Tuesday, 17 Apr 2018

Written Answers Nos. 1339-1355

Child and Family Agency Staff

Ceisteanna (1339)

Pearse Doherty

Ceist:

1339. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the numbers of agency staff employed by Tusla in each of the years 2014 to 2017 and to date in 2018. [15582/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

Tusla has advised that the number of agency staff deployed in each of the years 2014 to 2017 and to date in February 2018 (latest data available), is as follows:

December 2014	307
December 2015	225
December 2016	280
December 2017	503
February 2018	453

Given the front-line nature of Tusla's services, agency staff are essential to ensure services for vulnerable children and families are maintained.

Early Childhood Care and Education

Ceisteanna (1340)

Anne Rabbitte

Ceist:

1340. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if a child born on 1 January 2016 will be eligible to enrol in the ECCE programme commencing in September 2018 in view of the fact that a child born on this date will meet the ECCE minimum age criteria of two years and eight months of age. [15768/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

From September 2018, all children meeting the minimum age requirement of 2 years and 8 months will be eligible for a full two programme years on the Early Childhood Care and Education programme (ECCE). This measure refines the development introduced last year and increases the duration of each registered child on ECCE from a current average of 61 weeks, to a potential duration of 76 weeks (two programme years). This delivers fully on a commitment in the Programme for a Partnership Government that is good for children, families and Early Years providers.

This minimum age was chosen based on national experience and a review of international practice. It also had regard to the regulatory environment for early years care and education in this country and issues such as child development readiness and adult-child ratios. The upper age limit will remain the same (i.e. a child is not eligible if they will be 5 years and 6 months before the end of the programme year).

In order for a child to be eligible to be enrolled for free pre-school on 1st September 2018 they must have been born between 1st January 2014 and 31st December 2015, they must have reached 2 years and 8 months on or before 31st August 2018. Please see the following link for further details on eligibility start dates.

In the example cited by the Deputy, the child will not be able to commence their ECCE in September 2018 as they will not have reached the age of 2 years and 8 months on or before 31st August 2018. However, they will be able to commence ECCE in September 2019, and continue for a further year from September 2020, commencing school in September 2021.

Some parents of children born around this time of the year may prefer for their children to start school at 4 rather than 5. These parents may therefore opt for 1 year of ECCE only. In such circumstances, they  should note that the new universal subsidy for 0-3 years of age, of €1040 per year, is available to parents of children in registered childcare until the child is eligible for ECCE. Please see affordablechildcare.ie for more information.

Early Childhood Care and Education

Ceisteanna (1341)

Kevin O'Keeffe

Ceist:

1341. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if a person (details supplied) in County Cork can avail of a specific allowance when it is required. [15884/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

From September 2018, all children meeting the minimum age requirement of 2 years and 8 months will be eligible for a full two programme years on the Early Childhood Care and Education programme (ECCE). This measure refines the development introduced last year, whereby three intake dates were adopted, and will increase the duration of each registered child on ECCE from a current average of 61 weeks, to a potential duration of 76 weeks (two programme years). This further enhancement delivers fully on a commitment in the Programme for a Partnership Government that is good for children, families and Early Years providers.

A child born in December 2014 is eligible for free pre-school from January to June 2018 and from September 2018 to June 2019. It is unclear whether or not the parents in question are having difficulty finding a place for 5 days for their child or if they are unaware that their child is, in fact, eligible for pre-school for the dates referred to. If the parents are having difficulty finding a place for their child I would urge them to contact their local Childcare Committee, contact details, phone [phone], email [e-mail]

Children in Care

Ceisteanna (1342)

Eoin Ó Broin

Ceist:

1342. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of adults and children who spent time in Tusla funded domestic violence refuge and step down accommodation in 2017 and the first quarter of 2018; and the average length of time these families spent in emergency accommodation. [16085/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has statutory responsibility for the provision of care and protection to victims of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. In discharging its statutory responsibility, Tusla supports 20 emergency refuge and support services in providing services for women and children fleeing domestic violence. Twenty four community-based domestic violence support services and 16 rape crisis centres also receive financial support from Tusla. Funding for these services was increased by €1.7m in 2018, to a total of €23.8m.

Tusla funds 155 family units, comprising 147 emergency refuge family units and 8 emergency non-refuge family units. The remit of these services is to provide safe emergency accommodation on a short-term basis.

Tusla does not have access to live data on refuge use. However, information provided by funded domestic violence services indicates that refuges consistently operate at full or near full-capacity. Any vacancies are generally attributed to the turnover between the discharge and admission of clients.

Tusla-funded services provide data to Tusla retrospectively on an annual basis. The data provided below refers to the use of services in 2016. 2017 data will be made available later in the year.

In 2016, a total of 1,520 women were accommodated in emergency refuge accommodation and an additional 42 women were accommodated in emergency non-refuge accommodation. In total 1,562 women were accommodated.

In 2016, a total of 2,223 children were accommodated in emergency refuge or emergency non-refuge accommodation.

Some service users are admitted to emergency refuges on more than one occasion over the course of a year, and as a result, the number of individual admissions is greater than the number of women admitted. In 2016, services reported on 1,604 separate admissions to emergency or emergency non-refuge accommodation.

Services report on the “length of stay” of individuals in their care by selecting from a number of categories representing different lengths of stay.  Of the 1,604 admissions reported for 2016, 766 were for between 1 and 7 days; 263 were for between 8 days and 14 days; 266 were for between 15 days and 6 weeks, and the remaining 309 stayed for more than 6 weeks.

Family Support Services

Ceisteanna (1343, 1344)

Anne Rabbitte

Ceist:

1343. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the methodology and criteria that her Department and Tusla used to select the locations of the 11 new family resource centres; the specific definitions and sources of data used; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16150/18]

Anne Rabbitte

Ceist:

1344. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her Department used the Pobal HP deprivation index to determine the locations of the new family resource centres; and if not, the reason therefor. [16151/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1343 and 1344 together.

Tusla, the Child and Family Agency is responsible for the administration of the Family Resource Centre Programme.

A high number of applications - 47 in total - were submitted to Tusla, who carried out an assessment process. The assessment included consultation with Tusla staff in operational and regional roles, and with Children and Young People's Services Committees around the country.

The methodology and criteria considered in selecting the locations of the 11 new family resource centres included the size and make-up of the geographical area; the social and economic conditions of the specified area; and the overall population breakdown of the area that would be serviced by the centre. The criteria also considered the structure of the organisation(s) applying to the Programme; their objectives, targets, and current relationships with other organisations; and the inclusion of available research, community projects, and needs assessments with the application. 

While the deprivation index referred to by the Deputy is specific to a particular organisation, Tusla has advised that deprivation is factored into its commissioning process. The Resource Allocation Profile model, which is used by Tusla, utilises a deprivation-related algorithm to weight various agreed criteria. The model is used to inform the allocation of total available development resources within Tusla, in conjunction with other criteria such as that provided above.

It is important that the needs of children and families are met in the best way possible, particularly in areas of disadvantage. I will continue to support the work of Family Resource Centres and family support services throughout the country.

Departmental Staff Data

Ceisteanna (1345)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Ceist:

1345. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of clerical officers and clerical assistants in her Department on temporary contracts by years of service; if these officers will be offered permanent positions in the Civil Service when they have served a fixed period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16424/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

My Department currently employs four temporary clerical officers (TCO's) who came from the Public Appointments Service (PAS) Temporary Clerical Officer panel in May, June July and October 2016 respectively. All four TCO's have been provided with contracts to undertake specified project work, on completion of which, their services will no longer be required.

Permanent clerical officer positions in this Department are filled through the clerical officer competitions run by PAS.

Early Childhood Care and Education Programmes

Ceisteanna (1346)

Seamus Healy

Ceist:

1346. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans to reintroduce the three enrolment points to the ECCE programme in view of the fact that some children will wait an inordinately long period for enrolment due to recent changes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16693/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

From September 2018, all children meeting the minimum age requirement of 2 years and 8 months will be eligible for a full two programme years on the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) scheme. The current take up of ECCE averages at 61 weeks, up from 38 weeks when ECCE was first introduced. From September 2018, all eligible children can avail of two full years of ECCE (76 weeks). This further enhancement delivers on a commitment in the Programme for a Partnership Government that is good for children, families and Early Years providers.

This new measure will address the inconsistencies that led to a wide range in the number of free preschool weeks; some children could avail of 61 weeks, while others could avail of 88 weeks, and will ensure a programme that is more equitable for children.

The number of entry points into ECCE will revert to one at the beginning of the 2018 programme year (September). One enrolment period at the start of the pre-school year will help streamline the administration process and will make it easier for childcare providers to operate and budget for the programme year. This will also make it simpler for parents to secure places on the ECCE programme for their children.

Local and Community Development Programme Expenditure

Ceisteanna (1347)

Peadar Tóibín

Ceist:

1347. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the amount spent on the local and community development programme in each of the years 2015 to 2017 by county in tabular form. [15227/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Rural and Community Development

I would like to refer the Deputy to the reply to PQ11821/18 (Question No 907) of 20 March 2018, which sets out all Local Community Development Programme (LCDP) funding in the requested format.

The LCDP was replaced by the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) from 1 April 2015 in most parts of the Country.

The reply to PQ13350/18 (Question No 274) of 22 March 2018, sets out SICAP funding in the requested format.

Local Improvement Scheme Funding

Ceisteanna (1348, 1350)

Margaret Murphy O'Mahony

Ceist:

1348. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of local improvement scheme applications made in 2017 that will be funded via the €1 million allocated for 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15279/18]

Margaret Murphy O'Mahony

Ceist:

1350. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the amount of the €1 million being made available to County Cork under the local improvement scheme that will be made available for 2018 or new applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15306/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Rural and Community Development

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1348 and 1350 together.

The Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) is a programme for improvement works on small private/non-public roads. The scheme is currently funded by my Department and administered through the Local Authorities.

Following on from the successful relaunch of the scheme in 2017, I announced details of the 2018 Local Improvement Scheme on 27th February last. A total of €10.8 million was allocated to County Councils around the country for LIS road improvements, of which €1,000,000 was allocated to County Cork.

The selection of roads to be included in the scheme for 2018 is a matter for each County Council, provided the roads in question meet with the relevant scheme criteria. Most Councils have now submitted lists of projects that they plan to undertake under the scheme this year to my Department. County Cork has notified the Department that 41 roads will be improved with their funding.

Detailed information regarding all of the 2018 LIS road projects to be undertaken across the country will be made available on my Department's website shortly. 

Community Services Programme

Ceisteanna (1349)

Martin Kenny

Ceist:

1349. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if funding will be sourced for a centre (details supplied) in County Leitrim which provides essential community services to older persons and which has had a cut of almost 50% of its funding through Pobal. [15286/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Rural and Community Development

The Community Services Programme (CSP) supports community organisations to provide local services through a social enterprise model.  Some 400 organisations are supported under the CSP, with funding provided as a contribution to the cost of a manager and an agreed number of full-time equivalent positions.

The organisation in question has been awarded a one-year grant agreement to end-December 2018 and may resubmit a revised business plan to Pobal as part of the re-contracting process for 2019-2020. The business plan, which must be submitted by end-June 2018, can include a business case for increased support from January 2019 to December 2020. A decision on funding for 2019-2020 will be taken towards the end of this year.

In the meantime, the organisation might contact the relevant local development company, which may be able to advise on alternative sources for funding for the organisation.

Question No. 1350 answered with Question No. 1348.

Legislative Programme

Ceisteanna (1351)

Pearse Doherty

Ceist:

1351. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of Bills both enacted and published by his Department which originated in work carried out by the Law Reform Commission in each of the past ten years in tabular form; the details of each Bill in the corresponding year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15354/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Rural and Community Development

My Department has not enacted or published any legislation since the date the Department was established, on 19 July 2017.

Library Services

Ceisteanna (1352)

Eugene Murphy

Ceist:

1352. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development his plans for Ballygar library, County Galway, which remains closed after the retirement of its librarian in the past weeks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15361/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Rural and Community Development

Under the Local Government Act 2001, each local authority Chief Executive is responsible for the staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of their local authority.  Accordingly, it is a matter for each Chief Executive to recruit and assign staff to the library service.

That said, I understand that filing the post in Ballygar Library is a priority for Galway County Council.  It has commenced the process and will fill the post as soon as is possible.

Community First Responders Network

Ceisteanna (1353)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Ceist:

1353. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the funding streams accessible by local authorities and voluntary responder groups to equip communities with the essential equipment needed by community first responders and public access defibrillator schemes to provide their key services across both rural and urban areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15371/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Rural and Community Development

I can confirm that my Department currently provides funding for a number of programmes which are relevant to the matter raised. 

Firstly, CLÁR (Ceantair Laga Árd-Riachtanais) is a targeted investment programme for rural areas that aims to provide funding for small infrastructural projects and other initiatives in areas that have experienced significant levels of population decline.

I launched the 2018 CLÁR Programme on 15 March, with an indicative allocation of €5 million across three Measures as follows: 

Measure 1: Supports for School and Community Safety Measures

Measure 2: Play Areas

Measure 3: First Response Supports

There is an indicative allocation of €1 million for the First Response Supports Measure. This measure is open to established organisations that operate entirely on a voluntary basis and are involved in emergency rescue or first response efforts in the community.  Funding under the measure will allow for the replacement or upgrading of old vehicles or equipment directly involved in emergency rescue/first response efforts, and could include the purchase of defibrillators.

The scheme will provide up to 85% of the total cost of the equipment being applied for. A match funding contribution of 15% is required. 

Application forms and detailed scheme documentation are available on my Department's website at http://drcd.gov.ie/about/rural/clar/, or by contacting my Department directly at  [e-mail]

The provision of defibrillators may also be considered eligible for funding under my Department's LEADER Programme, the Communities Facilities Scheme and the RAPID Programme.

LEADER funding is delivered through Local Action Groups (LAGs) in 28 sub-regional areas across Ireland, in line with the Local Development Strategies developed by each LAG.

Funding under LEADER is available for a range of defined themes, which include enterprise development and job creation, the development of rural towns, social inclusion, and the environment.

The Social Inclusion theme of the LEADER Programme focuses on the provision of services for people living in rural and remote areas and, in that context, the provision of defibrillators could be considered eligible for LEADER funding.

However, individual project approvals are a matter for the Local Action Group (LAG) in the relevant area and I have no function in relation to such approvals.  In order for a project to qualify for funding, it must be compatible with the actions outlined in the approved Local Development Strategy for the sub-regional area concerned, and it must comply with the Operating Rules and EU Regulations in place for the LEADER programme. 

Applications for project funding should be made directly to the relevant LAG.  Contact details for all LAGs are available on my Department's website at http://drcd.gov.ie/wp-content/uploads/list-of-LAGs.pdf  

The Communities Facilities Scheme (CFS) was launched on 10 March 2017.  It was targeted at disadvantaged urban and rural areas, but not exclusively so.  The funding related to capital projects only.  The CFS is administered by the Local Community Development Committees, in each Local Authority area, on behalf of my Department.  I am delighted to confirm that I have also secured a €2 million allocation for the CFS in Budget 2018.  The modalities of the CFS for 2018 are currently under consideration.

The RAPID (Revitalising Areas by Planning, Investment and Development) Programme was launched on 2 November 2017.  The Programme funding was for capital grants only and was aimed at funding projects in disadvantaged urban areas and provincial towns.   The RAPID Programme is also administered by the Local Community Development Committees.  I have also secured a €2 million allocation for RAPID in Budget 2018.  The modalities of the RAPID Programme for 2018 are currently under consideration.

LEADER Programmes Expenditure

Ceisteanna (1354, 1355)

Martin Kenny

Ceist:

1354. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the amount of LEADER funding which has been issued to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15463/18]

Martin Kenny

Ceist:

1355. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the estimated amount of LEADER funding expected to be issued by the end of 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15464/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Rural and Community Development

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1354 and 1355 together.

LEADER is a multi-annual EU co-funded programme to support rural development.  Ireland has an allocation of €250 million under the programme over the period 2014-2020, including both national and EU funding.  The programme is administered by Local Action Groups (LAGs) who deliver funding in accordance with Local Development Strategies that have been produced for each LAG area.

Funding Agreements for the current LEADER programme were, for the most part, signed with the LAGs in the second half of 2016 and the programme effectively became operational from that date.  The funding allocation for each sub-regional area is provided for the duration of the Programme rather than on an annual basis. This provides greater flexibility to the Local Action Groups in managing their resources.

As of 16th April 2018, the total amount of Leader funding which has been issued since the commencement of the 2014-2020 Programme is €17,452,596. This includes claims paid to project Promoters and administration fees paid to LAGs.

A total of €40 million has been provided in the 2018 Estimates to support the LEADER programme; reflecting voted provision of €35m supplemented by capital carryover of €5m. I am satisfied this level of budgetary provision is in line with anticipated activity under the LEADER Programme in 2018.  My Department will be keeping this under review.