Robert Troy
Ceist:316. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a commerciality review of all routes serviced by Bus Éireann's Expressway service has been conducted. [17329/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraBus Éireann Services
Ceisteanna (316)
Freagraí scríofa
As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. Expressway services are operated by Bus Éireann on a commercial basis in a similar fashion to any other commercial licensed bus service. Commercial licensed bus services do not receive any taxpayer funding, in contrast to those socially necessary but financially unviable services which make up the PSO network. Decisions regarding commercial licensed bus services are matters for the operator concerned, subject to the licensing arrangements of the NTA.
I have therefore forwarded the Deputy's question to Bus Éireann for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 42A.
Noise Pollution
Ceisteanna (317)
Robert Troy
Ceist:317. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the dates and purpose of meetings he has held with relevant stakeholders since his decision to award Fingal County Council the competent authority for noise regulation at Dublin Airport. [17332/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The work carried out since the Government decision at the beginning of the year has involved officials - from my Department and the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government - working on Draft Heads of a Bill. That work, which I am advised has been very detailed and technical in nature, is primarily focusing on the interaction between the Noise Regulation, the EU Environmental Noise Directive and the planning framework. When this is complete, the next step will be to engage the Office of the Attorney General with draft Heads of a Bill.
At a point when there is clarity on the final regulatory model, including formal Draft Heads, there will be opportunity for a round of stakeholder engagements, in advance of the pre-legislative scrutiny of a draft General Scheme.
Roads Maintenance Funding
Ceisteanna (318)
Brendan Smith
Ceist:318. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to increase the financial allocation to local authorities for the non-national road network in view of the increasing costs of road repairs and the substantial damage caused to this road network due to adverse weather conditions over the past number of months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17334/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of local authorities, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from the Council's own resources supplemented by State road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is also a matter for the local authority.
I announced the 2018 regional and local road allocations on 29 January and all grant funding available to my Department has now been allocated. It is a matter for each Council to determine its priorities and decide its work programme on that basis, taking available grant funding and its own resources into account. At present, there is no additional funding available to my Department.
Domestic Violence Refuges Provision
Ceisteanna (319)
Frank O'Rourke
Ceist:319. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to the COSC review of the National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence 2010-2014 (details supplied), if her attention has been drawn to the fact that services for male victims of domestic violence constitute less than 1% of the total spent by voluntary services in the sector; if her attention has been further drawn to the fact that there are no services for male victims of domestic violence in Dublin, Cork, Galway and Limerick; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that there are no shelters for male victims and their children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17218/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, assumed statutory responsibility, upon its establishment in 2014, for the care and protection of victims of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence.
Tusla has worked, and continues to work, to develop an informed understanding of domestic, sexual and gender based violence, and to take account of the range of issues and the different manifestations of the types of violence and abuse, including where males are victims.
Over the last two years Tusla, along with organisations that work with male victims and survivors of domestic violence, has worked to identify factors that prevent men from seeking help, to determine approaches that would increase men’s willingness to seek services, and to identify the types of services that are likely to be most effective in responding to male victims/survivors.
Amen is a dedicated national support service for male victims of domestic abuse. Amen provides crisis intervention and a helpline to male victims of domestic violence throughout the country. Face-to face supports are also available on an outreach basis.
At present, face-to-face supports are available directly from Amen's office in County Meath, as well as an outreach service in Dublin. Additional funding was provided to Amen in 2017 for the development of pilot outreach services in Kilkenny, Ennis, Athlone, Galway and Donegal.
Tusla has allocated funding of €239,900 to Amen in 2018, which represents an increase of €93,400 over 2016 funding levels, or an increase of 64% over two years.
Funding to Amen represented 1.4% of the total funding provided by Tusla to Domestic Violence services in 2017.There are also services based in Counties Cork and Offaly which specifically provide services to both male and female victims of domestic abuse. 2016 statistics indicate that 13% of service users to Cork One Stop Shop were male, and 14% of service users to Offaly Domestic Violence Support Service were male.
Tusla has advised that there is currently no emergency shelter for male victims of domestic violence. Tusla continues to engage with stakeholders with a view to identifying models of intervention that are most likely to meet the priority needs of male victims of domestic abuse.
Early Childhood Care and Education Funding
Ceisteanna (320)
Anne Rabbitte
Ceist:320. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the first and full year cost of extending the early childhood care and education programme year by periods (details supplied). [17199/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The estimated cost of extending the ECCE programme, as specified by the Deputy, is contained in the table below. These figures are based on current rates for the ECCE 2017/2018 programme year. It should be noted that this question only addresses the financial aspect of such increases. Any such changes would require revision of rules around eligibility and enrolment dates and would need to look at issues of capacity with regard to physical space, staffing capacities and other associated matters.
The 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- costs increase as the number of higher qualified staff increase.
|
Weeks |
Costs |
|
38 (current ECCE cycle) |
276m |
|
39 (1 week increase) |
283.3m |
|
40 (2 week increase) |
290.5m |
|
41 (3 week increase) |
297.8m |
|
42 (4 week increase) |
305.1m |
|
43 (5 week increase) |
312.3m |
|
44 (6 week increase) |
319.6m |
|
45 (7 week increase) |
326.8m |
|
46 (8 week increase) |
334.1m |
Area Based Childhood Programme
Ceisteanna (321)
Anne Rabbitte
Ceist:321. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the amount of funding provided to the ABC programme for 2018; the number of centres this funding supports; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17200/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Area Based Childhood (ABC) Programme is a prevention and early intervention initiative led by my Department.
In last year's budget, my department secured additional grant funding to support the extension of the entire ABC Programme into 2018. An original commitment was given to support the programme to the end of August 2018 to align with the completion of the National Evaluation and ABC sites were requested to submit budgets for January to August, 2018. On that basis an overall funding budget of €5.6m was allocated to the ABC sites.
I have since given a commitment to support the current ABC Programme for the full year in 2018. ABC sites have recently submitted full year cost projections for 2018 and my Department is in the process of confirming final grant funding budgets for 2018 in the coming weeks. It is expected that the full budget to be allocated to sites in 2018 will be in the region of €8.5m.
There are 13 sites across Ireland, participating in the ABC Programme. These are located in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Louth, Wicklow, and the Midlands.
Family Resource Centres
Ceisteanna (322)
Anne Rabbitte
Ceist:322. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the amount of funding provided to the family resource centre network in 2010; the number of centres that this supported; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17201/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Family Resource Centres provide a holistic service of child, family and community support, and advocacy, to all children and families in their communities.
Prior to the establishment of Tusla in January 2014, the former Family Support Agency was responsible for the Family Resource Centre Programme. Funding of €15.37m was allocated under the Programme in 2010 and this supported 107 Family Resource Centres in that year. Tusla, the Child and Family Agency has been responsible for the administration of the Family Resource Centre Programme since its establishment on 1st January, 2014.
Supporting families is an important priority for me as the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, and the increased level of funding for Family Resource Centres in 2018 reflects this. I am pleased to be in a position to support the work of Family Resource Centres through the targeting of additional resources to services that will impact positively on vulnerable children and families.
Affordable Childcare Scheme Eligibility
Ceisteanna (323)
Anne Rabbitte
Ceist:323. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the method used to determine the level of subsidy that a household is eligible for under the affordable childcare scheme. [17202/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Under the Affordable Childcare Scheme, a family will be able to benefit from either a universal or a targeted subsidy. The level of subsidy will depend on the age of the child and, in the case of targeted subsidies, family income and parents' participation in work or study.
Universal subsidies will be available for families whose children are between 6 months and 36 months old (or who are not yet eligible to participate in the ECCE scheme, if later). The subsidy will amount to €0.50 per hour, and will be available for up to 40 hours per week.
Targeted subsidies will be available for families with net incomes below €47,500 whose children are between 6 months and 15 years old and who are availing of registered childcare. The main determinant of the level of subsidy will be net family income. Net family income will be determined on the basis of the combined income of the applicant and the applicant's partner, and the scheme will allow for the deduction from gross income of income tax, PRSI, USC, pension contributions, maintenance payments made, and a number of social welfare and related payments in line with planned legislation, namely the Childcare Support Bill 2017 and regulations to be made thereunder. The highest levels of subsidy will go to families with the lowest incomes, with the level of subsidy tapering down smoothly as income rises towards the maximum net income threshold of €47,500.
The level of subsidy will also depend on the age of the child. Higher subsidies will be awarded to families with younger children, to reflect the higher cost of providing childcare for younger children as a result of the higher adult-child ratios required by the Early Years Regulations.
In addition, the level of subsidy will reflect parents' participation in work or study. For families in which both parents (or the parent in a one-parent family) are in work or studying, enhanced hours of up to 40 hours of subsidy per week will be available. For families in which one or both parents is not working or studying, standard hours of up to 15 hours per week may be awarded.
Recent amendments to the Childcare Support Bill 2017, which is still progressing through the Houses of the Oireachtas, have extended the range of circumstances that must be considered in determining the rules on the number of hours of subsidy to be awarded each week. These circumstances have been extended to include specified situations in which a parent is unavailable to care for the child (e.g. because a parent is in hospital long-term), and temporary changes of circumstances in a parent's work or study (e.g. to allow bridging periods between phases of work or study).
The hours of subsidy awarded will also depend on whether a child is taking part in ECCE or is at school, as the hours of subsidy under the Affordable Childcare Scheme are intended to wrap around a child's participation in ECCE or school, as well as meeting childcare needs outside of term-time.
ACS will be fairer and more accessible than the current targeted childcare programmes, under which many low-income families are not currently able to access subsidised childcare because of the requirement to be in receipt of certain State benefits or attending certain training programmes.
A further benefit of the method for determining the level of subsidy under the Affordable Childcare Scheme will be its flexibility, as the Scheme will allow for adjustment of income thresholds, subsidy rates and income taper rates over time and as further Government investment becomes available.