Written Answers Nos. 595-614
595. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 503 of 31 May 2022, if he will provide a breakdown of report origin in respect of sexual abuse referrals to Tusla, by an organisation and county in 2020 and to date in 2024. [10611/24]
View answerStatutory and operational responsibility for the delivery of child protection and welfare services is a matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. The Deputy is seeking information in relation to an operational matter for Tusla. Consequently, I have referred the matter to Tusla, and requested that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.
596. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is satisfied with the level of access to the early childhood care and education scheme based on geographical area; how often the Department refresh their list of providers; the measures being put in place to expand access to the scheme in areas experiencing rapid population growth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10689/24]
View answerMy Department funds Tusla registered childcare services to provide the ECCE programme to eligible children. New Tusla registered early learning and care services are eligible to participate in ECCE.
Soon to be published research indicates that the majority of services offer a place to eligible children. In addition the majority of parents indicated they felt they had a choice of services when applying. Notwithstanding this, challenges still exist in certain parts of the country, most notably Dublin and surrounding counties. Some parents of children with additional needs such disabilities or illnesses, or families new to an area can find securing a place challenging.
On 22 February, I was pleased to announce an €18 million capital grant scheme for the Sector. 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. This will be achieved by funding projects that reconfigure or internally renovate existing Early Learning and Childcare services to accommodate additional children in this age category.
The Expansion Grant Scheme will provide for an immediate increase in affordable Early Learning and Childcare places in 2024. It will be the first of two significant capital investment scheme, to be delivered in 2024 and 2025.
My Department and Pobal have jointly developed a Relative Demand Model using the latest census data and information on existing provision and enrolments, as well as CSO data on commuting patterns, to generate insights into the extent to which existing levels of supply meet local demand across the country. This analysis will enable the funding to be targeted to where it is most needed.
Pobal manages the list of providers on the Early Years Platform/Hive system on behalf of my Department. This list is routinely extracted by Pobal on the first of every month and shared with my Department. Lists can also be provided to my Department by Pobal at any time on request.
If parents are having difficulty in accessing an ECCE place, they can contact their local County Childcare Committee (CCC) who will be able to advise them of all ECCE services in their locality. Parents can find the contract details for their local CCC on the website www.myccc.ie.
597. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth how many international protection applicants are currently being accommodated in County Longford, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10701/24]
View answerThe Department is currently accommodating over 100,000 people between those fleeing Ukraine and International Protection (IP) applicants. This includes over 75,000 Ukrainian people who have sought accommodation from the State and over 27,000 IP applicants currently in International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) accommodation.
IPAS releases weekly statistics in relation to International Protection (IP) applicants. This includes a per county breakdown of where IP applicants are residing. These statistics are located on the Gov.ie website: gov.ie - IPAS Statistics (www.gov.ie).
As at 25th February 2024, there are 140 IP applicants residing in properties in County Longford.
598. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason a child (details supplied) is not currently receiving the OT service they require; if he will ensure that they will be allocated OT services at Rooskey, Monaghan as a matter of priority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10765/24]
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.
599. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will review a case for family reunification (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10791/24]
View answerIn relation to this case, I am advised by my officials that an application for exceptional reunification was considered by the Ukrainian Crisis Temporary Accommodation Team (UCTAT), which evaluates applications for exceptional reunification on a case by case basis. A refusal notification was issued accordingly by the UCTAT team.
A further review of this case was considered by my officials in line with the Absence Protocol and concluded with no change in their decision. Their decision is final on these matters.
Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection are entitled to make their own private arrangements for accommodation using supports provided by the Department of Social Protection or by asking their Local Authority or Irish Red Cross for pledged accommodation. Those wishing to avail of pledged accommodation in any given area should contact the Local Authority in that area or the Irish Red Cross pledge process. The Irish Red Cross can be contacted by email at registerofpledges@redcross.ie or by phoning 1800 50 70 70.
600. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will seek an update from IPAS on the total number of beds nationwide that have been offered to IPAS as ready with certification by a competent person in place, but have yet to be taken up by persons seeking international protection and are awaiting a further inspection and sign off by the fire officer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10795/24]
View answerDepartment officials are working intensively to bring more bed spaces into use, and since January 2023 have brought over 13,000 bed spaces into use to accommodate those who arrive in Ireland seeking International Protection (IP).
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, including valid fire certification. The Department carefully appraises each property before contracts are issued and properties are also subject to pre-occupancy inspections.
The Local Authority have a regulatory role in relation to properties being brought on stream to verify that they meet the required building, planning and fire safety regulations. Once all documentation is received, the Department continues to engage with the appropriate fire certification authorities to ensure fire certification is up to date and once evidence of sign-off is received from the relevant authorities and provided to the Department, a contract is signed for the use of the property. The timeline on delivery of appropriate certification is a matter entirely for the relevant authorities.
The information requested in relation to properties which are currently offered as 'ready for use' and certified by a competent person, which require sign-off by the relevant fire authorities is not collated in the manner requested.
601. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide the total capital funding allocation for youth work within each budget per year from 2009 to 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10822/24]
View answerMy Department was established in 2011 and I am happy to supply the Deputy with information relating to the period 2011 to 2024.
|
Year |
Total Youth Capital Funding Allocation |
Youth Capital Funding Scheme for Youth Organisations/Youth Services/Youth Clubs |
Youth Café Funding Scheme |
Capital Grant Scheme for Play and Recreation |
Young People’s Facilities and Services Fund Capital |
|
2011 |
€0.8m |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
€0.8m |
|
2012 |
€0.5m |
Nil |
€0.50m |
Nil |
Nil |
|
2013 |
€1.75m |
Nil |
€1.50m |
€0.25m |
Nil |
|
2014 |
€0.75m |
€0.5m |
Nil |
€0.25m |
Nil |
|
2015 |
€0.75m |
€0.5m |
Nil |
€0.25m |
Nil |
|
2016 |
€3.0m |
€2.6m |
Nil |
€0.40m |
Nil |
|
2017 |
€3.0m |
€2.6m |
Nil |
€0.40m |
Nil |
|
2018 |
€3.0m |
€2.6m |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
|
2019 |
€3.2m |
€2.75m |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
|
2020 |
€3.0m |
€2.55m |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
|
2020* Additional |
€1.1m |
€1.1m |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
|
2021 |
€3.0m |
€2.53m |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
|
2022 |
€2.7m |
€2.25m |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
|
2023 |
€2.7m |
€2.25m |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
|
2024 |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
*On Budget Day an additional stimulus package in the form of an ICT Investment Capital Grant 2020 was announced to mitigate the impact of Covid-19 and an €1.1m funding package was provided on a once-off basis to the youth sector ICT infrastructure and the funding provided was to support improvement to ICT infrastructure in youth services to improve the provision of online youth services to young people during the duration of the pandemic.
602. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide the total current funding allocation for youth work within each budget per year from 2009 to 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10823/24]
View answerMy Department was established in 2011 and I am happy to supply the Deputy with information relating to the period 2011 to 2024.
The annual current funding allocation provided for youth organisations and services under the sectoral programme for children and young people within subhead B06-Youth Organisations and Services (part funded by the national lottery) is set out in the table below.
|
Year |
Funding Allocation |
|
2011 |
€60.20m |
|
2012 |
€56.80m |
|
2013 |
€51.70m |
|
2014 |
€49.80m |
|
2015 |
€49.90m |
|
2016 |
€51.90m |
|
2017 |
€57.40m |
|
2018 |
€58.90m |
|
2019 |
€60.40m |
|
2020 |
€61.80m |
|
2021 |
€66.80m |
|
2022 |
€71.80m |
|
2023 |
€72.95m |
|
2024 |
€77.95m |
603. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the details of the €1 million allocated to the youth employability scheme in Budget 2024, such as when this funding will be available to services; how it will be allocated; what the review process of the pilot will entail ahead of Budget 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10824/24]
View answerI was very pleased to secure an additional €1 million in the Budget to support the Targeted Youth Employability Support Initiative (TYESI) in 2024.
The aim of this important scheme is to engage and support harder to reach young people, aged from 15 to 24 years, who are not in employment, education, or training. The focused interventions are intended to provide community-based support to assist young people to attain a level of confidence and agency to engage in a wide range of currently available progression routes into education or employment including return to education through Youthreach, or entering the workforce through Community Employment Schemes and apprenticeships.
The TYESI was first run as a pilot project in 2021. The pilot has been evaluated, and the findings have been incorporated into the new TYESI scheme. The evaluation found that a key value of the TYESI is that is delivered by youth workers in the young people’s community. Local youth workers can develop community linkages and interagency linkages, to provide tailor-made supports to assist each young person in developing their employability skills.
The TYESI is administered at the local level by the sixteen Education and Training Boards. My officials issued the application forms and guidance notes for the Initiative to the ETBs on 9 February. The ETBs are currently advertising the initiative and will manage the application process in their functional areas. I will be announcing the successful applicants before the summer.
604. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide the total allocation to each youth work funding scheme per year for the years 2014 to 2024, or from when the funding scheme was introduced if later than 2014, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10825/24]
View answerThe annual breakdown of the current funding allocation per budget line provided by the Department for youth organisations and services under the sectoral programme for children and young people within subhead B06-Youth Organisations and Services (part funded by the national lottery) is set out in the tables at the below link for 2014 to 2024.
605. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 312 of 15 February 2024, the estimated cost of conducting a scoping exercise and workforce development plan for the youth work sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10826/24]
View answerYouth workers and volunteers are central to the delivery of youth services to young people. The relationships which young people develop with their youth workers or volunteer leaders can be transformative to a young person's life.
I have committed to developing a workforce development plan for the youth sector, to support the recruitment and retention of staff and volunteers in the sector. My officials are currently carrying out preparatory work on the development of the plan, and will be carrying out consultation with stakeholders, including youth workers and volunteers, youth organisations, young people and providers of youth work training.
It is not possible at this stage to to accurately estimate the cost of a scoping exercise for the workforce development plan, or the cost of implementation of such a plan. The first phase of this exercise will, as indicated, be undertaken by my own officials, within existing resources.
606. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for a progress report on the review of youth information centres; when this review will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10827/24]
View answerMy Department provides funding to 21 Youth Information Centres (YICs) nationally. Their purpose is to provide young people with information on rights, opportunities, benefits, health, welfare and other matters.
My Department has contracted independent research into the role, benefits, and best practice of state-funded youth information provision. This research will address a set of key information and data gaps and provide the Department with an evidence-base that will inform policy development on the future of youth information in Ireland. The research report is due for completion in the coming weeks.
607. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if the home care hours committed to by the HSE in the case of a person (details supplied) will be delivered now in full; if a commode will be provided as promised by the HSE 80 days ago; if the cost of a hospital bed will be refunded to the patient as the bed had to be purchased, such was the delay in delivery by the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10554/24]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE recently ended the industrial action which commenced on 6 October 2023. As a consequence, members in these grades were not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result of the accumulated backlog, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
608. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on a waiting list for homecare packages, by CHO and LHO, in tabular form; and the number of persons experiencing delayed discharge from hospital due to a delay in accessing homecare. [10759/24]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE recently ended the industrial action which commenced on 6 October 2023. As a consequence, members in these grades were not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result of the accumulated backlog, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
609. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding the government levy on all private health insurance policies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10845/24]
View answerIreland has a community rated health insurance market. This is supported by the mechanism of the Risk Equalisation Scheme. Under the Risk Equalisation Scheme, funds are redistributed in the form of credits to compensate insurers for the additional cost of insuring older and sicker members. The credits are funded by stamp duty.
Section 125A of the Stamp Duties Consolidation Act 1999 provides for an annual levy on health insurers for each health insurance policy issued. There are 4 stamp duties based on age (child or adult) and type of product (advanced and non-advanced). The stamp duty is collected by Revenue and paid into the Risk Equalisation Fund, which is operated by the Health Insurance Authority. The Authority pays out credits to health insurers to compensate for the additional cost of insuring older and sicker members.
When formulating its report on Risk Equalisation Credits, and the stamp duty required to fund them, the Health Insurance Authority aims to strike a balance between keeping health insurance affordable for older, sicker consumers and maintaining the sustainability of the market by keeping younger, healthier consumers in it. The Health Insurance (Amendment) Act 2023 reduced the stamp duty levy:
• from €36 to €35 for non-advanced products for 17 years and under (decrease of €1);
• from €146 to €140 for advanced products for 17 years and under (decrease of €6);
• from €109 to €105 for non-advanced products for 18 years and older (decrease of €4); and
• from €438 to €420 for advanced products for 18 years and older (decrease of €18).
The rates approved use an anticipated surplus of €25m in the Risk Equalisation Fund to reduce the level of stamp duty which would otherwise be payable.
610. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health for an update on a fair deal application (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9934/24]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE recently ended the industrial action which commenced on 6 October 2023. As a consequence, members in these grades were not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result of the accumulated backlog, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
611. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health to respond to follow up concerns in respect of mastectomy supports (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9935/24]
View answer616. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health if a matter in relation to post-mastectomy products will be addressed (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9958/24]
View answer617. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health to provide an update from the HSE on the proposed cuts to allowances for post-mastectomy products for survivors of breast cancer; and what measures he will take to support those financially impacted by these proposed cuts. [9965/24]
View answer757. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health to comment on funding and availability of the post mastectomy grant; if this funding is to be reduced, the reasoning behind this; if this will be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10678/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 611, 616, 617 and 757 together.
The Health Service Executive (HSE) provide an extensive range of aids and appliances to individuals living with a wide variety of different medical conditions. These support individuals to continue living within their communities and to enjoy a greater quality of life than would otherwise be the case. The Community Funded Schemes (CFS) is the collective name for the provision of these products and services.
The Community Funded Scheme service improvement programme recently published two new national procedures for the provision of an allowance for cancer treatment in respect of hair loss and post mastectomy products. The HSE advise that the intention of the new procedures was to standardize provision across the country.
I instructed the HSE to ensure that no patient, either currently availing of the scheme or accessing it in the future, should be at any financial loss as a result of the proposed changes.
The HSE has since communicated to each CHO advising them to revert to the pre-existing level of contributions to patients in respect of hair loss and post mastectomy products until such time as the new procedures can be reviewed in terms of the proposed allowances to be provided. CHOs were also instructed to contact any member of the public who received an email/communication advising them of the new procedure to inform them it has been withdrawn. This communication also reiterated that no person should be disadvantaged in any way in the intervening period.
I want to reiterate that progressing Women's Health is a priority within the Programme for Government, and a top priority for me as Minister for Health. I am proud to have overseen unprecedented levels of funding in women's health services over the last few years. I want to ensure that the necessary supports are put in place so that every woman has the same level of access to appropriate healthcare no matter where they live in Ireland.
612. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the expected date of opening for the new primary care centre on the Boot Road in Clondalkin. [9942/24]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive (HSE) holds responsibility for the provision, along with the maintenance and operation of Primary Care Centres, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
613. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if the HSE will advertise job positions in the new primary care centre on the Boot Road in Clondalkin. [9943/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
614. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health to confirm how a person who is correctly registered with PHECC, and holds the correct qualifications required to become employed as a paramedic within the Irish National Ambulance Service could have been rejected following four separate applications (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9944/24]
View answerThank you Deputy for your email in respect of recruitment matters in the HSE.
The role of the Minister for Health is primarily to deal with legislation, policy, overall budgetary allocation, and corporate governance. The HSE is a separate entity to the Department of Health and as such, the HSE has responsibility for matters relating to the staff within their employ or staff going through the process of recruitment with the HSE's National Recruitment Service.
Apologies that I cannot assist in this regard.
