Written Answers Nos. 1381-1400
1381. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what funding is available for a centre (details supplied) based in the North, but which offers services to children and adults in County Donegal with intellectual disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37648/23]
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.
1382. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is aware of the closure of an afterschool service (details supplied); and if any funding options are available from his Department to assist the service to continue. [37708/23]
View answerI understand that my colleague Minister Rabbitte has recently met with the service concerned along with staff from the Early Learning and Childcare (EL) Division and from Disability Division.
At that meeting a number of potential avenues from the ELC and disability side were discussed.
It was agreed at that meeting that the afterschool service may wish to prepare a business case for the consideration of the HSE for funding.
Once the HSE have considered the matter and advised Minister Rabbitte further options will be considered.
1383. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will detail in tabular form on a county by county basis the number of children in each county that benefitted from supports under the national childcare scheme within the first six months of 2023; and the number in each county benefitting within the first six months of 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37713/23]
View answerThe National Childcare Scheme (NCS) provides financial support to help families with their early learning and childcare costs. There are two types of subsidies available for children aged between 24 weeks and 15 years of age:
- A universal subsidy which is not means tested and provides €1.40 per hour, for a maximum of 45 hours per week;
- An income assessed subsidy which is means tested and will be calculated based on a family’s individual circumstances.
Since 2 January 2023, the minimum hourly subsidy for families using registered early learning and childcare is €1.40 per child - offsetting up to €3,276 in annual out of pocket costs for early learning and childcare per child. Higher levels of subsidy – which are means assessed – are available to families on lower incomes, up to a maximum of €8,775 per child.
In the first six months of 2023, a total of 135,267 children availed of supports under the Scheme – compared to 71,213 for the same period in 2022. The number of unique children by county is as follows:
|
County |
First 6 months of 2022 |
First 6 months of 2023 |
|
Carlow |
1,096 |
1,708 |
|
Cavan |
1,558 |
2,775 |
|
Clare |
1,601 |
2,862 |
|
Cork |
5,909 |
12,646 |
|
Donegal |
3,599 |
5,443 |
|
Dublin |
18,159 |
36,413 |
|
Galway |
4,885 |
9,793 |
|
Kerry |
2,711 |
4,763 |
|
Kildare |
2,477 |
5,507 |
|
Kilkenny |
1,540 |
2,766 |
|
Laois |
1,691 |
2,737 |
|
Leitrim |
651 |
1,199 |
|
Limerick |
2,814 |
5,855 |
|
Longford |
915 |
1,304 |
|
Louth |
1,818 |
3,230 |
|
Mayo |
1,362 |
2,680 |
|
Meath |
2,339 |
4,660 |
|
Monaghan |
2,158 |
3,553 |
|
Offaly |
710 |
1,310 |
|
Roscommon |
997 |
1,831 |
|
Sligo |
1,524 |
2,754 |
|
Tipperary |
3,527 |
5,787 |
|
Waterford |
1,866 |
3,185 |
|
Westmeath |
1,334 |
2,620 |
|
Wexford |
2,330 |
4,527 |
|
Wicklow |
1,642 |
3,359 |
|
Total |
71,213 |
135,267 |
1384. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason no alternative speech and language therapy cover has been provided for the speech and language therapy post in (details supplied) while the incumbent is on maternity leave; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37722/23]
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.
1385. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to urgently review and seek assistance for a family (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37733/23]
View answerThe HSE provides specialist disability services, including Day Services and Rehabilitative Training, to people with disabilities who require such services, and people with intellectual disabilities would form the majority of service users who are supported by these services. While day service funding does not include transport, some transport supports are provided by the HSE or funded agencies on a discretionary basis, and a variety of transport solutions are pursued in different CHO areas. These include travel training to enable public transport to be used, where appropriate, local transport such as Local Link, private bus transport and taxis, and some service providers provide transport where capacity exists.
In general, day service users are in receipt of disability allowance and are automatically entitled to the Free Travel Pass.
Under the National Disability Inclusion Strategy, the Department of Transport has responsibility for the continued development of accessibility and availability of accessible public transport. To develop proposals for better coordination of transport and mobility supports for people with disabilities, a Transport Working Group was established to make progress under Action 104 of the NDIS. The Group’s final report has been published and it contains valuable proposals to inform future policy and action. It will be incumbent on all Government departments and agencies with responsibility for transport and mobility supports to consider the proposals in coordinating on next steps.
1386. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 358 of 13 July 2023, the number of (details supplied) from non-EEA countries that were issued with employment permits that subsequently took up this role here; and the number of these that were recruited to Children's Disability Network Teams. [37738/23]
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.
1387. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 214 of 12 July 2023, the additional funding, resources and services that will be put in place in County Cavan if the accommodation offers he is considering are deemed suitable. [37739/23]
View answerSince the outbreak of the war in Ukraine on 24 February 2022, and the invoking of the temporary protection Directive by the European Union shortly afterwards, my Department has worked intensively as part of the cross-governmental response to the Ukraine crisis.
The operational challenges brought about by responding to the conflict are significant. Our country has never experienced an influx of displaced persons like the one that we have seen over the past 18 months. My Department’s role is focused on the immediate, short-term accommodation needs of those who have fled here.
To date, more than 92,300 people have arrived in Ireland and in excess of 69,500 of those have been referred to DCEDIY seeking accommodation from the State.
Overseeing provision of accommodation on this scale during this timeframe for all those who require it remains immensely challenging. Due to the urgent need to source accommodation, a broad range of accommodation types have been contracted, including hotels, guest houses and B&Bs, religious properties, accommodation operated by voluntary bodies and emergency accommodation. The priority has been to place people fleeing the conflict in safe and secure accommodation.
The Government has established a dedicated fund (Community Recognition Fund 2023), under the remit of my colleague the Minister for Rural and Community Development, which aims to support the development of community infrastructure and facilities in recognition of the contribution being made by communities across the country in welcoming and hosting significant numbers of displaced persons fleeing the war in Ukraine.
The cross-government response is also being supported by the Community Response Forum, a local authority-led programme providing assistance to those fleeing the war in Ukraine. The Forum includes representatives from volunteers, NGOs, the HSE and others at community level across the country who are contributing so much to welcoming and helping those arriving.
The humanitarian response to the crisis throughout Ireland has been overwhelming. I wish to commend the efforts of all those involved in Co Cavan and indeed throughout the country - communities, NGOs, volunteers, community representatives and staff and officials from my own Department and other Departments and State agencies who have contributed to the effort.
My Department and its staff will continue in their efforts to assist those arriving as best as possible, working with colleagues across Government, agencies and those in communities on a coordinated response.
1388. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 634 of 13 July 2023, the location of each respite centre that was created in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [37740/23]
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.
1389. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide a detailed breakdown of the alternate care expenditure for 2020, 2021 and 2022 as per, the total alternate care expenditure for each year; the private-for-profit costs or expenditure for each year detailing the costs for private-for-profit foster care provision and private-for-profit residential care provision for each year; the direct Tusla residential child care costs for each year; the NGO residential child care costs for each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37772/23]
View answerAs this relates to Tusla operational matters, the question has been forwarded to Tusla for direct reply to the Deputy.
1390. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth how many section 16 interviews took place in 2022; how many were conducted jointly by members of An Garda Síochána with a Tusla social worker; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37788/23]
View answerStatutory and operational responsibility for the delivery of child protection and welfare services is a matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. The Deputy is seeking information in relation to an operational matter for Tusla. Consequently, I have referred the matter to Tusla, and requested that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.
1391. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth how many fully-trained specialist interviewers there are within Tusla at present, in the context of the Barnahus Model; the areas in which they are located; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37789/23]
View answerStatutory and operational responsibility for the delivery of child protection and welfare services is a matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. The Deputy is seeking information in relation to an operational matter for Tusla. Consequently, I have referred the matter to Tusla, and requested that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.
1392. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth how many specialist interviewers have been trained through An Garda Síochána’s training programme since 2020; how many are gardaí and how many are social workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37791/23]
View answerStatutory and operational responsibility for the delivery of child protection and welfare services is a matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. The Deputy is seeking information in relation to an operational matter for Tusla. Consequently, I have referred the matter to Tusla, and requested that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.
1393. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to outline the strategic plan for joint training and implementation of the section 16 interview process by both agencies to minimise trauma to child victims and increase conviction rates for perpetrators; to what extent the strategic plan addresses the issues of joint training, capacity building and operational collaboration between both agencies; the third party oversight and accreditation for the training of specialist interviewers and their ongoing continual professional development; the operational integration by both AGS and Tusla of the specialist interview process with the Barnahus model; the interdepartmental oversight of implementation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37793/23]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, The Icelandic Barnahus model is a child-friendly, interdisciplinary and multi-agency model of service that brings child protection, policing, medical, therapeutic and forensic services together, under one roof, to provide services for children who experience sexual abuse and their families.
This model is being adapted to an Irish context, with my Department working in close partnership with the Department of Justice and the Department of Health in developing this significant initiative to help victims and survivors of childhood sexual abuse. An Interdepartmental Group (IDG) is in place, led by my Department, with representatives from the Departments of Health and Justice, and the key service delivery agencies -Tusla , An Garda Síochána, HSE and Children's Health Ireland (CHI). A Barnahus National Agency Steering Committee (BNASC) is also in place which is independently chaired and co-ordinates and oversees development and implementation of a National Barnahus service.
A pilot service was launched in September 2019 in Galway. The service began receiving referrals in November 2020, and services are provided in a bespoke centre on the outskirts of Galway city. This allows the three agencies (Tusla, the HSE, An Garda Síochána) to provide services for children under one roof. Key professionals in child protection, health care and An Gardaí Síochána meet regularly to review cases of child sexual abuse and plan the steps that need to be taken.
My Department been awarded financial and technical support from the EU and the Council of Europe under the Technical Support Instrument, to help expand the Barnahus model in Ireland. The Joint EU-Council of Europe project, “Support the implementation of the Barnahus project in Ireland”, seeks to address the challenges faced during the implementation of the pilot in Galway and to facilitate the roll out of the Barnahus model in the East and South, adapted to an Irish context. The Joint EU-Council of Europe project has adopted the IDG as an Advisory Group to the project, this group also includes the Chair of BNASC.
An activity currently being carried out under the Joint EU-Council of Europe project is a training needs and gap analysis, which is seeking to identify the training needs for personnel working in and in collaboration with the Barnahus project in Ireland. Joint specialist interviewing training was identified as a topic for inclusion under this analysis. Recommendations will be made on foot of this analysis, which will be considered by the Advisory Group in the overall context on national implementation of the Barnahus Model. It is intended that training materials will be developed under the Joint EU-Council of Europe project before the end of 2023 with pilot training to be planned for early 2024.
More generally, and as noted in the published Inception Report of the Joint EU-Council of Europe project, a legal and policy analysis is taking place, and similarly the recommendations will be considered by the Advisory Group. Subsequent to this, a Strategy and Action Plan to scale-up Barnahus-type services will be developed, it is planned that this will commence in Q4 2023.
Oversight and accreditation of the joint specialist interviewer training for interviews carried out under Section 16(1)(b) of the Criminal Evidence Act, 1992 is a matter for the Department of Justice as this training is convened by An Garda Síochána in the Garda College.
In relation to the operational integration of the joint specialist interview process, statutory and operational responsibility for the delivery of child protection and welfare services is a matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. The Deputy is seeking information in relation to an operational matter for Tusla. Consequently, I have referred the matter to Tusla, and requested that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.
1394. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when a company (details supplied) will be paid under the beneficiaries of the temporary protection order; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37795/23]
View answerWith regard to the service provider to which the Deputy refers, I am advised by my officials that a payment was made on 18th of August, 2023 with another payment expected to issue shortly. I am further advised that the remaining invoices are currently being processed and will be paid once all checks are complete.
Whilst there have been some delays in payment due to the very large volume of invoices received, over the past few months my Department has greatly improved processing times. My Department will continue to press on to eliminate any delay in payments while ensuring appropriate governance is in place to safeguard the proper spending of Exchequer funding. The Department is also working towards additional automation in the system which is expected to further streamline the process.
1395. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of speech and language therapy for a child (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37802/23]
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.
1396. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will support the establishment of a community neurorehabilitation in the CHO4 area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37839/23]
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.
1397. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is aware of the huge financial burden placed on those using a service (details supplied) for supervised visits with their children; if he will provide the State support needed to ensure money is not a barrier for parents who want to see their children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37879/23]
View answerThis is a matter for my cabinet colleague, the Minister for Justice, as the court services are under her remit.
1398. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the policy of his Department to ensure that Irish based businesses and SMEs, in particular, are not prevented from tendering for Government and State business; the measures that he has put in place to ensure that Irish businesses are supported in tendering for Government or State business; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37890/23]
View answerThe Department of Children; Equality; Disability; Integration and Youth conduct procurement in accordance with the Office of Government Procurement's public procurement guidelines for goods and services for below threshold tenders and in accordance with EU directive 2014/24/EU for above threshold tenders. In addition, the department comply with Circular 05/2023: Initiatives to assist SMEs in public procurement which is designed to further enable SMEs in competing for public contracts.
1399. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a proposal (details supplied) has been approved; if not, when it will be approved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37925/23]
View answerInitial offers of accommodation are received by the International Protection Procurement Service (IPPS) primarily through its e-mail address: ipps@equality.gov.ie
IPPS has received a formal proposal in relation to the use of this property.
A detailed assessment must take place before any property can be deemed suitable as accommodation for international protection applicants.
Once an offer is received, IPPS sends a proposal template to the prospective provider that they are required to complete and return. The proposal template seeks to gather as much information as is reasonably practicable to facilitate an objective assessment of the suitability of the premises. This includes information on the building's safety and fitness for occupancy, its catering provision and room sizes, its recreational and lounge facilities and various other criteria such as wi-fi, security provision and staffing.
When returned, IPPS reviews the proposal and any supporting documentation to assess the suitability of the premises. This may include an inspection of the property also.
1400. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of foster carers registered in Ireland from 2018 to date, in tabular form. [37951/23]
View answerAs this relates to Tusla operational matters, the question has been forwarded to Tusla for direct reply to the Deputy.
