Written Answers Nos. 644-661
644. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on a matter regarding staffing childcare facilities (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53013/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI acknowledge that many early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC) services are reporting staffing and recruitment difficulties, with increased pressures as a result of COVID-19. My Department is actively monitoring the issue and has sought data and evidence-based proposals from sectoral representatives.
The primary data-source for the sector is the Annual Early Years Sector Profile. In the most recent published Sector Profile (published in 2021, and relating to data from 2020), 44% of services reported challenges in recruiting suitably qualified staff over the past 12 months. While this figure was down 9% from the previous year, it remains high. The staff turnover rate has similarly fallen from 23% to 18%.
Recruitment and retention difficulties in the sector are undoubtedly linked to poor terms and conditions in the workforce, with for example the average pay being €12.45 per hour.
I am conscious of the need for improvement in pay and working conditions for practitioners in ELC and SAC services. The level of pay they receive does not reflect the value of the work they do for children, for families and for the wider society and economy.
As the State does not employ ELC and SAC practitioners, I cannot set wage levels or determine working conditions for staff in the sector. My Department has, however, over a number of years provided a range of supports to service providers to enable them to improve wages and working conditions.
I am committed to doing what is in my power to improve wages and working conditions. That is why last December I began a process to examine the possibility of regulating pay and conditions in the sector and the suitability of a Joint Labour Committee (JLC). In agreement with IBEC/Childhood Services Ireland, and SIPTU, I appointed Dr Kevin Duffy, former Chair of the Labour Court, to be the independent chair of this process.
On foot of Dr Duffy’s report, on 11 March I wrote to the Minister of State for Business, Employment and Retail, recommending the establishment of a JLC for the sector.
In line with the provisions of the Industrial Relations Acts, the Labour Court recommended establishment of a JLC, which Minister English accepted. The Establishment Order came into effect in July 2021. The JLC will provide an opportunity for unions and employer representatives to work together to determine wages and working conditions for ELC and SAC.
In addition, work on a Workforce Development Plan for ELC and SAC continues, with a final report expected by the end of the year.
In relation to administration of the National Childcare Scheme (NCS), which is the other matter raised in the question, the introduction of the NCS removed the administrative burden from ELC/SAC providers of applying for childcare supports on a parent’s behalf. Parents now apply to the Scheme directly, and only approach ELC/SAC providers once they have completed their application and have a CHICK to register.
ELC/SAC providers are not required to alter their service structure, admissions policies or fees to participate in the NCS. The Scheme is designed to acknowledge that childcare needs differ widely across different families, and this is why subsidies are offered on an hourly basis.
However, parents and providers continue to agree on the amount of childcare that is needed and can be provided. The NCS pays subsidies based on the hours of care agreed between the provider and the parent, up to the maximum hours awarded to the parent. Providers are not required to change their policies or operations.
I am aware of the challenges faced by providers in changing to a new scheme and a new IT system.
The NCS Chick registration is the same for all awards. There are detailed instructions on this on the NCS website https://earlyyearshive.ncs.gov.ie/how-to-guides/how-to-guides-ncs/registrations-ncs/.
The instructions include 3 training videos and a Quick Guide:
- Registering a child on NCS using a CHICK (Pre-ECCE age)
- Registering an ECCE child on NCS using a CHICK
- Registering an ECCE child on NCS using a CHICK (Adding non-term hours)
Pobal as scheme administrator have provided comprehensive training and information resources and will continue to support providers in this way. If a provider needs additional assistance when registering a CHICK they can contact the Early Years Provider Centre (EYPC), which is a designated point of contact for service providers. The EYPC is open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm (10am to 5pm on Wednesday). The can also contact the EYPC by calling 01 511 7222 or by email at EYPC@pobal.ie.
645. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of parents in 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021 that were referred by Tusla for psychiatric assessment. [53034/21]
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.
646. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his report on the provision of paid leave for victims of domestic violence is complete; if it has been presented to Government; and when it will be published. [53140/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm to the Deputy that my Department is finalising policy proposals for consideration by Government, and has examined both international models of domestic violence leave and best practice in this regard. It has also researched the development of a suitable model for roll-out in Ireland.In addition, my Department has engaged in a targeted consultation process with relevant stakeholders and social partners to examine how a scheme of paid leave should operate to address the needs of victims most effectively, including with the monitoring committee of the Second National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence, employers' groups and trade unions and with stakeholders of the National Equality Strategy Committees falling under my Department’s remit.The report will include recommendations on how best to support employees experiencing domestic abuse, including through the provision of leave. I plan to bring it to Government shortly with proposals for further action.
647. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of existing contracts of an indefinite period entered into by his Department prior to the enactment of the EU Procurement Directive. [53224/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy that the Department for Children; Equality; Disability; Integration and Youth does not have any existing contracts of an indefinite period entered into by this Department prior to the enactment of the EU Procurement Directive.
648. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of the implementation of the Irish Sign Language Act 2017; when a role will be created entirely separate from the SNA role for supporting deaf signing children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53312/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Irish Sign Language Act was signed into law on 24th December 2017 and it was jointly commenced by Minister Rabbitte and I on 23rd December 2020.
Through the Act, Ireland recognises Irish Sign Language as a native language of the State and the right of users of Irish Sign Language to develop and preserve it as their native language.
The Act places a statutory duty on all public bodies to provide Irish Sign Language users with free interpretation when accessing statutory entitlements and services. The Act also creates specific obligations in relation to the accreditation of Irish Sign Language Translators, the use of Irish Sign Language in legal proceedings, as well as providing principles that broadcasters, within the meaning of the Broadcasting Act 2009, must adhere to.
Section 5 provides specifically for the development of a number of schemes for the provision of support for ISL users in the school context and for their families. Planning is underway in the Department of Education on the implementation of the provisions of the ISL Act in consultation with the National Council for Special Education and any additional supports that may be required in that regard. It should be noted that there are a number of provisions in education for ISL users and their families.
Implementing the Irish Sign Language Act requires a whole of government approach. As such, all public bodies have obligations to fulfil. Under section 10 of the Act, my Department has an important role to play in monitoring the implementation of the Act to ensure that users of Irish Sign Language have equal access to the services of the State and equal opportunities to achieve their full potential.
Section 10 of the Act requires that a report on the implementation on the Act be produced. A draft report was submitted to my Department earlier this year, and is presently being finalised, in consultation with relevant Departments and Agencies. When finished, Minister Rabbitte intends to lay the report before the Houses, and to publish it.
649. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 652 of 19 October 2021, in relation to the €69 million for the period from September 2022 to the end of 2022, €41 million of which arises from the increased core allocation for early learning and childcare, the area or areas from which the remaining €28 million comes from. [53322/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn Budget 2022, I secured an additional €78m in funding for early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC), bringing the total investment in the sector to €716m next year. This will allow my Department to bring forward a substantial and comprehensive package of developments to achieve significant progress on its policy priorities of affordable, high quality, inclusive and sustainable ELC and SAC.
The €716 million investment in ELC and SAC includes €69m for a new core funding stream for providers from September 2022, equivalent to €207.3 million for a full year.
This funding stream marks the start of a multi-annual investment plan and is part of Government’s commitment to realising the First 5 target of investment of approximately €1 billion by 2028. The new core funding stream introduces a strategic new way of funding the sector and begins to implement the recommendations of the Expert Group to develop a new funding model.
Under the core funding stream, providers will be supported in meeting their operating costs, including increased costs related to improved quality measures. The funding will support the quality of ELC and SAC services by better enabling providers to attract and retain qualified staff, including degree-qualified staff; establish career structures; and introduce or improve other features of provision that are demonstrated to contribute to quality (e.g. non-contact time, planning, training, curriculum implementation). The new funding stream will also ensure that services can remain sustainable and will contribute to cost increases related to non-staff costs (for example, utilities, rent).
In addition, some €37m has been earmarked for a Transition Fund to operate from May-August 2022. This will support ELC and SAC services to ensure there are no increases in parental fees for ELC and SAC in the period leading up to the introduction of the new funding stream in September 2022.
Officials within my Department are currently finalising the budget line details in respect of the ELC and SAC allocation for 2022. Programme subheads within the ELC and SAC allocation will be finalised in the coming weeks with the publication of the Revised Estimates in early December 2022.
650. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 381 of 6 July 2021, the number of retrospective abuse reports received by Tusla regarding a hospital (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53397/21]
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.
651. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his attention has been drawn to an error in the 2021 Government of Ireland Postgraduate Awards process; if he will outline in detail the nature of the error; if the error will lead to an additional cost of €468,000 over the next five years; the steps being taken to ensure that such an error does not reoccur; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52003/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra653. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his attention has been drawn to an error in the 2021 Government of Ireland Postgraduate Awards process; the details of the nature of the error; if the error will lead to an additional cost of €468,000 over the next five years; the steps being taken to ensure that such an error does not reoccur; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52019/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 651 and 653 together.
The Irish Research Council Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship Scheme makes awards of funding to excellent postgraduate researchers in any discipline. The postgraduate awards range between 1-4 years in duration with the annual award value comprising a stipend of 18,500, a contribution to fees of €5,750 and research expenses/consumables funding of €3,250. The Irish Research Council received 1,194 eligible applications to the scheme under the 2021 call.
Applications are open to researchers from anywhere in the world. Successful applicants are hosted by an eligible higher education or research-performing institution in Ireland under the guidance of an academic supervisor or mentor. All applications to the scheme are subjected to international independent peer review under a two-stage process in which each application is reviewed up to four times by different academic experts. The Government of Ireland awards are a key component of the pipeline of early-career researchers in the Irish research system and promote the balanced development of the system across disciplines.
Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship applicants fall into one of two categories: European applicants (Category One) and international applicants (Category Two). Since its establishment in 2012, the IRC has operated a procedure whereby a majority of awards are made to category one applicants. The approach is made clear in the call document for the scheme.
In April 2021, after offers were issued, the IRC Executive uncovered a misclassification of applicant categories on the AHSS (Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences) on the assessment outcome ranking list, meaning that a small number of applicants were categorised as ‘Category one’ that were in fact ‘Category two’. In making offers according to the ranked order of merit, offers were made to Category two applicants which should have been made to Category one applicants. When the IRC corrected the categorisation and reviewed the master ranked list again it became clear that a number of applicants that should have received offers according to the order of merit did not receive offers. Taking account of declinations that are part of the normal offers process, this outstanding number was 5 applicants.
The Irish Research Council operates under the aegis of the Higher Education Authority and following discovery of the error, the IRC Executive reported the matter to the CEO of the HEA, who is the Chief Accounting Officer of the Irish Research Council. The error was reported to the Authority’s Finance and Governance Committee and, subsequently, the Board of the HEA. The Irish Research Council, having given full consideration of options to address the error, made a recommendation to the HEA Board that it make the 5 additional awards to ensure that the ranked order of merit is maintained. The additional cost is €468,000 over 5 years. The recommendation was made on the basis that no additional budget was being sought by the IRC to implement it with the additional cost being absorbed through adjustments to other IRC programmes.
The IRC Director wrote to my department in advance of the relevant HEA Board meeting advising of the error and the process that was being followed to address the matter within the governance structures of the Authority. In response, my officials noted the issue; the recommendation of the Council to address the problem; the understanding that no additional funding was being sought by the IRC for the additional awards; and that the proposal to address the matter was to be put for decision to the HEA Board.
This IRC is taking a number of steps to ensure that this error does not reoccur. The categorisation of applicants has now been automated within the IRC’s Smart Simple application system, removing the scope for human error in this part of the process. The IRC intends to further enhance automation at all stages of the application, awards and post-award processes, drawing on a recent external review of the system by Mazars. This work will be supported by a new Systems Manager post within the IRC. Further development will take place having regard to and consistent with broader systems and business process development within the Higher Education Authority. The IRC recently commissioned a process review of the Government of Ireland Postgraduate and Postdoctoral schemes, and the Executive is currently considering the recommendations of the review in advance of processing of applications for the 2022 call.
652. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the amount of funding allocated to Ireland under the Erasmus+ programme for student and staff mobility for the 2019-2020, 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 academic year; the distribution of the money to each higher education institution for each of the years; and the specific amount allocated to each institution per year for staff mobility and student mobility in tabular form. [52004/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra654. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the amount of funding allocated to Ireland under the Erasmus+ programme for student and staff mobility for the 2019-2020, 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 academic years; the distribution of the money to each Higher Education institution for each of the years; and the specific amount allocated to each institution per year for staff mobility and student mobility in tabular form . [52020/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 652 and 654 together.
The information requested by the Deputy has been collated from the HEA and is set out in tabular form in the attachment below.
https://data.oireachtas.ie/ie/oireachtas/debates/questions/supportingDocumentation/2021-11-02_pq652-2-11-21_en.xlsx
655. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the status of the commitment under the New Decade, New Approach agreement to expand third-level opportunities for the persons in the north-west; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52023/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy officials are currently working with their counterparts in the Department for the Economy in NI, along with the President and Vice-Chancellor of Letterkenny Institute of Technology and University of Ulster respectively on the development of a proposal to address the commitment under New Decade New Approach.
This detailed engagement which has beeen ongoing for some months, is likely to finalise a proposal in the next few weeks, and I hope that I may be able to make a more detailed announcement early in 2022.
656. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the status of the development of an advanced manufacturing training centre of excellence in Dundalk, County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52027/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Advanced Manufacturing Training Centre of Excellence (AMTCE) in Dundalk is one of the collaborative partnerships being supported by SOLAS under the Innovation through Collaboration Fund which is part of the Skills to Advance initiative. The partnerships involve collaboration by the Education and Training Boards with the private sector, researchers and academics to meet the skills needs for innovation across economic sectors.
Through the AMTCE, Louth Meath ETB (LMETB) is using advanced technologies to provide innovative and creative solutions to address the upskilling needs of those employed in the manufacturing technology areas and to provide employers with the knowledge skills and competencies to make informed decisions regarding planning for the skills requirements of both existing and new employees; including displaced employees, alongside opportunities for reskilling persons who are unemployed. The AMTCE utilises Innovative methodologies to facilitate and deliver training /upskilling, including use of remote, blended online and onsite learning modalities.
LMETB is presently tendering for a contractor to carry out works to the new centre required to comply with normal statutory compliance requirements. These works will enable the installation of certain specialised equipment. It is envisage that a suitably qualified contractor will be appointed and be in contract with LMETB before year end. It is expected that the necessary works will be carried out over a short period of time.
The Centre is presently delivering online and onsite face-to-face courses in relation to the skills requirements of the Manufacturing and Technology sectors in Ireland. These programmes are also supported by Enterprise Ireland through the Border Enterprise Development Fund and Regional Enterprise Transition Scheme. The Centre is continuing to accelerate its programme delivery through to the end of 2021 and is planning an ambitious programme for 2022 including in Centre delivery of courses to industry.
LMETB is actively engaged in the development of cross border linkages/partnership development in the areas of Advance Manufacturing and related disciplines. It is intended that this work will enable the development of strategic alliances which will foster sharing and partnership working on an all-Ireland basis. The Centre has also engaged with Irish, UK and international companies working in the area of advanced manufacturing and technologies training alongside leading companies in the research field of Advanced Manufacturing. In this way the AMTCE Course content offerings are maintained at the highest industrial standards.
657. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the status of the development of cross-Border apprenticeships; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52028/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs part of the Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025 I committed to assessing the potential for cross-border apprenticeship programmes to enhance Ireland’s ability to respond to skills needs as an all-island economy by the end of Q1 2022. Ireland operates as a small open economy and the ability of our graduate apprentices to operate on an international stage will be encouraged. The opportunity for international mobility as a component of apprenticeship programmes will be piloted during the lifetime of this plan, either in the workplace or in education and training institutions.
The Government’s commitment to cross border apprenticeships is reaffirmed in the revised National Development Plan (NDP) 2021-2030 which sets an enhanced level of ambition for collaborative cross-border public investment, to build a more connected, prosperous and sustainable island, for all communities and traditions that share the island.
Under the NDP the Government through my Department will work with our Northern Ireland and UK counterparts, education and research stakeholders to support more strategic cooperation, realise more opportunities and shape further and higher education and research sectors that will meet the needs and capacity of the shared island in the decade ahead. This will include enhanced cooperation on higher and further education, through collaborative approaches to programmes such as developing cross border apprenticeships.
A Programme Area Skills Development strategy is being developed as part of the PEACE PLUS Programme Strategy. It will be aimed at delivering economic regeneration and transformation and identifying areas for investment. This will support area-based approaches, designed to address evidenced skills gaps, which will result in increased productivity and employment and higher levels of cross border labour mobility and enable cross border collaboration between education and training-based providers to address existing and emerging skills gaps, and opportunities for re-skilling.
Programme area Skills Development will support the provision of strategic cross border skills programmes in further education / higher education institutions (including joint programmes) in key disciplines such as ICT and digital, STEAM, the green economy, entrepreneurship and leadership and management amongst other areas and promote the uptake of apprenticeships in key areas such as ICT.
658. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his Department’s plans for mobilising the indicative €50 million allocated to skills development under PEACE Plus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52029/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhile the draft PEACE PLUS programme has been approved by the Irish Government and the North-South Ministerial Council, the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) are currently finalising the document for next stage of the process - namely, approval by the EU Commission.
In the meantime, my officials are collaborating closely with their counterparts in the Department for the Economy to identify agreed proposals to support this innovative skills initiative, which will inform the development of any Calls for Proposals to be issued by SEUPB in 2022.
659. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the status of the development of an all-Ireland skills research hub; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52030/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhile the draft PEACE PLUS programme has been approved by the Irish Government and the North-South Ministerial Council, the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) are currently finalising the document for next stage of the process - namely, approval by the EU Commission.
In the context of the skills proposal, there is provision to explore the development of an all-island skills research hub. My officials are currently collaborating closely with their counterparts in the Department for the Economy to identify agreed actions which will inform the development of any Calls for Proposals to be issued by SEUPB in 2022.
660. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the status of the development of an all-Ireland research centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52031/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Development Plan envisages the creation of new all-island research centres and further collaborations, funded through Science Foundation Ireland, the Shared Island Fund and with Northern Ireland and UK partners, and working with industry, to better harness all-island capacities to conduct world-leading research and innovation.
Engagement between all parties to define the areas of synergy and alignment of priorities and agreement on modalities of how to take forward the proposals in a collaborative way is ongoing.
661. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 152 of 14 October 2021, if he will respond to matters raised in correspondence (details supplied) regarding an education course for young adults with intellectual disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52095/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraCity of Dublin ETB advised my officials that the adult learners in the Donnycarney Centre approached the Board's staff as a preformed group requesting assistance as the funding for their programme had ceased. The current position is that following an initial assessment of the learners in the Donnycarney Centre, City of Dublin ETB is providing a combined programme incorporating elements of the Latch-on programme and the Skills for Life programme, which it considers most suitable for their needs.
The combined programme is of 9 hours duration per week, similar to that of the two pilot Latch-On programmes being operated in Finglas and Parnell Square in collaboration with Down Syndrome Ireland. All three programmes are being offered for a 2 year period during which City of Dublin ETB will monitor their progress.
