Written Answers Nos. 589-603
589. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will take action to ensure that a service provider (details supplied) has the required funding to accommodate people with disabilities in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33457/23]
View answer600. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will look at a specific case (details supplied) where a young person finishing school cannot get a placement for adult day services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33530/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 589 and 600 together.
HSE-funded day service programmes for people with intellectual disabilities, autism, or complex physical disabilities include a range of centre-based and community-based activities. The majority of young people due to leave school in a given year that require a HSE funded day service have been profiled by the end of the previous year to establish their support needs. Once needs are identified, referrals are made to the service provider of choice, funding is committed and negotiations are concluded with providers, normally by end of May, to confirm placements to young people and their families.
Each year a small number of placements are delayed in commencing due to issues such as recruitment or delays in the fit out of premises. The HSE monitor this very closely and work with all providers to solve issues as quickly as possible.
A letter was sent to 13 families by St. Michael’s House (SMH) on June 27th informing them that St. Michael’s House would not be able to accept a referral to their adult disability day service. 11 of these referrals are school leavers who are leaving St. Michael’s House school.
The HSE National Day services office and HSE CHO 9 met on the 29th June to discuss the issues identified, including referrals to services other than St Michael’s House. There are a total of 194 referrals in CHO 9 for the 2023 RT/School Leaver process, of this total, 146 placements have been confirmed and 25 have positive progression pathways.
The families of all 23 outstanding referrals in CHO 9 have been communicated with directly by the HSE CHO 9 Day Opportunities Team to discuss and explore day service placement options.
As you will be aware, I met today (11th July) with the families of the school leavers affected, including the family of the young person referenced, and am committed to working with the HSE to find a satisfactory solution for these young people by the time they are due to start a day service in September. In addition, I plan to meet with the Board of St. Michael's House in the coming weeks.
There is significant ongoing effort by the local disability team in HSE CHO 9 to identify suitable placements for this group of school leavers. CHO 9 are actively working with existing providers to explore their capacity for additional referrals. The identification and development of new service locations is being explored as part of this. Meetings between the Disabilities and Estates teams are ongoing to explore accommodation options.
The Government and the HSE are committed to ensuring that young people leaving school in 2023 who wish to avail of a disability day service place will be supported. New developments funding of €8.5m in 2023 will support approximately 1,400 people with disabilities who are leaving school to transition into adult day services from September, with a full year cost of €27m in 2024.
At a national level, CHO Day Opportunities Teams are continuing to negotiate placements with Service Providers and have ongoing engagement with families of those referred for services. The table below shows the number of RT/School Leaver referrals for day services, with the % of confirmed placements by CHO area.
A cohort of the numbers below may not progress to adult day services due to extensions in RT or school, or these individuals may go to mainstream services (education, employment, training etc.) Final figures in this regard will become known throughout the placement process, leading to September/October programme commencement.
|
CHO Area |
RT/SL Referrals |
% Confirmed Placements(as of 30/06/23) |
|
CHO 1 |
156 |
74% |
|
CHO 2 |
190 |
42% |
|
CHO 3 |
155 |
80% |
|
CHO 4 |
363 |
49% |
|
CHO 5 |
249 |
45% |
|
CHO 6 |
93 |
33% |
|
CHO 7 |
257 |
73% |
|
CHO 8 |
196 |
52% |
|
CHO 9 |
194 |
75% |
|
Totals |
1,853 |
58% |
As the individual case raised is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
590. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of men under the age of 65 years living in nursing homes; the number of women under the age of 65 years living in nursing homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33673/23]
View answerI understand the Deputy is referring to the Ombudsman's Wasted Lives: Time for a better future for younger people in Nursing Homes which looked at the appropriateness of the placement of people under 65 in nursing homes.
I recognise that nursing homes can, at times, be appropriate care options where the person concerned has a clinically assessed complex medical and social care requirement that cannot be supported in the person’s home.
Nonetheless, for some people under the age of 65, nursing homes are not an appropriate setting, and alternative, more sustainable supported living solutions are needed to give them greater independence and choice in their daily lives.
There is a commitment to reduce and provide a pathway to eliminate the practice of inappropriately accommodating young people with serious disabilities in nursing homes and to facilitate where appropriate, people under 65s who wish to live elsewhere. In this context, work has been ongoing between my Department and the HSE to address nursing home care of people under 65 who wish to live elsewhere. A key part of progressing this programme of work, is to have accurate and timely data on the numbers of individuals within scope, their profile and operational activity.
A primary source of U65 data has been provided by the HSE’s Nursing Home Support Scheme (NHSS). Based on this data the latest validated data as of May 2023, shows that there are a total of 1,226 residents in Nursing Homes under the age of 65.
• Currently 15% of the population is under the age of 50 and with a 56%/44% male/female ratio. Please note this data does not include privately funded nursing home places.
• A new U65 Nursing Home Survey was sent out on the 28th April 2023, to all HIQA registered Nursing Homes, to get a more complete picture of U65s in a nursing home and their needs. Responses to the survey are currently being received by the HSE. The survey is due to close at the end of this month.
591. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will respond to calls from an organisation (details supplied) to provide sustainable funding in Budget 2024 for national physiotherapy services for people with multiple sclerosis, and other neurological conditions totalling €880,000 per annum across all nine CHOs, and an increase of €627,000 in annual investment in the National MS Respite Centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33827/23]
View answerThe delivery of services for people with disabilities is a matter for the HSE, funding is provided by way of the agreed annual National Service plan.
At this time, engagement continues between The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEIDY) and key stakeholders, and with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the HSE, in relation to the 2024 Estimates.
These discussions will inform the finalisation of the Estimate for the DCEIDY Vote for 2024 and the final position will be announced in the Budget Communications on Budget Day.
Pending this, it would be inappropriate for me to comment on specific funding proposals.
592. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to confirm when the positions (details supplied) within the primary healthcare system in north Donegal will be filled; and if he is aware of the huge impact this is having on children with the full spectrum of disabilities and their families. [34034/23]
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.
593. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total number of respite hours provided to families in Cork over each of the past 12 months; the total number that has been provided each month since March 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34065/23]
View answerAs the query refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
594. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what consultation has there been with those affected by the Brandon Report into sexual abuse at Ard Greine Court in Stranorlar, County Donegal; what measures could be taken to alleviate concerns of those who so far not been contacted but have loved ones living in the facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34266/23]
View answerTime to Move on from Congregated Settings – A strategy for Community Inclusion is a model of support where people with disabilities are supported to move from large institutions (congregated settings) to their own homes in the community with the supports they need. It is about supporting people to ‘live ordinary lives in ordinary places’.
Ard Greine Court is a campus based setting and hence it is part of the decongregation programme. The decongregation of Ard Greine Court is in the early stages of being progressed and this involves information and engagement with residents and their families with residents’ consent. There are currently 25 residents living in Ard Greine Court. Their families were invited to information sessions regarding decongregation planning for Ard Greine Court, Initial sessions were held in the morning and afternoon of April 18th 2023 and some residents had family members in attendance. A further information session was held on June 7th 2023 and more residents had family members in attendance.
A small number of residents’ families have contacted the service to advise they are not in a position to attend information sessions and they are being met with in their homes. 17 residents’ families have attended information and engagement sessions.
Following the information and engagement sessions, it was agreed to establish an Ard Greine Court Family Forum to continue the process of information sharing and engagement regarding decongregation. The first meeting of the Family Forum is scheduled for August 17th 2023.
Residents are being supported with the decongregation planning process by the multi-disciplinary team – Nursing, Health Care Assistants, Psychology, Social Work, Speech & Language Therapy, and Occupational Therapy. Each resident is being supported with information relating to decongregation as appropriate to his/her needs, will and preference in order to support them with plans and decisions. For different residents this process is at different stages due to the individualised approach being taken.
595. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the proposed referendum on gender equality will take place in November 2023; if not, the reasons for delaying the referendum; if all three proposed constitutional amendments on gender equality and care in respect of Articles 40.1, 41.2 and 41.3 will be brought forward simultaneously; and when the Interdepartmental Group will publish its proposed wording for the referendum in relation to these amendments. [33440/23]
View answerOn 8 March 2023, the Taoiseach and I announced that a referendum will be held to amend the Constitution as recommended by the Citizens’ Assembly on Gender Equality and the Special Joint Oireachtas Committee on Gender Equality. An Inter-Departmental Group, involving all Government Departments and chaired by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, was then established to further examine and advance these recommendations. The IDG has been working on policy proposals, which will be brought forward for consideration and decision by Government. We will be in a position to update further at that stage.
596. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will urgently review the transport links provided to the residents of an accommodation centre (details supplied) in County Westmeath; his views on whether this level of transport is insufficient and blocking residents from taking up employment; and if he will ensure additional services are put in place and that a bus stop is put in place outside the facility. [33455/23]
View answerTemple Spa Accommodation Centre is located 9km east of Moate, located on a small local road so a bus stop for Bus Eireann services would not be an option as there would be no passing buses on this type of road.
Management of the centre have previously liaised with local councillors and TDs, and the Deputy himself has visited the centre on numerous occasions, but were advised a bus stop could not be placed at the top of the road (Moate – Dublin road).
There are currently two buses daily to Moate from the centre, which facilitates connection to other bus links (i.e to Mullingar, Athlone, Tullamore, Dublin etc). The timings of these buses facilitate residents also who attend Moate Business College for higher education.
Many of the residents who work have their own cars on site at the centre. Temple Spa also provide a weekly bus to Athlone for residents to shop every Saturday.
Outside of the scheduled bus hours, residents share car journeys and the Department of Social Protection provide funding to residents who need to attend appointments outside of the bus times (e.g International Protection Office (IPO), hospital appointments).
The provider has reported that residents are regularly consulted on the bus timings and there have been no reports or complaints received by management regarding the daily current bus times.
597. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to confirm that CORE funding will be increased to support childcare services and parents, particularly in light of rising costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33469/23]
View answerThis Government has in 2023, for the first time, allocated more than €1 billion to early learning and childcare – a clear demonstration from Government of the value of the sector. Over the past eight budgets, investment in early learning and childcare has risen from €260 million in 2015 to € 1.025 billion in 2023, reaching the First 5 investment target 5 years ahead of time. This unprecedented investment speaks to the commitment of Government in prioritising early learning and childcare services.
The 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 asked to 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 underway.
Core Funding, which began in September 2022, is the new funding stream to start the partnership for the public good between the State and providers. Its primary purpose is to improve pay and conditions in the sector as a whole and improve affordability for parents as well as ensuring a stable income to providers.
Core Funding offers greater stability and sustainability for providers by substantially increasing the overall investment in the sector, particularly through a supply-side funding approach and in providing funding for spaces rather than participating children. Services can choose to spend their Core Funding on any items connected to the high quality delivery of their service.
The original Core Funding allocation of €207m increased to €221m in Spring 2022 at a time when cost pressures were significantly increasing. This further increased to €259m based on significant capacity growth in sector in Budget 2023 with additional contributions for staff pay and conditions, non-staff overheads, administration staff/time and graduates factored in.
For the second year of operation, Core Funding will increase by €28 million, an 11% increase, to a total of €287m, providing a sustainable model with increases for all services. Further detail on the impacts of budget increases for sessional services have been recently published on our website: first5fundingmodel.gov.ie/core-funding/
Approximately €4m of this new funding will be used to remove the experience requirement on both Graduate Premiums under Core Funding, underpinned by new EROs. This move was widely welcomed in the sector.
The remaining €24m will be used for further developments and enhancements to the scheme. €6.11m in funding has been allocated for non-staff overheads, a significant increase on the current allocation of €23m. This will facilitate the continuation of the fee freeze into the second year of the scheme, ensuring that any potential increases in non-staff costs are not passed on to parents whilst supporting services sustainability.
My Department used the most recent data available to allocate Core Funding for year 2, with data emerging from current operations of services from March 2023 underpinning the recently announced allocation model, as well as the most up-to-date macroeconomic projections. More data will be available to my Department through the validated financial returns, which will be gathered in October 2023, and will allow further analysis of provider income and costs.
Additionally, early learning and childcare services are able to apply for the Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme (TBESS). Under TBESS, businesses engaged in early learning and childcare services who have suffered an increase of at least 50% in the average unit price of electricity and/or natural gas for the relevant billing period in 2022, as compared with the average unit price for electricity and/or gas for the corresponding reference period in 2021, are eligible under the scheme.
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.
This is just the start of a multi-annual investment plan. Full implementation of all recommendations will be progressed in the coming years as additional funding is secured through the annual Estimates process. Officials in my Department are currently engaging in the Estimates process for Budget 2024, which will consider developments to Year 3 of the scheme.
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.
I am committed to increasing State funding for ELC and SAC as part of a multi-annual budget process and continuing to work with Partner Services delivering early learning and childcare for the public good.
598. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the engagement his Department has had with the HSE regarding the unmet needs of a child (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33504/23]
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.
599. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is aware of a shortage of childcare and particularly afterschool places in the Dublin 5 area; and the services in Dublin 5 for afterschool care that a person (details supplied) could contact or avail of. [33523/23]
View answerThe availability of high-quality early learning and childcare is a key Government priority. My Department monitors early learning and childcare capacity on an ongoing basis, with a particular focus on responding to the unmet early learning and childcare needs of families.
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, my 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.
Data captured from the 2021/22 iteration of the Early Years Sector Profile, indicated that the vacancy rate in Dublin 5 is 10% and is 16% on average across the country. This data does not take account of increases in capacity since the introduction of Core Funding. Data collection for the 2022/23 Early Years Sector Profile is currently underway and will give an updated position.
A series of steps are being taken to address issues of undersupply.
The network of 30 City/County Childcare Committees across the country are in a position to match children and families to services operating with vacant places and engage proactively with services to explore possibilities for expansion among services, particularly where there is unmet need.
Under the National Action Plan for Childminding, there is a commitment to open up access to the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) to parents who use childminders following the extension of regulation to childminders.
Some €70m has been allocated to my Department through the revised National Development Plan (NDP) – with the majority of this funding earmarked for new places.
My Department, in partnership with the Department of Housing Planning and Local Government, is in the process of updating the 2001 Planning Guidelines for Local Authorities on Early Learning and Childcare Settings. As part of this work, my Department has been included in the updated list of prescribed bodies that need to be notified on certain planning matters, including the formulation of County Development Plans and Local Area Plans.
In addition, Core Funding - introduced in September 2022 - has already proven to be effective in expanding capacity, particularly in areas of undersupply. Additional funding secured in Budget 2023 for year two of Core Funding provides further opportunity to invest in an additional 3% growth in capacity.
Parents experiencing difficulty in relation to their early learning and childcare needs should contact their local City/County Childcare Committee (CCC) for assistance. Contact details for CCCs may be found on www.myccc.ie
601. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the proposed referendum on Article 40.1 of the Constitution will specifically include a reference to disabled people, as per commitments under the UNCRPD; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33572/23]
View answer602. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the proposed referendum on Article 41.2 of the Constitution will remove references to the term 'care' given the extremely problematic nature of the term for disabled people; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33573/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 601 and 602 together.
On 8 March 2023, the Taoiseach and I announced that a referendum will be held to amend the Constitution as recommended by the Citizens’ Assembly on Gender Equality and the Special Joint Oireachtas Committee on Gender Equality.
An Inter-Departmental Committee (IDC), involving all Government Departments and chaired by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, was then established to further examine and advance these recommendations. The IDC is continuing to work on policy proposals, which will be brought forward for consideration and decision by Government shortly. We will be in a position to update further at that stage.
603. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide the names and contact information of all special advisers to Ministers and Ministers of State within his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33577/23]
View answerThere are three special advisors within my Department whose details are below in tabular form. They can be contacted at minister@equality.gov.ie
|
Minister Reporting To |
Advisor's Name |
|
Roderic O’Gorman TD |
Eoin Wilson |
|
Roderic O’Gorman TD |
Tom Sheppard |
|
Anne Rabbitte TD |
Noel Byrne |
