Written Answers Nos. 533-546
533. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of applications in CHO7 for assistive technology in the years of 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [42390/23]
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.
534. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of refugees from Ukraine who are currently residing with host families in Ireland. [42408/23]
View answer535. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of individuals or families who have put themselves forward as host families for Ukrainian refugees since the Russian invasion. [42409/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 534 and 535 together.
I can confirm to the Deputy that currently there are 8,148 hosts in receipt of the Accommodation Recognition Payment in respect of 16,754 beneficiaries of temporary protection from Ukraine. However, this may not be the definitive number of beneficiaries from Ukraine who are currently residing with host families as some hosts may have chosen not to claim the Accommodation Recognition Payment.
I can confirm to the Deputy that over 32,000 expressions of interests in hosting Ukrainian Refugees were received by the Irish Red Cross on its register of pledges since it opened over a year ago. After eliminating duplicates, those who were either uncontactable or who had withdrawn their interest, the number recorded by the Red Cross is 16,205. Additionally, there have been expressions of interest through the Offer a Home Scheme currently being led by local authorities with oversight from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage as well as private hosting arrangements.
536. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of people who applied for the childminder development grant advertised in June 2023; whether he was satisfied with the take-up; and if he plans to extend or develop this type of scheme in 2024. [42426/23]
View answerThe Childminding Development Grants have been available to childminders since 2004 to help childminders enhance quality and safety in their service through the purchase of toys, childcare equipment, safety equipment, and equipment to support inclusion and learning.
The National Action Plan for Childminding 2021 – 2028 committed to review and reform of the Grant. Following this review, and in line with recommendations from a childminding Advisory Group established under the National Action Plan, a number of changes were made to the Grant in 2023.
These changes resulted in the number of applications exceeding the funds initially available to the scheme for the first time. The original budget for grants in 2023 was €250,000. There were a total of 345 applications in 2023 for a total of €337,341. This represents a 62% increase in applications and the highest number of applications ever received.
I was delighted to be able to make additional funding available so that every successful applicant could be awarded the full amount.
The review of the Childminding Development Grant will continue in 2024. In parallel with enhancements to the Childminding Development Grant, my Department continues to progress other actions in Phase 1 of the National Action Plan for Childminding, including the drafting of childminder-specific regulations that will be proportionate and appropriate to the home and family setting in which childminders work.
Once introduced, the childminder-specific regulations will enable a much wider cohort of childminders and parents to benefit from the National Childcare Scheme. The drafting of childminder-specific regulations, and associated legislative reform, is under way at present, and consultation on the draft regulations will take place in the coming months.
537. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when he expects Phase 1 of the extension of the national childcare programme to childminders to be complete; if the details of the remaining phases to be completed before childminders can be fully included; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42427/23]
View answerThe National Action Plan for Childminding 2021-2028 commits to extending regulation and supports to paid, non-relative childminders who work in their own homes over the coming years. The National Action Plan sets out a phased approach with a preparatory phase followed by an extended transition phase, to allow childminders a lead-in time for any requirements. This supportive, phased transition process aims to facilitate the largest possible number of childminders to enter the regulated sector, the sphere of quality assurance, and access to Government subsidies, while recognising the time and supports required for this reform.
The National Action Plan for Childminding 2021-2028 commits to opening the National Childcare Scheme to childminders at the earliest possible opportunity, though it will be necessary first to develop and introduce childminder-specific regulations, and to give childminders adequate time and support to meet regulatory requirements.??
Phase 1 of the National Action Plan, which began in 2021, is expected to take 3 years to complete. Phase 1 includes: development of new, childminder-specific regulations that are proportionate and appropriate to the home environment in which childminders work; development and roll-out of new, bespoke training for childminders; amendment of primary legislation to enable childminders to register with Tusla; and re-examining the funding and financial supports available for childminders.
Phase 1 will be completed when the exemption to registration has been removed from the Child Care Act 1991 and the childminder-specific regulations have been commenced. All childminders will then be able to register their services and access the National Childcare Scheme.
Phases 2 of the National Action Plan for Childminding 2021 – 2028 will include the provision of additional training and supports; the introduction of a Quality Development Programme; and a review of available financial supports. Phase 3 will see the full implementation of regulations and supports.
Since coming into office I have been committed to seeing this process through. A great deal of work still lies ahead, and it is important that we take the time to get this right, as it will involve a major process of change.
538. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there are plans to accommodate refugees in a property (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42431/23]
View answerInitial offers of accommodation were received by the International Protection Procurement Service (IPPS) for this property.
Following a proposal from a potential provider, IPPS completes a detailed assessment before any property is deemed suitable as accommodation for international protection applicants or beneficiaries of temporary protection.
This includes the review of 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.
IPPS assesses the proposal and any supporting documentation to determine the suitability of the premises, and may also complete an inspection of the property.
However, following this process, IPPS is no longer considering this property for use.
539. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for an update on the commitment made in May 2023 in response to the Labour Party motion on Autism & Disability services, by Minister of State Anne Rabbitte, regarding the rolling-out of HSE health regions by the end of August 2023; if she will be bringing to Budget 2024 the roll-out of the State covering the cost of patients accessing autism and disability services and treatment through the private sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42433/23]
View answerFollowing my commitment in May of this year, Regional Assessment Hubs have now been established in each CHO. The Hubs are designed to provide a dedicated assessment function and seek to preserve the Children’s Disability Network Team (CDNT) so that each team can continue to deliver therapy services. I am keen to establish the effectiveness of the Hubs and I am continuously engaged with senior leadership in the HSE on these and other issues.
The Department recognises the financial challenges for many families in the context of the delays in accessing assessments and therapies for their children. It is for this reason that the HSE has been allocated over €11.5m in funding in Budget 2023 for the outsourcing of assessments. The ability of the HSE to outsource assessments can greatly assist the enhancement of CDNTs by way of ensuring they have time and capacity to conduct therapy interventions rather than solely concentrating on assessments.
I am keeping an open mind on any option that may assist in benefiting families of children with complex needs and I am actively working on measures to reduce waiting lists, ensuring that children and families are at the forefront of consideration of the HSE.
540. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the Government’s plans to provide for regulation of the translation and interpreting sectors and establish industry standards, to ensure interpreters who work in hospitals, in international protection, in Garda stations, in the courts, and so on, have appropriate training in how to interpret in those particular circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42464/23]
View answerLinguistic diversity in Ireland continues to grow. The 2022 census shows that there has been a 23% increase since 2016 in people usually resident in Ireland who spoke a language other than English or Irish at home . Amongst the linguistically diverse population, there are varying degrees of English language proficiency, and language barriers can be an issue when interacting with public services.
It is important that everyone is facilitated to access public services and that people are not disadvantaged by language barriers. This requires the provision of high quality translation and interpretation services. Under the mainstreaming approach to integration, each statutory service is responsible for providing translation and interpretation supports where required. Work is underway to develop a successor to the Migrant Integration Strategy; language supports and services will be reviewed as part of this work.
541. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when vacancies in speech and language and occupational therapists in the north Dublin HSE region will be filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42465/23]
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.
542. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will advise a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42470/23]
View answerThe Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) is a model of supports designed to ensure that children with disabilities or additional needs can access the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme. Its goal is to empower pre-school providers to deliver an inclusive pre-school experience, ensuring that every eligible child can meaningfully participate in the ECCE Programme and reap the benefits of high quality early learning and care.
AIM Level 7 support provides additional funding to pre-schools who have a child requiring extra support. Providers can use this funding either to reduce the adult-to-child ratio in the pre-school room or to fund an extra staff member as a shared resource with other children in the ECCE setting. This is all centred on supporting the pre-school leader to ensure the child’s optimal participation.
In line with emerging best practice to support the integration and independence of children with a disability or additional needs, the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) does not fund Special Needs Assistants (SNAs). Rather, AIM Level 7 assistance is a shared resource for the pre-school setting.
For this reason, staff who are supported with AIM Level 7 funding must adhere to the same qualification criteria as their colleagues in the early learning and care setting, as prescribed in Regulation 9 of the Early Years Services Regulations 2016.
I am committed to supporting providers to respond to current challenges. In designing responses, however, it is important that any measures considered are proportionate to the problem they seek to address and that wider impacts are carefully considered. In that regard, it is important to stress that the minimum qualification requirement to work directly with children in an early learning care service was introduced in 2016 in order to improve the quality of provision and to achieve better outcomes for children.
To remove this minimum qualification requirement could be contrary to the best interests of children and the vision for the sector that is outlined in First 5, the whole-of-Government strategy to improve the lives of babies, young children and their families. Such a move could be a significant backwards step in efforts to improve quality outcomes for children and could only be considered if there were a very strong evidence base requiring a change.
Individuals who wish to work directly with children in a pre-school service must hold at least a major award in Early Childhood Care and Education at Level 5 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ), or a qualification deemed equivalent. My Department has published a list of qualifications that meet this regulatory requirement. If an individual's qualification does not appear on the list they may apply to my Department for assessment of equivalence of their qualification.
543. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to re-instate the funding for transport to and from a location (details supplied) in Wicklow for a person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42474/23]
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.
544. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when a revised travel scheme for people with a disability to replace the motorised transport grant will be rolled out; the reason for the delay in rolling out said scheme, taking account of the essential need for such a scheme to be available for people with a disability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42490/23]
View answerThe Government decided to close the Motorised Transport Grant and Mobility Allowance administrative schemes in 2013, on foot of the Ombudsman reports in 2011 and 2012 regarding the legal status of both schemes in the context of the Equal Status Acts. Both schemes remain closed.
Under the National Disability Inclusion Strategy 2017-2022, the Action 104 Transport Working Group was established in 2020 to make progress on an important cross-Government action to review transport and mobility supports for people with disabilities and to advance proposals for the enhancement of these supports going forward.
As Minister of State with responsibility for Disability, I chaired meetings of the Transport Working Group from January 2022 up to its conclusion in December 2022. The Group's work has now concluded and the final report was published in February 2023. The Report sets out the contributions made by members for the enhancement of transport and mobility supports for people with disabilities.
Access to transport for people with disabilities is a multifaceted issue that involves work carried out by multiple Government departments and agencies. It is incumbent on all Ministers, Departments and Agencies with responsibility for transport and mobility schemes for people with disabilities to consider the recommendations of the Transport Working Group, as I will be giving due consideration to the recommendations in the context of the schemes outlined above. These considerations will continue in the context of the development of a new National Disability Strategy.
545. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when funding will be awarded in respect of a person in County Mayo (details supplied), so that staff can be provided to care for this person in a local authority house; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42493/23]
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.
546. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to state the total number of adults and children currently being accommodated by IPAS who have leave to remain status. [42538/23]
View answerAs of 31st August 2023, the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) was accommodating 5,650 people with leave to remain status; 1,580 of whom were children.
