Written Answers Nos 1934-1960
1934. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if any former Deputies have been appointed to State boards under her remit by the Public Appointments Service; if so, the names and positions of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28210/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can inform that Deputy that no former TDs have been appointed to State Boards under the remit of my Department under the Government Guidelines that involve the Public Appointments Service. I should point out that I, not the Public Appointments Service, appoint the members to these State Boards.
1935. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her views on the fact that child care providers are increasing prices before the introduction of the affordable childcare scheme; if measures can be put in place to prevent same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27943/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am not anticipating widespread increases in childcare fees as a result of increases in subsidies this September. There is no evidence, at this point, of plans to increase fee-levels.
Fees charged to parents are entirely at the discretion of childcare providers who operate independently of the State. There are many factors that influence the fees charged, including a range of cost pressures and market forces. A childcare provider may raise its fees for one of many reasons, particularly where childcare fees have changed very little in recent years. While I do not expect a widespread increase in fees, my Department will actively monitor the trends over time.
The policy paper on the Affordable Childcare Scheme (ACS), which the Government approved last October, examined the option of imposing price-caps on childcare providers to prevent erosion of subsidies through fee-inflation. The policy paper noted the potential benefits of price-caps, including preventing fee-inflation and providing certainty for parents, and equity between parents. It did however note the problems that might arise. Introduction of price-caps would represent economic regulation of the market, raising legal and economic questions as to what constitutes a fair price for childcare. The policy paper recommended that there should be no initial price-cap, but that the option of price-caps should be considered following the Independent Review of Costs and examination of the initial market response to higher subsidies. The Independent Review, which will be commissioned later this year, will include examination of variation in costs and fees. It will be a key input into any future consideration of the potential benefits and risks of introducing price-caps.
Estimates of take-up of September 2017 measures suggest that up to 70,000 children will benefit from the improvements I am making. The fact that so many children will benefit from subsidies this September is a very positive development and represents a significant precursor to the Affordable Childcare Scheme when even more families will benefit.
1936. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when a reply will issue from Tusla to correspondence from a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27995/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have requested information from Tusla, the Child and Family Agency in relation to this matter. I will revert to the Deputy once I have been furnished with a response by Tusla.
The deferred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
1937. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the amount spent by her Department on designing, implementing and supporting the Eircode system in each of the years 2011 to 2016 and to date in 2017, in tabular form. [28134/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe use of the Eircode location code did not necessitate any upgrade to my Department`s information technology systems or databases and as such, no costs were incurred in relation to its application.
The Eircode location code is featured on all Departmental business cards and headed stationery printed since the introduction of the Eircode system and does not incur any cost in addition to the reprinting costs. Staff are also encouraged to include the Eircode location code in all email signatures.
1938. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the first and full year cost of extending childcare subsidies to band A recipients under the 2017 childcare measures. [28222/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra1939. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the first and full year cost of extending childcare subsidies to band AJ recipients under the 2017 childcare measures. [28223/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra1940. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the first and full year cost of extending childcare subsidies to band B recipients under the 2017 childcare measures. [28224/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra1941. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the first and full year cost of extending childcare subsidies to band C recipients under the 2017 childcare measures. [28225/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1938 to 1941, inclusive, together.
In PQ 28225/17 there is a reference to Band C and in context I presume the Deputy is referring to the new Band D (Band C is a historical administrative band, which is no longer used).
It is estimated that the full-year cost of extending childcare subsidy rates for Band A, Band AJ and Band B beneficiaries of the Community Childcare Subvention Scheme, in addition to a new Band D being created in respect of children who are entitled to hold the over 6 GP Visit Card, and a new universal payment (for children who are between the ages of 6 months until the age they qualify for entry into the ECCE scheme), would be approximately €110 million.
Breakdown of the Estimated Cost Per Band
|
Bands |
Amount |
|
Band A |
€60 million |
|
Band AJ |
€12 million |
|
Band B |
€12 million |
|
Band D |
€6 million |
|
Universal Subsidy |
€20 million |
1942. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when a decision will be made on an application for capital funding by a child care facility (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28245/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 20th March 2017 I announced the Early Years Capital programme for 2017 in three strands, as follows:
- Strand 1: Additional Places (€3 million total available – maximum €50,000 per grant);
- Strand 2: Building improvements and maintenance/refurbishment (€500,000 total available, maximum €20,000 per grant, Community childcare services only);
- Strand 3: Natural outdoor play area (€500,000 total available, maximum €5,000 per grant).
The closing date for receipt of applications under this programme was Thursday 27th April and I can confirm that an application was received from the service referred to by the Deputy under strand 2 of this programme. Applications received under this programme are currently being evaluated by Pobal. It is anticipated that Pobal will be issuing recommendations on funding under this programme to my Department over the coming weeks.
1943. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the arrangements that are made regarding providing specific subsidised child care for adult students that are being supported by SUSI educational grants as their only source of income and which brings child care costs of up to €1,000 per month out of their reach; the initiatives that are being considered for the roll-out of bespoke assistance; the way in which she has envisaged assisting this cohort of child care usage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28436/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra1944. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the arrangements that are made regarding providing specific subsidised child care for students being supported by SUSI grants as their only source of income; the initiatives being considered for a rollout of additional assistance to cover the costs of child care for this marginalised group; the way in which she has envisaged assisting this cohort of child care users that is facilitated by EU funds to cover the cost of this child care provision in other member states; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28437/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1943 and 1944 together.
Currently SUSI grants do not give rise to eligibility for subsidised childcare other than through the ECCE free pre-school programme, although some recipients of SUSI grants may be eligible for subsidised childcare on other grounds. For example, if a SUSI grant-recipient also has a Medical Card or a GP Visit Card, then the SUSI grant-recipient may be eligible for childcare subsidised through the Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) scheme. In addition, the ECCE free pre-school programme is a universal programme that provides 15 hours of free early care and education for 38 weeks per year for children aged between 3 and school-entry, regardless of parental income.
As from September 2017, a new universal subsidy for childcare is being introduced for children aged between 6 months and 36 months, or until qualification for the ECCE free pre-school programme if that is later than 36 months. As this new subsidy is universal, it will be available to SUSI grant-recipients who are not already in receipt of a CCS childcare subsidy. Provided the child is within the specified age-range, a subsidy of up €20 per week will be available in any Tusla-registered childcare provider, for up to 52 weeks per year.
In addition, at the earliest possible date the existing targeted childcare schemes will be replaced by the Affordable Childcare Scheme. When it is introduced, the Affordable Childcare Scheme will change the basis of eligibility for subsidised childcare. Rather than eligibility being based on possession of a Medical Card (or GP Visit Card) or receipt of a relevant social welfare payment or participation in a designated training course, eligibility will then be based on family income. A student in a family where the only source of income is a SUSI grant will then be eligible on income-grounds for a childcare subsidy.
1945. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when the affordable child care scheme will be implemented; the reason for the delay; if registered child minders can be paid retrospectively in view of the fact that they have been carrying out best practice for some time and will be doing the work which they will ultimately be paid for under the scheme when it comes into being; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28545/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Affordable Childcare Scheme (ACS) has been designed to facilitate the inclusion of childminders. However, it is essential that public subsidies are only provided to childcare providers where there is a sufficient level of assurance of the quality of provision. For this reason, the ACS, once underway, will be delivered through Tusla-registered childcare providers, both centre-based providers and childminders.
I do not want to delay the benefit of higher childcare subsidies for low-income families. For that reason, I recently announced that a number of changes will be made to existing childcare schemes that will bring substantial benefits to tens of thousands of children and their families from this September. These changes will include a new universal subsidy for children aged from 6 months up to 36 months old (or commencement of the free pre-school programme) and significant increases of up to 50 per cent in targeted childcare subvention rates provided under the Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) Scheme for children aged from 6 months up to 15 years old. For example, parents availing of full-time childcare who currently have their childcare costs subsidised by €95 per week under the CCS Scheme – which is the largest of the targeted childcare schemes – will see their subvention rate rise to €145 per week from this September.
These childcare supports will become available to families from this September through childcare services contracted through my Department. It is not envisaged that any payment will be made retrospectively, however a non-contact payment in recognition of administration associated with the new measures will be paid this year to all childcare providers who sign up to deliver these childcare supports on behalf of my Department.
The policy paper for the introduction of the ACS was approved by Government in October 2016. Since then, officials of my Department and Pobal have been working intensively to plan for the implementation of this Scheme. This is an extremely complex and ambitious project because of all that is involved – legislation, new business processes, data protection and building a new IT system. We will need to integrate data from the Department of Social Protection and the Office of the Revenue Commissioners so that the system can calculate every family’s net income and Affordable Childcare Scheme subsidy. We will need to test the IT system rigorously to make sure it works, even in complicated family circumstances.
While my officials are working as quickly as possible, I believe it is prudent to take the time to ensure we get the new systems right, so that they operate smoothly for everyone. The ACS will be introduced at the earliest possible date, while ensuring that the scheme is fully operational and user-friendly for all concerned. In the meantime, I am satisfied that the new measures commencing this September honour the Government’s commitment to delivering more affordable childcare to families.
1946. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to the HIQA inspection report of 12 June 2017 into foster care services in counties Louth and Meath the actions that have been taken to address the concerns raised in the report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28564/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs part of its 2017 Monitoring programme, the Health Information Quality Authority (HIQA) are conducting thematic inspections across 17 Tusla service areas, focusing on the recruitment, assessment, approval, supervision and review of foster carers. These inspections cover eight standards in the National Standards for Foster Care and inspections are announced in advance. The inspection report referred to by the Deputy found that of the eight standards assessed during the inspection, one standard was fully compliant, six were substantially compliant, and one was found to be non-compliant (major). Prior to publishing the inspection report HIQA provided Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, with an opportunity to develop an Action Plan addressing the findings of the report and the Action Plan has been published with the Report. The plan provides details and timelines for the implementation of specific actions to address the concerns raised in the report.
The standard that HIQA found was non-compliant (major) way related to formal reviews of foster carers. The HIQA inspection found that over half of foster carers had not had a formal foster carer review for more than three years and that recommendations from reviews were not consistently implemented in a timely manner.
The following actions have been or will be undertaken to address the issues identified, with an indicative timeline provided.
1. A comprehensive schedule of foster care reviews has been devised to ensure that all foster carers are formally reviewed by March 2018. This schedule will be reviewed at the Quality Assurance & Oversight Group which is chaired by the Area Manager.(From March 2018).
2. The Foster Care Committee (FCC) will have an increased role in the oversight of foster care reviews. The schedule of formal reviews has been provided to the FCC chair who will monitor the outcome of reviews.
3. The review schedule will be carefully monitored by the Principal Social Worker (PSW) and the Area Manager, and a tracking mechanism is now in place on the foster care register with regard to current and future foster carers. The implementation of recommendations will be tracked by team leader duty supervision of link social workers and delays in progressing recommendations will be brought to the notice of the PSW and Area Manager (from April 2017).
4. Tusla's Audit Group, commenced in January 2017, will continue to undertake general and themed audits. A themed audit, to be undertaken in October 2017 will focus on implementation of review recommendations.(From 31st October 2017).
1947. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of foster carers that are without Garda vetting in counties Louth and Meath. [28565/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra1951. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of persons on the Louth Meath foster care committee that are without Garda vetting. [28569/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1947 and 1951 together.
Under Standard 10 of the National Standards for Foster Care the providers of foster care services are required to ensure that children and young people in foster care are protected from abuse and neglect. Foster care services in the counties Louth and Meath were found to be substantially compliant with this standard during a themed Health Information Quality Authority inspection carried out in March 2017. Areas where the provider (Tusla) failed to meet the required standard included instances where Garda Síochána vetting was not updated for all foster carers within the required timeframe. To address this finding all foster carers and family members over 18 years, were sent the e-vetting application on 30th March 2017. All outstanding vetting will be finalised by the 31st July 2017, and a database of completed vetting has been created to ensure for the timely completion in the future.
A recent themed inspection by the Health Information Quality Authority (HIQA) of foster care services in the Louth/Meath area found that up to date Garda Síochana vetting was not on file for each member of the Foster Care Committee in the region. In addressing this finding, Tusla, the Child and Family Agency with responsibility for foster care services in the Louth/Meath region, has processed e-vetting applications forms from all Foster Care Committee members and it is expected that these will be returned by the Vetting Unit by 31st July 2017. A system will be put in place to ensure timely completion of vetting procedures for Foster Care Committee members in the future.
1948. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if appropriate contracts are in place for all foster care placements in counties Louth and Meath. [28566/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraTusla, the Child and Family Agency has responsibility for foster care services in each of the 17 regional areas, including Louth and Meath. In a recent themed inspection of foster care services in Louth and Meath the Health Information Quality Authority (HIQA) found that there were 217 foster care households in the area, 159 of which were general foster carers and 58 were relative foster carers. The inspection identified that contracts were not in place for all relative foster carers who had children placed with them, but did not raise this as an issue in relation to general foster carers. In response to the finding Tulsa has undertaken a review and has confirmed that this breach in standards (no contract on the file) was limited to a small number of foster carers (three) identified in the inspection.
1949. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of foster carers in counties Louth and Meath that have never been reviewed; and if these reviews have now been completed. [28567/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra1950. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of foster carers in counties Louth and Meath that have not been reviewed in three years or longer; and if these reviews have now been completed. [28568/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1949 and 1950 together.
Under Standard 17 of the National Standards for Foster Care providers are required to ensure that foster carers participate in regular reviews of their continuing capacity to provide high quality care and to assist with the identification of gaps in the fostering service. The recent themed inspection by HIQA of foster care services in Louth and Meath found that Tusla were non-compliant (major) with this standard. HIQA found that over half of foster carers had not had a foster care review for more than three years. It should be noted, however, that while not constituting a formal review, all foster carers had an assigned link worker with responsibility to provide supervision, training and support to foster carers.
Tusla have undertaken the following actions to address the findings of the HIQA inspection:
- 1.A comprehensive schedule of foster care reviews has been devised to ensure that all foster carers are reviewed by March 2018. This schedule will be reviewed at the Quality Assurance & Oversight Group which is chaired by the Area Manager.
- 2.The Foster Care Committee (FCC) will have an increased role in the oversight of foster care reviews. The schedule of reviews has been provided to the FCC Chair who will monitor the submission of the outcome of reviews. The FCC Secretary has included a tracking system for all foster care reviews which will ensure that all foster carers who are reviewed and new foster carers will have an agreed date for review.
- 3 The review schedule will be carefully monitored by the Principal Social Worker (PSW) and the Area Manager, and a tracking mechanism is now in place on the foster care register with regard to reviews. The recommendations made at reviews will be tracked during supervision between Team Leaders and Link Social Workers. Where the progress of the recommendations are not advanced, this will be brought to the attention of the PSW and in turn the Area Manager.
Tusla has informed me that, at the time of the HIQA inspection, there were a total of 118 families without a review in place for over three years. Tusla have given a firm commitment that all reviews will be carried out by March 2018. The Louth/Meath area will also provide three-monthly updates to HIQA on the progress of these reviews, with the first review submitted on 7th June. Since the HIQA inspection a total of 27 reviews have taken place. A schedule is in place to complete the remaining reviews by the March 2018 deadline.
Question No. 1951 answered with Question No. 1947.
1952. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of allegations and complaints that have been recorded by the Louth Meath foster care committee in 2016 and to date in 2017; and the number of these allegations and complaints that have been investigated by an independent social worker as per policy guidelines. [28570/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked Tusla to provide information on the number of allegations and complaints that have been recorded by the local Foster Care Committee in 2016 and to date in 2017, and their compliance with policy guidelines in relation to how these allegations and complaints are investigated.
I will revert to the Deputy when this information is supplied.
The referred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
1953. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to the HIQA inspection report published on 12 June 2017, the new process implemented in the Louth Meath area to deal with allegations and complaints; the date on which this new process commenced; and if it has been successful. [28571/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraStandard 10 of the National Standards for Foster Care requires that the providers of foster care services (in this case Tusla) ensure that children and young people in foster care are protected from abuse and neglect. The recent themed inspection of foster care services in the Louth/Meath area by the Health Information Quality Authority (HIQA) found that Tusla was substantially compliant with this standard. However the standard was not met as HIQA found that complaints and allegations were not consistently managed in line with Children First. The inspection also found that notifications of allegations were not always sent to the Foster Care Committee in a timely way.
In the Action Plan developed by Tusla in response to HIQA's findings, Tusla outlined the steps that have been taken to address the consistency and management of allegations and complaints. This included clear instructions on the management of complaints and allegations to the senior management team and a follow up meeting with Team Leaders (by way of the Dublin North East Policy for the Management of Serious Concerns and Allegations). The purpose of the memo is to ensure that the change in practice was fully communicated across the area. Using a standardised template the Principal Social Worker will receive written notification of all allegations and serious concerns. Oversight will also be provided by the Chair of the Foster Care Committee, who also receives initial and final notifications of serious concerns and allegations. A practice memo has also been issued to all fostering link social workers to ensure that all are aware of the requirement to notify the Foster Care Committee of allegations and serious concerns in a timely manner.
The success of the new approaches adopted on foot of the HIQA inspection will be monitored and reported on in subsequent inspection reports.
1954. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of social workers who are operational in counties Louth and Meath; the vacancies that exist in the Louth Meath area; and the number of cases that are allocated to each of the operational social workers in the Louth Meath area. [28572/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy officials have requested the information from Tusla and I will forward the reply to the Deputy once I have been furnished with it.
The deferred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
1955. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to the HIQA inspection report published on 12 June 2017, the number of the 64 foster carers in counties Louth and Meath who were identified as having no social worker and who have now been appointed a social worker; the length of time that these foster carers were without an appointed social worker; and if all foster carers now have an appointed social worker in place. [28573/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe recent HIQA inspection found that in reviewing 64 foster carers files related to the theme of the inspection, there were 14 foster carers who were without a Link Social Worker. Some of these foster carers did not have children placed with them at the time.
Tusla have informed me that all of these carers now have an allocated Link Social Worker.
1956. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the out of hours support services that are available to foster carers in counties Louth and Meath. [28574/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAt present nationally there is no specific “Out of Hour’s Service”, dedicated to foster carers. However, Social Workers, Team Leaders and Principal Social Workers in the Louth/Meath area have provided support out of hours to foster carers in specific high risk cases.
1957. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of foster care homes, foster carers and relative foster carers respectively in counties Louth and Meath. [28575/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra1958. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of foster carers who are needed to meet demand in counties Louth and Meath; and the actions that will be taken to address the shortfall. [28576/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1957 and 1958 together.
I am informed by Tusla that there are currently 160 general foster carers and 58 relative foster carers in the Louth/Meath area.
Tusla have informed me that there is a requirement for approximately twenty foster carers immediately. Tusla are taking the following actions to address this shortfall;
- All schools in the area will be contacted, requesting that messages to be sent to all parents and teachers, highlighting the need for foster carers in the area.
- Posters/leaflets will be distributed to community groups, health centres, G.P. surgeries, churches, highlighting need for foster carers in the area. The Principal Social Worker for Fostering in the region has met with local community groups in Dundalk requesting leaders within these groups to organise a meeting with the local communities to highlight the need for carers in local communities.
- Contact has been made with local Traveller Groups and groups working with other ethnic minorities, in a bid to recruit from their specific communities, facilitating a better match of children with carers from within their own communities.
- The Children and Young People’s Services Committee in the area are working alongside Tusla to help recruit foster carers locally.
1959. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of occasions since 2014 and to date in 2017, that counties Louth and Meath have gone outside of the national standards for foster care recommendations and placed more than two children in one foster care placement. [28577/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Standards for Foster Care recommend that no more than two unrelated children are placed in a foster home; however, there is no specific restriction in place with regard to siblings.
At the time of the recent themed HIQA inspection of foster care services in the Louth Meath area there were twenty three foster families who had more than two unrelated children placed in their care.
The number of foster carers in this category fluctuates, as, for example, a child could be placed in care for a night or two, on an emergency basis, and either the child returns home or moves to another foster placement. At all times the area will consider the skill and experience of the foster carer and the needs of the child requiring a placement. If the area assesses that a carer has the capacity to care for an extra child than this will be considered, as opposed to possibly sending a child out of the Louth Meath area, away from family, friends, school, community etc. As one would expect it can be extremely difficult for a child to be received into care. Moving a child from their locality may compound that difficulty, so the fostering department try to avoid this scenario if at all possible.
A Fostering Recruitment campaign is currently underway in the Louth Meath region in order to increase the pool of foster carers locally.
1960. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the first and full year cost of hiring additional social care workers. [28592/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy officials have requested the information from Tusla and I will forward the reply to the Deputy once I have been furnished with it.
