Written Answers Nos. 265-274
265. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for clarification and assistance with a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45814/23]
View answerI would like to thank the Deputy for raising this important matter on behalf of service users and members of the Irish Wheelchair Association, which Government has been working intensively to resolve over the past number of weeks and months.
The sustainability and stability of health and social care sectors and the impact of industrial action on essential services is a concern for Government.
I am particularly aware that staff recruitment and retention challenges are affecting the sustainability and stability of section 39 and section 56 organisations and their ability to deliver services on behalf of the State.
Following intensive talks under the auspices of the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC), parties to the process, including the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and the Department of Health, reached a pay agreement with Unions representing Section 39, Section 56 and Section 10 organisations.
The agreement, which unions have indicated will be put to their members, proposes an 8% increase in pay over three phases:
An increase of 3% from April 1st 2023
An increase of 2% from 1st November 2023
An increase of 3% from March 2024.
In addition, agreement was reached to commence a process to consider appropriate further funding increases, having regard to Building Momentum and any successor public sector pay agreement.
The Government is committed to the expansion of services for people with disabilities. The Disability Action Plan was approved by Government in July of this year and is currently being prepared for publication. It aims to progressively address unmet need by enhancing and reforming services.
266. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to review correspondence (details supplied); if he can offer any advice on funding for this facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45884/23]
View answerMy Department oversees a case management process, through which local City and County Childcare Committees (CCCs) and Pobal work together to assess and provide support to Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) and School Aged Children (SAC) services experiencing difficulties.
Once a service engages with their local CCC they will be able to avail of supports through the case management process. This support can take the form of general operational supports as well as more specialised advice and support appropriate to the individual circumstances of a service. In some instances, financial supports may be deemed appropriate in tandem with the case management process. Financial supports, which may also be accessed through the case management process, are available to all Core Funding Partner Services, both community and private, who are experiencing financial difficulty, following a financial assessment by Pobal.
If any service would like to avail of advice or supports on a concern regarding their sustainability, they are encouraged to reach out to their local CCC. Contact details for their local CCC can be found at www.myccc.ie.
267. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if, in recognition of financial need and the critical social value of the work they undertake, the additional Budget 2024 provisions for foster carers could be paid in full in January, without a delay of several months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45933/23]
View answerIt was a priority of mine to secure a meaningful increase to the foster care allowance in this year’s Budget in order to support the vital role being carried out by foster carers.
As outlined in Budget 2024, from 1st January 2024 the rates of the foster care allowance will increase by €25 per week, up to €350 per week for children aged under 12 and €377 per week for those over 12. The foster care allowance will be further increased in November 2024, up to €400 per week for children aged under 12 and €425 per week for those over 12.
These increases mean that foster carers will receive over €1,700 additional funding per child over the course of 2024, amounting to an extra €300 per month by the end of 2024 for each child placed with them, when compared with the current allowance. The changes in Budget 2024 will bring the annual rate of the foster care allowance to an amount of €20,800 for a child under 12 and €22,100 for a child over 12.
In addition to the above, a double week of the foster care allowance will also be paid at the existing rates to foster carers before the end of 2023. I am also pleased to note that foster carers will also benefit from a double child benefit payment in respect of each qualifying foster child, which is due to paid before the end of this year.
I understand the disappointment amongst foster carers that the full increase to the foster care allowance will not come into effect until November 2024. However, given the very many competing demands on the limited funds of the State, including from across the Tusla budget and from other responsibilities within the remit of my own Department, necessary compromises had to be made. In this context, it was decided that it was necessary to introduce the increases to the foster care allowance on a phased basis over 2024. My priority was to secure a significant increase to the allowance, albeit at the cost of a phased implementation.
It is my hope that the supports contained within Budget 2024 will over time ease financial burdens on foster carers. I can assure the Deputy that I will continue to work closely with my Government colleagues and with relevant stakeholders, including Tusla, in relation to continuing to seek to improve the suite of supports foster carers can avail of. I can also give my assurance that I will continue to prioritise the foster care allowance in future budgets.
268. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when foster care will come within pension provision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45934/23]
View answerThe 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, including in the context of the recommendations in the report of the Pensions Commission in respect of long term carers, and that this engagement is ongoing.
269. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth why foster care payments are not index-linked and whether and when provision will be made to do so, given the criticality of the service provided and the fact foster care can be financially dynamic according the needs of a child; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45935/23]
View answerAs outlined in Budget 2024, from 1st January 2024 the rates of the foster care allowance will increase by €25 per week, up to €350 per week for children aged under 12 and €377 per week for those over 12. The foster care allowance will be further increased in November 2024, up to €400 per week for children aged under 12 and €425 per week for those over 12.
The changes in Budget 2024 will bring the annual rate of the foster care allowance to an amount of €20,800 for a child under 12 and €22,100 for a child over 12.
I am committed to keeping the rates of the foster care allowance under review in the context of future budget discussions.
270. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to outline what is being done within his Department to future-proof foster care as a critical component within the care system, so that in-home family care is the primary option, and available to as many children as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45936/23]
View answerFoster care is the preferred model of care for children in care, who cannot live with their families of origin. In recognition of the importance of foster care in contributing to improved outcomes for children in care, it was a priority of mine to secure a meaningful increase to the foster care allowance in this year’s Budget in order to support the vital role being carried out by foster carers.
As outlined in Budget 2024, from 1st January 2024 the rates of the foster care allowance will increase by €25 per week, up to €350 per week for children aged under 12 and €377 per week for those over 12. The foster care allowance will be further increased in November 2024, up to €400 per week for children aged under 12 and €425 per week for those over 12.
These increases mean that foster carers will receive over €1,700 additional funding per child over the course of 2024, amounting to an extra €300 per month by the end of 2024 for each child placed with them, when compared with the current allowance.
In addition, my Department has had ongoing engagement with Tusla in relation to improving supports for foster carers in line with the Strategic Plan for Foster Care Services 2022-2025. As part of the development of this plan, the lived experiences of people who are both providing and accessing Tusla foster care services were considered in the consultation process, and a number of key recommendations were identified. In this context, I welcome the appointment of a National Lead for Foster Care in Tusla, who has responsibility for implementation of the key recommendations from the Strategic Plan.
I will continue to engage closely with relevant stakeholders, including Tusla, Government colleagues, and representative organisations, in seeking to review and improve supports available to foster carers.
271. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth how much additional funding would have to be allocated to Section 39 bodies in 2024 to provide for pay parity with similar grades in the health service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45946/23]
View answerThe sustainability and stability of health and social care sectors and the impact of industrial action on essential services is a concern for Government.
Following intensive talks under the auspices of the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC), parties to the process, including the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and the Department of Health, reached a pay agreement with Unions representing Section 39, Section 56 and Section 10 organisations.
The agreement, which unions have indicated will be put to their members, proposes an 8% increase in pay over three phases:
An increase of 3% from April 1st 2023
An increase of 2% from 1st November 2023
An increase of 3% from March 2024.
In addition, agreement was reached to commence a process to consider appropriate further funding increases, having regard to Building Momentum and any successor public sector pay agreement.
The Government is committed to the expansion of services for people with disabilities. The Disability Action Plan was approved by Government in July of this year and is currently being prepared for publication. It aims to progressively address unmet need by enhancing and reforming services.
272. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what funding and assistance can be made available to a school (details supplied), which is at risk of closure due to the loss of its premises for the academic year 2024-2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45968/23]
View answerI am aware of the challenges that can face an Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) service if they unexpectedly lose their premises and have an effective response in place to support such circumstances.
My Department oversees a case management process, through which local City and County Childcare Committees (CCCs) and Pobal work together to assess and provide support to ELC and SAC services experiencing difficulties. 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 with completing and interpreting analysis of staff ratios and cash flow, as well as more specialised advice and support appropriate to individual circumstances. CCC and Pobal have previously engaged with services that were losing access to their current premises and provided assistance to identify alternatives.
Financial supports, which may also be accessed through the case management process, are available for community services presenting with sustainability issues following a financial assessment by Pobal. This includes a strand that can support community services with the operational costs associated with a sudden need to move premises.
While both community (not-for-profit) and private (for-profit) services play a vital role in the sector in providing services in local communities, this financial support is currently available for the community sector. It is unfortunately not possible for my Department to provide direct financial assistance to private (for-profit) childcare services experiencing this particular circumstance at present.
There is however some €69 million allocated over the period 2023-2025 to the early learning and childcare sector under the revised National Development Plan (NDP). This will enable significant capital investment in early learning and childcare across three pillars:
1. Building Blocks - Improvement Grant;
2. Building Blocks - Capacity Grant; and
3. Building Blocks - Innovation Grant.
Under the Building Blocks - Improvement Grant, €9 million was allocated earlier this year in grants ranging from €35,000 to €75,000 for energy upgrades and retrofit projects, which supported services in need of upgrading, such as kitchen refurbishments, roof repairs and the replacement of flooring.
Work is currently under way on the design and delivery of Pillars 2 and 3, which have a combined allocation of €20 million in 2024 and €40 million in 2025.
The Building Blocks – Capacity Grant will fund an expansion of existing services in areas of undersupply. Funding will also be provided to support the development of new services, where most needed. The Building Blocks – Innovation Grant will pilot a range of innovative initiatives such as outdoor early learning and childcare services. I hope to be in a position to provide more information on the delivery of this Building Blocks – Capacity Grant in the coming weeks.
273. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent, if any, to which Tusla has positively intervened in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46017/23]
View answerStatutory and operational responsibility for the delivery of child protection and welfare issues is vested wholly in Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. The Deputy is seeking information pertaining to an individual case. Consequently I have referred the matter to Tusla, and requested that a direct response be given to the Deputy.
274. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which Tusla continues to oversee the health and wellbeing and conditions of the children of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46029/23]
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 individual case. Consequently, I have referred the matter to Tusla, and requested that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.
