International Protection system with a view to harmonising skills and qualifications here; the amount that this would cost in the first year; his views on the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24542/23]
View answerMy Department does not have policy responsibility for this area. As the Deputy is aware, policy on employment affairs and supporting business is held by the Department of Social Protection and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment respectively. Where possible, the International Protection Accommodation Service will support international protection applicants to access employment-focused initiatives.
697. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if, in light of the shortage of IPAT accommodation and instances of refugees sleeping rough, if his Department has considered the use of the disused SIPTU office building on the South Circular Road. [24562/23]
View answerThe International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) is providing accommodation to 20,485 people seeking refuge in Ireland. Since January 2022 IPAS have brought 143 properties into use to ensure that all those who arrive in Ireland seeking shelter can be accommodated.
As at close of business on 18 May 2023, 523 international protection applicants (IPAs) were awaiting an offer of accommodation.
IPAS is responding to an offer of accommodation made in respect of the property mentioned on South Circular Road. The proposal is currently being reviewed to determine its suitability for same.
698. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the funding spent by his Department on Traveller Culture, Heritage and Identity annually in 2022 and 2023; and a breakdown by current and capital spending. [24585/23]
View answer699. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the funding spent by his Department on Roma Culture, Heritage and Identity annually in 2022 and 2023; and a breakdown by current and capital spending. [24586/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 698 and 699 together.
As the Deputy will be aware, the National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy (NTRIS) is a whole of Government approach to bring about meaningful change and progress for the Traveller and Roma communities in Ireland. It brings Government Departments and Agencies together along with representatives of both Traveller and Roma communities to bring a focus to the issues which affect them most in a structured way. The NTRIS contains 149 actions, grouped under ten themes including Cultural Identity; Education; Employment; Health and Accommodation.
While my Department has responsibility for central coordination of the NTRIS, each relevant Department has its own budget and is responsible for the implementation of its own commitments that impact upon Travellers and Roma, including in relation to culture, heritage and identity.
In 2023, my Department is providing €5.942 million in core funding to a number of Traveller and Roma organisations to progress actions under the NTRIS. This represents a 5% increase over the 2022 allocation. In addition, €880,000 and €930,000 was secured from the Dormant Accounts Fund to support Traveller and Roma initiatives in 2022 and 2023, respectively. Funding initiatives specifically related to culture, heritage and identity include:
• In 2022, €100,000 was provided for Traveller Pride Week in July, which enabled the roll–out of national and local events. This funding also supported the hosting of the 11th Traveller Pride Awards Ceremony – recognising and highlighting the achievements of Irish Travellers in their communities and beyond. Traveller Pride Week will take place on 3 - 14 July this year, again with the support of my Department.
• In 2022, funding of €49,457 was provided to a publishing company which works directly with Traveller authors to help them develop and publish literature related to Traveller culture and experience; this initiative aims to promote the inclusion of the Traveller community in the cultural life of Ireland. A further €4,700 has been provided under this initiative in 2023.
• In September 2022, my Department committed funding of €10,400 to the University of Galway in respect of a Traveller cultural programme which formed part of the meeting of the Council of Europe Expert Committee on Traveller Issues, ADI-ROM, held in the University.
• Funding of €63,048 was provided in 2022 to a Roma led organisation to promote Roma traditional music and culture, with a further €66,152 committed in 2023. In addition, my Department provides a small amount of funding annually for the celebration of International Roma Day in Ireland.
I should add that a component of the core funding of certain Traveller and Roma organisations is applied to actions related to culture, heritage and identity. For example, the 14 local organisations that constitute the National Traveller Partnership utilised opportunities, in partnership with the Traveller community, to actively represent and promote Traveller culture, identity and heritage at all levels of engagement, both within the Traveller community and the wider local geographical area, with local communities and services, and with national organisations and bodies.
All of the funding, which I have referred to, relates to current rather than capital spending.
700. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a property (details supplied) in County Clare is being acquired by the International Protection Accommodation Service to accommodate refugees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24746/23]
View answerThe International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) is providing accommodation to 20,485 people seeking refuge in Ireland. Since January 2022 IPAS have brought over 140 properties into use to ensure that all those who arrive in Ireland seeking protection can be accommodated.
IPAS is responding to an offer of accommodation made in respect of a hotel in Scariff, Co. Clare. IPAS has been engaging with the provider of this property and discussions are at an advanced stage. It is anticipated that this property can be brought into use in the near future to provide accommodation to international protection applicants.
701. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when an assessment of need will be undertaken in the case of a child (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24749/23]
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.
702. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide his response to a report (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24790/23]
View answerThe report referred to by the Deputy is from 2007 and makes a number of recommendations around supporting and providing opportunities for young people. My Department has made substantial progress since 2007 in supporting and promoting non-formal education and developmental opportunities for young people in that area.
My Department provides funding to all 16 Education and Training Boards to support youth services in their area. Youth Officers are supported to provide an important function for my Department in the co-ordination and administration of youth services at local level. My officials hold quarterly meetings with representatives of the ETBs. These meetings assist my Department in identifying service needs and emerging issues, particularly for vulnerable young people.
703. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide details of all the current and planned capital projects being funded by his Department or State bodies under his remit providing community or sporting facilities aimed at adolescents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24791/23]
View answerNeither my Department not its aegies bodies provide capital funding for Community or Sporting facilities for adolescents. I might suggest that the Deputy directs her inquiry to my colleagues, the Minister for Tourism Culture Arts Gaeltacht Sport and Media or the the Minister for Rural and Community Development.
704. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on reviewing guardianship laws (details supplied) to reflect larger societal changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24792/23]
View answerThis is a matter for my Cabinet colleague, the Minister for Justice.
705. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will examine the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24825/23]
View answerThe Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme was not developed with the intention of trying diminish anyone’s personal experience in these institutions. The Payment Scheme should be recognised as just one element of a comprehensive package of support measures agreed by the Government as part of the Action Plan for Survivors and Former Residents of Mother and Baby and County Home Institutions. This commenced with the Taoiseach's apology on 13th January 2021, to all survivors of these instititutions on behalf of the State.
The Action Plan will provide additional support and assistance to all those who may not be eligible for the Payment Scheme through other measures. Specifically, my Department has already delivered on the critical issue of access to records. So, for those children who spent short periods of time in an institution during their infancy – and consequently not eligible for the Scheme - the Action Plan provides a response to their needs in the Birth Information and Tracing Act 2022 and the investment which has been made available to support services under this Act. Those services are now available and will provide guaranteed access to birth certificates, as well as wider birth and early life information for those who have questions in relation to their origins. Since opening on 3 October, almost 4,600 applications for information and tracing services have been completed. Counselling support is also available to all survivors and former residents free of charge.
706. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total spend allocated to Tusla under the third Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence Strategy for capital works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24826/23]
View answerThis is a matter for my Cabinet colleague, the Minister for Justice.
707. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total estimated cost to build a ten room domestic violence refuge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24827/23]
View answerThis is a matter for my Cabinet colleague, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
