Written Answers Nos. 684-693
684. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if there is a specific grant scheme available to assist with the provision of child care facilities for preschool children with autism; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16050/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department does not have a specific grant scheme available to assist with the provision of childcare facilities for pre-school children with autism.
However, in September last year, the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) was introduced. This is a new programme of supports to enable children with a disability to access and fully participate in the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme. AIM encourages children with disabilities to attend mainstream pre-school where they can socialise with their peers. The degree of support provided depends on the needs of the child availing of the ECCE Programme, in the context of the pre-school service registered with my Department. The ECCE Programme is provided for 3 hours per day for 5 days per week. The supports provided under AIM will benefit children with a range of disabilities, including autism.
In addition, the Department of Education and Skills administers the Home Tuition Grant Scheme which provides funding towards the provision of a compensatory educational service for children who, for a number of specific reasons, are unable to attend pre-school and primary school. This includes early educational intervention for children with autism who meet the scheme's eligibility criteria.
Children can avail of both the ECCE Programme and Home Tuition Grant Scheme on a pro rata basis. However, the maximum number of combined hours which can be availed of under the two schemes is 20 hours per week for children over the age of 3.
685. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the estimated cost to increase the average subsidy under the new universal scheme for every €50 million per annum increase in investment over a five year period. [16072/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraBudget 2017 provided an additional €19m to enable the introduction of a new single Affordable Childcare Scheme. This is in addition to the existing funding which supports the current targeted schemes and which equates to €87m annually. The full year costs of the scheme will be approximately €150m.
Of this €150m, the expected cost of the universal element of the scheme is approx. €17m per year, i.e. approximately 11% of the total scheme cost.
The impact on the universal subsidy of a €50m increase in the overall scheme budget would depend on what policy decisions were taken about how the additional funding was used, for example in relation to the balance of spending between the universal and income-related elements of the scheme.
If it is assumed that the current balance were retained, then the additional spending on the universal element of the scheme would amount to 11% of the €50m, i.e. approximately €5.5m.
Based on an assumption of no change in the number of beneficiaries of the universal subsidy, a €5.5m increase in spending on the universal element of the scheme would allow a one-third increase in the universal subsidy-rate per hour, i.e. an increase from 50c per hour to 67c per hour. In practice, however, an increase in the universal subsidy rate is likely to lead to an increase in the number of beneficiaries, as the reduction in childcare fees paid by parents would lead to an increase in demand for childcare. As a result, the potential increase in the subsidy-rate, within a fixed budget increase of €5.5m, would be less than 67c per hour.
686. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the estimated total cost under the proposed universal subsidy of increasing the €80 per month subsidy in €20 intervals up to the amount of €300 for all eligible parents. [16073/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraBudget 2017 provided an additional €19m to enable the introduction of a new single Affordable Childcare Scheme. This is in addition to the existing funding which supports the current targeted schemes and which equates to €87m annually. The full year costs of the scheme will be approximately €150m.
The universal element of the scheme provides a €0.50 per hour subsidy for children aged 6-36 months, for up to a maximum of 40 hours per week. Only families use the full 40 hours of childcare or more per week will receive an €80 per month subsidy. Families using part-time childcare will receive a pro rata subsidy.
The expected cost of the universal element of the scheme is approx. €17m per year. This cost estimate is based on an estimated 25,000 beneficiaries and current patterns of childcare usage, in terms of the mix of full-time and part-time childcare use.
The table sets out the cost of increasing the maximum (40 hour) universal subsidy rate in increments of €20 per week, based on an assumption of no change in the number of beneficiaries of the universal subsidy. In practice, however, a significant increase in the universal subsidy rate is likely to lead to an increase in the number of beneficiaries, as the reduction in childcare fees paid by parents would lead to an increase in demand for childcare.
|
Maximum Universal Subsidy Rate (40 hours per week) |
Increase in Subsidy |
Subsidy per hour |
No. of Children Availing of Universal Subsidy |
Annual Cost (full year) |
|
€80 |
€0.50 |
25,000 |
€17 million |
|
|
€100 |
€20 |
€0.63 |
25,000 |
€21 million |
|
€120 |
€20 |
€0.75 |
25,000 |
€25 million |
|
€140 |
€20 |
€0.88 |
25,000 |
€29 million |
|
€160 |
€20 |
€1.00 |
25,000 |
€33 million |
|
€180 |
€20 |
€1.13 |
25,000 |
€38 million |
|
€200 |
€20 |
€1.25 |
25,000 |
€42 million |
|
€220 |
€20 |
€1.38 |
25,000 |
€46 million |
|
€240 |
€20 |
€1.50 |
25,000 |
€50 million |
|
€260 |
€20 |
€1.63 |
25,000 |
€54 million |
|
€280 |
€20 |
€1.75 |
25,000 |
€58 million |
|
€300 |
€20 |
€1.88 |
25,000 |
€62 million |
687. Deputy Colm Brophy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of requests her Department received for material to be made available in Braille format in each of the years 2014 to 2016; the number of these requests which were accommodated by her Department; the cost implication and the person or body which provided the translation service. [16388/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn the time period referred to, no requests were received by my Department, for material to be made available in braille format.
688. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the detail of the 2017 opening stock figure, current stock figure, cumulative new stock figure to date in 2017 and cumulative issued stock figure in 2017 for chemical hazard PPE respirators for technical personnel at Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel; and if he will exclude military grade respirators used for military training purposes. [16143/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra689. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the detail of the 2016 opening stock figure, closing stock figure, cumulative new stock figure and cumulative issued stock figure for disposable coveralls at Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel. [16144/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra691. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the testing and selection criteria for disposable overalls in use by the Air Corps to insure they offer personnel adequate protection from the toxic chemicals in use. [16146/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 688, 689 and 691 together.
Unfortunately, it has not been possible to compile the information requested in the time available. My officials are working with the military authorities to obtain the information which will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as it is available.
690. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will provide a detailed listing of all the toxic chemicals currently in possession of and being used by the Air Corps. [16145/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt has not been possible to compile the information requested in the time available. My officials are working with the military authorities to obtain the information which will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as it is available.
692. Deputy Colm Brophy asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of requests his Department received for material to be made available in Braille format in each of the years 2014 to 2016; the number of these requests which were accommodated by his Department; the cost implication and the person or body which provided the translation service. [16515/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has not received any requests for material to be made available in Braille format in each of the years 2014 to 2016.
693. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if there are circumstances whereby the active service exemption from the relevant statutory obligations can be applied in the month prior to active service starting (details supplied); and if so, the specifics of those circumstances. [16570/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra'Active service' is defined by Section 5 of the Defence Act 1954, as amended by Section 4 of the Defence (Amendment)(No. 2) Act 1960 as follows:
“4. (1) A member of the Permanent Defence Force who is serving outside the State with an armed International United Nations Force shall, for the purposes of the Principal Act, be deemed, while so serving, to be on active service.”
I am advised that a member of the Permanent Defence Force is deemed to be on active service while serving outside the State with a relevant Force. This period commences when the member departs the State to serve with the Force and ends when he returns to the State, having finished serving with the Force. Active Service in relation to service with a United Nations Force is confined to the service “outside the State” during that tour of duty.
In relation to express exemptions under Section 6(2) of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005, Section 6 states:
“(1) The relevant statutory provisions apply to prisons and places of detention unless their application is incompatible with safe custody, good order and security.
(2) Subject to section 11, the relevant statutory provisions apply to members of the Defence Forces except when they are -
(a) on active service within the meaning of section 5 of the Defence Act 1954 or deemed to be on active service within the meaning of section 4(1) of the Defence (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 1960, (b) engaged in action in the course of operational duties at sea,
(c) engaged in operations in aid to the civil power, or
(d) engaged in training directly associated with any of the activities specified in paragraph (a) to (c).”
As such, in respect of overseas service, the express exemption under section 6(2) relates to all training activities “directly associated” with the overseas service concerned. In summary, the period of Active Service is clearly defined as the period served outside the State with the mission concerned. The period of the exemption under section 6(2)(d) of the 2005 Act, however, also includes training directly associated with such overseas service.
