Written Answers Nos. 482-501
482. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of people currently working as homecare assistants in both the public and private sector, in tabular form; and the estimated number of people needed to fully staff the homecare sector in both the public and private sector, in tabular form. [51935/23]
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.
483. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of people currently assessed as in need of homecare who have not been allocated hours due to a shortage of staff. [51936/23]
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.
484. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for an update on the Autism Innovation Strategy; the timeframe for the publication of the Autism Innovation Strategy; and if he has plans to establish a committee or monitoring group featuring autistic people to participate in monitoring the Autism Innovation Strategy. [51937/23]
View answerThe Programme for Government contains a commitment to action on autism. The development of a new national autism strategy, the Autism Innovation Strategy, is currently underway and I expect to be in a position to publish a draft strategy text early next year. This is an important priority for me as Minister of State.
The Autism Innovation Strategy will identify ways to address the bespoke challenges and barriers faced by autistic people and provide the building blocks for a more autism-inclusive society. It will seek to provide for better mainstream understanding and accommodation of the needs of autistic people. The strategy will be cross-Government in nature and will take a holistic approach towards addressing these challenges in a way that complements and aligns with wider action on disability.
Development of the strategy is currently at an advanced stage with drafting of the strategy being finalised at present. This follows several months of engagements right across Government to agree a suite of clear, simple actions that can address gaps in existing supports and services for autistic people within an 18 month timeframe. This process has included careful consideration of the recommendations contained in the final report of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism and the findings of a public consultation held in 2022.
I have been very clear that I want the autistic community to be at the centre of the development process of the Strategy. This has included the appointment of the Autism Innovation Strategy Oversight and Advisory Group, following an open application process.
This group, which is majority neurodivergent, will play a key role in monitoring implementation of the strategy, and in providing constructive advice based on the lived experience and expertise of group members.
The group was formally appointed and met for the first time in December 2022 and subsequently in April 2023. I was delighted to chair these meetings. Further meetings will be arranged in the near future.
Once drafting of the strategy is complete, there will be a further public consultation prior to the formal adoption of the Autism Innovation Strategy. It intended that implementation of the strategy will begin in early 2024 and that is the clear focus of work at present.
485. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated final cost of publishing the Autism Innovation Strategy. [51938/23]
View answerThe Programme for Government contains a commitment to action on autism. The development of a new national strategy, the Autism Innovation Strategy, is currently underway. This is an important priority for me as Minister of State.
Costs related to the Strategy have to date been modest and have largely fallen within the realm of consultation and engagement costs and costs related to sourcing the expertise necessary to develop the Strategy. Publication costs will be addressed as the Strategy takes final shape, following a final round of consultation on a draft text. For reasons of commercial sensitivity I do not propose to outline detailed budgets here, however I can assure the Deputy that I have successfully secured the necessary funding to launch and commence delivery of the strategy under Budget 2024.
The Autism Innovation Strategy will identify ways to address the bespoke challenges and barriers faced by autistic people and provide the building blocks for a more autism-inclusive society. It will seek to provide for better mainstream understanding and accommodation of the needs of autistic people. The strategy will be cross-Government in nature and will take a holistic approach towards addressing these challenges in a way that complements and aligns with wider action on disability.
Development of the strategy is currently at an advanced stage. This follows several months of engagements right across Government to agree a suite of clear, simple actions that can address gaps in existing supports and services for autistic people within an 18 month timeframe.
Once drafting of the strategy is complete, there will be a further public consultation prior to the formal adoption of the Autism Innovation Strategy. It is my intention that implementation of the strategy will begin in early 2024 and that is the clear focus of work for my officials at present.
486. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he has plans to initiate a national autism acceptance campaign to promote the participation of autistic people in all areas of social and cultural life; and the estimated cost of initiating a national autism acceptance campaign. [51939/23]
View answerThe Programme for Government contains a commitment to action on autism. The development of a new national strategy, the Autism Innovation Strategy, is currently underway. This is an important priority for me as Minister of St
While actions in the strategy, and the costs of delivering such actions, are still being finalised at present, it is anticipated that efforts under the strategy will seek to improve public awareness, understanding, and acceptance of autism.
The Autism Innovation Strategy will identify ways to address the bespoke challenges and barriers faced by autistic people and provide the building blocks for a more autism-inclusive society. It will seek to provide for better mainstream understanding and accommodation of the needs of autistic people. The strategy will be cross-Government in nature and will take a holistic approach towards addressing these challenges in a way that complements and aligns with wider action on disability.
Development of the strategy is currently at an advanced stage with drafting of the strategy being finalised at present. This follows several months of engagements right across Government to agree a suite of clear, simple actions that can address gaps in existing supports and services for autistic people within an 18 month timeframe.
An initial public consultation was held in April/May 2022 to capture the views and priorities of the autistic community. A report summarising this feedback received was published in April 2023. The findings of the public consultation are being carefully considered as part of the drafting process for the strategy. One of the issues that emerged in the public consultation was the importance of generating improved awareness and understanding of autism across society.
Once drafting of the strategy is complete, there will be a further public consultation prior to the formal adoption of the Autism Innovation Strategy. It is my intention that implementation of the strategy will begin in early 2024 and that is the clear focus of work for my officials at present.
487. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he has plans to collect disaggregated data for the purposes of forward-planning for the autistic community; if so, if his Department will consult with the autistic community and their families to establish how best to implement this plan; and the estimated cost of collecting this data. [51940/23]
View answerThe Programme for Government contains a commitment to action on autism. The development of a new national strategy, the Autism Innovation Strategy, is currently underway. This is an important priority for me as Minister of State.
An important issue raised in the public consultation to assist development of the strategy was the need to improve the collection of data on autism to inform the delivery of services and supports. While actions in the strategy, and the costs of delivering such actions, are still being finalised at present, it is anticipated that actions will be advanced under the strategy which will seek to provide a foundation for improved data collection and research in relation to autism. Delivery of actions under the strategy will be carried out in close consultation with the autistic community and their families.
The Autism Innovation Strategy will identify ways to address the bespoke challenges and barriers faced by autistic people and provide the building blocks for a more autism-inclusive society. It will seek to provide for better mainstream understanding and accommodation of the needs of autistic people. The strategy will be cross-Government in nature and will take a holistic approach towards addressing these challenges in a way that complements and aligns with wider action on disability.
Development of the strategy is currently at an advanced stage with drafting of the strategy being finalised at present. This follows several months of engagements right across Government to agree a suite of clear, simple actions that can address gaps in existing supports and services for autistic people within an 18 month timeframe.
An initial public consultation was held in April/May 2022 to capture the views and priorities of the autistic community and their families. A report summarising this feedback received was published in April 2023. The findings of the public consultation are being carefully considered as part of the drafting process for the strategy.
Once drafting of the strategy is complete, there will be a further public consultation prior to the formal adoption of the Autism Innovation Strategy. It is my intention that implementation of the strategy will begin in early 2024 and that is the clear focus of work for my officials at present.
488. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he has any plans to establish a dedicated cross-departmental unit in his Department to facilitate a whole-of-government approach to autism and to embed joined-up cross-departmental services; and the estimated cost of establishing a dedicated cross-departmental unit in his Department. [51941/23]
View answerThe Government is committed to better meeting the needs of autistic people in the State. Action on autism, as with action on disability more broadly, is advanced on a mainstream first basis, and on the basis of meeting the needs of an individual rather than around a particular diagnosis or impairment. Following the completion of the transfer of disability services functions to my Department this year, in addition to the earlier transfer of disability equality functions, there is now a fully staffed Division working to address a range of disability issues, including action on autism.
Due to the whole of government dimension of aspects of the work required to meet the needs of our disabled population, action advanced on a "mainstream first" basis means that individual departments and agencies support persons with disabilities within their areas of responsibility. This is in line with the approach set out in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which Ireland ratified in 2018. My Department acts as a central coordination point to drive and support these efforts across Government.
Autistic people, along with other disability cohorts, are currently being supported via a range of policy and legislative frameworks in my Department and across Government. Within my own areas of responsibility, people with disabilities, including autistic people, will be further supported via the Progressing Disability Services or PDS Roadmap, the Disability Services Action Plan, and the new National Disability Strategy (NDS) that is currently being developed to further advance implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Ireland. The next NDS in particular will seek to set out a framework for improved action and coordination on disability issues, including autism.
However, it is recognised that there bespoke challenges facing autistic people that need to be better addressed. It is for this reason that I have prioritised development of a new national strategy on autism, the Autism Innovation Strategy.
The Autism Innovation Strategy will provide a framework for cross-Government action on autism, which is designed to complement and enhance existing policy frameworks. It will seek to provide for better mainstream understanding and accommodation of the needs of Autistic people across the public system. It will also seek to promote a more holistic and coordinated approach to services and supports for autistic people in the State,
Development of the strategy is currently at an advanced stage with drafting of the strategy being finalised at present. This follows several months of engagements right across Government to agree a suite of clear, simple actions that can address gaps in existing supports and services for Autistic people within an 18 month timeframe. This process has included careful consideration of the recommendations contained in the final report of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism and the findings of a public consultation held in 2022.
Once drafting of the strategy is complete, there will be a further public consultation prior to the formal adoption of the Autism Innovation Strategy. It intended that implementation of the strategy will begin in early 2024 and that is the clear focus of work at present.
489. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason that the optional protocol of the UNCRPD has not yet been ratified; and the timeframe for the ratification of the optional protocol of the UNCRPD. [51942/23]
View answerThe Optional Protocol of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is an international treaty that establishes two procedures aimed at strengthening the implementation and monitoring of the Convention. The first is an individual communications procedure allowing individuals to bring petitions to the Committee claiming breaches of their rights; the second is an inquiry procedure giving the Committee authority to undertake inquiries of grave or systematic violations of the Convention.
Ratification of the Optional Protocol is a commitment in the Programme for Government.
The timeline for ratifying the Optional Protocol was anticipated to follow the conclusion of Ireland’s first review period before the UN Committee. This has not taken place yet because of delays at UN level outside of Ireland’s control. Ireland submitted its first State Report in November 2021 and we continue to await a review date from the UN Committee.
In light of this, I am open to the earlier ratification of the Optional Protocol, subject to the state being in a position to meet the obligations that arise. I have already commenced the necessary scoping exercise to ascertain the requirements for ratifying the Optional Protocol at the earliest opportunity.
This scoping work is a procedurally necessary exercise in due diligence for the State to agree to any supra-national and quasi-judicial process, and is in keeping with the State’s long-standing position in relation to ratifying internationally binding treaties.
As a country that takes its international obligations extremely seriously and seeks to act in good faith on the international stage, Ireland does not enter into binding international treaties until we are confident that the obligations set out within can be complied with.
While an exact date for ratification of the Optional Protocol cannot be given at the moment, it is my priority to ensure that ratification takes place at the earliest possible date.
It is extremely important to note that ratification of the Optional Protocol is not a precondition to the implementation of the UNCRPD. Ireland fully ratified the UNCRPD in 2018 and the Government remains committed to continuously advancing the rights of persons with disabilities that it sets out.
Currently, the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities monitors and evaluates Ireland’s implementation of the UNCRPD through examinations of periodic State Reports, and the State has and is continuing to make progress in the continuous advancement of rights under the Convention.
490. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if all Government Departments have a dedicated autism policy in place; and which Departments have developed a policy and which have not, in tabular form. [51943/23]
View answerThe Government is committed to better meeting the needs of autistic people in the State. Action on autism, as with action on disability more broadly, is advanced on a mainstream first basis, with individual departments and agencies supporting persons with disabilities within their areas of responsibility. My Department acts as a central coordination point to support these efforts.
The last National Disability Inclusion Strategy provided a framework within which whole of government disability issues could be addressed in a mainstream first and coordinated manner. A significant focus of the work in my department at the moment is on evolving that model to ensure that the public sector understands disability and addresses the needs of disabled people, including autistic people, in the delivery of all mainstream services in a mainstreamed and coordinated manner. In addition to this, many departments have included disability in a very wide range of policies and practices, and all proposals going to cabinet must set out the implications for disabled persons of the proposed measure.
Alongside this mainstream first approach, it is recognised that there bespoke challenges facing autistic people that need to be better addressed. It is for this reason that I have prioritised development of a new national strategy on autism, the Autism Innovation Strategy.
The Autism Innovation Strategy will provide a further framework for cross-Government action on autism, which is designed to complement and enhance existing policy frameworks. It will seek to provide for better mainstream understanding and accommodation of the needs of Autistic people across the public system.
Development of the strategy is currently at an advanced stage with drafting of the strategy being finalised at present. This follows several months of engagements right across Government to agree a suite of clear, simple actions that can address gaps in existing supports and services for Autistic people within an 18 month timeframe. This process has included careful consideration of the recommendations contained in the final report of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism and the findings of a public consultation held in 2022.
Once drafting of the strategy is complete, there will be a further public consultation prior to the formal adoption of the Autism Innovation Strategy. It intended that implementation of the strategy will begin in early 2024 and that is the clear focus of work at present.
491. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what actions he has taken to address the staffing issues in disability services, including the recruitment and retention of staff. [51944/23]
View answerI am acutely aware of the impact of staffing issues within the Disability Services sector and am wholly committed to ensuring the continuation and growth of Disability Services, in-line with population needs.
Following the Capacity Review undertaken by the Department of Health (DOH) in 2021, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth’s (DCEDIY's) Disability Action Plan was approved by Government in July of this year, and is currently being prepared for publication. The Action Plan underpins Government commitment to the expansion of services for people with disabilities and aims to progressively address unmet need by enhancing and reforming services, including through the creation of additional disability service posts and recruitment to these positions. Government is committed to ensuring the expansion of Disability Services, and DCEDIY have secured funding to deliver on this commitment in 2024.
While recruitment and retention of staff is a challenge across the sector overall, a significant priority for Government is filling vacancies within the 91 Children’s Development Network Teams (CDNTs). The Progressing Disability Services (PDS) Roadmap establishes a set of priority workforce actions to address current vacancies and expand recruitment across children’s Disability Services throughout 2023-2026.
To support the supply into and retention of staff within Disability Services, under the leadership of Minister Rabbitte an interdepartmental workforce steering group has also been established, focused on examining and directing efforts to address immediate and longer term staffing needs.
Beginning in May 2023, the HSE implemented a recruitment pause for a number of grades across the HSE and S38 service providers, to ensure that it can sustainably provide services within its existing resources. The core focus of the pause is to protect controlled growth and ensure the HSE has an adequate financial control environment. My Department has engaged consistently with the HSE to ensure the pause does not unduly affect the provision of existing Disability Services or strategic initiatives to support targeted expansion across key services.
The HSE have agreed to a derogation for Disability Services whereby essential staff across a number of grades can be replaced on a “one for one” basis. The derogation applies to Disability Services funded replacement posts and new development posts in the HSE and Section 38 agencies, in regard to the following staff categories: Medical/Dental, Nursing, HSCP, Support Staff Grades, Other Patient and Client Care. A process for application of the derogation has been prescribed by the HSE and communicated to relevant stakeholders.
Staff recruitment and retention challenges are affecting the sustainability and stability of section 39 organisations and their ability to deliver services on behalf of the State. These challenges are mirrored in many of the health and social care professions across the country. My department has proactively engaged in a WRC process in recent months to ensure the sustainability of these organisations, for the benefit of those who rely on these essential services, and the workers who are committed to providing quality services. Following intensive talks, the parties to the process, including the DCEDIY and DoH, reached an agreement on funding for pay with Unions representing Section 39, Section 56 and Section 10 organisations.
The agreement reached committed to a significant increase of investment in the sectors amounting to an 8% increase in funding for pay in Section 39, 56, and 10 organisations. On 22 Nov unions informed the Departments that their members voted overwhelmingly to accept the agreement. The agreement reached will benefit a great number of staff providing vital services on behalf of the Government. In addition, agreement was reached to commence a process to facilitate discussions on appropriate further funding increases, having regard to Building Momentum and any successor public sector pay agreement.
The successful recruitment and retention of staff across the Disability Services sector is integral to this sectors continued growth and remains a key priority for me.
492. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated cost of establishing a one-stop-shop where autistic people and their families and carers can receive information and link in with services that they require. [51945/23]
View answerThe Government is committed to better meeting the needs of autistic people and their families in the State. In the context of the development of the Autism Innovation Strategy, work is underway to explore methods of providing enhanced information, signposting of information, and supports regarding autism for autistic people and their families.
The Programme for Government contains a commitment to action on autism. The development of a new national strategy, the Autism Innovation Strategy, is currently underway. This is an important priority for me as Minister of State.
The Autism Innovation Strategy will provide a framework for cross-Government action on autism, which is designed to complement and enhance existing policy frameworks. It will seek to provide for better mainstream understanding and accommodation of the needs of Autistic people across the public system. It will also seek to promote a more holistic and coordinated approach to services and supports for autistic people in the State.
Development of the strategy is currently at an advanced stage with drafting of the strategy being finalised at present. This follows several months of engagements right across Government to agree a suite of clear, simple actions that can address gaps in existing supports and services for Autistic people within an 18 month timeframe. This process has included careful consideration of the recommendations contained in the final report of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism and the findings of a public consultation held in 2022, both of which included considerations around improved information on autism.
While actions in the strategy, and the costs of delivering such actions, are still being finalised at present, it is anticipated that actions will be advanced under the strategy to improve information about autism and coordination between different services.
Once drafting of the strategy is complete, there will be a further public consultation prior to the formal adoption of the Autism Innovation Strategy. It intended that implementation of the strategy will begin in early 2024 and that is the clear focus of work at present.
493. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason for the delay in offering a contract to an organisation (details supplied) for accommodation offered to his Department for Ukrainian people fleeing the war [51948/23]
View answerIreland has responded to the largest displacement of people on the European continent since the Second World War. Since February 2022, as part of the Whole of Government response the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has worked extensively to support over 100,500 people who have sought temporary protection in Ireland in fleeing the war in Ukraine, over 80% of whom have sought State supported accommodation.
With regard to the offer to which the Deputy refers, I am advised by my officials that they are in regular contact with your constituent and have requested outstanding documentation required in order for this offer to proceed. Until the same is received, the offer cannot be progressed by the appropriate team.
494. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what efforts are being made to ensure that an organisation (details supplied) can continue to provide a much-needed service for children following the announcement of reduced funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51958/23]
View answerCARI offers an important and vital service to Children who have experienced sexual abuse , and the support offered by the service to the parents of those children . The Minister, and the Department understand the vital role CARI play in providing therapy to those who have experienced sexual abuse and it is acknowledged how vital this service is for children and their families through an extremely distressing and difficult time .
CARI highlighted the issue of a financial deficit in August 2023 where it was expressed to Tusla, the Child and Family Agency and the Department that CARI would need €243,000 until the end of 2023. Tusla and the Department have been actively engaging with CARI, and additional funding was provided by Tusla in October to address the projected financial deficit by CARI at that time. The conditional agreement between Tusla and CARI was based upon CARI providing a detailed financial governance to Tusla to ensure on going core funding for 2024.
The CEO and Senior Management of Tusla are engaging with CARI actively to reach a solution. The key elements of the financial deficit for CARI have been identified by the Department. There are several key drivers which have led to cost increases including the using up of financial reserves built up over time to supplement funding shortfalls such as; an increase in running costs, decreased income from funding and under charging for the full cost of therapy.
As a Department the promotion of child welfare is the paramount concern. The initial amount required to ensure operations by CARI could function until end of year was outlined to Tusla in August 2023 and a plan was put in place on the 8th of November. This is an ongoing development that requires both Tusla and CARI to reach a mutually beneficial agreement. However, CARI's financial deficit has changed significantly from the original figure outlined to Tusla in August 2023 and upon which significant and additional once off financial funding was provided.
The Department officials are continuing to liaise with Tusla in this regard and the situation requires close review by Tusla regarding any future issues in this regard. The Department welcomes the continued communication between Tusla and CARI.
495. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total number of Freedom of Information requests submitted to his Department in 2022 and to date in 2023; the total number of such requests that were rejected in their entirety; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51967/23]
View answerI have outlined the table below the number of Freedom of Information requests received by this Department in 2022 and to date in 2023 and indicated the number of which that were rejected in their entirety.
|
Year |
Number of FOI requests received |
Number of FOI requests refused |
|
2022 |
259 |
63 |
|
2023 (to date) |
361 |
107 |
I note that a detailed review of each Department’s FOI performance is published in the Office of the Information Commissioner’s Annual Report 2022.
My Department will be reporting to the OIC in January 2024 on FOI activity in the Department in 2023.
496. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is aware of the urgency attached to implementing the arrangements under the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Act 2023, having regard to the advancing years of some of the applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52040/23]
View answerI am acutely aware of the urgency to open the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme as soon as possible and this is an absolute priority for me and my Department. I am very conscious that many potential applicants to the Scheme are very elderly, and in that regard I made provision in the underpinning legislation for the Scheme that priority may be given to an application depending on the applicant’s circumstances, including their age and their health.
The Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme will be the largest scheme of its type in the history of the State with an anticipated 34,000 people eligible under the terms of the Scheme. Given the scale and significance of the Scheme it is being placed on a statutory footing and this enabling legislation was signed into law in July this year. It allows for the establishment of an Executive Office in my Department to administer the Scheme and the appointment of the Chief Deciding Officer to head up that office. It also provides for the making of the necessary regulations which must be in place prior to the Scheme opening and sets out a lawful basis for access to information and records which are essential for the processing of applications.
Intensive work is underway to establish the administrative structures needed to open the Scheme as soon as possible. Following careful consideration of a number of important factors, including the need to open the Scheme as soon as possible and the ability to be responsive and scale up and down to meet Scheme demand, a blended operating model is being developed. This will provide for the Executive Office to be supported by an experienced third party which will facilitate efficiencies in application processing and payments.
In accordance with the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Act, all staff in the Executive Office, as well as the third party support team, will operate under the direction and supervision of the Chief Deciding Officer and a comprehensive training programme for all staff involved in the Scheme is being developed.
Following a call to survivors and former resident who may be interested in providing feedback on draft scheme materials, my Department recently established a stakeholder reference group and that group is currently examining draft materials for the Scheme.
An information awareness campaign will take place in Ireland and abroad at the time of the Scheme opening. Applicants will be supported throughout the process with information and advice if they need it. I would encourage any person who thinks they may be eligible for the Scheme to make an application at that time.
497. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will reverse the funding cuts that an organisation (details supplied) have received; if he will ensure that they are adequately resourced to continue their vital work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52042/23]
View answerCARI offers an important and vital service to Children who have experienced sexual abuse , and the support offered by the service to the parents of those children . The Minister, and the Department understand the vital role CARI play in providing therapy to those who have experienced sexual abuse and it is acknowledged how vital this service is for children and their families through an extremely distressing and difficult time .
CARI highlighted the issue of a financial deficit in August 2023 where it was expressed to Tusla, the Child and Family Agency and the Department that CARI would need €243,000 until the end of 2023. Tusla and the Department have been actively engaging with CARI, and additional funding was provided by Tusla in October to address the projected financial deficit by CARI at that time. The conditional agreement between Tusla and CARI was based upon CARI providing a detailed financial governance to Tusla to ensure on going core funding for 2024.
The CEO and Senior Management of Tusla are engaging with CARI actively to reach a solution. The key elements of the financial deficit for CARI have been identified by the Department. There are several key drivers which have led to cost increases including the using up of financial reserves built up over time to supplement funding shortfalls such as; an increase in running costs, decreased income from funding and under charging for the full cost of therapy.
As a Department the promotion of child welfare is the paramount concern. The initial amount required to ensure operations by CARI could function until end of year was outlined to Tusla in August 2023 and a plan was put in place on the 8th of November. This is an ongoing development that requires both Tusla and CARI to reach a mutually beneficial agreement. However, CARI's financial deficit has changed significantly from the original figure outlined to Tusla in August 2023 and upon which significant and additional once off financial funding was provided.
The Department officials are continuing to liaise with Tusla in this regard and the situation requires close review by Tusla regarding any future issues in this regard. The Department welcomes the continued communication between Tusla and CARI.
498. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 464, 465, 467, 468 and 469 of 14 November 2023, the expected total maximum occupancy of the 37 properties referenced once they are fully operational; and by what date they are expected to become operational. [52060/23]
View answerThe maximum occupancy for the 37 properties is potentially up to 200 people. As the properties will be used as supported accommodation for vulnerable applicants the exact occupancy numbers will be determined by vulnerability need.
The properties will be delivered on a phased basis over the next number of months. It is estimated that the majority of the properties will be occupied by the end of quarter one 2024. The occupancy of the properties will be subject to issues that may arise as a result of any upgrade works.
499. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 464, 465, 467, 468 and 469 of 14 November 2023, what proportion of children in the international protection system will be entitled to the new payment provided for by Budget 2024; and the eligibility criteria for same. [52061/23]
View answerThe introduction of an International Protection Child Payment (IPCP) is a key commitment in the White Paper to End Direct Provision and to Establish a New International Protection Support Service. The IPCP will contribute towards the cost of raising a child, protect against child poverty, and enable participation in Irish society. The IPCP is an important commitment to help address the high rates of poverty experienced by this group of children in keeping with the particular focus on child poverty in Budget 2024.
It is proposed the IPCP will be a payment of €140 per month, or €32.11 per week.
International Protection Applicant children up to the age of 18, who are residing in IPAS accommodation and are awaiting a decision are eligible for the IPCP. The IPCP will be paid in respect of all eligible children.
As part of the Budget process, I secured €4.7m to provide for the IPCP in 2024. As the IPCP is a new development measure, a business case for sanction on its establishment has now been prepared and submitted to the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform in line with the rules and procedures governing public spending.
The proportion of children in the international protection system who will be eligible for the IPCP at any given time is variable. When a family residing in IPAS accommodation receive a positive decision and apply for mainstream social welfare support they will no longer be eligible for the IPCP however they may be remaining in IPAS accommodation while searching for housing.
500. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 464, 465, 467, 468 and 469 of 14 November 2023, if all of the programme output targets provided in the table were met; if not, by how much they were missed; in the case of 2023, if they are on course to be met; and if not, by how much they are off target. [52062/23]
View answerMy Department is collating this information and will contact the Deputy as soon as possible with the information sought.
501. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the recruitment process for a CDNT manager in County Louth will be completed; if this position is exempt from the HSE recruitment freeze; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52091/23]
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.
