Written Answers Nos. 765-774
765. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if the case of a person (details supplied) will be examined in terms of the temporary wage subsidy childcare scheme; and if she will advise agencies dealing with the matter. [12133/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department, and Pobal on behalf of the Department, have examined the case presented in relation to the Temporary Wage Subsidy Childcare Scheme (TWSCS).
The Department has today made contact with the individual to explain the situation and seek to resolve any issues/concerns.
It is noted that the service provider indicated that their employee did not wish to receive the €350 floor provided in the scheme. This resulted in a considerably lower payment than would otherwise have been provided (and this reduction is not accounted for in the figures provided by the Deputy)
As of Monday 22nd of June, Service Providers can review the schedule of all payments allocated to them over the duration of the TWSCS. The service provider is also advised to review this with their financial adviser and this may resolve issues of concern.
Pobal's Early Years Provider Centre remains available to assist service providers with any queries they may have.
766. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if a copy of all briefing documents provided to Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party for their programme for Government negotiations will be provided. [12143/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am informed by the Department of the Taoiseach that they will be arranging for the publication of material provided by Government Departments in accordance with agreed procedures, via the Department of the Taoiseach, to Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party, as part of Government formation negotiations.
767. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if the ECCE will restart in September 2020; if so, the notice that will be given to childcare providers in advance of it restarting; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12300/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is currently finalising proposals for the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme for the 2020-21 programme year. ECCE contracts are being prepared and will be circulated to providers once the details of the programme have been confirmed.
Pobal, which administers the ECCE scheme, has contacted all registered early learning and care services care to inform them that they should be prepare for potential reopening, with an indicative opening date of 24 August.
768. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if the temporary wage subsidy scheme will be extended to include early years centres; if financing will be available for early years centres as they reopen; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12334/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 10 June 2020, I announced a major funding package to facilitate the reopening of early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC) services. In accordance with the Government Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business, and guided by the expert advice of the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HSPC), ELC and SAC services can resume from 29 June. I am pleased that Government have committed a €75m package of funding for reopening services over the summer months. This substantial investment recognises the important role that the ELC and SAC sector plays in the societal and economic infrastructure of the country.
The new funding package contains four significant elements:
- A once-off Reopening Support Payment for DCYA-funded providers opening between 29 June and early September.
- A once-off COVID-19 capital grant for DCYA-funded providers opening between 29 June and early September.
- Continued access for eligible providers to the Revenue-operated Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS)
- Resumption of DCYA ELC and SAC programmes. NCS, CCSP and TEC will be available again for children attending ELC and SAC services from 29 June.
In developing the funding package, I recognise that a reduced number of children are likely to attend ELC and SAC services in the initial weeks of reopening. This funding package is tailored to allow providers to operate with potentially less parental income and to assist in meeting the possible costs associated with complying with public health requirements.
The funding package will also ensure that ELC and SAC providers will not charge higher fees than they did pre-COVID-19. This will benefit parents and children returning to services.
The Government has announced that the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme will continue until the end of August 2020. No decisions for the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme after that point have been made by Government. I understand that where a service continues to meet the eligibility criteria for the Revenue operated TWSS, and continues to make payments in line with the requirements of that scheme, they can continue to avail of the wage subsidy under that scheme.
A detailed set of FAQs was published on 12 June to ensure that providers are fully informed of the new funding package. These include information on eligibility and the practicalities of applying. Further information will issue in the coming weeks and my officials will ensure that the application process will be as straightforward as possible.
A key policy priority for my Department is the sustainability of the ELC and SAC sector and hence it has and continues to work intensively to support services to reopen after COVID-19. The reopening funding aims to support providers to reopen, staff to remain in the sector, parents to resume work, and children to benefit from quality ELC and SAC.
769. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if clarification will be provided regarding the delay to the mother and baby home report (details supplied); the aspect of Covid-19 that has caused the recent delay; and if an apology will issue to the survivors in this regard. [12363/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhen responding to the question submitted by the Deputy at the start of the month, I accurately noted that the report from the Commission was due on 26th June in accordance with its Terms of Reference. I also indicated that on the date of responding to the question (3 June), Judge Murphy had submitted an update to me in relation to the Commission's progress. I advised that I would need to consider this communication and engage with my Cabinet colleagues as appropriate.
As the Deputy will see from the Seventh Interim Report, which I published on 12 June, the update I received from the Commission highlights that the work of the Commission, like every other activity in Ireland, has been affected by the restrictions imposed as a consequence of Covid-19. As a result, the Commission requested a revision of the timeframe for submitting its final report.
Shortly after I received the Report, I met with two of the Commissioners to discuss their request for additional time. Judge Murphy confirmed that the Commission had been working remotely in an attempt to complete the report before the end of the month. Although the final report is well advanced, Judge Murphy advised that delays had been incurred due to the inevitable logistical challenges related to Covid 19. In seeking an extension of time, the Commission noted that it has sought to factor in the anticipated phased easing of restrictions over this period.
At its meeting on Friday 12 June, the Government subsequently agreed to amend the Commission’s terms of reference to provide for the extension sought. The final report is now due to be delivered on 30 October 2020 at the latest. The Commission has engaged with hundreds of former residents in its work and is attempting to comprehensively analyse information at a level beyond what has ever been possible to date. In agreeing to this further extension, the Government’s priority is to safeguard this substantial work so that the independent Commission can comprehensively address and conclude these crucial matters as expeditiously as possible in accordance with the legislative framework. The Government considers that the public interest is best served by facilitating the Commission to produce an evidence based determination on what happened to vulnerable mothers and children in these institutions.
I know many former residents and their families are deeply disappointed with this delay. However, I also know that they will understand the overwhelming impact which Covid-19 and the associated public health restrictions have had on all our lives. My Department used existing channels of communication to ensure that former residents, their families and supporters were the first to be made aware of the new timeframe ahead of this information appearing in the media.
770. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the availability of capital grants for non-Covid-19-related works that need to be carried out urgently; if emergency funding of €20,000 will be made be available for a service that is provided through a prefab to update its facilities in order that the service will not be forced to close in August 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12371/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince 2015 my Department has administered an annual capital funding programme, under which service providers are invited to apply for capital funding to increase the capacity of their services, and to maintain and improve their services. Providers can apply for funding if they are registered with Tusla. Services must register with Tusla before they can open and provide childcare services.
In 2020 I secured €7.2m in capital funding for early learning and care (ELC) and school age childcare (SAC). I suspended the Capital Programme on 26 March, due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
In accordance with the Government Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business, and guided by the expert advice of the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HSPC), ELC and SAC services can begin to resume from 29 June. In response to this, I have decided to use the funding that was allocated for this year’s ELC and SAC Capital Programme to provide grants to assist with the costs of supporting ELC and SAC services to reopen and adhere to public health requirements. I have increased the allocation for this once-off capital grant to €14.2m as all registered, centre based and childminding services re-opening between 29 June and the beginning of September can apply for this grant.
This grant can be used by services to help them to adhere to the reopening guidelines by improving hygiene facilities and outdoor play areas. This will reduce the risk posed by COVID-19.
If non-Covid-19 related funding is required, a number of supports were available before the COVID-19 pandemic to improve the sustainability of services during normal times, and these remain available now. The Department oversees a Case Management process through which local CCCs and Pobal work together to assess and provide support to early learning and care services experiencing difficulties. Financial supports, which are also accessed through Case Management, are available for community services presenting with sustainability issues following a financial assessment by Pobal. Pobal co-ordinate the overall case management process with the CCC administering initial, and on-going, case management assistance. All services who require support should contact their local CCC in the first instance.
771. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will order an independent statutory inquiry into an organisation (details supplied) on foot of recent reports; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12376/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe initiation of any independent inquiry is a very significant matter and one which will require careful consideration.
As Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, I have previously taken a number of actions in response to allegations of poor safeguarding policies and practice in Scouting Ireland. These included the suspension of funding pending the appointment of a new Board, the appointment of Ms Jillian Van Turnhout to conduct a review of governance, which was completed in June 2018, and the requirement for regular updates on governance reforms by Scouting Ireland to my Department.
In addition, earlier this year, I appointed Ms Brigid McManus to conduct a follow-up review of governance in Scouting Ireland. This was published on 8th May and confirmed that all of Ms Van Turnhout’s recommendations had been satisfactorily implemented, while outlining a small number of matters for follow up.
I welcome the recent publication of Mr. Elliott's learning review into historical sexual abuse in scouting. My thoughts are with the adults who suffered so gravely as children through their involvement with scouting and who have carried this burden with them into their adult lives. I met with Mr Elliott, following receipt of his review, and was pleased to hear that, notwithstanding the seriousness of the findings, he was very positive about the current governance arrangements in Scouting Ireland, with a Board that is strong and well-functioning, and with robust safeguarding in place. Tusla has also written to the Department to indicate its satisfaction with current safeguarding practice in Scouting Ireland, particularly as it relates to the agreed Scouting Ireland / Tusla Action Plan.
The Government had previously undertaken to give careful consideration to the question of an appropriate statutory investigation following the RTÉ Investigates programme “Scouts Dishonour”. It was appropriate for Government to await the reports from Ms Brigid McManus and Mr Ian Elliott to inform this consideration. In this regard, it is noted that Mr Elliott’s report suggests that a statutory inquiry may face the same limitations as his Learning Review. Mr Elliott has also emphasised the cooperation of Scouting Ireland in relation to his review. As such, a key factor is whether a statutory or public inquiry would uncover new information. This is something which will need to be taken into account in contemplating the question of an inquiry.
772. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if it is permitted to take care of the children of other persons in a person's own home at this time; if so, the guidance that has been provided in such circumstances; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12443/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs per HSE guidance and in accordance with the regulations under the Health (Preservation and Protection and Other Emergency Measures in the Public Interest) Act 2000, childminders who care for the children of essential workers in the children's home were permitted to continue working after childcare facilities were closed on 12 March.
The HSE guidance specifies that at present (until 29th June) childminding should not take place in the carer’s home, in order to avoid households mixing.
Phase 3 of the Government’s Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business, which is currently scheduled to begin on 29th June, provides for the opening of childminders (along with the opening of creches and pre-schools) in a phased manner. On 29th May, I announced that childminders will also be able to resume looking after children in the childminder’s home from 29th June, while complying with HPSC advice.
To guide the operation of Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare settings - including childminders - after 29th June, the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) in the HSE has published 'Infection Prevention and Control Guidance for Settings Providing Childcare during the COVID-19 Pandemic'. This public health advice was approved by the Expert Advisory Group of the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET).
In addition, my Department has worked with a range of stakeholder organisations within the sector and with expert advisors to develop a range of guidance resources for providers of Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare, including childminders. The guidance resources are gathered together on a dedicated webpage: https://first5.gov.ie/practitioners/reopening. The resources includes guidance developed specifically for childminders, in collaboration with Childminding Ireland. The documents that are available for childminders include the following:
- Covid-19 Childminding Guidelines.
- Covid-19 Infection Control Policy for Childminders in Line with HPSC Guidance.
- Childminding Risk Assessment Template.
The First 5 website is continuously being updated with additional resources and information that will support all services, including childminders, on how best to comply with the public health advice while ensuring high quality practice to support children’s well-being, learning and development. The resources have been available to childminders and other providers through Childminding Ireland, City and County Childcare Committees, and other sector organisations.
773. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of vulnerable children, including those sponsored under the national childcare scheme, for example, children who are homeless and children funded through legacy childcare schemes, that are experiencing poverty, disadvantage or child welfare issues that will be availing of childcare services when childcare reopens on 29 June 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12487/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is not possible to know prior to the reopening of childcare services on June 29th how many children in the cohort described will return to a childcare service or the number in this category who may enrol for the first time.
I can provide the Deputy with the number of sponsored registrations in the current programme year prior to the closure of centre-based Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC)services on March 12 last.
With regard to the legacy schemes there were 44 active registrations under Community Childcare Subvention Resettlement (CCSR) which provides childcare funding to Programme Refugees and 213 active registrations under Community Childcare Subvention Resettlement (Transitional) which provides access to free childcare for children of families experiencing homelessness.
Under the National Childcare Scheme, the number of sponsored applications are as follows:
|
Applications |
|
|
National Homeless Authorities |
126 |
|
Minister for Justice and Equality |
19 |
|
Tusla Child and Family Agency |
14 |
|
Health Services Executive |
5 |
If a situation arises where demand in a childcare service exceeds capacity I have requested that these vulnerable children are given priority after frontline workers.
From September 2020, all sponsored childcare registrations will be made under the National Childcare Scheme.
774. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the consideration she has given to extending the age limit on the second year for free preschool allowances due to the Covid-19 pandemic. [12667/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has considered the proposal to extending the age limit on the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme, but does not believe that to do so would be in the best interests of children.
Since September 2018, all children meeting the minimum age requirement of 2 years and 8 months are eligible for two full programme years on the ECCE programme.
The provision of a second year of ECCE required either an increase in the upper age limit or a reduction in the lower age limit. A change to the minimum age from 3 years to 2 years 8 months was chosen however, the upper age limit remained the same i.e. a child is not eligible if they will be 5 years and 6 months before the end of the ECCE programme year.
The upper age limit was set in consultation with senior officials from the Early Years Education Policy Unit in the Department of Education and Skills and ensures that children transition into primary school with their peers, and limits the age range of children beginning primary school. Limiting the diversity in age ranges in children beginning primary school education is in the best interest of children, in relation to peer interaction in junior infants, as well as other educational considerations.
My Department and the Department of Education and Skills has developed the 'Transitions' programme to provide support to parents and children who will be starting primary school this autumn, in recognition of the fact that children have not attended pre-school since March. Information on the programme can be found on both Departments' websites.
