Written Answers Nos. 224-243
224. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 438 of 8 February 2022, if she will identify the individual schools involved in the tender process for project manager to the ADAPT 3 building programme which includes a school (details supplied). [8893/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs previously advised to the Deputy, the tender competition to appoint a Project Manager (PM) to the ADAPT 3 Building Programme is currently being evaluated.
This is expected to be completed soon. Once the successful PM has been appointed, the next steps will be for the PM to appoint Design Teams. The Department anticipates that this element will be initiated in Quarter 2 approximately. On appointment, the school design process will then commence.
The Department anticipates that the schools on this programme will be identified shortly.
225. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the difficulties encountered by schools getting in touch with public health to report outbreaks of Covid-19 in schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8900/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE Principals’ helpline and the Department’s Covid-19 helpline operates seven days a week and remains a source of support for principals. As an additional support for schools, who may struggle with operational challenges due to staff shortages, Department of Education Inspectors are available on a Department of Education helpline to support Principals to manage and prioritise on-site activity where significant challenges arise.
In addition from the end of November 2021, antigen testing was introduced in primary schools in circumstances where children are part of a classroom pod and where there is a confirmed case of COVID-19. Offering antigen tests to children who are identified as part of a pod in which there was a confirmed case of COVID-19, is an additional measure to support parents and schools. Where there are two cases in a class in more than one pod within a seven day period, antigen testing will be offered to every child in the class. In the case of special schools, where there is a confirmed case of COVID-19 in a class, antigen testing will be offered to every child in the class. Contact tracing continues in respect of children in special education settings.
226. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education if she will address concerns in relation to the fact that there is insufficient accommodation at examination time for students living with epilepsy (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8938/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations.
In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.
227. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education the status of a planned new building for a school (details supplied). [8983/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is included in the Department’s ADAPT 3 Building Programme and a tender competition to appoint a Project Manager (PM) for this Programme is currently underway. It is expected that this process will be concluded shortly. Once the successful PM has been appointed, the next steps will be for the PM to appoint Design Teams.
The Department will be in contact directly with the school during this process.
228. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) can change the birth certificate of their child; the process for such a change; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8887/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe provisions governing registration of a birth and the particulars required to be registered are contained in Part 3 and the First Schedule of the Civil Registration Act 2004, as amended.
The surname chosen by the parents at the time the birth was registered can only be changed where the birth is being re-registered at a later date to include the father's details or following the marriage of the registered parents. There is no provision which allows the surname of a child to be changed where no error was made in the course of registering the birth, and nor is there provision which allows the addition of another surname to cater for the circumstances as they relate to the birth in question.
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
229. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Social Protection when a review of a working family payment claim which has been ongoing for several weeks will be completed in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8836/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraWorking Family Payment (WFP) is an in work support which provides additional income support to employees, on low earnings, with children. In order to meet the qualifying and continuous entitlement condition for receipt of WFP, an applicant or the applicant and their spouse, partner or cohabitant must be engaged in fulltime employment as an employee for no less than 38 hours per fortnight.
A postal application for WFP was received from the person concerned on 28 September 2021.
Following receipt of further requested information from the person concerned their application was disallowed on 20 October 2021 as they did not satisfy the above employment condition at the time of application.
The person concerned requested a review of the Department's decision of 20 October 2021.
A review was completed and the person concerned was subsequently awarded WFP on 5 November 2021. This decision was based on a more recent payslip provided by the applicant.
The person concerned requested a review of the above decision.
A review of the above decision was completed on 16 December 2021. The review was based on further updated information (more recent payslips) that was subsequently provided by the applicant. The person concerned was awarded WFP at a higher rate with effect from 28 October 2021 to 26 October 2022.
The person concerned requested a further review of the above decision of 16 December 2021.
Further to their request for a review of the above decision, a review was completed. This review is based on the claimant's amended 4 weekly payslip dated 28 October 2021 as verified by their employer.
(Due to an automated payroll system error, this payslip was incorrectly recorded as fortnightly) The person concerned was awarded WFP at the revised higher rate for 52 weeks with effect from 07 October 2021 to 05 October 2022. All arrears owing will issue to their nominated financial institution account on 17 February 2022.
The person concerned was notified of the above revised decision on 15 February 2022 and of their right of review and appeal.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
230. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a further increase was not offered to a person (details supplied) following a recent contributory pension review; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8872/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned reached pension age on 27 August 2021 and applied for an Increase for qualified adult (IQA) with their State pension (contributory). An IQA is a means-tested payment, payable to a claimant whose spouse, civil partner or cohabitant is being wholly or mainly maintained by them, and where that qualified adult’s personal means from any source does not exceed a means test income limit.
The rate of IQA depends on the rate of State pension (contributory) in payment to the primary pensioner, and on the IQA means test. The means test for IQA is assessed on the qualified adult’s means, solely or jointly held (50% of jointly-held means).
Where a qualified adult is assessed with weekly means of less than €100, the maximum rate of IQA is payable. Where assessable weekly means are over €100 and not more than €310, a tapering reduced rate of IQA is payable. If the qualified adult has means of more than €310 per week, this exceeds the means limit and there is no entitlement to an IQA payment.
Based on the information provided by the person concerned, the couple’s means were jointly-held prize bonds (date of issue 27 October 2020) and joint bank account. The initial IQA assessment was based on 50% of the jointly-held prize bonds and the full amount of capital in the bank account, resulting in a means assessment of €330 per week. As this exceeded the weekly means limit of €310 per week, the person concerned was notified in writing on 10 August 2021 that there was no entitlement to IQA and provided with a breakdown of the means assessment.
This means assessment was revised on 24 August 2021 following contact from the person concerned. Since the bank account is in joint names, the IQA means assessment should only have included half of the balance rather than the full amount. The revised means assessment was then under the €310 weekly limit and gave entitlement to a reduced rate of IQA. The revised decision issued in writing to the person concerned on 24 August 2021 and included a breakdown of the means assessment.
The person concerned then provided an updated bank statement for the couple’s joint bank account and prize bonds with a more recent date of issue (17 November 2021) in the person’s sole name. The qualified adult's name was no longer on the prize bonds. Where a Deciding Officer notes a transfer of assets by a person in respect of whom a means-tested increase for a qualified adult is being claimed, they will carefully consider all of the facts and circumstances in the individual case. If it is considered that applicants have disposed of assets to qualify for the means-tested IQA, or to qualify for a higher rate of payment, these assets remain assessable. The Deciding Officer therefore assessed half of the bank account balance and half of the prize bonds previously declared, as the prize bonds were the joint property of the couple and in both their names at the time of application. A decision issued in writing to the person concerned on 28 January 2022 with details of the means assessed and affording right of appeal of the decision within 21 days.
If the person concerned wishes to request a further review, they should provide documentary evidence for the disposal of the jointly-held prize bonds which were issued in the couple’s names on 27 October 2020.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
231. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection if local authority workers who were employed pre-1996 and who are paying a D stamp PRSI contributions are being forced to retire with A stamp benefits; if so, the basis for such a change; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8928/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe insurability of public service employees, including local or other public authority workers, is provided for in the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 (the 2005 Act) and Statutory Instrument No. 312 of 1996, Social Welfare (Consolidated Contributions and Insurability) Regulations 1996 (the 1996 regulations).
Public servants recruited on or after 6 April 1995 are liable for Class A PRSI. Public servants recruited before 6 April 1995 may, in certain circumstances, be liable for a modified contribution rate of PRSI – Class D. Class D involves a lower rate of contribution and a lower level of social welfare benefits. These and other PRSI rates are known as modified rates and are provided for in Chapter 1 of Part IV of the 1996 regulations.
In certain circumstances, public servants who were, on 5 April 1995, in employment which was insurable at the modified rates may continue on the modified rate when they change employment.
The rules governing modified contributions for local or other public authority employees are contained in article 83(1) of the 1996 regulations. In relation to local authority employees, there are three key paragraphs that are relevant.
Article 83(1)(a) provides that the modified rate of PRSI (class D) applies to persons who, on 5 April 1995, were employed, and continue to be so employed, under any local or other public authority in a capacity which:
- was permanent
- was pensionable
- provided for payments during illness on a basis considered adequate by the Minister.
The regulations do not define what is ‘adequate’ in this context and there is no statutory mechanism or framework for the Minister to consider or measure whether a worker’s illness payments are adequate or not.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office has found that, historically, the modified rate of PRSI was applied to non-manual/officer roles in public bodies and, normally, their illness payment scheme allows for a higher level of illness payments than the level provided for manual/non-officer grades. The Chief Appeals Officer decided in 2018 that the higher level illness payment scheme sets the bar for what should be considered adequate under the provisions of the 1996 regulations. Accordingly, this is the basis on which the Department now determines the insurability of public service workers. This means that anyone not covered by the higher level of illness payments, on 5 April 1995, in a public body would not be covered by the modified rate under article 83(1)(a).
Article 83(1)(b) covers persons who, on 5 April 1995, were employed:
- under a local or other public authority to which the Local Government (Superannuation Revision) (Consolidation) Scheme 1986 (S.I. 391 of 1986) applies
- in a capacity which was not permanent and pensionable Class D can apply to such persons if they subsequently cease to be so employed and immediately become employed (that is, without any break in service):
- under any such local or other public authority
- in a permanent and pensionable capacity
- and are covered by illness payments considered adequate by the Minister,
It is important to note that, if the employment was permanent and pensionable on 5 April 1995, the provisions of article 83(1)(b) do not apply to them.
Article 83(1)(c) covers persons who, on 5 April 1995, were employed:
- under a public authority to which the Local Government (Superannuation Revision) (Consolidation) Scheme 1986 (S.I. 391 of 1986) does not apply
- in a capacity which was not permanent and pensionable
Class D can apply to such persons if they subsequently cease to be so employed and immediately become employed (that is, without any break in service):
- under that public authority
- in a permanent and pensionable capacity
- and are covered by illness payments considered adequate by the Minister,
Again, it is important to note that, if the employment was permanent and pensionable on 5 April 1995, the provisions of article 83(1)(c) do not apply to them.
Specific rules for continuation of modified rate
A limited category of public service employees who are on the modified rate may retain their modified status after they change employment.
Under the 1996 regulations, persons to whom the modified rates applied on 5 April 1995, may continue on the modified rate when they change employment, without a break in service, to another employment that also qualifies for the modified rates, that is, an employment:
(a) - in the civil service in a pensionable post,
(b) - as a member of an Garda Síochána
(c) - in a commissioned rank of the Permanent Defence Force
(d) - as a member of the Army Nursing Service
(e) - in a local or other public authority, which:
- is permanent
- is pensionable
- provides for payments during illness on a basis considered adequate by the Minister
(f) - in other specified public service employments with specified conditions (eg statutory transport authorities, teachers, work in voluntary hospitals etc).
Only people who were on the modified rate on 5 April 1995 may retain this status when they change employment to one of the employments listed above. A person who became a modified contributor after 5 April 1995 (under article 83(1)(b) or article 83(1)(c)) cannot retain the modified status after the specified employment ceases.
Any queries in relation to the correct class of PRSI applicable should be directed to Scope Section of the Department of Social Protection by e-mail to Scope@welfare.ie or phone +353 (0)1 6732585.
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
232. Deputy Joe Flaherty asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of claimants who ceased to receive the domiciliary carers’ allowance in 2021 when they reached 16 years of age; the number of care recipients who subsequently applied for the disability allowance and disability benefit payment; the number who applied for the disability allowance and disability benefit payment were successful; and the number of those who applied for the disability allowance and disability benefit payment whose unsuccessful application is still under appeal. [8930/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraDomiciliary Care Allowance is a monthly payment for parents caring for a child with a severe disability
Domiciliary Care allowance can be paid in respect of qualified children up to age 16 years. A total of 3,402 children ceased being eligible for Domiciliary Care Allowance during 2021 as they reached 16 years.
The number of these children who subsequently went on to claim Disability Allowance is not collated and as a result this information is not available, nor is the number of appeals relating to this cohort.
Illness Benefit is a social insurance based scheme, and as such a 16 years old could not yet have the required PRSI contributions to qualify for this benefit.
I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
233. Deputy Joe Flaherty asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has considered allowing the continuation of the domiciliary carers’ allowance until such time as the care recipient completes full-time education (details supplied). [8931/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraDomiciliary Care Allowance is a monthly payment for parents caring for a child with a severe disability in their own home.
Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) ceases to be payable when a child reaches age 16 years. Disability Allowance (DA) can then be paid from age 16 if the qualifying conditions for that scheme are met, even if the child is in fulltime education.
Following a commitment made in the Comprehensive Employment Strategy for people with disabilities 2015 -2024, the “Make Work Pay for People with Disabilities” (MWP) report was published in April 2017. The report undertook to better identify how people with disabilities could be supported to achieve their employment ambitions. A number of MWP report recommendations focused on the need to support young adults through education, training and social inclusion according to their capacity, and to change the qualifying age for disability allowance from 16 to 18 years of age while leaving Domiciliary Care allowance in payment where applicable to 18 years of age.
An extensive national consultation process was organised to engage people with disabilities, parents of children with disabilities, and sectoral representatives to seek their views on the specific recommendations in the report.
Consideration of the most appropriate measures to be taken is continuing. It is imperative when deciding on any changes to the age limits for the relevant schemes that such changes have a positive effect on those in receipt of the payments and that we avoid any unintended negative consequences.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
234. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding a disability application by a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11; the reason for the delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8932/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence, decided to disallow the appeal of the person concerned by way of a summary decision. The person concerned was notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision on 27 January 2022.
Under social welfare legislation the decision of an Appeals Officer is generally final and conclusive and may only be reviewed in the light of additional evidence or new facts.
I am advised that the person concerned has submitted additional evidence and that the Appeals Officer has agreed to review the case. The person concerned will be contacted when the review of his appeal has been finalised.
If the person's means are insufficient to meet their needs, it is open to them to apply for supplementary welfare allowance in the interim.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
235. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applicants for the fuel allowance for the current season; the number of applications accepted and rejected this season by household type in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8963/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra236. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the reasons that fuel allowance applications were rejected, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8964/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 235 and 236 together.
The Fuel Allowance scheme is a means tested payment to assist pensioners and other long-term social welfare dependent householders with their winter heating costs. The payment is a contribution towards heating costs, it is not intended to meet these costs in full. The payment is made at the weekly rate of €33.00; or if preferred, by way of two lump sum payments; and is paid over the winter season. Only one Fuel Allowance is payable per household. Those who qualify for the payment do not need to reapply annually.
In Budget 2022, I announced a number of reforms to the Fuel Allowance scheme including an increase in the weekly rate by €5 to €33, and a €20 increase in the weekly income means threshold from €100 to €120, with both measures implemented with effect from Budget day in October 2021. I also announced a reduction in the qualifying period for Jobseeker’s and Supplementary Welfare Allowance recipients from 15 to 12 months to take effect from September 2022. Through these additional measures, it is estimated that approximately 400,000 households will benefit from the Fuel Allowance in 2022.
Based on the available data, over 70,000 new Fuel Allowance applications were received during 2021, with some 50,000 of these being awarded. Since the start of the current Fuel Allowance season in September 2021 to date (mid February), approximately 34,000 new Fuel Allowance applications were received, of which almost 25,000 were awarded.
The most common reasons for non-qualification include the means of the household or the customer are in excess of permissible thresholds, the customer lives with a non-qualified person (for example, someone in employment), or that someone else in the household is already getting payment. Where an application is disallowed, it is open to the person to re-apply if there is a change in their circumstances.
Under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, discretionary payments can be made to help people with the cost of heating their homes. A Heating Supplement may be paid to assist people with exceptional heating costs due to ill health or infirmity who cannot meet those costs. My Department also provides discretionary Exceptional Needs Payments to people who face difficulties in meeting fuel bills.
The Government is acutely aware of the increase in consumer prices in recent months, especially the increase in fuel and other energy prices. To help mitigate the effects of these rising costs, the Government has recently announced additional expenditure measures of €505 m. As part of these measures, I announced an additional lump sum payment of €125 to households in receipt of the fuel allowance payment. It is expected that the additional lump sum will be paid in March at an estimated cost of €49 m.
I note that the Deputy has agreed with my officials that information in relation to household type need not be included in this response.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
237. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to the slow pace of progress in achieving disability rights; if he will ensure that Ireland honours its commitments under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that Ireland has one of the lowest rates of employment and one of the highest poverty rates for persons with disabilities in the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8822/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland is a party to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), having ratified it in 2018. This marked an important milestone in a process to strengthen the rights of people with disabilities in Ireland that has gathered momentum since Ireland became a signatory to the Convention in 2007. Ireland submitted its Initial State Report on the implementation of the UNCRPD to the UN Committee in November 2021 and we look forward to receiving a review date from the UN Committee in due course to evaluate our progress to date.
The current model for meeting the obligations of the UNCRPD is through delivery of two whole-of-government national strategies -the National Disability Inclusion Strategy (NDIS) and the Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities (CES). My Department is also working on the development of a UNCRPD Implementation Plan, which is a Programme for Government commitment.
I very am aware of the disproportionate employment and poverty challenges faced by people with disabilities in Ireland and Government is committed to addressing those challenges.
The issue of employment is receiving dedicated attention in the context of the Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities, for which the Phase 3 Action Plan is presently in development. 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.
Under the CES, my Department is funding the Employers for Change project which provides support to employers to recruit and retain people with disabilities. My Department is also bringing forward legislative proposals in the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill to increase the target for employment of people with disabilities in the public sector from 3% to 6% by 2024.
In relation to the disproportionate costs and expenses suffered by people with disabilities, the Minister for Social Protection published the Cost of Disability Report in December. The Report was prepared by Indecon International Research Economists. It provides important evidence of the additional costs that people with a disability face in their day-to-day lives, and it was considered by the NDIS Steering Group (NDISSG) in December 2021, within 24 hours of publication.
The Programme for Government contains a commitment to use research into the cost of disability to properly inform the direction of future policy. As the evidence in the Cost of Disability in Ireland report has implications for many areas of public policy, a whole-of-government approach is required to develop appropriate and timely responses and to ensure that everyday costs are reduced for people with disabilities and their families. By way of early action on this, in Budget 2022 Government increased the earnings limit on Disability Allowance by €25 from €350 to €375 and the weekly means disregard will increase from €2.50 to €7.60 in June 2022.
238. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will clarify details in relation to the way that the once-off transition fund will work for community after-school projects and in particular services in Dublin 8 (details supplied); if it will be based on the employment wage subsidy scheme model; the way that the core funding will work; the expected criteria for core funding; the meaning of based on capacity rather than attendance in relation to core funding; if the service will continue to receive individual payments for children through the national childcare scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8828/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe recommendations of an Expert Group to develop a new funding model for Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) were adopted by Government in December. This marks a new departure in State funding of the sector and is a significant step towards ensuring high-quality, affordable, sustainable and accessible services.
The Expert Group report informed the transformative package of measures for the sector committed in Budget 2022.
Budget 2022 announced a once-off Transition Fund for ELC and SAC providers to be paid in the period between the cessation of the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS) and the introduction of the new Core Funding stream.
Between May and August 2022, ELC and SAC providers will have access to this Transition Fund. The primary conditionality attached to access the Transition Fund will be that providers do not increase their fees above levels charged in September 2021.
A weekly value will be determined for each service based on their location, size and service type. Services will receive this funding in respect of the weeks during which they are open. There will be a simple application process for providers which will be available in April.
The basis for calculating the Transition Fund will be different from the Revenue-administered EWSS. Further communications will issue to ELC and SAC providers in the coming weeks.
Budget 2022 also announced the new Core Funding stream. Core Funding will operate from September 2022 to support improved quality, affordability, and sustainability.
Core Funding will be available to registered ELC and SAC providers, including full day care providers, ECCE-only providers, and stand-alone school-age providers, subject to the service agreeing to come into contract for the scheme. It will be a payment directly to services who choose to participate in the scheme.
The total available budget for Core Funding is equivalent to €207 million in a full programme year, contingent on an Employment Regulation Order being agreed by the Joint Labour Committee. Core Funding will be allocated to services based on their capacity and the qualifications of those working in a service in line with the following three elements, with the majority of Core Funding (i.e. €172 million of the €207 million) distributed via the first of these elements.
1. Main Base Rate
Number of child places in an age group * Value based on ratio that applies to age group * Hours of operation per week * Weeks open per year
2. Graduate Lead Educator Uplift
Applied at room level, scaling in line with hours per week and weeks per year group is operating (Maximum one Graduate Lead Educator uplift per ELC room)
3. Graduate Manager Uplift
Applied at service level, scaling in line with hours per week and weeks per year service is operating (Maximum one Graduate Manager uplift per service)
Higher levels of funding will be available for capacity for younger children, to support the higher operating costs for these children arising from the higher staff ratio requirements.
Participation in Core Funding for ELC and SAC providers will require a commitment not to increase fees to parents from September 2021 rates in return for the increased State funding. This feature of the scheme will ensure that parents feel the full affordability benefits of the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) and the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme. Services will also be required to offer the NCS and/or the ECCE programme to all eligible children/parents, in line with their operations.
Services will also be invited to report on the quality development measures they are pursuing.
The values for places for children of different ages offered by a service take into account the regulatory requirements. Under the Regulations, the number of places a service can offer depends on the size of rooms and the age of the children. It also depends on the number of staff present, with staff:child ratio requirements linked to the age of children. Services will declare the capacity they offer and a Core Funding value will be calculated based on that capacity. A service’s Core Funding will then scale depending on the opening hours and weeks of the service.
The structure of Core Funding is based on the recommendations of the Expert Group on the new funding model for Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare. Structuring it in this way means that services will have an allocation each year that will not fluctuate in line with children's attendance.
Core Funding is designed to operate alongside the existing funding schemes, including the ECCE programme and the NCS, subject to enhancements including those outlined above. Therefore, the NCS will continue to provide subsidies for children in attendance and ECCE will continue to provide capitation.
A Ready Reckoner to support services to determine the potential value of Core Funding to their service will be available in early March along with further communications to the sector about the funding and the full contract requirements.
The level of investment being made available for Core Funding is an acknowledgement that high quality ELC and SAC costs more than the current income to the sector. The aim of Core Funding is to allow providers’ costs to increase to improve quality but to ensure these costs are not passed onto parents in fees and that services are not made unsustainable.
This is part of Government’s commitment to realising the First 5 target of investment of approximately €1 billion by 2028. Core Funding introduces a strategic way of funding the sector and begins to implement the recommendations of the Expert Group to develop a new funding model.
239. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there is an alternative plan in place in the event that the Joint Labour Committee recommendation on pay and conditions in the early learning and school age care sector is not in place by autumn 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8848/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraImproving pay and conditions for those working in the Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) sector is a key priority, particularly given the significant impacts of pay and conditions on quality for children.
The Programme for Government committed to supporting the establishment of a Joint Labour Committee (JLC) in the sector and the drawing up of an Employment Regulation Order (ERO). I initiated a pre-JLC process in December 2020, and Kevin Duffy was appointed to chair and facilitate this. The process provided stakeholders with an opportunity to express their views and to debate the implications of a system of regulating pay and conditions of employment in the sector.
It was generally accepted that additional public funding is the only viable means by which the problem of inadequate pay levels can be addressed. The report on the pre-JLC process states that if additional funding is to become available so as to assist in providing ELC and SAC workers with pay rates that are commensurate with the requirements of their job, it is imperative that arrangements are in place to ensure that it is used for that purpose. It also states that all parties who participated in the process of engagement agreed that the establishment of a JLC is the most appropriate means by which pay and conditions of employment in the sector can be addressed.
I was happy to see this result in an Establishment Order being signed by Minister English which came into effect in July and JLC members being appointed in November. This JLC is now meeting and considering the issues.
Separately, an Expert Group was established in September 2019 to develop a new funding model for ELC and SAC. Their report, Partnership for the Public Good: A new Funding Model for Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare, was published on 7 December 2021 following consideration by Government and acceptance of its 25 recommendations. Work has now commenced on implementation of these recommendations.
I was very happy to have had the opportunity to meet the chair of the Expert Group in advance of the Estimates process to allow the emerging recommendations of the Group to inform the package of measures announced in Budget 2022.
In particular, a new Core Funding stream for services to support improved quality, affordability, and sustainability and the drawing up of an ERO is being introduced and will be worth up to €69 million for a part year (September-December) in 2022, equivalent to €207 million in full year costs.
Partnership for the Public Good acknowledges the risk of the JLC failing to put in place an ERO, and suggests not proceeding with the extra funding for Core Funding to support the JLC in that event. The report also emphasises that the main risk of failing to tackle staff pay and conditions is the impact on quality for children it would have.
Given that part of the objective of Core Funding is to support an ERO, if one is not agreed, Core Funding as announced in Budget 2022 cannot proceed. Approximately two thirds of the funding for Core Funding is intended to contribute to improved pay rates across different categories of staff.
This portion of the budget cannot be made available without assurances that this funding will be channelled towards achieving the intended policy objective of improved pay rates in the ELC and SAC sector. Core Funding is therefore largely contingent on an ERO being agreed.
I understand that the parties involved in the JLC are working intensively together to agree an ERO. Officials in my Department have been supporting this process by providing data and addressing technical queries from the JLC.
I am very hopeful that the parties to the JLC will come to an agreement, given the very substantial public funding available and the importance of improving staff pay.
240. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the process his Department will put in place once the decision is made relating to Joint Labour Committee recommendations regarding pay and conditions in the early learning and school age care sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8849/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy that I am not in a position to comment on these matters which are more appropriate for the attention of my Cabinet colleague, the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment.
241. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of the certain institutional burials (authorised interventions) Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8972/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am acutely conscious of the urgent need to pass legislation in order to allow the excavation to begin at the site of the former Mother and Baby Home in Tuam.
The General Scheme of a Certain Institutional Burials (Authorised Interventions) Bill was developed to provide the required legal basis for intervention at the Tuam site and at other locations should similar circumstances come to light. The Bill underwent Pre-Legislative Scrutiny in the first half of 2021 and the Joint Oireachtas Committee published its report in July. I have carefully considered the recommendations from that process to take account of issues raised by the Committee, survivors, and family members. Subject to Government approval, I intend to publish the draft Bill before the end of the month and move it through the Houses of Oireachtas as quickly as possible.
242. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if a person (details supplied) in County Meath will be granted the SUSI grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8980/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe main support available to students is the statutory based Student Grant Scheme where students are studying for the first time or are progressing to study at a higher level. The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter, in the first instance, for the centralised student grant awarding authority SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland) to determine.
With regard to the specific application, I have been advised by my officials that the student in question submitted an application to SUSI on 28th October 2021. The application proceeded through the assessment process and the reckonable income was found to be over the threshold for grant assistance. The student then proceeded through the SUSI appeals process. Documentation was requested from the applicant and submitted. Further information was requested on 20th January 2022. To date the requested information is still outstanding. The SUSI appeal was finalised and a determination was notified directly to the student.
Where an individual applicant has had an appeal turned down in writing by SUSI and remains of the view that the scheme has not been interpreted correctly in his/her case, an appeal may be submitted to the independent Student Grants Appeals Board within the required timeframe. Such appeals can be made by the appellant on line via www.studentgrantappeals.ie
However, article 32 of the Student Grant Scheme 2021 provides for a review of eligibility for the award of a grant in the event of a change of circumstances in the academic year. Where a student experiences a change of circumstances during the course of their studies, he/she may apply to SUSI to have his/her application re-assessed at helpdesk@SUSI.ie quoting Internal Review in the Subject line.
As part of a comprehensive customer service and communications strategy provided by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI), to ensure that all necessary avenues are open to applicants to receive the information they need, a dedicated email and phone line service is provided by SUSI for Oireachtas members. This was established to meet an identified need for applicants who choose to engage the assistance of their public representatives in making enquiries about their grant applications. If the Enquiries may be emailed direct to SUSI oireachtas@susi.ie. Staff in SUSI are responding to email queries within a matter of days.
243. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the apprenticeships that are currently available; the number of vacancies available for each of these apprenticeships; the number of new applications for each of these apprenticeships; the number of applicants accepted for each of these apprenticeships; the number of school hours for each apprenticeship; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8884/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Action Plan for Apprenticeship (2021 – 2025) released by my department last year sets out a 5 year strategy towards delivering an apprenticeship system which provides enhanced responsiveness to skills delivery and an improved experience for employers and learners.
The development and promotion of apprenticeship is a significant Government priority in responding to key skill needs across the economy. In considering the important role played by apprenticeship in responding to these needs, it should be noted that apprenticeship is an employer-led offering. The number of apprentices in any specific sector is, therefore, determined directly by employer demand.
There are currently 62 apprenticeship programs available ranging from levels 5-10 on the National Framework of qualifications. These range in duration from 2 -4 years. Craft apprenticeships account for 25 of the 62 existing available apprenticeship programmes. They comprise of a standard seven phase programme of alternating on-the-job and off-the-job phases. The off-the-job training for these programmes is delivered in Training Centres, Institutes of Technology and Technological Universities.
For Craft Apprenticeships, the off the job training for phase 2 in ETB Training centres typically consists of 22 weeks training. Off the job training in phases 4 and 6 for craft apprenticeships which takes place in Institutes of Technology and Technological Universities is usually 10 – 12 weeks in duration
For consortia led apprenticeships such as accounting technicians, an apprentice will be attending (off-the job training) at college one day a week and working with an employer four days during college term time. Outside of college terms, apprentices work with their employer 5 days a week.
Other consortia type apprenticeships such as the Telecommunications & Data Network Technician apprenticeship, off the job training typically involves blocks of several weeks in duration where apprentices train in colleges full time with the rest of the apprenticeship being spent with their employer .
Registrations on apprenticeship programmes in 2021 were the highest they have been since 2007. In 2021, 8,607 apprentices were employed, on 62 programmes. 6,955 of these registrations were in the traditional craft apprenticeship programmes, with over 60% of these registrations on the three Electrical, Plumbing and Carpentry and Joinery crafts. The current population of apprentices is c24, 212, the highest it has been since 2009.
A full list of apprentice registrations in 2021 for all apprenticeships is attached.
Further information on all apprenticeships is available on the apprenticeship.ie website.
