Written Answers Nos. 1462-1481
1462. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to the fact that foster carers are seeking an increase in their allowance (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38970/23]
View answerI thank the Deputy for raising this important issue affecting foster carers.
Foster 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.
1463. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will list the names of the companies who have been used by Tusla for the purposes of providing special emergency accommodation for children in care over the past five years. [38986/23]
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.
1464. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the amount paid to each company used by Tusla to provide special emergency accommodation for children in care in the past five years; if a breakdown can be provided on the payments to each company; the number of children each company cared for during that period; and the rough average length of time each child spent in special emergency accommodation. [38987/23]
View answerAs this relates to Tusla operational matters, the question has been forwarded to Tusla for direct reply to the Deputy.
1465. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide a detailed description of the vetting process and qualification requirements for staff working in special emergency accommodation for children in care if he will clarify whether each company has a person in charge; and the welfare reporting mechanisms that are in place in these companies. [38988/23]
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.
1466. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will furnish this Deputy with copies of the supporting reports referenced one to five in a person's letter of 17 May 2023. [38989/23]
View answerThe letter referenced by the Deputy was sent to me with four attached reports. Following consideration of the Department’s statutory responsibilities in relation to data protection, my Department formed the view that it did not have a legal basis to process the personal data contained in three of those four reports, and those reports were subsequently deleted from the Department’s records. I will arrange for a copy of the fourth, more general, report to issue to the Deputy.
1467. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will furnish this Deputy with a copy of the plan to increase capacity across residential care settings for children in care, including special care, as approved by the Tusla board on 25 March 2023. [38990/23]
View answerAs this relates to Tusla operational matters, the question has been forwarded to Tusla for direct reply to the Deputy.
1468. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children in State care, aged below 12 years that have been placed in statutory, voluntary and procured residential services in each of the past five years and to date in 2023. [38991/23]
View answerAs this relates to Tusla operational matters, the question has been forwarded to Tusla for direct reply to the Deputy.
1469. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children under the age of twelve years that have been placed by Tusla in special emergency accommodation/regional placements in each of the past five years and to date in 2023. [38992/23]
View answerAs this relates to Tusla operational matters, the question has been forwarded to Tusla for direct reply to the Deputy.
1470. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to consider the National Youth Council of Ireland's proposal of an additional investment of €9.4 million in youth services in Budget 2024; to provide more supports and activities for our young people in Donegal and across the country to meet the needs of our growing youth population; to assist these organisations in supporting the personal and social development, positive mental health and physical well-being of our young people; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38999/23]
View answerI have received the Pre-Budget Submission for Budget 2024 from the NYCI and its contents have been noted.
Budget 2024 is currently being considered by Government in the context of the annual estimates process. As this is ongoing, the Deputy will appreciate that it would not be appropriate for me to comment further at this stage.
My Department's current funding allocation in youth is €72.948 million in 2023. Of this, €46.29m is allocated to the UBU Your Place Your Space scheme with €691,313 provided to UBU organisations in Donegal.
The UBU Your Place Your Space Scheme provides funding to youth organisations who support disadvantaged, vulnerable and marginalised young people, including young people who may face particular mental health challenges. The scheme focuses on achieving the following personal and social development outcomes for young people:
1. Communication skills
2. Confidence and agency
3. Planning and problem-solving
4. Relationships
5. Creativity and imagination
6. Resilience and determination
7. Emotional intelligence
There is strong evidence showing that approaches which focus on building social and emotional capabilities can have greater long-term impact than ones that focus on directly seeking to reduce the "symptoms" of poor outcomes for young people.
I am committed to supporting this important sector, which has enormous value to the many young people involved and from a broader social and economic viewpoint.
1471. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason the hydrotherapy pool in a facility (details supplied) in Tralee, County Kerry, is not in use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39004/23]
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.
1472. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will outline, in relation to the International Protection Accommodation System, on what grounds a transfer of accommodation can be requested; and what evidence is accepted as supporting documentation for such requests. [39014/23]
View answerTransfers are currently suspended due to the extreme pressure throughout the accommodation system. Transfers are facilitated only in exceptional circumstances if more suitable accommodation is available.
Transfers may be facilitated on welfare grounds following a vulnerability assessment in accordance with Section 8 of S.I. No. 230/2018 - European Communities (Reception Conditions) Regulations 2018. They may also be granted on medical grounds where medical documentation is provided.
1473. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children under the age of 16 years on the disability database in CHO1; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39025/23]
View answer1474. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children under the age of 16 years on the disability database in CHO2; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39026/23]
View answer1475. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children under the age of 16 years on the disability database in CHO3; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39027/23]
View answer1476. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children under the age of 16 years on the disability database in CHO4; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39028/23]
View answer1477. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children under the age of 16 years on the disability database in CHO5; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39029/23]
View answer1478. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children under the age of 16 years on the disability database in CHO6; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39030/23]
View answer1479. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children under the age of 16 years on the disability database in CHO7; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39031/23]
View answer1480. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children under the age of 16 years on the disability database in CHO8; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39032/23]
View answer1481. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children under the age of 16 years on the disability database in CHO9; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39033/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1473 to 1481, inclusive, 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.
