Tuesday, 30 May 2023

Disability Services

Questions (608)

Richard Bruton

Question:

608. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth that available therapeutic resource for children with special needs is properly allocated between completing assessments and delivering therapeutic services; and if he will indicate the key performance targets for the new disability networks, and their capacity to achieve them. [18546/23]

View answer

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

As this refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Health Services

Questions (609)

Gino Kenny

Question:

609. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is aware that community neuro-rehabilitation is a vital support for people living with neurological conditions, a community neuro-rehabilitation team was promised for every Community Health Organisation (CHO) area but most have not been delivered; if he will commit to a timeline to establish a team in every CHO; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17656/23]

View answer

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

As the query relates to service matters, I am referring it to the HSE for direct response to the Deputy.

International Protection

Questions (610)

Bríd Smith

Question:

610. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will change policy to ensure that all refugees will in future be provided with accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26002/23]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

The State has a legal and moral obligation to assess the claims of those who seek refuge and to provide accommodation and supports in line with the Recast Reception Conditions Directive (SI 230 of 2018).

The International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) does not make a decision to not provide accommodation to an international protection applicant (IPA), it is in the absence of an alternative, that IPAS is not in a position to provide accommodation.

Since the beginning of 2022, Ireland and many other European countries are experiencing a significant increase of new arrivals seeking international protection (IP).

In the first twenty weeks of 2023, more than 3,600 people have arrived in Ireland averaging 182 people per week – almost triple the average from 2017-2019.

The number of IPs awaiting accommodation has been reduced significantly and as of close of business 24th May 2023, 217 IPA's are currently waiting for an offer of accommodation. 1,063 have received a retrospective offer of accommodation.

The Department has considered all offers of accommodation. It is availing of office buildings, decommissioned Defence Forces barracks and tents to try to address the shortfall.

The Department is continuing to engage with providers on new accommodation and a number of repurposed buildings will shortly be brought into use as adult male accommodation to further reduce the numbers unaccommodated.

Question No. 611 withdrawn.

Direct Provision System

Questions (612)

Bríd Smith

Question:

612. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the current position in relation to the Programme for Government commitment to end the direct provision system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26005/23]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

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.

As will be appreciated the war in Ukraine 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. 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 an overall review of the projected timelines and deliverables is currently underway. The review is also considering the prioritisation 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.

It is anticipated the review will be completed 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 significant development of a new local integration model in collaboration with the Department of Housing Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH), the City and County Management Association (CCMA) and the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA). The integration model has been agreed and work is currently on going to operationalise the new model and to have the it in place by the second part of 2023.

- The roll out of an International Protection Integration Fund offering grants to civil society organisations for initiatives aimed at supporting the integration of International Protection applicants. Over €1.6m in funding was awarded to 67 organisations in 2022 through this new scheme. A second call for proposals to the scheme was launched in April 2023;

- The launch in April of a €1.3m funding framework to support the Children and Young People’s Services Committees (CYPSC) in further developing, enhancing and expanding the provision of their support services to children, young people and their families in International Protection accommodation settings. Funding to the CYPSCs will be allocated before the end of May;

- The development of the community accommodation model with the purchase of 37 properties. The properties are spread across the country and are a mixture of 2,3,4 bed houses and apartments and two larger 10 bed properties.

- An Expression of Interest competition was launched late last year in collaboration with the Housing Agency to commission Approved Housing Bodies to operationalise the properties purchased as supported accommodation for vulnerable applicants. Two Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) have been commissioned through this process and are currently working with the Housing Agency and this Department to operationalise the properties. The properties will be operationalised on a phased basis in the second half of 2023.

- The delivery of a dedicated accommodation for Victims of Trafficking. The delivery of the unit is planned for mid-August 2023.

- The development of a policy to support the roll out of a payment for children in the International Protection system. A feasibility analysis to examine options for operationalising this payment in light of the exponential growth in IP applicant arrivals in 2022 is currently ongoing.

- The development of an International Protection Information Hub to function as a resource for applicants, facilitating their integration to life in Ireland including an orientation programme and English language supports;

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

Ireland has responded to the largest displacement of people on the European continent since the Second World War. Since February 2022, my Department has worked extensively as part of the whole of Government response to assist 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.

I am advised by my officials that as of 28 May 2023, the total number of Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BoTPs) accommodated by the Ukraine Crisis Temporary Accommodation Team (UCTAT) in Co. Donegal is 5,224. The below information extracted from our records provides a geographical breakdown to the extent that this is captured in our database:

Number of BOTPS in Accommodation provided by DCEDIY in Donegal, by area
ARDARA	142
ARRANMORE ISLAND	36
BALLYBOFEY	188
BALLYLIFFIN	136
BALLYSHANNON	56
BUNBEG	138
BUNCRANA	57
BUNDORAN	685
BURNFOOT	9
CARNDONAGH	211
CARRICK	88
DERRYBEG	81
DONEGAL	97
DONEGAL TOWN	11
DOWNING	17
DUNGLOE	84
DUNKINEELY	34
DUNLEWEY	49
FALCARRAGH	12
FANAD	32
FINTOWN	16
GLENCOLUMBKILLE	48
GLENTIES	70
GWEEDORE	103
KILCAR	52
KILLYBEGS	180
KILMACRENNAN	90
KINCASSLAGH	56
LETTERKENNY	796
LIFFORD	24
MALIN	133
MILFORD	153
MILLTOWN	33
MOUNT CHARLES	13
MOVILLE	83
QUIGLEYS POINT	50
RAMELTON	70
ROSSNOWLAGH	53
STRAID CLONMANY	31
STRANORLAR	13
TERMON	59
Not Stated	935
Grand Total	5224

I wish to advise that matters relating to place of origin of arrivals is appropriate to the Department of Justice who have responsibility for reviewing and granting Temporary Protection status.

I trust this information is of assistance.

Early Childhood Care and Education

Questions (618)

Seán Sherlock

Question:

618. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he has any concerns that the current design of the National Childcare Strategy does not facilitate part-time childcare hours as providers are only paid for the hours used, and are therefore out of pocket if the child attends less than a full-time service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26172/23]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

The 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 early learning and childcare needs are different for each family. NCS subsidies are awarded as an hourly rate, along with a maximum number of weekly hours that the subsidy will be paid for. The particular arrangements are a matter between the service provider and family depending on their service offer.

Early learning and care (ELC) and school aged childcare (SAC) services are provided by private enterprises, either privately owned or operated by community organisations. While service providers are contracted by my Department to provide services at a subsidised rate to parents, and those providers must pass on the NCS subsidy in full and cannot increase fees, they are however free to set their own policies regarding levels of early learning and care offered, including whether or not they offer part-time places.

The NCS is designed so that families receive an allocation of hours which can be used at any time during a week. For example a family who want to use 30 hours of early learning and childcare per week can apply their subsidy to 6 hours per day, 5 days per week; or apply the subsidy 10 hours per day, 3 days per week. The level of funding starts at €1.40 per hour and rises to €5.10 per hour depending on age of the child and the family's household income. An allocation of up to 45 hours per week is available depending on whether all parents are in work or study.

Given the large amount of public money that is invested by the Exchequer in funding the Scheme, there must be an appropriate level of oversight and accountability. As such, it would not be appropriate to use exchequer funding to provide NCS subsidies as a full day allocation when a child only attends a service part time.

Early Childhood Care and Education

Questions (619)

Seán Sherlock

Question:

619. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason ECCE providers are paid according to daily attendance, in contrast to the Department of Education system where primary and secondary schools are subvented and teachers paid irrespective of classroom attendance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26173/23]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

All children meeting the minimum age requirement of 2 years and 8 months are eligible for two full programme years on the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme. The ECCE programme is offered for 3 hours per day, up to 5 days per week.

ECCE is not a mandatory programme and it is parental choice whether a child attends full time, part time or not at all. A parent/guardian may choose to avail of, for example, only 4 days of ECCE per week. This would mean that their child attends for 12 hours of free early learning and care under the ECCE programme. It would be an inappropriate use of public funds to pay a subvention of the full amount of 15 hours a week to a provider only providing a service of 12 hours a week in this scenario.

Service Providers must keep daily attendance records for each child attending and records must include the child’s full name, date of attendance, time of child’s arrival and time of child’s departure. Where attendance differs from registration in a consistent pattern over a four week period, registrations must be updated to reflect the actual pattern of attendance. An update on the Early Years Hive (the online registration system) must occur immediately after the four weeks of the reduced attendance pattern commencing.

In exceptional circumstances, for example, serious illness, the service provider may apply to retain a child's registration beyond four weeks up to a maximum of twelve weeks.

Departmental Expenditure

Questions (620)

Ivana Bacik

Question:

620. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the amount paid by his Department to external legal teams, HR specialists, accountancy firms and consultants in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26226/23]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

The information being sought by the Deputy is currently being collated and the response will issue as soon as possible.

Early Childhood Care and Education

Questions (621)

Seán Haughey

Question:

621. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if early years educators in the public system can be paid throughout the school holidays in order that they do not have to apply for jobseeker's benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26248/23]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

Early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC) services are private businesses, comprising a mix of private for-profit and community not-for-profit services. The State does not employ early years educators. As a result, my Department cannot set wage levels or determine working conditions for staff in the sector. Additionally, as ELC and SAC services are private businesses, their policies on operating hours and staffing are a matter for the service provider. As such, the decision to close a service at times of the year, e.g. during holidays when the universal ECCE pre-school programme is not operating, lies with the service provider. There is no requirement for ELC or SAC services to close during holiday periods, and many ELC and SAC services operate year-round.

The rules regarding social protection entitlements fall outside of the remit of my Department. Concerns over such entitlements are a matter for the Department of Social Protection.

My Department has provided a range of supports to ELC and SAC service providers to enable them to improve wages and working conditions for their staff. In particular, there is now, through the independent Joint Labour Committee (JLC) for Early Years Services, a formal mechanism established by which employer and employee representatives can negotiate minimum pay rates and working conditions for ELC and SAC services.

With effect from 15th September 2022, two new Employment Regulation Orders (EROs) for Early Years Services, negotiated through the JLC, came into effect, providing for minimum hourly rates of pay and other conditions of employment for various roles in ELC and SAC services.

The EROs 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 for sustainability of services. As announced in Budget 2023, the Core Funding allocation will increase by €28 million for the second year. I understand that the JLC is continuing to meet in relation to possible future pay negotiations.

Also, in December 2021, I published "Nurturing Skills: The Workforce Plan for Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age Childcare (SAC), 2022-2028" . This Plan includes specific actions for moving to a graduate-led workforce by 2028, establishing a career framework for staff working in the ELC and SAC sector, including role profiles, qualifications requirements and the strengthening of career pathways. Nurturing Skills also includes actions to support the recruitment and retention of staff with the necessary qualifications, and ongoing staff training and development, to create a workforce which feels valued and is motivated to deliver the best possible service to children.