Wednesday, 20 Apr 2016

Written Answers Nos. 238-255

Garda Resources

Ceisteanna (238)

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

238. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if, given the recent upsurge in gang-related violence in the Dublin area and the comments by the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors on inadequate Garda Síochána resources, she plans to specifically target gang crime; if additional resources will be made available to gardaí in Dublin; if she accepts the role that funding cuts have played in the ability of gardaí to tackle this type of crime in County Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7668/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality

The 2016 Budget allocation of €1.5 billion for An Garda Síochána includes over €67 million in additional funding which, in addition to the recruitment of new trainee Gardaí, also provides additional funding for Garda surveillance, special operations and targeted, intelligence-led policing. This additional recruitment and budget allocation builds on the current high level of investment in Garda vehicles.

Earlier this year the Government moved decisively to strengthen the resources available to An Garda Síochána to deal with gang-related crime in the Dublin area through an additional allocation of €5 million, as well as steps to establish a dedicated Armed Support Unit in Dublin. These measures are supporting concentrated policing measures in Dublin City and I remain in close contact with the Garda Commissioner who has outlined the substantial efforts being made by An Garda Síochána to identify and target those involved.

Over €34 million has been invested in new Garda vehicles since 2012 with over 640 new vehicles coming on stream since the start of 2015. This significant investment provides the Gardaí with additional high-powered vehicles, marked and unmarked patrol cars, and motorcycles for high-visibility road policing which will support important anti-crime strategies such as Operation Thor. Investment in a modern, effective and fit-for-purpose Garda fleet will continue under the Government’s Capital Plan 2016-2021 which provides €46 million for new Garda vehicles, ensuring that Gardaí can be mobile, visible and responsive, on the roads and in the community.

The Government is also investing in Garda airborne surveillance and enhanced technology and ICT systems. In fact, the Capital Plan 2016-2021 provides an additional €205 million for Garda ICT over the lifetime of the Plan which will allow An Garda Síochána to deploy the latest cutting edge technologies in the fight against crime. Taken together, this step-change in investment in policing demonstrates this Government's commitment to investing in 21st Century policing and will ensure the Gardaí can be mobile, visible and responsive, on the roads and in the community to prevent and tackle crime.

I am informed by the Garda Authorities that An Garda Síochána continues to develop and implement operations and strategies to target, dismantle and disrupt organised criminal networks, utilising advanced analytical and intelligence methodologies. Multi-disciplinary approaches are utilised to ensure that the activities of individuals and groups involved in criminal enterprise are effectively targeted, including through the use of the Proceeds of Crimes legislation, money-laundering legislation and the powers of the Criminal Assets Bureau, as well as co-operation with Customs, other police forces, Europol and Interpol. Furthermore, An Garda Síochána proactively participate in international exchange of information on emerging crime trends and training facilitated by CEPOL, Europol and Interpol.

In addition to the range of Garda enforcement measures outlined above, An Garda Síochána also engages extensively with communities in various fora to address local concerns relating to crime and community safety, including the impact that organised crime can have at a community level.

I might add that heavy penalties are provided for weapons offences in our criminal law and mandatory minimum penalties have been introduced for certain firearms offences. The considerable powers already available to Gardaí have been supplemented further by the newly established DNA Database which will have the capacity to link suspects to unsolved crimes using forensic evidence, and will greatly assist Gardaí in investigating serious gun crimes and a whole range of other serious offences.

Garda Deployment

Ceisteanna (239)

John Deasy

Ceist:

239. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of members of An Garda Síochána stationed in County Waterford; the number who retired in each of the past five years; their rank on leaving the force; and the number of officers of each rank of garda, detective garda, sergeant, detective sergeant, inspector and superintendent currently deployed in the Waterford division compared to five years ago. [7672/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality

As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of resources, including personnel, among the various Garda Divisions and Districts and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. Garda management keeps this distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure the optimum use is made of these resources.

I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that the number of members stationed in the Waterford Garda Division on the 29 February 2016, the latest date for which figures are readily available, was 280. This compares with 302 on 28 February 2011. The following table sets out the breakdown by rank. The information supplied by the Garda Commissioner does not distinguish between Sergeant and Detective Sergeant.

Waterford Garda Division

Date	Garda	Sgt.	Insp.	Supt.	C/Supt.	Total
28 Feb 2011	249	43	5	4	1	302
29 Feb 2016	231	39	6	3	1	280

With regard to the number of members and their ranks who have retired from this Division, the information is not at hand in the Department and I have asked the Commissioner to supply this information which will be forwarded to the Deputy on receipt.

Employment Rights

Ceisteanna (240)

Martin Heydon

Ceist:

240. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to improve regulation for au pairs who are brought by families here as part of a cultural exchange programme and wish to be recognised as such; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7683/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality

My remit in this area is limited to the immigration status of non-EEA nationals and ultimately this issue is not about immigration but rather the employment rights of au pairs. The question of employment rights is the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and indeed I understand that many au pairs are EU nationals, who would not need immigration permission to be in Ireland in any event.

I refer the Deputy to my answer to Parliamentary Question No. 337 of Thursday, 14 April 2016, which I am providing for ease of reference:

My remit in this area is limited to the immigration status of non-EEA nationals and ultimately this issue is not about immigration but rather the rights of employees. The question of employment rights is the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and indeed I understand that the person the subject of the recent ruling referred to by the Deputy was an EU national, who would not need immigration permission to be in Ireland in any event.

In the recent case before the Workplace Relations Commission, the position, as I understand it, an individual working as an au pair was deemed to be an employee, with the entitlements that go with that status, including payment of the minimum wage. While there has traditionally been a social and cultural dimension to work as an au pair, which presumably can continue into the future, this cannot alter the entitlements of individuals deemed to be employees. This applies irrespective of the immigration arrangements under which they are resident in Ireland.

As far as the immigration aspects of this issue are concerned, a non-EEA national would not be granted immigration permission for the primary purpose of being an au pair and I understand that such employment would not be eligible for an employment permit. Persons on student permission with an Immigration Stamp 2 are entitled to engage in casual work for 40 hours per week during the months May to August and for a 4 week period from Mid December to Mid January. Outside that time the limit is 20 hours per week. Working as an au pair during that time is not forbidden but, as stated above, such work is subject to the various entitlements that employees have.

Garda Strength

Ceisteanna (241, 243)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

241. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the extent to which she expects the strength of An Garda Síochána to increase over the next three years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7708/16]

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

243. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the total strength of An Garda Síochána at present; the extent to which it is expected to increase Garda numbers over the next 12 months; if particular attention will be paid to areas experiencing an increase in crime when numbers are deployed in the future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7710/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality

I propose to take Questions Nos. 241 and 243 together.

As the Deputy will be aware the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of personnel among the Garda Regions, Divisions, and Districts. Garda management keep this distribution under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure the best possible use is made of resources. I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that the overall number of personnel available to An Garda Síochána on the 29 February 2016 was close to 16,000, comprising 12,785 Gardaí, 932 Garda Reserve members and over 2,000 civilians.

As the Deputy will appreciate, it is vital that An Garda Síochána is renewed to ensure it has the capacity to provide effective and visible policing throughout the country. With this objective in mind, there have been seven intakes of Garda Trainees to the Garda College since it was reopened in September 2014, giving a total intake of 700. A further 450 recruits will be taken in this year. So far, 395 of the new Garda Trainees have attested as members of An Garda Síochána and have been assigned to mainstream uniform duties in communities nationwide.

It is expected that a further 300 Garda Trainees will attest by the end of this year which, taking account of projected retirements, will bring Garda numbers to around the 13,000 mark. The Government is committed to ongoing seamless recruitment to the force and I expect that the number of Gardaí will approach 14,000 within the next three years.

Organised Crime

Ceisteanna (242)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

242. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the extent to which her Department and the Garda authorities have identified the total membership of criminal gangs operating in all parts of the country; if continued action is planned to combat them; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7709/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality

I assure the Deputy that tackling organised crime activity is a key ongoing priority for both the Government and An Garda Síochána.

An Garda Síochána's Policing Plan sets out the priorities of An Garda Síochána in tackling organised crime activity including its continued commitment to pro-actively target groups and individuals engaged in criminal activity, including organised criminal activities.

In tackling such activity, An Garda Síochána continues to develop and implement operations and strategies aimed at targeting, dismantling and disrupting criminal networks, utilising advanced analytical and intelligence methodologies. Multi-disciplinary approaches are also utilised to ensure the activities of individuals and groups involved in criminal enterprise are effectively targeted, including through the use of the proceeds of crimes legislation, money-laundering legislation, the provisions of the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009 relating to organised crime and the powers of the Criminal Assets Bureau.

While we should not underestimate the difficulties which the Garda authorities face in tackling organised crime activity, we continue to see the significant results of their efforts in the arrests made and persons being brought before the Courts, as well as the ongoing drugs and firearms seizures made.

With regard to the question of membership, I am advised that membership of criminal groups tends to be fluid with groups merging and splitting on an ongoing basis. In addition, many modern groupings are transnational in nature. With this in mind, the Deputy will appreciate the difficulty in attributing precise figures to membership at any particular point in time.

In support of the efforts of An Garda Síochána, the Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources to deliver highly-mobile and responsive Garda patrols in both rural and urban communities. Since 2012, almost €34 million has been invested in renewing the Garda fleet to support front line Garda responses. Over 640 new vehicles are coming on stream since the start of 2015 including new specialised vehicles. This investment will provide the Gardaí with additional high powered vehicles, marked and unmarked patrol cars, cars for surveillance and covert operations, motor cycles for high visibility road policing and vehicles for public order policing. This investment in a modern, effective and fit-for-purpose Garda fleet will continue under the Government’s Capital Plan 2016 - 2021 which provides an additional €46 million for new Garda vehicles over the life time of the Plan. The Government is also investing in airborne surveillance and enhanced technology and ICT systems. The increased budget allocation for 2016 will also facilitate additional funding for Garda surveillance, special operations and targeted, intelligence-led policing.

Question No. 243 answered with Question No. 241.

Crime Data

Ceisteanna (244)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

244. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the total number of burglaries and other crimes reported in each Garda district or division throughout County Kildare in the past five years to date; the extent to which the number of reported criminal incidents has fluctuated in the period in question; the actions proposed to combat any increase in such incidents of crime; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7711/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality

As the Deputy will be aware, the Central Statistics Office (CSO) as the national statistical agency, is responsible for the publication of recorded crime statistics.

To be of assistance, I have asked the CSO to contact the Deputy directly in relation to the specific information requested.

As the Deputy is aware there have been very significant investments in Garda resources which underline the ongoing commitment to supporting An Garda Síochána in opposing crime in all its forms. In particular, during 2016 we will see a further 600 new Gardaí taking up duty, bringing to 1,150 the number of new Gardaí recruited since the reopening of the Garda College in Templemore in September 2014. There will also be ongoing support for anti-crime measures due to the very significant resources committed in the Capital Plan 2016-2021. These include an allocation of €46 million for new Garda vehicles to ensure that Gardaí can be mobile, visible and responsive on the roads and in the community as well as an additional €205 million allocated for Garda technology and ICT systems over the lifetime of the Plan. These investments are making possible targeted Garda operations, including a concentrated drive against burglary and related crimes under Operation Thor, which has to date involved more than 16,000 anti-crime patrols and in the order of 20,000 targeted checkpoints nationwide.

I can also assure the Deputy that the legislation to tackle crime has been strengthened, and would mention in particular the enactment of the Criminal Justice (Burglary of Dwellings) Act 2015 which is targeted at repeat burglars who have previous convictions and who are charged with multiple offences of residential burglary. I am very pleased that this new legislation is now available to support prosecutions arising from the carefully considered Garda strategy to disrupt and oppose criminal activity under Operation Thor.

Court Procedures

Ceisteanna (245)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Ceist:

245. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if court appellants are being charged to acquire digital audio recordings of their original court hearings; if so, the reason, as such costs could potentially make it prohibitive for some persons; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7765/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality

As the Deputy will be aware, the courts are subject only to the Constitution and the law, independent in the exercise of their judicial functions, and the conduct of any case is a matter entirely for the presiding judge.

All court records, including recordings of court proceedings, are under the control of the presiding Judge, as provided for in section 65(3) of the Court Officers Act, 1926. The procedures whereby parties or other persons wishing to have access to records of court proceedings, including audio recordings, are set out in the relevant Rules of the District Court, Circuit Court and Superior Courts (S.I. Numbers 99/2013, 100/2013 and 101/2013) that came into effect on 8 April 2013. The instruments also set out the terms on which such access may be granted. A party to a case may apply to the court to access the recording. However, the granting of access and the terms under which such access is granted is a matter for the court. In common with all court rules these instruments are available on the Courts Service website.

Where the presiding Judge authorises the release of the audio record, there is no cost to the applicant but if the Judge authorises the release of a transcript of the record the applicant is required to pay the service provider for the transcript and the charge for that is based on the word count of the transcript.

Taxi Data

Ceisteanna (246)

Seán Haughey

Ceist:

246. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if the Carriage Office received any reports regarding the cloning of taxi plates in the Dublin area between 2003 and 2006; if an investigation was carried out in this regard; the outcome of any such investigation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7772/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality

I am informed by the Garda authorities that Carriage Office records indicate that no reports referencing the cloning of taxi plates were received for the period 1 January 2003 to 31 December 2006. The Deputy will appreciate that any person with information relating to any type of criminal offence should bring it to the attention of An Garda Síochána.

Visa Applications

Ceisteanna (247)

Bríd Smith

Ceist:

247. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of an application for a visa extension for persons (details supplied). [7795/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality

I have been informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that these persons arrived in the State in May 2007 and September 2007 respectively and were registered as students. Their permission to remain in the State as students expired on 3 November 2013.

On 13 November 2013, both persons made applications for an Extension of Student conditions. These applications are ongoing and will be considered in due course.

Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to INIS by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of Parliamentary Question process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response from INIS is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.

Unaccompanied Minors and Separated Children

Ceisteanna (248, 252)

Fergus O'Dowd

Ceist:

248. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the position regarding unaccompanied minors who on entering the State were placed in State care; the numbers of such children placed in care for each of the past five years; if concerns have been expressed by persons or agencies regarding their care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7393/16]

Fergus O'Dowd

Ceist:

252. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he has received or requested any reports from Tusla - the Child and Family Agency or from any other agency on the care of minors who were unaccompanied when they entered into the State system of care; if any incidents of abuse of any kind of these young persons while in State care have been reported to him; if all persons including interpreters working full-time or part-time with these minors have been vetted by An Garda Síochána, the actions he has taken as a result of such reports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7623/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

I propose to take Questions Nos. 248 and 252 together.

The Child and Family Agency, Tusla, has a role in providing care and protection for any unaccompanied minors who present seeking asylum. These children are, by definition, without parents or family in this jurisdiction and Tusla receives them into care on this basis while their applications for asylum are being processed and are referred to as separated children seeking asylum.

Separated children seeking asylum are placed in the care of the State, with Tusla. Following a residential assessment, the majority of the children are placed with foster families and Tusla has a dedicated social work team to work with this vulnerable cohort. A social worker is allocated to each separated child seeking asylum and the social worker has responsibility for the development and implementation of an individualised statutory care plan for the child. If the social work assessment indicates that making a protection application is in the child’s best interest, the social worker assists with the application.

The State is duty bound by international and domestic law to protect and provide for separated children in the same way as it does for children normally resident in the State. In order to provide the same standard of care provision for separated children seeking asylum as any other child in State care, an Equity of Care Principle was introduced in 2010 by the HSE. Tusla maintains the equity and equality of services to separated children vis-à-vis other children in State care and ensures there is no differentiation of standard care provision, care practices, care priorities, standards or protocols. All foster care organisations and statutory residential centres are inspected by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA), and private and voluntary residential centres are inspected by Tusla, against national standards. The inspection reports are published on the respective websites.

My Department has a range of systems in place to ensure it is informed of risk to children and families. Tusla, within its national office, has a dedicated Quality Assurance Team. This team produces monthly, quarterly and annual reports in respect of Tusla's functions, and includes detailed reporting on key performance indicators. Tusla also provides me with information on children in care, their placement type, care status and allocation of social workers. All HIQA and Tusla inspection reports are reviewed and analysed by my Department. The overview from these reports provides me with a level of assurance on the overall standard of care and protection capacity of Tusla. Additional information is gleaned from the National Review Panel reports on individual cases, and also from investigations conducted by the Ombudsman for Children.

Children First (2011) applies to separated children seeking asylum. Tusla has informed me that it is not aware of any reports of abuse in respect of separated children or young persons seeking asylum while in State care.

Tusla has also advised that all persons employed full-time or part-time by Tusla are vetted by An Garda Síochána as a matter of standard practice, as are those employed by the appointed interpretation service.

The following table shows information on the numbers of separated children seeking asylum and from 2010 to 2015.

SCSA Referrals	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015
Placed in Care	70	66	48	62	86	82
Total No. of Referrals	96	99	71	120	97	109

Appointments to State Boards

Ceisteanna (249)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Ceist:

249. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the regional breakdown of all members appointed by the Government or him to State boards, agencies and bodies in 2015 and to date in 2016 broken down by agency and by regions (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7473/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

I am responsible for the appointment of members to the boards of the Adoption Authority of Ireland, Tusla (the Child and Family Agency), the Board of Management for the Children Detention Schools and Gaisce (the President's Award). All the aforementioned agencies are located in Dublin.

The following tables set out the appointments to the respective boards during 2015 and to date in 2016. The heading of 'Region' refers to the address of the appointee at the time of appointment.

Adoption Authority of Ireland

Board Member	Appointed	Region
Dr. Imelda Ryan	2015	Rest of Leinster
Anne O'Flaherty	2015	Dublin
Dr. Geoffrey Shannon	2015	Dublin
Orlaith Traynor	2015	Rest of Leinster
Paul Harrison	2015	Dublin
Dr. Helen Buckley	2015	Dublin
Patrick McMahon	2015	Dublin

Tusla (the Child and Family Agency)

Board Member	Appointed	Region
Paul A. White	2016	Dublin

Children Detention Schools (Board of Management)

Board Member	Appointed	Region
Professor Ursula Kilkelly	2015 (Acting Chair)	Munster

Gaisce (the President's Award)

Board Member	Appointed	Region
John Concannon	2015	Connacht
Donal Óg Cusack	2015	Munster
Martin O’Rourke	2015	Dublin
Caroline McCamley	2015	Rest of Leinster
Norma Smurfit	2015	Dublin
Andrew Madden	2015	Dublin
Aongus Sammin	2015	Connacht
Ellen O’Malley-Dunlop	2015	Dublin
Sharon Finnegan	2015	Dublin
Carmel Nic Airt	2015	Munster
Justin McAleese	2015	Dublin

Child and Family Agency Data

Ceisteanna (250)

Michael McGrath

Ceist:

250. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the family support centres and family resource centres funded by the Child and Family Agency in 2015 by centre; by county; by the funding provided; by the purpose of the funding, such as core funding or special project funding and so on, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7490/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

I refer the Deputy to my previous reply on 6 April 2016 regarding this matter. The position remains the same. The information sought by the Deputy has been requested from the Child and Family Agency. I will respond directly to the Deputy when the information is received.

Foster Care Supports

Ceisteanna (251)

Finian McGrath

Ceist:

251. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to support all children in foster care as a matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7578/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

It is vital that all children in care and their carers receive adequate support to ensure a successful placement. Foster care is the main form of alternative care for children in need of care and protection and is the preferred option for children who cannot live with their parent(s)/guardian(s). At the end of December 2015, there were 6,388 children in care in Ireland. Some 93% (5,932) of these children were cared for in foster placements. The majority of children are in the care of general foster carers. At the end of December 2015, some 64% (4,100) of children in care were in a general foster care placement and 29% (1,832) were in foster care with relatives.

Key elements of the support to be provided to children in care include: access to a Link Social Worker for supervision and support to the foster carers; allocation of a dedicated Social Worker for children in care; onward referral and advocacy for access to specialist services to meet the child’s identified needs, such as speech and language therapy, counselling and psychology services.

The link worker is a professionally qualified social worker and meets regularly with foster carers to supervise the capacity of the foster carers to adequately meet the needs of the child and to provide training, information and whatever other support that may be required. At the end of December 2015, 79% (3,277/4,151) of foster carers had a link social worker and 93% (5,492/5,932) of children in foster care had an allocated social worker. I would also note that Tusla provides funding to the Irish Foster Care Association which provides additional supports to carers, including training and advice services.

As the majority of children in care are in foster care family settings in the community, indicators of stability of the placement and participation in education are useful in monitoring the performance of Tusla in relation to overall welfare. I am happy to say that Tusla has reported that the results for these indicators are positive and show that overall placement stability is very high and participation in education is on a par with the national participation rates. In addition there are regulations and standards in place for foster and residential placements and there is a regime of regular monitoring and inspections by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA). These inspection reports on available on www.hiqa.ie. All 17 areas have been inspected at least once by HIQA, as well as a number of private foster care services.

All children in care should have an allocated social worker but it is important to note that if a child has not been allocated a social worker, the cases are reviewed regularly by the principal social worker and are managed by duty social work teams to support the child's needs. Currently, 93% of children in care have an allocated social worker (5,937/6,388).

In the 2016 Performance Statement, I requested that Tusla make it a priority to strengthen the capacity of its foster care panels, and to ensure sufficient diversity in the numbers of foster carers to provide appropriate matching of carers with children in need of care. Tusla has committed to increasing the number of approved foster carers over 2016 in its business plan. The additional funding of €38 million which the Government has allocated to Tusla for 2016, will give the Agency greater capacity to respond to identified demand and to alleviate pressures being faced in areas such as unallocated cases and private residential and foster care.

Question No. 252 answered with Question No. 248.

Early Childhood Care and Education

Ceisteanna (253)

Robert Troy

Ceist:

253. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to address concerns that there is insufficient capacity in the early education sector to accommodate the roll-out of the second preschool year under the early childhood care and education scheme; the capacity reviews which have been undertaken by his Department or Pobal to access the level of capacity within the sector; and the detail of the findings of such reviews. [7669/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

The expansion of the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme on foot of the allocation of additional funding in Budget 2016 will see the number of children benefitting from the Programme rise from around 67,000 to around 127,000 in a given programme year. For the 2016/17 programme year, it is estimated that 89,500 children will be eligible to enrol in the Programme from September 2016, an additional 22,000 from January 2017 and a further 15,500 from April 2017.

The budgetary announcement in Oct 2015 gave services that wished to expand 11 months notice to plan for the first additional entrants and 18 months to plan for the peak demand in April 2017. My Department made detailed information available to the City and County Childcare Committees at the beginning of this year indicating the number of children, by every electoral division across the country, who would be eligible for an ECCE place in Sept 2016, January 2017 and April 2017. My Department continues to work closely with the City and County Childcare Committees to match this data against their reported capacity in the sector to meet the increase in demand. This exercise is almost complete with the City and County Childcare Committees currently producing a national summary and more local data for me on capacity. Where any capacity issues are found, I will be asking the relevant City/County Childcare Committee to work intensively with my Department to resolve the issue.

I have launched several initiatives to support capacity building for the ECCE programme, including the Learner Fund 4 which supports staff to upskill and services to have qualified pre-school leaders in their setting. I have also reformed the rules applying to payment of "Higher Capitation". The amended rules will allow Higher Capitation to be paid per room, rather than the traditional rule that all pre-school rooms must be led by a graduate to be eligible. This will allow services who have been in receipt of Higher Capitation to retain this payment for some of their rooms, even if they do not have a graduate for their additional rooms.

I have ensured support for capacity building through the Early Years Capital Programme 2016, under which capital funding of €4 million is being made available for pre-school services, including not-for-profit community childcare services, that are making alterations to their services to accommodate the increased numbers resulting from the expansion of the ECCE programme. The maximum grant available under this programme is €10,000. The closing date for applications was 8 April 2016.

In addition, the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government has, following consultation with officials in my Department, written to all Local Authorities requesting that they assist with the planning process for childcare facilities in order to facilitate the expansion of required capacity.

Child Care Services Data

Ceisteanna (254)

Robert Troy

Ceist:

254. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of new recipients of the community child care subvention scheme since the expansion announced in budget 2016 and since the expansion of the scheme announced earlier in 2015. [7670/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

Prior to Budget 2016, the Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) Programme supported disadvantaged parents, parents in low-paid employment and parents in training or education by enabling those who qualify to avail of reduced childcare costs at participating community or not-for-profit childcare services.

Due to economic constraints, Budget 2012 closed the CCS Programme to new applications from community/not-for-profit childcare services wishing to enter the CCS Programme and to the expansion of services by existing CCS providers. Using savings from 2015, I was able to announce additional CCS places in late 2015. Under Budget 2016, I lifted the previous restrictions as part of a major package of strategic investment in affordable, quality and accessible childcare. The Budget 2016 package included a further €16m investment in the expansion of the CCS Programme, to include its roll-out to private childcare providers, in a targeted manner.

Delivery of these changes and improvements required significant administrative activity by Pobal and my Department. Phase 1 of this roll-out, which took effect in October 2015, lifted the expansion restriction within existing CCS services. Phase 2, announced on 10th November 2015, expanded the CCS Programme to other community/not-for-profit childcare providers not currently under contract to deliver the CCS Programme. Phase 3, which came into effect recently, saw €16 million in funding for further CCS places made available to private childcare providers (CCS Private).

Pobal has advised me that 1,657 additional CCS places have been registered as part of Phase 1 and 2 of the expansion as of March 18th, 2016, and that registrations have continued since then.

The CCS Private programme opened to registrations on Thursday, 14 April last. To date, some 354 children have registered for CCS funded childcare places with contracted private childcare providers.

The Department has been working with the City and County Childcare Committees to help promote uptake of the CCS Community and Private expansions across the country. The CCCs have in turn been working with services within their areas, in particular where they have identified additional need, to communicate the availability of the CCS Programme to parents whose children may be attending their childcare services.

Child Care Services Provision

Ceisteanna (255)

Brendan Smith

Ceist:

255. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the capital funding he provided in his Estimates for 2016 towards the provision of new and upgraded child care facilities; if he will provide specific funding on a county basis; the level of funding he will provide for counties Cavan and Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7695/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

Capital funding of €4 million is being made available through the Early Years Capital Programme in 2016 for early years pre-school services, both private and not-for-profit/community, that are intending to expand their service to provide for more capacity in the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme. The maximum grant available under this programme is €10,000. The closing date for applications was 8 April 2016.

Pobal is responsible for the administration of this funding scheme on behalf of my Department. I have been advised by Pobal that an appraisal process is under way and that recommendations for approval of funding, in line with the published criteria, will be with my Department by early June. The award of funding will be based partially on evidence of current need and/or projected future demand for additional ECCE places in 2016-17 in the catchment area of each applying service. The relevant City or County Childcare Committee will assist Pobal with demand versus supply data. Value for money is also an awarding criteria and the costs/grant requested relative to the number of ECCE places being created will be taken into account when evaluating grant applications.

When this process is completed and grant funding is awarded, we will be in a position to announce the funding being made available on a county-by-county basis.