Written Answers Nos. 110-115
110. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the justification and rationale for payment of the role of safeguarding officer in St John Ambulance, and if this will be a mechanism available to other organisations in financial distress; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9584/24]
View answerA key recommendation of Justice Dr Geoffrey Shannon’s Independent review report on the handling of past complaints of abuse in St John Ambulance, which was published on March 16th 2023, was for the appointment of a National Safeguarding officer to the St. John Ambulance Ireland organisation.
This matter continues to be under consideration by my department. The issues identified by Dr Shannon are under review and my department officials have continued to liaise with the organisation.
111. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the contract that was signed between his Department and the D Hotel in Drogheda to provide accommodation services from March included any cooling off period in the contract in which one or both parties can examine, renegotiate or cancel the contract as agreed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9601/24]
View answer112. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if any contracts signed between his Department and providers of international protection accommodation services have been cancelled within a cooling off period over the years 2020 to date; if so how many; the reasons for each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9603/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 111 and 112 together.
International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) contracts do not contain a "cooling off" period, and therefore, no contract has been cancelled during such a period from 2020 to date.
Department officials are working tirelessly to bring more bed spaces into use, and since January 2022 have brought over 200 properties into use to accommodate those who arrive in Ireland seeking international protection.
With all new properties contracted by the Department to provide accommodation for IP applicants, the provider is required to provide detailed information, including a certificate of compliance by a competent expert, in relation to adherence to relevant regulations and suitability for use. The Department carefully appraises each property before contracts are issued and properties are also subject to pre-occupancy inspections.
113. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department will put the funding in place to enable the necessary renovation works to be carried out at a facility (details supplied) in order to make it safe for children, parents and teachers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9622/24]
View answer114. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if, given there has been a reduction in the number of childcare facilities in the Churchfield area due to the closure of a facility (details supplied), the necessary funding would be provided to the new board of management to enable it to carry out the necessary work and for the centre to be reopened; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9623/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 113 and 114 together.
Cork City Childcare Committee, funded by my Department, has been engaging with this service since the service took over this location and will be offering assistance on options for funding and wider supports.
With regard to the broader question of early learning and childcare supply in Cork City and elsewhere, a range of steps are being taken by my Department to address issues of under supply.
Building on the recent success of Core Funding in incentivising capacity, I secured additional funding in Budget 2024 for a further 3% growth in capacity for year 3 of the scheme, commencing from September.
I also secured funding in Budget 2024 to open up the National Childcare Scheme to parents who use childminders from next autumn, in line with the commitment in the National Action Plan for Childminding.
Moreover, last week I announced the opening of the application process for Building Blocks – Capacity Grant, supported under the National Development Plan, which will fund an expansion of existing services in areas of under-supply. A new Supply Management Unit established within my Department is leading on this important work.
The Unit’s remit will be to develop the planning function, for better monitoring, analysis and forecasting of investment needs, in line with a recommendation of the Expert Group in their Report – Partnership for the Public Good. The Unit will also support the work of the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government to update Planning Guidelines for Early Learning and Childcare Services, as committed to in First 5.
115. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the annual salary cost of employing a youth worker. [9648/24]
View answerMy Department provides grant funding youth organisations to support a broad range of youth services which are delivered by both paid youth workers and volunteers. The youth workers and other staff involved in youth services are employed directly by the organisation in receipt of funding. My Department does not have a role in determining salaries, which vary according to the individual employer. The relevant data is held accordingly by those employers.
