Written Answers Nos. 368-392
368. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated annual expenditure on the disability allowance for 2021; the estimated additional cost of increasing disability allowance payments by €5, €15 and €20, respectively for those currently in receipt of this payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36450/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe estimated expenditure on Disability Allowance in 2021 is €1.8 billion.
The costings sought by the Deputy are contained in the table below.
|
Increase |
Cost (€m) |
|
€5 |
42.7 |
|
€15 |
128.3 |
|
€20 |
171.1 |
The costs shown above include a proportionate increase for qualified adults, and are based on the estimated number of recipients in 2021. This costing is subject to change in the context of emerging trends and associated revision of the estimated numbers of recipients.
369. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Social Protection the funding that was allocated for assistive technologies for persons with disabilities in 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021, respectively; the unmet need for assistive technologies in 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021, respectively; the additional funding needed to increase funding for assistive technologies by 5%, 10% and 25%, respectively; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36451/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra370. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Social Protection the funding allocated to the disability awareness support scheme in 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021; the additional cost of increasing funding to the scheme by 5%, 10% and 25%, respectively; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36452/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 369 and 370 together.
In addition to providing income supports the Department of Social Protection (DSP) provides a wide range of employment-related supports for both jobseekers / employees with disabilities and employers seeking to support an employee who has a disability or when employing a jobseeker (with a disability). These include:
A) The Disability Awareness Support Scheme (DASS Grant)
DASS provides a contribution towards the cost of disability awareness training for private sector employers. The training to be delivered must, for example, provide clear and accurate information about disability, address questions that employers/employees may have, and cover anti-discrimination / equal opportunities legislation. The value of the grants available is as set out below:
|
First year a company applies |
90% of eligible training costs up to a maximum of €20,000 |
|
Second and subsequent years a company applies |
80% of eligible training costs up to a maximum of €20,000 |
B) The Reasonable Accommodation Fund Grants (RAFG)
The four grants available under this fund are:
1. Employee Retention Grant (ERG)
2. Job Interview Interpreter Grant (JIIG)
3. Personal Reader Grant (PRG)
4. Workplace Equipment/Adaptation Grant WEAG)
The Workplace Equipment / Adaptation Grant:
With regards to assistive technology, where a person with a disability has been offered employment, is in employment or is self-employed and requires a more accessible workplace or adapted equipment to do the job, s/he or the employer can apply for a grant towards the costs of adapting premises or equipment. A maximum grant of €6,350 is available towards the cost of adaptations to premises or equipment. Applications in excess of this sum are also considered, on an individual basis, up to a maximum of €9,523 if specialist training for assistive technology is required.
It is important to note that the DASS and WEAG grants differ from the income supports (such as Disability Allowance or the Blind Pension) provided by the Department, in that they are demand led. The overall value of the grants provided each year rises or falls in response to the number of applications received. It is therefore not possible to predict in advance the impact of percentage increases with any degree of certainty. However, details of the value and number of grants provided, by grant type, in 2019, 2020 and 2021 are set out in the tables below for information.
I would also add that the funding the Department makes available through the grants it administers, does not impact or lessen the obligation on employers to provide reasonable accommodations. The provision of reasonable accommodations by all employers is a legally enforceable right for both jobseekers and employees. The Employment Equality Acts oblige employers to take reasonable steps to accommodate the needs of both employees and job applicants with disabilities, except where to do so would impose a disproportionate burden on them.
Table 1: WEAG
|
Year |
Number of grants provided |
Value of the grants provided |
|
2019 |
37 |
€81,968 |
|
2020 |
42 |
€84,150 |
|
2021* |
€0 |
* Up to May 2021
Table 2: DASS
|
Year |
Number of Companies |
Value of the grants provided |
|
2019 |
12 |
€52,959 |
|
2020 |
4 |
€5,598 |
|
2021 * |
2 |
€6,650 |
* Up to May 2021
By way of additional information, the Comprehensive Employment Strategy (for people with disabilities) 2015 – 2024, contains the following action (action 3.7). ‘Support relevant departments in the implementation of the Make Work Pay Recommendation No. 3. (“Develop and bring forward proposals to address access to or affordability of necessary aids / appliances / assistive technology required for everyday living for those people with disabilities whose entry, retention or return to work could be jeopardised by being unable to afford these items, given the level of employment income, and whose needs are not met by other schemes of assistance.”). The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (D/CEDIY) are the lead department with regard to this action and they have established a working group to examine the issue.
371. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated additional cost of introducing a total contribution approach to the State pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36453/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraA policy to introduce the Total Contributions Approach (TCA) to pensions calculation was adopted by Government in the National Pensions Framework in 2010, as was the decision to base the entitlements of all new pensioners on this approach from around 2020. The introduction of a TCA approach is a key feature of the Government's 'Roadmap for Pensions Reform'.
In January 2018, the Government introduced an interim “Total Contributions Approach” (TCA) which includes up to 20 years of a new HomeCaring periods. The provision for the HomeCaring Periods Scheme fundamentally changed the entitlement of many who spent time out of the workforce caring for others. It, for the first time, acknowledged home caring periods prior to 1994. Accordingly, those who have a 40 year record of paid and credited social insurance contributions, subject to a maximum of 20 years of credits/homecaring periods, qualify for a maximum contributory pension where they satisfy the other qualifying conditions for the scheme.
As the Deputy is aware, as part of the Programme for Government, a Commission on Pensions was set up to look at sustainability and eligibility issues with the State Pension and the Social Insurance Fund. The Commission will outline options for the Government to address issues such as qualifying age, contribution rates, pensions calculation methods and eligibility requirements. The Commission is due to report on its findings in the near future and the Government has committed to consider these findings within six months of their receipt.
Therefore, as a final design for TCA has not yet been decided upon by Government, it is not possible at this juncture to provide the requested costs.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
372. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated additional cost of increasing the earnings disregard for the disability allowance by €10, €50 and €100, respectively; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36454/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraDisability Allowance (DA) is a means-tested payment for people with a specified disability who are aged between 16 and 66. The disability must be expected to last for at least one year and the allowance is subject to a medical assessment, a means test and a habitual residency test.
DA is structured to support recipients to avail of opportunities to pursue their own employment ambitions, be that self-employment or in insurable employment. When an individual commences employment, they can avail of an income disregard of €140 per week. In addition, a 50% taper on earnings between €140 and €350 is also applied (disregarded), for the purpose of the means test.
The ESRI SWITCH microsimulation model has been used for the purposes of the estimate requested. The additional cost of increasing the upper limit of the earnings disregard for the disability allowance from €350 in increments of €10, €50 and €100 respectively are set out in tabular form below.
It is important to note that SWITCH is a tax-benefit microsimulation developed by the ESRI. It provides estimates of full-year policy changes, using data from the CSO Survey on Income and Living Conditions. These estimates are based on current Disability Allowance recipients. As Disability Allowance is a comparatively small scheme in terms of recipients, there may be issues around sample size when running costings. SWITCH cannot predict changes in behaviour (including increased take-up of employment). It should be noted that increased disregards may in fact increase the number of eligible recipients, and therefore, increase the overall Disability Allowance expenditure.
Table: Disability Allowance Disregard Upper Limit Increase from €350.00 in increments of €10.00, €50.00 and €100.00.
|
Base value |
New value |
Increase |
Total Estimated additional Expenditure (€million per year) per incremental step |
|
€350 |
€360 |
+ €10 |
€0.53m |
|
€350 |
€400 |
+ €50 |
€2.29m |
|
€350 |
€450 |
+ €100 |
€3.01m |
373. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Social Protection the maximum period a person with a disability can spend with the EmployAbility service; the estimated additional cost of increasing the duration of participation with the EmployAbility service by one week, one month and three months, respectively; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36455/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department’s EmployAbility service is delivered under contract by 24 companies and the combined value of the 12-month contracts for 2021 is just over €10m. The service has an average active caseload at any one time of approximately 3,100 clients and those contracted to deliver the service employ the equivalent of 172 full time staff, of whom 127 are job coaches.
While the EmployAbility service operates an 18-month support programme, many exit the service earlier. These clients may have been placed in employment, in training or other placement that is not in the open labour market, such as TÚS or CE. Clients also exit because of personal reasons e.g. ill health.
At the end of the 18-month duration of the programme, clients must exit the Employability service and may be referred onto other services at that point.
The service aims to have a caseload of 25:1 that includes the provision of dedicated job coach support as well as both pre-employment and in employment supports and assistance.
Increasing the 18-month support programme would have a bearing on the client/job coach ratio and may also require the employment of additional job coaches. The number of additional referrals would be a matter of contract negotiation with a successful contractor and it would be for the contractor to determine the number of Job Coaches to be employed in order to deliver the service as contracted and in line with the current 25:1 ratio. The cost of expanding the numbers of referrals for each particular contractor would also be a matter for negotiation on an individual contract basis.
For the moment the timelines, capacity and costs of the service are as set out in each contract, and the additional costs associated with an extension of the timelines as suggested by the Deputy would require individual negotiation with each service provider at the time of contact award.
374. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the details of the new working group to tackle the issue of food poverty; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36516/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Roadmap for Social Inclusion 2020-2025, which was published in January 2020, includes a commitment to develop a comprehensive programme of work to further explore the drivers of food poverty and to identify mitigating actions (Commitment #61). This commitment is to be delivered by a number of Government Departments working in collaboration.
Following the Social Inclusion Roadmap Steering Group meeting on 30 March 2021, which I chaired, I announced my intention to establish a Working Group to tackle the issue of food poverty in accordance with this Commitment.
This Working Group has since been established. Its membership consists of the Departments of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth; Education; Health; Rural and Community Development; and Social Protection. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Crosscare and the Children’s Rights Alliance are also members of this group.
The first meeting of the group took place on 8 June 2021, and a second meeting is scheduled to take place in the coming weeks. Terms of reference were agreed at the first meeting, and it is envisaged that this group will meet regularly this year.
Following that first meeting, my Department is currently coordinating a high-level mapping exercise across Government to identify the range of work undertaken, or funded, by Departments and other State bodies to address food poverty in its various forms.
The future work of this group will include consideration of the drivers of food poverty in the current climate and the development of relevant recommendations, which will contribute to the development of future Roadmap commitments to 2025 following the mid-term review of the Roadmap in 2022.
375. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Social Protection the average time for birth registration in the Civil Registration Office in the Lombard St. office; if there was a backlog before the HSE cyber-attack; if the office has caught up on this backlog; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36556/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy will be aware that birth registrations are by law a matter for the HSE. The delivery of all civil registration services by the HSE have been impacted by the recent cyber-attack which has meant that registrations could not be undertaken for a period of four weeks. Registration services were resumed on the 11 June 2021 and my understanding is that the HSE is working to clear the backlog of registrations.
I have no information on the level of any backlogs the HSE was managing prior to the cyber-attack on the services as it is a matter for that agency to address.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
376. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 has not yet been fully enacted over five and a half years later; the definitive timeline for its enactment given the human rights implications of the anachronistic Lunacy Regulation Act 1871 which is still being used; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36412/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 (the 2015 Act) is a very important piece of legislation that changes the existing law on capacity from the status approach of the wardship system to a flexible functional approach, whereby capacity is assessed on an issue- and time-specific basis. It will abolish the wards of court system for adults by repealing the Lunacy Regulation (Ireland) Act 1871. Adults currently in wardship will transition to the new decision-making support arrangements on a phased basis over 3 years from the date of commencement.
The Government made a commitment in the Programme for Government to commencing the 2015 Act, recognising the importance of the much needed reform it represents. We are working towards a date of June 2022 for full commencement.
The delays in commencement of the 2015 Act arise from two principal factors. The Decision Support Service, which is the organisation that will operate the progressive provisions of the 2015 Act, has to become operational and to be able to respond to the complex decision-making needs of people with capacity difficulties. Amendments are also required to the 2015 Act before full commencement can take place. Work is actively taking place on an Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill, which is expected to be enacted by year end. Priority drafting has been secured and publication of the Bill is expected in October. The amendments will streamline processes, in the interests of those using its provisions. They will also strengthen the safeguards included in the 2015 Act.
Some provisions of the Act have been commenced to enable the recruitment of the Director of the Decision Support Service; the establishment of a multidisciplinary working group in relation to Advance Healthcare Directives; and most recently, on the 1st of February this year, the repeal of the Marriage of Lunatics Act, which means that a ward can now marry if she or he has capacity to do so.
The Decision Support Service has made considerable progress in putting in place the administrative and IT systems needed to operate the 2015 Act. To this end a budget of €5.8 million was secured for the Decision Support Service for 2021, a significant increase on its €3.5 million 2020 budget.
A high-level Steering Group, chaired by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, meets monthly to oversee and drive progress towards full commencement. The Steering Group comprises senior officials from the Department of Health, the Department of Justice, the Mental Health Commission, the Courts Service, the HSE and the Decision Support Service, recognising that successful operation of the 2015 Act will involve multiple stakeholders. They are working towards commencement of the 2015 Act in June 2022, with the Decision Support Service opening for business immediately thereafter.
379. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when he expects the survey on income and costs for childcare sector being complied by Pobal to be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35801/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra380. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if services receive approximately 60% of their service income from parental fees and the remainder 40% excluding Covid-19 supports from the State in the latest Annual Early Years Survey; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35802/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 379 and 380 together.
An Independent Review of the Cost of Delivering Childcare in Ireland, undertaken by Crowe in on behalf of my Department, was published in November 2020. The project was designed to provide a robust evidence base for the further development of high quality ELC and SAC in Ireland. The outputs, including the costs calculator developed through this project inform the development of funding schemes and are being considered by the Expert Group which is working on the development of a new funding model for the sector.
This Review found that approximately 40% of the total income to the sector comes from parental fees. The remainder came from State supports. This percentage was found to vary significantly across services. Many services rely entirely on State funding while others services rely exclusively on parental fees. In a sustainable service, it is expected that the income to services (from both parental fees and State funding) covers the costs of delivering services with a margin of surplus.
Over the past year, these income and costs data captured as part of the Review have underpinned the substantial COVID-19 supports secured including the exemption for employers in the sector to the rule in the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme of having to demonstrate the reduction in turnover that is required by other employers.
Data for this Review was collected prior to the COVID-19 pandemic so the analysis of the breakdown of service income between State investment and parental fees does not take account of the special financial supports that have been made available to the sector since March 2020.
My Department is aware of the importance of collecting high quality income and cost data. This year, a new supplementary income and costs survey has been circulated to all providers alongside the annual Early Years Service Profile survey, administered by Pobal on behalf of the Department.
The data collected will be essential to assess the impact of the pandemic on the sector and to inform future policy development. The survey deadline is 30 June. Once the data is reviewed and cleaned, decisions will be taken on publication.
381. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the policies and procedures Tusla has in place for the receipt of several retrospective complaints regarding the sexual abuse of minors who cannot name their alleged perpetrators but name the same hospital (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35846/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy is referring to an operational matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. I have therefore referred the matter to Tusla, and asked that a direct response be provided to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Tusla ICT systems have been severely impacted by the cyber-attack on Friday 14 May 2021. This has significant consequences in terms of how Tusla interact with services and service users. There is a great deal of work being undertaken to put alternative systems in place but at present electronic communications are impeded. Currently Tusla are dependent on telephone / post for all communications and are working hard to restore ICT systems.
382. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the amount of interest his Department has been charged for savings or other funds on deposit in Irish banks since negative interest rates were introduced by year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35928/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to provide the following information to the Deputy regarding the interest charged for savings or other funds on deposit in Irish banks since negative interest rates were introduced.
|
Bank Account |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
Total |
|
DCYA Current A/c - Bank of Ireland |
€4,462.93 |
€7,000.78 |
€24.20 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€11,487.91 |
|
DCYA Receipts A/c - Bank of Ireland |
€109.28 |
€175.06 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€284.34 |
|
DCYA Petty Cash A/c - Bank of Ireland |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
|
MBH Commission Bank A/c - Bank of Ireland |
€26.31 |
€16.34 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€42.65 |
|
DCYA Current A/c - Danske Bank |
N/A |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
|
DCYA Lodgement A/c - Danske Bank |
N/A |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
|
DCYA PMG A/c - Danske Bank |
N/A |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
|
DCYA Petty Cash A/c - Danske Bank |
N/A |
€0.00 |
€6.72 |
€10.08 |
€5.16 |
€21.96 |
|
MBH Commission Bank A/c - Danske Bank |
N/A |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.69 |
€1.34 |
€2.03 |
|
Total |
€4,598.52 |
€7,192.18 |
€30.92 |
€10.77 |
€6.50 |
€11,838.89 |
My Department moved from Bank of Ireland to Danske Bank in August 2018. Three of the bank accounts with Danske Bank are not subject to Negative Credit Interest as shown above.
383. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is satisfied in the context of the freedom of information publication scheme that all logs are published and up to date in compliance with the Freedom of Information Act 2014; if not, the reason they are not published; and if he will update them as a matter of priority. [36119/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe logs of Freedom of Information requests processed by my Department are published on my Department's website at gov.ie. I am informed that the log is up to date up to and including 31 March 2021 and the log for the period covering April to June 2021 will be published shortly.
384. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the amount collected on an annual basis since the Freedom of Information Act 2014 commenced in respect of fees attached to freedom of information requests submitted to his Department. [36137/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince the establishment of my Department, €200 in fees have been charged for Search and Retrieval in relation to the processing of Freedom of Information requests.
385. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of freedom of information requests refused by his Department since the Freedom of Information Act 2014 commenced for the reason that search and copy costs would exceed the maximum threshold; the number of requests that were subsequently granted following engagement with the requester to narrow the scope of the request; and the costs associated with same. [36155/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhen a Freedom of Information request is deemed valid and accepted for processing, and if the estimated fees for search and retrieval involved in processing the request are found to exceed the maximum threshold, the requestor is offered the opportunity to revise the request and offered assistance to do so. Since the establishment of my Department, no requests have been refused on the basis that it exceeded the threshold and engagement with the requestor to refine the scope of the request has not been required.
386. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children with special needs living in south-western areas of Dublin; the number of therapists working in the area to provide essential services for these children; his plans to ensure that these services which are crucial for the families of these children will resume to pre-Covid-19 levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36175/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy that I am not in a position to comment as responsibility for disability services has not yet transferred to my Department. These matters are more appropriate for the attention of my Cabinet colleague, the Minister for Health.
387. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the progress being made on the National Action Plan for Childminding; the representative bodies involved; the consequences of the decision by an organisation (details supplied) to withdraw from this process given the fact that it represents many childminders around the country who are critical for childcare for many thousands of parents and children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36218/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Action Plan for Childminding, which was published in April 2021, aims to improve access, through childminding, to high quality and affordable childcare. The Action Plan sets out a pathway over the next eight years towards regulation, support and subsidies for all paid, non-relative childminders. The Action Plan will involve change and will bring significant benefits for childminders, and for the children and the families using their services.
A National Action Plan for Childminding Steering Group is in the process of being formed, to drive, oversee and monitor implementation of the National Action Plan. The Steering Group will be supported by four Advisory Groups in relation to: regulation and inspection; training and support; funding and financial supports; and consultation and communications.
The National Action Plan commits to representation of childminders, parents and other key stakeholders on the Steering Group, which will be chaired by my Department. Additionally the National Action Plan commits to representation of childminders on all four Advisory Groups.
The National Action Plan itself was based on extensive consultation and engagement with childminders, and the blueprint for the National Action Plan was the 2018 report of the Working Group on Reforms and Supports for the Childminding Sector, which was coordinated and chaired by Childminding Ireland. The National Action Plan commits to further consultation with childminders, especially during Phase 1 of the Plan when developing regulations specific to childminders.
While the organisation in question, which represents childminders, temporarily withdrew from processes related to the National Action Plan on 2 June, I am pleased to inform the Deputy that officials in my Department received written confirmation on 5 July that the organisation is now re-engaging in the National Action Plan processes. They have confirmed that they will accept the invitation to take up a seat on the Steering Group for the National Action Plan.
Their agreement to re-engage is very welcome as I believe that active engagement and consultation with childminders and their representatives will be a key to successful implementation of the National Action Plan.
390. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on the timeline and objectives of the Anti-Racism Committee that he established several months ago; the status of its operations; and the way it will be used to inform policy in the future. [36258/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Anti-Racism Committee is an independent Committee established by Government in 2020 to draw up a National Action Plan Against Racism (NAPAR) for Ireland. This is in line with the commitment contained within the Programme for Government to publish a new NAPAR. The work of the Committee will help to strengthen the Government’s approach to combatting individual and institutional racism and build on the anti-racism actions included in the Migrant Integration Strategy (MIS) and the National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy (NTRIS). The Committee will also examine international best practice in combatting racism and will benchmark their actions against these standards.
Following Government approval, I published the Committee’s Interim Report on 21 April. To coincide with the publication of this Report, the Committee launched its Public Consultation that same day, which runs for twelve weeks from 21 April until 14 July 2021.
The Committee is working to prepare a draft National Action Plan Against Racism by the end of 2021 for consideration of the Government.
The Deputy can access the Committee’s full Terms of Reference, its Interim Report and details of the Public Consultation online.
391. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the funding allocation to parent and toddler group initiatives for 2020 and 2021, in tabular form; and the amount drawn down in 2020. [36359/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department allocates funding of €250,000 to parent and toddler groups annually. The table below sets out the funding allocation by County/City Childcare Committee (CCC) to parent and toddler groups in 2020. The 2021 application process is due to commence shortly and funding of €250,000 will be allocated to successful groups later in this year.
|
CCC |
2020 Allocation € |
|
Carlow |
€2,047 |
|
Cavan |
€3,801 |
|
Clare |
€5,556 |
|
Cork City |
€7,310 |
|
Cork County |
€32,456 |
|
Donegal |
€11,111 |
|
Dublin City |
€10,819 |
|
Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown |
€11,696 |
|
Fingal |
€4,386 |
|
Galway |
€20,760 |
|
Kerry |
€9,064 |
|
Kildare |
€10,819 |
|
Kilkenny |
€3,509 |
|
Laois |
€2,924 |
|
Leitrim |
€3,216 |
|
Limerick County |
€16,374 |
|
Longford |
€2,924 |
|
Louth |
€5,263 |
|
Mayo |
€12,865 |
|
Meath |
€10,526 |
|
Monaghan |
€4,678 |
|
Offaly |
€3,801 |
|
Roscommon |
€4,971 |
|
Sligo |
€4,971 |
|
South Dublin |
€8,772 |
|
Tipperary |
€8,772 |
|
Waterford County |
€6,140 |
|
Westmeath |
€6,140 |
|
Wexford |
€5,556 |
|
Wicklow |
€8,772 |
|
€250,000 |
392. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will consider changes in relation the use of policy or procedures in view of the recent study by UCC regarding the issues relating the use of voluntary care agreements (details supplied). [36393/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Minister is aware of the Voluntary Care in Ireland study quoted by the Deputy, which was partially funded by his Department.
As the Deputy may be aware, in Better Outcomes Brighter Futures – The National Policy Framework for Children and Young People 2014-2020, the government committed to ‘review and reform as necessary, the Child Care Act 1991’. The Department has considered the findings of this research concerning the use of voluntary care arrangements as part of this review process. The research findings were also shared with Tusla.
I plan to very shortly bring forward proposals to Cabinet for reform of the Child Care Act 1991, following an extensive consultation process including a consultation on initial proposals in 2020. One of those proposals concerns amending S4 of the Child Care Act 1991 which regulates voluntary care arrangements.
The study identifies positive attributes of the existing voluntary care process but also made specific reference to a number of issues such as the unlimited duration of voluntary care agreements and weak mechanisms for ascertaining the views of children. The proposal that I will share with Cabinet colleagues will seek to amend legislation to limit voluntary care arrangements to a maximum of 12 months after which renewal will only be permitted subject to explicit parental consent, where parents have received legal advice. Other important changes include strengthening the voice of the child in both court proceedings as well outside court proceedings including in voluntary care.
Once Government approval is secured, the drafting of the General Scheme can commence. The finalised Scheme will undergo scrutiny by the Oireachtas Committee on Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. I look forward to the engagement on this very important piece of legislation as part of the Pre-Legislative Scrutiny process.
