Written Answers Nos. 478-492
478. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total number of people with an intellectual disability, autism, physical or sensory disability, both children and adults, in receipt of respite services in 2022. [7504/24]
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.
The Deputy will likely be aware that the industrial action by certain Fórsa grades in the HSE has been suspended. The HSE has indicated that they have recommenced issuing replies to questions but there is a significant backlog of PQs and Reps to be responded to and has advised that they are working to get through these as soon as possible while at the same time managing the volume of current PQs and Reps.
479. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the current number of vacancies/vacant posts within children's disability network teams; the nature of the posts; and how long each post has been vacant in counties Roscommon and Galway, in tabular form. [7541/24]
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. The Deputy will likely be aware that the industrial action by certain Fórsa grades in the HSE has been suspended. The HSE has indicated that they have recommenced issuing replies to questions but there is a significant backlog of PQs and Reps to be responded to and has advised that they are working to get through these as soon as possible while at the same time managing the volume of current PQs and Reps.
480. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide an update following correspondence issued to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Disability Matters stating that the long stay contribution legislation is currently receiving attention, the outcome of this work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7542/24]
View answerOn 1 January 2017, a "long-stay" residential support services maintenance and accommodation contributions framework under sections 67A to 67D of the Health Act 1970 and the Health (Residential Support Services Maintenance and Accommodation Contributions) Regulations 2016 replaced the former system of long stay charges for in-patient services.
Residential Support Services Maintenance and Accommodation Contributions, RSSMACs, are contributions towards accommodation and maintenance costs, and are not charges for care services.
The features of the RSSMACs framework ensure that it is reasonable and fair and that each service user’s contributions are based on what they can afford, taking account of the service user’s individual circumstances to ensure the avoidance of financial hardship. Rates are set at a level intended to ensure that each service recipient is guaranteed to retain sufficient income for personal user to support independence and participation in community activities.
Responsibility for RSSMAC transferred from the Department of Health to the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth in March 2023.
There are currently no plans to review the Health Act as it concerns RSSMAC, however, the relevant regulations are ordinarily amended when the rate of RSSMAC is updated.
481. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will publish in full the minutes and documents associated with the Interdepartmental Group that met to discuss the forthcoming referenda on the Constitution; if he will provide details of the membership of the Group; the number of times it met; the attendees at each meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7546/24]
View answerTwo Referendums are planned to take place on 8 March 2024. In line with the McKenna and McCrystal principles on the use of public funds in a referendum, all papers in the relation to the work of the Interdepartmental Group are precluded from publication until after the referendum votes have taken place.
Two Referendum Bills have passed all Stages in the Houses of the Oireachtas which will, if enacted:
- amend Article 41 of the Constitution to provide for a wider concept of Family; and
- delete Article 41.2 of the Constitution to remove text on the role of women in the home, and to insert a new Article 42B to recognise family care.
As the Bills have now been passed by the Houses of the Oireachtas, it is the responsibility of An Coimisiún Toghcháin, the Electoral Commission, to prepare a statement or statements containing a general explanation of the subject matter of the proposals for the referendums and of the text thereof in the relevant Bills and any other information relating to those matters that the Commission considers appropriate. It is also the function of the Electoral Commission to promote public awareness of referendums and to encourage people to vote.
482. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the details of all funding that is available to groups that wish to raise awareness about dyslexia. [7550/24]
View answerThe Deputy may wish to contact my colleague the Minister for Education on this matter as I am aware that her Department provides funding to Dyslexia Ireland.
As Minister of State with Special Responsibility for Disability, I am committed to supporting the full inclusion, participation and empowerment of adults and young people with disabilities, including but not limited to dyslexia, in our community.My Department does, and will continue to, provide financial supports for a range of disability groups under initiatives such as the Disability Participation and Awareness Fund (DPAF) and the Disability Participation and Consultation Network (DPCN).
In 2021, I was delighted to launch an annual Disability Participation and Awareness Fund (DPAF). The value of the Fund was €2.5m in 2021, and €3m in the most recent call which was announced in late 2023. Officials in my Department are working on the next iteration of the Disability Participation and Awareness Fund which is planned to launch later this year providing a further opportunity for organisations to apply for funding under newly developed themes.
In the particular area of input into policy making my Department also provides funding to the Disability Participation and Consultation Network, which was established in 2020 so that disability organisations of all types could be facilitated in inputting into consultation processes, to share information, and to build capacity. Funding has been continued this year for the operation of the DPCN on an interim basis, pending full consideration of the evaluation report on the operation of the DPCN conducted by the National Disability Authority.
483. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for an update on the provision of a dedicated respite centre (details supplied) for counties Cavan and Monaghan; what stage the centre is at; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7586/24]
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. The Deputy will likely be aware that the industrial action by certain Fórsa grades in the HSE has been suspended. The HSE has indicated that they have recommenced issuing replies to questions but there is a significant backlog of PQs and Reps to be responded to and has advised that they are working to get through these as soon as possible while at the same time managing the volume of current PQs and Reps.
484. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of people seeking international protection that are currently accommodated at the M Hotel, Kingscourt Road, Carrickmacross; if there are proposals to increase the number of people accommodated at this location, and the details if so; if there will be any community engagement prior to any such increase; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7590/24]
View answerI thank the Deputy for this 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 community@equality.gov.ie.
485. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to confirm if the former St. Luke's Hospital Farm, Glenconnor, Clonmel, County Tipperary is being considered as a location for an accommodation centre for asylum seekers; to give details of any contracts issued to develop this farm for a reception centre; if his Department has had any engagement in relation to this property; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7592/24]
View answerIn relation to proposed locations for International Applicants (IP) or Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTP), without an eircode for specific locations my Department is unable to provide any information.
For example the title of locations may be referred to by different names within the local community where it is situated. With reference to large scale sites, there may be multiple units on that site with only 1 unit being offered.
As such, Department officials cannot accurately identify current or proposed accommodation locations by name only.
If the Deputy can provide an eircode, my Department can assist with his query further. The Deputy may contact the Community Engagement Team at community@equality.gov.ie.
486. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to confirm if his Department have any plans to use a hotel in Tipperary as an accommodation centre for asylum seekers (details supplied); if his Department has had any engagements with owners in relation to this property; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7593/24]
View answerI thank the Deputy for this 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 community@equality.gov.ie.
487. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to confirm if his Department have any plans to use a property in south Tipperary as an accommodation centre for asylum seekers (details supplied); if his Department have had any engagements with owners in relation to this property; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7594/24]
View answerI thank the Deputy for this 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 community@equality.gov.ie.
488. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total number of unique children availing of NCS in 2022 and 2023, in tabular form. [7619/24]
View answerThe National Childcare Scheme (NCS) provides financial support to help parents meet the cost of childcare. It is available to families with children aged between 24 weeks and 15 years who are attending any participating Tusla registered childcare service, including any Tusla registered childminder.
The success of the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) in meeting families needs is evidenced through the increased level of participation in the Scheme. In 2023, a total of 181,786 unique children benefited from a successful NCS claim - a 47% increase on the previous year.
A breakdown of the number of unique children with a successful claim is detailed below according to year:
|
Year |
No. unique children with a successful claim |
|
2022 |
123,439 |
|
2023 |
181,786 |
489. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total number of unique children that are enrolled in an ECCE service, also availing of an NCS subsidy for 2022 and 2023, in tabular form. [7620/24]
View answerThe figures supplied by the scheme administrator Pobal in the table below show the total number of unique children that are enrolled in an ECCE service, also availing of an NCS subsidy for the programme year 2022/23 and for 2023/24 to date.
|
Programme Year 2022-23 |
39,555 |
|
Programme Year 2023-24 |
44,636 |
490. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total number of unique children that are in a sponsorship arrangement through the NCS for 2022 and 2023; the full year cost for 2022 and 2023; the cost per child of these sponsorship arrangements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7621/24]
View answerThe Sponsorship arrangement available under the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) makes special provision for vulnerable children.
The NCS Sponsorship arrangement allows designated bodies to refer children to the Scheme where childcare is needed on child welfare, protection, family support or other specified grounds. Where a referral is made by a Sponsor body, the family will automatically qualify for a subsidy without having to satisfy the Scheme’s eligibility, income or enhanced hours requirements. The Scheme will pay the full cost of the childcare for families referred to the Scheme by a Sponsor Body.
A full breakdown of the number of unique children receiving Sponsorship in the specified years, along with the total value of successful claims, and average value claimed is detailed below.
It is important to note that the value claimed per individual child will depend on the age of the child and the number of hours claimed.
|
Year |
No. of unique children with a successful sponsorship claim |
Total value of successful claims |
Average value claimed by child in each year |
|
2022 |
5,207 |
€13,950,282.92 |
€2,679.14 |
|
2023 |
7,175 |
€19,651,246.54 |
€2,738.85 |
Finally, it may be of interest to note that Sponsorship rates will increase as part of Budget 2024 measures. Increased rates will take effect from 2 September 2024.
491. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to review staffing levels in his Department (details supplied); the steps his Department is taking to fill positions in CHO1; the number across the various professionals in the HSE in this Department, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7666/24]
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. The Deputy will likely be aware that the industrial action by certain Fórsa grades in the HSE has been suspended. The HSE has indicated that they have recommenced issuing replies to questions but there is a significant backlog of PQs and Reps to be responded to and has advised that they are working to get through these as soon as possible while at the same time managing the volume of current PQs and Reps.
492. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the location to which a person (details supplied) will be transferred; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7676/24]
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.
The Deputy will likely be aware that the industrial action by certain Fórsa grades in the HSE has been suspended. The HSE has indicated that they have recommenced issuing replies to questions but there is a significant backlog of PQs to be responded to and has advised that they are working to get through these as soon as possible while at the same time managing the volume of current PQs.
