Written Answers Nos. 563-580
563. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if consideration will be given to adjusting the deadline for the national sheep welfare scheme actions to be completed, given concerns from sheep farmers and representatives organisations about the current October deadline and proposal to change to deadline to mid-November; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16713/24]
View answerThe National Sheep Welfare Scheme opened for applications on 8 April 2024 and remains open until 23.59 on 21 May 2024 before a further 25 day late application period, albeit with late penalties. This €15 million sheep scheme will pay €8 per breeding ewe and will be addition to payments farmers may be eligible for under the Sheep Improvement Scheme where they are participating in that scheme also.
The National Sheep Welfare Scheme was designed in consultation with the farming organisations and the completion date for actions in the scheme of 15 October 2024 was included to facilitate payments under the scheme by my Department in mid November 2024. However in light of the concerns raised, my Department will implement a process to allow participants in the National Sheep Welfare Scheme opt for a later completion date of the actions to 25 November 2024, once my Department is informed of same by 15 September 2024. However, participants who opt for the later completion date will not see their payments made before end of December/early January 2025.
564. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16744/24]
View answerI am very aware of the challenges facing inshore fishers at the moment. I met with representatives of the sector on the 28th November 2023 and will be meeting them again in the coming weeks. Officials from my Department, along with BIM officials are also regularly in contact with representatives of the sector.
A range of supports have been put in place for the inshore fleet over recent years, in the context of the implementation of the ‘Strategy for the Inshore Fisheries Sector 2019-2023’, the Covid-19 pandemic and Brexit.
In the period from 2019 to 2023 schemes funded under the Brexit Adjustment Reserve (BAR) and under the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) (2014 – 2020) were implemented for the fishing fleet, including schemes specifically for the inshore fleet.
Under the Brexit Adjustment Reserve (BAR), the Brexit Inshore Fisheries Business Model Adjustment Scheme provided €5.1 million in funding to vessels under 18 metres in length in 2022 and 2023. Funding was also available to inshore fishers to support economic diversification under the Brexit Blue Economy Enterprise Development Scheme, which funded a wide range of projects in coastal areas to a total value of €13.4 million. In addition, under the Brexit Local Authority Marine Infrastructure Scheme significant investment was provided to local authorities to upgrade local authority maintained piers and harbours, which is infrastructure relied on by many in the inshore fleet. To date approximately €38 million has been spent on 149 projects approved under this scheme. BAR funding of €1 million was also made available to Bord Bia for Inshore Marketing Schemes to promote sales of stocks of particular interest to the inshore fleet.
Under the EMFF (2014-2020), funding of €3.1 million was paid by BIM to inshore vessels under both the Inshore Fisheries Conservation Scheme (supporting conservation measures for inshore stocks), and the Lobster V-notching Scheme (which was put in place to improve the sustainability of Ireland’s lobster fishery)
My Department is now working with BIM to develop and implement funding supports for inshore fishers under the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) programme (2021 – 2027). The EMFAF is the primary source of financial supports for the seafood sector, with a budget allocation of €258 million over the programme period. The funding schemes we implement under EMFAF must align with the objectives of the EMFAF Regulation, which in turn are aligned with the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). The CFP does not make provision for income supports to fishers, as such there is no provision in the EMFAF Regulation for any such supports to be funded under the EMFAF programme. Currently there is no mechanism under the EMFAF to allow the payment of aid in respect of financial hardship caused by weather conditions, energy costs or market failures.
My Department and BIM will be engaging with the inshore sector to progress the development of a new Strategy for Inshore Fisheries in the coming months, which will include consideration of the challenges facing the fleet and measures to mitigate these challenges.
Fishers who are experiencing financial hardship may access income supports provided by the Department of Social Protection by contacting their local Intreo Centre. I have written to my colleague Minister Heather Humphreys, Minister for Social Protection, to make her aware of the concerns being raised by the inshore fishers.
565. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of organisations in Donegal that have been awarded funding from the Children's Disability Grant, which have received funding; the amount received; the organisations that have yet to be awarded funding; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16046/24]
View answerAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible. The Deputy will likely be aware that the industrial action by certain Fórsa grades in the HSE has been suspended. The HSE has indicated that they have recommenced issuing replies to questions but there is a significant backlog of PQs and Reps to be responded to and has advised that they are working to get through these as soon as possible while at the same time managing the volume of current PQs and Reps.
566. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the details of any analysis carried out by his Department regarding the adequacy of the current lower age limit for school leaver referrals for HSE funded adult day services, which can only be made once the student turns 16 years; his plans to reduce the lower age limit to 13 years to allow for a longer planning period for the transition of services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16174/24]
View answerAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible. The Deputy will likely be aware that the industrial action by certain Fórsa grades in the HSE has been suspended. The HSE has indicated that they have recommenced issuing replies to questions but there is a significant backlog of PQs and Reps to be responded to and has advised that they are working to get through these as soon as possible while at the same time managing the volume of current PQs and Reps.
567. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a child (details supplied) can be left under the multidisciplinary team in Summerhill which is close to their home rather than being taken off this process. [16188/24]
View answerAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible. The Deputy will likely be aware that the industrial action by certain Fórsa grades in the HSE has been suspended. The HSE has indicated that they have recommenced issuing replies to questions but there is a significant backlog of PQs and Reps to be responded to and has advised that they are working to get through these as soon as possible while at the same time managing the volume of current PQs and Reps.
568. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason a person in Waterford (details supplied) is finding it impossible to access a vital service here; if he agrees that it is the responsibility of his Department to provide such services; if he will now instruct his Department to devise a plan of care where the person's needs are taken care of as swiftly as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16262/24]
View answerAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible. The Deputy will likely be aware that the industrial action by certain Fórsa grades in the HSE has been suspended. The HSE has indicated that they have recommenced issuing replies to questions but there is a significant backlog of PQs and Reps to be responded to and has advised that they are working to get through these as soon as possible while at the same time managing the volume of current PQs and Reps.
569. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the reimbursement scheme for people who paid for an assessment of needs privately will come into effect; if he will confirm that a person (details supplied) will be reimbursed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16318/24]
View answerAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible. The Deputy will likely be aware that the industrial action by certain Fórsa grades in the HSE has been suspended. The HSE has indicated that they have recommenced issuing replies to questions but there is a significant backlog of PQs and Reps to be responded to and has advised that they are working to get through these as soon as possible while at the same time managing the volume of current PQs and Reps.
570. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there is a child psychologist vacancy in an area intervention team (details supplied). [16437/24]
View answer601. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of staff that are working in the speech and language therapy in the HSE in Springfield, Mullingar; the number of vacancies that currently exist in that service; the number of people waiting to access that service; and his plans to address this concern. [16529/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 570 and 601 together.
As this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible. The Deputy will likely be aware that the industrial action by certain Fórsa grades in the HSE has been suspended. The HSE has indicated that they have recommenced issuing replies to questions but there is a significant backlog of PQs and Reps to be responded to and has advised that they are working to get through these as soon as possible while at the same time managing the volume of current PQs and Reps.
571. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the children's disability grant will be provided to successful applications in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16589/24]
View answerAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible. The Deputy will likely be aware that the industrial action by certain Fórsa grades in the HSE has been suspended. The HSE has indicated that they have recommenced issuing replies to questions but there is a significant backlog of PQs and Reps to be responded to and has advised that they are working to get through these as soon as possible while at the same time managing the volume of current PQs and Reps.
572. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to reimburse private autism and neurodiversity assessments, where it was acquired due to a lack of availability in the HSE. [16680/24]
View answerAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible. The Deputy will likely be aware that the industrial action by certain Fórsa grades in the HSE has been suspended. The HSE has indicated that they have recommenced issuing replies to questions but there is a significant backlog of PQs and Reps to be responded to and has advised that they are working to get through these as soon as possible while at the same time managing the volume of current PQs and Reps.
573. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if an assessment of need can be urgently facilitated in the case of the son of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16028/24]
View answerAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible. The Deputy will likely be aware that the industrial action by certain Fórsa grades in the HSE has been suspended. The HSE has indicated that they have recommenced issuing replies to questions but there is a significant backlog of PQs and Reps to be responded to and has advised that they are working to get through these as soon as possible while at the same time managing the volume of current PQs and Reps.
574. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the annual cost to the Exchequer of the means-tested national childcare scheme; the numbers accessing the scheme and the average subsidy per recipient each year since 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16038/24]
View answerThe National Childcare Scheme (NCS) is a subsidy provided to help parents to meet the cost of childcare and allow children to access Early Learning and School Age Childcare. The subsidy is progressive and depends on a number of factors including the age of the child, the income of the household and the number of children in the family. Those with the lowest incomes receive the highest subsidies. The subsidy is subtracted from the fee and the balance (if the fee is not entirely offset) is then charged to the parents. These subsidies can be as much as €229.50 per week.
I understand that the Deputy has specified that she is seeking data in relation to the income assessed awards under the National Childcare Scheme. The table below shows the number of unique children with at least one successful claim (i.e., eligible for payment), the total value of successful claims and the average value of successful claims per child in each year since 2020.
|
Calendar Year |
No. unique children with successful claim in year |
Total value of successful claims in year |
Average value of successful claims in year per child |
Average hourly subsidy |
|
2020 |
33,145 |
€43,454,243.96 |
€1,311.03 |
€2.88 |
|
2021 |
52,925 |
€113,036,184.30 |
€2,135.78 |
€2.97 |
|
2022 |
70,446 |
€158,306,753.66 |
€2,247.21 |
€3.00 |
|
2023 |
81,448 |
€203,325,070.02 |
€2,496.38 |
€3.28 |
|
2024 |
62,745 |
€57,147,440.53 |
€910.79 |
€3.25 |
The figures presented above refer to successful claims under income assessed applications from each period with reckonable income of up to €60,000. For this query, the value of successful claims was used as an indicator of cost of the NCS in each year rather than the total value paid to providers in each year. This was due to two main reasons. Firstly, not all claims from a given year will be paid for in that same year. Secondly, many factors affect the value of each payment to providers, therefore the value cannot be linked back to specific children. For these reasons, the value of successful claims is the most accurate metric for the cost of the NCS relating to a specific period of time, and for the average cost of the Scheme per child.
A successful claim is a weekly claim that has become eligible for payment following submission of attendance returns by the service provider and parental confirmation (where applicable).The yearly breakdown is based on the start date of each weekly claim. The 2024 figures relate to successful claims for weeks up to 14th April that have become eligible for payment by the same date. The total number of children, the total value of claims and the average value claimed in the year per child will increase as the year progresses.
It is important to note that the hourly subsidy awarded to each family under the income-assessed scheme varies depending upon a number of factors including the age and number of their children, and their household's reckonable income. This award can then be used to off-set the cost of up to 45 hours of care a week, but the number of hours used is a matter for the individual family and their provider. This variability in family claims should be borne in mind when considering the figures above.
575. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the corresponding saving to the Exchequer through the means-tested national childcare subsidy for every 1% decrease in the average fees using the universal national childcare scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16039/24]
View answerThe Deputy has requested the savings to the Exchequer through reducing the average fees using the National Childcare Scheme (NCS). It should be noted that the NCS reduces out of pocket costs, rather than reduces fees, at a cost of the Exchequer.
My Department does not hold individualised fee data for parents as these are local agreements between parents and providers; instead a reduction in the average out of pocket cost to parents is examined using data from Pobal on average weekly fees across the country.
To achieve the desired reductions in out of pocket costs, increases in the NCS minimum (universal) subsidy were used. Assuming a 45-hour week for all children, a new hourly minimum (universal) subsidy of €1.43 was derived to effect a 1% reduction in out of pocket costs.
The ESRI SWITCH model was used to estimate the cost of this increase to the minimum (universal) subsidy, the estimate from SWITCH was then applied to the Department's baseline cost of the NCS for 2024. Using this method, the cost of this change was estimated at €4.13 million.
As fees can vary from service to service and depending on parent’s usage, impact estimates must be made as an average of the overall parental financial contribution to fees for their early learning and childcare.
The impact of this change will also vary based on the income level of the applicant. Parents on the maximum subsidies under the income assessed subsidy, that is those on annual income of €26,000 and below will see no change in their fee, as they are already in receipt of the highest available subsidy. For remaining parents, with income above €26,000 under the income assessed subsidy, reductions in fees will vary according to income levels, with those currently in receipt of the lowest subsidies benefiting the most.
This estimate comes with some important caveats. Firstly, the above costing is based on the NCS as it operates currently and the subsidy rates as time of this PQ being asked. As part of Budget 2024 I announced an increase to the NCS universal subsidy from €1.40 per hour to €2.14 and an increase in the NCS sponsorship rate for children over 1 to €5.30 per hour from September 2024. As these are not yet implemented, the impact of these changes have not been factored into the above costing.
Finally, the costing is made on the basis of a static system; that is, the model assumes that the level of usage of eligible early learning and childcare remains static. Any changes to subsidies may create a change in behaviours in families, for example, women returning to workforce and using formal early learning and childcare for the first time.
576. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on the appointment and payment of a safeguarding officer in an organisation (details supplied); his plans to create a similar mechanism for other, similar organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16045/24]
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.
The recommendations of the Shannon report are a matter for SJAI to implement and my Department has no role in the implementation of these recommendations. I am clear however, that all recommendations in the Shannon report should be complied with as soon as practicable by SJAI.
Given the need to protect positive work of SJAI and its child volunteers, I am open to providing initial assistance to ensure the recommendations can be complied with in a timely manner. My Department is working to provide initial temporary funding to St John Ambulance to allow this important work, which has been delayed by financial resources issues within St John Ambulance, to commence as soon as possible.
Officials from my Department continue to liaise with SJAI around the progress of implementation of each of the recommendations made by Dr Shannon in his Independent Review.
The implementation of safeguarding measures for other similar organisations are a matter for these organisations themselves and they must comply with the relevant statutory obligations such as Children First.
577. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 271 of 21 March 2024, the underlying underspend of core funding in 2022, and 2023, respectively that remained unspent; what proportion of this underspend was applicable for uplifting wages in the sector; the number of childcare providers that accessed core funding in each of those years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16076/24]
View answerCore Funding, which began in September 2022, is the new funding stream to start a partnership for the public good between the State and providers. Its primary purpose is to improve pay and conditions in the sector as a whole and improve affordability for parents as well as ensuring a stable income to providers.
In 2022, €68.7m was initially secured for Core Funding. Following the revised estimates process in October 2022, €84m was ultimately made available for Core Funding (including Interim Funding) in 2022. There was no underspend in 2022 with an outturn figure of €84.037m.
In 2023, €265.886m was secured for Core Funding. There was a Supplementary Estimate in 2023 at which time the Core Funding REV allocation was revised. Therefore, €257.767m was ultimately made available for Core Funding in 2023. The 2023 outturn figure will be published when the Appropriation Accounts for the Vote are published at end September 2024.
The lower than expected outturn for the Core Funding Grant scheme was a result of a delay in removal of the 3 years’ experience rule linked to the graduate premiums for Core Funding, a change which must be reflected in EROs before the funding is released, a lower than expected uptake in the initial months of Year 2 and a revised payments calendar resulting in expenditure alternatively profiled and captured in 2024.
€160m of the €259m allocation for the 2022/2023 programme year went towards supporting improved pay rates across different categories of staff.
There was also an additional €47m available for graduate premiums, bringing the total funding amount allocated of core funding provided in Budget 2022, specifically towards staff pay, to €207 million for the first year of the scheme.
The majority of Core Funding is distributed to services via the base rate, based on a service's capacity, the opening hours, opening weeks and the age group of children for whom services are provided as well as number of places available.
The base rates in Core Funding have been developed using the various components associated with the cost of delivery of service provision such as; staff pay and conditions, including contact and non-contact time, holiday pay, sick pay and other employer costs; administrative staff/time and non-staff overhead costs.
Although, the cost of delivery components have been used to derive the base rates the eligible areas of expenditure of the Core Funding grant are much broader. Services can choose how to spend their Core Funding grant in accordance with the approved areas of expenditure outlines in the Funding Agreement.
I am committed to increasing State funding for ELC and SAC as part of a multi-annual budget process and continuing to work with Partner Services delivering early learning and childcare for the public good.
Please see table below outlining the number of providers that accessed Core Funding in 2022 and 2023.
Please note, 2 programme years* occurred in 2023 and the table outlines the number of unique services who received Core Funding during the relevant period, with the two programme years presented separately.
*The first programme year of Core Funding was in operation between 15th September 2022 to 31st August 2023. Year 2 of the scheme began on 1st September 2023.
|
Period |
Number of services accessing Core Funding |
|
2022 |
|
|
15/09/2022 to 31/12/2022 (Programme Year 1) |
4,154 |
|
2023 |
|
|
01/01/2023 to 31/08/2023 (Programme Year 1) |
4,283 |
|
01/09/2023 to 31/12/2023 (Programme Year 2) |
4,335 |
578. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to confirm that in September 2024 his Department plans to introduce a further 25% reduction in average childcare fees, and that this will result in a 43.75% reduction of fees on 2022 levels, on average; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16109/24]
View answerAs announced as part of Budget 2024, from September 2024 the universal subsidy provided through the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) will be increased from €1.40 to €2.14 per child per hour. This change follows on from a previous increase to the NCS universal subsidy from €0.50 to €1.40. The upcoming increase to €2.14 will reduce out of pocket childcare costs by 50% overall when compared to 2022 levels. It should be noted that this reduction is a result of cumulative changes and is based on calculations made during Budget time.
The fee freeze in place in 94% of services participating in the Core Funding Scheme which has been in operation since 2022 ensures that these enhancements to the NCS subsidies will not absorbed by fee increases.
579. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the additional respite care services that will be delivered in County Monaghan in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16127/24]
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.
580. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he received a request from the Minister for Finance to meet with an organisation (details supplied) in relation to a facility in Cork city; if he has agreed to this meeting and if so, when it will take place. [16153/24]
View answerMinister McGrath and his staff have engaged directly with myself and my staff a number of times in relation to this service. I am happy to engage with all Deputies in the constituency in relation to same.
I have also received details of a capital funding requirement to reopen this service in September.
As the funding required is not all directly linked to the provision of early learning and childcare, my Department has, through the local CCC and Pobal who are engaging directly with the service, sought further details, including a breakdown of the capital funding requirement. Options to support the service are being examined.
