Written Answers Nos. 1178-1197
1178. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the details and number of applications received, and awards made, under the children’s disability service grant fund in 2024, by county, in tabular form. [46676/24]
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.
1179. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if an assessment of needs for a child (details supplied) will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46683/24]
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.
1180. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if speech therapy will be expedited for a child (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46700/24]
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.
1181. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if occupational therapy and psychology appointments for a child (details supplied) will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46715/24]
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.
1182. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the targeted measures that are in place in Westmeath and Longford to support foreign nationals who are facing difficulties accessing local services due to lack of local resources. [46732/24]
View answer1183. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps his Department is taking to encourage social and cultural exchange between locals and foreign nationals in Longford and Westmeath to reduce any potential social tensions or isolation. [46733/24]
View answer1184. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the measures his Department is taking to address the specific challenges foreign nationals face regarding language barriers in schools, workplaces and in the community as a whole in Longford and Westmeath. [46734/24]
View answer1185. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the measures being put in place to ensure that rural communities are supported and adaptable to demographic change, given the increasing diversity in rural areas. [46736/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1182, 1183, 1184 and 1185 together.
Ireland is becoming ever more diverse and ongoing efforts are required across Government to ensure that Ireland is an equitable and inclusive place for all. Work is underway to develop a new national strategy for migrant integration, which will address ongoing and emerging needs in supporting integration in Ireland. To inform this work, my Department conducted public and targeted consultations to gain insights into the migrant experience in Ireland and better understand the challenges, needs and opportunities for supporting integration in the future.
Local Authority Integration Teams (LAITs) have been developed as a central part of a new Local Integration Model in collaboration with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH), the County and City Management Association (CCMA) and the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA). LAITs have been established in each of the Local Authorities. These teams provide on-going support to international protection (IP) applicants, programme refugees, and Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) to better enable them to engage with existing services and ultimately to live independently in the community. The role also includes providing information, advice, and guidance to individuals and identifying gaps in supports or services.
Both the Longford and Westmeath Local Authority Integration Teams have been active in visiting accommodation centres, giving walk-in clinics, workshops, and one to one sessions aimed at supporting the integration of International Protection Applicants, Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection, and Programme Refugees. These clinics and sessions have covered how to access language, educational, and employment supports as well as information on accessing health, transport, and other essential services. The LAITs have also been working towards more effective oversight and coordination of integration supports and services for these cohorts in their local authority areas.
In 2023 and 2024, several funding programmes were made available in order to support integration in Ireland, including the National Integration Fund (NIF), Communities Integration Fund (CIF) and International Protection Integration Fund (IPIF). Funding has been provided to 12 projects targeting County Westmeath and 16 projects targeting County Longford totalling nearly €1.1 million. These projects have supported integration into the community; language, educational, and employment supports; and access to services.
1186. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the current provision of occupational therapy available in County Monaghan for, separately, adult and children disability services; the number of WTE occupational therapists (OTs) in employment; the current waiting list for OT appointments; the current vacancies in OT; the proposals to increase OT provision in this county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46752/24]
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.
1187. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the current provision of occupational therapy (OT) available in County Cavan for, separately, adult and children disability services; the number of WTE occupational therapists in employment; the current waiting list for OT appointments; the current vacancies in OT; the proposals to increase OT provision in this county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46753/24]
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.
1188. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to advise on a matter raised in correspondence (details supplied); if the organisation confirmed it has received funding for pay increases for workers under the public sector pay deal; if he can intervene to ensure that this is passed on to workers as intended; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46755/24]
View answerMy Department was involved in negotiations at the WRC in 2023, in relation to pay for workers of organisations funded by Tusla under Section 56 of the Child and Family Agency Act, 2013 (as amended).
In the course of these negotiations, an agreement was reached whereby such funded organisations would receive a funding increase, in three phases. The value of the increase was calculated off a base of 80% of the value of the grant those agencies were receiving under section 56 of the relevant Act.
The funding increase was intended to be used by these organisations, only to increase the pay of their staff members. Analysis by Tusla had shown that on average, these organisations have a cost base that is approximately 80% staff costs and 20% non-staff costs.
The intention of this agreed funding increase was for the employers to pass on a pay increase to their employees, where the salaries of the employees were below those of Tusla employees of equivalent or commensurate grades. As per the agreement with the union side, any eventual pay increase to a staff member was subject to a maximum of 8%. The agreement was not a blanket 8% pay increase. The funding agreed is not available to cover any previous increases that may have been implemented by the employing organisation.
Neither Tusla, nor my Department, are the employer for workers in organisations funded under Section 56. Where funding has been provided to the employer, it is a matter for the employer to ensure that their staff can avail of an appropriate increase to the pay they receive from their employer.
My Department is ensuring that Tusla is provided the agreed funding, and is continuing to work with Tusla to ensure that funding is disbursed, managed appropriately, and is made available to eligible employees in line with the terms of the agreement.
In that context I would ask the Deputy to note that I secured a supplementary estimate in 2023, following the agreement at the WRC, to ensure my Department could fund Tusla with the monies needed to honour the 2023 elements of the agreement made at the WRC. All of the funding was drawn down by Tusla before the end of 2023, and made available to organisations funded by Tusla under section 56.
1189. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on the need to hold a public inquiry into the circumstances of the tragic death of a 14-year-old girl on 6 December 2015; if he will provide confirmation that this inquiry will happen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46768/24]
View answerI would like to sympathise with the family of the young girl who lost her life so tragically. The events leading to the tragic death of this young girl have been the subject of court proceedings leading to a settlement by the youth organisation under whose watch they occurred. The organisation in question is a voluntary organisation governed by an independent Board. It receives some of its funding from DCEDIY and raises other funding through member subscriptions and fundraising.
My officials have sought and received assurances from the organisation in question that it has made contact with the legal representatives of the family for the purpose of sharing its report on these tragic events without further delay.
1190. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to review matters (details supplied) regarding the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015; to provide clarity on these three specific questions regarding same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46778/24]
View answerThe Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (ADMC) Act 2015 establishes a new legal framework for supported decision-making in Ireland.
The Act replaces the system of wardship and introduces a new system of tiered-decision support arrangements to suit the needs of adults who need support in making decisions and to guarantee that they can maintain decision-making power and control over their own affairs to the maximum extent possible. It also provides for people who wish to plan ahead for a time in the future when they might lose capacity to make an advance healthcare directive, or enduring power of attorney.
Under the ADMC a person is initially presumed to have capacity and their will and preference guide all interventions under the Act. In a situation where a person’s capacity is in question, capacity assessments are performed by professionals who place safeguarding, the presumption of capacity, and the will and preference of the person being supported, as key parts of these assessments. Depending on the individual circumstances of a case, and the will and preference of the person in question, the decision supporter appointed may or may not always be a family member but will always be someone suited to the role who can assist the person being supported in making their own decisions and exercising their own legal capacity.
The Act sets out a tiered system of decision support arrangements, based on the specific needs of the person being supported. This can include Decision Making Assistance arrangements, Co-Decision Making arrangements, or the appointment of a Decision Making Representative. The specific process for appointing a decision supporter depends on the type of decision support arrangement in question.
Applications for a Decision Making Assistant or Co-Decision Making arrangement are managed by the Decision Support Service (DSS), which will ensure that arrangements are proper and will assess applications against the processes and safeguards set out in the Act.
Appointment of a Decision-Making Representative is done by application to the Circuit Court, and the Court must be satisfied that the arrangement is appropriate, that the safeguards set out in the Act have been complied with, that the arrangement is appropriate to the needs of the person being supported, and that the proper processes in the Act have been followed.
The appointment of a decision support arrangements that effect the is therefore subject to a suite of safeguards, proportionate to the tier of support in question. Co-Decision Making arrangements and Decision Making Representative applications have safeguards such as properly conducted capacity assessments, review by the DSS and/or the court, and statutory notice periods to prescribed persons allowing the DSS or the court to receive and assess any objections to the arrangement.
These decision supporters are required to report on the manner in which they have performed their functions under the Act. Additionally, for all tiers of decision support arrangements, the DSS can receive and investigate complaints made about decision supporters and decision support arrangements, should safeguarding or well-being concerns arise.
1191. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of respite requests refused, by month and county, in adult disability, older persons’ and children’s disability services in 2024, in tabular form. [46819/24]
View answerAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly.
1192. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to detail the funding provided for neuro-disability services in County Meath in 2022, 2023, 2024 and planned for 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46822/24]
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.
1193. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the position regarding the rollout of the national neuro-rehabilitation team for CHO8 covering County Meath;; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46823/24]
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.
1194. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of persons accessing disability services in the community in County Meath. [46824/24]
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.
1195. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number and name of services that are dedicated to persons living with neurological disabilities in County Meath [46825/24]
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.
1196. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to detail the respite services available to persons with neurological disabilities in County Meath. [46826/24]
View answerAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly.
1197. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to upgrade disability services in line with need in County Meath. [46827/24]
View answerAt a national level, the Action Plan for Disability Services 2024-2026, published in December 2023, is a strategy for the expansion of disability services to meet expected demographic change, as well as unmet need. The Plan was developed on foot of the publication of the Disability Capacity Review. In July 2021, the Government published the Disability Capacity Review to 2032 – A Review of Social Care Demand and Capacity Requirements to 2032.. This review forecasted the demand for disability services to the year 2032 by analysing demographic trends and unmet need.
The headline developments planned for the 2024-2026 period of the Action Plan are:
Children’s Disability Services:
• Around 600 extra WTE staff for Children’s Disability Network Teams 2024-2026 to address vacant posts, build capacity, deliver timely access to early intervention and multidisciplinary supports, and ensure continuity of services
Adult Multidisciplinary Therapies:
• Additional 222 posts in specialist adult therapy services
• Develop a nationwide network of neuro-rehabilitation services including managed community rehabilitation networks as the community-based specialist tier
Adult Day Services:
• On average around 1,200 additional day service places each year to ensure places for school leavers who require them
Personal Assistance and Home Support:
• 800,000 additional Personal Assistance hours, and 110,000 additional Home Support hours
Respite Services:
• Continued expansion of respite services, including alternative residential options
Residential Services:
• 500 new community-based residential care places to replace disability care in large institutional and campus-based settings, with a view to ending that form of provision by 2030
• Around 900 additional residential care places to tackle unmet needs and ensure supply keeps pace with demographic change
• Increase support for people with disabilities to access supported independent living
• Provision of supports to live at home, in order to phase out long-term care in a nursing home for younger people with disabilities.
Implementation of the service-expansion aims of the Plan is the responsibility of the Health Service Executive (HSE)
Since its publication, the Plan has been supported by significant investment. In 2024, €74m was provided for New Development Measures (NDM) to help support its delivery ,whilst in 2025, NDM funding of €42m has been provided for disability services. However, for the first time, the funding provided to maintain Existing Levels of Service (ELS) will provide for service expansion due to demographic growth, in addition to funding provided for new developments. This funding for demographic growth will also help support Action Plan aims. The precise level of service to be provided from the 2025 allocation has been set out by the HSE in its National Service Plan for 2025.
With respect to service developments in the Meath region, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
