Written Answers Nos. 322-336
322. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 749 of 17 September 2014, if the ESRI review of the school completion programme has been or is close to completion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3479/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe planned programme review of School Completion Programme, indicated in the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure 2012-2014 is underway. The objectives of the review are to examine the programme's structures, clarify roles and responsibilities, to analyse the interventions and supports provided and identify best practice and make recommendations for the future of the programme.
The plan for the review includes arrangements to capture the views of a range of stakeholders, including staff and all those involved in the organisation and administration of the School Completion Programme. It includes a survey to gather the views of project coordinators and chairpersons of the 124 local school completion programme projects throughout the country, case studies of projects involving staff and participating schools and interviews with national stakeholders who have a direct interest in the programme.
The review of the School Completion Programme is an important initiative in planning for the future development of the programme. It will assist in identifying the reforms necessary to consolidate the programme on a sustainable footing for the future. Preliminary information gathered in the review indicates that the School Completion Programme encompasses a broad and diverse range of measures and interventions that have been developed by local projects over the years. The intention is to learn more about the most successful of these, share the learning across the programme and ensure that available funds are targeted to those services that provide the greatest contribution to good educational outcomes for children and young people at risk of educational disadvantage.
Work is at an advanced stage and it is anticipated that the review will be completed during this current academic year.
323. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if the Health Service Executive is referring or has referred children or young persons to a residential premises in Drumgowna, Muff, Stonetown, Dundalk, County Louth, which is currently being operated by Solis MMC; if the HSE has any relationship with the operators of this service; if the service operators conducted a community consultation prior to operating this facility; and if the correct planning permission and fire safety regulations have been obtained. [3822/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraA child may be placed in a private children residential centre where a Child and Family Agency placement is not available and if it is assessed as meeting the needs of the child. Referrals by the Agency to a private children residential centre can be made where a centre has completed the rigorous registration process, a service level agreement is in place and the placement of a child is being made in accordance with the Agency's National Private Placement Protocols. The provider is responsible for completing the planning process with the local planning authority, including issues such as fire safety. Completion of the planning process is one of the standards set as part of the Agency's registration process.
The Child and Family Agency has advised that the children residential centre Stonetown House, operated by Solis MMC, has been registered with the Agency and is compliant with the required standards, including those relating to planning permission and fire safety certificates. There is a service level agreement in place between the operator and the Agency for this facility. Children are being referred to the centre in line with the National Private Placement Protocol. The Agency cannot comment on whether a public consultation was organised by the provider as it is not part of the registration process.
324. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the cost of introducing a universal pre-school session of 3.5 hours per day, five days a week for all children aged between three and five years. [3328/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme provides a free pre-school year to all eligible children, in the age range 3 years and 2 months to 4 years and 7 months, before commencing primary school.
The programme is designed to be delivered for three hours per day, five days per week, over 38 weeks (183 days per year), and capitation fees are paid to participating services on the basis of this provision. The programme is based on the primary school model, under which primary schools are required to open on 193 days per year (equivalent to 38.6 weeks). There are no plans to increase the current provision within the pre-school year or to extend the age range for eligibility. It is estimated that increasing the number of hours to 3.5 per day for the current cohort of eligible children would cost in the region of €28 million.
There is an increasing body of Irish and international evidence quantifying the benefits of early years interventions in terms of improving outcomes for children and in delivering significant and societal return to the State. In this context, I believe that the introduction of a second free pre-school year would benefit children’s educational and developmental outcomes.
The introduction of a second pre-school year would require considerable additional funding which is not currently available. In addition, all of the available evidence indicates that the quality of the pre-school provision is key to good outcomes for children. The actions contained in the Early Years Quality Agenda, which involves a range of measures in key areas aimed at improving quality within early years services and enhancing the regulatory regime, are currently being implemented.
Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures, the national policy framework for children and young people 2014-2020, recognises the value of early childhood care and education in supporting children’s early cognitive, social and emotional development, and the Government is committed to the introduction of a second free pre-school year within the lifetime of the framework once the required quality standards are achieved, and subject to the availability of resources.
325. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the position regarding the funding of early childhood education; if this will be increased in the coming years; the amount of the increase; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3517/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra326. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his plans for investing in the early childhood care and education sector in 2015; if plans are being considered for tax credits to assist working parents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3531/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 325 and 326 together.
There is clear evidence that investing in childcare services which provide quality care and education for children in their early years has significant dividends for both the children themselves and for society as a whole. Ensuring the best possible outcomes for children in their early years is therefore an important element in future economic planning.
The case for investing in children and young people on both social and economic grounds is supported by a body of international evidence. As the Minister with responsibility for this key area, I have established a cross-Departmental group at senior level to develop a whole-of-Government approach to future investment in early childhood care and education and after-school care. The group will undertake an economic and cost benefit analysis of policies and future options for increasing the supply, accessibility and affordability of quality childhood care and education services.
It is clear that accessibility, affordability and high quality childcare can play a critical role in achieving a number of Government priorities, including improving educational outcome for children, reducing poverty and increasing parents' participation in the labour market. The importance of this area is reinforced by continuing economic improvement and job growth and an increased focus on activation for those currently outside the labour market.
To ensure that all the potential benefits can be realised, future public investment in childcare must be evidence-based and strategically coordinated. It must look at the provision right across the 0 to 6 age group as well as consider the after-school needs of older school-going children. It is crucial, therefore, that we develop a coherent cross-Government approach to investment in childcare services.
The group which I propose to establish will include representatives of the Department of Education and Skills, the Department of Social Protection, the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, the Department of Finance and the Department of the Taoiseach and will be led and supported by my Department. I will be asking that the work of this group be carried out within a relatively short time frame and I expect that the group will be in a position to report to me in the Summer.
327. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will support the Edenmore Early Education Centre, Dublin 5 with increased investment and a cohesive early childhood education and care strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3711/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department implements a number of programmes to support parents with the cost of childcare. The pre-school service referred to by the Deputy is participating in the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme.
The ECCE programme is a free and universal programme which provides a free pre-school year to all eligible children. For the academic year 2014/2015, based on the higher capitation rate payments of €73 per child per week and its current enrolment, this service will be entitled to total funding in the region of €83,000 under this programme.
In addition to this universal provision, there are targeted schemes in place to help parents on low incomes with childcare costs when participating in education, training and when moving from welfare to work. These include the three Training and Employment Support programmes. Together with the Community Childcare Subvention Programme (which is open only to community not-for-profit childcare services) and the ECCE programme, these programmes represent an annual investment of approximately €260 million and support the parents of more than 100,000 children. This service should engage with the local City/County Childcare Committee to establish if it is eligible to participate in any further childcare support programmes.
I recently announced a proposal to establish a cross-Departmental group at senior level to develop a whole-of-Government approach to future investment in early childhood care and education and after-school care. The group will undertake an economic and cost benefit analysis of policies and future options for increasing the supply, accessibility and affordability of quality childhood care and education services.
The group, which will be chaired by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, will include representatives from the Departments of the Taoiseach, Education & Skills, Social Protection, Jobs & Innovation, Public Expenditure & Reform and Finance. It is intended that the group will report to Government in the Summer.
328. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if his Department is collaborating with the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government to ensure that there is appropriate accommodation available to young persons leaving care given the current changes in accessing supported temporary accommodation. [3737/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraPolicy responsibility for homeless young people, insofar as it extends to my Department, relates to children under 18 and any child welfare and protection concerns that may arise in the context of the Child Care Act 1991. Children under 16 who present as being homeless to emergency services are taken into care. Children aged 16 and 17 may be taken into care, or provided a service under section 5 of the Child Care Act 1991. Young people who are homeless, either singly or as part of a family unit and not falling within this category are the responsibility of the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government and local authorities. Young people who were formerly in the care of the State and presently in receipt of aftercare services have their accommodation needs identified as part of this support.
Last year, a protocol was established between the County and City Management Association and the Child and Family Agency in relation to the assessment of housing needs for young people leaving care, the interaction between interagency aftercare committees and local authority housing representatives and how to progress such accommodation related matters. The aim of the protocol is to make the assessment and allocation of social housing, where deemed to be the most appropriate response to the young person’s need, more efficient and seamless. This protocol came about through the collaboration of the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government and the Child and Family Agency.
The protocol will see the relevant local authority housing representative attend aftercare planning meetings with social workers of the Agency in relation to those young people for whom social housing has been identified as the most appropriate form of accommodation support. This, it is hoped, will facilitate a more efficient service for those leaving care in obtaining social housing suitable to their needs.
During the course of discussions with the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, the issue of the particular vulnerability of young people leaving State care, as highlighted in the first report to Government of the Homelessness Oversight Group, was considered. Discussions between the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government have been ongoing in relation to matters of accommodation for those leaving the care of the State and how they might be best supported.
Aftercare is the planning and support put in place to meet the needs of a young person who is leaving statutory care at 18 years of age, to assist him/her in making the transition to independent living. The children most vulnerable to homelessness as care leavers are those leaving residential care or short term foster care placements. Children who come into care late, in their mid to late teens, may not have developed the relationships with staff or aftercare workers that can be so important in realising positive outcomes. It is essential that these young people have an opportunity to develop a relationship with a dedicated aftercare worker who will work with them to identify their needs and ensure that services are in place to help provide them with the stability and support they need.
It has been decided to strengthen the legislative provisions regarding aftercare. This is in response to concerns that there was insufficient focus in this area and that such planning was not taking place on a properly structured and consistent basis. The approach adopted is to impose a statutory duty on the Agency to prepare an aftercare plan for an eligible child or eligible young person. The aim is to create an explicit, as opposed to implicit, statement of the Agency’s duty to satisfy itself as to the child’s or young person’s need for assistance by preparing a plan that identifies those needs for aftercare supports.
It is anticipated that the Aftercare Bill will be published in the early part of 2015.
329. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the measures that are being put in place to prepare for the UN review of Ireland’s records on children’s rights in view of the number of children in emergency homeless accommodation, the lack of data available on children who are dependants of methadone users and the lack of aftercare support for young persons leaving care. [3738/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn my capacity as Minister, I am scheduled to attend before the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child in January 2016 to discuss Ireland's consolidated third and fourth Periodic Reports, submitted in August 2013. My Department, in the normal course of its work, has ongoing contact with Departments and Agencies on a range of issues relating to children. During the coming year such contacts will comprehend preparations for engagement with the UN Committee.
Aftercare is a term used to describe the planning and support put in place to meet the needs of a young person who is leaving statutory care at 18 years of age, to assist him/her in making the transition to independent living. It is essential that all young people leaving care are provided with the type of transitional support that their individual situation requires.
The Child Care Act 1991 provides that the core eligible age range for aftercare is from 18 years up to 21 years. This can be extended until the completion of a course of education and training in which a young person who has left care, or is leaving care, is engaged, up to the age of 23 years.
Current aftercare provision incorporates advice, guidance and practical (including accommodation and financial) support. Advocating on behalf of young people to support their development as fulfilled adults in their community and, when necessary, to link them to targeted adult services, are also crucial elements of an aftercare service.
Between 450 and 500 young people leave care annually upon turning 18. The Child and Family Agency advised that at the end of June 2014, 1,614 young people aged 18-23 years (inclusive) were in receipt of an aftercare service. Of those, 884 (55%) were in full-time education.
The Child and Family Agency has advised that they are in the process of establishing interagency aftercare committees at local level bringing together Local Authorities, HSE and other statutory and voluntary agencies. These committees will develop interagency wrap around aftercare plans for young people, particularly for those with complex needs, including housing requirements. The situation regarding the establishment of these committees varies nationally but it is expected that all committees will be operational by mid-2015.
As the Deputy is aware, the legislative provisions regarding aftercare are being strengthened to respond to past concerns that there was insufficient focus in this area and that such planning was not taking place on a properly structured and consistent basis. The approach adopted is to impose a statutory duty on the Agency to prepare an aftercare plan for an eligible child or eligible young person. The aim is to create an explicit, as opposed to implicit, statement of the Agency’s duty to satisfy itself as to the child’s or young person’s need for assistance by preparing a plan that identifies those needs for aftercare supports.
It is anticipated that the Aftercare Bill will be published in the early part of this year.
Other matters raised by the Deputy in this instance come within the area of responsibility of the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government and the Department of Health, respectively. Should the Deputy wish to obtain information about these matters, it is open to him to direct his questions accordingly.
330. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will provide in tabular form all funding awarded for youth projects in County Waterford by year since 2011 to date in 2015, including awards made through the youth capital funding scheme, youth café capital funding programme and the child care capital programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3765/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy is being compiled and will be sent to the Deputy shortly.
331. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health if he will meet with representatives of Meath Fight for the Future Campaign with regards the cutting of special needs assistants from preschools in County Meath. [3290/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy office has no record of having received a request for a meeting from this particular group. If the group submits a meeting request to my office, it will be considered in line with normal procedures.
332. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Health the services and options available for children in need of speech and language therapy intervention from a school (details supplied) in County Kerry, especially those in junior infants, as there would appear to be no permanent service or hours available for these children. [3707/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe particular issue raised by the Deputy is a service matter for the Health Service Executive. Accordingly I have arranged for the question to be referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with it.
333. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will examine a proposal by the Irish Fire and Emergency Services Association that an integrated fire-based emergency medical services on a national basis would address many of the problems in the National Ambulance Service identified in a new Health Service Executive report on the services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3293/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.
334. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a date for a medical procedure in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3302/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Waiting List Management Policy, A standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, January 2014, has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has been adopted by the Health Service Executive, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up with it.
335. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Health if consideration will be provided to waiving car parking charges for family members and others who have to experience long delays in having loved ones seen at emergency departments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3303/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.
336. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a date for a procedure in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3304/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe scheduling of appointments for patients is a matter for the hospital to which the patient has been referred. Should a patient's general practitioner consider that the patient's condition warrants an earlier appointment, he or she would be in the best position to take the matter up with the consultant and hospital involved. In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up with them.
