Written Answers Nos. 734-752
734. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the guidance available to childcare facilities providing after-school services on cleaning rooms between rotations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19064/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraExpert guidance on the safe reopening of Early Learning and Care and School Age Childcare services during the COVID-19 pandemic was published by the HSE Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) on Friday, 29 May. The guidance recommends use of a “play pod” model which restricts interactions between closed groups of children and adults as an alternative to social distancing, on the basis that social distancing is not possible between young children. Generally speaking the objective is to limit contact and sharing of common facilities between people in different play pods rather than to avoid all contact and sharing between play pods, as the latter will not be possible.
On 5 June, my Department launched a range of online resources and guidance to support service providers, practitioners and parents to prepare for the reopening of Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare settings, including childminders. The Guidance for Reopening webpage is available on the First 5 website: https://first5.gov.ie/practitioners/reopening. The resources provided on the site include FAQs for providers in which it is specifically noted that separate sessions may be operated in the same space at different times so long as the space is cleaned between sessions and toys are not shared by different groups / play pods.
735. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his plans to address excessive waiting lists for access to childcare facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19065/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has carried out research into the intentions of parents and early learning and care (ELC) and school age childcare (SAC) providers to estimate the likely supply and demand for places in the coming months.
IPSOS MRBI undertook a survey of households with children from May 22-24, 2020. Parents/guardians were asked to consider what type of arrangement they intended to use for each of their children. 27% of parents reported using centre-based services in March 2020, and 13% indicated that they intended to return to centre based care on the reopening of services.
IPSOS MRBI carried out a second survey of households with children from June 19 – July 10 2020. 17% indicated an intention to use a centre-based service post-COVID-19, an increase on the 13% who had intended to use centre based care in the previous survey.
A phone survey of providers was carried out between 4 and 12 June 2020. Of 2624 services contacted, 85% indicated they were planning on reopening, while 2% indicated they were not. The rest had not decided at that time.
Early learning and care providers were permitted to reopen on 29 June. By 27 July, over 1,550 services had already reopened, which is 85% of the services that usually open in the summer months. With regard to the balance of services that normally reopen at the end of August / early September, 76% of all services have already applied for reopening grants, confirming that they will be reopening. Services have until 28 August to confirm that they will be reopening. It will not be possible to assess supply in the sector until all services who intend to reopen confirm that they will do so.
If any parents are having difficulty in accessing a childcare place they should contact their local County Childcare Committee (CCC) who will be able to advise them of all childcare options in their locality. Parents can find the contract details for their local CCC on the website myccc.ie.
736. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the capital funding schemes available for childcare services; his plans to provide for additional capital funding towards the development and expansion of community childcare centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19066/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has, since 2015, administered an annual capital funding programme, under which early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC) services providers are invited to apply for capital funding to increase capacity and to maintain and improve their services.
The 2020 Capital programme was launched on 26 February with a budget of €7.2million. However, it was necessary, as a direct result of the Covid-19 pandemic, to suspend the 2020 Capital programme on March 26.
On 10 June 2020 a major funding package to facilitate the reopening of early learning and care services which included an additional €7m in Capital funding, resulting in a total budget of €14.2 million which was shared between all services.
The application process for the 2020 Capital programme, which is administered by Pobal, is open for applications on the Early Years Platform, (the Hive) until 28 August 2020.
My Department will run a new capital programme in 2021 details of which will issue to all services later in the year.
737. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of domestic adoptions applied for and successfully concluded in each of the years 2011 to 2019 and to date in 2020; if he will consider conducting a review of the Adoption (Amendment) Act 2017 to investigate if deficiencies or obstacles to domestic adoption can be identified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19103/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe table below sets out the number of domestic adoptions applications received and the number of adoption orders granted for the years 2011-2019 and to date in 2020.
|
Year |
Applications Received |
Adoption Orders Granted |
|
2011 |
47 |
39 |
|
2012 |
92 |
49 |
|
2013 |
98 |
116 |
|
2014 |
102 |
112 |
|
2015 |
93 |
94 |
|
2016 |
96 |
95 |
|
2017 |
96 |
72 |
|
2018 |
102 |
72 |
|
2019 |
121 |
79 |
|
2020* (to date) |
64 |
31 |
Regarding the Adoption (Amendment) Act 2017, officials in my Department engage on an ongoing basis with the Adoption Authority of Ireland and Adoption Services in Tusla, the Child and Family Agency concerning the functioning of the adoption legislation.
It should be noted that the Adoption (Amendment) Act 2017 was only fully commenced in May of this year. It would be too early to review the operation of the Act at this stage, but its operation will of course be monitored carefully over time.
738. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if the finding of the Crowe report that the wage bill comprises an average of 70% of the total costs of the childcare sector is inclusive of ECCE-only providers or whether the referenced cost breakdown relates only to non-ECCE provision. [19108/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra740. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if staff salaries represent 70% of the costs of the childcare sector; his views on whether this is 70% of providers' costs; and if not, if it is 70% of all costs, including costs that are covered by State funding, in view of comments by his official at the Oireachtas Special Committee on Covid-19 Response hearing on childcare on 23 June 2020. [19118/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 738 and 740 together.
The data the Deputy refers to was derived from the Independent Review of the Cost of Delivering Childcare in Ireland, which undertaken by Crowe in 2018 on behalf of my Department. The brief included:
- analysing the current costs of providing childcare and the factors that impact on these costs;
- the development and delivery of a model of the unit costs of providing childcare that allows analysis of policy changes and variation in cost-drivers, including the potential impact of professionalisation; and
- providing an objective, high-level market analysis of the childcare sector in Ireland, including analysis of fee levels charged to parents.
The approach and methodology for this Review included:
- engagement with key stakeholders from the sector, including the Early Years Forum, provider representative organisations, the City and County Childcare Committees, statutory bodies, childcare professional training bodies, and academics;
- the administration of a survey to all centre-based childcare providers nationally, to provide the data on which the modelling tool would be based;
- the development of a cost modelling tool (and guidance document) to present the baseline cost data and enable the testing of the impact of a range of scenarios, namely changes to cost drivers on the unit costs of delivering childcare services; and
- a final report detailing the elements of the review, and the key findings.
This Review is intended to provide a robust evidence base for the further development of high quality childcare in Ireland. The outputs, including the costs calculator developed through this project are also intended to form a key input into the setting of capitation and subvention rates for future funding schemes and will be considered by the Expert Group convened to develop a new funding model.
The draft final report, cost modelling tool and guidance were subject to peer review. Arising from the external peer review, an additional piece of work was undertaken. Final outputs were received in January 2020, and preparation was underway to launch the report in April 2020. However, owing to COVID-19, its launch was postponed. Nevertheless, the data from this Review has already informed the work of my Department, in particular the Department’s funding response to COVID-19.
As part of this Review, the broad components of the full cost of delivering childcare was identified. This suggested a pattern consistent with those found in other jurisdictions, including England, New Zealand and Scotland, whereby a dominance of staff costs in the make-up of the overall cost figures. Specifically, on average, staffing costs were found to account for approximately 70% of the total cost of delivering childcare across all services, including ECCE-only services. The costing analysis did not include profit or surplus.
Whilst the average proportion of total cost represented by staffing costs varies marginally, it is at a minimum, more than two-thirds of the total cost of delivering childcare, regardless of different provider types.
739. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will provide a breakdown of the €338.576 million provided for ECCE and AIM preschool programmes in line B.3 of the Revised Estimate for 2020, including ECCE pay and ECCE non-pay, AIMS and so on. [19109/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe allocation for Subhead B.3: ECCE and AIM Pre-School Programmes in 2020 is €338.576m, as set out in the Revised Estimates for Public Services 2020.
This Subhead comprises three distinct expenditure lines in respect of: The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) scheme, beneficiary elements of the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM), and the ECCE Programme Support Payments (PSP).
The funding allocated to these programmes is as follows:
|
Programme |
Allocation (€m) |
|
ECCE - Programme Funding |
€297.000 |
|
ECCE AIM Programme Funding |
€31.376 |
|
ECCE Programme Support Payments |
€10.200 |
|
Total |
€338.576 |
All funding allocated to this Subhead is classified as non-pay.
741. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of applications received to date in respect of the announcement of €75 million in supports to childcare providers for reopening; the value of the applications; the value of awards made and the number of same by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19121/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe recently announced €75 million funding package to support childcare services reopening from June 29 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 funded early learning and care and school age funded programmes.
An application process was required for both the reopening support payment (RSP) and the COVID-19 Capital grant. The number of applications as at Friday July 24 including the value of the awards is outlined by county in the table below:
|
County |
Re-Opening Support Received Applications |
Re-Opening Support Amount Allocated |
Capital Received Applications |
Capital Amount Allocated |
|
Carlow |
38 |
€148,000 |
40 |
€142,500 |
|
Cavan |
46 |
€209,500 |
52 |
€187,000 |
|
Clare |
87 |
€298,648 |
102 |
€273,500 |
|
Cork |
273 |
€837,799 |
296 |
€918,500 |
|
Donegal |
112 |
€415,173 |
122 |
€389,000 |
|
Dublin |
626 |
€2,310,103 |
715 |
€2,293,500 |
|
Galway |
186 |
€689,050 |
195 |
€573,000 |
|
Kerry |
85 |
€339,500 |
93 |
€296,000 |
|
Kildare |
98 |
€364,419 |
115 |
€385,000 |
|
Kilkenny |
56 |
€222,510 |
59 |
€194,000 |
|
Laois |
60 |
€228,500 |
66 |
€207,500 |
|
Leitrim |
26 |
€90,500 |
29 |
€96,500 |
|
Limerick |
120 |
€392,864 |
135 |
€420,500 |
|
Longford |
22 |
€101,500 |
29 |
€107,500 |
|
Louth |
66 |
€232,833 |
76 |
€245,000 |
|
Mayo |
79 |
€202,153 |
91 |
€259,000 |
|
Meath |
125 |
€455,500 |
148 |
€472,500 |
|
Monaghan |
41 |
€181,961 |
41 |
€158,500 |
|
Offaly |
41 |
€139,000 |
46 |
€141,000 |
|
Roscommon |
41 |
€146,961 |
40 |
€121,500 |
|
Sligo |
45 |
€186,670 |
51 |
€162,500 |
|
Tipperary |
106 |
€380,919 |
125 |
€367,000 |
|
Waterford |
54 |
€217,500 |
62 |
€207,500 |
|
Westmeath |
51 |
€202,213 |
53 |
€188,500 |
|
Wexford |
83 |
€309,924 |
83 |
€280,000 |
|
Wicklow |
105 |
€291,008 |
121 |
€334,500 |
|
Grand Totals |
2672 |
€9,594,708.00 |
2985 |
€9,421,500.00 |
742. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of childcare facilities which indicated their closure in 2020; the comparison with 2018 and 2019; a breakdown of counties in which closures are taking place; the number of places lost; the counties in which new facilities are opening; the number of planned places in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19122/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn line with the requirements of the Child Care Act 1991 (as amended by Part 12 of the Child and Family Agency Act, 2013), those wishing to operate an early years service (whether an early learning and care service or a school-age childcare service) are required to register with Tusla, which is the statutory regulator of early years services. Each year a number of early years services also decide to close of their own volition. Where an early years service closes, they are required, in line with these statutory provisions, to notify Tusla of their planned closure.
All data collected by Tusla including information relating to new applications for registration and reported service cessations is collated and verified on a quarterly basis.
The number of closures reported to Tusla in 2018 was 138 and in 2019 was 196. The number of reported closures so far in 2020, broken down by county for Q1 and Q2 2020, is as follows:
|
- |
Q1 2020 |
|
County |
Number of Cessations |
|
Dublin |
3 |
|
Kildare |
1 |
|
Meath |
2 |
|
Wexford |
1 |
|
Total Q1 |
7 |
|
- |
Q2 2020 |
|
County |
Number of Cessations |
|
Cork |
7 |
|
Dublin |
17 |
|
Kildare |
6 |
|
Kilkenny |
1 |
|
Meath |
2 |
|
Offaly |
2 |
|
Tipperary |
1 |
|
Westmeath |
4 |
|
Wexford |
1 |
|
Wicklow |
4 |
|
Total Q2 |
45 |
|
Q1 and Q2 Total |
52 |
The number of new applications for registration, broken down by county, for Q1 and Q2 2020 is as follows:
|
- |
Q1 2020 |
|
County |
Number of Applications to Register |
|
Cork |
1 |
|
Dublin |
7 |
|
Galway |
1 |
|
Kildare |
1 |
|
Longford |
1 |
|
Mayo |
1 |
|
Monaghan |
1 |
|
Sligo |
1 |
|
Total Q1 |
14 |
|
- |
Q2 2020 |
|
County |
Number of Applications to Register |
|
Donegal |
1 |
|
Kildare |
1 |
|
Limerick |
1 |
|
Q2 Total |
3 |
|
Q1 and Q2 Total |
17 |
Finally, I have been advised by Tusla that they do not systematically record or collate information in relation to the numbers of individual childcare places available per registered service and are therefore not in a position to provide the Deputy with the requested figures. Where such data is collected on inspection, that is primarily for the purpose of ensuring compliance with the prescribed adult-child ratios as set out in the Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) Regulations 2016.
743. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the level of demand for crèche places in September 2020; the estimated number of children not returning to crèches in September; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19123/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraOfficials in my Department have been monitoring closely developments in relation to early learning and care (ELC) and school age childcare (SAC) sectoral capacity, including the supply of, and demand for, places as COVID-19 restrictions ease. Supporting services as they reopen, and ensuring that capacity is sufficient to meet demand, is a key priority of my Department.
The Annual Early Years Sector Profile 2019 demonstrated that, prior to the disruption caused by COVID-19, the sector was running at near capacity. Expert guidance on the safe reopening of ELC and SAC services during the COVID-19 pandemic was published by the HSE Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) on 29 May. The guidance recommends, amongst other measures, the use of a “play pod” model to restrict interactions between closed groups of children and adults as an alternative to social distancing, on the basis that social distancing is not possible between young children. The public health advice does not require any change to minimum adult-child ratios or to regulatory space requirements. While some settings may reduce capacity depending on their layout, there are no absolute requirements for capacity reduction, and most services should be able to comply with the public health advice with no or little reduction in capacity.
While it is difficult to predict with certainty the number of children returning to these services, it is anticipated that enrolment in the ECCE Programme may reach an average of 85%-90% of the eligible cohort, while demand for fulltime and part time ELC and SAC could average 60% initially.
Data from wave 2 of a survey of parents conducted on behalf of my Department by IPSOS MRBI from June 19 to July 10 found that 61% of parents using centre-based ELC and SAC services pre-COVID-19 plan to return their children to these services. This represents an increase of 11 percentage points from Wave 1 of this survey, collected from May 22-24, suggesting that confidence is growing among parents.
The latest package of measures to support the Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare sector to operate from September recognises that a reduced number of children are likely to attend ELC and SAC services - at least initially. This funding package is tailored to allow providers to operate with potentially less parental income and to assist in meeting the increased costs associated with complying with public health requirements in a lower occupancy scenario.
The funding package for the Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) sector from 24 August to end 2020 includes:
- Continuation of all DCYA ELC and SAC subsidy schemes (NCS, CCSP, TEC) and resumption of the ECCE Programme at existing capitation and subsidy rates, including ECCE Higher Capitation.
- Access to the Revenue-operated EWSS. This will cover an average of 38% of the costs of individual services.
- A sustainability fund will be accessible to providers (not-for-profit and for-profit) who can demonstrate that the other measures are not sufficient by themselves to enable viable operation of their business.
The continued financial support will benefit parents as well as providers as providers will not need to pass on increased costs to parents through increased fees.
A key policy priority for the Department in this process 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.
The latest data shows that 85% of services that ordinarily operate in July and August have now reopened.
76% of the 4500 services normally open in September have already applied for a reopening grant, and as the closing date for application is August 28, I expect this figure to increase significantly in the coming weeks.
744. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of after-school places that will be provided in September 2020; if there is engagement with the Department of Education and Skills on the provision of additional after-school places on a full-time basis in the event primary schools do not reopen in full; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19124/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs School Age Childcare providers are private operators, my Department is not in a position to know, at this point in time, how many School Age Childcare places will be available in September.
My Department has carried out research into the intentions of parents and early learning and care (ELC) and school age childcare (SAC) providers to estimate the likely supply and demand for places in the coming months.
A phone survey of ELC and SAC providers was carried out between 4 and 12 June 2020. Of 2,624 services contacted, 85% indicated they were planning on reopening, while 2% indicated they were not. The rest had not decided at that time.
Expert guidance on the safe reopening of Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) services during the COVID-19 pandemic was published by the HSE Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) on Friday, 29 May. The guidance recommends use of a “play pod” model which restricts interactions between closed groups of children and adults as an alternative to social distancing, on the basis that social distancing is not possible between young children. Based on advice provided by the HPSC, the Regulations in relation to the adult-child ratios and the floor-space requirements for ELC or SAC services have not been amended as such changes are unnecessary where "play pods" are in use.
While some settings may reduce capacity depending on their layout, there are no required capacity reductions, and most services should be able to comply with the public health advice with no or little reduction in the number of places provided.
The Tusla Early Years Inspectorate maintains the register of early years services and so collates data on closures and new services registered. Every year some services close and some new services open. Currently data for both closures and new services are down slightly when compared with the same period last year, and overall there is no significant variation in the number of services operating in 2020 when compared with 2019.
The interim public health advice received by the Department of Education and Skills sets out the key public health requirements that will be required for a safe full reopening of schools in late August/ September and the measures that will be required to achieve this.
In relation to the reopening of childcare services that operate on school premises, officials in my Department have been in contact with colleagues in the Department of Education and Skills. The Department of Education and Skills have advised that the use of school facilities lies with the relevant school authority in consultation with the property owner, and that priority should be given to the interests of the school, teachers and pupils. The Department of Education and Skills’ policy is to encourage the use of school facilities, where possible, for community, training and education-related activities.
To assist schools in considering applications for use of their facilities, the Department of Education and Skills in consultation with representatives of schools has drafted guidelines on the use of school property outside of school hours which is available here:
https://www.education.ie/en/Publications/Policy-Reports/guidelines-on-the-use-of-school-buildings-outside-of-school-hours.pdf
These guidelines are not intended to be exhaustive or prescriptive but are provided to assist schools in considering applications for the use of their facilities.
The use of school facilities should be managed at local level between the childcare service provider and the school.
745. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the estimated fall in the number of ECCE places for September 2020; the indicative number of children who will commence and continue in ECCE in September; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19125/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme is a universal programme available to all children within the eligible age range. It provides children with their first formal experience of early learning prior to commencing primary school.
Children are eligible to enrol in this Programme once they are 2 years and 8 months of age in the September of a given programme year and are eligible to avail of two years of the programme (provided that they are not older than 5 years and 6 months at the end of the programme year year). Ordinarily, the proportion of children availing on this full entitlement is determined by a range of factors, including the child’s month of birth, parental choice with regard to school starting age and average uptake rates since the Programme was introduced.
Based on birth data from the CSO, data on school starting age from the Department of Education and Skills and assuming normal uptake rates of 95%, it is estimated that approximately 106,000 children will enrol in the ECCE Programme 2020/2021 this September.
Owing to COVID-19, it is expected that the numbers of children enrolling in the Programme will be lower - at least initially. While it is difficult to predict with certainty, it is anticipated that enrolment in the ECCE Programme may reach an average of 85%-90% of the eligible cohort - or between 95,000 and 101,000 children.
The registration process for the ECCE Programme 2020/21 opens on 17 August, one week before the programme is due to commence. Therefore, more accurate estimates of ECCE Programme among wth eligible age cohort will be available from end August - early September.
746. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will review a case (details supplied); her plans regarding same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18365/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy will appreciate that I cannot comment on an individual case. Parental alienation has been described as a situation when a child’s resistance or hostility towards one parent is not justified and is the result of psychological manipulation by the other parent. The issue of parental alienation is highly complex and I am aware that some professionals advocate for the classification of parental alienation as a clinical disorder affecting children, while others raise concerns that taking this action could act as a means of masking other serious issues such as genuine allegations of child abuse. The phenomenon most commonly occurs in the course of family break-up or divorce.
While there is no specific legislative provision regarding parental alienation in Irish family law, section 246 of the Children Act 2001 provides for an offence of frightening, bullying or threatening a child in a manner likely to cause unnecessary suffering or injury to the child's physical, mental or emotional health or wellbeing. There is also a range of legislative provisions in place for dealing with child welfare particularly regarding the relationship between a child and his/her parents or guardians, providing the framework for a legal response to a wide spectrum of child welfare issues.
I am also aware that the Report of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice and Equality on Reform of the Family Law System, which was published late last year, considered the issue of parental alienation among a broad range of issues in the area of family law. All of the recommendations in the report are currently being examined by my Department.
747. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the progress made by the CSO in implementing recommendation 15 of the Report on Reform of the Family Law System produced by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice and Equality in October 2019. [18502/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra748. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the progress made in implementing recommendations 28 and 29, which relate to the voice of the child, of the Report on Reform of the Family Law System produced by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice and Equality in October 2019; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18505/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra751. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if the recommendations of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice and Equality on reform of the family law system have been considered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19235/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra752. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will consider implementing recommendations 9, 11 and 36 of the report of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice and Equality on reform of the family law system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19236/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra791. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the progress made by An Garda Síochána in implementing recommendation 15 of the Report on Reform of the Family Law System produced by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice and Equality in October 2019; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18503/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra792. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her views on recommendation 16 of the Report on Reform of the Family Law System produced by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice and Equality in October 2019; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18504/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra793. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the progress made in implementing recommendation 32 of the Report on Reform of the Family Law System produced by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice and Equality in October 2019; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18506/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 747, 748, 751, 752 and 791 to 793, inclusive, together.
The Report of the Joint Oireachtas Committee of the Reform of Family Law System which was published towards the end of last year made almost 40 recommendations across the area of family justice.
All of the recommendations are currently being examined by my Department. As the Deputy will appreciate, the recommendations are extensive and merit a considered and careful response.
One of the key recommendations of the Committee is the establishment of a dedicated and integrated family court within existing court structures. In that context, I would draw the Deputy’s attention to the fact that enactment of legislation on the establishment of a family court is a commitment in the Programme for Government and my Department is currently preparing the general scheme of a family court bill which I will be bringing to Government for approval to draft shortly. The proposals in this scheme are a result of a broad consideration as to the best means of providing access to various family law mechanisms available to those families involved in private family law cases.
749. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her views on the home delivery of alcoholic drinks, including draught beers, by pubs not licensed to serve food; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18516/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe position is that where alcohol is purchased online and delivered, the same restrictions on the sale and supply of intoxicating liquor apply, including the restrictions in relation to hours of trading and the provisions in relation to the sale and supply of intoxicating liquor to young persons. There is no dedicated licence for online sales of intoxicating liquor but licensees of licensed premises may engage in online sales subject to certain restrictive conditions e.g. advance purchase and payment.
Under section 17(3) of the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2003, it is an offence for a licensee, with intent to evade the conditions of the licence, to take intoxicating liquor from the licensed premises for the purpose of its being sold on the account or for the benefit or profit of the licensee, or to permit any other person to do so. The penalty on conviction is a fine of up to €1,500 for a first offence and up to €2,000 for a second or subsequent offence.
Section 31 of the Intoxicating Liquor Act 1988, as amended, makes provision for offences relating to the sale and delivery of alcohol products to persons under the age of 18 years. It is an offence under section 31(2) for a licensee to sell or deliver, or to permit any other person to sell or deliver, alcohol products to any person for consumption off his or her licensed premises by a person under the age of 18 years in any place except with the explicit consent of the person's parent or guardian in a private residence in which he or she is present either as of right or with permission. The penalty on conviction for this offence is a fine of up to €1,270 for a first offence and up to €1,904 for a second or subsequent offence. In addition, the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2000 provides for the mandatory temporary closure of licensed premises in cases where a licensee is convicted of an offence under section 31 of the 1988 Act (up to 7 days for a first offence, or at least 7 and not more than 30 days for a second or subsequent offence).
750. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will consider the eligibility criteria for the extended parental leave to include all parents affected by the lockdown, even if their children are born outside of the specified dates, that is, before 1 November, particularly those parents who were due to return to work in the lockdown period but could not due to the fact that the crèches were still closed. [18594/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn recognition of the particular challenges that mothers and fathers have faced during the Covid-19 pandemic, the Government is considering a proposal to advance the extension of Parent’s Leave and Benefit to five weeks for all parents of children born after 1 November 2019, to enable every eligible parent of young children to spend additional time with their child.
At present, Parent’s Leave entitles each parent to two weeks of leave during the first year of a child’s life, or in the case of adoption, within one year of the placement of the child with the family.
The Government proposal would mean that eligible parents of children born during the pandemic crisis will get an extra three weeks of Parent’s Leave to offset the impact of having a child during the strict lockdown measures. The period in which Parent’s Leave can be taken will also be extended from one year to two years. This, and related costs, will be considered as part of the Budget 2021 process. The support is paid at a rate of €245 per week.
Parental leave is also available which entitles parents to take unpaid leave from work to spend time looking after their children. Parents can take up to 22 weeks of parental leave for each eligible child before their 12th birthday.
