Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 July 2023
442. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Social Protection to outline the total funding provided by her Department to all support groups, organisations or advocacy groups that support the disability sector in 2022 and planned for 2023, in tabular form, by name, location, budget and number of staff employed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33802/23]
View answerMy Department provides a wide range of both income supports and employment supports to assist both jobseekers and existing employees with disabilities, and employers seeking to hire a jobseeker, or support an existing employee, with a disability.
The Department has also, for a number of years, provided funding via the Citizens Information Board and under the Dormant Accounts Fund to groups/organisations that support the disability sector.
The Citizens Information Board, a statutory body charged with providing independent information, advice and advocacy services to the public on a range of issues. The Citizens Information Board funds and supports three Service Delivery Companies that support people with disabilities. These are:
• The Sign Language Interpreting Service (SLIS): established in 2007, this service provides, and advocates for, high-quality Irish Sign Language (ISL) interpretation services to ensure Deaf people can access public and social services and take part in Irish society as full and equal citizens.
• The National Advocacy Service for People with Disabilities (NAS) provides a free and confidential issues-based representative advocacy service to adults with a disability. This service works across four regional areas - Midlands North East, Greater Dublin, Fingal and Wicklow, Southern Region and Western Region.
• The Register of Irish Sign Language Interpreters (RISLI) is a standards-based registration system for ISL interpreters. It aims to strengthen and guarantee the quality of ISL provision in Ireland, by ensuring that ISL Interpreters reach specified standards to be admitted on the Register. RISLI also aims to support ISL interpreters to meet and maintain these standards by partaking in Continuous Professional Development to maintain their registration status.
Table 1 below indicates the funding allocated by the Citizens' Information Board to the three services. It should be noted that is is not possible to give the Deputy a specific location, or the number of staff employed as these services are provided on a national level.
Table 1: Funding to Citizens Information Board Service Delivery Companies for disability supports in 2022 and 2023
|
Service Delivery Company |
2022 Funding |
2023 Funding |
|
SLIS |
€836,855 |
€725,543 |
|
NAS |
€3,143,746 |
€3,157,393 |
|
RISLI |
€157,717 |
€331,051 |
In addition, the Citizens Information Board (CIB) operates the website citizensinformation.ie that provides information on entitlements, supports and services for persons with disabilities, while the national network of Citizens Information Centres, operated by the CIB Service Delivery Company the Citizens Information Service, also provide advocacy and representation services to persons with disabilities, including in relation to social welfare appeals.
Under the Dormant Accounts Action Plans 2021 and 2022- Measure to Support the Employment of People with Disabilities - a total of 45 projects were awarded up to €7.6 million in funding. The programme started on 1 September 2021 and was due to conclude at the end of December 2022. I extended this time frame to the end of 2023 and in this regard made provision for a further €5 million under the Dormant Accounts Action Plan 2023. This measure is managed by Pobal on behalf of my Department.
The data concerning these groups is presented in tabular form in the Addendum below as requested by the Deputy, Tables 2 and 3 refer.
The Deputy should note the following:
• The Budget amounts shown reflect the amount of grant allocation to the organisations in respect of the periods and does not take account of the actual expenditure of the grant by the organisations.
• With regard to Table 2, the Deputy has asked for data in respect of 2022; however these are grant allocations awarded on foot of a competitive process. The activity began on 1 September 2021 and in this regard the total grant allocation to the organisation has been provided in respect of the period 1 September 2021 to 31 December 2022.
• 45 groups were initially awarded funding under the Dormant Accounts Fund 2021 Measure, 3 of the projects did not proceed with their activities. The 3 projects are County Kildare Leader Partnership Company Limited By Guarantee, St Christopher's Services Company Limited By Guarantee and West Cork Development Partnership Company Limited By Guarantee *
• 37 organisations sought an extension of funding to the end of 2023.
I trust that this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
Addendum
Table 2: Funding under Dormant Accounts Funds 2021 and 2022 for groups that support the disability sector
|
Name |
Location |
Budget |
Staff Numbers |
|
Ak Inspired Ability Company Limited by Guarantee |
Kerry |
€200,000.00 |
4 |
|
Blossom Ireland Community Inclusion |
Dublin |
€194,646.00 |
2 |
|
Bluestack Special Needs Foundation Company Limited By Guarantee |
Donegal |
€199,956.00 |
4 |
|
Bray Area Partnership Company Limited By Guarantee |
Wicklow |
€197,163.00 |
4 |
|
Breffni Integrated Company Limited By Guarantee |
Cavan |
€12,100.00 |
0 |
|
Brothers of Charity Services Ireland (Limerick) |
Galway |
€174,307.00 |
2 |
|
Central Remedial Clinic |
Dublin |
€200,000.00 |
2 |
|
Co Wexford Community Workshop (New Ross) Company Limited By Guarantee |
Wexford |
€200,000.00 |
4 |
|
COPE Foundation |
Cork |
€200,000.00 |
4 |
|
County Kildare Leader Partnership Company Limited By Guarantee* |
Kildare |
€200,000.00 |
3 |
|
Disability Federation of Ireland |
Dublin |
€63,741.00 |
1 |
|
Down Syndrome Ireland |
Dublin |
€197,391.00 |
2 |
|
Dublin City University |
Dublin |
€199,973.00 |
3 |
|
Dublin South City Partnership Company Limited By Guarantee |
Dublin |
€200,000.00 |
3 |
|
Empower Local Development Company Limited By Guarantee |
Dublin |
€124,609.00 |
2 |
|
Fingal Leader Partnership Company Limited By Guarantee |
Dublin |
€191,929.00 |
2 |
|
Forum Connemara Company Limited By Guarantee |
Galway |
€198,330.00 |
4 |
|
Galway City Partnership Company Limited By Guarantee |
Galway |
€173,593.00 |
2 |
|
Gheel Autism Services Company Limited By Guarantee |
Kildare |
€89,255.00 |
1 |
|
I.W.A. Company Limited By Guarantee |
Dublin |
€200,000.00 |
3 |
|
IRD Duhallow Company Limited By Guarantee |
Cork |
€200,000.00 |
3 |
|
Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind |
Cork |
€155,058.00 |
3 |
|
KARE, Promoting Inclusion For People with Intellectual Disabilities |
Kildare |
€188,153.00 |
2 |
|
Knockanrawley Resource Centre Company Limited By Guarantee |
Tipperary |
€194,535.00 |
2 |
|
Leitrim Integrated Development Company Limited By Guarantee |
Leitrim |
€111,502.00 |
1 |
|
Limerick Youth Service |
Limerick |
€199,849.00 |
3 |
|
National Association For Spina Bifida And Hydrocephalus Ireland Company Limited By Guarantee |
Dublin |
€161,352.00 |
3 |
|
Not So Different Company Limited By Guarantee |
Dublin |
€200,000.00 |
1 |
|
Offaly Integrated Local Development Company Limited By Guarantee |
Offaly |
€190,847.00 |
2 |
|
Peter Bradley Foundation Company Limited By Guarantee |
Dublin |
€200,000.00 |
4 |
|
Roscommon Integrated Development Company Limited By Guarantee |
Roscommon |
€198,763.00 |
4 |
|
SOS Kilkenny CLG |
Kilkenny |
€87,648.00 |
2 |
|
Specialisterne Ireland Company Limited By Guarantee |
Dublin |
€200,000.00 |
3 |
|
St Christopher's Services Company Limited By Guarantee* |
Longford |
€200,000.00 |
3 |
|
St. Cronans Association Company Limited By Guarantee |
Tipperary |
€135,915.00 |
2 |
|
St. Michael's House |
Dublin |
€199,939.00 |
4 |
|
The Down Syndrome Centre Company Limited By Guarantee |
Dublin |
€112,100.00 |
2 |
|
The Organic Centre Company Limited By Guarantee |
Leitrim |
€40,016.00 |
1 |
|
The Rehab Group |
Dublin |
€134,456.00 |
1 |
|
Tipperary Regional Youth Service Company Limited By Guarantee |
Tipperary |
€200,000.00 |
3 |
|
Triest Press Company Limited By Guarantee |
Roscommon |
€49,645.00 |
1 |
|
Walkinstown Association For People With An Intellectual Disability Company Limited By Guarantee |
Dublin |
€200,000.00 |
4 |
|
Walkinstown Green Social Enterprises Limited |
Dublin |
€200,000.00 |
4 |
|
West Cork Development Partnership Company Limited By Guarantee* |
Cork |
€200,000.00 |
3 |
|
Wexford Local Development |
Wexford |
€198,247.00 |
3 |
|
Totals |
€7,575,018.00 |
116 |
Table 3: Funding under Dormant Accounts Funds Action Plan 2023 for groups that support the disability sector
|
Name |
Location |
Budget |
Staff Numbers |
|
Ak Inspired Ability Company Limited by Guarantee |
Kerry |
€150,000 |
4 |
|
Bluestack Special Needs Foundation Company Limited By Guarantee |
Donegal |
€149,967 |
4 |
|
Bray Area Partnership Company Limited By Guarantee |
Wicklow |
€147,872 |
4 |
|
Brothers of Charity Services Ireland |
Limerick |
€129,656 |
2 |
|
Central Remedial Clinic |
Dublin |
€135,000 |
2 |
|
Co Wexford Community Workshop (New Ross) Company Limited By Guarantee |
Wexford |
€150,000 |
4 |
|
COPE Foundation |
Cork |
€150,000 |
4 |
|
Disability Federation of Ireland |
Dublin |
€47,806 |
1 |
|
Down Syndrome Ireland |
Dublin |
€148,049 |
3 |
|
Dublin South City Partnership Company Limited By Guarantee |
Dublin |
€150,000 |
3 |
|
Empower Local Development Company Limited By Guarantee |
Dublin |
€93,454 |
2 |
|
Fingal Leader Partnership Company Limited By Guarantee |
Dublin |
€143,825 |
2 |
|
Forum Connemara Company Limited By Guarantee |
Galway |
€148,748 |
4 |
|
Galway City Partnership Company Limited By Guarantee |
Galway |
€130,195 |
2 |
|
Gheel Autism Services Company Limited By Guarantee |
Dublin |
€66,941 |
2 |
|
I.W.A. Company Limited By Guarantee |
Dublin |
€150,000 |
3 |
|
IRD Duhallow Company Limited By Guarantee |
Cork |
€150,000 |
3 |
|
Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind |
Cork |
€116,293 |
2 |
|
KARE, Promoting Inclusion For People with Intellectual Disabilities |
Kildare |
€104,431 |
2 |
|
Knockanrawley Resource Centre Company Limited By Guarantee |
Tipperary |
€125,901 |
2 |
|
Leitrim Integrated Development Company Limited By Guarantee |
Leitrim |
€83,626 |
2 |
|
Limerick Youth Service |
Limerick |
€149,887 |
3 |
|
National Association For Spina Bifida And Hydrocephalus Ireland Company Limited By Guarantee |
Dublin |
€120,191 |
2 |
|
Not So Different Company Limited By Guarantee |
Dublin |
€149,967 |
1 |
|
Peter Bradley Foundation Company Limited By Guarantee |
Dublin |
€150,000 |
4 |
|
Roscommon Integrated Development Company Limited By Guarantee |
Roscommon |
€149,072 |
5 |
|
SOS Kilkenny CLG |
Kilkenny |
€65,736 |
2 |
|
Specialisterne Ireland Company Limited By Guarantee |
Dublin |
€150,000 |
3 |
|
St. Cronans Association Company Limited By Guarantee |
Tipperary |
€101,933 |
3 |
|
St. Michael's House |
Dublin |
€149,954 |
3 |
|
The Down Syndrome Centre Company Limited By Guarantee |
Dublin |
€84,075 |
3 |
|
The Organic Centre Company Limited By Guarantee |
Leitrim |
€30,012 |
1 |
|
The Rehab Group* |
Dublin |
€99,277 |
1 |
|
Tipperary Regional Youth Service Company Limited By Guarantee |
Tipperary |
€150,000 |
3 |
|
Triest Press Company Limited By Guarantee |
Roscommon |
€37,233 |
1 |
|
Walkinstown Association For People With An Intellectual Disability Company Limited By Guarantee |
Dublin |
€150,000 |
4 |
|
Walkinstown Green Social Enterprises Limited |
Dublin |
€150,000 |
4 |
|
Total |
€4,559,101 |
100 |
