Written Answers Nos. 668-683
668. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 503 of 15 May 2018, the expenditure on consultancy costs for the MetroLink project; and the amount paid to each person or company in each year since the consultancy spend commenced in tabular form. [32314/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra669. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount spent by his Department, TII and the NTA on outside consultancy costs in the planning of the BusConnects project by year; the amount paid to each individual consultancy firm or person in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32315/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 668 and 669 together.
As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for the development and implementation of public transport in the Greater Dublin Area including the development of MetroLink and the BusConnects programme and therefore my Department has incurred no direct consultancy costs to date in relation to the planning of BusConnects.
Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter, and the Authority's very recent reply to the Deputy in the matter of MetroLink costs (letter dated 28th June) I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for a further reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
670. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the cost of extending funding for pre-school from one to two years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32154/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraEarly Childhood Care and Education Programme (ECCE) was introduced in January 2010. The objective of the Programme is to make early learning in a formal setting available to eligible children in the year (s) before they commence primary school. On introduction, ECCE covered one academic year or 38 weeks.
From September 2016, ECCE was expanded so that children were eligible to start free pre-school once they had turned 3 and they could continue in ECCE until they started primary school (once the child was not older than 5 years and 6 months at the end of the relevant pre-school year i.e. end June). To facilitate this expansion, three registration intake windows were introduced (allowing children to be registered, as they became eligible, in September, January and April). The average uptake increased from 38 weeks to 61 weeks.
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 ECCE scheme. This further enhancement delivers fully on a commitment in the Programme for a Partnership Government that is good for children and families.
The number of children benefitting from ECCE in any year has increased significantly as a result of these expansions; as did the correlating cost of funding the expansions, as demonstrated in the following table.
In summary, the additional cost of moving from one year of ECCE to 2 years of ECCE is currently estimated as €130m.
|
Academic year |
No. of children registered |
Total cost (full-year) |
Increase from 2015/16 |
|
2015/16 |
67,000 |
€179.1m |
|
|
2016/17* |
120,813 |
€262.9m |
€83.8m |
|
2017/18* |
118,794 |
€261,3m |
€82.2m |
|
2018/19** |
114,115 |
€309,1m |
€130m |
* The registrations figure quoted for 16/17 and 17/18 refers to the peak value; in those years there were three intake models in place, and by dint of this model, each child benefitted from an average of 61 weeks across the two eligible years.
The new enrolment model, which will come into effect from September 2018, will revert to a single intake; and the registrations figure quoted above for 2018/19 refers to the number of registrations my officials estimate will benefit from ECCE across the full 38 weeks of the academic year. The further expansion to ECCE this September will increase eligibility to a maximum 76 weeks.
** The figures quoted with respect to 2018/19 are estimates and these incorporate the 7% increase in ECCE capitation rates agreed in Budget 2018 (which come into effect from September 2018).
671. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the ratio of men and women at each Civil Service grade within her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31687/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe ratio of men to women at each service grade within my Department is outlined in the following table. The data has been calculated by reference to headcount and is correct as of June 30th 2018.
|
Grade |
Women |
Men |
Total |
% Women |
% Men |
|
Secretary General |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0% |
100% |
|
Assistant Secretary |
2 |
1 |
3 |
67% |
33% |
|
Principal Officer |
14 |
13 |
27 |
52% |
48% |
|
Assistant Principal |
33 |
21 |
54 |
61% |
39% |
|
Administrative Officer |
14 |
14 |
28 |
50% |
50% |
|
Higher Executive Officer |
22 |
18 |
40 |
55% |
45% |
|
Executive Officer |
38 |
20 |
58 |
66% |
34% |
|
Clerical Officer |
35 |
20 |
55 |
64% |
36% |
|
Services Officer |
0 |
3 |
3 |
0% |
100% |
|
Total |
158 |
111 |
269 |
59% |
41% |
672. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if the Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill 2016 is compatible with new GDPR regulations; her plans to revise the Bill to ensure its compliance; and if she has been advised on the matter. [31718/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) significantly increases the obligations and responsibilities for organisations and businesses in how they collect, use and protect personal data. At the centre of the new law is the requirement for organisations and businesses to be fully transparent about how they are using and safeguarding personal data, and to be able to demonstrate accountability for their data processing activities.
The Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill 2016 has passed Second Stage in the Seanad. The implications of the introduction of the GDPR for all relevant individuals in the context of information and tracing are being carefully considered by my Department in advance of the committee stage debate on the Bill.
673. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the funding provided towards capital projects in counties Meath and Louth in 2016, 2017 and to date in 2018, by project name, location and cost in tabular form. [31984/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraDetails of the funds provided by my Department to support capital development projects in Meath and Louth since 2016 are set out in the tables in the following link:
674. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the applications submitted for funding and projects from Meath and Louth County Councils in 2016, 2017 and to date in 2018 for projects decided upon or in progress in tabular form. [32000/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraDetails of the schemes through which funding was provided by my Department to Meath and Louth County Councils are set out in the following tables:
2016
|
Programme |
Location |
Funding |
|
National Play Day |
Louth County Council |
€650 |
|
National Recreation Week |
Louth County Council |
€1,700 |
|
Comhairle na nÓg Development Fund |
Louth County Council |
€20,000 |
|
Comhairle na nÓg Development Fund |
Meath County Council |
€20,000 |
2017
|
Programme |
Location |
Funding |
|
National Play Day |
*Meath (Sports Partnership) |
€650 |
|
National Recreation Week |
*Meath (Sports Partnership) |
€1,700 |
|
National Play Day |
Louth County Council |
€650 |
|
National Recreation Week |
Louth County Council |
€1,700 |
|
Play and Recreation Capital Grant Scheme |
Meath County Council |
€15,000 |
|
Comhairle na nÓg Development Fund |
Louth County Council |
€20,000 |
|
Comhairle na nÓg Development Fund |
Meath County Council |
€20,000 |
2018
|
Programme |
Location |
Funding |
|
Play and Recreation Capital Grant Scheme |
Louth County Council |
€12,000 |
|
Play and Recreation Capital Grant Scheme |
Meath County Council |
€10,800 |
|
Comhairle na nÓg Development Fund |
Louth County Council |
€20,000 |
|
Comhairle na nÓg Development Fund |
Meath County Council |
€20,000 |
*Meath (Sports Partnership) is a division of Meath County Council.
675. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the psychiatric and mental health services available on-site at Oberstown Children's Detention Centre, Lusk, County Dublin; the number of times to date in 2018 that young persons from Oberstown have had to be transferred to another service location due to the lack of an on-site psychiatric and mental health service provision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32019/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Director of Oberstown Children Detention Campus (OCDC) that no young person was transferred from campus to another service location, due to a lack of on-site psychiatric and mental health service provision in 2018.
Care to children in OCDC is provided under the CEHOP (Care, Education, Health, Offending Behaviour and Preparation for Leaving) framework. All children are assessed on their arrival in Oberstown for any psychological concerns and an appropriate care plan is drawn up to help meet their individual needs.
Psychiatric and mental health services are provided in Oberstown by the on-site Assessment, Consultation and Therapy Service (ACTS) provided by Tusla and the provision of an in-reach psychiatric service provided through the Health Service Executive (HSE). ACTS is a national service that provides clinical therapeutic services to children placed in special care units managed by Tusla and children in Oberstown. ACTS also engages in short term interventions, when children return to their communities, to support them to re-engage with mainstream services, as appropriate. The service is flexible in that, as children move between placements, it continues to provide clinical services. The role of the service is to determine, based on the results of the mental health screening in conjunction with other available reports, if a young person needs more specialist assessment or intervention from specialists within the clinical team. The multidisciplinary team includes counsellors with expertise in substance misuse, psychologists, social workers, social care workers and speech and language therapists.
The in-reach psychiatric service provided by the HSE currently includes a psychiatrist and psychiatric nurse. These work as part of the multidisciplinary team which includes the ACTS team and the Oberstown care staff.
Oberstown also has a fully equipped medical and dental facility on campus where children can access the necessary medical services and support.
Since 2017 STORM (Skills based Training On Risk Management) has been rolled out in Oberstown for staff directly engaging with young people. This training equips staff to provide direct interventions with young people who display suicidal ideation or who have attempted to self-harm, and/or to commit suicide. The aim of the STORM interventions is to teach young people how to identify what triggers are linked to these feelings as well as to develop new ways of coping that will reduce their risk of self harm/suicide. Training commenced at the end of 2017 and is ongoing throughout 2018.
676. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of children with a disability that were facilitated with exemptions for additional time on the free preschool year; and the reason for same. [32083/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy's question refers to the number of children who were granted Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) overage exemptions for the programme year 2017/18.
482 children were granted an overage exemption during that time period. (The peak number of children registered during this programme year was over 120,000.)
The Secretary Generals of the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and the Department of Education and Skills have jointly agreed to consider the evidence in relation to the overage exemption for children with disabilities and to lead a consultation process on the review of this policy. This policy review is required in light of developments since ECCE and the exemption were first introduced in 2010, namely the expansion of ECCE to two full years from September 2018, the introduction of the Access and Inclusion Model to ECCE services, and developments in resourcing for children with disabilities in the primary school sector.
The National Disability Authority has been requested to assist with this process and it is due to report shortly. My Department and the Department of Education and Skills continue to work together to ensure that early years and school age education policies are consistent and meet the best interest of children.
677. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her attention has been drawn to concerns raised regarding a recent appointment (details supplied); her views on concerns that have been raised regarding the way in which a retired civil servant is to chair a body regarding rights violations for which the State is responsible; her plans to appoint a wholly independent chair to oversee this forum; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32144/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am aware of concerns expressed by some interested parties and I thank the Deputy for the opportunity to clarify my reasoning and motivation for the appointment of Mr Kearney as Chair of the newly established Collaborative Forum.
The Deputy’s question suggests that the Collaborative Forum has a role in investigating or making determinations on alleged human rights abuses. This is not its intended focus. Therefore, in the first instance, it may be helpful to outline the specific role of the Collaborative Forum and how this differs significantly to the Commission of Investigation established by Government to comprehensively examine the experiences of women and children in mother and baby homes.
The Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes and certain related Matters was established by Government (S.I. No. 57 of 2015) to provide a full account of what happened to women and children in these homes during the period 1922 to 1998. The three person Commission comprises Judge Yvonne Murphy (Chair), Dr William Duncan, and Professor Mary E Daly. The Commission has all the necessary legal powers to make any findings and recommendations it deems appropriate in relation to the broad range of public concerns which have been referred to it.
Most importantly, the Commission is independent in the conduct of its investigations and the Chair of the Collaborative Forum, or its members, have no influence or role in relation to the investigation. The Commission is due to submit its findings by February 2019.
As the Commission continues with its important work I am committed to working directly with former residents in developing solutions to the issues of concern to them and their families. The Collaborative Forum is a progressive response to the theme of “nothing about us without us” which has emerged from facilitated consultations with former residents. Through the forum participants will create and drive forward a process that they can support and trust. I believe the Charter for a Collaborative Forum, which I agreed with my Government colleagues, presents a genuine opportunity for constructive dialogue and collective action. I am confident that the Forum will enable former residents to identify, discuss and prioritise the issues of concern to them. Its work can have a lasting and positive impact.
The approach I have taken to the appointment of a Chairperson and members of the Collaborative Forum recognises that it is an advisory rather than an investigative body. I consider the approach taken, including an independent process for the selection of 19 representatives of former residents, to be the appropriate one.
While Mr Kearney is not himself a former resident he brings a wealth of relevant experience from a distinguished career in public service. He has a proven track record of supporting successful collaborative projects, including his work with the Moore Street consultative group. I believe he will play a key role in the establishment of an effective and inclusive Forum, working with and in the interests of former residents. As outlined in the Charter, it will be a participant-centred process with its 20 members adopting a consensus-oriented decision making approach to their deliberations. In this way, Mr Kearney’s task will be to facilitate members of the Forum to create and drive the process for themselves. I am confident that Mr Kearney’s actions and approach will quickly serve to dispel any concerns which may exist at the outset.
678. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the cost of implementing a living wage of €11.90 for all employees directly employed and or in agencies funded by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32217/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraA suggested living wage of €11.90 per hour would equate to an annual salary threshold of €22,975, based on a standard civil service net working week of 37 hours. There are no staff in my Department on an annualised salary under this threshold.
As the information requested is not readily available in respect of the agencies under my Department's remit, I have asked the Adoption Authority of Ireland, the Children Detention School Campus and Tusla to furnish this information directly to the Deputy.
The Office of the Ombudsman for Children is independent in its function and reports to the Oireachtas on matters within its remit, as required by the Ombudsman for Children Act 2002.
I have forwarded the question to the Office of the Ombudsman for Children and asked that they might correspond with you directly in this matter.
679. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of crèches and preschools that were successful in their application for capital funding under the NCIP in each of the years 2006 to 2010 that are still operating; the number of creches and preschools that were successful in their application for capital funding under and under EOCP in each of the years 2000 to 2006 that are still operating; the number closed before the required operating period was fulfilled; the amount recouped if settings closed before the required timeframe; and if it is still possible for these funds to be recouped. [32239/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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 following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 42A.
Under the EOCP (Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme, 2000-2006), capital funding was available for the construction, renovation and/or equipping of childcare facilities. A total of €203.5m in capital funding was awarded to community based childcare services. A further €27.3m was approved to private providers.
A total of 1,959 childcare facilities were supported (with capital and/or staffing funding) under the EOCP.
According to EOCP rules, capital allowances made under the EOCP were subject to recoupment in the event that the building or facility in receipt of funding ceased to be a childcare facility or was sold within five years of the final grant payment being made. Following the winding up of the EOCP in 2006, this period has now elapsed.
The NCIP (National Childcare Investment Programme, 2006 - 2010) Capital Programme was a strategic infrastructural programme within the childcare sector with an aim to address local needs and meet local demands in the provision of childcare places.
Under the NCIP, the maximum funding available per childcare facility for community-based groups was €1.2m; for private providers, the maximum funding available per childcare facility was €100,000, with a ceiling of €500,000 per applicant across multiple facilities. Private providers were required under the programme to contribute at least 25% of the total cost of the capital project.
The total number of childcare facilities funded under the NCIP Capital Programme was 847 (of which 346 were community-based groups and 501 were private providers). A total of €177.8m was awarded under the programme.
Depending on the scale of the individual grant in question, grants under the NCIP were awarded on the condition that services remain in operation for a period from three years (for grants of €30,000 or less) to twenty years (for grants of €1m or more) following the grant award.
Pobal manage the operation of capital childcare programmes and contracting on behalf of the Department of Children and Youth Affairs. Since the end of both EOCP and NCIP, a total of €1.44m in capital payments have been recouped by the state due to closures, decommitals, etc. The following figures have been provided by Pobal and show the break-down of capital recoupments as follows:
|
Capital Recoupments |
Capital Recoupments |
Capital recoupments |
|
|
Year |
EOCP |
NCIP |
Total |
|
2010 |
€27,097 |
€541,637 |
€568,734 |
|
2011 |
€385,386 |
€154,923 |
€540,309 |
|
2012 |
€65,610 |
€103,520 |
€169,129 |
|
2013 |
€28,490 |
€42,929 |
€71,419 |
|
2014 |
€4,703 |
€14,581 |
€19,284 |
|
2015 |
€5,997 |
€7,244 |
€13,241 |
|
2016 |
€19,917 |
€4,211 |
€24,128 |
|
2017 |
€22,468 |
€7,212 |
€29,680 |
|
2018 |
0 |
€6,976 |
€6,976 |
|
Total |
€559,668 |
€883,233 |
€1,442,901 |
At present it is not possible to provide an accurate number of services that received funding under the above programmes that remain in operation to this day. This is a complex task due in part to changes in addresses, ownership circumstances and reference numbers for many services.
As part of planning for future capital investment in childcare, my Department is having due regard to the performance and operation of previous large scale capital investment programmes, including closures and de-committals of childcare services where state interests exist. This exercise will help inform our plans looking forward for investment in childcare over the next ten years.
680. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if emergency funding is available for childcare centres that due to external factors lose their buildings and accommodation. [32369/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department offers a range of supports to childcare services. Primarily we provide capitation and subsidy payments that cover or contribute towards the cost of services under individual schemes. These are paid based on the numbers of children and their attendance levels. My Department now also makes €18m available annually in Programme Support Payments to providers which contribute towards the administrative or non-contact time costs of delivering childcare schemes.
For a number of years we have operated annual Early Years and School Age Capital Schemes to assist services to expand and / or improve the quality of service provision.
I am very conscious of sustainability challenges faced by some services across the country and hence in Budget 2017 I negotiated the first ever Sustainability Fund. I am pleased that this was enhanced further in Budget 2018 and now stands at €1.7m. This funding is to be used in 2018 and beyond to provide sustainability assistance in the areas of preventative, early intervention and transitional supports. The targeting of the supports for 2018 is still being finalised but has been planned to provide assistance to prevent and alleviate sustainability issues, as well as in cases of emergency. In this regard, community / not for profit services who, due to unforeseen circumstances, find themselves without a suitable premises, may have access to some funding that will enable them to secure a short term or long term abode for their service.
Although both community / not for profit and private childcare services play a vital role in their communities, the financial supports in relation to sustainability issues are currently targeted at the community / not for profit sector only.
My Department also offers significant non-financial supports to services. These are provided by both Pobal and the staff of thirty City and County Childcare Committees (CCCs) across the country. The non-financial services Pobal and the CCCs provide include the deployment of Development Coordinators to services, along with advice on governance, management and operational matters.
As I mentioned previously, it is unfortunately not possible for my Department to provide direct financial assistance to private childcare services at present. However, I would recommend that all services who find themselves in a crisis situation contact their local CCC or Pobal immediately seeking their assistance. Pobal has a dedicated team that assess services experiencing crisis situations and may be able to provide non-financial assistance or support.
681. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the ratio of men and women at each Civil Service grade within his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31699/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Rural and Community Development was established in July 2017. The Department currently has a headcount of 174 staff.
The current ratio of male to female staff in each civil service grade in the Department is as follows:
Head Service Officer: 1:0
Temporary Clerical Officer: 0:2
Clerical Officer: 1:1.8
Executive Officer: 1:2.8
Administrative Officer: 1:1.16
Higher Executive Officer: 1:1.38
Assistant Principal: 1:1
Principal Officer: 1:0.36
Assistant Secretary: 1:2
Secretary General: 1:0
682. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the allocation for the local improvement scheme in 2017 and 2018. [31802/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) is a programme for improvement works on small private/non-public roads which are not under the normal maintenance of the Local Authorities. The scheme is currently funded by my Department and administered through relevant Local Authorities.
On 21st September 2017, I allocated €10 million in funding for the Local Improvement Scheme, following a number of years when no dedicated funding was available for the scheme. Based on demand for the scheme and the capacity of Local Authorities to complete further works before the end of the year, I allocated an additional €7.4 million for LIS roads in November 2017.
I launched the 2018 LIS scheme in February this year, with an indicative allocation of €10.8 million to relevant Local Authority.
In total, I have allocated over €28 million in LIS funding since September 2017, and over 1,100 individual roads will benefit.
As part of the 2018 scheme I also requested Local Authorities to compile a secondary list of suitable LIS road projects which they could complete if additional funding becomes available under my Department's Vote later in the year. I will keep the matter under consideration in the context of my Department's overall expenditure performance over the coming months.
683. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of meetings held of Comhairle na Tuaithe since his Department was set up; the dates of the meetings; the progress made in developing rural and countryside recreation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31927/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, my Department was established on 27th July 2017. Since then, I met with the members of Comhairle na Tuaithe on 13th February last, and Comhairle met on two further occasions, on 16th May 2018 and 5th July 2018.
My meeting with Comhairle on 13th February was to hear directly from the members their views on the recommendations of the independent review of Comhairle and the Countryside Recreation Strategy which was finalised in March 2016. I also head the members' views on the future direction of Comhairle and on the development of the outdoor recreation sector in Ireland generally. That meeting was very constructive in helping me to formulate proposals for the future development of the sector.
My officials presented initial proposals to the Comhairle members at the meeting of 16th May and, through my officials, I received detailed feedback from the members on those proposals. I am currently considering that feedback in the context of a wider focus on the development of the rural recreation sector. I will make a final decision regarding the future operation of Comhairle na Tuaithe shortly.
