Written Answers Nos. 326-335
326. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason funding is not being provided to the HSE for a supported living package of care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11399/24]
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.
327. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the amount of prompt payment interest and compensation paid by his Department for the years 2023 and to date in 2024; and if he will include a schedule of the top 50 highest late interest payments and compensation recipients for this timeframe. [11406/24]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, Government Departments undertake to pay their suppliers within 15 days of receipt of a valid invoice. Prompt Payment Interest (PPI) and compensation is levied on all valid invoices paid after 30 days.
The provision of short-term accommodation to extremely high numbers of Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection in 2022 and 2023 resulted in a large increase in the number of supplier contracts to be managed and associated payments to be processed by the Department. Despite the allocation of significant additional staff to this task there were delays in the payment of invoices to accommodation providers.
|
Year |
PPI and Compensation Paid |
|
2023 |
€3,286,170.15 |
|
2024 - Jan |
€81,409.63 |
|
2024- Feb |
€7,357.75 |
The Department is committed to paying its suppliers promptly and to this end a business process optimisation exercise was undertaken in 2023 to analyse the payments process, provide recommendations to address a backlog of payments to providers, and develop a system to streamline the payments process. This system is now live and the onboarding of accommodation providers is underway. The reduction of PPI can be seen in the January and February 2024 figures and March 2024 is expected to be lower again.
A schedule of the top 50 highest late interest payments and compensation recipients for this timeframe is included below.
|
Payee Name |
PPI & Compensation Paid |
Date Paid |
|
BRIMWOOD LIMITED |
€42,896.71 |
09/03/2023 |
|
Word Perfect Translation Services |
€28,212.95 |
02/11/2023 |
|
CORDUFF JG ENTERPRISES LIMITED |
€23,967.49 |
15/03/2023 |
|
KNOCKNAGEE LTD |
€22,409.39 |
06/07/2023 |
|
BRIMWOOD LIMITED |
€21,104.93 |
09/03/2023 |
|
ROSSBLUE MANAGEMENT LIMITED |
€21,028.48 |
20/04/2023 |
|
LEITRIM COURTESY LTD TA THE |
€18,993.70 |
23/03/2023 |
|
PEACHPORT LTD |
€18,988.19 |
30/03/2023 |
|
M AND C PROPERTY |
€17,021.48 |
07/11/2023 |
|
KILKEE TOWNHOUSE LIMITED |
€16,217.76 |
25/09/2023 |
|
OAKGATE LIMITED |
€15,329.40 |
24/02/2023 |
|
TRAVELODGE HOTELS |
€14,922.11 |
28/12/2023 |
|
DROMBOY LIMITED |
€14,906.53 |
03/07/2023 |
|
LEITRIM COURTESY LTD TA THE |
€14,533.47 |
08/06/2023 |
|
PEACHPORT LTD |
€14,392.85 |
05/07/2023 |
|
BENTON REAL ESTATE |
€14,089.86 |
23/03/2023 |
|
M AND C PROPERTY |
€14,068.96 |
07/11/2023 |
|
MCENIFFS BUNDORAN LTD |
€13,917.94 |
11/05/2023 |
|
MULTIBRANDS IRELAND LIMITED |
€13,917.02 |
15/03/2023 |
|
MULTIBRANDS IRELAND LIMITED |
€13,838.93 |
20/04/2023 |
|
HERONWELL LIMITED |
€13,725.09 |
05/07/2023 |
|
PEACHPORT LTD |
€13,721.19 |
05/07/2023 |
|
PEACHPORT LTD |
€13,410.13 |
05/07/2023 |
|
WESTPOND LODGES AND HOTEL LTD |
€12,923.09 |
08/09/2023 |
|
ROSSCORP LIMITED TA ROSVILLE |
€12,421.91 |
04/04/2023 |
|
DONEGAL WILD ATLANTIC HOSTEL |
€12,418.60 |
02/08/2023 |
|
ROSSCORP LIMITED TA ROSVILLE |
€12,061.40 |
13/04/2023 |
|
MOUNT FALCON HOTEL COMPANY LTD |
€12,056.44 |
30/11/2023 |
|
MCENIFFS BUNDORAN LTD |
€11,973.01 |
20/11/2023 |
|
PEACHPORT LTD |
€11,907.96 |
30/03/2023 |
|
OAKGATE LIMITED |
€11,818.52 |
24/02/2023 |
|
ROSSBLUE MANAGEMENT LIMITED |
€11,186.42 |
20/04/2023 |
|
CROMEY LIMITED |
€10,859.19 |
05/07/2023 |
|
BRIMWOOD LIMITED |
€10,797.97 |
20/04/2023 |
|
TIMBERTOES UNLIMITED COMPANY |
€10,683.95 |
25/05/2023 |
|
HOSTEL ACCOMMODATION |
€10,610.03 |
08/09/2023 |
|
KNOCKNAGEE LTD |
€10,178.22 |
03/07/2023 |
|
TOWNBE LTD |
€10,005.20 |
09/02/2023 |
|
DROMBOY LIMITED |
€9,843.82 |
19/01/2023 |
|
THE BUSH HOTEL |
€9,703.44 |
31/10/2023 |
|
WILD WAY HOTELS LIMITED |
€9,395.27 |
30/03/2023 |
|
SLIDEVILLE LIMITED |
€9,379.60 |
15/03/2023 |
|
FAYBROOK LIMITED |
€9,367.45 |
02/03/2023 |
|
TIFCO LTD |
€9,327.19 |
29/06/2023 |
|
TIFCO LTD |
€9,280.29 |
04/01/2024 |
|
LONGFIELD VENTURES LIMITED |
€9,232.18 |
13/04/2023 |
|
HOTEL WESTPORT UNLIMITED |
€9,110.02 |
25/05/2023 |
|
NERA ACCOMMODATION LIMITED |
€8,941.87 |
04/01/2024 |
|
DOM ST PROPERTIES GALWAY |
€8,871.04 |
02/03/2023 |
|
WINDWARD MANAGEMENT LIMITED |
€8,870.83 |
02/03/2023 |
328. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department will accept a child (details supplied) for the ECCE overage exemption for September 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11422/24]
View answerThe ECCE programme is available to all children within the eligible age range. The child referred to was eligible for ECCE in September 2022 and for a second year in September 2023.
The upper age limit of 5 years and 6 months for ECCE was set in consultation with the Department of Education and ensures that children transition into primary school with their peers.
In a limited number of circumstances an over age exemption can be given to enable children with additional needs to remain in ECCE past this age limit. Current policy requires that any request for an exemption from ECCE eligibility must be supported by a letter from a medical specialist / Social Worker (not a GP/PHN) specifically recommending why an ECCE service would meet the child’s specific needs in a more appropriate way than a primary school.
My Department has received an application for an overage exemption for the child in question and is engaging with the parents on matters arising in the course of assessing and determining the application.
In making determinations on applications for over age exemptions, my Department is guided by a review of the over-age exemption process, which was carried out in 2018 by the National Disability Authority (NDA) for this Department and the Department of Education.
In their published report, the NDA concluded that it is in the best interest of children with additional needs to transition to primary school with their age cohort, rather than being held back with children of a younger age. The report also sought to ensure that schools offer all the assistance necessary to meet the child's needs, with the assistance of the National Council for Special Education (NCSE).
329. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of private creches/playschools that have pulled out of the Government funding schemes and are now charging parents vastly increased sums for childcare. [11429/24]
View answerWhile my Department cannot mandate providers to participate in schemes , every effort has been made to carefully design Core Funding to meet the policy objectives including to achieve high levels of participation by providers.
Officials from my Department engage extensively with provider representatives and providers of all types, via various specific consultation activities and through various fora, including through the Early Learning and Childcare Stakeholder Forum throughout the year regarding the continuous development of the Core Funding Scheme.
95% of providers participated in year 1 of the scheme and to date, 94% or over 4,300 providers have signed up for Core Funding Year 2, with applications still open. 98% of all not for profit services and 93% of all for profit services have signed up to Core Funding programme year 2.
There are more providers in absolute terms contracted to the Scheme this year, compared to programme year 1. Applications are still open for this programme year, and numbers continuing to grow.
According to recent data provided by Pobal, in their role as scheme administrator, 16 services/providers withdrew in total from Core Funding, however, 12 of these services with activated contracts for Core Funding 2023/2024 withdrew before the start of the programme, therefore only 4 services have withdrawn during the programme year to date.
In year 1 of the Scheme, some €259 million was allocated to the scheme. The allocation for Core Funding increased by 11% to reach €287 million for year 2 of the Scheme. That allocation will increase again in September, by 15% for the third year of the scheme – to €331 million providing a platform increased investment in all services.
It is a matter for providers to decide whether they wish to withdraw from the Core Funding scheme, the significant financial supports it provides to providers and the certainty it provides to parents through the associated fee freeze. However, I am confident that given the level of investment and associated supports, services should not need to take this step.
While a provider may withdraw from Core Funding, they remain eligible in this programme year to provide the National Childcare Scheme (NCS), the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme and the Community Childcare Subvention Plus (CCSP) Saver programme.
Supports are available from my Department where a service is experiencing financial difficulty or has concerns about their viability, accessed through local City or County Childcare Committees (CCC).
I encourage services to avail of these supports as an alternative to withdrawing from Core Funding and removing the benefits of this Scheme to parents.
330. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if she will provide an update on the accommodation project for a school (details supplied); the current status of the project; when it is expected to proceed to construction; the reason a decision has not yet conveyed to the school authority to process to the procurement and construction phases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11430/24]
View answerThis is a matter for my cabinet colleague, the Minister for Education.
331. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there are plans in his Department to launch a public awareness campaign of the mother and baby redress scheme opening; if there is to be a time limit on the application period given the urgency of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11454/24]
View answerThe Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme will open for applications on 20 March.
A dedicated webpage is now live at www.gov.ie/paymentscheme, which contains information on how people will be able to apply to the Payment Scheme, and what information applicants will need. Once the Scheme opens, the Payment Scheme Office will process all applications as quickly as possible, with the first payments expected to be made in Quarter 2 of this year.
The Scheme runs for five years and will be promoted through a substantive public awareness campaign that will be delivered in Ireland and overseas. To this end, a recent stakeholder engagement process for the Payment Scheme has concluded with representatives reviewing some of the application and information materials for the Scheme.
From 20 March people will be able to apply online or by post, using a printed form. Support will be available for anyone who needs it, via a dedicated helpline, operated by the Payment Scheme Office. The Scheme will give priority to applications according to the age of the applicant, and so applications from older people will be prioritised.
332. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the action he is taking to provide appropriate accommodation for people who are seeking asylum who are currently living in rented accommodation outside the International Protection Office; what access to sanitation, food, clothing, etc. is being provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11472/24]
View answerAs at 4th March 2024, 1,159 single adult males are awaiting an offer of accommodation. While demand continues to outstrip supply, particularly for single male adults, the Department is ensuring that all single adult women, families and children have been accommodated.
The Department is continuing to work intensively to source further accommodation and to follow up with those International Protection (IP) applicants awaiting an offer of accommodation, and since January 2022 has brought over 200 properties into use to accommodate those who arrive in Ireland seeking international protection. The Department publishes figures relating to IP applicants awaiting an offer of accommodation twice weekly, on the gov.ie website.
All IP applicants who present to the International Protection Office (IPO) during this period are assessed by IPAS and HSE staff for significant vulnerabilities and health issues, and prioritised for accommodation as necessary.
All arriving IP applicants who are not provided with accommodation are provided with a temporary increase of €75 to their Expense Allowance. This increases the allowance from the current rate of €38.80 per week to €113.80 a week for all eligible applicants.
Drop-in day services are provided to all non-accommodated persons who wish to avail of them. In such centres, IPapplicants can access facilities including hot showers, meals and laundry services seven days a week. The Department has arrangements in place for the provision of these services with Mendicity, Capuchin Day Centre and Tiglin at the Lighthouse. The Department is in also in regular contact with the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive, the Dublin Simon Community, Streetlink Homeless Support Outreach service and others, particularly with regard identification of particularly vulnerable individuals.
In response to the recent cold weather, the Department provided temporary shelter for International Protection (IP) applicants who had been rough sleeping. This was done at a number of locations, some of which were night-time only. The arrangements were emergency in nature and ended on Sunday, 3rd March.
333. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth in relation to the Protecting Against Predators report by the Sexual Exploitation Research Programme, what action he has taken to address the highly concerning findings in the report; if an investigation by the Health Information and Quality Authority has been carried out on foot of this report; if other recommendations from the report have been implemented, or are in the process of being implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11474/24]
View answerMy Department and the Child and Family Agency (Tusla) continue to take the issue of potential Child Sexual Exploitation very seriously and are committed to promoting safe and high quality practice in all areas of Alternative Care, including working with An Garda Síochána as required. In this regard, my Department and Tusla have undertaken a range of actions in relation to potential child sexual exploitation, including the following:
• I engaged with the authors of the identified report, and my officials have engaged with Tusla, to ensure that any child protection concerns outlined in the report are being followed up, including in respect of any necessary reports to An Garda Síochána. Tusla has confirmed that its National Garda Liaison lead met with An Garda Síochána in relation to the issues raised in the study.
• Tusla has a statutory obligation to notify An Garda Síochana of all incidences of suspected child sexual exploitation, including those relating to children in the care of the State. An Garda Síochána lead the investigation into these notifications.
• In 2021 Tusla implemented its Child Sexual Exploitation Procedure in partnership with An Garda Síochána. The joint working protocol between Tusla and AGS forms a critical part of the response to child abuse, neglect, and child sexual exploitation. A Principal Social Worker from Tusla has been seconded to the Garda National Protective Service Bureau (GNPSB) for a number of years.
• All staff in residential centres for the care of children have undergone Children First training, which provides guidance for the protection and welfare of children.
• Prior to the publication of the report, my Department and Tusla established a Working Group looking at institutional and organisational abuse. My Department has requested that the Group consider the report and make recommendations as required, after which I will consider any further steps as may be necessary.
• The Group is in the process of commissioning independent research, jointly funded by my Department and Tusla, into the area of organisational and institutional abuse of children, including children placed in residential care settings. This research will review international literature and best international social work practice and child safeguarding responses in this area. It is intended that the commissioned research will also look at the findings, learnings and recommendations of seminal reports on abuse of children in residential care settings, such as the Rotherham report, and the Rochdale enquiry.
• The procurement process for this research was completed in January 2024 and, following a number of applications, an identified external researcher was appointed to commence the research in early February 2024.
I am not aware of HIQA undertaking any specific investigation on foot of this report. However, HIQA has a broad inspection function of Tusla services against the Child Protection and Welfare Standards (2012), which specifically reference actions to be taken on foot of suspected child sexual abuse.
Children in the care of the State are some of the most vulnerable individuals in our society. My Department continues to work closely with Tusla's senior management team on the safeguarding framework for all children in care, to ensure that it continues to be sufficiently robust to protect children from evolving risks.
334. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the progress to date in meeting the needs of a person (details supplied) who has ongoing special needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11482/24]
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.
335. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when speech and language therapy can be restored in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11484/24]
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.
