Written Answers Nos. 582-594
582. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will advise on his engagement on the transfer of Brexit adjustment reserve funding to the REPower EU fund; if he has requested that funding will be ringfenced for agricultural purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26374/23]
View answerThis is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery & Reform.
583. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an update on the return of therapists to special schools; the number who have returned to Cork schools; and the number who will return in September, by role, in tabular form. [26125/23]
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.
584. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the position in respect of calls by a charity (details supplied) to ensure that new mothers with cancer can defer maternity leave until they have finished their respective treatments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26186/23]
View answerThe Maternity Protection Act 1994 and the Maternity Protection (Amendment) Act 2004 provide a pregnant employee with six months of paid maternity leave and an additional 16 weeks of unpaid leave, alongside other entitlements such as breastfeeding breaks which will be extended to two years following the birth of the child through the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023.
The Acts include provisions for the postponement of maternity leave in the event of the hospitalisation of the child and for the termination of additional unpaid maternity leave in the event of illness of the mother.
All forms of family leave are kept under review to ensure that they are effective in supporting families and children. I have asked my officials to examine the issues raised by the Irish Cancer Society regarding the deferral of maternity leave where a mother falls ill during this period and this work is ongoing.
585. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if additional home support hours can be provided to a person (details supplied) who suffers from spinal muscular atrophy and has significant associated needs and who currently receives 4.25 hours per week in home support; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26264/23]
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.
586. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the potential costs to undertake a comprehensive review of staffing structures within Tusla; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25542/23]
View answerI wish to inform the Deputy that my officials have asked Tusla to respond directly to you on this matter.
587. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated cost of increasing capacity in early years providers for baby places 0-1 nationally by 10%. [25594/23]
View answerSome €69 million was allocated to the Early Learning and Childcare sector in the revised National Development Plan (NDP) allocation. This will enable significant capital investment in early learning and childcare across three pillars: (1) Building Blocks - Improvement Grant, (2) Building Blocks - Capacity Grant and (3) Building Blocks - Innovation Grant.
The design of both the Building Blocks - Capacity Grant scheme and the Innovation Scheme are currently underway. A working group has been established comprising officials of my Department, representatives of the County Childcare Committees and Pobal. The working group will examine the likely capital costs of physically extending Early Learning and Childcare facilities, including the estimated cost of increasing capacity for baby places 0-1. The working group will also conduct a needs analysis as to where additional capacity is required by geographical location and age group. Until my Department completes this work it is not possible to state the estimated cost of increasing capacity for baby places, age 0 -1, in Early Years at this present time.
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, the Department also relies on data from the register of services held by Tusla, data provided by services as part of their application for Core Funding and has also conducted several surveys with parents. Since 2020, five parent surveys have been undertaken by Ipsos MRBI on behalf of the Department.
Based on data captured through the Early Years Sector Profile Surveys 2020/22 (gathered in Spring 2021 with a response rate of 57%) and 2021/22 (gathered in Spring 2022 with a response rate of 82.5%) – extrapolated to take account of all services– the number of places for children aged 0-2 increased by 3% over this period. Data collection for the Early Years Sector Profile 2022/23 is currently underway and will give an updated position.
588. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the budget allocated for Tusla under the NDP for ICT infrastructure; the budget allocated for Tusla by his Department for ICT infrastructure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25626/23]
View answerTusla’s capital expenditure is divided between Estates and ICT programmes. Tusla is a maturing organisation with considerable development needs and has developed Estates and ICT strategies
Strategic capital investment in Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, will help Tusla to continue to develop as an independent body. Investments in ICT infrastructure will support effective service delivery through an expanding workforce and by providing more effective systems for case management and performance reporting.
Capital Allocation to Tusla 2017-2022
|
Year |
Amount (€ million) |
|
2017 |
13.56 |
|
2018 |
13.94 |
|
2019 |
13.19 |
|
2020 |
16.89 |
|
2021 |
17.19 |
|
2022 |
17.50 |
|
2023 |
17.50 |
Tusla's ICT unit was established in 2017. Investment has increased from 2017 onwards as Tusla progressed its ICT and Data Management Strategies. Similar levels of Capital are being provided in 2023.
Currently, the split is approximately €9.5m on Estates programmes, with €8m on ICT. The ICT programme requires steady state investment to support the ICT needs of the organisation, with over 5,000 users. This includes the need to provide for existing commitments under Tusla's Data Management Strategy including data warehousing, case management development and improved performance reporting.
Examples of recent and ongoing projects include:
• In July 2021, Tusla expedited and extended the ambition of the planned migration from the HSE ICT network. Between July 2021 and November 2022 Tusla successfully delivered an €8 million programme to build its own ICT Infrastructure (known as TuslaIRL) and to migrate all offices, staff, devices and data to the new network. Tusla now has a modern ICT network connecting over 250 Tusla offices and 6,000 users.
• The Tusla ICT Directorate established an Information Security (InfoSec) programme in 2019 to ensure that the development of Tusla’s new ICT network and planned migration from the HSE would be underpinned by a parallel programme focused on cyber and related security enhancements.
• Tusla is currently progressing a €13 million investment in cyber security infrastructure over a five year plan 2022-2026. The project has now delivered an enhanced security infrastructure with further initiatives planned for 2023.
As the Deputy can appreciate, many of Tusla's teams need to be visit children in various locations and Tusla are providing for an upgrade of the Tusla fleet of vehicles to less environmentally-damaging electric vehicles and this is also covered by the Capital allocations.
My Department will continue to support Tusla's investment in its infrastructure needs be they in the ICT space or for example for buildings that put a roof over the heads of some of Ireland's most vulnerable children. Tusla have shown over recent years that capital allocations are well-managed, very much needed and that as an organisation Tusla can deliver extra capacity when afforded the opportunity to do so.
589. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will review the core funding model which is presently undermining the viability of sessional providers, some of whom are now being forced to close; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25664/23]
View answerThe Government is investing significantly in the early learning and childcare sector and there is an ambitious new funding model being introduced to improve stability and sustainability for providers. There are supports, financial and otherwise, available to services who need them.
In September 2022, I launched Together for Better, the new funding model for early learning and childcare. 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). Core Funding is designed specifically as a supply-side funding stream, paid directly to providers, related to the costs of delivery.
Core Funding is based on operating hours, number of places offered by services, and the age group of children for whom the places are offered, given the staffing requirements determined by the regulatory ratios for different care categories, as well as allocations for graduate leaders in services.
Core Funding contributes to services’ sustainability and significantly increases income for the overwhelming majority of services and provides greater funding stability. Already 95% of services have signed up to Core Funding and the scheme remains open for applications.
Core Funding operates alongside ECCE and NCS and by contrast to the other funding schemes, provides payment in respect of the number of child places rather than based on child registrations or attendance. This intentional and deliberate differentiation of approach in the new funding model means the Core Funding element of a service's income is a more stable income source that will not fluctuate year on year. This idea of funding capacity is a key new approach in Core Funding, which many providers advocated for through stakeholder consultation during the design of Core Funding. This mixture of supply-side and demand-led public funding provides a welcome balance to the funding model, and assists services who may be experiencing lower than anticipated child registrations for a number of reasons.
For year 2 of Core Funding, I secured an increase of €28 million (11% increase). This brings full year budget of Core Funding year 2 to €287 million. This substantial increase in the Core Funding budget has allowed for important changes in the Core Funding allocation model, in order to further the objectives of the scheme. The full allocation for year 2 allows for the continued success of the Core Funding scheme as the mechanism to provide public funding directly to early learning and childcare services to support increased quality, affordability, and sustainability for the sector.
The new allocation model was determined by evidence and analysis emerging from year one of the operation of the scheme. €7.22m of the €28m is allocated towards new targeted measures. A flat rate top-up payment of €4,075 will be given to all services registered on the Tusla Register of Early Years Services as sessional only. This top-up payment is in addition to the services base rate and graduate premium. This flat rate top-up payment will be made to sessional services regardless of the level of Core Funding they receive. This measure will benefit approximately 1,700 sessional only Partner Services.
Sessional services often attract less Core Funding in total because of their business model, which operates for shorter hours than most other service types. However, sessional provision is a key part of the overall early learning and childcare model in Ireland. Funding for sessional services increased on average in 2022/23, but less so than for other service types. This new targeted measure is considered in the best interests of all stakeholders and in supporting sessional provision as an important part of the early learning and childcare delivery model.
Another new targeted measure for Core Funding in year 2 is the introduction of a minimum base rate allocation will be set at €8,150, for all Partner Services except childminders. This is the minimum amount of funding a Partner Service will receive from their Core Funding base rate and the flat top-up payment for sessional services where applicable. All Partner Services delivering centre-based provision, regardless of the size of their service, will receive at least this minimum base rate allocation. All sessional services will receive at least €8,150, from their base rate and flat top up payment combined. This minimum base rate is not affected by the graduate premiums, which are applied on top of it and which will continue to operate as in year 1.
The Minimum Base Rate Allocation continues the successful practice of establishing safeguards to ensure there are no unintended outcomes of Core Funding. Having a minimum allocation will mean that all Partner Services have a minimum financial contribution through Core Funding. Those who are most likely to benefit will be small, part time services and SAC services.
Data from Tusla on service registrations shows that the number of services that closed in 2022 and that have closed so far in 2023 are broadly in line with previous years. There is considerable diversity in the reasons given for closure by providers.
In 2022, there were 141 ELC closures notified to Tusla and 83 new service registrations (i.e. 58 net closures). This compares with 141 closures and 65 new registrations in 2021 (i.e. 76 net closures), 197 closures and 91 registrations in 2020 (106 net closures), and 196 closures and 93 registrations in 2019 (103 net closures).
At end April 2023, there were 20 closures and 12 new registrations of ELC services for 2023. This compares with 32 closures and 13 new registrations in the same period in 2022. Year on year comparisons are not relevant for SAC services due to registration only commencing recently.
Services that are experiencing difficulty and who would like support are encouraged to contact their City/County Childcare Committee (CCC) to access case management supports. Services can be assisted on an individual basis through this route and it also allows for trends and themes across the country to be identified that can inform a more systematic response if necessary.
Stability and sustainability of early learning and childcare services is a top priority for Government, as demonstrated by the significant additional investment in the new funding model plus the wider whole-of-government supports for providers throughout the pandemic and now offered through TBESS. The Department, with Pobal and CCCs, will continue to engage with the sector and monitor the financial situation of early learning and childcare services, and supports are available where services face sustainability issues.
Budget 2023 allocates €1.025 billion to early learning and childcare – a clear demonstration from Government of the value of the sector. Together for Better aims to transform the sector and I am committed to working with Partner Services delivering early learning and childcare for the public good.
590. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an update on payments due to a service provider (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25676/23]
View answerMy Department is prioritising making more timely payments of valid invoices, including providing more resources to address any issues, and outsourcing of elements of the process to speed up processing and to respond to supplier calls.
With regard to the service provider referred to, I am advised by my officials that one of the invoices mentioned in the Details Supplied has been paid and a further three have been processed, with payment expected to issue in the coming fortnight subject to final checks. With regard to the remaining invoices mentioned, my officials will be engaging with the provider in the coming days to supply the details required for a valid invoice, in order to facilitate processing and payment.
My Department will continue to press on to eliminate the payments backlog while ensuring appropriate governance is in place to safeguard the proper spending of Exchequer funding.
591. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when a service provider (details supplied) will receive payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25683/23]
View answerMy Department is prioritising making more timely payments of valid invoices, including providing more resources to address any issues, and outsourcing of elements of the process to speed up processing and to respond to supplier calls.
With regard to the service provider referred to, I am advised by my officials that the documents referred to in the Details Supplied are in process, with payment expected in the coming weeks once final checks are completed.
My Department will continue to press on to eliminate the payments backlog while ensuring appropriate governance is in place to safeguard the proper spending of Exchequer funding.
592. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he can assist a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25704/23]
View answerIreland has responded to the largest displacement of people on the European continent since the Second World War. Since February 2022, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has worked extensively to accommodate over 83,000 arrivals fleeing the war in Ukraine, of which 61,000 have sought accommodation from this Department.
Overseeing provision of accommodation on this scale during this timeframe for all those who require it remains immensely challenging. Due to the urgent need to source accommodation, the Department has contracted in excess of 47,000 beds to accommodate Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) in more than 770 settings including hotels, guesthouses, B&Bs, hostels, commercial self-catering accommodation and certain other repurposed settings.
The priority is to place people fleeing the war in safe and secure accommodation.
The Department does not comment on individual cases. I am advised that officials have replied to the individual referred to, on foot of related correspondence.
593. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the level of funding spent on providing training for clinicians in private clinics providing outsourced assessments and therapies for the HSE over the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25732/23]
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.
594. Deputy Colm Brophy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will confirm the number of vacant posts waiting to be filled in the Mid-West Disability Team providing services to children living in County Clare in 2022 and 2023; if he will outline the vacant posts, by discipline, in tabular form; the status on the recruitment for these vacant posts and efforts being made to fill these posts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25734/23]
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.
