Written Answers Nos. 517-531
518. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will instruct his Department to investigate the situation with 21 Harrington Street; if he will ensure other landlords do not illegally evict tenants so they can get a contact with the State (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29356/23]
View answerIreland has responded to the largest displacement of people on the European continent since the Second World War. Since February 2022, my Department has worked intensively as part of the cross-government humanitarian response to assist over 84,000 arrivals fleeing the war in Ukraine, of which 62,000 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, my 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 my Department will not be pursuing the accommodation referred to.
519. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of assessment of need assessments that have been outsourced by the HSE to private providers in CHO1 in 2022 and 2023; the cost of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29385/23]
View answer520. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of assessment of need assessments that have been outsourced by the HSE to private providers in CHO2 in 2022 and 2023; the cost of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29386/23]
View answer521. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of assessment of need assessments that have been outsourced by the HSE to private providers in CHO3 in 2022 and 2023; the cost of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29387/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 519 to 521, inclusive, 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.
522. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the work undertaken by the Inter-Departmental Committee concerning the Referendums on Family, Care and Equality; if that committee has engaged in any external stakeholder or targeted consultation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29411/23]
View answerOn 8 March 2023 the Government announced the intention to hold a referendum on gender equality as recommended by the Citizens’ Assembly and the Special Joint Oireachtas Committee on Gender Equality. It is envisaged that the referendum will take place in November of this year.
As part of its work, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth invited submissions on the issues from interested parties.
All submissions are being reviewed and the content of these will be considered as part of the work of the Interdepartmental Committee charged with examining and advancing the recommendations made by the Citizens' Assembly on Gender Equality and the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Gender Equality.
523. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children who are currently in temporary (bridging) foster placements and/or using emergency accommodation such as hotels, youth homelessness- or hostel-type accommodation, who are approved and are awaiting a residential placement, broken down by CHO, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29450/23]
View answerAs this relates to Tusla operational matters, the question has been forwarded to Tusla for direct reply to the Deputy.
524. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to confirm that as part of the Personalised Budgets Demonstration Projects Pilot that when PAS funding is unbundled from existing services how much of that HSE budget is retained by organisations who will no longer provide a PA service to disabled people in this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29455/23]
View answerI have been advised that when a service user, who is currently in receipt of HSE funded services, expresses an interest in participating in the Pilot Personalised Budget Project, with the participants agreement the Personalised Budget Office commences engagement with the local Disability Services Department in the CHO, advising that we have received a request from Client X who is currently in receipt of, in this example, PAS from Provider Y. The funding associated with the PAS is advised as is €X amount. In this example, the participant still requires PAS but they are deciding, in line with their expressed will and preference, to choose either a different service provider or reconfigure their current service. In this regard, there is no reduction in the overall PAS, as it is either provided by an alternative service provider or the current service provider in a reconfigured manner.
525. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth whether a public consultation will form part of the stakeholder engagement process during his Department’s ongoing review of the ECCE programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29465/23]
View answerMy Department has appointed Stranmillis University College, Belfast to undertake an independent review of the ECCE programme. The review will assess whether the ECCE Programme is meeting its core objectives and will identify any opportunities for enhancements that can be made to the Programme, based on international evidence and experience to date.
The review will be informed by consultation with a sample of stakeholders including parents, children and ELC providers. This consultation will take the form of surveys, interviews and setting visits. This stakeholder consultation phase of the ECCE Review is currently underway, the final report is due for completion by the end of 2023.
526. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for an update on the new guidelines around the use of vacant or closed nursing homes for housing refugees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29467/23]
View answerThe policy referred to is a matter for the Department of Health and questions should be referred to that Department.
527. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will outline the implementation of circular 25/2016 by each State body under the aegis of his Department; and if he will provide, in tabular form, by State agency, the compliance with each of the standards and timelines set out in responding to Oireachtas Members’ queries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29469/23]
View answerPlease refer to the table below for information on compliance with the provisions of Circular 25/2016 within each of the State Bodies under the aegis of my Department.
Please note that the Office of the Ombudsman for Children (OCO) and the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) will revert directly with their responses to this question.
As Gaisce is not a State Body, this question does not apply to it.
I trust that the information below is helpful.
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Name of State Body |
Response |
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Adoption Authority of Ireland |
The Adoption Authority of Ireland, established on 1 November 2010 under the Adoption Act 2010, is an independent quasi-judicial body under the aegis of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY). The Authority is also, in line with The Hague Convention on the Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption, the central authority for intercountry adoption in Ireland. The purpose of the Adoption Act 2010 is to improve standards in both domestic and intercountry adoption. In accordance with D/PER Circular 25/2016 - Protocol for the Provision of Information to Members of the Oireachtas by State Bodies under the aegis of Government Departments/Offices, the Authority are obliged to: Provide and maintain a dedicated email address (corporate@aai.gov.ie) for Oireachtas members and notify/publicise this to Oireachtas members (available on the Authority’s website). Put in place formal feedback processes to obtain feedback from Oireachtas members. Comply with target deadlines and standards in terms of acknowledgements and responses to queries. As stated in the Authority’s Customer Charter, each section inbox is monitored on a daily basis and the Authority will make every effort to send an email of acknowledgment within two working days. Where it is not possible to provide a definitive reply with the acknowledgment, a reply will be provided within 10 working days. The Head of Compliance has the responsibility for ensuring the timely provision of information to members of the Oireachtas. Report annually (in the Chairperson’s comprehensive report to the Minister) on compliance with standards set out in Circular 25/2016. Seek, where appropriate, to publish the response to queries from members of the Oireachtas on the Authority’s website. |
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TUSLA, the Child and Family Agency |
TUSLA has a Parliamentary Affairs Division dedicated to providing responses and input to Parliamentary Questions, Reps and other queries. This Parliamentary Affairs Division also acts as a point of contacts for queries from Oireachtas members. At all times TUSLA endeavours to reply within specified timelines while being mindful that responses often require input and validation from front-line Social Workers, who are engaged in vital work protecting some of the most vulnerable in society. A more detailed response will be shared directly with the Deputy by TUSLA. |
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The National Disability Authority (NDA) |
The National Disability Authority is the statutory body with a role to provide independent evidence-informed advice to government on matters relevant to disability policy and practice, and to promote Universal Design. In relation to circular 25/2016, the NDA offers the following response in relation to the various elements of the circular relevant to State Bodies, as set out on page 4 of same: The NDA maintains a dedicated email address for Oireachtas members, oireachtasreps@nda.ie, and this is publicised on our website nda.ie/about/contact The NDA receives a very small number of queries through this address and so feedback surveys would not be appropriate. However, the responses issued have been welcomed by the Oireachtas members in question, with thanks communicated for the information and advice provided. We have taken this to indicate positive feedback to our response approach and content. The NDA complies with the timelines for response set out in the circular. The Head of Corporate Services at the NDA takes responsibility for ensuring the timely provision of information to members of the Oireachtas, with final oversight and accountability from the Director of the organisation. The NDA reports on our overall compliance with the circular in the annual report, and will further report on the standards through the Chairperson’s Statement. The NDA has not published responses to queries from Oireachtas members on its website to date, as the number of queries submitted over the last number of years has been very low. We will keep this situation under review and if appropriate, will proceed to publish relevant responses. |
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Oberstown Children Detention Campus |
The Oberstown Children Detention Campus has not yet made steps to implement the provisions set out in Circular 25/2016. However, officials in my Department are working with Oberstown to put these processes in place. |
528. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of assessment of need applications received by CHO in each of the last five years, in tabular form. [29491/23]
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.
529. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if children referred to children's disability network teams by a GP, public health nurse or other health official are automatically added to the assessments of need waiting list as covered by the Disability Act 2005; if not, if they are added to a separate list that is not covered by the Act; where a separate list that is not covered by the Disability Act 2005 is maintained, how a child can be added to the assessments of need waiting list covered by the Act; if this requires an application via an assessment of needs officer; the number of children on a separate list that is not covered by the Act, by CHO; their duration on this list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29493/23]
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.
530. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth how much it would cost his Department to introduce a €500-per-month payment for the families who have a child/children participating in the AIMs programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29599/23]
View answerI understand from further clarification that the intent of this payment is to benefit families to support the unmet needs of the child.
It should be noted that income supports fall under the remit of the Department of Social Protection and this question may be more appropriate to that Department.
The Access and Inclusion model (AIM) provides supports without the need diagnosis in the context of the ECCE provision only and is therefore not an appropriate method to assess whether a family may require a payment for any unmet needs outside of this context.
Nevertheless, my Department has undertaken to calculate what such a payment might cost on the basis requested
The number of children approved for targeted supports under Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) Level 4, 5 and 7 supports for the 2022/23 programme call is 7,275.
Based on this figure, if each family were to receive a payment of €500 per-month for 12 months the cost would amount to over €43.5 million. To note, families may include more than one child receiving AIM support. It is not readily possible to identify the number of families with more than one child in AIM, however this likely to be a small number.
More broadly a whole-of-Government approach is required to ensure that everyday costs are reduced for people with disabilities and their families. Advancing disability-inclusive systems of social protection and support in Ireland establishes a critical foundation from which many essential human rights in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities can be realised.
Following the conclusion of the National Disability Inclusion Strategy, work is currently ongoing in DCEDIY to coordinate development of a new national disability strategy. It is important this strategy includes meaningful action to reduce day to day costs for people with disabilities and their families in Ireland.
The Cost of Disability in Ireland report, which was commissioned by the Minister for Social Protection and published in December 2021, will be an important contribution to the evidence base from which actions and commitments in this new strategy are developed across Government throughout 2023.
531. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide details of the analysis carried out concerning the cost of providing State-funded early-years services for all children resident in the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29600/23]
View answerThe Programme for Government contains a number of commitments for early learning and childcare, including reforming the system to create one that brings together the best of community and private provision and the development of a new funding model for affordable, accessible, sustainable and high quality Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age Childcare (SAC).
An Expert Group was established in September 2019 to develop a new funding model for the Early Learning and Childcare sector. Under their terms of reference, the Expert Group was not asked to propose changes to the current model of delivery (i.e. privately-operated provision), rather that the Group should seek to further achieve policy objectives of quality, affordability, accessibility and contributing to addressing disadvantage in a privately-operated system through increased public funding and public management.
In December 2021, Government approved the 25 recommendations contained in the Expert Group report, Partnership for the Public Good: A New Funding Model for Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare. The recommendations were accepted in full by Government and implementation of this new funding model is well under way.
Of the 25 recommendations, three are grouped under the title 'Role of the State'. In particular, the final recommendation states that, “[I]n the medium term, the Minister should mandate the Department to examine whether some element of public provision should be introduced alongside private provision.”
Taken together, these recommendations reflect a key theme of the report, which is the importance of strengthened State involvement and enhanced public management in the sector, in conjunction with increased State funding.
In September 2022, I launched Together for Better, the new funding model for early learning and childcare that supports the delivery of early learning and childcare for the public good. 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 fourth programme – the Equal Participation Model is under development.
The new funding model being implemented aims to transform the sector to one that is increasingly publicly funded and publicly managed. This is the start of a multi-annual investment plan – with investment this year exceeding €1 billion – achieving the First 5 investment target five years ahead of time. Full implementation of all recommendations, including recommendation 25, which would likely involve an estimate of cost and timeline for delivery of a portion of public provision, will be progressed in the coming years as additional funding is secured through the annual Estimates process.
Together for Better begins a journey that I am confident will see exceptional standards of early learning and childcare achieved, delivering Government commitments in Partnership for the Public Good, expanding the sector and growing capacity through public management and investment, and ensuring positive outcomes for children, their families, and society overall.
