Wednesday, 7 Feb 2024

Written Answers Nos. 429-448

Childcare Services

Questions (429)

Kathleen Funchion

Question:

429. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what capital funding has been allocated for 2023 to increase childcare places; if this funding will facilitate the building of purpose built childcare facilities; what specific plans his Department has through the NPD capital funding for expanding places for the zero to two years and eight months cohort when ECCE kicks in; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5044/24]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

Some €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 in 2023 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.

Some €45 million has been set aside under Pillar 2 for early learning and childcare capital projects over 2024 and 2025. On 7th December last, I announced details of the Building Blocks - Capacity Grant scheme, to be operated over 2024 and 2025 which is aimed at addressing capacity gaps by expanding existing provision through internal renovations and extensions where most needed.

The Building Blocks Expansion Grant Scheme will open for applications in the coming weeks. The scheme will provide grants for the renovation or reconfiguration of the existing Early Learning and Care facilities. In order to be eligible for funding, services must commit to increasing their service provision in the 1 - 3-year-old (pre-ECCE) age group.

I hope to announce details of the Building Blocks Extension Grant Scheme in the coming months. The scheme will provide grants for larger scale extensions. As with the Expansion Grant Scheme, priority will be given to the extension of full-time and part-time places within the 1 - 3-year-old (pre-ECCE) age groups, within areas of identified undersupply.

Both schemes are open to early learning and childcare services that are Tusla registered and are in contract with Core Funding, at the time of application.

€15 million has been set aside for the Building Blocks - Innovation Grant which offers the opportunity to adopt new approaches to the development of new early learning and childcare infrastructure.  This strand is currently in an early design phase.   

Childcare Services

Questions (430)

Kathleen Funchion

Question:

430. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the costs associated with building a new community childcare facility, including associated costs; if any new facilities are being planned; if so, the location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5045/24]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

Some €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.

Some €45 million has been set aside under Pillar 2 for early learning and childcare capital projects over 2024 and 2025.

On 7th December last, I announced details of the Building Blocks - Capacity Grant scheme, to be operated over 2024 and 2025 which is aimed at addressing capacity gaps by expanding existing provision through internal renovations and extensions where most needed.

While there is no funding available at present for the construction of new purpose built early learning and childcare facilities in 2024, my Department will keep the issue under review.

Childcare Services

Questions (431)

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

431. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if she is aware that several childcare providers have ceased to provide half day and half week childcare; that this has a significant impact on parents and will cause parents to have to leave the workforce or to be underemployed; that this will particularly affect female employment, entrepreneurship, and cause female underemployment; and if she will ensure that childcare providers provide half day and half week childcare as part of the early childhood care and education scheme. [5053/24]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

Childcare services are provided by private enterprises, either privately owned or operated by community organisations.  The majority of services are contracted with my Department to provide schemes which subsidise the cost of the service to eligible parents, or in the case of the universal pre-school programme, ECCE, to provide these 15 hours per week at no cost to the parent. Providers are free to set their own policies, in line with their Tusla registration status, regarding their service offering.

ECCE is an administrative scheme not underpinned by legislation or regulation and is governed by the ECCE programme rules. ECCE providers that contract with my Department to provide ECCE must adhere to these rules and comply with all legal and regulatory requirements.

An approved ECCE provider must offer free ECCE only sessions. Parents/children availing of such sessions will not be required to attend or pay for any additional service offers. The provider shall ensure that parents/guardians are informed that their agreement to additional hours or to any optional charge is not compulsory and that agreement is not a condition of initial or continued enrolment. In the case of additional hours, while not a condition of enrolment, part-time and full-time services may prioritise places for those who wish to avail of extra hours over those availing of ECCE only. 

I have appointed Stranmillis University College, Belfast to undertake an independent review of the ECCE programme. The review is assessing whether the ECCE Programme is meeting its core objectives and will identify any changes or improvements that can be made to the Programme, based on international evidence and experience to date. The final report of the review is nearly complete, once it has been finalised I will consider the review in it’s entirety and consider any policy changes that may need to be made to the programme.

My Department funds a national network of County Childcare Committees (CCCs) who provide support and advice to parents on childcare funding.  Parents who have concerns on any aspect of the ECCE programme should contact their local CCC.   The contact details for the CCCs can be found on myccc.ie.

International Protection

Questions (432)

Cormac Devlin

Question:

432. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth how many audits of IPAS accommodation facilities have taken place during the period 1 January 2022 to 1 January 2024; to confirm the level of occupancy, and what measures are in place to safeguard public funds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5059/24]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) accommodation centres are currently subject to regular unannounced inspections both IPAS officials and by an independent inspectorate company.  These inspections are generally undertaken, twice yearly by officials in IPAS and once yearly by the independent inspectorate company.

In 2022, a total of 152 inspections were carried out in each centre by both an independent inspections company and by officials of the IPAS. The third round of inspections were delayed due to the Department’s response to the Ukraine crisis. In 2023, a total of 105 inspections were conducted.

Inspections cover a wide range of issues including fire safety, appropriate signage and information for residents, the condition of communal areas and sleeping quarters, the quality of food provided and adherence to hygiene and other health and safety requirements. Any issues identified are notified to the contractor to be addressed immediately.

IPAS providers are contractually obliged to record the name and Temporary Residence Certificate reference number of each resident in the official register upon their arrival at the centre and thereafter, on a daily basis. Residents are recorded as ‘Present’, ‘Absent’ or ‘Bed held while in hospital’.

A copy of the register is submitted to the Department on a weekly basis which includes arrivals, departures, and available vacancies.

On the day of an inspection, a copy of the centre’s official register is requested. Inspectors check every contracted bedroom against the official register to determine if there are any discrepancies between occupancy and the official register. If an inspector determines that there are any discrepancies, the IPAS team responsible for bed management are immediately notified.

The payment of IPAS accommodation is based on contracted capacity rather than individual occupancy. The number of people who are resident in IPAS accommodation will vary day to day throughout the year as the number of daily arrivals increase on a cumulative basis.

The Department is conscious of the need to ensure quality in all accommodation contracted, while also providing shelter and safety urgently to those who need it. In considering offers, the Department takes into account a range of factors such as accommodation suitability, rates, capacity and amenities. Every effort is being made to activate suitable accommodation offers.

Providers issue an invoice to the Department at the beginning of each month for payment at the agreed rate as per contract. 

All invoices must have a suitable breakdown of charges by rate(s), capacity and number of nights. The payment authorisation process is subject to several stages of review to ensure the correct totals are invoiced and subsequently paid by the Department’s Finance Unit.

International Protection

Questions (433)

Cathal Crowe

Question:

433. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department is considering any properties in Shannon or Newmarket-on-Fergus, County Clare for IPAS accommodation. [5075/24]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

I thank the Deputy for his question. A response will be provided directly to the Deputy in the coming days. The Deputy may wish to be aware that the Community Engagement Team has been established within my Department which stands ready to respond to queries of this nature, and they may be contacted directly at [e-mail]

International Protection

Questions (434)

Cathal Crowe

Question:

434. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the current contract his Department has, in respect of an international protection applicant accommodation centre at a location (details supplied) expires; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5109/24]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

I thank the Deputy for his question. A response will be issued to the Deputy in the coming days.

Mother and Baby Homes

Questions (435)

Charles Flanagan

Question:

435. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 496 of 28 November 2023, if he will provide an update on implementing the arrangements under the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Act 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5117/24]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

I am acutely aware of the urgency to open the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme and I will do so within this quarter. I am also 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 for its benefits. Given its scale and significance the Scheme has been placed on a statutory footing and enabling legislation was signed into law last July.

A comprehensive body of work has been undertaken to develop the substantial administrative framework required to deliver a scheme of this size. This work includes:

• the making of the necessary regulations which must be in place prior to the Scheme opening;

• making arrangements for the staffing necessary to deliver the Scheme;

• Developing a comprehensive training programme for all staff involved in the Scheme;

• Developing hard copy and online application systems;

• Developing the case management IT infrastructure for the Scheme;

• Preparing for a substantive public awareness campaign to be delivered in Ireland and overseas. To this end, a recent stakeholder engagement process for the Payment Scheme has just concluded with representatives reviewing some of the application and information materials for the Scheme.

To ensure efficiencies in application processing and payments, a blended operating model is being put in place which will provide for the Payment Scheme Office to be supported by an experienced third party. 

The Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme is one element of a comprehensive package of support measures agreed by the Government as part of the Action Plan for Survivors and Former Residents of Mother and Baby and County Home Institutions. Other important measures contained in the Action Plan response include access to birth information provided through the Birth Information and Tracing Act 2022, the intervention at the site of the former Tuam Mother and Baby Institution and the establishment of a National Centre for Research and Remembrance on the site of the former Magdalen Laundry on Sean McDermott Street.

Childcare Services

Questions (436)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

436. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the action that can be taken to ensure the availability of required childcare services in Straffan, County Kildare with particular reference to the increase of population the county; if is he aware of any plans to establish new facilities in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5136/24]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

The Pobal Annual Early Years Sector Profile (AEYSP) provides a detailed overview of the Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age Childcare (SAC) sector in Ireland, including the numbers of children in receipt of state subsidies, information on ELC and SAC fees, staff wages, qualifications and turnover. In December 2023, my Department launched the Early Learning and Childcare Data website, replacing the traditional paper-based AEYSP report. The website provides a new and innovative way of displaying administrative data as well as survey data collected annually from over 4,400 early learning and childcare services across the country, supporting evidence-informed policy development and planning.

This new website includes interactive dashboards that are released by Pobal on behalf of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY), with additional dashboards being released over the coming weeks and months.

The most recently published Pobal Annual Early Years Sector Profile, covers the programme year 2022/23, and during this period 45% of services in Kildare reported that they had at least one vacancy compared to 51% of services nationally. There was a decrease from the previous year where 54% of services in Kildare reported that they had at least one vacancy compared to 56% of services nationally.

€69 million has been allocated over the period 2023-2025 to the ELC and SAC sector under the revised National Development Plan (NDP). This will enable significant capital investment across three pillars:

• Building Blocks - Improvement Grant;                                                                                          

• Building Blocks - Capacity Grant; and

• Building Blocks - Innovation Grant.

Some €45 million has been set aside under Pillar 2 for projects over 2024 and 2025. On 7th December last, I announced details of the Building Blocks - Capacity Grant scheme, to be operated over 2024 and 2025 which is aimed at addressing capacity gaps by expanding existing provision through internal renovations and extensions where most needed.

The Building Blocks Expansion Grant Scheme will open for applications in the coming weeks. The scheme will provide grants for the renovation or reconfiguration of the existing ELC facilities. I also hope to announce details of the Building Blocks Extension Grant Scheme in the coming months. The scheme will provide grants for larger scale extensions.

Both schemes are open to early learning and childcare services that are Tusla registered and are in contract with Core Funding, at the time of application.

€15 million has been set aside for the Building Blocks - Innovation Grant which offers the opportunity to adopt new approaches to the development of new ELC and SAC infrastructure.  This strand is currently in an early design phase.

My Department is conducting a needs analysis of the ELC and SAC sector. This analysis will look at undersupply by region and by age category and will ensure that my Department can fund additional capacity where it is most needed. 

Early Childhood Care and Education

Questions (437)

Thomas Gould

Question:

437. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is aware of the recent announcement by Tir Na Nóg preschool in Castlepark, Ballincollig that it will soon close; the steps his Department is taking to ensure that childcare provision will be retained at the site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5148/24]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

Ensuring high-quality early learning and childcare is affordable and accessible to all children and, in particular, children from vulnerable backgrounds, is a key priority for Government.

The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration & Youth funds 30 City/County Childcare Committees which provide support and assist families and early learning and childcare providers with early learning and childcare matters.

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. 

My understanding is that Cork City Childcare Committee has offered assistance to the service identified including through supporting parents to find alternative places and engaging with the leaseholders of the site to support them finding an alternative childcare provider.

Where services close, City/County Childcare Committees have successfully supported the reopening of closed services, a recent example being the Before 5 Family Centre in Cork. In the event of closures, City/County Childcare Committees also assist parents with sourcing alternative early learning and childcare places where possible.

Furthermore, for any service who is experiencing financial difficulty or has concerns about their viability, special supports are available from my Department and can be accessed through local City and County Childcare Committees (CCC). Once a service engages with their local CCC they will be able to avail of supports through the case management process.

Through this process, local CCCs and Pobal work together to assess and provide support to ELC and SAC services experiencing difficulties. This support can take the form of general operational supports, assisting with interpreting analysis of staff ratios and cash flow, as well as more specialised advice and support appropriate to the individual circumstances of a service. In some instances, financial supports may be deemed appropriate in tandem with the case management process.

Financial supports, which may also be accessed through the case management process, are available to all Core Funding Partner Services, both community and private, who are experiencing financial difficulty, following a financial assessment by Pobal. If any service would like to avail of advice or supports on a concern regarding their sustainability, they are encouraged to reach out to their local CCC. Contact details for their local CCC can be found at www.myccc.ie.

Any parent queries can be directed to Cork City Childcare Committee (phone: [phone], email: [e-mail]).

Disability Services

Questions (438)

Jennifer Whitmore

Question:

438. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the details of the current waiting times for children, as in the case of a child (details supplied) trying to access early intervention services with the Kildare West Wicklow children’s disability network teams; and the steps that are being taken to shorten these waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5207/24]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

As this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible. The Deputy will be aware that due to the ongoing industrial action by FORSA administrative and management grade staff in the HSE (which commenced on 6 October, 2023), delays remain in receiving answers to parliamentary questions and ministerial representations.  The HSE has been engaged with Forsa through the auspices of the WRC in an effort to resolve the dispute but a resolution has not been reached as of yet.

International Protection

Questions (439)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

439. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the position regarding an application by an accommodation provider (details supplied) to provide accommodation for Ukrainian Refugees at a location approved by the local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5222/24]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

Ireland 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 104,000 people who have sought temporary protection in Ireland in fleeing the war in Ukraine, over 80% of whom have sought State supported accommodation.   

Overseeing provision of accommodation on this scale during this timeframe for all those who require it remains immensely challenging. Due to the urgent need to source accommodation, the Department has contracted in excess of 59,000 beds to accommodate Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) in more than 980 mainly commercial settings including hotels, guesthouses, B&Bs, hostels, commercial self-catering accommodation and certain other repurposed settings. 

With regard to the offer to which the Deputy refers, I am advised by my officials that they are liaising directly with the accommodation provider and correspondence was sent on 1st of February requesting further documentation. Until the same is received, the offer cannot be progressed by the Offer Management Team. 

My Department continues to assess and review all suitable accommodation offers received as to their suitability to meet the needs of BOTPs

Disability Services

Questions (440)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

440. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when appropriate respite will be provided for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5230/24]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

As this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible. The Deputy will be aware that due to the ongoing industrial action by FORSA administrative and management grade staff in the HSE (which commenced on 6 October, 2023), delays remain in receiving answers to parliamentary questions and ministerial representations. 

The HSE has been engaged with Forsa through the auspices of the WRC in an effort to resolve the dispute but a resolution has not been reached as of yet.

Official Travel

Questions (441)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

441. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of times he embarked on visits to foreign countries on behalf of the State since the formation of the Government; the geographical location of each visit; the number of days he spent abroad on such trips; the dates upon which each trip took place; and the associated travel and accommodation costs which were incurred by his Department in relation to each trip, in tabular form [5236/24]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

The information requested by the Deputy is being compiled and will issue to him very shortly.

International Protection

Questions (442)

Eoin Ó Broin

Question:

442. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of units of modular accommodation for temporary protection recipients that have been delivered to date, by location, number of units and average cost per unit of accommodation, in tabular form. [5265/24]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

In respect of the State’s humanitarian response to the Ukrainian crisis, the Government developed a Rapid Build Housing Programme to provide accommodation for families fleeing the war in Ukraine. The programme aims to provide short-term accommodation for up to 2,800 Ukrainian Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection at several sites across Ireland.

Work has been completed on the first seven sites at Mahon in Cork (64 units), Farnham Road in Cavan (28 units) , Doorly Park in Sligo (22 units), Thurles in Tipperary (64 units), Claremorris in Mayo (28 units), Clonminch in Offaly (64 units) and Rathdowney in Laois (42 units). These sites comprise a total of 310 rapid build homes and are accommodating approximately 1240 individuals.

Further sites in Backweston in Dublin (132 units), Charleville in Cork (64 units) and Ballinasloe in Galway (64 units) are under construction. Work is ongoing to identify sites for the remaining units. The final stage of the programme will be delivered in 2024.

The completion timelines are subject to any technical issues arising during construction.  There were a number of such issues that arose over the past few months relating to site conditions, remedial works, boundaries, ESB connections, etc. that delayed earlier forecasted dates of completion on sites included in the programme.

The average cost of each unit is €145,000, inclusive of supply, delivery and provision of loose electrical and household items.  This is separate to the site development and utility connection costs, etc. relating to the overall development.  As the project is still ongoing and further sites are under consideration, it is not possible at this time to fully specify a final programme figure for each site. 

The Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection living in the units are required to make a contribution payment which includes a utility charge to cover electricity, internet, waste disposal, etc.

Early Childhood Care and Education

Questions (443)

Denise Mitchell

Question:

443. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when information and guidance for programme income to be included in the context of reporting for core funding finance requirements for preschools will be issued to providers; how and where these reports should be filed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5273/24]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

Providers that had an active Core Funding Contract during the 2022/2023 Programme Year must provide validated Financial Returns as per their Core Funding Partner Service Funding Agreement. 

Following constructive engagement with members and nominees of the Early Learning and Childcare Stakeholder Forum (ELCSF), including Childhood Services Ireland (CSI), Childminding Ireland, Early Childhood Ireland (ECI), the Association of Childhood Professionals Ireland (ACPI), the Federation of Early Childhood Providers (FECP), the National Childhood Network (NCN), the National Community Childcare Forum and Seas Suas, my officials have now finalised transitional arrangements for financial reporting to cover year 1 and year 2 of the scheme. 

Financial reporting requirements in this transitional phase have been significantly simplified and streamlined. Specifically, in this transitional phase, the financial reporting requirement is for an income and expenditure report based on a significantly reduced set of Core Funding Chart of Accounts nominal codes, the sector has already been provided with the templates and guidance documents in relation to this. 

This Income and Expenditure Report will need to be submitted onto an online reporting portal by either a qualified accountant from a registered practice or a registered professional (ACA, ACCA, CPA, CIMA) by March 22nd 2024.

My Department will be providing guidance to Partner Services in the coming weeks on how to access and upload the completed income and expenditure report.

My Department are also working on other supports for providers in preparing and submitting these returns, including training supports and targeted financial supports for those that may need it.

Officials from my Department will continue to engage with members and nominees of the ELCSF on this and have committed to continued engagement on future development to the financial reporting requirement under Core Funding from year 3 of the scheme.

Disability Services

Questions (444)

Michael McNamara

Question:

444. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 311 of 19 January 2023, if a business case proposal has been submitted to the HSE disability services for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5329/24]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

As this question refers to an individuals case, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

The Deputy will be aware that due to the ongoing industrial action by FORSA administrative and management grade staff in the HSE (which commenced on 6 October, 2023), delays remain in receiving answers to parliamentary questions and ministerial representations. 

The HSE has been engaged with Forsa through the auspices of the WRC in an effort to resolve the dispute but a resolution has not been reached as of yet.

Local Authorities

Questions (445)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

445. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 461 of 30 January 2024, if he will list the eight local authorities which currently have LAITs in place. [5331/24]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

Individual Local Authorities are actively engaged in the recruitment process for the Local Authority Integration Teams (LAITs). While recruitment and on-boarding is still active across the majority of the Local Authorities, it is predicted that there will be a certain amount of personnel movement. As a result, which Local Authorities which have their teams fully in place is not static. Currently eight Local Authorities have their full teams in place: 

• Clare County Council 

• Kilkenny County Council

• Laois County Council

• Louth County Council

• Meath County Council

• Waterford City and County Council

• Wexford County Council

• Wicklow County Council

All the Local Authorities have engaged with the process, the majority have held interviews and almost all have, at a minimum, advertised the posts.

The role of the teams is to provide ongoing integration supports to International Protection applicants, Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection, and Programme Refugees and to better help them engage with existing local services. The role also includes:

• Providing information, advice and guidance to individuals.

• Linking individuals with mainstream and NGO services.

• Identifying gaps in supports or services.  

The role of the LAITs is not intended to replace existing service provision but to facilitate and support accessing services.

Early Childhood Care and Education

Questions (446)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

Question:

446. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the final additional information for preschools regarding the submission of core funding finance requirements and programme income which needs to be submitted will be available from his Department to allow preschools to file in accordance with the guidelines issued on 22 December 2023 and in time for the filing deadline of the 22 March 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5339/24]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

Providers that had an active Core Funding Contract during the 2022/2023 Programme Year must provide validated Financial Returns as per their Core Funding Partner Service Funding Agreement. 

Following constructive engagement with members and nominees of the Early Learning and Childcare Stakeholder Forum (ELCSF), including Childhood Services Ireland (CSI), Childminding Ireland, Early Childhood Ireland (ECI), the Association of Childhood Professionals Ireland (ACPI), the Federation of Early Childhood Providers (FECP), the National Childhood Network (NCN), the National Community Childcare Forum and Seas Suas, my officials have now finalised transitional arrangements for financial reporting to cover year 1 and year 2 of the scheme. 

Financial reporting requirements in this transitional phase have been significantly simplified and streamlined. Specifically, in this transitional phase, the financial reporting requirement is for an income and expenditure report based on a significantly reduced set of Core Funding Chart of Accounts nominal codes, the sector has already been provided with the templates and guidance documents in relation to this. 

This Income and Expenditure Report will need to be submitted onto an online reporting portal by either a qualified accountant from a registered practice or a registered professional (ACA, ACCA, CPA, CIMA) by March 22nd 2024.

My Department will be providing guidance to Partner Services in the coming weeks on how to access and upload the completed income and expenditure report.

My Department are also working on other supports for providers in preparing and submitting these returns, including training supports and targeted financial supports for those that may need it.

Officials from my Department will continue to engage with members and nominees of the ELCSF on this and have committed to continued engagement on future development to the financial reporting requirement under Core Funding from year 3 of the scheme.

Departmental Advertising

Questions (447)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

447. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the amount spent on traditional and online advertising by his Department in each of the past ten years and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [5343/24]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

The total spend on advertising for my Department from 2016 to 2023, including a breakdown on traditional and digital media spend, can be seen below in tabular form. 

Year	Online Advertising	Traditional   Advertising	Grand Total
2023	€                   293,363	€                   822,971	€                       1,116,334
2022	€                   143,080	€                   345,031	€                          488,111
2021	€                   165,656	€                   443,693	€                          609,349
2020	€                   230,812	€                     43,516	€                          274,328
2019	€                   345,164	€                   445,389	€                          790,553
2018	€                   1,082	€                   143,764	€                         144,846
2017	€                   1,100	€                   N/A	€                         1,100
2016	€                   N/A	€                  4,024	€                        4,024
Total	€                1,180,257	€                 2,248,388	€                       3,428,645

Departmental Contracts

Questions (448)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

448. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department has spent money or sought external assistance with Departmental, Ministerial public relations; if so, the cost; and the name of the agencies, consultants and companies involved in each of the past ten years and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [5361/24]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

The information requested is being collated by my Department, and a reply will issue to the Deputy directly as soon as it is completed.