Written Answers Nos. 440-459
440. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will address concerns that organisations in receipt of State funding, including from his Department, are calling for the removal of legitimate political representation from Irish citizens (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41126/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department funds a broad range of organisations and projects. Organisations that meet the criteria and terms of their grant agreement will continue to be funded.
443. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will examine information (details supplied) regarding childcare costs; and his views on the figures. [41224/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe introduction of the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) in late 2019 was a landmark moment for making high quality childcare more affordable and accessible to families in Ireland. The NCS is designed to be highly inclusive and to meet the needs of those families who need it the most. The NCS is based on the principle of progressive universalism and has regard to the best interests of children.
By making this fundamental shift away from subsidies grounded in medical card and social protection entitlements, and by tangibly reducing the cost of quality childcare for thousands of families, the NCS aims to improve children’s outcomes, improve labour market participation and reduce child poverty. It is a central policy component of the NCS to poverty proof and assist people in exiting the poverty trap.
The NCS includes two types of financial subsidies towards the cost of quality childcare:
- A universal subsidy payable for children aged between 24 weeks and 36 months who are availing of childcare from an approved childcare provider. The subsidy rate is €0.50 per hour and covers a maximum of up to 45 hours per week. It’s payable for children older than 36 months who do not yet qualify for the Early Childhood Care and Education Programme (ECCE). This subsidy is not means-tested and is available to all qualifying families at any income level.
- An income-related subsidy payable for children aged from 24 weeks to 15 years who are availing of childcare from an approved childcare provider. The level of subsidy paid for the child is determined by the family’s reckonable income (gross income minus tax, other deductibles and any applicable multiple children discount). The reckonable income must be between €26,000 and €60,000. The enhanced hours available are up to a maximum of 45 hours per week and the standard hours available are up to a maximum of 20 hours per week. The NCS acknowledges that childcare needs differ widely across families, offering subsidies at an hourly rate allowing for flexible childcare arrangements to be made based on parental needs.
Under the NCS higher subsidies are awarded to families with younger children, to reflect the higher cost of providing childcare for younger children because of the higher adult-child ratios required by the Early Years Regulations. Subsidies taper downwards from a maximum of €5.10 per hour for children between 6 months and 1 year, to a maximum of €3.75 for school aged children. The number of hours a child is eligible for depends on whether the parent is engaged in work, training or study.
Please note that in the examples provided by the Deputy insufficient particulars were supplied, including the child’s age/education stage, the net income of the family and the hours of childcare required.These criteria affect the level of subsidy that can be allocated to an applicant. The assumptions required to finalise an estimate are noted in the examples below.
Where the Deputy notes “person”, we assume this to mean “household” where all assessable individuals are in work or study. That is we assume the noted income is for the entire household.
There are also many variables in the calculation of net income. We have estimated a net income to enable the calculations as noted below.
Example 1: In the case of a household with one child aged 2 and with household earnings of approx. €30,000 gross (assume €27,000 net), the applicant would receive a weekly subsidy of €190 for 45 hours childcare per week.
Example 2: In the case of a household with earnings of €30,000 gross (assume €27,000 net) with two children - a 7 year old (in first class) and an 11 month old, the applicant would receive a weekly subsidy of €297 during term and time and €398 out of term for 45 hours childcare.
Example 3: In the case of a household with earnings of €40,000 gross (assume €34,000 net) with a 3 year old and 5 year old child, the applicant would receive a weekly subsidy of €195 during term time and €327 out of term for 45 hours childcare. To note the family would receive an additional 15 hours free childcare per week during term time whilst the 3 year old was in the ECCE scheme.
Example 4: In the case of a household on a wage of 80,000 gross (€57,000 net) with three children - a child aged 10 (in fifth class), a 7 year old (in first class) and a 2 year old, the applicant would receive a weekly subsidy of €134 during term time and €197 out of term time for 45 hours childcare per week.
444. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will report on the friends of the centre aspect of the new proposed direct provision centre in Letterkenny, County Donegal; the other centres and counties that have friends of the centre structures; the organisations involved in such structures; the decision-making process; the person or body to which the groups are accountable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41238/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra445. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the feedback and complaints mechanisms that will be available to the new residents of the proposed direct provision centre in Letterkenny, County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41239/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra446. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there will be staff trained specifically in dealing with trauma, integration and other well-being areas in the new proposed direct provision centre in Letterkenny, County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41240/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra447. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the timeframe for move-ins he is expecting for the new proposed direct provision centre in Letterkenny, County Donegal; the consultation he is taking with Government colleagues on ensuring that all necessary infrastructural issues are resolved in Letterkenny in the coming month; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41241/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 444 to 447, inclusive, together.
An accommodation centre for families in the International Protection process will open on Port Road in Letterkenny in early 2021. It is expected that residents will move into the centre on a phased basis over a period of 8 to 10 weeks thereafter.
While their application is being examined, all applicants for International Protection are offered free of charge: accommodation, meals or food supplies (where self-catering is available) and personal care products. Other supports such as healthcare, education for children and classes for adults, and a weekly payment for personal expenditure are provided through the relevant State services.
As part of the establishment of any such accommodation centre my Department, through the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS), develops close working relationships with all state and local agencies including the Departments of Social Protection and Education and the HSE. This ensures that the whole of Government service envisioned by the system is delivered directly to all residents in all accommodation services by the relevant government department or State agency.
My Department has already engaged with state service providers in preparation for the arrival of residents to the Port Road Accommodation Centre and will continue to liaise with them as necessary for as long as the centre remains in operation. Officials from my Department have also met with the Letterkenny Municipal Council to brief councillors on the planned opening and will continue to engage and update Council members in coming weeks and months.
I can also assure the Deputy that the ongoing welfare needs of International Protection applicants is of upmost importance to my Department and is taken into consideration during the procurement process for accommodation centres. Potential contractors are required to propose an implementation plan to provide for the welfare needs of residents. This plan must provide details regarding the experience and qualifications of staff in providing social care in a residential facility, ideally in a multicultural environment. Particular consideration is given to the qualifications or experience of staff in dealing with vulnerable people and people suffering from the effects of trauma.
The Port Road Accommodation Centre in Letterkenny will be operated by Bridgestock Care which has extensive experience of providing services to protection applicants (asylum seekers) and refugees in social care settings across multiple locations both in Ireland and abroad. The team of people available to Bridgestock Care for the centre in Letterkenny is highly qualified and very experienced in providing social care in multicultural environments.
The IPAS has also recently engaged Barnardos to provide training to all centres and emergency accommodation locations, on 'Understanding Child Development through a Trauma Informed Lens'. This training will assist with ensuring centre staff and managers are aware of the impact of trauma on children and understand how that may inform the behaviour of any child or indeed adult who has been impacted by trauma.
The IPAS has a complaints procedure which is set out in the House Rules & Procedures Booklet for International Protection applicants. Complaints are made initially to the centre manager with a view to informal resolution. If the person concerned is not satisfied with the outcome of their complaint, he or she may make a complaint to IPAS who will investigate the matter and take action as appropriate. In the event that a resident is not satisfied with how his or her complaint is dealt with, he or she has full access to the services of the Ombudsman and Ombudsman for Children.
In addition, a confidential Freephone telephone support service, funded by, but independent of, my Department, was also established in May 2020 to provide further support to residents that are being accommodated by my Department. This Freephone confidential support helpline is operated by the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS). Any complaint made through this service may be passed in confidence to IPAS for investigation and resolution.
I can also inform the Deputy that all centre operators are contractually bound to facilitate the establishment of a ‘Friends of the Centre’ group and must make a room available to facilitate meetings. The operation of the ‘Friends of the Centre’ group is facilitated by staff from the accommodation centre.
The composition of each group varies from centre to centre but will include residents, staff members and volunteers from the local community. Officials from the IPAS will occasionally attend meetings if invited by the group to do so.
The purpose of the group is to help establish links between the residents of accommodation centres and local community, voluntary and sporting groups which promotes integration across the community and assists residents to have meaningful interaction with the local community. They are a valuable support to residents and to centre managers and staff.
The groups promote relationships between the centre and the local community and local clubs so residents may take part in a variety of activities outside the centre, in the community, to assist with their integration. There is no decision making responsibility in respect of residents associated with the groups.
The scope of and the types of activities engaged in by the group vary from centre to centre. They reflect the type of residents being accommodated in a centre and also the voluntary groups that are active in a particular locality. For example, the activities engaged in by a group based in a centre that accommodates only single adults will be different to those engaged in by a group based on a centre accommodating families. Examples of groups that have engaged with Friends of the Centre include local Tidy Towns committees, sports clubs, Men's Sheds and Mother and Baby clubs. Groups providing for activities, in the centres or externally, with the aim of integrating residents of the centres into the community are eligible to apply for funding under the Communities Integration Fund (CIF).
The new Centre in Letterkenny will also have an Activities Co-Ordinator to assist residents this through a range of different initiatives including but not limited to:
- A comprehensive Induction Seminar for all residents the day after arrival that includes information and briefing on all integration initiatives at the Centre
- English classes provided by the Education Training Board
- Attendance by the Activites Co-Ordinator (by agreement) with parents at parent/teacher meetings at local schools particularly in cases where they may be language difficulties
- Ongoing support and guidance from the management team in helping residents who obtain a permission to reside in the State to find suitable accommodation in the community and integrate into society once they leave the centre.
The operation of the ‘Friends of the Centre’ group will be facilitated by the Activities Co-Ordinator and other staff from the accommodation centre.
I am pleased to note that a number of local groups in Letterkenny have already made contact with my Department to offer their support and assistance to the families when they arrive. I envisage that the Friends of the Centre Group for the Port Road Accommodation Centre will develop into a thriving and productive forum linking the centre with the local community, ensuring the local community have an opportunity to become an active part of the Centre as well as facilitating local engagement with the residents of the Centre.
448. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the Blue Skies initiative will be rolled out to the high growth area of Saggart, Rathcoole, Newcastle County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41304/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Tusla ABC Programme within Tusla's Partnership Participation and Family Support is an area based Prevention and Early Intervention initiative currently being delivered across 12 sites of urban disadvantage, including one in Clondalkin where the Blue Skies programme is situated.
Discussions continue to take place across the ABC programme to explore the potential scaling of the learnings from the programme, and broadening its reach, taking into consideration identified need, resources available and scope of the programme.
Tusla Dublin South Central is aware of the increasing needs and population growth of the Saggart/Rathcoole /Newcastle areas and is working with partner agencies to ensure provision of early interventions services to families and children. Children who are at risk continue to be prioritised in these areas and receive ongoing social work and family support interventions.
449. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the engagements in November 2020 with survivors of mother and baby homes and their representative organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41347/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am committed to ongoing engagement with former residents of Mother and Baby Institutions and their advocates.
As an important first step in meeting this commitment, I have personally spoken to a number of former residents and advocates in this area over recent weeks, including a majority of the Collaborative Forum. In addition, I have read and responded to the views of many stakeholders who have written to my Office in relation to these issues.
As I announced on the 3 December, I am advancing arrangements to seek Government approval to publish the final report of the Commission of Investigation on Mother and Baby Homes during the week of 11 January next. In keeping with the practice and policy of my Department, former residents and advocates on our mailing list were contacted first to tell them of the planned publication arrangements before this timeframe was confirmed publicly.
It is clear that new demands will emerge in seeking to facilitate dialogue and engagement on the Commission’s report and the State’s response to its findings. We must also take account of the continuing challenges presented by the restrictions necessary to reduce the public health risks associated with Covid-19. To advance matters, I have given my commitment to convening a meeting of the Collaborative Forum in whatever manner is possible following the publication of the report.
I want to consult with members of the Collaborative Forum and others on a new and enhanced model of engagement, which builds upon the strengths of the existing process, to add to the Forum’s significant work to date. In particular, I want to increase opportunities for direct participation in this process and to raise the awareness and visibility of this work. I am mindful of the importance of facilitating an inclusive process which provides a safe space for all perspectives on these deeply personal and sensitive issues.
450. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when he plans to bring forward legislation to provide for the identification of the remains buried in Tuam, County Galway and provide for their respectful reburial; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41348/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy may be aware, on 10 December 2019, the then Government approved the drafting of a Bill along the lines of the General Scheme of the Certain Institutional Burials (Authorised Interventions) Bill 2019. The General Scheme provides for:
- creation of a statutory basis for exhumation of remains, located at former institutional sites which reach a defined set of criteria, including that the form of interment was, at the time it took place, manifestly inappropriate;
- establishment of a legal basis for an Agency of finite duration to carry out an intervention;
- establishment of the legal basis for a programme of forensic analysis of any recovered remains, providing lawful authority for taking samples from the remains as well as from putative close relatives of the deceased for the purpose of familial matching.
Following Government approval last December, the General Scheme was then referred to the Joint Oireachtas Committee (JOC) on Children and Youth Affairs for pre-legislative scrutiny and, in parallel, to the Office of Parliamentary Counsel (OPC) to be drafted as a Bill along the lines outlined. The JOC had scheduled pre-legislative scrutiny but this did not proceed because the Committee was dissolved when the Dáil was dissolved on 14 January.
Although pre-legislative scrutiny has not yet occurred, the OPC have – subject to other significant and often urgent demands on them – proceeded with drafting the Bill in close consultation with Department officials.
I intend to formally re-submit the General Scheme to the JOC on Children, Disability, Integration and Youth early in the new Dáil term so that pre-legislative scrutiny can take place. Following pre-legislative scrutiny, the drafting of the Bill will be completed. Thereafter, I will bring it through the Houses of the Oireachtas. On its passing, there will be a legal basis for works at the site at Tuam to commence.
451. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of the general scheme of the certain institutional burials (authorised interventions) Bill. [41373/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn December 2019, the then Government approved the drafting of a Bill along the lines of the General Scheme of the Certain Institutional Burials (Authorised Interventions) Bill 2019. It was then referred to the Joint Oireachtas Committee (JOC) on Children and Youth Affairs for pre-legislative scrutiny and, in parallel, to the Office of Parliamentary Counsel (OPC) to be drafted as a Bill along the lines outlined. The JOC had scheduled pre-legislative scrutiny but this did not proceed due to the dissolution of the Dáil on 14 January.
Although pre-legislative scrutiny has not yet occurred, the OPC have – subject to other significant and often urgent demands on them – proceeded with drafting the Bill in close consultation with Department officials.
I intend to formally re-submit the General Scheme to the JOC on Children, Disability, Integration and Youth early in the new Dáil term so that pre-legislative scrutiny can take place.
452. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the budget allocation for the family resource centre programme in each of the years 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021, in tabular form [41429/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Family Resource Centre (FRC) Programme, was established by the then Department of Social and Family Affairs in 1994. It later transferred to the Family Support Agency, which became part of Tusla on its establishment in 2014.
Tusla administers the Family Resource Centre (FRC) Programme, and Tusla funding supports 121 FRCs across the country. Core funding allocations for the FRC Programme, for the years 2018 to 2020 are outlined in the table below:
|
Year |
Budget |
|
2018 |
€16.5m |
|
2019 |
€18.0m |
|
2020 |
€18.0m |
In addition to core funding, Tusla has allocated additional supports of some €0.6m to FRCs in 2020 from Dormant Accounts Funding. This is expected to be available to the FRC Programme again in 2021.
The budget allocation for the FRC Programme in 2021 is not yet available. The specific allocation of Tusla's funding in 2021, including in respect of family support services, will be finalised in Tusla’s Business Plan for 2021 which is currently in development.
453. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the ECCE school provision can be broadened to support families who have children with additional needs who at present cannot avail of such. [41454/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) is a programme of supports designed to ensure that children with disabilities can access the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme in mainstream pre-school settings. Its goal is to empower pre-school providers to deliver an inclusive pre-school experience, ensuring that every child, including those with additional needs, can meaningfully participate in their full two year entitlement of the ECCE Programme alongside their peers and can reap the benefits of quality early years care and education.
AIM is a child centred model of supports, involving seven levels of progressive support, moving from the universal to the targeted, based on the needs of the individual child and the pre-school setting. It will offer tailored, practical supports based on need and will not require a formal diagnosis of disability. The purpose of AIM is to support children to engage in two years of ECCE, regardless of development delays. However attendance in ECCE services is not mandatory and parents may decide to send their children to just one year of ECCE, or not to send them to an ECCE service at all.
If a parent wishes to get more information on ECCE or AIM they should contact their local County Childcare Committee. Details of all CCCs can be found on www.myccc.ie.
454. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the procurement process for accommodation for asylum seekers, that is, direct provision centres. [41498/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraPremises are sourced either through a full tender process which is administered through the Government’s Procurement Portal www.etenders.gov.ie or through responses to calls for expressions of interest, which are advertised in the national media. My Department is assisted with these tender projects by the Office of Government Procurement.
The tender process which commenced in late 2018, saw regional tender competitions being advertised, assessed and awarded. The competitions were held for the South East, Midlands, Mid-West, South-West, Mid-East, West, Dublin and the Border Regions.
All properties selected under the tender process must be able to meet the requirements of the National Standards for accommodation centres. This requirement applies to the provision of new centres and to any renewal of a contract with a current provider.
The Standards were published in August 2019 and developed through an Advisory Group including representatives from UNHCR Ireland and the NGO sector. The Standards will come into force in January 2021 and address a range of themes including accommodation; food and catering; individual, community and family life; health and wellbeing; governance; and meeting the special reception needs of applicants. The Standards will ensure that all new accommodation coming on stream must be able to meet the requirements for independent living by the provision of self-catering facilities for residents including a food hall and the availability of separate family spaces outside of bedrooms.
The provision of accommodation is demand-led, based on the number of applicants arriving to claim international protection and requiring accommodation. Where the State’s accommodation portfolio is not sufficient to meet demand and the tendering process does not identify and bring on stream the required accommodation as quickly as is needed, we may advertise in the national media for expressions of interest for the supply of accommodation. The contracts on offer under this process are generally shorter than those available under the tender process.
Offers made under the Expressions of Interest process are assessed under the following criteria:
- A good physical environment,
- Facilities that provide for family life,
- Cooking facilities for residents, where possible,
- Location of property and access to public transport,
- Provision of suitable security arrangements,
- An open and understanding management structure, and
- The ability to develop links with the local community to enhance the experience for residents.
The International Protection Procurement Service (IPPS) in my Department assesses offers of accommodation against these criteria and and against the National Standards and identifies those properties which are the most suitable.
455. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the companies currently providing accommodation to the State for use as direct provision centres; and the sums paid to each of these companies in each of the past five years. [41499/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department currently has contracts in place for 48 accommodation centres, including management contracts for 6 State owned centres. The 48 centres comprise 45 accommodation centres for International Protection applicants, the National Reception Centre for International Protection applicants in Balseskin, Co. Dublin and 3 Emergency Reception and Orientation Centres (EROC) for refugees brought to Ireland under the Irish Refugee Protection Programme (IRPP). It should be noted that Mosney Accommodation Centre provides accommodation for both International Protection applicants and, in a separate block, for IRPP clients.
It is our policy not to disclose financial information on individual contracts for the most recent two calendar years. It is not appropriate to provide the current individual contract values entered into by my Department as negotiations take place with a number of commercial entities on an on-going basis with a clear focus on achieving the best value for money in respect of each contract. It is not in the interests of yielding best value for the taxpayer that the details of current individual contracts are made available to other commercial bodies who are, or may be in the future, engaged in these negotiations.
Contract information is published on an annual basis each January and the information for contracts in 2018 is currently being compiled for publication in January 2021. Details of payments made to contractors are published on http://www.ria.gov.ie/en/RIA/Pages/ContractValues. Our policy document on the release of financial information on contract values is also available on this webpage.
The table below provides the names of each management company currently being utilised by my Department and the amount paid to each company in 2016 and 2017.
Cells marked N/A indicate that this company is currently an Accommodation Centre contractor but was not contracted by my Department in the years for which financial data is available as per our policy.
|
Company |
Amount Paid 2016 |
Amount Paid 2017 |
|
State Owned Centres - Management Company |
|
|
|
Campbell Catering Limited t/a Aramark Ireland Ltd |
€5,599,401.48 |
€6,505,708.98 |
|
Onsite Facilities Management Ltd |
€2,823,447.56 |
€3,185,452.45 |
|
Commercial Accommodation Centre Providers |
|
|
|
Atlantic Blue Ltd. |
€844,480.00 |
€916,216.00 |
|
Barlow Properties Ltd. |
€1,089,270.00 |
€1,107,890.00 |
|
Bideau Ltd. |
€1,220,870.00 |
€1,295,574.00 |
|
Birch Rentals Ltd. |
€1,278,076.80 |
€1,348,754.40 |
|
Bridgestock Care Ltd. |
€5,667,664.70 |
€5,563,704.19 |
|
Codelix Ltd |
N/A - Contracted from 24/02/2020 |
N/A |
|
Coziq Enterprises Ltd. |
N/A - Contracted from 06/04/2020 |
N/A |
|
D & A Pizzas Ltd |
€1,270,472.00 |
€1,426,040.00 |
|
Double EX Investments Ltd |
N/A - Contracted from 23/03/2020 |
N/A |
|
Double M Investments Ltd |
N/A - Contracted from 01/10/2019 |
N/A |
|
East Coast Catering (Ireland) |
€7,558,618.00 |
€6,776,683.00 |
|
Fazyard Ltd |
€5,448,576.00 |
€5,092,248.00 |
|
Flodale Ltd |
N/A - Contracted from 11/04/2019 |
N/A |
|
James White & Co Ltd |
N/A - Contracted from 12/03/2018 |
N/A |
|
Keldesso Ltd. |
N/A - Contracted from 05/08/2020 |
N/A |
|
Mapel Star Ltd |
€2,284,146.94 |
€2,404,680.76 |
|
Millstreet Equestrian Services Ltd |
€4,016,564.50 |
€3,530,970.00 |
|
Mint Horizon Ltd |
€961,004.16 |
€924,000.00 |
|
Mosney |
€7,406,472.10 |
€8,768,469.37 |
|
Ocean View Accommodation Ltd |
€704,340.00 |
€997,500.00 |
|
Oscar Dawn Ltd. |
€1,718,822.00 |
€1,821,820.00 |
|
Peachport Ltd |
€932,400.00 |
€833,112.00 |
|
Side Tracks Ltd. |
€1,770,579.00 |
€1,917,474.50 |
|
Stompool Investments Ltd |
€1,433,250.00 |
€1,602,790.00 |
|
Tattonward Ltd |
€1,971,028.65 |
€2,053,916.00 |
|
Townbe ULC |
N/A - Contracted from 30/04/2018 |
N/A |
|
Vesta Hotels ltd t/a Grand Hotel, Wicklow |
N/A - Contracted from 03/12/2019 |
N/A |
|
EROC Centre Providers |
|
|
|
Clonea Strand Hotel Ltd. |
€1,494,741.40 |
€1,493,156.00 |
|
Next Week & Co. |
N/A - Contracted from 15/12/2016 |
€2,960,556.00 |
456. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 164 of 11 November 2020, if he will provide copies of the correspondence referenced in his reply. [41507/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy officials are compiling copies of the correspondence referred to by the Deputy to be forwarded to the Deputy directly.
458. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if language delays preclude children from accessing the full two years of ECCE; if there is a procedure for children who are unable to commence ECCE due to developmental delays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41777/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) is a programme of supports designed to ensure that children with disabilities can access the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme in mainstream pre-school settings. Its goal is to empower pre-school providers to deliver an inclusive pre-school experience, ensuring that every child, including those with language delays, can meaningfully participate in their full two year entitlement of the ECCE Programme alongside their peers and can reap the benefits of quality early years care and education.
AIM is a child centred model of supports, involving seven levels of progressive support, moving from the universal to the targeted, based on the needs of the individual child and the pre-school setting. It will offer tailored, practical supports based on need and will not require a formal diagnosis of disability. The purpose of AIM is to support children to engage in two years of ECCE, regardless of development delays. However attendance in ECCE services is not mandatory and parents may decide to send their children to just one year of ECCE, or not to send them to an ECCE service at all.
If a parent wishes to get more information on ECCE or AIM they should contact their local County Childcare Committee. Details of all CCCs can be found on www.myccc.ie.
459. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will amend the early childhood care and education scheme and the national childcare scheme in order that a child who must delay participation in ECCE due to them having language difficulties and who is then only eligible for one year under the ECCE scheme due to their age can be financially supported in some way in cases in which the parents do not qualify for the income assessed subsidy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41871/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme is a universal two-year pre-school programme available to all children within the eligible age range. The programme is provided for three hours per day, five days per week over 38 weeks per year. A child must have reached 2 years and 8 months of age on or prior to 31 August of the relevant programme year to be eligible for the September start date and a child cannot turn 5 years and 6 months of age during the course of the ECCE programme year. Children who age out of ECCE will be of primary school age. All children, including those with additional needs, are entitled to two years on the ECCE programme. The ECCE programme is not mandatory, and a parent may choose to send their child to ECCE for just one year, or not at all.
Supports are available for children with additional needs through the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) to enable them to take part in two years of ECCE. AIM is a programme of supports designed to ensure that children with disabilities can access the ECCE Programme in mainstream pre-school settings. Its goal is to empower pre-school providers to deliver an inclusive pre-school experience, ensuring that every child can meaningfully participate in their full two years of the ECCE Programme alongside their peers and can reap the benefits of quality early years care and education.
With regard to other financial supports available to help parents with the costs of childcare, the National Childcare Scheme provides both universal and targeted supports to parents, based on their income levels. For more information on eligibility and entitlements, parents can contact the NCS Parent Support Centre on 01 906 8530 or visit www.ncs.gov.ie.
