Written Answers Nos. 462-481
462. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if information on how to identify trees that have ash dieback and need to be removed for public safety has been issued to landowners; if not, whether there are plans to do so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52487/23]
View answerI am aware that as ash dieback disease progresses nationally and within individual ash plantations, the potential health and safety risks associated with forest plantations, roadside and parkland ash trees will become an issue of increasing importance for landowners, workers and visitors.
My Department does not have responsibility for the removal of roadside trees or for private homeowners living in the countryside with ash trees in their rural gardens. As with any other health and safety matter, site-specific issues together with any measures, including any risk assessments required, are in the first instance the responsibility of the individual landowner.
In relation to roadside trees, my colleague, Eamonn Ryan, Minister for Transport has previously stated that Section 70 of the Roads Act 1993 sets out the responsibility of landowners to take all reasonable steps to ensure that trees, hedges and other vegetation growing on their land are not, or could not become, a danger to people using a public road or interfere with the safe use of a public road or the maintenance of a public road. He further stated that this responsibility includes the preservation, felling, cutting, lopping, trimming or removal of any such tree, shrub, hedge or other vegetation' in question. It is thus advisable that landowners make themselves aware of the full legal extent of their land ownership and of any obligations arising from this. The implementation of the legislation on the management or removal of dangerous roadside trees is the responsibility of the local authority, in its capacity as the relevant road authority.
However, my Department, last year, published guidance on the subject of roadside trees - “A Guide for Landowners to Managing Roadside Trees”. This publication provides information on how to identify trees that have ash dieback and outlines specific issues related to health and safety in tree work. It also gives practical guidance to those working with chainsaws taking out hazardous trees. My Department produced this publication in partnership with the Tree Council of Ireland and can be found on my Departments website at: gov.ie - A Guide for Landowners to Managing Roadside Trees (www.gov.ie)
463. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide an update on the most recent engagement he and his Department have had with the EU Commission with respect to the European Union and Mercosur states trade agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52489/23]
View answerThe European Commission reached political agreement in its trade negotiations with the Mercosur countries in June 2019. Due to concerns raised by a number of member states, including Ireland, on the environmental and sustainability provisions included in the original agreement, the Commission and Mercosur have recommenced negotiations on a joint instrument which they hope will address these concerns.
As has been the case throughout the EU-Mercosur negotiations, there continues to be close consultation between my Department and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment on all issues related to these negotiations.
Ireland has consistently emphasised to the Commission that the joint instrument currently being negotiated is comprehensive in its scope. It must include commitments on climate change, biodiversity, combating deforestation and labour rights. This is a point I consistently raised at the Agri-Fish Council of Ministers, most recently at the September meeting and also during my meeting with French Agriculture Minister Marc Fesneau during his recent visit to Ireland.
Both I and Minister Coveney, as well as the officials in our respective Departments, continue to raise these issues at EU level including at EU Council of Ministers meetings (in both Trade and Agriculture formations).
464. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there are any schemes that are, or may become, available to farmers where damage to farms other than buildings has occurred as a result of recent flooding; and if he can engage with the particular farmers organisation (details supplied) with respect to difficulties experienced by farmers following flooding events. [52537/23]
View answerAt present, there are no plans for my Department to put in place a scheme for farmers affected by the recent flooding in County Louth.
The Emergency Flood Relief Scheme is operated by the Irish Red Cross on behalf of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. Details of the scheme may be obtained from the Irish Red Cross website, www.redcross.ie/flood-support-scheme/ and any questions regarding the scheme should be directed to them.
465. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the exception to fencing upland hill land is still the same in 2023 considering the guide to land eligibility 2015 states that uplands are exempted, provided they are farmed in the traditional manner, but the 2023 guide does not state this as clearly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52540/23]
View answerThe Terms and Conditions of the 2023 Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) and other area-based schemes specifically covers the situation where there are no fences or physical boundaries present for reference parcels, as can be found in areas of upland.
"In circumstances where there is no clearly visible physical boundary on the imagery but where a boundary exists on the ground, then other reference sources can be provided by applicants to validate their requests, for example folio maps. This typically will arise in cases of unenclosed lands, particularly commonages, but also callow type land."
Therefore, from a scheme compliance perspective the absence of fencing on commonage lands, where traditionally none have existed, is not deemed a compliance issue nor are there are scheme consequences where livestock subsequently leave the applicants lands due to the lack of fencing once the reference parcel boundary corresponds to a folio boundary or an administrative boundary.
466. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of staff currently employed in Enable Ireland in Cavan-Monaghan; the number of vacancies in Enable Ireland in Cavan-Monaghan; what posts these vacancies are in; the funding allocated to Enable Ireland in Cavan-Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52258/23]
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. As the Deputy may be aware, the industrial action that commenced on Friday 6th October, by management and administrative grades in Fórsa Trade Union in the HSE, will impact on the response times to Parliamentary Questions and Representations.
467. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there is a mechanism for private providers to indicate their willingness to participate in the provision of services for children post-assessment of needs in situations where the health service is unable to do so in an adequate timeframe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52456/23]
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. As the Deputy may be aware, the industrial action that commenced on Friday 6th October, by management and administrative grades in Fórsa Trade Union in the HSE, will impact on the response times to Parliamentary Questions and Representations.
468. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there is any capital funding available to private childcare facilities who need to relocate due to expansion of their service. [51814/23]
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 earlier 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. This scheme is now closed and my Department does not have further capital funding available for the early learning and childcare sector in 2023.
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 may also be provided to support the development of new services, where most needed. At present, I do not anticipate that capital funding will be made available to childcare facilities seeking to relocate in order to expand their service.
The Building Blocks – Innovation Grant will pilot a range of innovative initiatives such as outdoor early learning and childcare services.
I hope to formally announce the Building Blocks – Capacity Grant in the coming weeks.
469. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there are personnel in his Department who could be classified as having a significant or exclusive focus of their role dedicated to dealing with integration; if so, to detail the title of the post; the grade level of that post; the core functions of that role; to provide details of the exact nature of their responsibilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51819/23]
View answerThere are currently eight personnel in the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth whose roles have a significant focus on matters of integration. Two of those staff are working on the development of a new Migrant Integration Strategy, which is open for public consultation at present; those staff are at Assistant Principal and Administrative Officer grades.
There are a further six personnel working on the administration of Integration funding, through both national and EU funds. This includes two staff members at Assistant Principal grade, a Higher Executive Officer, an Executive Officer, and two Clerical Officers.
In addition, there are a large number of personnel across the department who would deal with matters of integration as an element of their work, but integration would not necessarily be a significant or exclusive focus of their roles.
470. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the minimum notice period for a crèche which decides to withdraw from the core funding scheme, and if consideration is being given to extending it given the disruption it causes to parents and children for a crèche to withdraw. [51879/23]
View answerIn September 2022, I launched Together for Better, the new funding model for early learning and childcare. This new funding model supports the delivery of early learning and childcare for the public good, for quality and affordability for children, parents and families as well as stability and sustainability for providers. Together for Better brings together three major programmes, the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme, including the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM), the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) and the new Core Funding scheme.
Core Funding, which began in September 2022, is the new funding stream worth €259 million in year 1, €287 million year 2 and €331 million in year 3 supports this partnership for the public good between the State and providers. Its primary purpose is to improve pay and conditions in the sector as a whole and improve affordability for parents as well as ensuring a stable income to providers.
The Core Funding Partner Service Funding Agreement lays out the key conditions of the scheme. The Funding Agreement states that Partner Services must provide 3 months notice before terminating the funding agreement. The exact clause of the Funding Agreement states the following: "Except as provided by the provisions of sub-clause 9.2, this Agreement may be terminated by either party by serving 3 months’ written notice to the other party."
While my Department cannot mandate providers to participate in schemes, every effort has been made to carefully design the schemes to meet the policy objectives, including achieving high levels of participation by ensuring that the schemes are attractive to providers.
I am delighted that to date, 94% - over 4,300 - providers have signed up to Core Funding in the second year of the scheme. I am committed to working with Partner Services delivering early learning and childcare for the public good.
471. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth in view of the withdrawal of a crèche (details supplied) in Firhouse from the core funding scheme and resultant significant increases in fees for parents, the action he intends to take to ensure that affordable childcare is available in the area. [51880/23]
View answerInvestment in early learning and childcare is at unprecedented levels with public funding for the first time reaching more than €1 billion in 2023 for early learning and childcare – a clear demonstration from Government of the value of the sector.
Core Funding is in operation since 15 September 2022 and has achieved very significant success in terms of the high levels of participation. With 95% participation in year 1 and to date, 94% or over 4,300 providers have signed up for Core Funding Year 2, with applications still open. There are officially more services contracted for Core Funding year 2 than there were at the peak of Core Funding year 1.
However, Early learning and care (ELC) and school aged childcare (SAC) services are provided by private enterprises, either privately owned or operated by community organisations. While service providers are contracted by the Department to provide childcare services at subsidised rates to parents, as private entities, it is at their discretion which childcare programmes they offer within their facilities.
While my Department cannot mandate providers to participate in schemes, every effort has been made to carefully design the schemes to meet the policy objectives, including achieving high levels of participation by ensuring that the schemes are attractive to providers.
The Core Funding Partner Service Funding Agreement lays out the key conditions of the scheme. The Funding Agreement states that Partner Services must provide 3 months’ notice before terminating the funding agreement. The exact clause of the Funding Agreement states the following: "Except as provided by the provisions of sub-clause 9.2, this Agreement may be terminated by either party by serving 3 months’ written notice to the other party."
It is a matter for providers to decide whether they wish to benefit from this public funding or withdraw from the Scheme and remove the benefits of the Core Funding to parents, in particular the Core Funding Fee Freeze.
The Deputy may also be aware that the network of 30 City/County Childcare Committees across the country are in a position to match children and families to services operating with vacant places and engage proactively with services to explore possibilities for expansion, particularly where there is unmet need.
Parents experiencing difficulty in relation to their early learning and childcare needs should contact their local City/County Childcare Committee (CCC) for assistance. Contact details for CCCs may be found on www.myccc.ie
While the service may be opting to leave Core Funding, it can still separately contract into schemes such as the National Childcare Scheme and ECCE. If the service chooses to offer the NCS, parents will be able to avail of a minimum of 1.40 an hour up to 45 hours a week, which will increase from next September to a minimum of 2.14 an hour. Increases in the NCS across the last two budgets will significantly reduce the cost of early learning and childcare for parents. From September 2024, parents availing of 45 hours a week care will be able to avail of a subsidy worth just over five thousand euro a year which will help considerably to off-set these costs. This subsidy may be higher depending on the circumstances of the family.
In addition, and as part of the design of the Building Blocks Capacity Grant Scheme, officials in my Department, in conjunction with Pobal, have commenced a needs analysis in the Early Learning and Childcare sector. This analysis will look at undersupply by region and age category, which will ensure that my Department can fund additional capacity where it is most needed. I hope to announce details of the Building Blocks Capacity Grant Scheme in the coming weeks.
472. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he intends to increase funding for the childcare sector. [51881/23]
View answerInvestment in early learning and childcare is at unprecedented levels, a clear demonstration from Government of the value of the sector.
In 2024, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth’s (DCEDIY) funding for the early learning and childcare sector will be €1.109 billion, an €83 million (8%) increase on last year’s funding.
The funding in 2024 provides for:
• Further enhancements to the National Childcare Scheme, with more than 150,000 unique children to benefit from changes to the minimum universal subsidy rate and the sponsorship rate, including children in childminding settings;
• Continuation of the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme that will benefit more than 103,000 children in 2024;
• An increasing cohort of children with a disability availing of targeted AIM supports – approximately 7,000 - as well as additional funding to extend these supports beyond time spent in the ECCE programme, in term and out of term;
• The introduction of the Equal Participation Model (EPM), whereby services will be provided with a proportionate mix of universal and targeted supports to support children and families accessing their services who are experiencing disadvantage, and;
• Enhancements to Core Funding, with enhancements to the Scheme in year 3 to support improved affordability and accessibility for families, improved pay and conditions for the workforce and improved sustainability for providers. In particular:
• €9.27m for 3% growth in year three of the Core Funding scheme, driven both by new services joining the sector and existing services offering more places and/or longer hours to families.
• €3.21m increases to the allocations for admin staff/time.
• €10.07m for non-staff overheads, ensuring that the Core Funding scheme is adequately responding to cost pressures. This allows maintenance of the fee freeze for parents and to ensure investment in NCS is fully felt by parents and not absorbed by higher fees.
A further €21.49m has been allocated towards Core Funding from September 2024. The precise allocation of this funding will be determined by data emerging from Year 2 of the scheme. It is intended that, in conjunction with the targeted measures introduced in September 2023, these measures will improve the financial standing of services receiving the lowest incomes and will pave the way for further negotiations to improve staff pay and conditions.
473. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of the investigation into the care home in the south east (details supplied); if each individual case has been investigated; if legal action is being taken or is planned to be taken against any individual or organisation arising from the investigation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51889/23]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that the functions vested in the Minister for Health with respect to the Commission of Investigation (certain matters relative to a disability service in the South East and related matters) (“The Farrelly Commission”) transferred to my Department on 1st March 2023 as part of the transfer of functions of specialist community based disability services.
The work of the Commission of Investigation is ongoing. Following an application by the Sole Member of the Commission of Investigation for an extension of time and following consultation with my colleague, Minister Anne Rabbitte T.D. I have granted the Commission of Investigation an extension of the timeframe for completion of its final report, for a period of twelve months from the 12th March 2023.
The Farrelly Commission is an independent statutory Commission of Investigation and I am not in a position to comment on its ongoing work or any associated legal matters.
474. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason for the delay in offering a contract for accommodation offered to his Department for Ukrainian people fleeing the war (details supplied). [51922/23]
View answerI am advised by my officials that the relevant team is engaging directly with a representative of the provider of the property to which the Deputy refers. Delays were experienced as a result of compliance issues identified which have now been considered and a decision has been made to resume our assessment of this offer.
The relevant Case Worker will be in contact with the Provider’s representative in the coming days to advise of next steps.
475. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth in view of the Ombudsman report Wasted Lives, the number of disabled people under the age of 65 years that remain in a nursing home and who are deemed not appropriately placed. [51928/23]
View answerA nursing home can be an appropriate care option where the person concerned has a clinically assessed complex medical and social care requirement that cannot be supported in the person’s home.
The Government is providing funding to facilitate supports to people to live in their own homes with disabilities, and where inappropriately placed in nursing homes, assist young people to move to supported living arrangements.
A primary source of U65 data has been provided by the HSE’s Nursing Home Support Scheme (NHSS). Based the latest validated data as of July 2023, there are a total of 1,228 residents in Nursing Homes under the age of 65.
By the end of August 2023, 20 individuals have moved from nursing homes to more appropriate homes in the community this year.
The HSE is currently engaging with a cohort of 575 individuals for review and assessment for transition into the community or continued nursing home placements.
The HSE has undertaken further appropriate surveys to identify people with a disability who may be inappropriately living in nursing homes and to enable planning for the most appropriate health and social care supports in the most appropriate setting. In 2023 the HSE undertook two national surveys:
• The Service Providers Survey was issued in April 2023 by the HSE, to all HIQA registered Nursing Homes, to get a more complete picture of U65s in a Nursing Home and their needs. This survey concluded on the 18 June 2023, and the results are currently being examined.
• The Individual Residents Survey is aimed at individuals with a disability aged 65 years and younger and who are resident in Nursing Homes, and is for completion by the individual or their representatives, on a voluntary basis. It will identify whether the residents wish to be contacted further by the HSE, in relation to transitioning to the community or receiving additional quality of life supports. Information on residents’ support needs, will and preferences, and personal details will also be ascertained. The Individual Survey is currently taking place and the HSE advises that it will conclude November 30th 2023 with an option to extend as needed.
476. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated number of residential places for disabled people that will be needed over the next 5, 10, 15 and 20 years, in tabular form. [51929/23]
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.
As the Deputy may be aware, the industrial action that commenced on Friday 6th October, by management and administrative grades in Fórsa Trade Union in the HSE, will impact on the response times to Parliamentary Questions and Representations
477. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the residential places for disabled people that were delivered in 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023; and the residential places for disabled people that were allocated in Budget 2024. [51930/23]
View answer478. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth : the current unmet need in residential places for disabled people. [51931/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 477 and 478 together.
Residential services make up the largest part of the Specialist Disability Services funding disbursed by the HSE - 58% of the total budget. Approximately 90 service providers provide residential services to over 8,000 individuals throughout the country.
Across the four years from 2020 to 2023 budget, funding was provided to the HSE to support Residential Placements as detailed in the table below (noting that as some individuals’ needs change, so too can the funding required to support them) :
|
Year |
Residential Places Delivered |
|
Year |
Residential Places Delivered |
|
2020 |
8,139 |
|
2021 |
8,146 |
|
2022 |
8,283 |
|
2023 |
8,357 ( as of September 2023) |
It is important to note that residential capacity in the system can be reduced. When residents of congregated settings sadly pass away, their places are not ordinarily re-utilised. This is in keeping with Government policy to move away from institutionalised settings.
To date in 2023 there are over 100 new placements provided by the HSE.
For 2024, an additional €195m brings an unprecedented level of funding of almost €2.8bn for Disability services, providing the basis to continue to improve access to enhanced disability services throughout the country.
In residential services for adults and children, €20.5m in additional new funding has been provided for 2024. Work is underway on finalising the HSE National Service Plan 2024.
It is important too to refer to the Review of Disability Social Care Demand and Capacity Requirements to 2032, which was published in July 2021. The review sets out the additional capacity required in specialist disability social care services in light of anticipated demographic changes, and addresses the gap between available services and the level of unmet need. It is intended to address the capacity deficits in a phased approach over this period.
The forthcoming Disability Action Plan details how the recommendations of the Capacity review will be implemented over the coming years.
479. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated number of respite places for disabled people that will be needed over the next 5, 10, 15 and 20 years, in tabular form. [51932/23]
View answer481. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the respite places that were delivered in 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023; and the respite places that were allocated in Budget 2024. [51934/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 479 and 481 together.
As these questions refer to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
As the Deputy may be aware, the industrial action that commenced on Friday 6th October, by management and administrative grades in Fórsa Trade Union in the HSE, will impact on the response times to Parliamentary Questions and Representations.
480. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the current unmet need in respite for disabled people. [51933/23]
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.
As the Deputy may be aware, the industrial action that commenced on Friday 6th October, by management and administrative grades in Fórsa Trade Union in the HSE, will impact on the response times to Parliamentary Questions and Representations.
