Alan Kelly
Ceist:329. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Social Protection the percentage of employers and businesses that use the Disability Awareness Training Grant. [19217/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraDisability Services
Ceisteanna (329)
Freagraí scríofa
The Disability Awareness Support Scheme provides a contribution towards the cost of disability awareness training for private sector employers.
The training to be delivered must provide clear and accurate information about the disability, address questions that employers/employees may have and cover anti-discrimination/equal opportunities legislation. The value of the grants is as set out below:
|
First year a company applies |
90% of eligible training costs up to a maximum of €20,000 |
|
Second and subsequent years a company applies |
80% of eligible training costs up to a maximum of €20,000 |
The grant is promoted through
- the Department's Intreo service and employer engagement activities,
- contractors delivering Local Employment and Employability services on behalf of the Department
- the ‘Employers for Change’ service (launched in March 2021 and funded by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth). This service is delivered by the ‘Open Doors Initiative’ and provides a disability information service for private sector employers.
The funding available is also highlighted by private training companies and disability organisations who provide disability awareness training.
Seven employers availed of the grant in 2021 and the value of the grants issued was €15,884. It is important to note that the grant is demand-led, the number and value of the grants provided is linked to the number of applications received.
As one of the actions under the Comprehensive Employment Strategy for people with disabilities, my Department has committed to review the operation of the Disability Awareness Support Scheme, with a report to be completed in 2023. The review of the Disability Awareness Support Scheme is timed to build on two other departmental commitments in the action plan:
1. to review of the four grants currently available under the department's Reasonable Accommodation Fund. This review commenced on the 31st of March with a report is to be completed in Q3 2022. These grants are designed to support the employment of people with disabilities in the private sector
2. the review of the departments Wage Subsidy Scheme. This subsidy provides financial incentives to private sector employers the employment of people with disabilities. This review is to commence later this year with a report to be completed in Q4 2022.
These actions are part of my Department's commitment to the improvement of its services and supports for people with disabilities.
Ukraine War
Ceisteanna (330)
Holly Cairns
Ceist:330. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection the payments, benefits and other supports issued by his Department to which Ukrainian refugees are entitled. [19222/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The European Union has activated the Temporary Protection Directive, as an emergency provision in response to the War in Ukraine. The Directive which is effective from 24 February 2022, allows Ukrainian citizens and others fleeing Ukraine to move through the EU and receive supports.
Reception facilities have been established at Dublin Airport and Rosslare Europort, where officials from my Department, together with the Departments of Justice, and Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, are available to meet arrivals from Ukraine and provide the relevant information and supports. Furthermore, dedicated City Centre Ukraine Support Centres have also been established in Dublin, Cork and Limerick.
Officials from the Department of Justice provide those from Ukraine, who are seeking temporary protection, with permission letters to confirm their legal entitlement to reside in Ireland for 1 year which may be further extended. Those requiring accommodation are referred to the International Protection Accommodation Service of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. This can also be requested at a later stage if required.
Unaccompanied children under 18 years who are seeking temporary protection from the war in Ukraine will be referred to the Child and Family Agency (TUSLA) for relevant supports.
My Department’s main aim is to provide immediate financial assistance. To achieve this, a fast-track approach is in operation. As personal public service numbers (PPSN) are required to access social welfare supports, they are provided on site or arrivals from Ukraine are invited to call into their nearest Intreo or local social welfare office to apply for PPSN and other social welfare supports. As of Monday 4 April my Department has allocated over 18,300 PPSNs.
The priority is to make emergency payments initially and therefore basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) is paid at rates up to €206 per week with increases for adult and child dependents. Urgent and Exceptional Needs payments will also be available through the Community Welfare Service where urgent financial assistance is required. To 4 April my Department has processed 8,930 basic SWA claims.
Once the initial payments are in place, customers will be transferred to the appropriate social welfare payment as quickly as possible. This could include disability payments, State Pension and Jobseekers payments. Any ancillary supports will also be available such as free travel for those who will receive a State Pension.
Child Benefit is also paid to a parent or guardian for each child aged under 16 years. The rate of payment is €140 a month for each child. Child Benefit can also be paid for children aged 16 and 17 if they are in full-time education or full-time training or have additional needs and cannot support themselves. The parent or guardian will not be expected to provide evidence of training or education until after the first 2 months after they have arrived in Ireland. As of 4 April 3,637 Child Benefit claims have been awarded in respect of 5,512 children.
Furthermore, all the services and supports of my Department’s Public Employment Service will be made available to people which includes our Activation Service and Case Officer support.
I trust that this clarifies the position for the Deputy at this time,
Departmental Projects
Ceisteanna (331)
Fergus O'Dowd
Ceist:331. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will address concerns raised by a service (details supplied) in respect of a recent tender decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18916/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The company in question provides therapeutic and individualised residential care to young people in the care of the State and to adults with intellectual disabilities. Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, remain engaged in a tendering process with the provider and as such, the Deputy will appreciate that Tusla is not in a position to share detailed information. I understand that Tusla communicated the initial results of the tender process to applicants on 24th March, following a careful evaluation against the specifications outlined in the pre-published tender criteria. Tusla has stated that it will no longer be processing any new residential placements with those applicants who were not successful in the recent tender application. I also understand that the provider subsequently informed Tusla of its decision to close 7 centres, commencing Monday 25th April. Currently there are 10 young people resident in these centres who will require a placement within residential services.Both Tusla and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth are committed to promoting safe and high quality practice in all areas of alternative care. This is achieved through the application of Regulations and Standards that govern the placement of children, as well as Tusla’s operation of robust and independent procurement processes where care arrangements are commissioned from private organisations such as the provider in question.Tusla has confirmed to my Department that it has engaged with the provider with the primary aim of minimising any disruption to the young people currently placed within these services. I understand Tusla will be urgently and carefully assessing each of those pre-existing placements and will take all necessary action in the best interest of the young person(s).In all instances the best interests of those children in the care of the State must remain the paramount concern.
Ukraine War
Ceisteanna (332)
Seán Haughey
Ceist:332. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will update Dáil Éireann on pledges of accommodation for Ukrainian refugees through the Irish Red Cross; if this accommodation is being provided in a timely manner; the reason for delays with regard to refugees actually moving into this pledged accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18923/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
My Department is focused on providing accommodation to people fleeing Ukraine where requested. Over 11,000 people have been referred to the International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) for accommodation to date.
IPAS has contracted approximately 5,000 hotel rooms, with additional capacity also being pursued through hotels, guest houses and B&Bs, accommodation pledged by the general public, religious properties, and local authority facilities. In addition, arrangements are also in place with Airbnb to use some of their accommodation.
To date over 23,887 offers of shared and potentially vacant accommodation have been pledged by the public through the Irish Red Cross portal. Work is on-going to contact those pledging accommodation and to commence a draw down of these pledges.
Local authorities are providing information on potential accommodation in their local areas and assisting with the provision of emergency accommodation. My Department is working closely with local authorities to ensure that people in emergency accommodation are moved to other accommodation as soon as possible.
International Protection
Ceisteanna (333)
Cian O'Callaghan
Ceist:333. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if all of the staff at the International Protection Accommodation Services have been provided with trauma-informed care training; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18986/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Learning and Development Unit of my Department, in conjunction with the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS), has designed and implemented a training programme in the areas of Interview and De-escalation Skills and Awareness of Intercultural, Torture, Sexual, Physical, Emotional and Gender based violence issues. This training has been rolled out among all of my IPAS officials and will be further extended to centre managers this year.
I would also like to inform the Deputy that all IPAS officials and centre staff have undertaken mandatory Child Development through a Trauma Informed Lens training provided by Barnardos.
International Protection
Ceisteanna (334)
Cian O'Callaghan
Ceist:334. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the languages in which the resources provided by the International Protection Accommodation Services are available in; and if all of the languages are widely available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18987/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) of my Department provides material in many different languages depending on the needs of each International Protection (IP) applicant. Material in all of the languages listed below are widely available to IP applicants. These are the languages that material has been translated into so far:
-Afrikaans
-Albanian
-Arabic
-Bengali
-Burmese
-Chinese
-Czech
-Dari
-Farsi/Persian
-French
-Georgian
-Hindi
-Irish
-Kurdish
-Lithuanian
-Pashto
-Portuguese
-Punjabi
-Russian
-Shona
-Slov
-Somali
-Spanish
-Swahili
-Tigrinya
-Ukrainian
-Yoruba
-Urdu
Most recently IPAS has provided material in Ukrainian and Russian language, in response to the ongoing humanitarian efforts in Ukraine.
Refugee Resettlement Programme
Ceisteanna (335)
Chris Andrews
Ceist:335. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the plans that are being drawn up to organise the transition of Ukrainian refugees from temporary living arrangements with host families to more independent permanent living arrangements. [18996/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
My department is providing accommodation to people fleeing Ukraine where requested. Over 11,000 people have been referred for accommodation through the International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) to date.
IPAS has contracted around 5,000 hotel rooms, with additional capacity also being pursued through hotels, guest houses and B&Bs, accommodation pledged by the general public, religious properties, and local authority facilities. In addition, arrangements are also in place with Airbnb to use some of their accommodation.
To date a total of 20,719 offers have been pledged through the Irish Red Cross. Of these pledges, 4,899 are for independent units and 15,820 are for independent, shared accommodation. Work is on-going to draw down these pledges.
Local authorities are providing information on potential accommodation in their local areas and assisting with the provision of emergency accommodation. My Department is working closely with local authorities to ensure that people in emergency accommodation are moved to other accommodation as soon as possible. My Department is also liaising with the Department for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in this regard in relation to longer term housing solutions.
Departmental Staff
Ceisteanna (336)
Denis Naughten
Ceist:336. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of staff within his Department who are based and working with the European Union in Brussels; their present roles and responsibilities; the posts and responsibilities that are presently vacant; the corresponding figures on 23 June 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19028/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
My Department currently has one member of staff at the Permanent Representation of Ireland to the European Union, Brussels. Their role is to represent Ireland and the Department and undertake various functions consistent with the Department’s strategic objectives and in contributing to the wider effort to project a coherent image of a modern, dynamic and progressive country. Prior to August 2021, my Department had no staff based in the European Union in Brussels.
Education Schemes
Ceisteanna (337)
Catherine Murphy
Ceist:337. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to amend the core funding model for the early education sector in view of the fact that the smaller service providers business model is not viable with the plan in its current form.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19053/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Core Funding is a new strand of funding to ELC and SAC services which will form part of the new funding model as recommended by an Expert Group in December. It will operate alongside the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) and Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme and in addition to the income that services receive from parents' fees.
Core Funding is designed to meet the combined objectives of:
- Improved affordability for parents by ensuring that fees do not increase;
- Improved quality through better pay and conditions for the workforce by supporting agreement on an Employment Regulation Order through the Joint Labour Committee;
- Supporting the employment of graduate staff; and
- Improved sustainability and stability for services.
Core Funding is a new and different way of providing substantial additional funding to the sector.
Extensive information was communicated to the sector on 7th March, including detail on the way in which Core Funding will be allocated to individual services. A Ready Reckoner calculator has also been launched to assist providers in estimating the impact of Core Funding for their individual service.
Core Funding will address some of the existing disparities in funding levels across ECCE and non-ECCE provision, providing funding proportionate to the age ratio of children being cared for and supporting the employment of graduate Lead Educators across ELC provision. While Core Funding will operate in addition to and alongside ECCE (standard capitation), AIM, CCSP and NCS, it replaces ECCE higher capitation and incorporates funding previously allocated to the discretionary Programme Support Payments (PSP) from September 2022.
Core Funding is related to the costs of delivery. It is based on operating hours, number of places offered by services and the age group of children for whom the places are offered, given the staffing requirements determined by the regulatory ratios for different care categories.
Services opening longer hours or offering more places will receive a higher value of Core Funding than other services. This is because their costs of operation are higher.
ECCE is 15 hours per week over 38 weeks of the year this amounts to 570 hours per year and is equivalent to 23% of the annual hours of a full day service operating from 8am to 6pm for 50 weeks of the year. ECCE ratio requirements are 11 children to one adult. Services offering places for 2-3 year olds can have a maximum of 6 children to one adult. ECCE therefore has less than half the hourly staffing requirement of a service for 2-3 year olds. Due to the nature of ECCE provision – 15 hours per week for 38 weeks per year – even a small Core Funding allocation can take account of increased delivery costs including staffing costs.
In fact, the value of funding offered is weighted in favour of sessional services for 2.5-6 year-olds. ECCE services receive proportionately more than other types of services relative to the staffing requirements of sessional pre-school provision.
Core Funding is equivalent to an increase of at least 9.5% on the standard capitation for ECCE. At a minimum, for every ECCE child €78.75 per week is now available (compared to €71.90 previously from ECCE standard capitation and programme support payment combined).
Because Core Funding is paid in respect of places rather than children, effectively this often means a greater ‘per child’ marginal increase if the service has unfilled capacity. With average ECCE occupancy of 9 children, Core Funding is equivalent to weekly per child capitation of €80.92.
Sessional services with standard capitation, Full Time, Part Time and School Age services will all see substantial increases in funding. Most ECCE services currently in receipt of higher capitation rates will also benefit significantly.
No service will lose out. I have issued a funding guarantee to ensure that no service will receive less in Core Funding that it previously received in higher capitation and programme support payments, if their circumstances remain the same. An estimated 1% of services will be caught by the funding guarantee. All other services will see increases in funding, and most substantial increases in funding.
The 1% of services for whom the funding guarantee will apply and those who will see just small increases from Core Funding are ECCE-only services in receipt of higher capitation for large groups of children and with high occupancy levels. Such services are currently in receipt of between €110-€120 per hour of service provided, which is the highest levels of public funding relative to the staffing levels required for operating those types of services and significantly in excess of average staffing costs required for this type of service.
I would also like to note that there is a sustainability fund in place where services are experiencing sustainability issues that can be availed of by services.
Core Funding is designed to facilitate a partnership between the State and early learning and childcare services for the public good. Its primary purpose is to improve pay and conditions in the sector as a whole and to improve affordability for parents, as well as ensuring a fair income to providers. I look forward to working together in partnership with the many providers who which to deliver services for the public good.
Childcare Services
Ceisteanna (338)
Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:338. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will examine and address a series of issues (details supplied) that will arise for providers under the new childcare funding model; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19056/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Core Funding is a new funding stream for Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) services introduced in Budget 2022 and informed by the work of the Expert Group to develop a new funding model for ELC and SAC, outlined in Partnership for the Public Good: A New Funding Model for Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare.
Core Funding is a payment to providers designed to meet the combined objectives of:
- Improved quality through, among other things, better pay and conditions for the workforce;
- Supporting the establishment of an Employment Regulation Order through the Joint Labour Committee;
- Supporting the employment of graduate staff;
- Improved affordability for parents by ensuring that fees do not increase; and
- Improved sustainability and stability for services.
On 7th March I announced the rates and values for the Core Funding, and launched the online Ready Reckoner tool. The Ready Reckoner is accessible to all and is designed to give an idea of what services can expect to receive based on their characteristics. It also allows different scenarios of provision to be tested. This will show the benefits of applying for Core Funding when it is possible to do so.
Core Funding is related to the costs of delivery. Services opening longer hours or offering more places and places for younger children will receive a higher value of Core Funding than other services. This is because their costs of operation are higher.
Core Funding will support the quality of services by better enabling providers to attract and retain staff, including degree qualified staff; establish career structures; introduce or improve other features of provision that are demonstrated to contribute to quality (e.g. non-contact time, planning, training, curriculum implementation). Staff costs comprise approximately 70% of a service's operating costs. Core Funding makes available €138 million of new funding available to contribute to staff costs, which will be in addition to the existing income available to providers through the public funding through ECCE and the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) and parents' fees.
The precise implications of the funding for staff pay and conditions depends on the agreement of an Employment Regulation Order (ERO) by the Joint Labour Committee (JLC). However, the level of funding provided is significant enough to achieve a substantial improvement in levels of staff pay for the sector as a whole as well as the development of career frameworks. Improved terms and conditions, opportunities for progression and greater rates of staff retention are important steps to improving quality in the sector.
Core Funding will also make a contribution to non-staff overhead costs (for example, utilities, rent) that make up the remaining 30% of providers costs. In a full year, there is an allocation of €20 million for a contribution to non-staff overhead costs through Core Funding. This is the first time this type of funding has been provided.
Extra funding to support administration costs is also contained within Core Funding. This means that the budget previously allocated to Programme Support Payments, with an increased allocation, is now incorporated into Core Funding. Core Funding will make €25 million available to providers to support the costs of administrative time.
€38 million is allocated to contribute to support graduates to be Lead Educators across ELC and to support graduates as Managers in ELC or combined ELC and SAC services. Heretofore funding has only been available in respect of graduate Room Leaders in the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme. The graduate premium aspect of Core Funding will encourage employment of graduates as Lead Educators across all ELC, not just in ECCE rooms as was the case with higher capitation payments.
Core Funding is equivalent to an increase of at least 9.5% in funding for ECCE services not lead by a Graduate Lead Educator. At a minimum, for every ECCE child €78.75 per week will be available from ECCE and Core Funding, compared to €69 in ECCE standard capitation only. As Core Funding is paid in respect of places rather than children, effectively this could mean a greater ‘per child’ marginal increase if the service has unfilled capacity. For example, with an ECCE occupancy of 9 children per staff member, Core Funding and ECCE together will be equivalent to weekly per child capitation of €80.92.
The overwhelming majority of ECCE-services with graduate Lead Educators will benefit substantially. While the approach of providing funding for graduate Lead Educators is different, the increased base rate funding plus payment based on capacity rather than attendance means that most services currently in receipt of higher capitation will see significant benefits from Core Funding.
Sessional services with standard capitation, Full Time, Part Time and School Age services will all see substantial increases in funding. Most ECCE services currently in receipt of higher capitation rates will also benefit significantly.
No service will lose out. I have issued a funding guarantee to ensure that no service will receive less in Core Funding that it previously received in higher capitation and programme support payments, if their circumstances remain the same. An estimated 1% of services will be caught by the funding guarantee. All other services will see increases in funding, and most substantial increases in funding.
The 1% of services for whom the funding guarantee will apply and those who will see just small increases from Core Funding are ECCE-only services in receipt of higher capitation for large groups of children and with high occupancy levels. Such services are currently in receipt of between €110-€120 per hour of service provided, which is the highest levels of public funding relative to the staffing levels required for operating those types of services and significantly in excess of average staffing costs required for this type of service.
I would also like to note that there is a sustainability fund in place where services are experiencing sustainability issues that can be availed of by services.
Core Funding is designed to facilitate a partnership between the State and early learning and childcare services for the public good. Its primary purpose is to improve pay and conditions in the sector as a whole and to improve affordability for parents, as well as ensuring a fair income to providers. I look forward to working together in partnership with the many providers who which to deliver services for the public good.
Childcare Services
Ceisteanna (339)
Seán Canney
Ceist:339. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a private childcare provider (details supplied) has lost its contract; the way that the service provided by the company will be maintained for the service users; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19086/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The company in question provides therapeutic and individualised residential care to young people in the care of the State and to adults with intellectual disabilities.
Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, remain engaged in a tendering process with the provider and as such, the Deputy will appreciate that Tusla is not in a position to share detailed information.
I understand that Tusla communicated the initial results of the tender process to applicants on 24th March, following a careful evaluation against the specifications outlined in the pre-published tender criteria. Tusla has stated that it will no longer be processing any new residential placements with those applicants who were not successful in the recent tender application. I also understand that the provider subsequently informed Tusla of its decision to close 7 centres, commencing Monday 25th April. Currently there are 10 young people resident in these centres who will require a placement within residential services.
Both Tusla and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth are committed to promoting safe and high quality practice in all areas of alternative care. This is achieved through the application of Regulations and Standards that govern the placement of children, as well as Tusla’s operation of robust and independent procurement processes where care arrangements are commissioned from private organisations such as the provider in question.
Tusla has confirmed to my Department that it has engaged with the provider with the primary aim of minimising any disruption to the young people currently placed within these services. I understand Tusla will be urgently and carefully assessing each of those pre-existing placements and will take all necessary action in the best interest of the young person(s).
In all instances the best interests of those children in the care of the State must remain the paramount concern.
Housing Provision
Ceisteanna (340)
Brendan Smith
Ceist:340. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the measures that will be implemented to reduce the delays in allocating housing accommodation to persons from Ukraine arriving in Ireland due to the war waged on their country by Russia in circumstances in which offers of accommodation have been made by homeowners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19139/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
My Department is providing accommodation to people fleeing Ukraine where requested. Over 11,000 people have been referred to the International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) for accommodation to date.
IPAS has contracted approximately 5,000 hotel rooms, with additional capacity also being pursued through hotels, guest houses and B&Bs, accommodation pledged by the general public, religious properties, and local authority facilities. In addition, arrangements are also in place with Airbnb to use some of their accommodation.
To date a total of 20,719 offers have been pledged through the Irish Red Cross. Of these pledges, 4,899 are for independent units and 15,820 are for independent, shared accommodation. Work is on-going to draw down these pledges.
Local authorities are providing information on potential accommodation in their local areas and assisting with the provision of emergency accommodation. My Department is working closely with local authorities to ensure that people in emergency accommodation are moved to other accommodation as soon as possible.
Childcare Services
Ceisteanna (341)
Brendan Smith
Ceist:341. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the measures that will be implemented to ensure that there is adequate childcare accommodation in view of creche closures over the past year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19149/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The availability of high-quality early learning and childcare that is affordable and accessible is a key Government priority.
Since 2015, significant increases in State investment in early learning and childcare has given rise to a substantial growth in the numbers of children participating in these services. More than 100,000 children now participate on the universal pre-school programme on an annual basis and the National Childcare Scheme subsidises up to 80,000 children.
To ensure that the supply of early learning and childcare places meets demand, my Department has, since 2015, funded the creation of more than 27,000 new places through an Annual Capital Programme.
Before the onset of Covid-19, national data indicated that, on the whole, supply of early learning and childcare places was meeting demand, with evidence of undersupply for certain age groups including children under 3, and in certain areas.
Data gathered throughout the Covid-19 pandemic revealed lower demand for early learning and childcare, and reduced occupancy among early learning and childcare services. Indeed, data captured in June 2021 found significant vacancy rates across the country – with the national vacancy rate averaging at 21%.
|
National Vacancy Rate By Age (June 2021) |
|
|
Up to 1 year (0-12 months) |
20% |
|
1 year+ to 2 years (13-24 months) |
10% |
|
2 years+ to 3 years (25-36 months) |
17% |
|
3 years+ to 4 years (37-48 months) |
17% |
|
4 years+ to 5 years (49-60 months) Non-School-Going |
12% |
|
4 years+ to 5 years (49-60 months) School-Going |
42% |
|
5 years+ to 6 years (61-72 months) Non-school going |
30% |
|
5 years+ to 6 years (61-72 months) School going |
48% |
|
6 years+ to 8 years (73-96 months) |
37% |
|
8 years+ |
34% |
|
Total |
21% |
Moreover, recent Tusla data shows that the number of services notifying their closure to Tusla in 2021 is less than the number of service closures that occurred in 2020 and 2019.
|
ELC Closures |
ELC New Registrations |
|||||
|
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
|
|
Full year |
196 |
197 |
141 |
93 |
91 |
65 |
My Department is continuing to monitor early learning and childcare capacity, with a particular focus on monitoring Covid-19 impacts as public health restrictions have been lifted and responding to the unmet early learning and childcare needs of families.
Pobal has, using the data captured in June 2021 and current registration data, recently projected vacancy rates in February 2022. While this analysis shows a fall in vacancy rates from June 2021 to February 2022 – with vacancy rates falling from 21% to 19%, this analysis suggests that there is unused capacity across the country.
Pobal has commenced the new data collection as of 4 April 2022, as part of the Annual Early Years Sector Profile survey. This will allow for updated information on capacity among early learning and childcare services to be established.
In addition to these efforts to monitor capacity issues across the country, my Department is planning a range of steps to address any issue of under supply. A new funding model, to roll out in September, will provide funding for services aligned to costs of delivery so, for example, greater funding will be available to services that cater for younger children where costs of delivery are higher than older children. Some €70m has been allocated to my Department through the revised National Development Plan (NDP) – with the majority of this funding earmarked for new places. Another important step being taken by my Department, in partnership with the Department of Housing Planning and Local Government (DHPLG), is to update the 2001 Planning Guidelines for Local Authorities on Early Learning and Childcare Settings. In addition, CCC are currently proactively engaging with early learning and childcare services to identify unused capacity and explore the potential for services in increase capacity where there is evidence of unmet early learning and childcare needs of families.
Parents experiencing difficulty in relation to their early learning and childcare needs should contact their local City/County Childcare Committee (CCC) for assistance. Contact details for CCCs may be found on www.myccc.ie.
Childcare Services
Ceisteanna (342)
Brendan Smith
Ceist:342. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will address the concerns of childcare providers in relation to the funding module for pre-school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19150/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Core Funding is a new funding stream for Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) services introduced in Budget 2022 and informed by the work of the Expert Group to develop a new funding model for ELC and SAC, outlined in Partnership for the Public Good: A New Funding Model for Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare. Core Funding will operate in addition to and alongside ECCE (standard capitation), AIM, CCSP and NCS. It replaces ECCE higher capitation and incorporates funding previously allocated to the Programme Support Payments (PSP) from September 2022.
Core Funding is a payment to providers designed to meet the combined objectives of:
- Improved quality through, among other things, better pay and conditions for the workforce;
- Supporting the establishment of an Employment Regulation Order through the Joint Labour Committee;
- Supporting the employment of graduate staff;
- Improved affordability for parents by ensuring that fees do not increase; and
- Improved sustainability and stability for services.
On 7th March I announced the rates and values for the Core Funding, and launched the online Ready Reckoner tool. The Ready Reckoner is accessible to all and is designed to give an idea of what services can expect to receive based on their characteristics. It also allows different scenarios of provision to be tested. This will show the benefits of applying for Core Funding when it is possible to do so.
Of the total of €221m in full year costs, €138 million is intended to contribute to staff costs, €25 million is for a contribution to administrative costs and €20 million is allocated to contribute to non staff costs. €38 million is allocated to contribute to support graduates to be Lead Educators across ELC and to support graduates as Managers in ELC or combined ELC and SAC services. Heretofore funding has only been available in respect of graduate Room Leaders in the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme. The graduate premium aspect of Core Funding will encourage employment of graduates as Lead Educators across all ELC, not just in ECCE rooms as was the case with higher capitation payments.
The majority of Core Funding (i.e. €183 million of the €221 million) will be distributed based on a service's capacity - opening hours, opening weeks and the age group of children for whom services are provided as well as the number of places offered. The rationale for this is that these are the primary characteristics that determine the service's costs of delivery. Structuring Core Funding primarily based on capacity will support sustainability and stability for services, since they will have an allocation each year that will not fluctuate in line with children's attendance.
Core Funding is related to the costs of delivery. Services opening longer hours or offering more places will receive a higher value of Core Funding than other services. This is because their costs of operation are higher.
There have been suggestions that small services and services which only provide the ECCE programme will lose out under Core Funding. This is incorrect.
Core Funding is equivalent to an increase of at least 9.5% on the standard capitation for ECCE. At a minimum, for every ECCE child €78.75 per week is now available (compared to €71.90 previously from ECCE standard capitation and programme support payment combined).
Because Core Funding is paid in respect of places rather than children, effectively this often means a greater ‘per child’ marginal increase if the service has unfilled capacity. With average ECCE occupancy of 9 children, Core Funding is equivalent to weekly per child capitation of €80.92.
Core Funding will address some of the existing disparities in funding levels across ECCE and non-ECCE provision, providing funding proportionate to the age ratio of children being cared for and supporting the employment of graduate Lead Educators across ELC provision.
Sessional services with standard capitation, Full Time, Part Time and School Age services will all see substantial increases in funding. Most ECCE services currently in receipt of higher capitation rates will also benefit significantly.
No service will lose out. I have issued a funding guarantee to ensure that no service will receive less in Core Funding that it previously received in higher capitation and programme support payments, if their circumstances remain the same. An estimated 1% of services will be caught by the funding guarantee. All other services will see increases in funding, and most substantial increases in funding.
The 1% of services for whom the funding guarantee will apply and those who will see just small increases from Core Funding are ECCE-only services in receipt of higher capitation for large groups of children and with high occupancy levels. Such services are currently in receipt of between €110-€120 per hour of service provided, which is the highest levels of public funding relative to the staffing levels required for operating those types of services and significantly in excess of average staffing costs required for this type of service.
I would also like to note that there is a sustainability fund in place where services are experiencing sustainability issues that can be availed of by services.
Core Funding is designed to facilitate a partnership between the State and early learning and childcare services for the public good. Its primary purpose is to improve pay and conditions in the sector as a whole and to improve affordability for parents, as well as ensuring a fair income to providers. I look forward to working together in partnership with the many providers who which to deliver services for the public good.