Written Answers Nos. 69-101
77. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans under the child care (amendment) Bill 2023 to establish a committee on childcare, which will include representation from other Departments to oversee and facilitate inter-agency collaboration (details supplied). [55773/23]
View answerI published the Heads and General Scheme of a Bill to amend the Child Care Act 1991, in April of this year, following a comprehensive review of that legislation.
While Review found that the Act has served children well, and there is much that is worth retaining, our thinking as regards child welfare and protection landscape has evolved since 1991. We have a better understanding of children’s rights and a greater emphasis on listening to children’s voices. These factors, coupled with changes in the structures providing child welfare and protection services mean that there are provisions of the 1991 Act which need to be updated.
An issue that I am particularly interested in, is the ability of organisations to work together efficiently and effectively in the best interests of children. The General Scheme, in Heads 10 and 11, therefore included proposals which are intended to enable interagency cooperation, including the proposal to establish a statutory Child Care Act Advisory Committee.
The intention behind this Committee is to ensure that there is a structure composed of senior decision makers from key Departments, Tusla, the HSE and the Gardaí. I intend this Committee to have a problem-solving focus and for it to actively address issues which fall across more than one sector. For example, this could include cross-agency cooperation in relation to the interface between child welfare and disability or mental health services.
The remit of the Committee will encompass children and families known to Tusla and who may be receiving, for example, family support services, and persons who are eligible for aftercare. A particular focus of this Committee will be on ensuring that children who have been removed from their parents by the State, receive adequate help and support from all relevant State bodies.
My Department is actively considering the recommendations that the Joint Oireachtas Committee made in its report on the pre-legislative scrutiny process, as well as feedback received from other key stakeholders. My officials, in conjunction with Parliamentary Counsel continue to consider how best to frame these legislative proposals.
79. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what steps his Department is taking to reduce the rate of child trafficking in the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55427/23]
View answerBoth my Department and Tusla are deeply cognisant of the increased risk of child trafficking and sexual exploitation of vulnerable children and young people, whether relating to children and young people in care or those in the wider community.
Of particular concern is the increased instance of separated children seeking asylum who enter into the care of the State and subsequently cannot be accounted for. As the Deputy will be aware, the greatly increased numbers of people arriving in Ireland seeking international protection over the last two years has also brought a much larger cohort of separated children seeking asylum than had previously arrived in the State.
Following the publication of the UCD SERP Protecting Against Predators report in July, I met with the report authors and my officials engaged with Tusla to follow up with the 21 people interviewed to ensure all issues highlighted were being actively followed up, including in respect of necessary reporting to An Garda Síochána.
In September, I met with the Tusla Separated Children Seeking Asylum Team and An Garda Síochána to hear directly from them about ongoing efforts to trace all cases where a child goes missing; including regular engagement with authorities in the UK and other EU Member States.
I subsequently attended the Tusla National Child Safeguarding Strategic Liaison Committee Meeting.
Following these engagements, the Senior Garda Investigation Officer under Operation Coisnaim, the AGS Operation for Trafficking for Children and Young People, is currently carrying out review of effectiveness of the operation and will report in early 2024.
Tusla have also worked to reduce the number of separated children seeking asylum requiring special care arrangements. Tusla have further commissioned the Children's Rights Alliance to lead Stakeholder Engagement with all relevant stakeholders for separated children seeking asylum to examine all aspects of care and support available. The report and recommendations of this stakeholder group will be published in January.
Since the summer, I have also discussed the matter directly with the Ombudsman for Children, the Special Rapporteur for Child protection and the Children's’ Rights Alliance.
80. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of his Department’s efforts to tackle child poverty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55513/23]
View answerI am committed to supporting the broader Government action to combat child poverty. My Department is taking a series of actions in this regard.
Investment in early learning and childcare is at unprecedented levels, a clear demonstration from Government of the value of the sector. In 2024, my Department’s funding for the early learning and childcare sector will be €1.109 billion, an €83 million (8%) increase on last year’s funding.
This includes substantial affordability, accessibility and quality building measures. It provides for the roll out of the Equal Participation Model in 2024 to help children and their families who may be experiencing disadvantage to access Early Learning and Childcare settings.
Young Ireland: the National Policy Framework for Children and Young People 2023-2028, was published in November. Child poverty is a spotlight area in Young Ireland, and my Department is working closely with the Child Poverty and Well-being Programme Office in the Department of the Taoiseach to establish robust governance structures to ensure progress is made on the key areas.
As part of the European Child Guarantee, my Department is committed to establishing four pilot Child Poverty Local Area Action Plans in Children and Young People’s Services Committees areas.
My Department's UBU Your Place Your Space youth funding scheme seeks to provide out-of-school supports to marginalised, disadvantaged or vulnerable young people to overcome significant challenges and achieve their potential. In 2023, over €46m was allocated to UBU funded organisations.
I remain committed to building a robust evidence base to inform policy decisions on combating child poverty into the future, having commissioned published research from the ESRI and Maynooth University on the topic of child poverty in recent years, including lone parents' transitions into and out of poverty and the effect of employment transitions on poverty outcomes. Officials in my Department are also working with the Department of Social Protection to develop new child poverty targets.
84. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children referred back to primary care by their CDNT, by CDNT, in 2023 to date, in tabular form. [55777/23]
View answer86. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of CAMHS referrals from CDNTs, by CDNT and CHO, to date in 2023, in tabular form. [55776/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 84 and 86 together.
With regard to the questions asked by the Deputy, the HSE has informed me that the information regarding the number of children referred back to primary care by their CDNT, or regarding the number of CAMHS referrals from CDNTs, is not currently collated nationally.
The collection of data by the HSE on CDNT activity on a national basis can be variable, due to outdated IT systems and a variety approaches used across the 91 CDNTs who collate manually at present.
This current situation regarding data is being remedied by the continued rollout of a National Information Management System for all 91 CDNTs. When implemented, it will provide current and relevant data such as waiting lists and other details for each CDNTs. The rollout is ongoing and significant work has already taken place, with 24 of the 91 teams migrated. It is expected that the roll out will be finalised in Q2 2024.
In addition, the Government and the HSE acknowledge that there has been inconsistency regarding the joint case management of children with complex needs between Primary Care, Disability Services and CAMHs. In order to address this inconsistency, the HSE have developed a joint working protocol between Primary Care, Disabilities and CAMHS services. The joint working protocol aims to clearly define how the three services will cooperate and work together when a child with complex needs requires supports from more than one service provider. The protocol also aims to make the referral process easier for both families and referrers to follow.
Work is ongoing to strengthen the connections between the services and it will be a key focus of work within the recently launched Roadmap for Services, with a dedicated working group established to examine the protocol and the National Access Policy (NAP). The NAP ensures that children are directed to the appropriate service based on the complexity of their presenting needs. For example, children are directed to Primary Care for non-complex functional difficulties and to Children’s Disability Network Teams for complex functional difficulties. Depending on the complexity of their needs, children with ASD may access supports from a Children’s Disability Network Team or from Primary Care or from Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). The supports accessed is dependent on the complexity of their needs.
The focus of attention for this Working Group will be to lead on ensuring the consistent implementation of the National Access Policy and Joint Working Protocol for children with disabilities, including those undergoing the Assessment of Need (AON) to ensure all AONs are routed to the most appropriate service i.e. Primary Care, CDNT or CAMHS.
I look forward to these measures, and others, being of benefit to children and families, allowing for more timely access to services from Primary Care, Disability Services or CAMHs.
85. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide details on the number of centres in County Clare to date that are providing protection to Ukrainian refugees and international protection applicants; and the number of persons residing in these centres. [55636/23]
View answerSince early 2022, Ireland has provided accommodation to over 99,000 people between those fleeing Ukraine and International Protection applicants. This includes over 73,000 Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) from Ukraine who requested State supported accommodation and over 25,000 International Protection applicants currently in IPAS accommodation. Prior to the war in Ukraine, there were 8,300 applicants for international protection in State supported accommodation.
There are currently 39 premises accommodating some 3,737 Beneficiaries of the Temporary Protection Directive in County Clare. In addition, there are currently 677 International Protection (IP) applicants accommodated across ten IPAS accommodation centres in the County.
I should point out to the Deputy that these figures provide an overview at a point in time. They are subject to change and contingent on a number of factors that include accommodation availability, providers in contract at any given time, configurations and transfers resulting from contracts ceasing.
My Department does not publicly detail the locations of such accommodation centres in the interest of the privacy and security of residents and providers.
The scale of response to this crisis has been unprecedented and Irish people have displayed an incredible level of generosity in their support for those fleeing Ukraine and elsewhere.
I wish to thank the many individuals, volunteers, community groups and the Local Authority in Co. Clare who have contributed so much as part of the humanitarian response to welcoming those fleeing the war in Ukraine.
87. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when he will introduce a grant scheme to assist in the provision of large-scale preschool accommodation and the upgrading of existing childcare accommodation, as there is a need to increase substantially the level of grant aid to ensure adequate childcare accommodation in the coming years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55734/23]
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:
1. Building Blocks - Improvement Grant;
2. Building Blocks - Capacity Grant; and
3. Building Blocks - Innovation Grant.
Under the Building Blocks - Improvement Grant, €9 million was allocated earlier this year in grants ranging from €35,000 to €75,000 for energy upgrades and retrofit projects, which supported services in need of upgrading, such as kitchen refurbishments, roof repairs and the replacement of flooring.
Last week, I was pleased to announce Pillar 2 - the Building Blocks Capacity Grant. Under the Grant, €45m will be made available over 2024 and 2025 to deliver additional early learning and childcare places. The primary focus of the Grant is to increase capacity in the 1-3 age range for full day or part-time care.
The Building Blocks Capacity Grant will be split into two strand. Under the Expansion Grant Scheme, €15m will be made available from early 2024 to providers in areas of identified undersupply. Priority will be given to delivering full-time and part-time places within the 1-3 age group. Places for children under age 1 will also be eligible for funding. Projects of between €50,000 and €100,000 will be funded to deliver additional capacity where services can renovate/upgrade existing space to cater for more children.
The Capacity Grant will be split into two strands, an Expansion Grant Scheme, and a larger-scale Extension Grant Scheme. Both schemes will operate from 2024, to fund expansion projects in areas of identified undersupply. Funding under the Expansion Grant Scheme will be made available to providers from early 2024, with the larger scale Extension Scheme to be made available later in 2024.
The Capacity Grant will be open to Core Funding partner services. The awarding of grants will be informed by the results of a detailed needs analysis, which is currently underway, and which will identify capacity gaps and areas and categories of need.
88. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for an update on Government policy on increasing supply of childcare places and decreasing the cost for parents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55645/23]
View answerThe availability and affordability of high quality early learning and childcare is a key Government priority as demonstrated by the record levels of investment by the State, which will exceed €1.1bn in 2024.
The combination of recent enhancements to the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) and the new public management measures through Core Funding that requires services to maintain a fee freeze as well as offer the NCS to families has led to substantial reductions in the out of pocket costs to families and substantial increases in the numbers of families benefiting.
Additional funding secured in Budget 2024 will allow us to make further progress in this area.
From September 2024, any family who is not already at the maximum hourly NCS subsidy will see an increase in their subsidy from €1.40 to €2.14.
As well as this, the NCS will be opened up to families who use childminders following the extension of regulation to childminders, which is expected to happen from autumn 2024.
The regulation of childminders and the €69m Building Blocks Capital Programme under the National Development Plan are among the steps I am taking to address issues of under supply of State funded early learning and childcare places. Other steps include:
• The updating the 2001 Planning Guidelines for Local Authorities on Early Learning and Childcare Settings in partnership with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage; and
• The ongoing development of Core Funding which has given rise to a significant expansion of places since the scheme was first introduced. The allocation for year 2 of this scheme provided for a 3% growth in capacity, which has materialised, and the allocation of year 3 of the scheme provides for further growth of 3%.
A new Supply Management Unit is being established within my Department in January to lead on this important work.
89. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department will launch a zero-tolerance information campaign across all media, particularly social media, to counteract corrosive anti-immigrant and far-right narratives, which are feeding into aggressive or misdirected protests near places where refugees are accommodated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54564/23]
View answerMy Department has a programme of multi-platform and continuous communications and engagement in place to provide media, stakeholders and the public with accurate detailed information, which is regularly reviewed. In addition, my Department established a Community Engagement Team to engage directly with elected representatives, relevant Local Authorities, local development companies, and other organisations and individuals across the country where relevant and appropriate.
The purpose of the team is to improve the flow of information regarding arrivals into areas and to help equip local communities with the accurate information required to help them understand the current situation and to assist with the welcome and integration process for new arrivals. The team has been in place for a number of months now and my Department will continue to review processes and improve systems of communication as we progress with this important work.
90. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what steps are being taken to increase supports for and to prevent the closure of small to medium sized early years settings in rural Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55648/23]
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 – a clear demonstration from Government of the value of the sector. The overwhelming majority of this funding is allocated through Together for Better, the new funding model, which currently comprises the ECCE programme including AIM, the NCS and Core Funding.
One of the key objectives of Core Funding is to support the sector as a whole with the introduction of direct supply-side funding, in addition to the ECCE programme and the NCS, to create a more stable and sustainable financial environment.
Core Funding in Year 1 – with an overall allocation of €259 million contributed to services’ sustainability and significantly increased income for the overwhelming majority of services while providing greater funding stability.
For Year 2 of Core Funding, the budget has increased by 11% to reach €287 million, providing a sustainable platform for investment with increases for all services.
The additional funding for Core Funding Year 2 is being allocated as follows:
- €8.47 million towards funding the natural growth of the sector,
- €6.11 million towards non-staff overheads, to support services with increases to non-staff costs, while maintaining the fee management system,
- €2.2 million towards administrative staff time,
- €4 million towards the removal the year 3 requirement for the Graduates Premiums, underpinned by EROs, and
- €7.22 million for new targeted measures which are aimed at improving the sustainability of smaller and sessional services. These include a flat rate allocation of €4,075 for all sessional-only services, which will benefit approximately 1,700 services delivering ECCE, and a minimum base rate allocation of €8,150, which will benefit small, part time and school-age services.
Budget 2024 allocated an additional €37.4m to Core Funding. This 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.
With additional funding of €14.65m being made available from September 2024, this translates into a full year allocation of €331m for year 3 of Core Funding, an increase of €44m, or 15%, on the current allocation of €287m.
This will support the delivery of a range of enhancements in Year 3 of the scheme to support improved affordability and accessibility for families, improved pay and conditions for the workforce and improved sustainability for providers.
Through ECCE capitation and Core Funding combined, services receive minimum of €79.20 per child per week in capitation under the ECCE programme and maximum of €95.85 with additional funding for graduate lead educators and graduate managers in the case of sessional services. This includes a flat rate allocation of €4,075 for all sessional-only services, which will benefit approximately 1,700 services delivering ECCE, and a minimum base rate allocation of €8,150, which will benefit small, part time and school-age services.
Special supports are available from my Department where a service is experiencing financial difficulty or has concerns about their viability, accessed through local City or County Childcare Committee (CCC). This support can take the form of assisting services with interpreting analysis of staff ratios and cash flow, as well as more specialised advice and support, including financial support appropriate to individual circumstances.
I would encourage any service experiencing financial difficulty and who would like support to contact their City/County Childcare Committee (CCC) to access case management supports.
91. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will undertake to bring forward the second increase in the foster carer's allowance under budget 2024 in line with other payments ahead of November 2025. [55774/23]
View answerIt was a priority of mine to secure a meaningful increase to the foster care allowance in this year’s Budget in order to support the vital role being carried out by foster carers.
As outlined in Budget 2024, from 1st January 2024 the rates of the foster care allowance will increase by €25 per week, up to €350 per week for children aged under 12 and €377 per week for those over 12. The foster care allowance will be further increased in November 2024, up to €400 per week for children aged under 12 and €425 per week for those over 12.
These increases mean that foster carers will receive over €1,700 additional funding per child over the course of 2024, amounting to an extra €300 per month by the end of 2024 for each child placed with them, when compared with the current allowance. The changes in Budget 2024 will bring the annual rate of the foster care allowance to an amount of €20,800 for a child under 12 and €22,100 for a child over 12.
I understand the disappointment amongst foster carers that the full increase to the foster care allowance will not come into effect until November 2024. However, given the very many competing demands on the limited funds of the State, including from across the Tusla budget and from other responsibilities within the remit of my own Department, necessary compromises had to be made. In this context, it was decided that it was necessary to introduce the increases to the foster care allowance on a phased basis over 2024. My priority was to secure a significant increase to the allowance, albeit at the cost of a phased implementation.
92. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the process of public and community engagement and consultation his Department undertakes in advance of establishing or approving a centre or building for the purpose of emergency protection for people seeking international protection. [55507/23]
View answerMy Department is dealing with the unprecedented challenge of accommodating people fleeing war in Ukraine and those seeking the international protection in Ireland from countries across the world. We are legally obliged under international law to provide accommodation to those seeking protection. Given the increasing numbers of arrivals, my Department is accepting offers of suitable accommodation right across the country through various processes.
The majority of our communities have responded with a generosity of spirit, that recognises the human plight and trauma people are experiencing, and their right to seek protection and help from the international community.
The provision of accommodation, health, education, income and other supports as appropriate, to these people is a whole-of-government emergency response. A range of departments, agencies, service providers, and local authorities are involved in the accommodation, resettlement, and integration process.
My Department has been working across Government and with Local Government to develop a more coherent model of engagement with communities in advance of the opening of accommodation centres and to articulate a more inclusive narrative on migration.
A Community Engagement Team has been established to engage directly with elected representatives, relevant Local Authorities, Local Development Companies, and other entities and individuals where relevant and appropriate. It is important to note that the Community Engagement Team does not have a say in where people are placed.
However, what they can do is improve the flow of information regarding arrivals into areas, and provide accurate information, to help communities understand the current situation and to assist with the welcome and integration process for new arrivals.
It is important that people’s concerns are listened to and that they’re provided with information, but it also is very important to be clear as a Government, no community or individual has a veto on who should or should not live in your area and that cannot be allowed.
93. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to confirm if the NCS hourly/attendance-based rules are his Department’s policy or a restriction placed on his Department by the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54566/23]
View answerThe design of the National Childcare Scheme is based on a policy paper published in October 2016 “on the Development of a new Single Affordable Childcare Scheme”.
The policy approach was implemented through the Childcare Support Act 2018 and secondary legislation arising from that Act.
The design of the National Childcare Scheme follows a number of key principles. One of these key principles is that the money follows the child because:
• It further strengthens the link between the provision of funding and the cost of delivery
• It increases the responsiveness of public funding to parents’ changing needs and early learning and childcare requirements
It is not based on any explicit DPENDR restriction but on an overarching imperative that tax payers money should be used as efficiently and effectively as possible.
The overall design maximises the benefits of public monies, ensuring funding is not paid for a service not actually being used by a child.
In practice this means that subsidies for early learning and childcare are paid based on amount of the amount of early learning and childcare parents actually need and that the number of hours used is agreed with their provider.
The agreed hours are then notified to the Scheme Administrator who will pay the subsidy to the provider, subject to overall eligibility.
The scheme also recognises that parents are constrained by commuting schedules, traffic and other individual circumstances. It also recognises that children may miss days or be collected early
The attendance rules for the scheme facilitate the need for flexibility, and allow for considerable changes in actual attendance without financial impact.
Under-attendance is only flagged if the child has typically been attending for less than the registered hours for an eight week period, and no further action is taken unless this under-attendance continues for a further four weeks.
The Scheme also provides for particular exemptions to the attendance rules under certain circumstances to allow for extended absences.
I am confident that the rules strike an appropriate balance between the needs of the sector, the needs of parents and our responsibility to ensure efficient and accountability use of public monies.
94. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the degree to which he remains satisfies that children continue to be adequately protected in all locations at home, in care or otherwise, where there might be a threat to their well-being; the extent of the provisions in place or being put in place to address these issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55726/23]
View answerAs the deputy is aware, statutory and operational responsibility for the delivery of child protection and welfare services is a matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency.
Tusla is responsible for the assessment and child safeguarding response for children referred to us under the provisions of Children First and the Children First Act 2015. This includes any concern about a child that reaches the threshold of “reasonable grounds for concern” or harm as defined by the Children First Act. Where harm has been identified Tusla will seek to engage the family in a participative safety planning process, a process where we work collaboratively with the child and family toward the achievement of safety goals. where the threshold of significant harm has been reached a child protection case conference may be convened which will consider all matters including potential care order applications. Where there is an immediate risk to the child's safety Tusla will apply to the District Court for an Emergency care order. Where children are likely to experience significant harm, specific child protection safety plans are put in place. All safety plans are monitored over time to promote the best interests of children to remain at home safely. Where the threshold of harm is not reached Tusla offers a range of local voluntary, and community supports to assist families with difficulties they may be experiencing.
When children come into care or are accommodated by Tusla we hold the statutory responsibility for ensuring that the child has a care plan and/or a placement plan which supports their short and longer-term needs. The care of these children is subject to ongoing review and monitoring by Tusla and HIQA as per the childcare regulation and HIQA standards. Building Heuston South Quarter Dublin 8 Tel: 01 771 8500
Children typically come into care through voluntary agreement or by interim care orders pending a decision on a full care order. Tusla is obliged in respect of non-voluntary care to appraise the Court of the circumstances which led to the child requiring care and is obliged to evidence to the Court on an ongoing basis that care continues to be required to protect the best interests of the child. Parents are legally represented in such matters and children are appointed a guardian-ad litem to represent their wishes and best interest. Some children may remain on a care order for a period of time while Tusla works with the family to agree a transitional reunification plan home, or they move toward independent or semi-independent living as they reach 18.
Tusla's involvement in private family law matters is through the explicit direction of the Family Court who may request an assessment of any potential child protection or welfare matter under Section 20 of the Childcare Act. Tusla is required to address specific issues before the Court as set out under this section. Tusla will respond to child protection and welfare matter in this context and may request a care order or supervision order on a child where required.
Social workers are required under the Placement of Children in Foster Care, and Placement of Children in Residential Care Regulations, 1995 to undertake statutory visits to the child in placement. These visits take place at intervals not exceeding 3 months during the first 2 years of placements, the first visit being within 1 month and thereafter at intervals not exceeding every 6 months. Children in Statutory Residential and Foster Care are monitored by HIQA. Children in voluntary or private care are monitored by Tusla Alternative Care Inspection and Monitoring Service (ACIMS).
95. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will establish a publicly owned childcare service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55581/23]
View answerThe Programme for Government contains a number of commitments for early learning and childcare, including reforming the system to create one that brings together the best of community and private provision and the development of a new funding model for affordable, accessible, sustainable and high quality early learning and childcare.
An Expert Group was established in September 2019 to develop a new funding model for the early learning and childcare sector. Under their terms of reference, the Expert Group was not asked to propose changes to the current model of delivery (i.e. privately-operated provision), rather that the Group should seek to further achieve policy objectives of quality, affordability, accessibility and contributing to addressing disadvantage in a privately-operated system through increased public funding and public management.
In December 2021, Government approved the 25 recommendations contained in the Expert Group report, Partnership for the Public Good: A New Funding Model for Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare. The recommendations were accepted in full by Government and implementation of this new funding model is well underway.
Of the 25 recommendations, three are grouped under the title 'Role of the State'. In particular, the final recommendation states that, “[I]n the medium term, the Minister should mandate the Department to examine whether some element of public provision should be introduced alongside private provision.”
Taken together, these recommendations reflect a key theme of the report, which is the importance of strengthened State involvement and enhanced public management in the sector, in conjunction with increased State funding. This is underpinned by a cultural shift to a partnership relationship between providers and the State that reflects the public good dimension of early learning and childcare, with new responsibilities on both sides.
In September 2022, I launched Together for Better, the new funding model for early learning and childcare that supports the delivery of early learning and childcare for the public good. 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. 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.
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. A fourth programme – the Equal Participation Model is under development.
This new funding model being implemented aims to transform the sector to one that is increasingly publicly funded and publicly managed. This is the start of a multi-annual investment plan – with investment this year exceeding €1 billion – achieving the First 5 investment target five years ahead of time. Full implementation of all recommendations, including recommendation 25, which would likely involve an estimate of cost and timeline for delivery of a portion of public provision, will be progressed in the coming years as additional funding is secured through the annual Estimates process.
96. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there are plans to provide an occupational therapy service for those with mild intellectual disability in County Carlow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55525/23]
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.
97. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to outline any recent engagements his Department has had with the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science regarding workforce planning in the disability sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55702/23]
View answerMy Department has engaged with the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science regarding workforce planning in the disability sector in multiple fora throughout 2023. Most recently this engagement has been through my interdepartmental workforce steering group which was established in August of this year. The aim of this group is to support the supply and retention of staff within Disability Services. The group meets monthly and is primarily focused on examining and directing efforts to address immediate and longer term staffing needs in the disability services sector. The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science are a key member of this group and my department will continue to work closely with them to meet the workforce needs of this sector and ensure that our ambitious targets can be met.
98. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to outline in detail the significant staff development, retention and recruitment actions that his Department will take to improve children’s disability services, as set out in the recent Roadmap to improve Children’s Disability Services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55523/23]
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.
99. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the level of collaboration between his Department and the HSE to streamline the process whereby aids and appliances provided through HSE resource allocation groups for children with disabilities in order to avoid and remove barriers, as outlined in the case of a child (details supplied), to ensure they have timely access to mobility aids to optimise their and their family’s independence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55558/23]
View answerThis is a matter for my Cabinet colleague, the Minister for Health.
100. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the actions he is taking to ensure that an organisation (details supplied) is adequately funded and prevent it from having to initiate closure procedures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55759/23]
View answerI acknowledge that CARI 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. I understand the vital role CARI play in providing therapy to those who have experienced sexual abuse and it is acknowledged how important this service is for children and their families through an extremely distressing and difficult time. It is a great pleasure that the matter has now been resolved.
After detailed discussions between CARI and Tusla an agreement has been reached for 2024. Tusla’s funding to CARI for 2024 would continue as core funding and local funding in line with 2023 allocations, with some additional funding allocation and support:
* Primary budget allocation for 2024 will be €625k (€336k core funding & €289k service funding, which includes an increase of 25k on 2023).
* As CARI is part of the Barnahus development , CARI will receive an additional €150k allocation for this service in 2024.
Therefore, the total budget allocation for 2024 from Tusla will be 775k (€625k & €150k). CARI CEO and the Board have committed to implement a service model in line with this budget, and Tusla have agreed to fund independent support to help CARI with the development of this revised business plan/service model for 2024.
101. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of his Department’s work with regard to the Growing Up in Ireland study; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55514/23]
View answerGrowing Up in Ireland, the national longitudinal study of children established in 2006, is the flagship research project of my Department and represents a very significant investment by the State in high quality research and data on the lives of children, young people and their families. The study provides a unique national bank of data to inform and evaluate policy across Government and the wider public sector, on a wide range of issues relevant to children, young people and their families, and is an important and widely used resource for researchers to understand and provide insights on the lives of children and young people in Ireland.
Since January 2023, the Growing Up in Ireland study is conducted directly by my Department and the Central Statistics Office. My Department is responsible for the research and policy aspects of the study and the Central Statistics Office for the data collection.
Prior to January 2023, the study was carried out by a consortium of researchers led by the Economic and Social Research Institute and Trinity College Dublin. The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth was the sponsor.
The study now includes three cohorts of children. Cohort ’98 who were born in 1998 and are now 25 years of age and Cohort ’08 who were born in 2008 and are now 15 years of age. In June 2022, government approval was received for a third birth cohort, Cohort ‘24 – who will be 9 months old in 2024.
The CSO is currently interviewing the Cohort ’98 young adults at age 25 and is expected to conclude in Q1 2024.
Cohort '08 will be interviewed in 2025 at age 17. My Department has consulted with a wide range of stakeholders and young people to identify priority areas for data collection.
The pilot phase for Cohort ’24 began in October this year and marks the first time since 2008 that new families and children have been selected to be interviewed. The establishment of the new cohort, gives effect to the commitments in First 5, a Whole of Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families 2019-2028 to consider the value of a new birth cohort and to improve data on the lives of babies and young children.
The Growing Up in Ireland annual research conference was hosted by my Department in November this year and was attended by delegates from a wide range of research, practice and policy backgrounds, all focused on the improvement of the lives and well-being of children and young people in Ireland. Research presentations explored a wide range of topics including volunteering, self-harm, bullying, gambling, the impact of the pandemic, lone parent benefit reform, pregnancy complications, educational transition and childhood and adolescent mental health issues.
My Department commissions and undertakes research using Growing Up in Ireland data and promotes its use across Government Departments, agencies, other stakeholders and the research community. Further information can be found at: www.growingup.gov.ie/
