Written Answers Nos. 775-799
775. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the reason a child (details supplied) in County Donegal was refused their after-school childcare place despite their enrolment prior to Covid-19 lockdown; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13404/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhile its not Departmental policy to comment on individual cases, I would like to bring to your attention my Department's guidance for eligibility for childcare upon reopening, which I have included in full below.
Guidance on eligibility for childcare
The Government Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business allows for the phased reopening of Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare services, including childminders, from 29 June. While the Roadmap initially indicated that services would resume only for the children of essential workers, this has now been widened.
It is important to note that, as Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare services are private businesses, and now that the Roadmap has extended eligibility for services, the allocation of places is a matter for the service provider. This guidance is provided to help support providers in managing allocation of places when services reopen in a situation where demand is greater than the supply available.
In the best interests of the child and families, children should, as far as possible, be enabled to return to the service they attended Pre-COVID-19. Services availing of the Temporary Wage Subsidy Childcare Scheme (TWSCS) are contractually bound to retain places for families who used those places pre-COVID-19, until such time as the services reopen. There are significant benefits for children’s wellbeing and development in maintaining the link with their pre-COVID-19 providers of Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare.
If a service has additional capacity, they may register new families who have not previously used the setting, either on a long-term or a short-term basis depending on the service's capacity.
If capacity is limited, services are asked to prioritise the children of health and social care workers and other frontline workers, where possible. Services are also encouraged to support:
- vulnerable children sponsored under the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) and children funded through legacy childcare schemes who are experiencing poverty, disadvantage or child welfare issues;
- children with disabilities who previously attended part or full-time early learning and care, including those preparing to start school in September; and
- children whose parents need access to childcare in order to return to work, including children of childcare practitioners.
Childcare service providers are private enterprises and therefore if there is a dispute between the parents of a child and a childcare service provider, unfortunately my Department cannot directly intervene. I would recommend that the parents in question get in contact with the provider to resolve this issue in the first instance. If a satisfactory resolution cannot be reached then I would recommend that the parents contact their local County Childcare Committee who may be in a position to provide some support with this.
776. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when the report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes will be published. [13430/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy predecessor received a Seventh Interim Report from the Commission of Investigation on 03 June 2020. In its short update the Commission says its final report is very close to completion but it has encountered delays as a direct result of Covid-19 restrictions. For this reason, the Commission requested an extension to complete its work in accordance with the provisions of the Commissions of Investigations Act 2004.
At its meeting on 12 June, the then Government 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 Deputy should note that when a Commission submits its final report there are a number of procedural matters which must be addressed before the relevant Minister could seek the approval of Government to publish the report. For this reason there will always be a time interval between receipt of such reports and the separate arrangements for their publication.
777. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if parents that availed of subsidies under the national childcare scheme prior to Covid-19 closures will automatically qualify upon the reopening of childcare facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13438/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am pleased to confirm that all DCYA-funded schemes, including both universal and targeted subsidies for parents, are available again to children attending Early Learning and Care (ELC) services from 29 June. This includes the National Childcare Scheme (NCS).
Therefore, ELC services that reopen from 29 June onwards will be able to facilitate the resumption of NCS subsidies for parents.
Families who already availed of NCS subsidies before the closure of services in March should contact their ELC service to make arrangements for a return to childcare. The provider can renew the registration once the level of service is agreed between the provider and the parent.
Most NCS awards last for a year and can be re-used when parents move providers or just return after a break in service. As such there is no "re-qualification" for subsidies for this group. Some award are limited to six months. There will be a small number of parents with 6 month awards who will need to apply to renew their award.
Families in possession of an NCS award, but have not yet registered their award with an ELC service should contact their service of choice to make arrangements for registering their child for a place with that service. If a family has not yet chosen an ELC service, the childcare search facility on the NCS website will be helpful with this. This can be accessed at: https://ncs.gov.ie/en/childcare-search/
Families who have not yet applied for the NCS or have an award that has expired will need to make an application to the NCS scheme administrator before they can register with their ELC provider. More information about this is available at: https://ncs.gov.ie/en/application-form-guide/
778. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes has been granted an extension to complete its work due to Covid-19 restrictions; and if the disappointment of the survivors and their families arising from the latest delay to completion of the work of the Commission will be acknowledged. [13483/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will see from the Commission of Investigation's Seventh Interim Report, which my predecessor published on 12 June, the update received from the Commission highlights that its work, 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 my predecessor received the Report, she 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 by the end of June. 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.
At its meeting on Friday 12 June, the then Government agreed to amend the Commission’s terms of reference to provide for the extension sought. The Commission's final report is now due to be submitted 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 that ever been possible before. 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.
779. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if school age childcare will be given the same recognition as other preschool childcare services; if it will be recognised that the qualifications needed are different for preschool and early school childcare providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13495/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI fully recognise the value of both early learning and care and school-age childcare. While their roles differ, they are both of importance for children, families, society and the economy. Both pre-school and school-age services have for many years been able to take part in my Department's funding schemes, and both are included within the National Childcare Scheme. While regulations and minimum qualification requirements were introduced for pre-school services some years before their introduction for school-age services, school-age services are similarly on a journey of increasing support and progressive enhancements to quality requirements.
Since the 31st December 2016, all employees of a pre-school service who work directly with children must hold a full, major award in Early Childhood Care and Education at a minimum of Level 5 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ), or a qualification deemed equivalent by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs.
While initial Regulations for school-age childcare came into force in February 2019, those initial Regulations did not include a minimum qualification requirement for work in school-age childcare.
First 5, the Whole of Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families, includes a commitment that by 2028 all regulated school-age childcare staff will hold a minimum qualification.
The Workforce Development Plan, work on which began in mid-2019, has a number of objectives, including the identification of appropriate minimum qualification requirements for work in school-age childcare. A public consultation on school-age childcare, including on appropriate qualification requirements, was carried out in 2019. The public consultation included questions on whether different qualifications are required for practitioners working with pre-school and school-age children. Work on the Workforce Development Plan is ongoing.
780. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the fact that of the six family units in the one domestic violence emergency refuge in Cork city and county only two can operate due to social distancing; and the steps he is taking to provide additional emergency refugee spaces. [13516/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department is providing Tusla with €25.3m this year for some 60 organisations that deliver services for these victims of Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence . This includes funding and coordinated supports for 21 services that provide emergency refuge and non-refuge accommodation to victims of domestic violence.
Tusla is aware of reduced capacity within some refuges, due to requirements to enforce social distancing or self-isolation measures, particularly where communal facilities may exist. To date, Tusla has provided additional funding of approximately €500,000 across DSGBV services since the commencement of the COVID-19 crisis in Ireland. To mitigate the impact of social distancing and isolation measures, an additional 49 refuge and non-refuge accommodation units for service users have been secured throughout the country.
As facilities, accommodation and arrangements are specific to each service, Tusla is working with individual organisations to address any challenges arising in maintaining essential service provision. I have requested Tusla to respond directly to the Deputy with regard to the provision of emergency refuge accommodation in the specific refuge referenced, and more generally in the Cork area.
781. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the progress in relation to the establishment of a refuge for victims of domestic abuse in counties Cavan and Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13526/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraTusla currently provides support, coordination and funding to some 60 organisations around the country that deliver front line services to victims of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (DSGBV). Tusla continues to provide funding to DSGBV service providers during the current pandemic, in line with agreed service arrangements.
Tusla has been in contact with funded organisations, including those in the Cavan/Monaghan region, in relation to a Strategic Review of Domestic Violence Accommodation to inform Tusla's future commissioning of domestic violence emergency accommodation services, and to ensure that the evolving needs of service users are met. Tusla will carry out further engagements as the year progresses with a view to finalising the review. Future developments will be informed by the findings of the review and the recommendations of the Monitoring Committee of the National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence.
Tusla emphasises that its key priority at all times is to ensure that the needs of victims are met in the best way possible, with due attention to the quality, accessibility, and outcome of services.
782. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if his Department has established a working from home policy for its employees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13542/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has worked with the Department of Public Expenditure & Reform to develop guidelines for civil service organisations (Working from Home during COVID-19 – Guidance for Civil Service Organisations), which is intended to assist civil service organisations as long as necessary to address the health and safety risks of COVID-19. These guidelines are due to issue shortly.
Officials in the Department of Public Expenditure & Reform have also commenced work on the development of a remote working policy which will address remote working in the longer term for the civil service.
783. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if his Department will reimburse parents from the first day their child attends crèche from 29 June 2020 onwards and until they are able to obtain a public services card once local Intreo offices reopen in view of the difficulties for parents obtaining MyGovIDs during the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13567/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is aware of the current situation with regard to the Public Service Card, however parents can still apply for the National Childcare Scheme without obtaining a Public Services Card. They can do so by completing a paper application form and returning by post. For information on how to apply by post, parents can contact the Parent Support Centre on 01 906 8530, Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm.
I would also note that parents who already hold a Public Services Card and a basic MyGovidID account can still create a MyGovID verified account, and thereby complete an online application for the National Childcare Scheme. Details on how to do this can be found by logging into a MyGovID basic account, available at www.mygovid.ie .
As such it is open parent to apply at the any stage for an NCS award through online or offline means.
Regarding the issue of backdating subsidies, it has always been communicated by my Department that subsidy awards are payable from the week they are claimed, and not the date of application. It is a key aspect of the scheme that all claims are paid in arrears based on the attendance of a child. As such, the child must be registered with a childcare provider and the provider must confirm that attendance. This is a key financial and governance control to ensure we are maximising the benefits of public monies and that the investment is following the child.
Further information and resources for parents are available at www.ncs.gov.ie
The closure of Intreo offices has no impact on parents availing of other childcare subsidy supports, namely the Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) and the Training and Employment Childcare Scheme (TEC). Subsidies are available to any family who was registered in the childcare service on March 12th from when they return to the service.
784. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if youth services have been advised that their budgets are to be reviewed and funds carried over due to programmes not running during lockdown are to be recouped by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13571/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy will be aware of the extraordinary cost to the Exchequer of the current crisis and the need for careful management of resources to maintain public services and minimise the medium to long term impact of this pandemic on the economy and on society as a whole.
Therefore, while reiterating previous assurances around the intention to continue funding to the youth sector in line with 2020 allocations, my Department wrote recently to all funded youth organisations to request their Boards and management undertake a review of their funding requirement for 2020 to identify areas where the requirement may have reduced in light of the current ongoing circumstances. In this communication it was indicated that there is no intention to apply general cuts to any youth services. The purpose of this financial review is to identify where legitimate savings are accruing due to shut downs or restrictions.
I am aware that similar reviews are being undertaken across the public service and that a number of youth organisations have already undertaken or commenced such reviews.
Specifically, my Department has asked that each youth organisation review its utilisation of State funding for 2020 to identify all instances where services are not being delivered for a period, or a reduced service is being delivered. In this context it is understood that many services are seeking to maintain full service delivery through alternate means and we have asked that this should be documented and detailed as part of this review. We are also aware that the phased resumption of full service provision may entail new costs associated with adhering to public health requirements and return to work protocols, and that these will need to be factored into any review of costs for the remainder of 2020.
In the event that any organisation considers that it has either not utilised its full allocation to date, or will require less funding for the coming period, then we are asking them to reduce Quarter 3 drawdown requests accordingly.
785. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when a crèche (details supplied) will open; the childcare arrangements made available to parents and frontline staff in particular until that time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13628/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department does not provide early years learning and care services. Services are provided by private businesses or community organisations, and decisions on when to re-open are a matter for individual services.
I would encourage all services who have not yet reopened to contact the parents who had used their service before the Covid-19 closure and assess their demand for a service over the summer months, and to consider reopening. Services are being supported to reopen following the closure period through a €75million funding programme.
If any parents are having difficult in accessing childcare, they should contact their local County Childcare Committees, who will provide them with advice and support. Their local CCC can be found at myccc.ie
786. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if a project (details supplied) will qualify for funding in view of its importance to the county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13038/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe second call for Category 2 applications for the Fund closed at on 28 February 2020 and there was an excellent response from all across the country, with 76 applications received.
On 25 June 2020, I announced details of 24 successful projects arising from this call. The successful projects have been allocated €13m in support from the Fund and will deliver a total investment worth €17m. To date, the Fund has now allocated €161 million in support for 134 projects across Ireland, worth a combined total of €229 million.
As part of the aforementioned announcement, the Athy Food, Skills and Drinks Hub project referred to by the Deputy was approved for funding of €476,250.
787. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of funding for a group (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12746/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe second call for Category 2 applications for the Fund closed on 28 February and there was an excellent response from all across the country, with 76 applications received.
On 25 June 2020, I announced details of 24 successful projects arising from this call. The successful projects have been allocated €13m in support from the Fund and will deliver a total investment worth €17m. To date, the Fund has now allocated €161 million in support for 134 projects across Ireland, worth a combined total of €229 million.
As part of the aforementioned announcement, the Cahersiveen Town Centre Regeneration Project referred to by the Deputy was approved for funding of €1,056,380.
788. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of social enterprises that received funding in each of the years 2016 to 2019 and to date in 2020; and the amount of funding that each received. [13103/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince the establishment of my Department in 2017, specific supports for social enterprises have been provided through the Social Enterprise Measure of the Dormant Accounts Fund. These supports include small capital grants and funding to organisations to deliver training and mentoring to social enterprises.
Small capital grants funding has been provided to approximately 300 organisations, while 14 organisations are being funded to deliver training and mentoring supports to up to 400 social enterprise participants. The total amount allocated under this Measure since 2017 is €6.555 million. Details of the organisations funded under the Measure are available on my Department’s pages on the Gov.ie website.
Funding is also provided to social enterprises under for the Social Enterprise Development Fund, which was established in 2018 by Social Innovation Fund Ireland (SIFI) in partnership with Local Authorities Ireland. The Deputy received details of social enterprises supported under the Social Enterprise Development Fund in a reply to Parliamentary Question No. 940 on 16th June 2020 (Ref. 10596/20).
My Department’s Community Services Programme (CSP) is based on a social enterprise model, whereby community companies and co-operatives are expected to generate a traded income from the delivery of services. This programme supports approximately 400 community companies and co-operatives at any given time. Further information on CSP and details of the projects which it supports are available on Pobal’s website at https://www.pobal.ie/programmes/community-services-programme-csp/ . The 2020 budget for CSP is approximately €46 million.
Social enterprises can also benefit from funding from my Department under a number of other programmes, including the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) and LEADER. These programmes are not exclusive to social enterprises so comprehensive data is not captured on their level of participation on these programmes. However, the information provided above should provide the Deputy with a good indication of the extent of funding provided to social enterprises by my Department.
789. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the estimated amount it would cost in a full year if the current funding for the community services programme increased by 5%. [13285/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Departments Community Services Programme, or CSP, currently supports more than 400 community organisations to provide local services through a social enterprise model. CSP funding is provided as a fixed annual contribution to the cost of an agreed number of full-time equivalent (FTE) positions and a manager, where warranted. The CSP co-funding contribution towards employing each FTE is €19,033 per annum and €32,000 per annum for managers.
The CSP allocation for 2020 is €46.89m, an increase of 5% would cost an additional €2.34 million per annum and would result in a revised allocation of €49.23m.
790. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if support is available to voluntary community sporting organisations to assist them in the purchase of hand sanitiser and protective equipment and for the sanitising of facilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13294/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is aware of the challenges currently faced by community and voluntary organisations and is committed to working closely with the sector in managing through these.
Community sporting organisations are funded from a range of different sources across different Government Departments and agencies.
My Department's Community Enhancement Programme (CEP) provides small capital grants to community groups. These grants typically fund improvements to facilities or the purchase of new equipment. The 2020 Programme was launched recently and community sporting organisations are eligible to apply. The CEP is administered by the Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs) in each Local Authority area.
The Department gives flexibility to LCDCs to tailor the programme in each Local Authority area, so that it meets local priorities. It is recommended that applicants contact the LCDC in their area for further details.
791. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when a decision will be made on a grant application made through Pobal by a community organisation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13380/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Community Services Programme, or CSP, supports community organisations to provide local services through a social enterprise model with funding provided as a contribution to the cost of an agreed number of full-time equivalent positions (FTEs) and a manager, where warranted.
Pobal, who manage the programme on behalf of my Department assessed the business plan from the organisation in question last year, and determined that the organisation required one-to-one business coaching to address specific issues such as financial projections, identification of need for the proposal and potential displacement issues. The organisation availed of the offer of business coaching and completed it over the 1st quarter of 2020.
The organisation in question has since submitted revised documentation to Pobal who will reengage with the organisation as soon as is practical with a view to reassessing their proposed business plan in light of social distancing requirements and the Government's Roadmap for reopening society.
Funding for new organisations is also considered in light of available resources.
792. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if her Department has established a working from home policy for its employees; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13553/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Rural and Community Development was established on 19 July 2017 to provide a renewed and consolidated focus on rural and community development in Ireland.
The Civil Service HR Division of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform is currently finalising central guidance for the Civil Service on working from home. My Department will be guided by this and will shortly finalise its own policy, in line with this central guidance.
Aside from this formal policy my Department has proactively issued guidance to all staff in relation to working from home protocols and health and safety obligations, as set out in guidance from the Health and Safety Authority and Civil Service Employee Assistance Service.
793. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if there is a plan in place for the survival and viability of social enterprise and funded community service programmes which provide essential services to the community, due to lost income and the added costs associated with the Covid-19 pandemic; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13709/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is very much aware that many social enterprises, similar to other businesses, find themselves in financial difficulty as commercial activities have been curtailed due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. In recognition of this, my Department recently announced a number of specific support measures for social enterprises, along with community and voluntary organisations and charities. These supports, which are additional to other Government supports such as the Wage Subsidy Scheme, include:
- a €2.5 million fund to support community and voluntary groups, charities and social enterprises involved in the delivery of COVID-19 community response efforts, which was announced in April;
- a €35 million COVID-19 Stability Fund, administered by Pobal, to help organisations who saw their trading and/or fundraising income drop significantly during the crisis;
- a €5 million Government commitment to a Philanthropy Fund (Innovate Together), administered by Social Innovation Fund Ireland, which is focused on supporting responses to the crisis that require innovative and adaptive solutions.
The first tranche of funding under the Stability Fund was announced on 26th June and will provide over €10 million to 179 organisations. Further tranches will be announced over the coming weeks. Applications under the Innovate Together Fund are currently being assessed and successful applicants will be announced when this process is complete.
My Department continues to support the development of social enterprises in a number of ways, in line with the National Social Enterprise Policy for Ireland (2019-2022). For example, the pilot Training and Mentoring programme announced last year is enabling 14 projects to support up to 400 social enterprise participants to enhance their capacities across a wide range of areas including leadership, marketing and business development. This pilot programme is even more important in the COVID-19 operating environment and my Department has adopted a flexible approach to ensure that the scheme meets the new challenges facing the sector.
The Community Services Programme (CSP), currently supports over 400 social enterprises and community organisations and my Department is fully committed to continuing to support those organisations. My Department put in place a 2020 Support Fund which provided an additional payment to many of these organisations for a 12 week period from 26th March 2020, ensuring that they could pay their full-time CSP supported employees a maximum of €350 net per week, with a proportionate amount for part-time CSP supported employees.
794. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the eligibility criteria for the back to school allowance will be extended due to Covid-19 financial restrictions on households. [12904/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe back to school clothing and footwear allowance (BSCFA) scheme provides a once-off payment to eligible families to assist with the costs of clothing and footwear when children start or return to school each autumn. The scheme operates from June to September each year.
The allowance is payable in respect of eligible children between the ages of 4 and 17 in respect of whom a qualified child allowance is being paid and eligible children between the ages of 18 and 22 who are in full-time second level education and in respect of whom a qualified child allowance is being paid.
To qualify for BSCFA a person must meet a number of conditions namely:
* The child must meet the age criteria.
* The applicant must be in receipt of a qualifying payment and getting an increase in that payment for the qualified child (except in certain circumstances) in the period 1 June to 30 September.
* The assessable income for the household must be within prescribed limits.
* The applicant and the child (or children) in respect of whom the allowance is claimed must be resident in the State.
This year, the eligibility criteria for the BSCFA scheme has been extended to include the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment as a qualifying payment for the allowance.
Applications which are outside the terms of the BSCFA scheme will not qualify for payment under the BSCFA scheme. However, individuals who are refused a BSCFA payment may be considered for exceptional needs payments (ENP) under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme by the officers administering this scheme in the normal way.
Any persons who consider that they have an entitlement to an exceptional needs payment should contact the Department’s Community Welfare Service.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
795. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if childcare providers that normally close their service during the summer months in view of the fact that they are ECCE-only should remain on the pandemic unemployment payment or revert to jobseeker's until they reopen in September 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13089/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra832. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if childcare providers that normally close their service during the summer months and are doing so again in 2020 should remain on the pandemic unemployment payment or revert to jobseekers until they reopen in September 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13090/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 795 and 832 together.
The COVID-19 pandemic unemployment payment was introduced as a time limited emergency measure in response to the pandemic and Government has approved the extension of this payment until 10th August. This payment is available to persons who were in employment prior to 13th March and lost their job as a result of the pandemic.
Recipients of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment can continue to receive this payment while they satisfy the conditions of the scheme, including that they remain available to take up employment, including alternative employment if it is available to them.
If a person's is unsure about their entitlement, they are advised to contact their local intreo centre to discuss their particular circumstances.
I trust that this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
796. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she has been notified of the possible loss of jobs at an airline (details supplied); the engagement she has had with the airline; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13173/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy sincere thoughts are with all employers and employees faced with the prospect of forced restructuring and redundancies at this difficult time. Many sectors and industries have been badly affected by the measures the Irish Government, like many other governments across the globe, has had to take in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. It is probably fair to say that sectors associated with travel, tourism and aviation have been affected more than most.
The Protection of Employment Act 1977 imposes a number of obligations on employers who are proposing collective redundancies, including an obligation under sections 9 and 10 to engage in an information and consultation process with employees’ representatives and to provide certain information relating to the proposed redundancies. Section 11A of the Act provides that, where an employee believes the employer to be in breach of sections 9 or 10, they may pursue a complaint to the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC). It is an offence under the Act for an employer to fail to comply with sections 9 or 10.
There is also an obligation under section 12 which makes it mandatory on employers proposing a collective redundancy to notify the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection of the proposed collective redundancy. I received official notification of the proposed collective redundancies in CityJet in a letter dated 21st May 2020, which my officials inform me complied with the requirements under section 12 of the Protection of Employment Act 1977.
An employer is prohibited from issuing any notice of redundancy during the mandatory employee information and consultation period (required by the 1977 Act) and until 30 days have elapsed from the date on which the Minister has been notified. For the avoidance of doubt, the 30 day mandatory information and consultation process and the aforementioned 30 day period from the date of notification to the Minister may run concurrently.
Negotiations between employees and their employers are governed by the Industrial Relations Act 1990, which comes under the remit of my colleague the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment.
I do not have the legal authority to direct an outcome in the mandatory consultations between employers and employee representatives. The WRC is the organisation which is mandated to secure compliance with employment rights legislation. If employees have any concerns or complaints regarding their employment rights they should contact the Customer Service section of the WRC, who operate a telephone helpline at 1890 808090. They can provide further information in relation to employment, equality and industrial relations rights and obligations, and how to obtain redress where appropriate.
Finally, my Department’s Intreo service is available to assist all workers of CityJet in terms of income supports and job-seeking over the coming weeks and months. The Department provides a detailed list of contact numbers for each Intreo centre on its website at www.gov.ie .
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
797. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the pandemic unemployment payment will be extended for seasonal workers and employers that did not have staff in employment during January, February or early March 2020 but would have had full staffing at present; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13265/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra800. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if consideration has been given to the introduction of a pandemic employment payment for persons that can establish they have a pattern of seasonal work, particularly in the hospitality sector for the duration of the time they normally work each year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12700/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra853. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the pandemic unemployment payment will be extended to those that have been consistently employed by the State Examinations Commission in recent years (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13473/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra863. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if third-level students that had paid internships for the summer and contracts signed prior to 13 March 2020 are entitled to the pandemic unemployment payment if they have proof of a contract; and if not, her views on the steps that would remedy their financial situation and that of their families. [13622/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe COVID 19 pandemic unemployment payment was introduced as a time-limited emergency measure to meet the surge in unemployment which resulted from the effects of the Coronavirus pandemic. Government has recently approved the extension of the payment up to 10th August.
The conditions for receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment are that a person must be of working age between 18 and up to 66 years old, have been in employment immediately before 13th March and have lost their income from employment. If a person was due to take up seasonal employment but they were not in employment immediately prior to 13th March they are not eligible to receive the pandemic unemployment payment. It would be impossible to construct a scheme based on claims of potential or prospective but unrealised employment, particularly where the economy was operating at full-employment with many unfilled vacancies prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
People who do not qualify for the emergency payment are eligible to apply for jobseekers benefit if they meet the social insurance contribution condition requirement otherwise they may apply for means tested jobseekers allowance.
Any person who is experiencing financial hardship may be eligible for financial support under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme which can include support under the exceptional or urgent needs payments.
The Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) Grant, payable by the Department of Education and Skills, represents the primary support for people pursuing third level education. The matter of supports for students for the forthcoming academic year should be referred to the Department of Education and Skills.
I trust this clarifies the position.
798. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if there will be implications on pension contributions for those workers that have availed of the pandemic unemployment payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13441/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn the exceptional circumstances of the Covid-19 pandemic, it is the intention of the Government to ensure that former employees entitled to receive the Pandemic Unemployment Payment do not have their social insurance contribution records interrupted or otherwise adversely affected. In this regard, the Department is in the process of developing legislative proposals for consideration by the Government in the near future.
I trust this clarifies the position at this time.
799. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if employees in receipt of the temporary wage subsidy scheme continue to accrue holiday entitlements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13682/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 sets out the key parameters around the taking of annual leave and payment of same. Section 19 of the Act provides that an employee shall be entitled to paid annual leave equal to:
(a) 4 working weeks in a leave year in which he or she works at least 1,365 hours (unless it is a leave year in which he or she changes employment),
(b) One third of a working week for each month in the leave year in which he or she works at least 177 hours, or
(c) 8 per cent of the hours he or she works in a leave year (but subject to a maximum of 4 weeks).
Under the terms of the Act, if an employee is in receipt of the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (which is administered by the Revenue Commissioners), they accrue annual leave only in respect of the hours which they actually work.
The terms and conditions of individual employment contracts may provide additional specifics within those parameters such as stipulations in relation to the entitlement to extra days' leave above what is statutorily required by the Act.
An employee may present a complaint to the WRC if it appears that the employer has failed to provide the correct holiday entitlements to which the employee is entitled under the Act.
I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
