Written Answers Nos. 111-131
111. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department is aware of the Icelandic planet youth model; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9571/24]
View answerThis is a matter for my cabinet colleague the Minister for Health.
112. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there is a plan to expand entitlements to flexible working and remote working contained in the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023 to all employees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9175/24]
View answerThe Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023 was enacted on 4 April 2023, and introduces important entitlements for workers, including leave for medical care purposes for parents of children under 12. The Act also includes provisions to transpose Article 9 of the EU Work Life Balance Directive and provide for a right to request flexible working for parents and carers. Separately, the Government brought amendments to the Bill at Report Stage to incorporate the provisions of the Right to Request Remote Work Bill 2021 into this Act.
The right to request flexible working for parents and carers and the right to request remote working for all employees are to be commenced following the preparation of a Code of Practice by the Workplace Relations Commission under Part 4. Commencement of Part 3 and Part 4 are for the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment. A draft code of practice has been completed by the WRC and has been submitted to the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment.
My Department is engaging with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment to consider the code, with a view to commencing the remaining provisions of the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023 in the next few weeks.
Under these provisions, all employees can make a request for remote work but the right to request flexible working only extends to parents and carers, as defined under the Directive. The Government has committed, however, to reviewing these provisions after two years to consider extending the right to request flexible working to all employees.
113. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the amount by which investment in early years has increased year-on-year in percentage terms in the past eight years; if he will indicate the domestic and/or international indicators which demonstrate this improvement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9183/24]
View answerPublic investment in Early Learning and Care and School Age Childcare rose from €345 million in 2016, to €1.108 billion in 2024.
Investment as a percentage of modified GNI (based on the most recently available modified GNI figures, 2022) increased from 0.20% in 2016 to 0.26% in 2022. For illustrative purposes investment as a percentage of modified GNI (using 2022 figures) is also provided in the table below.
This investment excludes the significant spending on Covid-19 supports for the sector, estimated to cost in the region of €1 billion.
Table: Year on year increase in investment for the period 2016 to 2024
|
Year |
Amount (m) |
% increase on the previous year |
Modified GNI (bn) |
Investment as a % of modified GNI |
|
2024 |
1108 |
8% |
Not available |
0.41% (using 2022 modified GNI) |
|
2023 |
1025 |
43% |
Not available |
0.38% (using 2022 modified GNI) |
|
2022 |
716* |
12% |
273.1 |
0.26% |
|
2021 |
638 |
0% |
233.3 |
0.27% |
|
2020 |
638 |
11% |
202.9 |
0.31% |
|
2019 |
574 |
18% |
210.4 |
0.27% |
|
2018 |
485 |
5% |
194.8 |
0.25% |
|
2017 |
464 |
34% |
183.7 |
0.25% |
|
2016 |
345 |
33% |
171.8 |
0.20% |
Notes: *This includes €679m investment plus one of €37m in Covid-19 supports.
In 2018, First 5, the ten-year whole of government strategy for babies, young children and their families, set an initial target of doubling investment in early learning and childcare to approximately €1 billion by 2028. My Department not only met but exceeded this target 5 year ahead of time.
A key priority for this Government is to continue to increase the levels of public investment in early learning and childcare so that, by 2028, it is more closely aligned with the EU average, in order to continue improving quality and addressing the affordability and accessibility of provision for families. This target is a commitment in the latest First 5 Implementation Plan 2023-2025, which I published last November.
114. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will report on childcare services in County Meath; the number of childcare places available in the county; the length of the average waiting list; to report on any planned measures to increase these places; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9570/24]
View answerEnsuring 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.My Department funds 30 City/County Childcare Committees (CCCs), which provide support and assist families and early learning and childcare providers with early learning, and childcare matters.My understanding from Meath County Childcare Committee (CCC) is that, following the increase of the National Childcare Scheme universal subsidy to €1.40 per hour, childcare services have seen a high level of demand.Meath CCC, and the wider network of 30 CCCs 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. On behalf of my Department, Pobal have developed dashboards with information sourced from the Early Years Platform (EYP) and the Annual Early Years Sector Profile Survey (AEYSP). According to this information, the estimated capacity for Meath for 2022/23 is 8,780 and 38% of services have a waiting list and 55% of services have at least one vacant place. My Department does not collect data to inform us of the length of the average waiting list.My Department is progressing a range of actions to ensure the supply of ELC and SAC meets demand.Core Funding - the funding scheme introduced in 2022 - allocates funding for providers based on the cost of delivery. Under Core Funding, providers delivering ELC for babies and toddlers attract higher levels of funding, given the higher staffing requirements determined by the regulatory ratios for these children. Though only in operation since September 2022, initial analysis shows that this new funding scheme has given rise to a growth in capacity for these young cohorts. Budget 2023 allocated funding to secure a 3% growth in capacity for year 2 of the scheme, which has already materialised. Budget 2024 also secured funding to invest in a further 3% capacity growth from September 2024.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.A new Supply Management Unit has been established within my Department to lead on this important work. The development of this function is akin to the Department of Education’s Forward Planning Unit. The Supply Management Unit will oversee the allocation of new capital investment. €69 million was allocated to my Department over the period 2023-2025 under the NDP to enable capital investment in the sector.Last week, I was pleased to announce an €18 million capital grant scheme for the Early Learning and Childcare Sector. The Building Blocks Capacity Expansion Grant Scheme is part of the wider Building Blocks Capacity Grant Scheme for Early Learning and Childcare under the revised National Development Plan 2021-2030 (NDP).The Expansion Grant Scheme will provide for an immediate increase in affordable Early Learning and Childcare places in 2024, and will be specifically targeted in areas in where they are needed most. It will be the first of two significant capital investment schemes, to be delivered in 2024 and 2025.The Expansion Grant Scheme will be open to Core Funding partner services. These services may apply for capital grants to expand their capacity by means of internal renovations and reconfigurations. The primary focus of the Expansion Grant Scheme is to increase capacity in the 1-3 year old (pre ECCE) age range for full day or part-time care.
115. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he and his Department have mapped the existence of youth-focused community projects and staff across the state; if he is aware of gaps in coverage or large and populous areas without or with inadequately resourced projects and how do they intend to resolve this. [4038/24]
View answerI recognise the need for improved data in respect of the distribution of youth work services across the State and this is an area of priority for my officials. A mapping process is currently underway which aims to capture all youth services, both youth worker led and volunteer led.
The first stage of the mapping project is to map the 260 projects funded through the UBU scheme which provides targeted youth services to young people who are disadvantaged, marginalised or vulnerable. The mapping project will be expanded in the course of 2024 to include the mapping of youth work services funded through other schemes, including the Youth Services Grant Scheme and the local youth club grant scheme.
This mapping exercise will help to identify gaps in youth service provision and enable my Department and stakeholders to develop proposals to expand youth service provision where necessary. The mapping exercise will also provide information to young people, their parents and teachers on youth services which are available in their communities.
116. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is concerned that the extension of payments under the accommodation recognition grant for a further year without changes risks interference with the private rental market, with negative consequences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9725/24]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that I am currently in the process of extending the termination date of the Accommodation Recognition Payment (ARP) scheme to March 2025 to mirror the extension by the EU of the Temporary Protection Directive as it applies to the war in Ukraine.
In making an Order to extend the scheme, I am required under the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022 (Act of 2022) to have regard to the need to continue to make provision for a financial contribution to assist in increasing the availability of accommodation for temporary protection beneficiaries.
This scheme is important because it has diverted Ukrainian individuals and families away from State-supported accommodation, which is often in hotels and guesthouses and which are generally unsuitable for long-term stays, particularly for families raising children.
The ARP is currently paid to over 10,600 hosts supporting the accommodation of almost 22,000 Ukrainian beneficiaries of temporary protection (BOTP) around the country. It is far more cost-effective to the Exchequer than procurement from the commercial/ serviced accommodation sector. Furthermore, it allows Ukrainians to have greater independence in moving out of State accommodation.
There is no definitive evidence that the ARP has a displacement effect on the rental market. There may be examples of the type outlined by the Deputy in our Dáil debate last week on this matter. However, the majority of properties hosting BOTP, particularly those arranged through the Irish Red Cross pledge and the Offer a Home scheme operated by local authorities, were not previously and are unlikely to be available in the private rental market. These properties are generally made available to displaced persons from Ukraine as a humanitarian gesture and the ARP recognises that generosity.
I appreciate there are significant pressures in the private rental market. I will continue to keep the operation of the Scheme under review.
117. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he has considered having a full-time youth worker in Youghal, County Cork, considering the number of IPAS refugees in the area, following a meeting with local community groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9660/24]
View answerMy Department provides significant funding to youth services which provide targeted services to young people who are marginalised, disadvantaged or vulnerable under the UBU scheme. €48million has been allocated to UBU services in 2024.
Young people who are applicants for, or are in receipt of, international protection come within the ambit of the UBU scheme, and can therefore benefit from targeted youth services to help them to overcome adverse circumstances and integrate with their local communities.
UBU funding is allocated and distributed through the national network of Education and Training Boards, in response to local needs. The expansion of youth services in Youghal is a matter for Cork Education and Training Board.
118. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of new appointments that have been made to the children's disability network teams (details supplied) services in counties Cavan and Monaghan since January 2022, given the very high vacancy rate within the service. [1940/24]
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 Forsa 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
119. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will intervene to encourage parties involved in ELC and SAC pay talks back to the table with a view to ensuring staff can be paid the next pay increase; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9500/24]
View answerI wish to express my continued commitment to improving pay and conditions for early years educators and school-age childcare practitioners through the provision of public funding to Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age Childcare (SAC) service providers via the Core Funding scheme, to support the outcomes of the Joint Labour Committee negotiation process.
I met with the members of the Joint Labour Committee (JLC) for Early Years Services in May 2023 to outline the Government's commitment to the development and funding of the ELC and SAC sector, most notably the commitment of over €1 billion to the sector in Budget 2023.
On 10th January 2024, the JLC published draft proposals for new Employment Regulation Orders (EROs) that would set new, higher, minimum rates of pay for ELC and SAC workers. The draft revised EROs propose a 5% increase in minimum pay rates for all roles, following Labour Court recommendations.
Publication of the proposals allowed for public submissions of representations in relation to the proposals, for the JLC to review. This consultation process closed at the end of January. It is my understanding that the JLC is continuing to meet in relation to the new draft ERO proposals.
In line with the provisions of the Industrial Relations Acts, the JLC is independent in its functions, and I do not have a role in its statutory processes. However, I hope we will see positive outcomes from the negotiations soon, in order to continue to improve wages and working conditions in the sector.
120. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the role his Department has taken in supporting young people who have been impacted by the consequences of Covid-19 lockdowns. [9639/24]
View answerMy Department actively developed supports for children and young people impacted by the COVID-19 restrictions across a range of service provisions including:
1. Participation and Consultation
2. Youth Services
3. Traveller and Roma
4. Oberstown Children Detention Campus
5. Children and Young People’s Services Committees
6. Growing Up in Ireland
7. Early Years
8. Irish Refugee Protection Programme
9. LGBTI+ Youth Forum
10. Child Welfare and Protection
1. Participation and Consultation
In the summer of 2020, my Department, working with the Department of Health and the youth sector, collaborated with SpunOut.ie to undertake an online survey of young people’s experiences of Covid-19.
The consultation asked young people about what has been working well for them and the challenges in maintaining their wellbeing during Covid-19. Young people were given a chance to provide feedback on what could be useful in improving their mental health and wellbeing over the coming months.
58% of reported feelings about the future were negative, including anxiety, pessimism, fear and sadness; a figure that was higher amongst marginalised groups. 37% of young people expressed optimism, this was higher for those who engaged with youth groups/clubs/services. Young people reported missing friends, health problems, isolation, loss of social life and work among the impacts of Covid-19.
The publication of the report was a commitment in the Government Roadmap, Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021, Plan for Living with Covid-19. A youth friendly version was has also developed in video format.
The findings of the report were shared with relevant Government officials in order to inform the Government’s response.
2. Youth Services
My Department worked closely with key youth sector representatives during the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure young people could continue to engage with youth organisations. My Department provided additional funding for youth services to enable them to provide online and outdoor activities through a number of COVID-19 grant schemes for youth services and youth clubs. My Department established a stakeholder group which met regularly during the periods of pandemic restrictions to develop sector specific guidance, and to enable youth services to operate safely.
The COVID-19 pandemic had on-going impact on the youth sector, with a reduction in the number of adult volunteers who are central to the delivery of universal youth services. My Department worked with stakeholders to encourage more adults to volunteer in youth organisations. Funding was provided to the National Youth Council of Ireland in 2023 to support the engagement and training of volunteers within the youth sector including a funding scheme for volunteer activation by youth organisations.
In addition, the youth division of my Department chaired a sub-group of cross-Government Implementation Group of the National Volunteering Strategy, and developed initiatives to encourage young people to engage in volunteering in civic society groups, including youth organisations.
3. Traveller and Roma
To counteract the significant impact that COVID-19 had on the Traveller and Roma communities, my Department provided additional funding to Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) from 2021 onwards to support existing, as well as new initiatives for Travellers and Roma. Some of these supports benefitted children and young people, for example:
• in Waterford, during the COVID-19 restrictions period, food parcels were delivered on a weekly basis to Roma families in dire need – mainly Roma families newly arrived in Waterford, with no income or support;
• a Dormant Accounts funded project commenced with funding of €400,000 in 2022 to provide for Traveller and Roma Community Education post supports to address the impact of COVID-19 on participation, retention and progression through the education system; funding was continued in 2023 and increased to €650,000 for 2024; and
• due to the impact of COVID-19, the Supporting Travellers and Roma (STAR) pilot education project supported in four regions of the country by my Department and the Department of Education was extended for a further period (to the end of June 2025). STAR aimed to prioritise “investment in community-based support mechanisms to ensure greater retention of Traveller and Roma children and youths in the education system”.
4. Oberstown Children Detention Campus
In line with legal requirements under the Children Act, Oberstown continued to meet the needs of young people in relation to their Care, Education, Health, Offending behaviour and Preparation for leaving – the five elements of CEHOP®, the Oberstown model of care. Any challenges associated with the Covid-19 lockdown for young people remanded and detained in Oberstown were addressed under the Oberstown model of care. Oberstown worked with a number of external agencies in supporting the needs of young people remanded and detained.
5. Children and Young People’s Services Committees
Children and Young People’s Services Committees (CYPSC) are funded by my Department along with contributions from Tusla and the Department of Health (Healthy Ireland) to ensure effective inter-agency co-ordination and collaboration in achieving the best outcomes for children and young people in their local area. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 27 CYPSC were very proactive in coordinating supports for children and young people, their families and communities.
In response to the pandemic and subsequent lockdown, CYPSC diverted a significant amount of their mainstream funding from my Department and under the Healthy Ireland initiative to plan and coordinate supports with local partners in their communities such as mental health and well – being supports for young people. As a result of the lockdown, CYPSC became aware of increased demand for mental health and well- being services and supports around the country, and CYPSC identified mental health as their top priority for young people. In 2022 (2023 statistics awaited) CYPSC co-ordinated and planned 55 projects around the country relating to Mental Health and well-being supports. A CYPSC Healthy Ireland Co-ordinator situated in Tusla works with CYPSC on the Healthy Ireland Initiative including co-ordination and administration of the CYPSC Healthy Ireland funding including oversight of mental health and well-being projects in progress or being proposed by CYPSC. Examples of the CYPSC projects to date (not exhaustive) include:
- Mental Health Needs Assessments
- Development of statistical profiles for youth mental health supports
- Trauma informed projects
- Identifying gaps in services locally
- Improved physical and mental Health Well Being of children and young people and families living in homelessness accommodation
- Access for young people to appropriate counselling services/counselling sessions
- Improvement of parenting skills and youth mental health
In 2024, my Department has allocated an additional €524,000 in funding for CYPSC Programme and Healthy Ireland funding which will increase the CYPSC capacity to respond to the challenges faced by children, young people and their families as a result of COVID.
In 2023 my Department provided an additional €700,000 through Dormant Accounts funding to Tusla which was allocated to 37 community and voluntary organisations. This additional funding increased access to counselling, psychotherapy and therapeutic services to children and young people experiencing social and economic disadvantage in communities around Ireland. It helped to address unmet need and reduce waiting lists for community-based counselling services and increased the provision of counselling and psychotherapy and other therapy types (play, drama, art and creative therapy, bereavement support) to children and young people who are socially/economically disadvantaged and who without support cannot access these services.
In 2024 I secured €1.5m in funding for this Dormant Accounts measure, an increase of €800,000 over 2023 which will increase reach and impact of these vital services for our young people.
6. Growing Up in Ireland
The Growing Up in Ireland study follows the lives of young people who were born in 1998 and 2008. The study is well-placed to monitor the development and well-being of adolescents and young adults in the post-Covid era, including identifying groups in particular need of support. The study collects information directly from young people, as well as parents for the younger group, on how they are doing with their physical and mental health, school or work, relationships and economic circumstances. The study is able to make an almost unique contribution to knowledge in these areas because information was collected from the same young people for several years before the pandemic and plans to continue following their progress in the years ahead. It will be possible to compare the two groups at the same ages (13, 17 and 20 years) where the older group had gone through these life stages pre-Covid, and the younger group post-Covid.
Growing Up in Ireland has already provided valuable insights into how the pandemic restrictions have affected children and young people. A special GUI Covid survey was conducted in December 2020 by telephone with the participants at age 12 and 22 respectively. In 2022, the ESRI and my Department co-produced a report on how the restrictions affected young adults during a key transition stage as they started work and left education, the report is titled “Disrupted transitions? Young adults and the Covid -19 pandemic.” This data provides valuable evidence for policy makers and Government on decisions and policy affecting children and young people.
7. Early Years
My Department provided extensive practice supports to staff during Covid to help Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age Childcare services (SAC) ensure a positive experience for children during the Covid pandemic, as ELC and SAC services remained open for most of the period. Supports included training and resources on trauma-informed practice, provided through support organisations. In addition, well-being advice and supports organised by the HSE were brought to the attention of early years educators and school age childcare practitioners.
8. Irish Refugee Protection Programme
During the pandemic, the Irish Refugee Protection Programme worked with Reception and Orientation Centres (ROCs) and Resettlement Officers to ensure that children continued to have access to learning during school closures. Resettlement Officers liaised with newly settled families to ensure that families were supported while schools were closed. Home visits took place. ROCs were supported with additional IT equipment where required to enable online learning.
9. International Protection Accommodation
My Department developed a Strategic Framework for Engagement on Child and Family Issues in the context of school closures and social distancing requirements put in place during the Covid-19 crisis. The International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) and Child and Family Welfare Team developed this framework to support families living in our centres. In preparing the framework, outreach with key stakeholders took place including centre managers, Tusla, the Department of Education and Skills, the Department of Rural and Community Development, the HSE, the Children’s Rights Alliance, One Family and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. The framework encompasses three broad themes under which actions were rolled out:
- Child and family welfare;
- Identifying education requirements; and
- the general provision of activities for children.
10. LGBTI+ Youth Forum
The LGBTI+ Youth Forum continued to meet online over the public health emergency, in order to support implementation of the Strategy. The Forum redrafted plans for a number of actions to take account of COVID-19 restrictions.
11. Child Welfare and Protection
Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, is the statutory body with responsibility to promote the welfare of children who are not receiving adequate care and protection. From the outset of the Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020, my Department has worked closely with Tusla in order to ensure the prioritisation and continuity of key frontline services to support at-risk children and families.
Tusla will reply to the Deputy directly as to what Tusla is doing to support young people affected by the consequences of COVID-19 restriction measures.
122. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what discussions he has had with the Department of Finance regarding how changes to taxation could reduce the cost of childcare for families; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9729/24]
View answerTax credits/ deductions have previously been considered in the context of work by my Department to reduce the cost of early learning and childcare to parents.
Research by an Inter-Departmental Group back in 2016 showed that supply-side measures (such as subsidies paid directly to providers to reduce fees to parents), rather than demand-side measures (such as tax credits to parents), represented the most effective use of Exchequer investment. This conclusion was based on international experience and on the ability to leverage quality and control fees for parents through supply-side measures.
“Demand side measures” (i.e. funding directly to parents to reduce their fees, potentially including taxation based measures such as tax credits/deductions) and “supply side measures” (i.e. funding directly to providers to assist in the meeting the cost of provision and/or to reduce parents fees) were also explored in the context of the development of National Childcare Scheme (NCS).
The 2016 policy paper, which informed the subsequent development of the NCS, concluded that supply-side measures offer the State greater “steering capacity? in terms of ensuring equity of access and driving quality in early learning and childcare service. This is because a well-designed supply-side measures offers the State several policy levers (e.g. subsidy levels linked to quality, conditions for provider participation, regulation of co-payments etc.) through which policy objectives can be pursued.
More recently, the independent Expert Group convened to develop a new funding model for early learning and childcare considered tax deductions/credits as part of their work. In their 2021 report, ‘Partnership for the Public Good’, the Expert Group concluded that ‘there are downsides to channelling any of the promised additional investment into tax deductions/credits as a purely demand-side subsidy. They cannot be used to leverage quality in the same way that payments directly to providers can. It is clear from our Terms of Reference that the new funding model should operate with the NCS and the ECCE programme. To recommend further demand-led funding, like tax credits, would increase the scale of demand-side funding of the sector and would not help to guide the sector towards a more publicly managed service, where policy levers can be used to support quality, affordability, availability, access, and sustainability. Additionally, lower-income families would not benefit as much from tax deductions/credits as those with higher incomes. When considered against our Guiding Principles, we conclude that the development and implementation of a new supply-side funding stream is needed to complement the NCS and the ECCE programme”.
Together for Better, the new funding model for early learning and childcare was launched in September 2022. This funding model, brings together the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE programme), including the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM), the NCS, the new supply-side funding stream - Core Funding - and the Equal Participation Model, the latter of which will roll out later this year.
123. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason for his failure to respond properly and fully to multiple emails and phone calls regarding the installation of facilities to house people seeking temporary international protection at a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9738/24]
View answerMy Department has carried out a review of communications channels with regard to the Deputy’s concerns and a Department official contacted the Deputy on the 23rd of February in relation to this matter.
A proposal for temporary accommodation for Ukrainian Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) at the location to which the Deputy refers was submitted to my Department late last year by Pastures New Ltd. This provider has experience in successfully delivering similar accommodation facilities, most notably in Stradbally. Co. Laois, and the proposal for the location to which the Deputy refers envisaged a total capacity at the site of 985 BOTPs.
The Department facilitated early engagement between the provider and Kildare County Council to assist in ensuring that the centre would meet all requirements in terms of fire safety, planning and building control.
This site has now been contracted by my Department for accommodating BOTPs strictly on a time-bound basis for a period of 12 months .
A full brief with more detailed information on the site was issued to public representatives on the 27th of February.
124. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total financial allocation from his Department in 2023 for youth services; if any new services were established during the course of 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9726/24]
View answerThe allocation to youth services in 2023 was €75.6 million.
The increases to the Budget 2023 allocation focused on further investment in the existing local and national youth organisations, in particular the funding schemes of UBU Your Place Your Space, the Youth Services Grant Scheme and Youth Information Centres, which allowed for potential expansion of existing services.
While no new youth services were established in 2023, from 2021 to 2022 my Department provided funding for 16 new services under UBU Your Place Your Space, including a number in rural areas in Kerry, Clare, Mayo and Donegal. The new services and augmented allocations were secured by the current funding provided in Budget 2023.
In addition, I initiated a reform of the Youth Service Grant Scheme and commissioned research to inform plans to modernise youth information funding. This is the first time either of these funding schemes have received such attention in many years and will provide the basis to support new organisations and services.
The financial allocation for youth services in 2023 requested by the Deputy is provided in the below table.
Youth Funding 2023
|
Current Funding |
Amount |
|
Youth Services Grant Scheme |
€13,402,061 |
|
Youth Information Centres |
€1,534,012 |
|
ETB Youth Grant |
€5,007,879 |
|
Local Youth Club Grant Scheme |
€2,500,000 |
|
New Initiatives and other funding streams |
€861,645 |
|
Policy and Support Programmes (inc. contingency) |
€1,399,922 |
|
Other National Youth Organisations and Youth Initiatives |
€1,952,353 |
|
UBU Your Place Your Space Funding Scheme and other targeted youth funding |
€46,290,128 |
|
Total |
€72,948,000 |
|
Capital Funding |
Amount |
|
Youth Capital Funding |
€2,250,000 |
|
Play and Recreation Funding |
€450,000 |
|
Total |
€2,700,000 |
125. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the position regarding the details of the Equal Participation Model for Early Years which was announced to be funded as part of Budget 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9176/24]
View answerOfficials in my Department are progressing work to finalise the Equal Participation Model (EPM) which will aim to help children and their families who may be experiencing disadvantage to access early learning and childcare settings, through a range of supports, universal and targeted. This proposed new funding strand within Together for Better will ensure supports are allocated adequately and equitably.
The design of the EPM is being finalised based on extensive feedback and consultations with educators, parents, providers and representative organisations. The detail will be published in quarter 2 of 2024.
The response will be multifaceted reflecting the complexity of need, and will be rolled out in stages as funding becomes available and as design of certain elements is progressed.
I have secured an allocation of €4.5m in the 2024 Budget to commence the first phase of rollout of the EPM from September 2024. Implementation will be phased with ongoing engagement with key stakeholders on later phases being a key element of the implementation approach.
126. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to increase childcare places; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9519/24]
View answerThere has been a number of steps taken by my Department to increase childcare places:
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 across three pillars:
• Building Blocks - Improvement Grant;
• Building Blocks - Capacity Grant; and
• Building Blocks - Innovation Grant
Last week, I was pleased to announce an €18 million capital grant scheme for the Early Learning and Childcare Sector. The Building Blocks Capacity Expansion Grant Scheme is part of the wider Building Blocks Capacity Grant Scheme for Early Learning and Childcare under the revised National Development Plan 2021-2030 (NDP).
The Expansion Grant Scheme will provide for an immediate increase in affordable Early Learning and Childcare places in 2024, and will be specifically targeted in areas in where they are needed most. It will be the first of two significant capital investment schemes, to be delivered in 2024 and 2025.
The Expansion Grant Scheme will be open to Core Funding partner services. These services may apply for capital grants to expand their capacity by means of internal renovations and reconfigurations. The primary focus of the Expansion Grant Scheme is to increase capacity in the 1-3 year old (pre ECCE) age range for full day or part-time care.
Core Funding, one of the newer flagship schemes in place since September 2022 as part of the new funding Model Together for Better, is allocated based on the service’s capacity, with services operating with longer opening hours and offering more places receiving more funding.
Core Funding aims to increase capacity in the sector, while also ensuring that services have a more sustainable and stable funding model. In year 2, I have secured an additional €28million in funding, €8.47m is allocated towards funding the natural growth of the sector. This additional funding will support an increase in more Partner Services; and also more staff working in the sector, more rooms and places, and more graduate lead educators and managers.
By providing additional funding for capacity in this way, year 2 of Core Funding will help Partner Services expand their businesses, which will lead to greater accessibility for parents and greater sustainability for services. Tusla data shows that Early Learning and Care closures fell to a 5 year low following the introduction of Core Funding, while the overall number of Early Learning and Care and standalone School-Aged Childcare services is now increasing.
In year 2, the programme call resulted in 4275 Partner Services enrolled in Core Funding, and in year 2 this increased by 2.7% to 4390 Partner Services.
I also secured funding in Budget 2024 to open up the National Childcare Scheme to parents who use childminders from September, in line with the commitment in the National Action Plan for Childminding.
127. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an update on the proposed national centre for research and remembrance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9191/24]
View answerIn March 2022 Government approved high level proposals for the National Centre for Research and Remembrance to be located on the site of the former Magdalen Laundry in Sean McDermott Street, Dublin 1 to comprise:
• a museum and exhibition space, the development of which will be led by the National Museum of Ireland
• a research centre and repository of records related to institutional trauma in the 20th century, which will form part of the National Archives
• a place for reflection and remembrance
• social housing
• educational and community facilities
A Steering Group, chaired by Mr Martin Fraser, former Secretary General to the Government and Ambassador to Great Britain, was established in April 2022 and is driving the overall coordinated development of the National Centre.
In July 2022, Dublin City Council voted to transfer the site of the former Magdalen Laundry at Sean McDermott Street to the OPW, to be developed as the National Centre. The OPW is continuing essential maintenance works on the site to facilitate safe and full access and necessary building surveys.
In July 2023 Government approved the masterplan for the National Centre campus as well as the preliminary business case for the main National Centre building structures - the museum, research centre and repository. Government also approved, in principle, proposals for the wider National Centre campus as follows:
• social housing, configured to universal design standards and appropriate to the needs of older persons and persons with disabilities within the North East Inner City;
• the development of a lifelong learning hub for the provision of further and higher education and;
• facilities for the provision of community-based family and parenting supports.
The masterplan for the site can be viewed on the National Centre website: www.gov.ie/nationalcentre.
An initial public consultation on certain elements of the National Centre which ran from July to September 2023, received almost 220 responses, and these are in the final stages of analysis. A report on the responses will be published shortly, and will inform the ongoing work on the National Centre. Further consultations and engagement, particularly with survivors and former residents, will take place as the project progresses with updates posted on the National Centre website.
129. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will discuss the issues faced by service users with respect to agencies who contracted to deliver their PA hours; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9593/24]
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 Forsa 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.
130. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what therapy and intervention supports are available to children who are unable to access these supports through the public disability network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9583/24]
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 Forsa 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
