Written Answers Nos. 1401-1420
1401. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he would consider raising the foster carer’s allowance to adequately cover expenses for foster carers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37952/23]
View answerFoster carers are paid a weekly allowance, which is a payment to meet the needs of the child in their care. The foster care allowance is currently €325 per week for a child under 12 years of age and €352 per week for a child aged 12 years and over. The allowance is not considered as means for social welfare purposes, and is not subject to tax.
I am conscious of the disappointment expressed by foster carers that there has been no increase to the foster care allowance since 2009. I can inform the Deputy that a priority of mine is to seek to secure an increase to the foster care allowance in Budget 2024.
I can assure the Deputy that I will continue to work with Tusla, with my Government colleagues, and with any other relevant stakeholders going forward, seeking to review and improve the suite of supports available to foster carers.
1402. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he would consider providing a pension scheme for foster carers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37953/23]
View answerFoster carers are paid a weekly allowance, which is a payment to meet the needs of the child in their care. The foster care allowance is currently €325 per week for a child under 12 years of age and €352 per week for a child aged 12 years and over. The allowance is not considered as means for social welfare purposes, and is not subject to tax.
The foster care allowance is payable to foster carers on behalf of and to offset expenses in relation to the child in foster care. Foster carers are not employees and accordingly Tusla does not make pension contributions on their behalf.
However, I am aware that eligibility in respect of the State Pension (Contributory) is an issue of genuine concern for foster carers. I have been advised that the Department of Social Protection has some measures available to recognise caring periods outside of paid employment in the calculation of a State Pension payment. Credit for Home Caring Periods may be awarded to a maximum of 20 years and foster carers are entitled to the benefits of this scheme, on the same basis as other carers, once certain qualifying criteria are met.
I can inform the Deputy that I have raised the issue of improved State Pension eligibility in respect of foster carers with the Minister for Social Protection and this engagement is ongoing.
1403. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will consider allocating additional funds to an organisation (details supplied) to support an urgently required expansion of day care services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37966/23]
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.
1404. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide the necessary funding for the recruitment of an additional clinical nurse specialist and consultant in rehabilitation medicine for the community neuro-rehabilitation team in CHO3. [37974/23]
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.
1405. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if transport to respite care will be provided for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38010/23]
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.
1406. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the deadline 20 August 2023 for registration for the national childcare scheme will be extended, given people are unable to register due to a system glitch (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38019/23]
View answerSubsidies awarded under the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) are end-dated. Parents must renew applications before this end date in order to continue receiving a subsidy for their child. In this particular case, the award's end date was detailed as 20 August 2023.
However, due to a technical issue on the NCS Applicant Portal some applications, including renewals, were prevented from being submitted successfully. Once alerted to the issue, my Department worked closely with the Scheme Administrator, Pobal, to investigate this systems error and put a fix in place.
I am pleased to say that the issue was rectified on 18 August. Pobal contacted all affected applicants on this date to advise.
I would like to assure you that this experience is not typical of the NCS application process, and I sincerely regret to hear of the difficulties faced by affected applicants during this period.
Officials in my Department have liaised with Pobal on behalf of your constituent and I understand that the affected awards have since been renewed successfully. Pobal have advised that this case is now resolved.
I would like to remind any applicants who experience difficulties in renewing their awards, or otherwise require more general support on the NCS, to contact the Parent Support Centre for advice. Contact details are available on www.ncs.gov.ie/en/contact-us/
1407. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the amount that TUSLA spends on external trauma specialists in 2022 and to-date in 2023; and the name of those external companies that provide these specialist staff. [38030/23]
View answerAs this relates to Tusla operational matters, the question has been forwarded to Tusla for direct reply to the Deputy.
1408. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of funding for a long-term residential bed for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38056/23]
View answerAs the query refers to an individuals case, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1409. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when outstanding invoices will be paid to a provider (details supplied) of accommodation for Ukrainian refugees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38057/23]
View answerWith regard to the service provider referred to, I am advised by my officials that all valid invoices received from this provider were paid on 17 August 2023.
I am also advised that my officials have engaged with the provider regarding the submission of the remaining outstanding invoices and, once received, these invoices will be processed.
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 put in place a system which has greatly improved processing times. My Department will continue to minimise 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.
1410. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding pay deals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38065/23]
View answerThe State does not employ staff in Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age Childcare (SAC) services, and as a result neither I nor my Department can set wage levels or determine working conditions for staff in the sector.
However, there is now, through the independent Joint Labour Committee (JLC) process, a formal mechanism established by which employer and employee representatives can negotiate minimum pay rates for different roles in ELC and SAC services. In line with the provisions of the Industrial Relations Acts, the JLC is independent in its functions, and I not have a role in its statutory processes.
I wish to express my continued commitment to improving pay and conditions for early years educators and school-age childcare practitioners through the provision of public funding to ELC and SAC service providers via the Core Funding scheme. I met with the members of the JLC in May to outline the commitment of the Government to the development and funding of the ELC and SAC sector, most notably the commitment of over €1 billion to the sector in Budget 2023.
The JLC is continuing to meet in relation to possible changes to the Employment Regulation Orders and I hope for positive outcomes to the negotiations to continue to improve wages and working conditions in the sector.
1411. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the full range of services recommended in reports provided by a clinic (details supplied) relative to persons who are on the autism spectrum and have other serious developmental complications, will be provided immediately; if he will outline the services provided to date through the HSE and the new services that are being planned for the immediate future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38071/23]
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.
1412. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated cost to increase the standard and higher capitation rate for the ECCE scheme by increments of €3 up to €24 for the standard capitation rate. [38090/23]
View answerMy Department funds private early learning and care service providers to provide the ECCE programme at a standard rate of €69 per week per child attending the ECCE programme.
In calculating the costs of the requested increases to ECCE capitation, officials in my Department used the total budget allocation for the ECCE programme for 2023 (€264.6 million). The resulting estimates are given in the below table.
|
Standard capitation per child per week |
Cost of change |
|
|
Baseline |
€69 |
0 |
|
3 euro |
€72 |
€11.50m |
|
6 euro |
€75 |
€23.01m |
|
9 euro |
€78 |
€34.51m |
|
12 euro |
€81 |
€46.02m |
|
15 euro |
€84 |
€57.52m |
|
18 euro |
€87 |
€69.03m |
|
21 euro |
€90 |
€80.53m |
|
24 euro |
€93 |
€92.03m |
It is important to note that these estimates are based on a static system and do not account for any potential changes in behaviour that would result from these changes. It should also be noted that the above estimate is for increasing ECCE standard capitation only, ECCE higher capitation no longer exists and has been subsumed into Core Funding. As higher capitation no longer exists it cannot be costed.
1413. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the disability capacity review will be published before Budget 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38112/23]
View answerMinister O’Gorman and I were pleased to announce, on July 26, that Government approved the Disability Action Plan 2024-2026.
The Action Plan represents a key step in the expansion and reform of specialist community-based disability services including day services, respite and residential services, personal assistance and home support, as well as multidisciplinary therapy interventions for children and adults. These services form core supports in the government’s ambition to help people with disabilities live ordinary lives in ordinary places, in line with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities (UNCRPD).
The Action Plan has been developed on foot of the Disability Capacity Review – A Review of Capacity Review to 2032 – A Review of Social Care Requirements and Capacity Demand to 2032. This review set out the extra capacity requirements for community disability services up to 2032, based on an analysis of demographic trends and unmet need. Following its publication, Government committed to working towards implementing its recommendations.
The Disability Action Plan 2024 – 2026 represents the first phase in this process of implementation. Its main focus is on service expansion for disability services and the key priorities in this regard are:
• increasing capacity of Children’s Disability Network Teams, in conjunction with the upcoming Roadmap for Service Improvement 2023 – 2025 in Children’s Disability Services
• increased personal assistance and home support hours
• efforts to accelerate the decongregation programme
• increasing capacity for planned residential placements
• expansion of respite provision
The Action Plan is now being prepared for publication, including in accessible formats, and will be available in the autumn.
1414. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to quantify how many private assessments with occupational therapists have been funded through the AON process; in which CDNT areas they have been made, and the monies spent, in tabular form; how many private assessments with speech therapists have been funded through the AON process; in which CDNT areas they have been made, and the monies spent; how many private assessments with psychologists have been funded through the AON process; in which CDNT areas they have been made, and the monies spent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38114/23]
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.
1415. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to confirm if international protection applicants or beneficiaries of temporary protection are to be accommodated at a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38118/23]
View answerI am advised by my officials that my Department has received an offer of accommodation at the property referred to by the Deputy.
This accommodation has a capacity of approximately 100 beds, and it is planned that residents will be accommodated from September 2023 in Phase 1 (approximately 20 beds) and the balance should be available to the Department further to refurbishment works from November 2023 in Phase 2.
The residency will be made up of Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection fleeing the conflict in Ukraine.
1416. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to confirm if international protection applicants or beneficiaries of temporary protection are to be accommodated at a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38119/23]
View answerTo date, in excess of 92,000 people fleeing the war in Ukraine have arrived in Ireland. Of those, my Department has arranged accommodation for approximately 67,000 who have requested shelter.
My Department is focused on providing immediate, temporary accommodation to people fleeing the conflict in Ukraine. This has involved entering into arrangements with over 850 providers including hotels, guest houses and B&Bs, religious properties, with additional capacity operated by voluntary bodies and local authority emergency facilities.
I am advised that my Department has not considered the property to which the Deputy refers at this time.
1417. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total number of children on the CDNT waiting list, by length of time, in tabular form. [38140/23]
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.
1418. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he intends to set up the office in Tuam of the director in charge of the exhuming of the site in Tuam in order that the director and their staff can be based close to the site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38166/23]
View answerLast October the Government made an Order under the Institutional Burials Act 2022 to direct the establishment of an independent Office to lead an intervention at the site of the former Mother and Baby institution in Tuam, Co. Galway. The making of the Order followed on from Resolutions in the Dáil and Seanad in September approving the draft Order that was agreed by Government in July 2022.
The Office of Director of Authorised Intervention, Tuam was established for a period of 2.5 years by Ministerial Order in March 2023 and in May 2023 the Minister appointed Mr Daniel MacSweeney to the position of Director of Authorised Intervention, Tuam.
In line with the legislation the Director will be engaging a number of appropriately qualified experts from a range of disciplines to undertake the forensic excavation, recovery and post-recovery analysis processes at the Tuam site. In order to try and avoid any unnecessary delays my Department worked with the Office of Public Works to secure a premises in Galway in advance of the of the appointment of a Director so that an office would be available for administrative staff to undertake the preparatory and ongoing work necessary to support the intervention, including the recruitment of the experts.
Now that the Director is in post he is best placed to assess the accommodation requirements, including in relation to office and laboratory space, and is liaising with the OPW in this regard.
It is important to note that regardless of the location of the premises, the Director will be engaging on an ongoing basis with local residents in Tuam as well as other stakeholders in relation to the intervention at the site.
1419. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the outcome of the engagement between officials from his Department and officials from the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science and the provider of student accommodation in Sligo regarding the shortage of student accommodation; the steps being taken to resolve this shortage in student accommodation; what is being proposed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38204/23]
View answerMy Department is aware of the need to ensure an adequate supply of student accommodation. At the same time, there is an obligation on the State to provide suitable accommodation to those people seeking shelter and refuge here.
The buildings in question in Sligo had been offered to my Department through an open tender process.
Nevertheless, officials from my Department are engaging with the provider and with colleagues in DFHERIS to try to bring about a resolution quickly that will ensure that space for student accommodation can be preserved.
Both my Department and the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS) are working closely to develop a joint approach going forward.
1420. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will include childcare as an appropriate career for an apprenticeship; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38215/23]
View answerIn line with commitments in First 5, in December 2021, I launched Nurturing Skills: The Workforce Plan for Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age Childcare (SAC), 2022-2028. Nurturing Skills aims to strengthen the ongoing process of professionalisation for those working in ELC and SAC. The Plan includes specific actions for moving to a graduate-led ELC workforce by 2028, establishing a career framework for staff working in the ELC and SAC sector, including role profiles and qualification requirements, and the strengthening of career pathways. Nurturing Skills also includes actions to support the recruitment and retention of staff with the necessary qualifications, and ongoing staff training and development, to create a workforce which feels valued and is motivated to deliver the best possible service to children.??
Pillar 4 of Nurturing Skills includes a commitment to examine the development of a range of entry routes into the sector, including apprenticeships or other work-based learning, and access programmes in further education and higher education. This action is included for delivery in the 2022-2024 implementation plan. Work on this action will begin shortly through commissioning research on alternative entry routes into the sector workforce.
While Nurturing Skills commits to examine alternative entry-routes, the development of an apprenticeship would rely on the formulation of proposals by employers and education institutions, and approval by the National Apprenticeship Office. The consideration and potential introduction of an apprenticeship model for early years educators is therefore not solely a policy matter for my Department. During the public consultation that took place in the development of Nurturing Skills, there were mixed views amongst stakeholders on the benefits of an apprenticeship model to support recruitment in the sector – some were in favour while some were opposed.
A particular challenge in designing an apprenticeship model suitable for the ELC sector is that apprentices are employees of providers, and all employees of ELC providers must meet a minimum qualification requirement (level 5) before they commence work with children and count in adult-child ratios.
While an apprenticeship specifically to support existing educators to upskill to Level 7/8 degrees is an option, Nurturing Skills also commits to offer funded places on flexible education programmes to current early years educators to support upskilling and strengthen career development pathways.
