Written Answers Nos. 634-648
634. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of people awaiting a first appointment in each of the CDNTs in Cork; the number who have been waiting less than 3, 3- 6, 6-12 and the number that have been waiting more than 12 months, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34064/23]
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.
636. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department or any agency under the aegis of his Department operates a ‘barter account’ for the provision of goods or services; if so, if payments have been directed to be made to a barter account during the period 2011 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34142/23]
View answerMy Department does not operate a 'barter account' for the provision of goods or services and no payments have been directed to be made to a barter account
The table below provides the response from the agencies under the aegis of my Department.
|
Body |
Comments |
|
Adoption Authority of Ireland (AAI) |
No |
|
National Disability Authority (NDA) |
No |
|
Oberstown Children's Detention Campus |
No |
|
Ombudsman Children's Office (OCO) |
Will respond directly to Deputy |
|
Child and Family Agency (Tusla) |
• Barter account is not an official term used in Tusla. • In any case, I am advised that there are no contra accounts in operation in Tusla. • A contra account would be if you net off or reduce a payment to a person or an organisation against money that organisations owes to you or vice versa.• Tusla do not offset or net off the amounts owed or invoiced for services or goods against the accounts of service providers or suppliers. |
|
Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) |
Will respond directly to Deputy |
|
Health Service Executive (HSE) - Disability Services |
Will respond directly to Deputy |
637. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth whether an announcement will be made in relation to the proposed wording for the family, care and equality referendum before Dáil Éireann breaks for the summer recess, given the proposed deadline of the end of June 2023 has passed; if not, if the referendum will to go ahead as planned in November 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34166/23]
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.
638. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated full year cost if the foster care allowance increased to €345 per week for children aged under 12 and increased to €380 per week for children aged over 12; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34227/23]
View answerAs this relates to Tusla operational matters, the question has been forwarded to Tusla for direct reply to the Deputy.
639. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth whether a non-EU national with leave to remain in the UK and resident in Northern Ireland is permitted to work in the republic, and/or apply for residency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34243/23]
View answerThis is a matter for my Cabinet colleagues, the Minister for Justice and the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment.
640. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the remaining provisions of the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2022 will be commenced; if she is aware of the difficulties that this is causing for workers across rural Ireland, who are now being forced to make long and unnecessary commutes to large urban centres to work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34269/23]
View answerThe Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023 was signed into law by the President on 4th April. Its aim is to support employees to achieve a better balance between their home lives and work lives.
An Order commencing much of the Act was made on 3rd July 2023. This includes the provisions introducing 5 days leave for medical care purposes for employees and the extension of breastfeeding breaks to two years after the birth of the child.
In addition, the Act will introduce a right to request flexible working for parents and carers in Part 2A and a right to request remote working for all employees in Part 3. A Code of Practice is being prepared by the Workplace Relations Commission to allow the commencement of these provisions in line with Part 4 of the Act, and the development of this Code of Practice is ongoing. The Workplace Relations Commission have recently held a public consultation, which was receiving submissions up until 9th June. Commencement of Parts 3 and 4 of the Act is a matter for the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment.
The Act also seeks to support those who are victims of domestic violence through the introduction of a statutory paid leave entitlement of five days. Ireland is one of the first countries to introduce statutory domestic violence leave.
641. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for an update on a matter (details supplied). [34273/23]
View answer642. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will support a matter (details supplied). [34274/23]
View answer643. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for an update on a matter (details supplied). [34275/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 641, 642 and 643 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.
I met today (11th July) with the families of the school leavers affected 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 service 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% |
Ireland's approach to meeting the obligations of the UNCRPD is one of progressive realisation - each year moving forward on key reforms, with the obligations arising from the Convention being met over time. Initial priority has been given to meeting legislative commitments and requirements.
As the funding question refers to a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
644. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of clinical placements that have been provided for students within children's disability network teams, by discipline each year since their formation, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34277/23]
View answer645. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of clinical settings that facilitate student placements within children’s disability network teams each year since its formation, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34281/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 644 and 645 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.
646. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is considering legislation to restrict the use of non-disclosure agreements in the case of sexual harassment and discrimination, along the lines considered in Seanad Éireann. [34298/23]
View answerThe ongoing review of the Equality Acts is examining the use of non-disclosure agreements by employers in cases of sexual harassment and discrimination. The Review is also considering issues that were raised in the Private Member's Bill, the Employment Equality (Amendment) (Non-Disclosure Agreement) Bill 2021, along with the recommendations detailed in the report on the prevalence and use of non-disclosure agreements in discrimination and sexual harassment disputes, that was carried out by my Department.
The Department invited written submissions to a public consultation on the review of the equality legislation in 2021 and these submissions have been analysed by officials in my Department. A report outlining the findings of the public consultation will be published shortly.
It is planned that legislative proposals arising from the review of the Equality Acts will be brought forward later this year. The proposals advanced will be dependent on the issues raised in the consultation process as well as on further research.
647. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will ensure that the necessary funding and resources are provided to an organisation (details supplied) so that it can continue to provide the care needed in respect of a person to live independently within the home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34301/23]
View answerAs the question refers to a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
648. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide an update on his plans to bring forward legislation prohibiting conversion therapy; when he plans to publish a general scheme of the proposed bill; if he will address concerns that the proposals may not safeguard the rights of medical professionals and therapists and their capacity to engage effectively with clients or patients who may be experiencing gender dysphoria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34312/23]
View answerThe Programme for Government contains a commitment to legislate to ban conversion therapy. The National LGBTI Youth Strategy 2018 – 2020 and the National LGBTI+ Inclusion Strategy 2019 – 2021 contain commitments in relation to conversion therapy. The LGBTI+ National Youth Strategy provides for the prohibition of “the promotion or practice of conversion therapy by health professionals in Ireland” and the National LGBTI+ Inclusion Strategy commits to investigating conversion therapy in Ireland and following up with appropriate counter measures.
The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth commissioned research into the issue of conversion therapy in Ireland. The multi-phased mixed-methodology research was carried out by Trinity College Dublin (TCD), School of Nursing and Midwifery, and a report of the findings was published in February 2023. The research provides an insight into how conversion therapy practices operate in Ireland. It also includes an examination of the growing body of recent international research literature in the area. The findings of the research, which mirror findings in international research on the matter, indicate that conversion therapy practices take place in Ireland, and has developed an understanding of how these practices operate. It confirms the harm that is inflicted on those who experience such practices.
Policy deliberations have been informed by a broad range of factors including but not limited to the TCD research, international research and an analysis of legislation in other jurisdictions. My Department is examining international best practice and continues to engage with relevant Government Departments on the matter to inform the legislative proposals.
Given the potential complex and sensitive nature of the proposed legislation, the Government is carefully considering the underpinning policy matters to ensure that vulnerable members of society are protected from these harmful practices and that necessary and appropriate services for those with concerns in areas of sexual orientation and gender identity are not affected. Work on the plan to draft legislation is ongoing and is a priority for Government this year. It is planned that legislative proposals will be brought forward shortly, informed by this research and international best practice.
