Tuesday, 18 May 2021

Written Answers Nos. 577-597

Social Media

Ceisteanna (577)

Holly Cairns

Ceist:

577. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection the percentage of posts made on each of her Departmental social media accounts and platforms that were exclusively in Irish between 1 May 2020 and 30 April 2021, inclusive; the percentage of posts made on each of her Departmental social media accounts and platforms that featured bilingual translations in Irish and English between 1 May 2020 and 30 April 2021, inclusive; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26588/21]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

To date, the Department has not posted messages exclusively in Irish or bilingually on its Twitter, Instagram or LinkedIn social media platforms. However, where a person seeks to communicate with the Department in Irish, including through such platforms, the Department will do so.

The Department is also committed to meeting its obligations, as set out in the Official Languages Act, 2003. In doing so, major publications and key information are published in Irish and are also posted on the Department’s website in Irish at the same time as they are published in English or as soon as possible afterwards.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Employment Support Services

Ceisteanna (578)

Anne Rabbitte

Ceist:

578. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the concerns raised regarding the future of the tendering process for the local employment service network; the status of her plans to publicly tender on a cost bid model for the local employment services; if clarification will be provided on the future of and the specific concerns raised by an organisation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26605/21]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

My Department is reviewing the provision and procurement of contracted employment services.  In line with legal advice, future procurement will be conducted in line with national and EU procurement law. 

My Department will shortly issue a Request for Tender to expand local employment type services into some of the geographical areas where a Local Employment Service does not currently exist.  The specific lots will be detailed in the request for tender, when it is published. 

The current annual "cost met" funding approach, used with current LES and Job Club contracts, requires a level of scrutiny of day-to-day expenditure, which places an undue administrative burden on both the employment service provider and my Department.  Such an approach diverts valuable resources away from supporting clients, doing little to enhance employment outcomes for the long-term unemployed.  Moving to a new, multiannual, funding approach, which pays for each client referred, coupled with a strong emphasis on quality of service provision, will ease the administrative burden and is more likely to deliver enhanced outcomes for those availing of the service.  

The forthcoming procurement will focus primarily on the quality of services to be provided and will have no impact on the contracts of existing providers in other areas.

Separately, the current contracts for all contracted employment services, expire at the end of 2021. These contracts have been in place in many cases for over 20 years with no formal procurement being undertaken in that period.  This is not in compliance with the requirements of good governance or proper procurement and my Department is therefore developing RFTs to ensure that sufficient high-quality employment services are procured in a manner that is compatible with EU and national procurement rules. This phase will also see an expansion of services that will include County Galway, currently without a local employment service.

Organisations, including LES providers in conjunction with other community organisations, who have strong experience in the delivery of similar services at a community and local level will be in a strong position to respond to these RFTs.

Direct Provision System

Ceisteanna (579, 580, 581)

Eoin Ó Broin

Ceist:

579. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there has been any follow-up by his Department to ensure that period products are being provided free of charge at all direct provision centres. [25513/21]

Eoin Ó Broin

Ceist:

580. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of direct provision centres that have invoiced the International Protection Procurement Services in relation to the provision of period products. [25514/21]

Eoin Ó Broin

Ceist:

581. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if notification of the provision of free period products was included in the March 2021 edition of the resident’s newsletter. [25515/21]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

I propose to take Questions Nos. 579 to 581, inclusive, together.

I can confirm that period products are provided free of charge in all of my Department’s accommodation centres.

As part of the initiative to prevent period poverty and promote gender equality, since 15 March 2021, residents of centres that offer a points-based foodhall system have not had points deducted for period products. Residents of centres without a foodhall system have continued to receive period products free of charge from centre management.  All centre managers were advised of their obligations in this regard by way of email on 8 March 2021.

A notice advising residents of the availability of period products free of charge was included in the March 2021 newsletter and can be accessed at the link below:

https://ipascomms.newsweaver.com/n1dppz67ll/118k0kxtap6?lang=en&a=2&p=276930&t=80498

To date, 12 centres have submitted invoices to my Department for the recoupment of costs associated with the provision of period products to residents. In response to enquiries by my officials, a further 36 centres indicated that they were likely to submit invoices in the near future; three said that they had received donations of period products from the local community/local businesses; and four stated that they intended to carry the costs of period products themselves and that they would not be invoicing the Department.

Question No. 580 answered with Question No. 579.

Question No. 581 answered with Question No. 579.

Departmental Funding

Ceisteanna (582)

Seán Canney

Ceist:

582. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the supports available to national schools to construct preschool and after-school facilities on their site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25518/21]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

My Department does not provide specific funding supports to schools but has since 2015, administered an annual capital funding programme, under which early learning and care (ELC) and school aged childcare (SAC) services which are registered with Tulsa can access capital funding. 

The works eligible for capital funding are determined by my Department on an annual basis, having regard to the needs of children, families and service providers, and to Departmental priorities.

There is no specific capital funding available for building in 2021.

It is too early to determine the 2022 capital priorities, but I am aware of the demands on providers, and will consider these in determining the scope of the 2022 capital programme.

Other supports to service providers are available from the national network of  County Childcare Committees (CCCs) which are funded by my Department.  The CCC's offer a wide variety of supports to childcare providers, including information on grants and low cost local enterprise loans which may be available to services, as well as commercial borrowing.  

Contact details for all of the CCCs are available at myccc.ie 

Adoption Authority of Ireland

Ceisteanna (583, 584, 585)

Holly Cairns

Ceist:

583. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if an audit will be conducted into all records concerning children sent overseas for adoption; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25532/21]

Holly Cairns

Ceist:

584. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps he has taken in relation to new evidence discovered in Adoption Authority of Ireland records which reveals that at least 356 children in addition to the 2,132 children officially acknowledged to date were sent overseas for adoption between 1921 and 1994. [25533/21]

Holly Cairns

Ceist:

585. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the attention of his Department was drawn to details from the Adoption Authority of Ireland revealing that at least 356 children in addition to the 2,132 children officially acknowledged to date were sent overseas for adoption between 1921 and 1994; the steps that were taken with this information; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25534/21]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

I propose to take Questions Nos. 583 to 585, inclusive, together.

The issue of Irish children being adopted abroad has been in the public domain for many years, and has been extensively discussed, including in the media and in the Oireachtas.

The state papers released in 1996 contained details of children sent abroad for adoption. Following this, the Department of Health requested the Adoption Board to contact Adoption Societies to determine the extent of this practice. The responses from these Adoption Societies were passed to the Department of Health at that time.

During the recent sampling review into illegal birth registrations, the Adoption Authority of Ireland discovered a file containing this 1996 correspondence. This was brought to the attention of my Department in April 2019. My Department requested the Adoption Authority of Ireland to confirm that this material had been provided to the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes, which they did. A full copy of this file was also provided to the Special Rapporteur on Child Protection to assist in his work on appropriate next steps in cases of illegal birth registration.

It is acknowledged by all parties that adoption in the past was a secretive process, carried out without due respect for the rights and dignity of those involved. Such practice in adoption reflects wider societal prejudices of the time.

Today, the safeguards in the adoption acts ensure that the best interests of the child are the paramount consideration in all adoption cases, and in every step of the process. Modern day adoption legislation and practice also ensures that the rights of all involved are vindicated, including birth fathers, within the overarching framework of working for the best interests of the child involved.

Regarding the suggestion of an audit of records, I am very conscious that every record on adoption represents the lives of a number of individuals. There are major ethical issues at play where the reality, identity and family and legal relationships that people have lived their whole lives may be fundamentally undermined. I am also concerned that the records may simply not exist, to effectively revisit adoptions that have taken place.

From listening to survivors I believe that what is most important as an immediate priority is access to birth certificates and early life information for adoptees. The Deputy will be aware that I recently published proposed Birth Information and Tracing legislation, which will, for the first time, enshrine in law the right of access to birth certificates, and other birth and early life information.

This legislation, supported by a strong and supportive information and tracing service, should ensure that any individual with a question about their origins is empowered to access their own records and is supported with regard to any related needs.

Question No. 584 answered with Question No. 583.

Question No. 585 answered with Question No. 583.

Departmental Funding

Ceisteanna (586)

Neale Richmond

Ceist:

586. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the funding received by an independent fostering agency (details supplied) for providing a section 3 emergency placement service in 2019 and 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25579/21]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

I would like to thank the Deputy for his question. As this is an operational matter, it has been sent on to Tusla who will reply directly to the Deputy.

Child and Family Agency

Ceisteanna (587)

Neale Richmond

Ceist:

587. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the cost of providing the Tusla run section 3 out-of-hours social work service to counties Dublin, Kildare and Wicklow in 2019 and 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25580/21]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

As the matter raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, I have referred the question to Tusla for direct response to the Deputy.

Childcare Services

Ceisteanna (588)

Seán Sherlock

Ceist:

588. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the review of the national childcare scheme will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25626/21]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

Section 26 of the Childcare Support Act 2018 provides for a review of the operation of the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) to commence 12 months after the first payment of subsidies under the scheme.  

The purpose for the Review is to provide key data and information to support the future development of the NCS. It will provide a basis for the DCEDIY to consider how effectively the NCS is operating and whether it is meeting the objectives which are meaningfully measurable within the first year. 

The Review, which is being undertaken by Frontier Economics, commenced in March 2021. It will draw on a range of sources, including existing data, stakeholder interviews and a survey of providers and parents (currently underway). The Review is expected to be completed in Q3 2021.

Childcare Services

Ceisteanna (589)

Seán Sherlock

Ceist:

589. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to publish the outcome of the review of the national childcare scheme which is currently underway; if he will publish the outcome of the review in its entirety; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25627/21]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

Section 26 of the Childcare Support Act 2018 provides for a review of the operation of the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) to commence 12 months after the first payment of subsidies under the scheme. The 12 month review is an independent assessment of the implementation and impacts of NCS during its first year of operation.  

The fundamental purpose for the review is to provide key data and information to support the future development of the NCS. The review will provide a basis for the DCEDIY to consider how effectively the NCS is operating and whether it is meeting the objectives which are meaningfully measurable within the first year. These objectives are to:

-Tangibly reduce the cost of early learning and childcare for tens of thousands of families.

- Establish a sustainable platform for investment in the Irish early learning and childcare sector for decades to come.

Section 26 of that Act states that the Minister will provide a report "in writing to each House of the Oireachtas of his or her findings and conclusions resulting from the review".

Youth Services

Ceisteanna (590)

Cian O'Callaghan

Ceist:

590. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the funded recreation programmes such as community youth groups, youth led projects, sports and art that will be available for young persons in summer 2021 in an area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25661/21]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

Funding for the provision of youth services is administered on behalf of my Department by the Education and Training Boards, which allocate funding for local youth clubs and services via applications to the UBU Your Place Your Space the Local Youth Club Grant schemes. Funding of almost €42 million will be made available under UBU Your Place This Space in 2021 while over €2 million will be made available under the Local Youth Club Grant scheme this year.

I advise the Deputy to contact the relevant ETB(s) for a breakdown of available youth services operating during summer 2021 in the area specified to.  

Sustainable Development Goals

Ceisteanna (591)

Holly Cairns

Ceist:

591. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the progress made to include reference in all new statements of strategy to all sustainable development goal targets for which his Department has lead responsibility as outlined in the Sustainable Development Goals National Implementation Plan 2018-2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25743/21]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

My Department's Statement of Strategy 2021- 2023 was published in recent weeks and sets out six Strategic Goals to provide focus for the work of my Department over the coming three years. In achievement of these Goals, my Departments approach, as confirmed in the Statement of Strategy, will also focus on the realisation of the commitments within the remit of the Department as set out in the National Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Implementation Plan. My Department also collaborates across Government on matters relating to same and is a member of the Inter Departmental Group on the SDGs.

Sustainable Development Goals

Ceisteanna (592)

Holly Cairns

Ceist:

592. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the specific sustainable development goal targets his Department is responsible for implementing; the progress made in implementing those targets since 26 April 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25761/21]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

My Department is currently collating the information requested and a reply will issue directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Social Media

Ceisteanna (593)

Holly Cairns

Ceist:

593. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he has engaged a third-party company to date in 2021 to conduct online and or social media monitoring and or provide reports on social media coverage of his Department; if so, the cost of same; and the name of the social media platforms being monitored. [25779/21]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

The Department does not have a contract with a third party company to conduct social media monitoring.

Social Media

Ceisteanna (594)

Holly Cairns

Ceist:

594. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if officials in his Department are tasked with conducting online and social media monitoring and completing reports on social media coverage of his Department and his Ministerial activities; if so, the number of staff involved; the respective grades of each; the estimated working hours committed to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25797/21]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

There are no officials in my Department who are tasked with completing reports on social media coverage of the Department or Ministerial activities. 

Departmental Investigations

Ceisteanna (595)

Catherine Murphy

Ceist:

595. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he and or Tusla have engaged private investigation companies and or persons in the past three years to date; and if so, the cost, duration and purpose of these engagements of this type of contractor. [25817/21]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

My Department is currently collating the information requested and a reply will issue directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Departmental Investigations

Ceisteanna (596)

Catherine Murphy

Ceist:

596. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he and bodies under his aegis have engaged private investigation companies or persons in the past three years to date; and if so, the cost, duration and purpose of these engagements of this type of contractor. [25819/21]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

My Department is currently collating the information requested and a reply will issue directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Direct Provision System

Ceisteanna (597)

Louise O'Reilly

Ceist:

597. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to the fact that persons are exiting direct provision without any supports in place to assist with accessing housing; if information will be provided in relation to the supports that are in place for persons as they exit from direct provision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25914/21]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

I wish to clarify for the Deputy that supports to assist in accessing housing in the community are provided to residents leaving accommodation centres provided by my Department. 

International Protection applicants who have been granted an International Protection status (refugee status or subsidiary protection status) or a permission to remain have the same access to housing supports and services as Irish and EEA nationals.

Considerable work is being undertaken to support these residents to move out of accommodation centres and into secure accommodation in the community.  My Department has a specific team in the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) who work in collaboration with Depaul Ireland, the Peter McVerry Trust, officials in the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the City and County Managers Association to collectively support residents with status, or a permission to remain, to access housing options.

All residents  who are successful with their application to the Minister for Justice for a protection status or a permission to remain are notified by letter by the International Protection Accommodation Service of the supports available to them and of the contact details of their support workers, whose services are funded by my Department.   Contact details for housing support workers are also posted in each accommodation centre and are  readily available from the centre managers.  

In addition, during the past year a number of clinics were held for persons with a form of status.  The clinics were held in accommodation centres with both IPAS staff and Depaul/PMVT support workers attending and providing information of housing options. However, under national Level 5 Covid-19 restrictions it was not possible to continue the clinics.  It is expected that these clinics will resume in the near future as restrictions continue to be eased.

While such supports are made available to all residents who have been granted a status it is always open to them and any other residents to make their own arrangements for accommodation at any time, if they so wish, and many do so. 

I am happy to inform the Deputy that this year, in the period up to the end of April, 367 people have moved to housing in the community from our accommodation centres and over 90% (332) received assistance from the support services outlined.

The percentage of residents availing of the supports is currently in excess of the proportion for 2020, when a total of 1,136 people moved to accommodation in the community, of whom 799 or just over 70% received assistance from these support services.