Written Answers Nos. 285-304
285. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Education the number of home-based summer programmes for children in special schools and classes in County Mayo; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28797/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn May 2022 the Government announced this year's Summer Programme to allow all primary and post-primary schools to offer a summer programme for students with complex special educational needs and those at greatest risk of educational disadvantage.
The programme aims are to support pupils to maintain their connection with education, to build their confidence and increase their motivation, promote wellbeing and for those who are at key transition stages, helping to ensure they continue their education journey in September either in school or in further/higher education or training.
Building on the 2021 programme, all primary and post primary schools can offer a summer programme and in line with last year’s funding, there is up to €40 million available to provide for this year’s programme.
A key objective of this year’s scheme is to increase the number of schools offering the summer programme to their students. Steps have been taken to afford schools as much flexibility as possible, and to ease administrative requirements.
An online registration portal is currently open for schools to register their participation in this year’s programme with a closing date June 9th. Numbers of those who have registered for the Summer Programme are not yet available.
286. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education when the SNA allocations for the 2022/2023 school year will be released; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28803/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe number of Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) in our schools is at unprecedented levels.
Budget 2022 provides for an additional 1,165 SNAs to provide support to children with special educational needs. This will bring the total number of SNAs to 19,169 by the end of 2022. This represents an increase of 81% in SNA numbers since 2011 when 10,575 SNAs were working in our schools.
The availability of SNAs is critical to the inclusion of students with significant care needs in education and in school life.
SNAs carry out very important care functions for children with care needs in the school. The purpose of their role is to enable children with significant care needs to attend school and participate in school activities to the maximum possible extent.
The purpose of the SNAs in the classroom is to address the immediate physical care needs of the student and encourage their independence. Over time, with their assistance and support, students will become more independent and self-autonomous in these matters.
SNAs are whole school resources to be allocated to meet the needs of those students in greatest need.
A key consideration in the allocation of SNAs is to ensure that those students with the greatest level of care needs receive the most support. This is a key principle underlying Department policy on special education. The allocation system must be objective and fair with the capacity to take account of local and individual circumstances.
The SNA allocations for all schools for the 2022/23 school year were published on the 31st May and are available on the NCSE website
SET Hours and SNA Allocations – National Council for Special Education (ncse.ie).
Many students with Special Educational Needs (SEN) enrolled in mainstream classes do not have significant care needs and are supported through the Special Education Teacher (SET) allocation in line with their need.
In mid-April Department officials issued updated staffing allocations for the 2022/23 school year to include SET allocations. This ensured that schools were aware of their teaching resources and this allowed them to make the necessary arrangements to ensure that the teaching and learning needs for pupils with SEN can be properly supported. The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has also provided guidance and support to schools to assist them in ensuring that the resources being provided are best managed to meet the needs of pupils with SEN. The support includes training and advice from special education professionals within the NCSE as part of the NCSE regional support teams.
The National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) are also available to support schools and teachers in providing a Continuum of Support to their students with SEN.
287. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education if her Department is reviewing when the SNA allocations are released; if the information will be released earlier in the school year to reduce the stress caused by school leaders and SNAs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28804/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe number of Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) in our schools is at unprecedented levels.
Budget 2022 provides for an additional 1,165 SNAs to provide support to children with special educational needs. This will bring the total number of SNAs to 19,169 by the end of 2022. This represents an increase of 81% in SNA numbers since 2011 when 10,575 SNAs were working in our schools.
The availability of SNAs is critical to the inclusion of students with significant care needs in education and in school life.
SNAs carry out very important care functions for children with care needs in the school. The purpose of their role is to enable children with significant care needs to attend school and participate in school activities to the maximum possible extent.
The purpose of the SNAs in the classroom is to address the immediate physical care needs of the student and encourage their independence. Over time, with their assistance and support, students will become more independent and self-autonomous in these matters.
SNAs are whole school resources to be allocated to meet the needs of those students in greatest need.
A key consideration in the allocation of SNAs is to ensure that those students with the greatest level of care needs receive the most support. This is a key principle underlying Department policy on special education. The allocation system must be objective and fair with the capacity to take account of local and individual circumstances.
The availability of SNAs is critical to the inclusion of students with significant care needs in education and in school life. And the Department of Education is anxious to ensure that schools and stakeholders are aware of the SNA allocations for the 2022/23 school year at the earliest.
For this reason the Department has committed to providing schools with that clarity each year in May.
Schools have maintained their SNA allocations since 2019 and in addition an average of 1,000 SNAs per annum have been allocated to schools since that time in 2020 and again in 2021.
The Department will continue to work with education partners and staff representatives to provide the SNA allocations to schools at the earliest possible date.
The SNA allocations for all schools for the 2022/23 school year were published on the 31st May and are available on the NCSE website
SET Hours and SNA Allocations – National Council for Special Education (ncse.ie).
288. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education if she will immediately make available the SNA allocations for secondary schools in Cork South West for the 2022/2023 academic year. [28817/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe number of Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) in our schools is at unprecedented levels.
Budget 2022 provides for an additional 1,165 SNAs to provide support to children with special educational needs. This will bring the total number of SNAs to 19,169 by the end of 2022. This represents an increase of 81% in SNA numbers since 2011 when 10,575 SNAs were working in our schools.
The availability of SNAs is critical to the inclusion of students with significant care needs in education and in school life.
SNAs carry out very important care functions for children with care needs in the school. The purpose of their role is to enable children with significant care needs to attend school and participate in school activities to the maximum possible extent.
The purpose of the SNAs in the classroom is to address the immediate physical care needs of the student and encourage their independence. Over time, with their assistance and support, students will become more independent and self-autonomous in these matters.
SNAs are whole school resources to be allocated to meet the needs of those students in greatest need.
A key consideration in the allocation of SNAs is to ensure that those students with the greatest level of care needs receive the most support. This is a key principle underlying Department policy on special education. The allocation system must be objective and fair with the capacity to take account of local and individual circumstances.
The SNA allocations for all schools for the 2022/23 school year were published on the 31st May and are available on the NCSE website
SET Hours and SNA Allocations – National Council for Special Education (ncse.ie).
Many students with Special Educational Needs (SEN) enrolled in mainstream classes do not have significant care needs and are supported through the Special Education Teacher (SET) allocation in line with their need.
In mid-April Department officials issued updated staffing allocations for the 2022/23 school year to include SET allocations. This ensured that schools were aware of their teaching resources and this allowed them to make the necessary arrangements to ensure that the teaching and learning needs for pupils with SEN can be properly supported. The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has also provided guidance and support to schools to assist them in ensuring that the resources being provided are best managed to meet the needs of pupils with SEN. The support includes training and advice from special education professionals within the NCSE as part of the NCSE regional support teams.
The National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) are also available to support schools and teachers in providing a Continuum of Support to their students with SEN.
289. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education when a project (details supplied) will proceed to the next stage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28825/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am pleased to inform the Deputy that funding was approved under the Additional Accommodation Scheme 2020 to enable the school in question to build – 8x58m2 General Classrooms, 4x SET rooms, 1x Music room,1x Textiles room, 1x Art Room, 1x Project store, 1x Multimedia room, 2x Science lab/1x Prep area,1x Library, 1x GP/Dining.
This project has been devolved for delivery to the school authority and is currently at the Design stage. A Stage 1 report was received and comments issued from the Department to the school on 24th May 2022. It is now a matter for the Board of Management to advance this project in that context.
290. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason that a report which was completed by a certified medical professional was not accepted for a pension application by a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; if their case will be reviewed in view of the undue hardship that this will cause to the person; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28561/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraBlind Pension is a means-tested payment for people aged 18 years to 66 years who are habitually residing in the State.
One of the conditions for receipt of Blind Pension is that a person’s vision is impaired to such an extent that they cannot perform any work for which eyesight is essential or cannot continue in their ordinary occupation.
The original ophthalmic report submitted was not completed fully and, as a result, the medical assessor was unable to make a recommendation in relation to this application. A new ophthalmic report form was sent to the person concerned on 9/5/2022 to be completed in full. The entitlement of the person concerned to Blind Pension will be examined further on receipt of the completed ophthalmic report form.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
291. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of offices operated by her Department that are in high-risk areas for radon; the number that have been tested for radon; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28582/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraUsing the new radon map for workplaces issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the last 2 weeks, my Department has identified 50 offices as being located in high radon areas.
In high radon areas, the EPA predicts that 10% or more of homes and other premises will exceed the national reference level for radon, 200 Becquerels per cubic metre.
Prior to the publication of the most recent radon map, which is significantly more precise than previous versions, my Department carried out radon measurement exercises in 14 offices, with a further three in progress. Only one of those14 offices had readings that exceeded the national reference level and in that case remedial works were carried out successfully. The offices monitored were selected using previous radon maps, five of which are are in a high radon area based on the current radon map.
Based on the current radon map my Department will instigate monitoring in all remaining offices identified as being in high radon areas and arrange with the OPW for any necessary remediation works.
292. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount of funding that has been provided to the school meals programme for the past five years by county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28586/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra293. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Social Protection the expected timeline for the review of the school meals programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28587/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 292 and 293 together.
The school meals programme provides funding towards the provision of food to some 1,506 schools and organisations benefitting 230,000 children. The objective of the programme is to provide regular, nutritious food to children who are unable, due to lack of good quality food, to take full advantage of the education provided to them. The programme is an important component of policies to encourage school attendance and extra educational achievement.
A budget of €68.1 million has been provided for the programme in 2022. The allocation for the school meals programme was increased substantially over a series of budgets - increasing from €35million in 2012 to €68.1 million in 2022 (almost 95% of an increase). The amount of school meals funding that has been provided for the past five school years by county is provided in the attached tabular statement.
I am committed to continuing to grow the school meals programme and in particular the hot school meals element of the programme, building further on the significant extension announced as part of Budget 2022. In this regard, I have commissioned an evaluation of the school meals programme to be undertaken in 2022 to inform future policy decisions on the scheme.
This evaluation will assess all aspects of the provision of school meals and will engage with all stakeholders. This evaluation will consider:
- The extent to which the school meals programme has improved school attendance and educational achievement/outcomes.
- The extent to which the school meals programme has alleviated food poverty and/or improved deprivation measures among families of children who benefit from the programme.
- Whether or not the current method of targeting the programme vis the DEIS categorisation is effective/the implications for the outcomes measured in (a) and (b) of extending the scheme to non-DEIS schools.
- Whether the current school meal programme is effective.
- How the scheme compares with programmes in peer states.
- Identify gaps and recommend changes to the current programme and propose a design for an effective impact evaluation of the school meals programme.
- Implications of the EU Child Guarantee for the SMP.
The evaluation is due for completion in November 2022.
I trust that this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
Tabular Statement - The amount of school meals funding provided for the past five years by county
|
Counties |
2017-2018 |
2018-2019 |
2019-2020 |
2020-2021 |
*2021-2022 |
|
Carlow |
€657,731 |
€719,992 |
€845,242 |
€894,552 |
€1,347,225 |
|
Cavan |
€725,172 |
€681,782 |
€844,912 |
€818,845 |
€1,142,696 |
|
Clare |
€1,015,341 |
€990,270 |
€1,086,228 |
€1,064,191 |
€1,244,529 |
|
Cork |
€3,719,472 |
€3,983,324 |
€5,306,827 |
€5,017,378 |
€5,897,629 |
|
Donegal |
€3,594,289 |
€3,384,407 |
€3,974,490 |
€3,741,869 |
€4,456,987 |
|
Dublin |
€17,350,552 |
€16,406,425 |
€19,256,999 |
€17,344,194 |
€21,250,725 |
|
Galway |
€1,833,927 |
€1,929,711 |
€2,418,228 |
€2,309,233 |
€2,365,364 |
|
Kerry |
€1,171,672 |
€1,191,082 |
€1,306,389 |
€1,222,017 |
€1,279,525 |
|
Kildare |
€917,658 |
€848,328 |
€1,034,875 |
€958,304 |
€1,476,778 |
|
Kilkenny |
€603,034 |
€676,386 |
€781,614 |
€708,417 |
€881,561 |
|
Laois |
€716,320 |
€704,419 |
€613,723 |
€570,085 |
€871,687 |
|
Leitrim |
€223,272 |
€246,206 |
€299,210 |
€294,160 |
€313,370 |
|
Limerick |
€1,790,796 |
€1,708,602 |
€2,106,785 |
€2,032,158 |
€1,974,258 |
|
Longford |
€1,092,989 |
€1,148,721 |
€1,592,576 |
€1,359,455 |
€1,594,957 |
|
Louth |
€1,929,329 |
€1,915,684 |
€2,241,787 |
€2,015,824 |
€2,362,258 |
|
Mayo |
€1,967,909 |
€1,857,075 |
€2,020,009 |
€1,732,117 |
€1,818,714 |
|
Meath |
€1,083,015 |
€867,283 |
€1,360,408 |
€1,106,948 |
€1,170,044 |
|
Monaghan |
€719,231 |
€771,756 |
€938,012 |
€798,638 |
€835,287 |
|
Offaly |
€912,973 |
€950,561 |
€1,253,926 |
€1,166,506 |
€1,659,813 |
|
Roscommon |
€627,425 |
€662,943 |
€719,882 |
€675,707 |
€750,993 |
|
Sligo |
€512,563 |
€525,841 |
€732,236 |
€608,889 |
€845,180 |
|
Tipperary |
€1,481,869 |
€1,506,688 |
€1,749,397 |
€1,733,894 |
€2,129,156 |
|
Waterford |
€1,459,757 |
€1,376,492 |
€1,679,454 |
€1,524,226 |
€1,999,021 |
|
Westmeath |
€1,090,071 |
€1,020,922 |
€1,118,728 |
€1,101,754 |
€1,242,867 |
|
Wexford |
€2,120,288 |
€2,057,155 |
€2,712,226 |
€2,612,057 |
€3,340,841 |
|
Wicklow |
€588,730 |
€626,091 |
€944,173 |
€985,138 |
€1,156,535 |
|
Grand Total |
€49,905,383 |
€48,758,146 |
€58,938,335 |
€54,396,558 |
*€65,408,000 |
*Provisional Figures
294. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if persons with a long-Covid diagnosis will be entitled to illness benefits; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28600/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the terms of the arrangements currently in place, a person who is absent from work on the grounds of having being diagnosed with Covid-19 may receive Enhanced Illness Benefit for a maximum period of 10 weeks subject to continued certification by their GP.
If the person remains out of work after the 10 week period they may be entitled to receive standard Illness Benefit subject to satisfying the PRSI contributions conditions for the scheme.
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
295. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason that her Department has failed to honour an Enhanced Redundancy Agreement for community employment supervisors since 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28691/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra297. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact that her Department has failed to honour an enhanced redundancy agreement to community employment supervisors since 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28730/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra299. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection when her Department will make the payments under the Enhanced Redundancy Agreement to Community Employment Supervisors; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28786/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 295, 297 and 299 together.
At the outset, I wish to acknowledge the valuable and dedicated service that Community Employment (CE) supervisors and assistant supervisors provide in running CE schemes in delivering local based community services, while providing a valuable training and development opportunity to the long-term unemployed and to those often furthest removed from the labour market.
If circumstances arise where a CE supervisor is made redundant by their employer (the sponsor organisation) and qualifies for a payment under the Redundancy Payments Acts 1967, the supervisor would be entitled to statutory redundancy at a rate of two weeks’ pay per year of service, plus a further week’s pay, subject to a limit of €600 per week.
The Department is not the employer of CE supervisors and payment of redundancy over and above the statutory requirement is a matter for the employer which in this instance is the CE sponsor. Generally where CE schemes close, every effort is made to maintain services through amalgamation with other schemes with employment maintained for CE supervisors and places protected for participants. This minimises the need for redundancy, but where a redundancy arises, it is an issue for the employer to resolve.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
296. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection when payments will be made to retired community employment supervisors in line with the agreement between the union representing the supervisors and her Department; and when the new pension plan for community employment supervisors will be put in place; the reason for the delay in concluding this matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28692/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, Community Employment (CE) supervisors and CE assistant supervisors have been seeking for several years, through their union representatives, the allocation of Exchequer funding to implement a 2008 Labour Court recommendation relating to the provision of a pension scheme.
At the outset, I wish to acknowledge the valuable and dedicated service that CE supervisors and assistant supervisors provide in running CE schemes in delivering local based community services while providing a valuable training and development opportunity to the long-term unemployed and to those often furthest removed from the labour market.
I am pleased that an agreement was reached between the Department of Social Protection and unions representing CE supervisors and assistant supervisors that resolves this long-standing issue through the payment of a once off ex-gratia payment to eligible CE supervisors and assistant supervisors. On 23 December 2021, both unions involved confirmed acceptance of this settlement which will benefit over 2,200 people employed by CE schemes going back to 2008. It is estimated to have a total cost of over €24 million.
Under the terms of this settlement, on reaching retirement age, eligible CE supervisors and assistant supervisors will receive a once off ex-gratia payment in respect of time employed by CE schemes since 2008. People who retired since 2008 and who have reached retirement age will be able to apply for payments immediately when the scheme is in place. The ex-gratia payment provides for 2 week’s pay per year of service or part thereof, in the qualifying period. The calculation will be based on the salary point of the CE supervisor or assistant supervisor on the date of retirement, subject to a cap of €600 per week.
The qualifying period for the scheme is from 1 July 2008 to 31 December 2023 and will apply to all periods of employment as a CE supervisor or assistant supervisor during that period.
The Department of Social Protection is currently in the process of finalising the administrative arrangements to implement the agreed settlement with a view to payments issuing to qualified CE supervisors and assistant supervisors by the end of July. There is no delay and arrangements are being put in place to process these payments as quickly as possible.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy
298. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has plans to further increase the back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance this autumn in view of the inflationary difficulties facing families; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28785/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance scheme provides a once-off payment to eligible families to assist with the costs of clothing and footwear when children start or return to school each autumn. The scheme operates from June to September each year.
The allowance is payable in respect of eligible children between the ages of 4 and 17 in respect of whom a qualified child allowance is being paid and eligible children between the ages of 18 and 22 who are in full-time second level education and in respect of whom a qualified child allowance is being paid.
To qualify for the allowance a person must meet a number of conditions namely:
- The child must meet the age criteria,
- The applicant must be in receipt of a qualifying payment and getting an increase in that payment for the qualified child (except in certain circumstances) in the period 1 June to 30 September,
- The assessable income for the household must be within prescribed limits,
- The applicant and the child (or children) in respect of whom the allowance is claimed must be resident in the State.
Following a review of the scheme the income limits for one parent families were increased this year to bring them in line with the income limits for two parent families, widening the eligibility for that cohort of customers. The income limits were also increased to ensure that the increases in weekly social protection payments rates introduced in Budget 2022 will not negatively impact on an individual’s entitlement to the allowance.
The rates of payment were increased this year by €10 to €160 for children aged 4 to 11 and to €285 for children aged 12 years and over in second level education.
Any further increases to the scheme would have to be considered in a budgetary context.
Applications which fall outside the normal rules of the scheme may be considered for exceptional needs payments under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme by the officers administering this scheme in the normal way.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
300. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Social Protection the precise legislative provision that authorises home inspections as envisaged by article 4.2 and 4.3 of the Code of Practice for Social Welfare Inspectors. [28800/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra301. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Social Protection the details of any circular or memo issued by her Department that authorises home inspections for social welfare inspectors. [28801/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 300 and 301 together.
Social Welfare Inspectors are appointed under the provisions of Section 250(1) of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 by “The Minister, or an officer authorised in that behalf by special or general directions of the Minister…”
Under Section 250(2) of the Act “every Social Welfare Inspector shall investigate and report to the Minister on any claim…which may be referred to him or her by the Minister and may, for the purpose of the investigation and report require – (a) a claimant or a beneficiary… to give to the Social Welfare Inspector the information and to produce to him or her the documents, within the period that may be prescribed, as he or she may reasonably require.”
When investigating a claim under Section 250(2) of the Act, a Social Welfare Inspector will use his or her judgement in considering the most appropriate location for an interview to gather the required information and documentation. Interviews may be conducted in a customer’s home, in the Department’s offices or, for example, on a premises where employment is believed or suspected to be taking place.
However, I should emphasise that Social Welfare Inspectors may only enter a private home if invited. There is no statutory power of entry, unlike a workplace in line with Sections 250(3) and 250(8) – these sections of the Act detail the powers of Social Welfare Inspectors when conducting employer inspections to ensure that an employer is complying with their PRSI obligations.
If a customer does not wish to allow an Inspector to enter their private home, they may be requested by the inspector to make themselves available for interview at an alternative agreed location. It is important to understand that Social Welfare Inspectors work across the range of the Department's activities and that home visits could be required, for instance, to facilitate a customer who for various reasons is unable to leave their home, or to review a case without which a delay in payment to the customer might occur. Home visits may also be used to ensure a customer is resident at the address stated on their claim.
As the Deputy will appreciate, in many cases home visits are a more suitable way of interacting with the Department’s inspectors for customers.
Social Welfare Inspectors are amongst the Department's officials that are requested to comply with the Department's Code of Conduct for Staff Engaged in Outdoor Functions and I have asked my officials to forward you a copy of this document.
302. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 589 of 22 March 2022, if she will provide further information regarding the rules-based approach to reviews; when this approach was initiated in her Department; the approach that existed prior to the rules-based approach; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28802/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs part of its efforts to prevent and detect social welfare fraud, the Department has always had a process of conducting reviews of claims in payment. Cases for review of entitlement may be selected on a random or risk-based basis, or where specific information comes to the attention of the Department, for example, through inspection of employer records, inspections of places of employment or on receipt of good citizen reports.
More broadly, reviews may consist of desk-based assessments of customer claims or face-to-face interviews with customers by trained investigators, audits of employers’ PRSI records, specialist investigations, enquiries with other state agencies, self-declarations by customers or joint operations with the Revenue Commissioners.
The rules-based approach to reviews selects a claim for review of entitlement which has regard to the eligibility rules governing a particular scheme. The rules-based approach is effectively based on risk-based criteria such as checking with Revenue real-time data records on earnings, duration of a claim in payment, the length of time since a review was last conducted, and whether there is verified documentation associated with the claim.
This rules-based approach has been in operation since 2016 and has worked alongside rather than replaced pre-existing review measures. Prior to the introduction of the rules-based approach a larger percentage of cases relied on random selection of cases combined with traditional approaches to case selection, such as customer requested reviews, control surveys (random selection of up to 1,000 claims on a particular scheme for review), notifications of changes in circumstances by customers and reported suspected fraud by members of the public.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
303. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when all the details of the nurturing skills package will be released; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28438/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraLast December I launched Nurturing Skills: The Workforce Plan for Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare, 2022-2028. Nurturing Skills aims to strengthen the ongoing process of professionalisation for those working in early learning and care and school-age childcare. Nurturing Skills sets out actions to achieve workforce commitments in First 5, the Whole-of-Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families.
Early years educators, school-age childcare practitioners and childminders play a key role in supporting children’s development and well-being, working in partnership with families. Recognising their central importance for the quality of provision, Nurturing Skills aims to support the professional development of the workforce and raise the profile of careers in the sector.
Commitments in Nurturing Skills are organised under five "pillars":
- Establishing a career framework;
- Raising qualification levels;
- Developing a national Continuing Professional Development system;
- Supporting recruitment, retention and diversity in the workforce; and
- Moving towards regulation of the profession.
Nurturing Skills has a wide range of commitments and, though there will not be a single financial package covering all actions within Nurturing Skills, many of the actions to be undertaken between now and 2028 will have financial implications.
One of the "key enablers" for workforce-related actions that is identified in Nurturing Skills is improvement in pay and conditions of employment for staff. In Budget 2022, I announced a new Core Funding scheme which will provide an additional €73 million of funding in 2022 and is equivalent to more than €221 million in a full year. Core Funding is expected, among other objectives, to support an Employment Regulation Order that may arise from the Joint Labour Committee for Early Years Services, improving workforce recruitment and retention through improvement in pay and conditions.
A Monitoring Committee is being established with the task of monitoring the implementation of Nurturing Skills. A comprehensive Implementation Plan is included within Nurturing Skills and covers the first phase of implementation from 2022-2024.
304. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the detail of the ongoing work of his Department to tackle the gender pay gap; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16099/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAddressing the factors behind the gender pay gap has been a commitment of the outgoing National Strategy for Women and Girls 2017-2020. Tackling this issue contributes to equality and makes good business sense, as firms that can report a low or non-existent gender pay gap will have an advantage in recruiting and retaining employees. Initiatives to address the gender pay gap can also be expected to have a positive impact on disparities in income for women across and after their working lives.
The Programme for Government included a commitment to legislate to require publication of the gender pay gap in companies. The Gender Pay Gap Information Act 2021 which has now come into force aims to provide transparency on the gender pay gap and incentivise employers to take measures to address the issue insofar as they can.
Under Regulations implementing the Act, organisations are asked to select a ‘snapshot’ date in the month of June 2022 and those organisations having not less than 250 employees on that date will then have six months to prepare their calculations before reporting six months later, during December 2022. The Regulations also require employers to publish a statement setting out, in the employers’ opinion, the reasons for the gender pay gap in their company and what measures are being taken or proposed to be taken by the employer to eliminate or reduce that pay gap. My Department has issued guidance to employers on calculating their gender pay gaps. It is also continuing to engage with trade union and employer representative bodies in regard to the gender pay gap. Plans are also in place to develop an online reporting system for the 2023 reporting cycle.
