Written Answers Nos. 1042-1061
1042. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of HSE-funded therapists who have been allocated to special schools in County Meath, in tabular form. [36530/23]
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.
1043. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department and-or Tusla use unregulated private providers to provide care for children in the care of the State; if so, how many children are in these settings; the average length of time spent in these settings; the age range of the children in these settings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36536/23]
View answerAs this relates to Tusla operational matters, the question has been forwarded to Tusla for direct reply to the Deputy.
1044. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there are plans to have the unregulated placements of children in State care to be placed on a legislative footing in the updates being made to the Child Care Act 1991; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36537/23]
View answerThe Child Care Act 1991 is the statutory framework for child welfare and protection in Ireland. The legislation places a statutory duty on Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, to promote the welfare of children who are not receiving adequate care and protection. It sets out the legislative provisions in relation to taking children into care, and the responsibilities of the State in that regard, which aim to improve outcomes for looked after children.
Once a child is brought into the care of the State, Tusla is required to place them in accordance with Section 36 of the Act. The Act states that Tusla may place a child with a foster parent; in residential care whether in a children's residential centre, in a residential home maintained by the Agency, or in a school or other place of residence; with a suitable person with a view to their adoption; or to make such other suitable arrangements as the Agency thinks proper.
Both Tusla and the Department are committed to promoting safe and high quality practice in all areas of Alternative Care. This is achieved through the application of Regulations and Standards that govern the placement of children and young people. Sections 39 to 42 (inclusive) of the Act confer regulation making powers upon the Minister for Children, in relation to the aforementioned categories of placement specified under Section 36 of the Act.
The placement of children in Foster Care is governed by the National Standards for Foster Care 2003, and underpinned by the Child Care (Placement of Children in Foster Care) Regulations 1995 and (Placement of Children with Relatives) Regulations 1995. The placement of children in Residential Care is governed by the National Standards for Children’s Residential Centres 2001, and underpinned by the Child Care (Placement in Residential Care) Regulations 1995, and the Child Care (Standards in Children’s Residential Centres) 1996. The placement of children in Special Care is governed by the National Standards for Special Care Units 2014, as well as the Health Act 2007 (Care and Welfare of Children in Special Care Units) Regulations 2017 and the Health Act 2007 (Registration of Designated Centres) (Special Care Units) Regulations 2017.
In addition to the above, section 69 of the Child Care Act 1991, as amended, gives the Minister powers in relation to the inspection of any service or premises provided by or on behalf of Tusla in relation to the care of a child.
The oversight and monitoring of all alternative care placements will be kept under review by my Department. If legislative change is required in this regard, this will be considered as part of the ongoing review of the Child Care Act. The Department continuously seeks to improve services provided for the protection of children, with particular regard to the vulnerable children in the care of the State.
1045. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will take steps to ensure that funding is released to provide full-time residential placement for a person with disabilities (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36538/23]
View answerAs the query refers to and individuals case, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1046. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the length of time the Department has had a licence to provide housing for Ukrainian asylum seekers at Columb Barracks. [36574/23]
View answerThe Department entered into a 12 month licence agreement with the Department of Defence on 06 March 2023, for the use of certain areas within Columb Barracks, for the provision of accommodation to refugees.
1047. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated cost to the Exchequer of increasing the foster care allowance by €100 per week, in tabular form. [36582/23]
View answer1058. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated cost to the Exchequer to increase the foster care allowance by €100 per week. [36684/23]
View answer1059. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated cost to the Exchequer to increase the aftercare allowance to match any increase in the foster care allowance. [36685/23]
View answer1063. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the cost of increasing both foster care allowance rates by €100 per week; when the payment was last increased; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36790/23]
View answer1064. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the cost of increasing aftercare allowance to the same rate as foster care allowance, and then increasing it by a further €100; when the payment was last increased; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36791/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1047, 1058, 1059, 1063 and 1064 together.
As the queries relate to Tusla operational matters, the questions have been composited and forwarded to Tusla for direct reply to the Deputy.
1048. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the length of time it is taking to process payment for service providers who are providing accommodation for international protection applicants fleeing the war in Ukraine; the average processing time; and the longest any of the service providers have waited for payment. [36609/23]
View answerI am advised by my officials that purchase order number requests from Ukraine accommodation providers currently issue back to the supplier within one working day. Upon receipt of invoice with the purchase order, the invoice is processed in the following days with payment typically issuing within a week. In the event that an issue arises with the invoice, my officials contact providers to advise. Payment may be delayed if inadequate invoices are submitted or if amounts billed for are not adequately evidenced with supporting detail. In this regard, an ongoing disagreement between the Department and one provider led to a delay in invoices being paid to that provider for periods up to six months. This issue is now being resolved.
My Department has put in place a number of steps to reduce the time taken to complete payments in recent months. Since the start of June 2023, over 1600 payments have issued to a value of almost €220m for accommodation alone in respect of Ukraine. Additional automation is expected to be introduced shortly which will greatly improve processing times by the Department.
I can also advise the Deputy that the UKR Payments mailbox is manned by a dedicated team responding to providers daily while a dedicated call centre is also in place to take calls from providers.
1049. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to detail the funding streams available for youth work services to provide outreach programmes for asylum seekers and refugees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36627/23]
View answerFunding of €1.6million has been allocated in 2023 to support youth services to provide services for young people who have fled the war in Ukraine. An initial funding allocation of €1.25 million has been made available through ETBs to local youth services, including services funded under the UBU targeted funding scheme and local youth clubs.
The purpose of the funding is to support local integration efforts through creating additional places in existing services and clubs, and the formation of new clubs as appropriate.
The remining balance of €0.35m will distributed in Q3 of 2023.
With regard to wider supports for young people seeking and in receipt of international protection, my Departments UBU scheme is a targeted youth funding scheme which funds youth services young people aged 10-24 experiencing marginalisation, are disadvantaged or vulnerable. Young people who are applicants for or are in receipt of international protection are considered to be disadvantaged for the purpose of UBU funding, and can therefore benefit from targeted youth services, to help them to overcome adverse circumstances and integrate with their local communities.
The 2023 UBU budget is €46.48 million.
1050. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he would engage with the National Youth Council of Ireland in relation to its concerns regarding the level of funding received by youth work services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36628/23]
View answerMy Department has established and embedded strong and open lines of communication with the National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI). The NYCI have submitted their pre-Budget submission for Budget 2024 to my Department which is currently being reviewed.
My Department is making a significant investment in youth services in 2023, the full package of funding for youth services and programmes in my Department is €75 million. From 2020 to Budget 2023, current Exchequer funding for youth services and programmes increased from €61.789 million to €72.95 million, an 18% increase overall. I remain committed to supporting the future of this important sector.
1051. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to expand the access to youth work services to young people in rural communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36629/23]
View answerMy Departments supports the delivery of youth services nationwide, with €75million funding for youth service provision in 2023. Services are delivered in urban and rural locations, by voluntary national youth organisations and through the national network of the Education and Training Boards, who oversee the UBU targeted youth services and local youth clubs. My Department does not directly deliver any youth services or employ youth workers.
I am aware that young people in rural areas may not have the same opportunities to access youth services as those in towns and cities. Since the launch of the largest funding scheme, UBU in 2020, 16 new targeted projects have been established, with significant additional funding allocated to new services in rural towns and areas including UBU funded projects targeting rural isolation in the Inishowen peninsula, Co. Donegal, West Iveragh and rural North Kerry, and rural Clare. The 2023 UBU funding provided by my Department is €46.48 million.
The Local Youth Club Grant Scheme funded by the Department and administered by local Education and Training Boards supports volunteer led youth clubs across the country, and are particularly important in rural areas. €2.5 million has been provided by my Department for this scheme in 2023.
My officials and I will continue to engage with the Education and Training Boards across the country who have responsibility for supporting the provision, coordination, administration, and assessment of youth services in its functional area to understand the youth service needs of young people across the country.
1052. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of service providers that have opted into the core funding model since its introduction; the number that did not opt in; the number that have since withdrawn; the details of any engagement between his Department and childcare providers who are withdrawing from year 2 of Core Funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36676/23]
View answerInvestment in early learning and childcare is at unprecedented levels with public funding for the first time reaching more than €1 billion in 2023 for early learning and childcare – a clear demonstration from Government of the value of the sector.
Core Funding, worth €259 million in Year 1, started in September 2022.
For the Core Funding 2022/23 programme (September 2022-August 2023), 4,446 services were eligible to apply. The most recent data shows:
• 4,206 submitted an application which was not withdrawn (application at stage submitted or later)
• 3 submitted an application and ultimately withdrew (application at withdrawn)*
• 5 submitted an application and were ultimately declined (application at declined)
• 11 submitted an application but did not accept funding agreements in time and did not re-submit (application at system cancelled)
• 18 prepared applications but did not submit (application at new or draft)
• 203 did not prepare or submit any Core Funding application for 2022/23 (no created application exists)
Applications for the Core Funding 2023/24 programme (September 2023-August 2024) opened on 23 June.
Core Funding will increase by 11% to reach €287 million for year 2 of the scheme, providing a sustainable platform for investment with increases for all services.
It is matter for providers to decide whether they wish to benefit from this public funding or withdraw from the Scheme and remove the benefits of the Core Funding to parents, in particular the Core Funding Fee Freeze.
However, I am confident that given the level of investment and associated supports, services should not need to take this step.
There is extensive engagement with provider representatives and providers of all types, via various specific consultation activities and through various fora, including through the Early Learning and Childcare Stakeholder Forum.
In addition, special supports are available from my Department where a service is experiencing financial difficulty or has concerns about their viability, accessed through local City or County Childcare Committee (CCC). This support can take the form of assisting services with interpreting analysis of staff ratios and cash flow, as well as more specialised advice and support appropriate to individual circumstances.
I strongly encourage services to avail of these case management supports as an alternative to withdrawing from Core Funding and removing the benefits of Core Funding to parents.
*Withdrawn in this sense means submitted, withdrew and did not submit a new application.
1053. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the details of any analysis carried out or commissioned by his Department into the operation of the core funding scheme to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36677/23]
View answerCore Funding is the new funding scheme worth €259 million in full year costs for Year 1 of the programme (September 2022-August 2023).
The Scheme has been designed to meet the combined objectives of:
• Improved affordability for parents by ensuring that fees do not increase;
• Improved quality through better pay and conditions for the workforce by supporting agreement on an Employment Regulation Order through the Joint Labour Committee;
• Supporting the employment of graduate staff; and
• Improved sustainability and stability for services.
In operation since September 2022, there already is very significant evidence of positive impact it has had on the sector.
Over 95% of services joined Core Funding in Year 1. This uptake rate means that a fee freeze is also in place for over 95% services, freezing fees at September 2021 levels. This improves affordability and ensures that developments in the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) are fully realised by parents.
Core Funding has contributed to sustainability by significantly increasing income for the overwhelming majority of services and providing greater funding stability. 99% of services participating in Core Funding increased funding, and 1% of services (61) have received top-up payments under the Funding Guarantee.
Core Funding supported the agreement of Employment Regulation Orders (ERO) covering staff at all grades in the sector and instituting differential pay rates for graduate staff in certain roles, putting in place a career framework for staff in the sector to support recruitment and retention. This has resulted in improved pay for more than 70% of those working in the sector.
Core Funding has supported a significant expansion of capacity, resulting in more hours of provision for parents and children and opportunities for staff to work more hours per week and weeks per year. Initial analysis shows the increased capacity is the type of capacity that is in highest demand relative to supply (i.e. more baby and toddler places as well as school-age places).
Moreover, the number of services offering the NCS, a condition of Core Funding, has increased by 15%.
In 2022, I introduced a new strand of Sustainability Funding to ensure that services participating in Core Funding, whether community or private, would remain sustainable with the introduction of the new funding model. Trends in services entering case management and the numbers of services seeking Sustainability Funding has been low. Just nine services were considered for this new Strand of funding but were deemed ineligible by the relevant CCC and/or Pobal.
Moreover, trends concerning service registrations are also closely monitored. Latest data from Tusla on service registrations shows that the number of services that closed so far in 2023 are lower than previous years (see tables below).
|
ELC Closures |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
|
January - June |
92 |
51 |
61 |
58 |
42 |
|
Total |
196 |
197 |
141 |
141 |
N/A |
|
ELC New Registrations |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
|
January - June |
16 |
17 |
11 |
21 |
18 |
|
Total |
93 |
91 |
65 |
83 |
N/A |
From September 2023, I have grown the Core Funding budget by 11% to reach €287 million for Year 2 of the scheme, providing a sustainable platform for investment with increases for all services.
The allocation of this additional funding was informed by the emerging data from Year 1 of operation as well as initial insights from an independent financial review of sessional services.
Given the issues raised by some small, sessional services, and in order to provide additional timely and robust data in preparation for developments to Core Funding in Year 2, my Department appointed Frontier Economics to undertake this review at the beginning of this year.
This review involved sessional services volunteering to participate in the research project that aimed to gather evidence on financial viability to underpin policy development and possible targeted measures through the new funding model. The review began in Q1 2023 and while the final report is outstanding, initial insights received by my Department is inconclusive and sector-wide findings are not possible given the small number of services who engaged with the review.
Nonetheless, I have announced targeted measures for Core Funding Year 2, to support and fund smaller and sessional services. These include a flat rate allocation of €4,075 for all sessional-only services, which will benefit approximately 1,700 services delivering ECCE, and a minimum base rate allocation of €8,150, which will benefit small, part time and school-age services.
It is anticipated that the final report of the review will be provided to my Department in the coming weeks and will be published in Q3 of 2023.
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.
1054. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of the independent financial review of sessional childcare services; the expected timeline for the completion and publication of the review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36678/23]
View answerGiven the concerns raised by some small, sessional services, and in order to provide additional timely and robust data in preparation for developments to Core Funding in year 2, my Department appointed Frontier Economics to undertake an independent financial review of sessional services at the beginning of this year.
This review involved sessional services volunteering to participate in the research project that aimed to gather evidence on financial viability to underpin policy development and possible targeted measures through the new funding model. The review began in Q1 2023 and while the final report is outstanding, initial information received by my Department is inconclusive and sector-wide findings are not possible given the small number of services who engaged with the review.
Nonetheless, I have announced targeted measures for Core Funding year 2, to support and fund smaller and sessional services. These include a flat rate allocation of €4,075 for all sessional-only services, which will benefit approximately 1,700 services participating in Core Funding delivering ECCE, and a minimum base rate allocation of €8,150, which will benefit small, part time and school-age services.
It is anticipated that the final report will be provided to my Department in the coming weeks and will be published in Q3 of 2023.
1055. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the details of the number of childcare providers that have engaged with their city or county childcare committee regarding applications for sustainability funding since September 2022; the breakdown, by city or county childcare committee, of the number of childcare providers that have been approved for sustainability funding since September 2022; the number who have been refused sustainability funding since September; the number of providers in respect of whom applications for sustainability funding are currently pending, by city or county childcare committee, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36679/23]
View answerMy Department oversees a case management process, through which local City and County Childcare Committee (CCCs) and Pobal work together to assess and provide support to all Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Care (SAC) services experiencing difficulties, and through which Sustainability Funding may be granted should the need arise.
Under the direction of my Department, Pobal co-ordinate the overall case management process with the CCC administering on-the-ground case management assistance. This can include help for services with completing and interpreting analysis of staff ratios and cash flow, as well as more specialised advice and support appropriate to individual circumstances.
In some instances, financial supports through Sustainability Funding may be appropriate, in tandem with this case management process. Pobal undertake a detailed financial review of any service wishing to apply for sustainability funding in order to assess their financial eligibility and need for funding. At the conclusion of this process, Pobal decide on the basis of the funding criteria and the information gathered whether or not to recommend sustainability funding. These recommendations come to my Department for decision.
A total of 3 services have been approved for sustainability funding since September 2022. Please see below in tabular form.
|
CCC |
Services approved for Sustainability Funding |
|
Limerick |
1 |
|
Longford |
1 |
|
Mayo |
1 |
|
Total |
3 |
In 2022, I introduced a new strand of Sustainability Funding to ensure that services participating in Core Funding, whether community or private, would remain sustainable with the introduction of the new funding model, which includes public management requirements, like the fee freeze. With this new Strand of support, a service works with both their local CCC and Pobal in order to assess their financial eligibility and need for funding. 9 services were considered for this new Strand of funding but were deemed ineligible by the relevant CCC (7) or Pobal (2). Please see below in tabular form.
|
CCC |
No. of services in case management deemed ineligible for Sustainability Funding |
|
Dublin City |
1* |
|
Louth |
4 |
|
Sligo |
1 |
|
Westmeath |
3 |
|
Total |
9 |
* Please note this service was supported via the case management process, on two separate occasions to submit a Service Provider Declaration and associated supporting financial information in relation to SF S12.
It should be noted that while these services did not meet the eligibility requirements for Sustainability Funding, all ineligible services can continue to avail of the aforementioned operational supports through the Case Management Process should they choose to. If a services circumstances change, they may be re-assessed for Sustainability Funding and can seek this through their CCC.
3 services are currently being considered for Sustainability Funding and in process of providing necessary information to CCC. Please see below in tabular form.
|
CCC |
Sustainability Funding request pending |
|
Donegal |
1 |
|
Dublin City |
1 |
|
Laois |
1 |
|
Total |
3 |
If any service has viability concerns, I would encourage them to reach out to their local CCC to start availing of supports through the aforementioned case management process.
1056. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of persons with disabilities in 2023 who are in receipt of home support hours in each LHO area; the total number of hours to be provided in 2023 in each LHO area; and the corresponding figures for 2020, 2021 and 2022, in tabular form. [36682/23]
View answerAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1057. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of persons with disabilities in 2023 that are in receipt of personal assistance hours in each LHO area; the total number of hours to be provided in 2023 in each LHO area; and the corresponding figures for 2020, 2021 and 2022, in tabular form. [36683/23]
View answerAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1060. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated cost to the Exchequer to a one-off setting-up allowance set at a minimum rate of €350 but going up to €500 per child or young person. [36686/23]
View answerAs this relates to Tusla operational matters, the question has been forwarded to Tusla for direct reply to the Deputy in the context of the foster care placements.
1061. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department, and all agencies under the remit of his Department, have their telephone contact details on their websites and on other media platforms; if all stationery and headed notepaper used in correspondence with the public contain relevant phone contact details, taking into account that not everybody is in a position to correspond by email; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36690/23]
View answerMy Department strives to make our services accessible to all of our customers in line with our commitments in Our Public Service 2020 and the Civil Service Renewal 2024 Action Plan. We are mindful of the needs of the public and ensure accessibility to our services by all sections of the community, including those who are not in a position to correspond by email.
To this end we have ensured that the relevant phone numbers are easily accessible to members of the public. Our main switch line and postal addresses are printed on all of our headed stationery that is used in correspondence with members of the public. We also publish our phone numbers on the Department’s Gov.ie page. In addition to email and postal addresses, we currently have phone numbers published for our main switch board, the Mother & Baby Homes Information Line, the Magdalen Restorative Justice Ex-Gratia Scheme, our Data Protection Officer and our Press Office.
Where a specific unit or team is not listed on the website, customers can call our main switch board where they will be transferred by phone to the relevant staff member to assist with their queries. I would note that we also have a fluent Irish speaker working on our main switch as part of our efforts to provide a bilingual service as required by the Official Languages Act.
The bodies under the aegis of this Department make similar efforts to ensure that their services are accessible to those who are not in a position to correspond by email.
The National Disability Authority (NDA) clearly states its contact telephone and fax numbers at the bottom of every page on its website, www.nda.ie. Additionally, there is a ‘contact us’ page with the same information. There is also a Customer Charter and Action Plan which, among other things, detail the NDA’s commitments in relation to answering phone calls. All NDA stationery and headed notepaper used in correspondence with the public has the NDA contact telephone and fax numbers in the page’s footer.
The Adoption Authority of Ireland also publishes its phone numbers its website and on its headed notepaper used in correspondence with the public.
Oberstown Children Detention Campus publishes its numbers to its website and also include their full contact information on all stationery and media platforms.
Please note that the Ombudsman for Children’s Office (OCO), the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) and Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, will respond to you directly.
I trust that this information is helpful.
