Written Answers Nos. 1434-1453
1434. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to the discovery of unmarked graves at a site in Tuam, the reason family members are not being contacted and liaised with regarding the work that is taking place; and her plans in Tuam. [35457/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is committed to responding to the discovery of infant remains by the Commission of Investigation on the site of the former mother and baby home in Tuam as effectively and as sensitively as possible.
I have appointed a multi-disciplinary team of experts to provide technical advice's to Government in this highly specialised area. I want to ensure that the approach adopted is informed by technical input that accords with international best practice in this specialised area.
It is important to note that the geophysical surveys undertaken by the expert team were non-invasive and did not involve any excavations or disturbance of the ground. It is hoped that this survey may assist to identify any further burials or anomalies on the areas in the ownership of Galway County Council.
The expert team submitted a First Stage Report in early July, which is available on my Department's website at www.DCYA.gov.ie. The expert team is due to submit its final report in September 2017 and it will be published to support efforts to build towards a consensus on the next steps to be taken.
As promised, on 7 June I published information in relation to the expert teams geophysical survey in the monthly update. This update is posted on the Mother and Baby Homes section of my Department's website on the first Friday of every month and is available to all interested parties.
I am also advised that Galway County Council continue to engage with those with a personal connection to the site.
1435. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the status of the implementation of the affordable child care scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35465/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraTo avoid delaying the benefit of higher child care subsidies for low-income families, I have made a number of changes to existing child care 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 of up to €1,040 per annum, for children aged from 6 months up to 36 months old (or commencement of the ECCE free pre-school programme) and significant increases of up to 50 per cent in targeted child care subvention rates provided under the Community Child care Subvention (CCS) Scheme for children up to 15 years old.
I remain fully committed to introducing the ACS and will do so at the earliest possible date. My Department has made significant progress in this regard. The Government has approved the Heads of Bill for the Scheme, and officials are working intensively to plan for successful implementation of the Scheme. However, I am conscious that this is a complex project which we must get right from the beginning. We need to have the legislation, business processes and a new robust IT system in place. We will need to test the System rigorously to ensure that it is efficient and easy to navigate for both families and providers.
I want to build a system that will underpin child care supports for children and investment in the child care sector for years to come. We are well on our way to introducing the ACS. When fully operational it will be a state-of-the-art system which will be capable of delivering, not just for this generation of children, but for generations to come. In the meantime, I am satisfied that the measures I am introducing this September will honour the Government’s commitment to delivering more affordable child care to families.
These child care supports will become available to families from this September through child care 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 child care providers who sign up to deliver these child care supports on behalf of my Department.
1436. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the amount spent by her Department on taxi and-or limousine fares in the past two years to date by year and amount; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35483/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraOfficials of my Department order taxis when necessary in the course of their work and when public transport cannot be utilised. The amount invoiced and spent by my Department for taxis in 2015 was €8,393, 2016 was €12,700 and January 2017 to present is €9,811.
No limousines were hired or paid for by my Department over this timeframe.
1437. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 797 of 11 April 2017, the estimated cost of the measure assuming it will be introduced in September 2018; and the full year cost. [35710/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe actual cost of this proposal would be subject to a number of factors including actual levels of participation and the number of children subvented at the 'higher capitation' rate. Extrapolating from 2016/17 figures, the estimated cost of introducing this measure in September 2018, would be €20 million with increases of €3 million annually for every additional 1% of children paid at the higher capitation rate.
Based on 2016/17 figures, the estimated total cost of this over a full programme year would be €300 million
1438. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if the criteria have changed for the local youth club grant scheme to prioritising groups in which 75% of the youth members are between ten and 21 years of age and requiring 75% to be between ten to 21 years of age. [35822/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra1439. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her views on whether scout groups could be disadvantaged by the change to the local youth club grant scheme which requires groups to have 75% of youth members between ten and 21 years of age (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35823/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1438 and 1439 together.
My Department administers a range of funding schemes and programmes to support the provision of youth services to young people throughout the country including those from disadvantaged communities. The funding schemes support national and local youth work involving approximately 1,400 youth work staff working in youth services and communities throughout the country.
I am pleased to confirm that I have allocated an extra €5.5m in current funding to support the provision of youth services in 2017. This will bring the total youth funding by my Department to €57.4m, an increase of 10% over last year's allocation. The additional funding is being used for programmes that target disadvantaged young people and to assist national youth organisations in their work to support local voluntary youth services.
The Local Youth Club Grant Scheme supports youth work activities at a local level. These grants are made available to all youth clubs and groups through the local Education and Training Boards. The scheme is open to new entrants and is advertised locally. Applications for funding are invited by the Education and Training Boards from local groups in their respective areas. Each year, more than 600 local youth clubs benefit from the scheme. In 2016, €1.065m was allocated to this scheme. In 2017, I have provided an additional 10% in funding to the scheme, bringing the total allocation to €1.1715m.
After a period of consultation with key stakeholders it was agreed that in line with the National Youth Strategy 2015–2020 it would be a condition of the Local Youth Club Grant Scheme that at least 75% of the club/group membership should be between the ages of 10 and 21.
This grant scheme was designed to provide volunteer-led youth activities for young people aged between 10 and 21. The clarification will ensure that the Scheme will have the maximum impact on the targeted cohort of young people while having the benefit of a built-in flexibility of 25% for those not in that age bracket.
It is my view that the Scout groups will not be inconvenienced by this clarification.
1440. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 402 of 12 July 2017, if she will refer to the submission from a charity (details supplied) as mentioned in a previous parliamentary question. [35835/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department notes that you have requested clarification regarding a specific proposal to establish a child care and family support service in the Longford area. The Department can confirm that it has received the proposal you refer to, and has conducted a review of its contents.
The Department acknowledges the ambition and scope of the proposed project, which would involve the provision of child care and additional support services through a Family Resource Centre (FRC). The Department is willing to liaise with Tusla regarding matters pertaining to the establishment and continued funding of FRC’s, of which they represent the primary funding body. However, our immediate concern remains the establishment of an Early Years service in this area. In this respect, the Department has identified that the proposal we have received does not contain a sufficiently comprehensive business plan for the operation of a child care service – in particular considering the level of funding requested (€878,789).
DCYA's current priority is to provide a child care service in this area. Unfortunately, a proposal purely in this respect has yet to be forthcoming.
1441. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 835 and 837 of 7 March 2017 and 660 of 23 May 2017, the estimated full-year cost of paying ECCE workers the living wage of €11.50 per hour at the current 38 week term; and the estimated cost of paying ECCE workers the living wage of €11.50 per hour for 41 and 44 weeks of the year, respectively. [35905/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department provides standard capitation of €64.50 per week and higher capitation of €75.00 per week for child care places under the ECCE Scheme. Given that it is a matter for each individual employer to determine the allocation of staff, resources and ratios (subject to the governing provisions with regard to ratios) from this capitation rate, it is not possible to estimate the full cost of paying all ECCE workers the living wage of €11.50 per hour for 38, 41 and 44 weeks respectively.
I would like to highlight that while the Department is not an employer of child care workers it is a significant funder of child care services and very conscious that there is an issue with regard to the pay and conditions of workers in the sector. Currently, there is no formal employer or employee (trade union) representation in place for the child care sector. Such representation will be central to progressing the issue of pay and conditions in the sector, through an established industrial relations mechanism such as a Sectoral Employment Order.
1442. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 660 of 23 May 2017, the estimated cost per year of the ACS in the event that the wage rate for educators is revised from the current proposed wage rate for level 5 educators to €10.60 an hour; and the corresponding increases for level 6 and 7 educators. [35917/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra1443. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 660 of 23 May 2017, the estimated cost per year of the ACS in the event that the wage rate for educators is revised from the current proposed wage rate for level 5 educators to €10.70 an hour; and the corresponding increases for level 6 and 7 educators. [35918/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra1444. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 660 of 23 May 2017, the estimated cost per year of the ACS in the event that the wage rate for educators is revised from the current proposed wage rate for level 5 educators to €10.80 an hour; and the corresponding increases for level 6 and 7 educators. [35919/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra1445. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 660 of 23 May 2017, the estimated cost per year of the ACS in the event that the wage rate for educators is revised from the current proposed wage rate for level 5 educators to €10.90 an hour; and the corresponding increases for level 6 and 7 educators. [35920/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra1446. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 660 of 23 May 2017, the estimated cost per year of the ACS in the event that the wage rate for educators is revised from the current proposed wage rate for level 5 educators to €11 an hour; and the corresponding increases for level 6 and 7 educators. [35921/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra1447. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 660 of 23 May 2017, the estimated cost per year of the ACS in the event that the wage rate for educators is revised from the current proposed wage rate for level 5 educators to €11.10 an hour; and the corresponding increases for level 6 and 7 educators. [35922/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra1448. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 660 of 23 May 2017, the estimated cost per year of the ACS in the event that the wage rate for educators is revised from the current proposed wage rate for level 5 educators to €11.20 an hour; and the corresponding increases for level 6 and 7 educators. [35923/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra1449. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 660 of 23 May 2017, the estimated cost per year of the ACS in the event that the wage rate for educators is revised from the current proposed wage rate for level 5 educators to €11.30 an hour; and the corresponding increases for level 6 and 7 educators. [35924/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra1450. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 660 of 23 May 2017, the estimated cost per year of the ACS in the event that the wage rate for educators is revised from the current proposed wage rate for level 5 educators to €11.40 an hour; and the corresponding increases for level 6 and 7 educators. [35925/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1442 to 1450, inclusive, together.
The detailed information sought by the Deputy is not currently available in the format requested. Officials in my Department are compiling this information, which will be supplied to the Deputy in no later than 10 working days.
The deferred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
1451. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the specific funding her Department or Tusla provides for mental health supports for children and young persons; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35930/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department does not directly fund mental health supports for children and young persons. Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, which is funded by my Department, provides specific funding for mental health supports for children and young persons. I have referred the question to Tusla for direct response to the Deputy.
1452. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 660 of 23 May 2017, if a decision was made to raise subsidy rates proportionally to reflect a rise in wages to €11.50 to educators qualified to level 5 on the National Framework of Qualifications, €13.00 for level 6 educators and €14.75 for level 7 educators; and if employers will be compensated in full for the cost of the pay increases, based on assumptions (details supplied). [35934/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs indicated in my previous reply to the Deputy, the subsidy-rates proposed for the Affordable Childcare Scheme reflect the current cost of delivering child care, including current wage rates. If wage rates were to rise, my Department would have to examine the possible need for subsidy rates to rise to reflect the higher cost of delivery for child care providers. Subsidy rates are a matter for Government decision – they would not rise automatically in line with changes in wages. There is no Government decision to increase subsidy rates at this time.
To help support the future development of the Affordable Childcare Scheme, I will shortly be commissioning an Independent Review on the Cost of Quality Child care. This will be put to tender by mid-August and will be completed within a number of months. My officials have been scoping the work that will be involved and preparing terms of reference for the study. Issues to be examined in the independent review will include:
- Average unit costs for child care providers (both centre-based providers and home-based childminders).
- Factors that result in different costs for different providers, including age of children, geography (e.g. rural vs. urban), whether a service is a community service or private, and aspects of the quality of provision.
- Comparison of unit costs in high-quality services with average services.
- Possible impact of future cost pressures, including potential wage increases.
- Analysis of the child care market, including the functioning of the child care market in disadvantaged areas.
I anticipate that this Independent Review will be a key input in informing future decisions on the Affordable Childcare Scheme, including the setting of subsidy rates.
I would like to highlight that while the Department is not an employer of child care workers it is a significant funder of child care services and very conscious that there is an issue with regard to the pay and conditions of workers in the sector. Currently, there is no formal employer or employee (trade union) representation in place for the child care sector. Such representation will be central to progressing the issue of pay and conditions in the sector, through an established industrial relations mechanism such as Sectoral Employment Orders.
1453. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the estimated full year cost of recruiting 500 new social workers and 1,000 new social workers, some of whom are to be aftercare workers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35955/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraTusla has advised that the estimated full year cost of recruiting 500 new social workers and 1,000 new social workers, costed as Professionally Qualified Social Workers is as follows:
|
# |
500 |
1000 |
|
PQSW |
PQSW |
|
|
Basic Pay |
24,703,289 |
49,406,578 |
|
ER PRSI |
2,655,604 |
5,311,208 |
|
Total Pay Cost |
27,358,893 |
54,717,786 |
|
Overhead @25 % of BP |
6,175,822 |
12,351,644 |
|
Total Cost |
33,534,715 |
67,067,430 |
