Written Answers Nos. 1-64
36. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to outline the measures in budget 2024 to support childcare facilities and crèches; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48539/23]
View answerIn Budget 2024, I secured a total of €1.109bn in funding for early learning and childcare, representing an 8% increase on this year's funding.
The funding in 2024 provides for:
• Investment in the National Childcare Scheme, including a further 25% average reduction to parent’s costs and expansion of NCS to childminders, benefitting more than 150,000 children.
• Additional funding for approximately 7,000 children with a disability through investment in the Access and Inclusion Model supports.
• The introduction of a new Equal Participation Model to support children and families experiencing disadvantage in accessing childcare services;
• Increased funding for services, through Core Funding, to support improved affordability and accessibility for families, improved pay and conditions for the workforce and improved sustainability for providers. Core Funding will see a 15% increase or extra €44m for the scheme in its the third year. Of this additional funding:
• €9.27m will support a 3% increase in capacity;
• The allocation for administration will increase by €3.21m; and
• The allocation for non-staff overheads will increase by €10.07m to ensure the Scheme continues to keep pace with cost pressures facing services.
• The remaining €21.49m will be used for other developments, to be informed by the emerging data from Year 2 of the scheme as well as the Financial Returns.
The 2024 allocation is a clear demonstration of the value Government continues to place on early learning and childcare, given the benefits it confers to children and their families, society and the economy.
37. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he considers the €25 increase in the foster carer's payment announced in budget 2024, after a period of 14 years of no increases, to be reasonable, given inflation rates during that period, and the continuous decrease in the number of foster carers year after year. [46364/23]
View answer44. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reasons the rise in the allowance for foster carers, as outlined in budget 2024, has been delayed to November 2024, after the next scheduled budget announcement, and if he will work to bring that rise forward to earlier in the year. [48533/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 37 and 44 together.
Foster carers play a vital role in the care of our most vulnerable children. The placement of a child in foster care is the preferred option for children who cannot live with their family of origin. It enables children in State care to live in a safe, secure, and stable home environment.
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. In 2025 this means that Foster Carers will receive an additional €3,900 over the course of the year.
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, addition to the double payment in the allowance, 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 can inform the Deputy that as of June 2023 approximately 90% of children in care were being cared for by foster carers. While this record compares favourably internationally, I am aware that there is an ongoing difficulty in maintaining the number of foster carers in Ireland in line with demand for these placements.
While the overall number of children in care has fallen by approximately 11% over the past 6 years, the number of foster carers has comparatively decreased even further, by some 14% over the same period. This trend has contributed to a reduction in foster care placements as a proportion of all children in care.
In this context, 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.
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, 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. We have achieved this, albeit through a phased implementation.
It is my hope that the supports specifically targeted at foster carers, taken together with the wider package of supports provided for in 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 for foster carers. I can also give the House my assurance that I will continue to prioritise the foster care allowance in future budgets.
38. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of child service providers in Cork; the number that have withdrawn; the number that have issued notice to withdraw for the years 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48467/23]
View answerMy officials have clarified that the question refers to permanent closures of Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) services in Cork since 2021.
Every year it is normal for some services to close while other new services open. Services close for a wide variety of reasons including retirement of owners or other personal circumstances.
Tusla is the independent statutory regulator for these services, and is responsible for maintaining the register of services. Services are required to register with Tusla in accordance with the Childcare Act 1991, as amended and associated regulations. Registered providers are required to notify Tusla in writing of the closure of a service not later than 28 days after the closure. The register is updated monthly. Data from Tusla is only available a month in arrears so the most recent data available to the Department, at this time, is from September 2023.
In order to give a comprehensive answer to this question, information is required from Tusla. Due to the Work to Rule action, Tusla was unable to provide the information before the deadline. However, I have received this information from the Tusla Early Years Inspectorate previously and so can give an answer, with a note that it is not the data Tusla have provided for this specific question and may be subject to change.
The number of services that have closed in Cork, both City and County are as follows:
• 16 ELC services and 0 SAC (Standalone) services ceased operating in 2021;
• 13 ELC services and 6 SAC (Standalone) Services ceased operating in 2022;
• 15 ELC services and 5 SAC (Standalone) services have ceased operating at the end of September 2023.
In the same period, in Cork City and County:
• 7 new ELC services and 15 new SAC (Standalone) services registered in 2021;
• 5 new ELC services and 22 new SAC (standalone) services registered in 2022;
• 4 new ELC services 29 new SAC (standalone) services have registered as of the end of September 2023.
It should be noted that the data for ELC services includes services that provide both ELC and SAC. The data for new services therefore does not include the addition of a new service to a pre-existing service (i.e. an existing ELC expanding to offer an SAC service).
It is important to note that net closures of services do not necessarily imply a reduction in capacity in the sector.
46. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will outline the work undertaken to assess the impact of annualised funding for disability services; the research undertaken on multi-annual funding options for disability services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40453/23]
View answerOver the past three years significant resources have been invested in disability services, with core funding increasing from €2.2bn in 2021 to €2.8bn in 2024.
The increase in 2024 includes €131m for existing level of service funding and €64m for new development measures . This represents a €195m or 7.6% increase on 2023 funding levels and reflects the Government’s commitment to strengthening the funding provided for the disability sector and to addressing the shortfalls identified in the Disability Capacity Review.
Unlike the position for capital expenditure, where multi-annual commitments are made within the National Development Plan, the Estimates process for current expenditure allocates funding on an annual (single- year) basis and no formal mechanism currently exists to provide funding on a multi-annual basis to providers.
In order to address the capacity deficits identified in the Disability Capacity Review, the Government approved the Disability Action Plan in July of this year. The Action Plan was developed to provide a multi-year framework for service expansion and strategic policy development, in order to maximise effectiveness and impact.
The Plan has informed budget deliberations and the prioritisation of areas for development in the coming years. It is a living document and will be reviewed and updated in the light of priorities, policy considerations and the funding available under this and subsequent Budgets. The Action Plan is now being prepared for publication, including in accessible formats, and will be available in the coming weeks.
47. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department has any immediate plans for sourcing a temporary location for a crèche that got flooded during Storm Babet recently (details supplied); if he will give financial supports to the crèche to help it get back on its feet as the owner was unable to obtain flood insurance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48223/23]
View answerI am conscious of the disruption caused to a number of early learning and childcare services, owing the recent floods in Cork and I am aware that the local Childcare Committee has been engaging with impacted services.
With regard to financial supports for these services, they have been made aware that any service forced to close due to the flooding may apply for the continuation of funding from my Department under force majeure as per the rules governing the early learning and childcare funding schemes.
These services have also been alerted to two Emergency Business Flooding Schemes which were recently announced by the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Simon Coveney, T.D.. These schemes are for small businesses, sports clubs, community, and voluntary organisations unable to secure flood insurance and affected by recent flooding.
There are other supports available from my Department where a service is experiencing financial difficulty or has concerns about their viability. These supports can be accessed through the local Childcare Committee.
With regard to premises, the safety and protection of children remains the first priority in the early learning and care sector. This is achieved through the registration and inspection of early years services by Tusla, the independent statutory regulator of the sector.
Registration of early years services can be granted only where Tusla is satisfied that the premises, operation and location of the service pose no unmanaged risk to children. I understand Tusla has already been working closely with the local Childcare Committee in areas impacted by recent floods. Tusla are happy to engage with impacted services in these area and will work with them to help them to reopen their service in a safe and suitable premises and location.
49. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the progress made to date in rolling out a capital programme for childcare and putting in place a development agency for the sector. [48354/23]
View answerSome €69 million has been 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:
Building Blocks - Improvement Grant;
Building Blocks - Capacity Grant; and
Building Blocks - Innovation Grant.
The Building Blocks - Improvement Grant is now closed. Under the scheme, €9 million was allocated this year in grants for energy upgrades and retrofit projects.
Work is currently underway 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 under-supply. 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 announce details of the Building Blocks – Capacity Grant later this month. Significant progress has been made in advancing plans for a dedicated state agency for early learning and childcare.
My Department has commenced a comprehensive planning and analysis phase which will include robust stakeholder consultation, an examination of all legal requirements, transition and continuity planning, risk management, and a comprehensive evidence-based cost projection for the establishment and annual running costs of the new agency. This work will culminate in a full agency design and implementation plan which will be presented to Government for approval.
50. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will report on childcare services in County Meath; the number of childcare places available in the county; the length of the average waiting list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48510/23]
View answerEach year, Pobal gathers data from early learning and childcare providers which informs the Early Years Sector Profile. Based on data captured in respect of the (unpublished) 2022/23 Sector Profile Survey (which was gathered in late Spring/ early Summer 2023), there were 10,091 places across services in County Meath.
Of these place, 1,311 were unfilled – representing a vacancy rate of 13%. This is similar to vacancy rate nationally which stands at 12.3%. The Childcare Committee in County Meath is in a position to match children and families to the services operating with vacant places.
Services completing this survey were also asked to provide the number of children on a waiting list by age and service type. Based on data gathered from services - an extrapolated waiting list figure of 2,841 for County Meath was derived through this survey.
While the number of children on waiting lists is an indication of demand, it must be noted that parents often place their child/children on multiple lists. Therefore, this figure cannot be used to indicate overall demand in the county.
As indicated in my earlier reply, a series of steps are being taken by my Department to address issues of undersupply, including through investment in Core Funding, implementation of the National Action Plan for Childminding and the Building Blocks Capital Programme under the National Development Plan.
The important work by my Department, in partnership with the Department of Housing Planning and Local Government, to update the 2001 Planning Guidelines for Local Authorities on Early Learning and Childcare Settings and the recent identification of my Department as a prescribed body that need to be notified on certain planning matters, including the formulation of County Development Plans and Local Area Plans are other important steps being taken to ensure the supply of early learning and childcare places meets demand.
51. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide details on the healthy eating policy and practice in early learning and care services; how will it ensure the promotion of healthy eating; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48525/23]
View answerI launched the first Nutrition Standards for Early Learning and Childcare Services in May this year together with my colleague Hildegarde Naughton, Minister of State, fulfilling a commitment in First 5, the whole of Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families.
These standards were developed in collaboration with Healthy Ireland and the Department of Health to inform the development and implementation of healthy eating policy and practice in Early Learning and Childcare Services.
This is to ensure agreement on the promotion of healthy foods and drinks in main meals, snacks and celebrations in partnership with children, parents, service providers and the wider community.
As I said at the launch in May, good nutrition in a child’s early years lays the foundation for healthy eating habits and is essential for their future health and well-being.
The Nutrition Standards link to the Tusla Quality and Regulatory Framework for Early Learning and Childcare services and these services are inspected in relation to food and nutrition by Tusla on that basis.
Services must have a healthy eating policy and of course comply with all relevant legislation in the preparation of food.
The Early Years Regulations also lay out the numbers of meals and snacks that must be provided based on the length of time a child is in a service in any one day.
With some young children getting up to 80% of their daily nutrition in Early Learning and Childcare Services, these services have a key role to play in supporting children’s development of lifelong healthy eating patterns, skills, behaviours and attitudes.
52. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide details on the abolition of wardship and the operationalisation of the assisted decision-making Acts and the Decision Support Service; how many applications have been received by the Decision Support Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48475/23]
View answerOn 26 of April this year I commenced the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015, along with the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Act 2022.
Since commencing the Act, a total of 631 completed applications for a range of decision support arrangements have been submitted to the Decision Support Service (DSS). Of those applications, 67 have so far been fully processed and the relevant decision support arrangement put in place. In addition, there are a total of 2,635 draft applications registered on the DSS system that are at various stages of completion prior to being formally submitted for processing.
In relation to the figures for those exiting wardship, the Courts Service report receipt of 67 applications for discharge. Of those, 2 people have been fully discharged to date and another 15 have been listed for discharge in November and December, as momentum around the new legislation increases.
Commencement of the Assisted Decision-Making Act brought an end to wardship in the State for adults, by repealing the Lunacy Regulation (Ireland) Act 1871 and replacing the wards of court system with the new process for appointing tiered decision support arrangements that is now in effect. All existing wards of court will exit wardship on a phased basis over the coming three years.
Wardship is a disempowering system that places a third party’s assessment of a person’s “best interests” above that person’s own will and preference. I am very pleased to have been able to progress a landmark legal reform delivering that changes the previous law on capacity from the status approach of the wardship system to a flexible functional approach, where capacity is assessed on an issue and time-specific basis.
The new system of decision support arrangements is supporting people to continue to exercise control over their daily affairs and to carry on with lives of their choosing, even in the context of diminished capacity.
55. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to clarify if there are plans to ensure that safety inspections are undertaken and oversight maintained in private and commercial accommodation for children and youths in IPAS and BOTP accommodation, by Tusla and HIQA; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48545/23]
View answerThe Government has agreed that HIQA will monitor accommodation offered to people in the protection process for adherence to the National Standards, which were adopted by Government and published in 2019, and came into effect in 2021.
This agreement is time limited to the end of 2024, though it may be extended by agreement of my Department and the Minister for Health.
These National Standards were developed to meet minimum standards set out in the EASO Guidance on Reception Conditions, the Recast Reception Conditions Directive and the European Communities (Reception Conditions) Regulations. The National Standards address a range of issues relating to accommodation; food and catering; individual, community and family life; health and wellbeing; governance; and meeting the special reception needs of applicants seeking international protection. Compliance with the National Standards is measured through on-site assessment.
HIQA's role will apply to all ‘permanent’ centres contracted by the International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS). Emergency centres are subject to separate contractual arrangements. All IPAS accommodation centres are already subject to regular unannounced inspections both by officials in IPAS and by an independent inspectorate company. Planning is near completion on this process, and HIQA has conducted pilot inspections in a small number of IPAS centres.
In advance of the introduction of independent monitoring, IPAS has taken steps to support adherence to the National Standards through its contract arrangements with accommodation centres.
When an accommodation centre is opened, a designated member of IPAS is responsible for monitoring the centre’s adherence with requirements of Children First legislation and national guidance. This member also ensures that centre managers are categorised as Designated Liaison Persons under Children First, and notifies them that they are required to make mandatory reports of concerns relating to children resident in their centres.
The designated member also monitors the centre’s adherence with requirements of the Children First legislation and national guidance. Where centres have not submitted their Child Safeguarding Statement to the Compliance Unit, they are asked by IPAS to submit the Statement and compliance letter to IPAS when complete.
IPAS has been engaging with TUSLA in respect of its report entitled ‘Child Safeguarding Statement Sector Compliance Review: International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS)’ which was developed by the Child Safeguarding Statement Compliance Unit (CSSU) in August 2023. Following significant engagement by the CSSU, all statements reviewed were deemed compliant. The report only considered statements from non-emergency settings. IPAS will continue to engage with TUSLA in respect its report’s findings and recommendations and to continuously promote and improve child safeguarding practices in all accommodation settings.
56. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth how his Department facilitates childcare providers staying open when there is a change in management. [48400/23]
View answerPobal are the administrators of all early learning and childcare funding programmes on behalf of my Department.
Where there is any change in circumstances for a service provider i.e. change of address, change of legal structure or change of ownership, the provider engages with Pobal to flag this change of circumstance and advise of the date that the change will be implemented.
Pobal will then close the existing provider service reference number and close all the associated funded programmes. They will work with the new provider to have them on-boarded to Early Years Hive platform with a new service reference number which will allow them to contract into the funded programmes/schemes and register children.
Pobal, through their Integrated Case Management Team (ICM), will also advise providers to contact their local City/County Childcare Committee who will provide support around any governance issues. The CCC and ICM will liaise with each other to identify and agree if there are specific sustainability supports required to ensure good governance and stability. These supports are provided through the CCC, in consultation with ICM.
If a provider is experiencing any issues around a change of circumstance they can contact their local CCC for assistance.
The following are the statistics on change of circumstances processed by Pobal in 2023 to date.
• Change of Address- 12
• Change of Legal Structure- 67
• Change of Ownership- 39
57. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he can clarify when a full breakdown of funding for youth work services for 2024 will be made available, by scheme; what capital funding will be available for the sector in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48547/23]
View answerMy Department is making a significant investment in youth services in 2024, building on the increases in recent years and securing the achievements into the future.
The full package of current funding for youth services and programmes in my Department is €77.95 million, an increase of €5 million, or 6.8%, on the 2023 budget. There is no capital allocation in 2024.
€74.45m is being provided for youth services funded under the existing funding schemes. In addition, €1million is being provided to establish a new Youth Employability Scheme which aims to help young people to participate in the workforce, education, or training.
€2.5 million is being provided to support the expansion of universal youth services, which are provided by volunteer led youth organisations around the country. This funding will enable more groups to support young people and will create more places in youth groups.
My officials are examining the options for this year’s allocation in advance of the publication of the Revised Estimates Volume. At this point, a full breakdown of funding for youth services will be made available. The increased level of funding will consolidate the achievements since 2020 and provide a strong platform into the future.
58. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide an update on the ongoing dispute around the reopening of a job evaluation scheme between Tusla and the Fórsa trade union; to confirm if either he or his officials have met with representatives of Fórsa trade union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48403/23]
View answerMembers of staff working in the clerical and administrative functions of Tusla have an extremely important role. Their work facilitates and enables many of the agency’s functions, including arranging inter-agency and family meetings, processing work related to child protection referrals, and assisting with calls from members of the public.
Clerical and administrative staff members in grades III to VI are currently taking industrial action in the form of a work-to-rule, which began on 25 October. Discussions on this matter are ongoing between officials from my Department, the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, and Tusla. While these discussions are underway it would be inappropriate for me to make further public comment, except to urge all parties to uphold the terms of the public service agreements, and to continue to work on resolving disputes through the appropriate dispute resolution forums, in the interests of those who rely on our child and family services.
59. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to outline the reductions in pre-primary childcare fees for parents and guardians as proposed in budget 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48538/23]
View answerFrom September 2024, any family who is not already at the maximum hourly NCS subsidy will see an increase in their subsidy. All families who would currently receive the minimum (universal) subsidy of €1.40 per hour will receive €2.14 per hour - an additional €0.74 per hour off the cost of early learning and childcare. This translates to up to €96.30 off families’ weekly bill for early learning and childcare per child using 45 hours of early learning and childcare. With up to €63 currently available per week, this represents up to an additional €33.30 off weekly costs.
From September 2024, the rates under NCS sponsor referral programme will be increased to €5.30 per hour for children over 1.
Finally, in line with the commitment in the National Action Plan for Childminding the NCS will be open to childminders, following the introduction of new childminder-specific regulations and the opening of registration to childminders from autumn 2024.
60. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what engagement he has had on the issue of artificial intelligence in the areas of child protection; and if he will provide the research papers, if any, undertaken by his Department on the matter. [48534/23]
View answerAs set out clearly in the provisions of the Children First Act 2015, responsibility for child protection lies with all sectors and reflecting this my Department leads the Children First Interdepartmental Group through which sectors report and update on their work and emerging challenges are discussed and responded to as appropriate.
To date this group has not considered the matter of artificial intelligence directly. A review of the Children First Guidance is planned to commence in 2024 and in that context the contribution or otherwise of AI to child protection may be considered.
Separately my Department is participating on a working group with Tusla to look at the matter of institutional and organisational abuse. The group has recently commissioned research to inform it's work which will identify internal and external environmental factors that facilitate or support organisational abuse and organised abuse, and this will extend to the influence of the online environment. The timeline for completion of this research is not yet known.
61. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which his Department or the appropriate body under his aegis continues to monitor the treatment and welfare of children in interim living arrangements arising from temporary court orders, with particular reference to the need to ensure their welfare and well-being and rapid follow-up in relation to issues of any concern that may arise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48148/23]
View answerI wish to advise that custody and access arrangements are private family law matters which come under the remit of the Department of Justice. Queries in respect of the operations of the Courts should be directed to the Minister for Justice.
As the Deputy is aware, Tusla, the Child and Family Agency has a statutory duty to promote the welfare of children who are not receiving adequate care and protection. Tusla does not have a primary role in family law proceedings.
However, Section 20 of the Child Care Act 1991, provides that a Court can ask Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, to carry out an investigation of a child's circumstances and report back to the Court. These reports, sometimes requested by the Judge in family law cases, are completed by Social Workers. The report may include whether Tusla is making any application in respect of the child or children in the case, any supports it has provided or intends to provide, and any other actions it has taken in relation to the child or children in the case.
Tusla has advised that relationship breakdown and separation have long given rise to issues surrounding the subsequent welfare of children that can result in referrals to Tusla Child Protection and Welfare Services. Parental behaviours that cause harm to a child are relevant matters for Tusla in the context of considering the impact of such harm on the child and supporting and protecting a child from future danger associated with such harm.
As previously advised, legislation related to private family law is under the remit of the Department of Justice. Section 32 of the Guardianship of Infants Act 1964 (as inserted by section 63 of the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015) provides that a court may appoint an expert to determine and convey the child’s views (known as a 'voice of the child report'). Such a report will simply provide the child's opinion and views to the court. It normally involves one or two meetings between the child and the assessor.
As previously stated, queries in relation to the voice of the child and any matters in relation to the operations of the Courts would be better directed to the Minister for Justice.
Any individual who has concerns for the welfare or protection of a child, should report these concerns to Tusla. If there are any concerns about Tusla’s dealings in a particular case, Tusla should be contacted directly in the first instance.
62. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the building blocks grant scheme will open for submission for 2023 and 2024, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48509/23]
View answerSome €69 million has been 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:
Building Blocks - Improvement Grant;
Building Blocks - Capacity Grant; and
Building Blocks - Innovation Grant.
Under the Building Blocks - Improvement Grant, €9 million was allocated this year in grants ranging from €35,000 to €75,000 for energy upgrades and retrofit projects, which have supported services in need of upgrading, such as kitchen refurbishments, roof repairs and the replacement of flooring. In total, 151 services were awarded funding in 2023 under this scheme.
Work is currently underway 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 under-supply. 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 announce details of the Building Blocks – Capacity Grant later this month.
63. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he or his Department maintains ongoing contact with an organisation (details supplied); if his Department continues to provide funding to the organisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48537/23]
View answerMy Department provides funding to this organisation under the Youth Service Grant Scheme. The organisation plays an important role in providing young people with opportunities for developmental experiences and informal learning.
My officials hold governance meetings with this organisation twice a year, and maintain regular contact with them on any emerging issues.
64. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide details on the latest actions he has taken within his Department to improve the working conditions of professionals in the childcare sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48438/23]
View answerProviders of early learning and care and school-age childcare are private businesses. As the State does not employ staff in ELC and SAC services, 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 terms and conditions of employment including 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 do not have a role in its statutory processes.
The Employment Regulation Orders (ERO) negotiated by the JLC and given effect in September 2022 were a significant milestone in efforts to improve pay in the sector. It is my Department's understanding that the JLC is continuing to meet to discuss possible changes to the EROs.
The EROs are being supported by Core Funding. €303m has been allocated for Core Funding in 2024, a 14% increase on the 2023 investment IN the scheme. This substantial increase on the 2023 allocation will support continued implementation of the scheme for the second programme year, September 2023 to August 2024 and into the third programme year from September 2024. ?
In addition, in December 2021, I published "Nurturing Skills: The Workforce Plan for Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare, 2022-2028". Nurturing Skills aims to strengthen the ongoing process of professionalisation for those working in early learning and care and school-age childcare and to raise the profile of careers in the sector. It includes a career framework and commitments to support early years educators to upskill and develop their careers. It also includes commitments to strengthen continuing professional development for staff working in the sector.
