Written Answers Nos. 620-633
620. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to outline, in tabular form, the number of staff employed in each children's disability network team; the number of vacant posts in each team; the percentage of vacant posts in each team, broken down by team; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35103/23]
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.
621. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of childcare places that have been available in Cork city and Cork county in each of the past five years, including, if possible, the first six months of 2023. [35179/23]
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, and data provided by services as part of their application for Core Funding. My Department has also conducted several surveys with parents. Since 2020, five parent surveys have been undertaken by Ipsos MRBI on behalf of the Department.
The table provided below is based on data captured through the Early Years Sector Profile Surveys 2017/18 (gathered in Spring 2018 with a response rate of 88%), 2018/19 (gathered in Spring 2019 with a response rate of 85%), 2020/21 (gathered in Spring 2020 with a response rate 57%), and 2021/22 (gathered in Spring 2022 with a response rate of 82.5%) – extrapolated to take account of all services delivering Early Learning and Childcare and School Age Childcare services in Cork City and Cork County.
Local authority boundary changes during 2021/22 saw approximately 60 Early Learning and Childcare and School Age Childcare services move to Cork City from Cork County.
|
Cork City – Vacant Places |
Cork County- Vacant Places |
|
|
2021/22 |
861 |
2,951 |
|
2020/21 |
1,100 |
3,702 |
|
2018/19 |
198 |
1,160 |
|
2017/18 |
322 |
1,190 |
This data does not take account of increases in capacity since the introduction of Core Funding. Core Funding, introduced in September 2022, has already proven to be effective in expanding capacity, particularly in areas of undersupply and additional funding secured in Budget 2023 for year two of Core Funding provides further opportunity to invest in 3% capacity growth.
Data collection for the 2022/23 Early Years Sector Profile has commenced and will provide an updated position.
622. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of childcare places that have been open in Cork city and Cork county in each of the past five years, including, if possible, the first six months of 2023. [35180/23]
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 table provided below is based on data captured through the Early Years Sector Profile Surveys 2017/18 (gathered in Spring 2018 with a response rate of 88%), 2018/19 (gathered in Spring 2019 with a response rate of 85%), 2020/21 (gathered in Spring 2020 with a response rate 57%) and 2021/22 (gathered in Spring 2022 with a response rate of 82.5%) – extrapolated to take account of all services delivering Early Learning and Childcare and School Age Childcare services in Cork City and Cork County.
Local authority boundary changes in 2021/22 saw approximately 60 Early Learning and Childcare and School Age Childcare services move to Cork City from Cork County.
|
Cork City - Capacity |
Cork County- Capacity |
|
|
2021/22 |
7,804 |
16,867 |
|
2020/21 |
4,928 |
18,816 |
|
2018/19 |
4,803 |
18,642 |
|
2017/18 |
4,961 |
18,101 |
This data does not take account of increases in capacity since the introduction of Core Funding. Core Funding - introduced in September 2022 - has already proven to be effective in expanding capacity, particularly in areas of undersupply and additional funding secured in Budget 2023 for year two of Core Funding provides further opportunity to invest in 3% capacity growth.
Data collection for the 2022/23 Early Years Sector Profile has commenced and will provide an updated position.
623. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of people here awaiting an assessment of need here; the number who have been waiting less than three months; the number that have been waiting 3- 6 months; the number that have been waiting 6-12 months; the number that have been waiting more than 12 months; broken down in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35197/23]
View answer624. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to outline the number of people awaiting an assessment of need in counties Cavan and Monaghan; the number who have been waiting less than three months; the number that have been waiting 3- 6 months; the number that have been waiting 6-12 months; the number that have been waiting more than 12 months; broken down in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35198/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 623 and 624 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.
626. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to outline in tabular form the total number of respite hours provided to families in counties Cavan and Monaghan over each of the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35205/23]
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.
628. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth whether he plans new calls for the integration and employment of migrants, in view of the substantial increase in inflows since the last call in July 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35217/23]
View answerThe Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) launched a Call for Proposals in July 2022 for organisations seeking funding under the European Social Fund Plus, Integration and Employment of Migrants (IEM) stream. This funding is part of the Employment, Inclusion, Skills and Training (‘EIST’) National Programme 2021-2027. The allocated amount, €2.7m, has been fully utilised in supporting seven projects throughout Ireland. Further ESF+ funding for the IEM stream is not available at this time.
Other DCEDIY funding initiatives launched to date in 2023 to assist migrant integration include the Communities Integration Fund, the International Protection Integration Fund, and the Ireland Against Racism Fund. In addition, the Department plans to launch new funding calls under the National Integration Fund and the Asylum, Migration, and Integration Fund (AMIF) later this year.
630. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children who were initially assessed by a children’s disability network team under the preliminary team assessment who have subsequently had an assessment of needs completed; the number of these children who are still waiting to have an assessment of need completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35362/23]
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.
631. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of disabled people that have been transferred from a congregated setting in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023; the funding that was allocated in the same period to transfer disabled people out of congregated settings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35363/23]
View answerAs this query refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
632. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of disabled people under the age of 65 years that have been transferred from a nursing home in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and to-date in 2023; the funding that was allocated in the same period to transfer disabled people under the age of 65 years out of a nursing home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35364/23]
View answerAs this query refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
633. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the additional funding allocated for personal assistance; the additional hours created for personal assistance in the same period; the uptake in personal assistance hours; the number of people availing of personal assistance hours; the unmet met need for personal assistance hours in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and to-date in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35365/23]
View answerThe Personal Assistant (PA) service was developed to provide a service for adults with physical disabilities that enables them to live their lives as independently as possible and take decision making control. The person with the disability either directly employs the PA or is involved in the process of selecting the PA to work with them. The person with the disability determines the support they need and the activities they need support with. PA and Home Support Services are provided either directly by the HSE or through a range of voluntary service providers.
In accordance with the National Service Plan 2023, the HSE will deliver an additional 70,370 personal assistant hours to expand and enhance the supports for people to live self-directed lives in the community.
As this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
