Written Answers Nos. 452-472
452. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the bodies under his aegis in which persons will receive a pay rise from 1 July 2022; the role of each, where appropriate, or the anonymised salaries bands otherwise, the current remuneration and the proposed increase; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35846/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that there are no posts in the Adoption Authority of Ireland, National Disability Authority, Ombudsman for Children's Office or Oberstown Children Detention Campus that will be affected by the FEMPI Pay Restoration due for the 1st of July 2022.
Two posts in Tusla - Child & Family Agency will be affected by this pay restoration. They are:
- The National Director Services & Integration. This person is currently on a salary of €156,072. This is a single point payscale which is aligned to the Department of Health's Consolidated Salary Scales grade of Chief Information Officer - HSE, National Director.
- The Chief Executive Officer. This person is currently on a salary of €184,447. This is a single point payscale, which is aligned to the Department of Health's Consolidated Salary Scales grade of Chief Financial Officer- HSE.
My Department and Tusla are currently awaiting confirmation of the revised Consolidated Salary Scales and will apprise the Deputy of the revised salaries when confirmation of the revised scales is received.
453. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the Child and Family Agency has guidance or a standard operating procedure for assessing a person’s age in the context of assessing whether they are eligible for services under the Child Care Acts; and if so, if that procedure is published. [35923/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy is referring to an operational matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. I have therefore referred the matter to Tusla, and asked that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.
454. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of assessments of age for the purposes of assessing if a person is eligible for services under the Child Care Acts, made by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency in 2021 and to date in 2022. [35924/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra455. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of the review of equality legislation; the person or organisation carrying out the review; the terms of reference of the review; the status of the consideration of the submissions received in the public consultation; when he expects the review to be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35996/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn July 2021, I launched a public consultation process as part of the review of the Equality Acts (Equal Status Acts 2000-2018 and the Employment Equality Acts 1998-2015) to examine the functioning of the Acts and their effectiveness in combatting discrimination and promoting equality.
The purpose of the review is to examine the operation of the Acts to assess their effectiveness with regard to those taking claims under their redress mechanisms. It is examining the degree to which those experiencing discrimination are aware of the legislation and whether there are practical or other obstacles that preclude or deter them from taking an action. The review also includes consideration of Programme for Government commitments to examine the introduction of a socio-economic ground for discrimination and protections for gender identity under the current legislation.
The Department was pleased to receive an extensive response to the public consultation. Submissions are currently being analysed by officials in my Department and it is intended that the outcome of the consultation will be made public when this is complete. It is expected that some legislative proposals arising from the review will be brought forward in 2023. However, the nature of these proposals will be informed by the analysis, currently underway, of the issues raised during the consultation process.
456. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the family support services available to families in Newcastle, Rathcoole, Saggart, Citywest and Brittas; if he will report on the progress in recruiting a child and family support network for this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36027/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraTusla, the Child and Family Agency, provides family support services, through both internal Tusla family support provision and the commissioning of services through its community and voluntary sector partners.
In the Tusla Area Dublin South Central/ Dublin West, which caters to Newcastle, Rathcoole, Saggart and Citywest, 33 family support services were commissioned in 2021. This includes services provided by external organisations funded by Tusla, and services delivered through the Child and Family Agency. Brittas is covered by the Tusla Area Dublin South West/Kildare/West Wicklow, in which 31 family support services were commissioned in 2021.
The Tusla Family Support Service based in Bridge House, Cherry Orchard Hospital provides Family Support Services primarily to Tusla South West referrals coming from Saggart, Newcastle and Rathcoole. Other funded services based in Clondalkin, like Deansrath Family Centre, ABC Blue Skies and Quarryvale Family Resource Centre also provide some services when they have capacity.
Under the Prevention, Partnership and Family Support Programme, 121 Child and Family Support Networks (CFSNs) have been set up across the country. The networks help to support integrated and co-ordinated supports for children, young people and families at local community level. Members of CFSNs come from a variety of agencies and local community and voluntary services such as primary care, social work, early years’ services, sports clubs, youth probation services, schools, etc.
A Child and Family Support Network Co-ordinator post for Dublin South Central/ Dublin West has been advertised and Tusla is actively recruiting this post through a current recruitment campaign. This post will enable the Area to establish a much-needed Child and Family Support Network in the Newcastle/ Rathcoole/ Citywest/ Saggart area.
Brittas is not located in the new CFSN network planned for Saggart, Newcastle and Rathcoole. Brittas is covered by the new West Wicklow CFSN network.
As part of the annual 2022 Spending Review process, DPER and my Department are conducting a review of Tusla Family Support Services and a report will be published later this year.
457. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the decision support service which was established under the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 to provide an essential service for persons who face difficulties exercising their decision-making capacity will come into effect before Dáil Éireann rises for the summer recess; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36065/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is committed to the abolition of wardship and to replacing it with a more person-centred and rights-based functional capacity model. The enactment of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2022 will allow for the commencement of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015.
The Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 (the 2015 Act) is a very important piece of legislation that changes the existing law on capacity from the status approach of the wardship system to a flexible functional approach, whereby capacity is assessed on an issue and time-specific basis.
The Amendment Bill has been published and passed Dail Report Stage on 29 June. It will be introduced to the Seanad in the coming weeks and the remaining Seanad stages will be progressed as quickly as possible in the autumn session. It is intended to have the Bill enacted, and the 2015 Act commenced, at the earliest possible opportunity.
Once the amended Act is commenced, the Decision Support Service will become fully operational. The Decision Support Service (DSS), which is the organisation that will operate the progressive provisions of the 2015 Act, will respond to the complex decision-making needs of people with capacity difficulties. The preparations of the Decision Support Service have gone well, and have been supported by an Inter-Departmental Steering Group. The DSS is in the process of finalising its own procedures for going live and will be ready to operate the progressive provisions of the new legislation when the legislation is commenced.
458. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when he intends to publish the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2022; if the Bill will remove the word woman from existing primary legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36117/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 21 April the Government gave its approval for the drafting of a Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill, the main purpose of which is to transpose elements of the EU Work Life Balance Directive and provide new rights to parents and carers in order to support a better work life balance. The General Scheme of the proposed Bill is published on my Department's website. The General Scheme has been referred to the Office of the Attorney General for drafting of the Bill. The Bill is currently being drafted by the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel in the Office of the Attorney General and will be brought to Government when completed.
The General Scheme was also referred for pre-legislative scrutiny to the Oireachtas Committee on Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, which published its report on 9 June.
The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has received legal advice to the effect that a transgender man who has had his gender recognised under the Gender Recognition Act 2015, and subsequently becomes pregnant, would not at present be entitled to the leave under the Acts. It is therefore proposed, by way of Head 12 of the General Scheme, to address this anomaly which has existed since the enactment of the Gender Recognition Act seven years ago.
There is of course no proposal, nor any attempt, to more broadly “erase” women from legislation. Women, quite obviously, continue to enjoy the full suite of social supports and protections around pregnancy that is enshrined in our laws and will continue to do so. Such a characterisation insinuates a bizarre motivation on the part of the Government, when in fact the only motivation is to ensure the fair application of the law to a very small, but real, number of individuals.
459. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will amend section 2(1) of the Equal Status Act 2000 to insert "or seriously affects a person's capacity to take part in normal social interaction or to form social relationships"; if it is planned to do so within the next 12 months; and if he will provide a timeline for doing so. [36216/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn July 2021, I launched a public consultation process as part of the review of the Equality Acts (Equal Status Acts 2000-2018 and the Employment Equality Acts 1998-2015) to examine the functioning of the Acts and their effectiveness in combatting discrimination and promoting equality.
The purpose of the review is to examine the operation of the Acts with regard to the effectiveness of existing redress mechanisms. It is examining the degree to which those experiencing discrimination are aware of the legislation and whether there are practical or other obstacles that preclude or deter them from taking an action.
The review will include consideration of Programme for Government commitments to examine the introduction of a socio-economic ground for discrimination and the amendment of the gender ground. It also includes a review of current definitions for the other grounds, including the disability ground.
The Department was pleased to receive an extensive response to the public consultation. Submissions are currently being analysed by officials in my department and it is intended that the outcome of the consultation will be made public when this is complete. It is expected that some legislative proposals arising from the review will be brought forward in 2023. The nature of these proposals will be informed by the issues raised during the consultation.
460. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will publish an integrated, interdepartmental strategy on autism to provide for the compilation of accurate data on the prevalence of autism in Ireland, and for the introduction of a best practice model of service delivery, assessment, diagnosis and intervention for persons with autism who interact with Departments and public bodies; if such a strategy will contain a reporting mechanism for Ministers and public bodies; and if he will provide a timeline for the publication of such a strategy. [36217/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra461. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will issue guidance to public bodies on the provision of specialist autism training and awareness training for relevant staff. [36219/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra462. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he intends to establish an autism awareness campaign, including an information website and a traditional and online media strategy. [36220/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra463. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he intends to introduce legislation to require public service providers to set up data collection systems to identify and record the number of persons within their client bases who have autism and to calculate current and future needs for services. [36226/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 460 to 463, inclusive, together.
Providing improved supports for persons with autism and responding to the particular challenges and barriers that they face is a key priority of mine as Minister of State for Disability, and I will consider the matters raised by the Deputy in the preparation of the Autism Innovation Strategy.
I note that the matters raised are elements of the Private Members Bill titled “The Autism Bill 2022” which the Labour Party put forward recently. Both Minister Roderic O’Gorman T.D. and I had the opportunity to set out the position of Government during the debate on 29 June.
Action on autism is an existing commitment in the Programme for Government, and I am leading on work to establish a national Autism Innovation Strategy. Government is committed to providing targeted and bespoke supports for neurodiverse people, which sit harmoniously in the wider context of disability policy and action. This requires a whole-of-government approach.
However, it is the Government’s view that legislation is not the most appropriate vehicle for achieving the objectives of the Bill, given the work already underway to advance national action on autism.
The development of a national strategy on autism is something that my Department has already taken steps to deliver. A budgetary allocation of €100,000 was secured under Budget 2022 for the purposes of designing and raising awareness of such a strategy, and on 29 April 2022, to mark Autism Awareness Month, I launched a comprehensive public consultation to inform the design of the Autism Innovation Strategy. The strategy development process is ongoing.
I am very conscious of Ireland’s commitments under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Therefore, it is critical that the Autism Innovation Strategy be co-designed and informed by the lived experiences of people with autism, their families and their representatives.
The Autism Innovation Strategy will have as its immediate focus the delivery of real and tangible solutions to the challenges, needs and experiences of people with autism and neurodiversity. It will be a flexible, agile strategy that will be capable of evolving in line with best practice and the wider policy context. The Strategy is anticipated to influence the establishment of a best practice model of service delivery, assessment, diagnosis and intervention for persons with autism.
Given that the consultation process to inform the design of the strategy is ongoing, pre-designating specific elements or ambitions, such as data collection systems or training rollout, would not be appropriate at this time. Nevertheless, I anticipate that actions on data collection and training will be included within it.
A draft Autism Innovation Strategy will be published as soon as possible following consideration of all consultation responses. This will be followed by a second consultation after which the final Autism Innovation Strategy will be presented to Government for adoption.
464. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he, his Department or IPAS were aware of a matter before awarding a contract for accommodation services to a vendor (details supplied). [36242/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince the outbreak of the war in Ukraine on 24 February, and the invoking of the temporary protection Directive by the European Union shortly afterwards, my Department has worked intensively as part of the cross-governmental response to the Ukraine crisis.
The operational challenges brought about by responding to the conflict are significant. Our country has never experienced an influx of displaced persons like the one that we have seen over the past months. My Department’s role is focused on the immediate, short-term accommodation needs of those who have fled here.
To date, more than 39,000 people have arrived in Ireland and in excess of 29,000 of those have been referred to us seeking accommodation from the State.
Overseeing provision of accommodation on this scale during this timeframe for all those who require it remains immensely challenging. Due to the urgent need to source accommodation, a broad range of accommodation types have been contracted, including emergency accommodation. While this is not ideal, the priority is to place people fleeing the conflict in safe and secure accommodation.
Numbers seeking international protection have also increased adding to accommodation capacity issues.
My Department does not have responsibility for planning and development matters. Any issues relating to planning are a matter between the contractor and the relevant planning authority.
465. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if funding (details supplied) has issued; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36265/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine on February 24, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) continues to work as part of the whole-of-Government response with a focus on meeting the immediate, temporary accommodation needs of those fleeing the conflict.
DCEDIY is focused on the immediate, short-term accommodation needs of those who have fled here. To date, more than 39,000 people have arrived in Ireland and just in excess of 29,000 of those have been referred to this Department seeking accommodation from the State.
While DCEDIY remains focused on the provision of immediate temporary accommodation, other Departments and Agencies are also involved in the whole of government response to this crisis. The Government is committed to supporting those fleeing the war in Ukraine.
The cross-Government response is being supported by the Community Response Forum, a Local-Authority led programme providing assistance to Ukrainian refugees.
The team procuring accommodation for beneficiaries of temporary protection have contracts in place with a wide range of accommodation providers across the country.
These contracts are negotiated directly with the provider according to specific terms, rates and conditions, and for an agreed length of time.
In some cases, the local authorities procure accommodation for the Department according to an agreement that we have with them and under the same terms.
Accommodation procured outside these arrangements, or booked directly by beneficiaries of temporary protection or on their behalf are not funded by the Department. This is to ensure that only suitable accommodation is procured in line with public spending rules.
The Candle of Grace Charity brought a large number of people from Ukraine to Ireland, including over 100 minors, without any contact in advance with my Department.
There was no agreement in place between my Department and Mayo County Council in relation to the procurement of accommodation for this group.
The accommodation arrangements that were made by the charity directly, or with the local County Council is not covered by the Department’s accommodation procurement rules, and the County Council was informed that these costs would not be covered.
It has now been decided that my Department will cover the accommodation cost, subject to Mayo County Council providing assurances that any unaccompanied minor is being accommodated appropriately, and that Tusla is happy with the arrangement.
My Department will not cover costs retrospectively.
To date no funding has been provided to either party for the accommodation of beneficiaries of temporary protection. However, my Department has agreed to cover the accommodations costs going forward and arrangements to make payment will commence once all relevant documentation is in place.
466. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the purpose of a funding allocation to an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36266/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Communities Integration Fund, which has been in place since 2017, provides small grants of up to €5,000 to community organisations for initiatives to promote integration at local level.
The Communities Integration Fund 2022 will support 124 projects in communities across Ireland to play a greater role in promoting the integration of migrants. Organisations eligible to apply include local community groups, sports clubs, faith-based groups, arts groups, cultural organisations and schools. This funding can be used for both once-off initiatives and short to medium term projects.
The Candle of Grace were provided with funding under the Communities Integration Fund 2022 to assist Ukrainian Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection. Funding has been provided to a range of organisations under the Fund this year to support those who have come to Ireland from Ukraine.
467. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated cost of a 10% increase in placements if the number of undergraduate new entrants in dentistry increased by 10%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35312/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy has also been provided in PQ 35410/22 of 5th July 2022.
Based on 2020/21 full-time undergraduate new entry enrolments (excluding Non-EU fee paying students), the estimated cost of a 10% increase in full-time undergraduate dentistry students is c.€513,000 - €539,000.
This excludes other additional costings which may arise or may be met by other agencies and departments.
An additional 10% increase would achieve 17 more entrants. The total number of new entrants following a 10% increase would be 188.
468. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for an update on the pension review of a person (details supplied); if he will provide clarity on this matter; if he will note that there has not been an update given to this person since 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36124/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraCommunications between officials and the Higher Education Institution (HEI) concerned have been continuing in the case raised by the Deputy. The HEI concerned has informed officials that it is keeping the individual concerned abreast of matters.
469. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his attention has been drawn to the problems with the FÁS apprenticeship programme including delays of over one year in apprentices receiving their qualification; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36271/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe backdrop to current wait-lists for essential practical training for craft apprentices is the extended shutdown of on-site learning activity from March 2020. The closure of education and training facilities in response to the Covid pandemic precluded access to off-the-job training. The very welcome growth in registrations has compounded these pressures.
Implementation of a major response plan to address the waitlists is well advanced. In order to introduce additional capacity, Capital funding of €20m was provided in 2020 to extend and upgrade facilities. Additional funding of €17m has been provided to SOLAS and the HEA to underpin the plan to reduce backlogs, €6 million of which is being invested in additional instructors, with over 100 additional posts approved.
More than 8,400 apprentices, over 70% of those delayed by Covid-19, have now progressed. This includes over 700 final year apprentices who have been fast-tracked to complete their qualification. Regarding delays in apprentices receiving their qualification,
My Departments officials have engaged with SOLAS on this matter and have been informed that once the apprentice completes all phases successfully, the apprentice details go forward to Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) for certification.
There should be no delays as the certificate and craft apprenticeship card are processed by QQI and the relevant printing provider. The apprentice certificate and craft card are forwarded to the individual Education and Training Board (ETB) locations for distribution to apprentices. To note, QQI have a certificate run every two months, commencing in February each year.
470. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of former civil servants who are currently serving on State boards under his remit; the number of former county managers and chief executive officers of local authorities who are currently on each of the State boards under his remit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33854/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information sought by the Deputy in regard to the bodies under the aegis of my Department is being collated and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.
471. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of full-time equivalent staff in TU Dublin that were employed in attached grades (details supplied), in tabular form. [35248/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy officials contacted TU Dublin to request data on the number of full time equivalent staff employed in the requested grades and TU Dublin have provided the data which can be examined in a tabular format in the attached file.
TU Dublin Full Time Equivalents
|
- |
01/01/2019 |
01/01/2020 |
01/01/2021 |
01/10/2021 |
01/01/2022 |
01/04/2022 |
|
President |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
|
Director |
13 |
13 |
12 |
15 |
16 |
14 |
|
Senior Lecturer III |
31 |
29 |
30 |
29 |
29 |
29 |
|
Senior Lecturer II |
84 |
79 |
82 |
80 |
81 |
74 |
|
Senior Lecturer I |
85 |
87 |
87 |
90 |
96 |
98 |
|
Structured Lecturer |
8 |
9 |
8 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
|
Lecturer |
668 |
697 |
734 |
742 |
735 |
740 |
|
Assistant Lecturer |
308 |
305 |
307 |
313 |
319 |
323 |
|
Secretary Financial Controller Level 1 * |
3 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
3 |
3 |
|
Secretary Financial Controller Level 2* |
- |
- |
- |
8 |
9 |
9 |
|
Principal Officer |
11 |
13 |
12 |
9 |
8 |
10 |
|
Assistant Principal Officer |
45 |
46 |
49 |
52 |
53 |
56 |
|
Grade 7 |
55 |
64 |
64 |
62 |
67 |
65 |
|
Grade 6 |
62 |
63 |
65 |
80 |
82 |
81 |
* The posts of Secetary Financial Controller Level 1 are inclusive of posts of Registrars and Heads of Development Functions
472. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the amount TU Dublin spent on organisational design consultants for each of the years 2019, 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form. [35249/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department does not retain this information. The information attached which was sought by the Deputy was sourced directly from TU Dublin as an autonomous institution, via the Higher Education Authority (HEA).
Any subsequent queries on this matter should be directed to the Institution in the first instance.
Organisation Design Consultant Spend to Date
|
- |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
|
TotalSpend (excl. VAT) |
€0 |
€706,748 |
€1,485,179 |
€1,517,400 |
