Written Answers Nos. 393-414
393. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department has considered introducing the see and learn programme into preschools that have children attending with Down's syndrome; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59814/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department delivers the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM), which is a programme of supports designed to ensure that children with disabilities can access the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme. Its goal is to empower pre-school providers to deliver an inclusive pre-school experience, ensuring that every eligible child can meaningfully participate in the ECCE programme and reap the benefits of quality early learning and care in any mainstream pre-school. AIM is based on the needs of the child in the context of the pre-school setting. It does not require any diagnosis, recognising that many children do not have a diagnosis of a disability when starting pre-school.
AIM has seven levels of supports, moving from universal supports (levels 1-3) to targeted supports (levels 4-7), based on the needs of the child and the pre-school setting they are attending.
Level 3 supports recognise the requirement to continue to develop a qualified workforce that can confidently meet the needs of all children participating in the ECCE programme. To ensure training provision within AIM remains relevant and effective, and to identify and respond to gaps in current training available under AIM, an inter-agency Training Working Group has been established.
Current training provision under AIM includes the Leadership for Inclusion programme; Equality, Diversity and Inclusion training; and courses on sensory processing (SPEL), Hanen and Lámh. Hanen (Teacher Talk) provides early years professionals with core strategies to create a stimulating language learning environment for young children. Since 2018, 2,341 early years professionals have completed this training under AIM level 3. Lámh is a manual sign system which supports enhanced communication between practitioners and children with intellectual / communication needs. Since 2018, 1,032 early years professionals, from 565 early learning and care settings, have completed this training. The AIM Training Working Group continues to review and advise on training courses supported through AIM.
394. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department has oversight of the Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities 2015-2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59816/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities (CES) 2015 - 2024 is the primary vehicle for advancing the specific employment challenges faced by people with disabilities and my Department has responsibility for coordinating and supporting the implementation of this strategy.
The CES takes a cross-government approach, bringing together actions by Government Departments and Agencies to address the barriers and challenges to employment of people with disabilities. The CES’s strategic priorities are to build skills, capacity and independence, to provide bridges and supports into work, to make work pay, to promote job retention and re-entry to work, to provide coordinated and seamless supports and to engage employers.
Implementation of the Strategy is undertaken through agreed action plans and is monitored by an Implementation Group with an independent Chairperson: Fergus Finlay. Currently the group is implementing the CES Phase Two Action Plan which covers the period 2019 – 2021. The CES Phase Three Action Plan is being developed and it will inform actions that will continue to achieve progress under the strategy from 2022-2024.
395. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the level of funding Tusla will be allocating to domestic violence services in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59859/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI was pleased to announce in Budget 2022 that Tusla will be allocated €899m for 2022, which is an increase of €41m over the amount allocated in Budget 2021. My allocation to Tusla for 2021 included €28m in core funding for Domestic Sexual and Gender-based Violence (DSGBV) services and an additional €2m in contingency funding to support challenges of DSGBV service providers arising from COVID-19.
The specific amount to be used for the purpose outlined by the Deputy is not yet established. However, I have directed Tusla to use part of these additional resources to maintain supports for DSGBV services and address the recommendations arising from Tusla’s Accommodation Review relating to refuge provision.
I have issued my Performance Statement to Tusla outlining the overall parameters of Tusla's financial resources, and signalling my priorities for the coming year. In response to this, Tusla will prepare its annual Business Plan for 2022 in accordance with section 46 of the Child and Family Agency Act 2013. This outlines the proposed activities for the year and the details of the proposed allocation of total financial resources.
It is of the utmost importance that the needs of those who experience domestic violence are met in the most appropriate way possible. I strongly support the work of Tusla and its funded service providers and I am committed to supporting Tusla in meeting the needs of individuals who experience domestic violence.
396. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the planned investment in a location with regard to refuge provision (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59860/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe response to Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (DSGBV) is a cross Departmental and multi-agency issue with policy coordinated by the Department of Justice. Under the Child and Family Agency Act 2013, Tusla, the Child and Family Agency has statutory responsibility for the care and protection of victims of DSGBV. Capital funding for Approved Housing Bodies, including services that provide refuge accommodation for victims of DSGBV, is provided by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
I am not in a position to confirm planned investment in the location to which the Deputy refers to provide a refuges for victims of domestic violence will be established in County Laois.
Tusla’s ‘Review of the Provision of Accommodation for Victims of Domestic Violence’ assesses the current and requisite distribution of safe emergency accommodation and has examined the current level of refuge provision, evidence of demand for services and unmet need, and analysis of proximity to refuge by local communities. The Review has been completed and is undergoing the final edit for publication shortly.
My Department will be guided by the recommendations of the Review. I expect that the implementation process for the Review will identify priority areas where there is greatest urgency in achieving safe accommodation for victims of DSGBV.
397. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if services will be resourced to respond to increased demand or simply to maintain existing service levels for a domestic abuse service (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59861/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe funding for a service such as the one mentioned by the Deputy is an operational matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. I have therefore referred his question to Tusla and asked that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.
398. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of verbal and written reports received by him from his nominees to the board of Gaisce; the number of meetings he has had with these board members; if his attention has been drawn to serious HR issues that remain unresolved relating to one person in the organisation; if he will investigate the amount of funding being spent on legal fees relative to the case; if he will intervene to resolve the matter to prevent further trauma and emotional stress being inflicted on the person concerned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59889/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra‘Gaisce is a company limited by guarantee with charitable status. Under the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the company, the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth appoints members to the Council of Gaisce. Two members of the Council are nominated by the Office of the President and one by the Office of An Taoiseach. Other members, such as those appointed to recent vacancies on the Council, may be recruited through the Public Appointments Service and in line with the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the company.
Funding for Gaisce is included in my Department’s Vote. Officials meet with the Chair and CEO of Gaisce twice-yearly on general governance matters. In 2021 due to Covid 19 restrictions, my officials requested Gaisce to provide specified written material in lieu of an in-person meeting. Like other organisations in receipt of funding from the Department, Gaisce submits progress reports as part of an annual reporting requirement, which considers declared progress against their funding application, and a declaration on ICT in line with DPER requirements.
As provided for in Gaisce’s Articles of Association, I was made aware of the HR issues referred to by the Deputy. However, these are a matter for the organisation and its Board to address. It would not be appropriate for me to comment on any ongoing HR issues. With regard to legal fees, this is also a matter for the organisation.
399. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of protected disclosures made to him concerning his Department and bodies under its aegis in 2018, 2019 and 2020. [59906/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraSection 22 of the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 requires the publication of an Annual Report each year relating to the number of protected disclosures made in thepreceding year and any actions taken in response to such disclosures.
The Department did not receive Protected Disclosures in 2018, 2019 or 2020.
The Adoption Authority of Ireland, the National Disability Authority and Oberstown House have reported that they did not received protected disclosures over those years.
Tusla has reported that it received 3 Protected Disclosures in 2018, 1 Protected Disclosure in 2019 and 1 Protected Disclosure in 2020. Its report may be found here.
The Ombudsman for Children's Office and the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission are independent offices and will provide their own response to this PQ.
400. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the level of funding to be provided by his Department in 2022 for the promotion and support of the social enterprise sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59931/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is currently collating the information requested and a reply will issue directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
401. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children who were taken into State care from domestic violence shelters given that 3% of mandated reports on child protection and welfare came from managers of domestic violence shelters from January to August 2021; the names of the shelters involved; and the number taken from each shelter for each of the years 2016 to 2020 and to date in 2021. [59951/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy that operational responsibility for the delivery of child protection and welfare services is a matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency.
I can confirm that the matter has been referred to Tusla, for direct reply to the Deputy.
402. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children who were removed directly from homeless hubs and emergency accommodation and placed in State care in each of the years 2016 to 2020 and to date in 2021. [59952/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy that operational responsibility for the delivery of child protection and welfare services is a matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency.
I can confirm that the matter has been referred to Tusla, for direct reply to the Deputy.
403. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when he expects the decision support service to be made operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59960/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 (the 2015 Act) is an important piece of legislation that represents significant legal reform. It 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.
The Act 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.
Amendments are required to the 2015 Act before full commencement can take place. Work is underway on an Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill. The amendments will streamline processes, in the interests of those using its provisions. They will also strengthen the safeguards included in the 2015 Act.
The Decision Support Service (DSS), which is the organisation that will operate the progressive provisions of the 2015 Act, will respond to the complex decision-making needs of people with capacity difficulties. To date, the Decision Support Service has made considerable progress in putting in place the administrative and IT systems needed to operate the 2015 Act.
A budget of €7.3 million has been secured for the Decision Support Service in 2022. This represents an increase of €1.5 million compared to 2021 and a doubling of financial resources since the transfer of functions to the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth in 2020.
The Government made a commitment in the Programme for Government to commencing the 2015 Act, recognising the importance of the much needed reform that it represents. Government has committed to full commencement of the amended 2015 Act by June 2022, and full operationalisation of the DSS by July 2022.
404. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of persons reliant daily on wheelchairs for living purposes in Dublin, Connacht, Leinster, Munster and Ulster, respectively in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59984/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department does not collect data on the number of wheelchair users in the State as my Department does not provide bespoke services to wheelchair users. Outside of issues such a medical diagnosis, or requirements relating to a specific statutory entitlement, or other direct statutory requirement, disclosure of a disability is a voluntary decision made by the person concerned and, having regard to the requirements of the GDPR, is not recorded by my Department.
405. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total number of persons currently in direct provision and the number in each of the past ten years. [60028/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI would like to direct the Deputy to the table below. The numbers are set out by the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) of this Department. These figures were last received on Sunday, 28 November, 2021.
|
As at |
Year |
Number of Persons in Direct Provision |
|
28 November |
2021 |
7,089 |
|
Year-end |
2020 |
6,997 |
|
Year-end |
2019 |
7,683 |
|
Year-end |
2018 |
6,106 |
|
Year-end |
2017 |
5,096 |
|
Year-end |
2016 |
4,279 |
|
Year-end |
2015 |
4,696 |
|
Year-end |
2014 |
4,364 |
|
Year-end |
2013 |
4,360 |
|
Year-end |
2012 |
4,841 |
|
Year-end |
2011 |
5,423 |
406. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total number of children currently in direct provision. [60029/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI would like to direct the Deputy to the table below. The numbers are set out by the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) of this Department. These figures were last received on Sunday, 28 November, 2021.
|
Accommodation Type |
Number of Children |
|
Balseskin Reception Centre |
85 |
|
IPAS Accommodation Centres |
1,842 |
|
Emergency Accommodation Centres |
129 |
|
Total: |
2,056 |
407. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total number of persons who died while in the direct provision system in each of the past five years and to date in 2021. [60030/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy may be aware, the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) does not have an official role in the recording or collating of information relating to deaths that occur of residents residing in IPAS accommodation centres.
At my request, IPAS has now developed a new policy on the recording and reporting of deaths of IPAS residents. The policy sets out a new approach to the reporting of deaths of residents of IPAS accommodation centres. IPAS cannot confirm the identity of a deceased resident, or reveal any specific information that may lead to the identification of a deceased resident, or their family members, in response to a request for information from the media, or public representative. Statistics have been collated which set out the number of deaths of persons who were resident in IPAS accommodation at the time of death and where their deaths were notified to IPAS. The statistics in relation to historical deaths to 1 June 2021 will be published on the IPAS website in the coming weeks.
Below the Deputy will find a table setting out deaths from 2016 to 02 December, 2021.
|
Year |
Deaths |
|
2016 |
4 |
|
2017 |
3 |
|
2018 |
5 |
|
2019 |
3 |
|
2020 |
6 |
|
2021 (02 December) |
8 |
408. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will review correspondence (details supplied) regarding mother and baby homes; the reason Temple Hill has been omitted from the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60130/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme will provide financial payments and a form of enhanced medical card for people who spent time as mothers or children in Mother and Baby or County Home Institutions. The institutions covered by the Scheme are those identified by the Commission of Investigation as having a main function of providing sheltered and supervised ante and post-natal facilities to single mothers and their children. The Commission examined Temple Hill and concluded that it was not a Mother and Baby Home Institution. For that reason it is not included in the Scheme.
The decision not to include other institutions or care settings in the Scheme is not intended to disregard or diminish any person’s experience and Government recognises that there are people who suffered stigma, trauma and abuse in other institutions, and outside of institutions, who will not qualify for this Scheme. I have been given Government approval to bring forward legislation for the Scheme as announced and work has commenced on drafting this legislation. In the course of the legislative process there will be an opportunity to examine any issues or concerns that have been raised in relation to the Scheme.
409. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the amount as a proportion of the entire budget allocated to domestic violence services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60142/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI was pleased to announce in Budget 2022 that Tusla will be allocated €899m for 2022; an increase of €41m over the amount allocated in Budget 2021 (€858m).
Of the €858m assigned to Tusla for 2021, I allocated €30m specifically to support DSGBV services throughout the country. This includes a €2.7 million increase in core services, bringing core service provision to €28 million, with an additional €2 million of one-off contingency funding being made available to help services cope with the ongoing effects of COVID-19.
This €30m represents approximately 3.5% of Tusla's total funding for 2021 that supports the broad range of services and activities operated by Tusla, including child protection & welfare, alternative care, and family support.
410. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the level of increase in funding in order to respond to increased demand in domestic violence services due to Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60143/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI prioritised resources for Tusla in the Budget for 2021, so that it is meeting the needs of victims of Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (DSGBV). This is particularly important in the context of COVID-19. Tusla designated services for victims of DSGBV as one of the Agency's top three priority service areas during the pandemic.
My Department is providing Tusla with core funding of €30 million in 2021 to fund DSGBV services. This includes a €2.7 million increase in core services, bringing core service provision to €28 million, with an additional €2 million of one-off contingency funding being made available to help services cope with the ongoing effects of COVID-19.
In Budget 2022, Tusla's allocation has increased by an additional €41 million. I have directed Tusla to use part of these additional resources to maintain supports for DSGBV services and address the recommendations arising from Tusla’s Accommodation Review of refuge provision.
I have issued my Performance Statement to Tusla outlining the overall parameters of Tusla's financial resources, and signalling my priorities for the coming year. In response to this, Tusla will prepare its annual Business Plan for 2022 in accordance with section 46 of the Child and Family Agency Act 2013. This outlines the proposed activities for the year and the details of the proposed allocation of total financial resources.
411. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will address the concerns raised by an organisation (details supplied) in respect of the viability issues it has highlighted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60257/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFirst 5: A Whole-of-Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families 2019-2028 commits to increasing investment in early learning and childcare to up to €1 billion by 2028. A new funding model will be a key vehicle to ensure that such significant additional investment delivers for children, families and the State.
An Expert Group was established in September 2019 to develop a new funding model for the sector. The Group was tasked with examining the current model of funding, its effectiveness in delivering quality, affordable, sustainable and inclusive services and considering how additional resourcing can be delivered for the sector to achieve these objectives, drawing on international practice in this area.
The Expert Group have met 21 times since late 2019. They have presented their report to me, and the report will be published on 7 December, following consideration by Government.
I have met with the Chair of the Group and I was briefed on its progress, which allowed for the emerging recommendations of the Expert Group to significantly inform the developments being introduced in Budget 2022.
Material relating to the work of the Expert Group, including reports from consultation and engagement, meeting documentation and research papers are available on a dedicated website, www.first5fundingmodel.ie.
Budget 2022 introduced a ground-breaking package of measures for the early learning and childcare sector – designed to deliver quality for children, affordability for parents, stability for providers, and support employers to improve pay and conditions for staff. An additional €78m in Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) and School-Age Childcare (SAC) brings the total investment in the sector to €716m next year.
Currently, significant additional investment is being made in the sector through the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS), which will remain available to the sector until April 2022, with a continued exemption to the turnover rule for employers in the sector. The scheme is also available to providers offering the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme. A one-off transition fund of up to €37m will operate from May to August 2022, to support providers in the period leading up to the new Core Funding stream.
The Transition Fund will be open to all registered early learning and childcare providers, including ECCE-only providers, who sign up to the contract.
From September 2022, a major new Core Funding stream will be introduced. This core funding stream will be worth €69m to providers in 2022 and €207.3m in a full year from 2023 on. Under Core Funding, providers will be supported in meeting their operating costs, including increased costs related to improved quality measures, in return for a commitment that fees to parents will not increase. The commitment not to increase fees will ensure that the full affordability benefits of the ECCE programme and National Childcare Scheme (NCS) are felt by parents.
The Core Funding will support providers to attract and retain staff, including degree-qualified staff and will support the Programme for Government commitment to support the drawing up of an Employment Regulation Order (ERO) between employer and employee representatives to determine minimum rates of pay for workers, as well as terms and conditions of employment.
In terms of staffing, I am aware that many early learning and care and childcare services are reporting difficulties, exacerbated by the current high rate of Covid-19 in the community. My Department is actively monitoring the issue and has sought data and evidence-based proposals from sectoral representatives.
My Department recently convened a Sub-Group of the Early Learning and Childcare Stakeholder Forum to discuss immediate staffing pressures resulting from Covid-19 and additional measures that may be needed. The Group is examining ways to provide additional staffing support on a temporary basis, including a proposal (that is also being considered by Further and Higher Education institutions) to build on the current process available to enable students who are undertaking Early Learning and Care qualifications to work in the sector temporarily while carrying on their studies. The Group has met on two occasions to date and is meeting again on 10 December to consider proposals.
While Covid-19 creates additional pressure, longer-term challenges with recruitment and retention of staff remain. The high level of staff turnover in the sector (18% in 2020) primarily reflects the level of pay and conditions of employment. However, we should remember that the sector has continued to grow in recent years, despite the challenges. Employment in the sector has risen from 25,700 in 2016 to 30,900 last year. Thanks to considerable supports from the Government over the last eighteen months, employee numbers in the sector have held steady.
Specifically on the question of sick pay, as the State does not employ early learning and childcare 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.
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, which will provide an opportunity for unions and employer representatives to work together to determine wages. As a result of this process, an Establishment Order for a sectoral Joint Labour Committee was signed in June, and the Committee is now in the process of being formed.
The new core funding stream will support services to meet the conditions that may be set in an Employment Regulation Order as a result of the Joint Labour Committee.
I published a Workforce Plan for the sector today, which includes important actions to strengthen career pathways and support recruitment. The plan also maps out a positive way forward for the sector, and I believe the services will develop further in the years ahead.
Regarding concerns raised in relation to the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme, my Department plan to undertake a review of this programme in 2022 which will include consultation with a wide range of stakeholders involved in the provision and utilisation of the ECCE programme.
In terms of the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM), I was successful in increasing the AIM budget by €3.6 million for Budget 2021. The majority of this additional allocation was used to increase AIM Level 7 supports to providers from €195 per week to €210 per week, as from January 2021. This funding is provided to the pre-school provider and can be used either to reduce the adult-child ratio in the pre-school room or to buy in additional assistance. This adjustment (which equates to an increase from €13 to €14 per hour) maintains the basis of the payment that has been in place since AIM began, of equivalence to the ECCE payment for three children in the ECCE room.
First 5, the Whole-of-Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families, commits to consider enhancements to, or extension of AIM, following completion of the evaluation of AIM. Such an extension might involve younger children, longer hours of availability of targeted supports, children with additional needs other than a disability, or children attending school-age childcare services. Any decisions on extension or reform of AIM will be informed by the findings of the end-of-year-three evaluation of AIM, which is currently underway, with the final report due in February 2022.
It is worth noting that my Department oversees a Case Management process through which local County/City Childcare Committees (CCCs) and Pobal work together to assess and provide support to Early Learning and Care services in difficulty. This can include help with completing and interpreting analysis of staff ratios, fee setting and cash flow, as well as more specialised advice and support appropriate to individual circumstances.
Pobal co-ordinate the overall case management process with the CCC administering initial, and on-going, case management assistance. The CCC, where appropriate, will proceed to make a formal notification to Pobal who will provide more consolidated support while verifying the service’s necessity for a financial intervention. All services who require support should contact their local CCC in the first instance.
Contact details and links to websites of all CCCs can be found on www.myccc.ie.
412. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the amount of unspent funding that was allocated to each of the education and training boards for the your place your space scheme that was returned to his Department or not drawn down in 2020, by each education and training board. [60411/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraPlease see the below table for the information requested by Deputy Farrell.
|
ETB |
Allocation Jul-Dec |
Allocation Drawn Down |
UBU not drawn down (2020 funding) |
UBU returns by ETB(2020 funding) |
|
CAVAN AND MONAGHAN ETB |
€258,024 |
€258,025.00 |
€1,167.82 |
|
|
CDYSB |
€6,894,147 |
€6,827,009.50 |
€67,137.50 |
|
|
CORK ETB |
€1,525,503 |
€1,448,426.50 |
€77,076.50 |
|
|
DDLETB |
€3,790,782 |
€3,790,782.50 |
||
|
DONEGAL ETB |
€182,618 |
€182,618.00 |
||
|
GALWAY AND ROSCOMMON ETB |
€980,202 |
€980,213.00 |
||
|
KERRY ETB |
€213,979 |
€213,979.00 |
€35,561.00 |
|
|
KILDARE AND WICKLOW ETB |
€822,128 |
€788,628.00 |
€33,500.00 |
|
|
KILKENNY AND CARLOW ETB |
€442,991 |
€442,991.00 |
||
|
LAOIS AND OFFALY ETB |
€113,977 |
€113,977.00 |
€449.04 |
|
|
LIMERICK AND CLARE ETB |
€1,396,611 |
€1,396,611.00 |
||
|
LONGFORD AND WESTMEATH ETB |
€292,051 |
€293,051.00 |
€2,172.00 |
|
|
LOUTH AND MEATH ETB |
€303,099 |
€305,099.00 |
||
|
MAYO SLIGO LEITRIM ETB |
€254,134 |
€250,893.00 |
€7,078.00 |
|
|
TIPPERARY ETB |
€409,700 |
€409,700.00 |
||
|
WATERFORD AND WEXFORD ETB |
€1,224,332 |
€1,224,332.00 |
€3,060.64 |
|
|
TOTALS |
€19,104,278 |
€18,926,335.50 |
€177,714.00 |
€49,488.50 |
413. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he has had regard to the Growing Up in Ireland longitudinal study; and if a further similar study will be constructed to take account of the current pandemic and the potential psychosocial effects on children today. [60509/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraGrowing Up in Ireland (GUI) is the national longitudinal study of children and young people, funded by my Department and managed by my Department in association with the Central Statistics Office. The study is carried out on behalf of my Department by a GUI study team at the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI).
As a longitudinal study, GUI, which surveys the same individuals over time, is ideally suited to gathering data on the effects that COVID-19 is having, and will have, on the lives of children, young people and parents. As Minister, I am fully committed to ensuring that this study captures information about the ongoing impact of the pandemic.
In December 2020, a special on-line COVID-19 specific survey was carried out with GUI participants: 12 year olds and parents of 12 year olds in the younger GUI group (Cohort ’08) and 22 year old young adults in the older GUI group (Cohort ’98).
A Key Findings report from the survey was published in March of this year based on data from 2,277 22-year-olds, 3,301 12-year-olds and 3,901 parents of the 12-year-olds. These children, parents and young people have been participating in GUI for over a decade, which means GUI already has a significant amount of data about their experiences pre-pandemic.
The survey focused on participants’ experiences of the pandemic including: the effects on learning and employment; changes in free-time activities; personal experience of and sources of information about COVID-19; and emotional well-being. Key findings included:
- Only half of students – in both age-groups – said it was ‘always true’ that they had a quiet place to study while learning at home, which was less likely if they were from low-income families.
- Many participants in both cohorts reported symptoms of low mood, with 22% of 12-year-olds and almost half of 22-year-olds (48%) in the low mood group. In both cohorts, this was more common for girls and young women.
- More than 10% of 22-year-olds felt they had missed out on needed mental health support because of the pandemic. However, most 22-year-olds felt they had someone to talk to about problems and/or who could offer practical help if they got ill.
- Young adults aged 22 years were more likely than 12-year-olds to increase the amount of junk food or sweets they ate during the pandemic restrictions (44% versus 29%).
- Amongst 22-year-olds who were in employment before or during the pandemic, almost half (46%) had lost their job or been temporarily laid off.
- Parents were the most important source of information about COVID-19 for 12-year-olds but for 22-year-olds it was reading or watching the news.
- Despite current difficulties, most participants in both cohorts were optimistic about the future.
The full report is available on the Growing Up in Ireland website. In addition to this report, through my Department’s research partnership with the ESRI, a further analysis of the data from the GUI special COVID-19 survey is planned. This new analysis will examine in more depth the experiences of 22 year olds in relation to employment and mental health outcomes. Findings from this analysis will be available early in 2022.
A new wave of GUI data collection is currently underway with the parents and children in the younger GUI cohort who are now 13 years old, and includes questions that will capture further information on the experience of COVID-19 and update our understanding of any ongoing impact on various aspects of their lives. A further wave of data collection from the older cohort at age 25 is also planned for 2023, with a pilot planned for 2022.
The Growing Up in Ireland study offers a unique opportunity to analyse the impact of COVID-19 because it captures information on participants across a range of areas, including physical health, socioemotional well-being, education, relationships and civic engagement – not just at a moment in time, but over time. This means that GUI can track the impact of unexpected events, such as COVID-19, providing insights into pre and post pandemic experiences. As GUI also collects information on participants’ sociodemographic characteristics such as social class, income or family structure, the findings can also be analysed by these factors, highlighting where experiences may differ.
Anonymised datafiles from the GUI COVID-19 survey have been released and are available to bona fide researchers from the Irish Social Science Data Archive.
In addition to the Growing Up in Ireland study, during 2020, my Department, working with the Department of Health and the youth sector, collaborated with SpunOut.ie to undertake an online consultation with young people about their experiences of COVID-19, called ‘How’s Your Head: Young Voices during COVID-19’. A Youth Advisory Group worked with the Department to guide the development and analysis of the consultation, which sought to better understand how young people were experiencing COVID-19, asking them what had been working well for them and what were the challenges to maintaining their wellbeing. Responses were received from 2,173 young people aged 15-24.
The findings were published in October 2020 and highlighted a range of difficulties reported by young people, as well as a range of positives they wanted to take forward. The most common negative effects related to the mental health of respondents, including overthinking, worry, anxiety and depression. More than a third of young people missed their friends and many had concerns about their education, particularly those aged 18 or over. Among the positives were self-care, quality family time, including time spent with family pets, a simpler, slower, quieter life, quality friendships and feeling less pressured.
The findings from Growing Up in Ireland, and from the ‘How’s Your Head’ Consultation have provided important evidence that has guided our response to COVID-19.
414. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps that will be taken in order to provide appropriate resources and an adequate supply of antigen tests for childcare providers and crèches in order to allow for effective operations and reduce the knock-on effects of close contact cases for staff and families; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60525/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department and the HSE are currently developing an antigen testing programme for early learning and childcare services. The testing programme will be similar to the antigen testing programme recently introduced for primary schools.
The antigen testing programme will be launched before Christmas.
