Written Answers Nos. 1190-1209
1190. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will review an application for a working family payment for a person (details supplied); if she will expedite same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44240/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraWorking Family Payment (WFP), formerly Family Income Supplement, is a weekly in-work support which provides an income top-up for employees on low earnings with children. To qualify for Working Family Payment the customer must have at least 1 qualified child who normally resides with them and be working a minimum of 38 hours per fortnight in ongoing insurable employment.
I am advised that there is no record of an application for Working Family Payment from the person concerned. The quickest way to apply for Working Family Payment is online using the MyWelfare.ie service.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
1191. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will review an application for a child benefit application by a person (details supplied); if she will expedite same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44241/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraChild Benefit is a monthly payment to the parents or guardians of children under 16 years of age. Child Benefit can also be claimed for children aged 16 and 17, if they are in full-time education or full-time training or have a disability and cannot support themselves.
The Child Benefit section in my Department is currently corresponding with the person concerned regarding their claim. Further clarification has been sought from the applicant to establish eligibility under Article 159 of S.I. 142 of 2007. On receipt of a reply, a decision will be made, and the person concerned will be notified accordingly. If entitlement is established arrears will issue with the first payment.
I trust this helps clarify the position for the Deputy.
1192. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will review an application for a working family payment for a person (details supplied); if she will expedite same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44242/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraWorking Family Payment (WFP), formerly Family Income Supplement, is a weekly in-work support which provides an income top-up for employees on low earnings with children. To qualify for Working Family Payment the customer must have at least 1 qualified child who normally resides with them and be working a minimum of 38 hours per fortnight in ongoing insurable employment.
An application for WFP was received by the Department for the person concerned on 15th August 2022. The person concerned currently has a pending Occupational Injury Benefit (OIB) Claim. Unfortunately, as OIB and WFP are incompatible social welfare payments, no decision can be made on the WFP claim for the person concerned until their OIB claim has been decided. The OIB Section of my Department have been asked to expedite a timely decision.
When a decision is reached on the OIB claim, a deciding officer will review the WFP claim for the person concerned and contact them directly regarding their claim. Any arrears due will be paid to the person concerned.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
1193. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps she is taking in response to the decision of a public body (details supplied) to require insurance companies to suspend providing one-member pensions. [44316/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe supervision of compliance with the requirements of both IORP II and the Pensions Act 1990 (‘the 1990 Act’) is the responsibility of the Pensions Authority, which is the regulator for pensions in Ireland (and the competent authority within the meaning of the IORP II Directive).
The Pensions Authority is an independent statutory body, and it would not be possible or appropriate for me to interfere with the Pensions Authority’s compliance supervision function or to direct the Pensions Authority to extend any compliance deadlines relating to the provision of one-member arrangements (‘OMAs’). Furthermore, IORP II requires Member States to ensure that competent authorities, such as the Pensions Authority, conduct their tasks in a transparent, independent and accountable manner.
IORP II, which became effective from 13 January 2019, sets out minimum standards for the management and supervision of pension schemes, with the objective of ensuring the soundness of occupational pensions and better protections for scheme members and beneficiaries across the European Union. IORP II requirements were transposed into Irish law by way of the European Union (Occupational Pension Schemes) Regulations 2021 (S.I. No. 128 of 2021) which came into force on 22nd April 2021.
The general principle followed in respect of the transposition of IORP II, in keeping with the Government’s Roadmap for Pensions Reform, is that the requirements of IORP II apply to all schemes and trust RACs, including one-member arrangements. This is in order to ensure that all members and beneficiaries are afforded equal protection irrespective of the size of the pension arrangement. It should be noted that the decision to apply the requirements of IORP II to all schemes and trust RACs was announced by the Government in 2019 and it was expected that trustees and insurance providers would have been preparing for compliance with these requirements in advance of transposition.
In the case of OMAs established on or after S.I. No. 182 of 2021, such arrangements are required to meet all new IORP II related requirements set out under the 1990 Act, where applicable, from the date on which they were established. From a supervision perspective, the Pensions Authority, however, outlined that it was applying a deadline of 1st July 2022 in respect of OMA compliance with those new requirements.
As already referred to above, it would not be appropriate to interfere with the Pensions Authority's supervisory function or to direct the Pensions Authority to extend any compliance deadline.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
1195. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason that drop-in crèche facilities are excluded from accessing the new core funding model; and if he will take action to address the exclusion of this service [41945/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAffordable, accessible, high-quality and sustainable early learning and childcare is a key priority for Government. In December 2021, Government adopted the 25 recommendations contained in an Expert Group report, Partnership for the Public Good: A New Funding Model for Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age Childcare (SAC). This new funding model will support delivery of ELC and SAC for the public good, for quality and affordability for children, parents and families. To achieve this, there is a need for greater State investment and greater public management of provision.
Core Funding, which begins in September, is the new funding stream worth €221 million in full year costs to start this partnership for the public good between the State and providers. Its primary purpose is to improve quality in the sector, including through better pay and conditions for the workforce, and to improve affordability and accessibility for parents as well as ensuring a stable income to providers.
Core Funding is allocated to services based on the hours that the service is open and available to children. Core Funding is therefore related to the costs of delivery as this has been determined to be a fair and reasonable way to allocate the funding.
Drop-in services provide a useful service to parents on an occasional basis, but it is a very specific category of care which is not compatible with Core Funding. A drop-in service is one that offers care on a casual, ‘drop in’ basis – that is, the children only attend the service from time to time, for not more than 2 hours at a time.
These characteristics – intermittent, short attendance, without consistency of care – mean that a drop-in service is not compatible with the key aims of Core Funding to improve the quality of experience and outcomes for children and accessibility and affordability for families.
I hope this information is of assistance.
1196. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will examine a situation in which a crèche is unable to open due to a delay in receiving a certificate from Tusla (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41946/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the subject matter of the Deputy's question relates to an operational matter for Tusla, I have referred the matter to them for a direct reply.
1197. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of social workers and social care workers who are employed by Tusla; the number employed in each of the past five years, in tabular form; the full complement of each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41950/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to inform the Deputy that my officials have asked Tusla to respond directly to her on this matter.
1198. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the state of advancement of the combined and individual plans by his Department and Tusla to reduce the reliance on for-profit companies in the matter of residential placements; if he will publish the plans given that its chief executive (details supplied) raised this issue in September 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41951/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraTusla's Monthly Service Performance and Activity Report from May 2022 states that there are 439 children in residential placements. 258 (59%) of these children were in residential placements with private providers. This represents a decrease in private residential provision as compared to Q3 of 2021 (295, 66%).
Tusla's Strategic Plan for Residential Care Services for Children and Young People 2022-2025 is publicly available on the Tusla website. The Plan recognises the positive contribution of many private residential care providers. However, it also identifies the need to reverse disproportionate dependence on private residential care. The Plan proposes incremental increases in public residential capacity over the coming years, in order to achieve a ratio of 50:50 public to private provision by 2025. The longer term ambition stated in this Plan is to further reduce reliance on private provision in favour of public provision to a ratio of 60:40, public to private by 2027.
Tusla's Strategic Plan outlines significant costs associated with this proposed investment in public residential care provision over the coming years. My Department continues to consider these proposals in the context of the ongoing Estimates 2023 process.
1199. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he approves of that fact that 68% of children in residential care are in placements run by private companies; if not, the plans that his Department has to return this care to the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41952/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe most recently available Tusla Monthly Service Performance and Activity Report identified that there were 439 children in residential placements at end-May 2022. 258 of these children were in residential placements with private providers, which equates to 59% of total residential placements. This represented a decrease in private residential provision from 295 at end-Q3 2021 (66% of all residential placements).
Notwithstanding the above, the number of residential care placements provided by private organisations has increased over recent years, as Tusla has been required to meet growing demand for this service. One of the drivers of this has been a growing number of children and young people requiring ‘enhanced’ or more specialised service types, to accommodate their complex needs. The majority of these placements were provided by private organisations.
In the 2022 Performance Statement, I requested that Tusla move towards a reduction in reliance on private provision. While Tusla's Strategic Plan for Residential Care Services for Children and Young People 2022-2025 recognises the positive contribution of many private residential care providers, it also identifies the need to reverse this trend towards dependency on private residential care.
The Plan proposes incremental increases in public residential capacity over the coming years, in order to achieve a ratio of 50:50 public to private provision by 2025. The longer term ambition stated in this Plan is to further reduce reliance on private provision in favour of public provision to a ratio of 60:40, public to private by 2027.
Tusla's Strategic Plan outlines significant costs associated with this proposed investment in public residential care provision over the coming years. My Department continues to consider these proposals in the context of the ongoing Estimates 2023 process.
1200. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the amount that will be paid to a company (details supplied) that is taking over the functions previously fulfilled by another company; if this is a greater or a lesser amount than that paid to the latter; the number of children involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41953/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe commissioning of private residential care placements is an operational matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. Accordingly, I have referred the matter to Tusla, and asked that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.
1201. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a company (details supplied) is operating in Ireland; if so, if Tusla is contracting with it; the amount paid to the company in each of the past five years, in tabular form; the number of children involved in each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41954/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Minister is not aware of the organisation to which the Deputy refers. The commissioning of services is 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.
1202. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on childcare for parents of young children who are seeking work but cannot afford to pay for childcare while in receipt of the jobseeker’s benefit or allowance. [41994/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAffordable, accessible, high-quality and sustainable early learning and childcare is a key priority for Government. In December 2021, Government adopted the 25 recommendations contained in an Expert Group report, Partnership for the Public Good: A New Funding Model for Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age Childcare (SAC). This new funding model will support delivery of ELC and SAC for the public good, for quality and affordability for children, parents and families. To achieve this, there is a need for greater State investment and greater public management of provision.
The new funding model outlined in Partnership for the Public Good will see the introduction of a major new funding stream, Core Funding which will operate, from later this month, alongside the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme and the National Childcare Scheme.
These multiple funding streams, and their associated conditions, will form an interlocking and integrated system of funding which is designed to ensure progress on each of the main goals of ELC and SAC policy, and move in the direction of enhanced public management.
Core Funding, which begins in September, is the new funding stream worth €221 million in full year costs to start this partnership for the public good between the State and providers. Core Funding allows for an estimated 19% increase in the total cost base for the sector without additional costs being passed on to parents. This will enable a fee freeze in year one. Core Funding also requires Partner Services to offer the NCS and/or ECCE to all eligible parents to ensure that parents can avail of their full entitlement to subsidised provision.
The introduction of fee control measures is one of the recommendations of the Expert Group. The fee freeze for the first year is the first step in this process but this will be further developed in future years as further information about income and costs in the sector is analysed.
The National Childcare Scheme (NCS) provides financial support to help parents meet the cost of childcare and to support better outcomes for children.
There are two types of subsidies available under the NCS:
- The Universal Subsidy is available to all families with children under 15 years old. This subsidy is not means tested and provides 50c per hour towards the cost of a registered place for a maximum of 45 hours per week.
- Income Assessed Subsidies are available to families with children aged between 24 weeks and 15 years. This subsidy is means tested and varies depending on family income, the child’s age and educational stage, and the number of children in the family.
The NCS has been designed to be flexible, with income thresholds, maximum hours and subsidy rates which can be adjusted in line with Government decisions and as more investment becomes available.
More information on the NCS can be found at ncs.gov.ie or by contacting the Parent Support Centre at 01 906 8530, Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm.
1203. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 503 of 31 May, if he will provide a breakdown of report origin in respect of sexual abuse referrals to Tusla; and if he will provide the breakdown by referring organisation and county. [42001/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraStatutory and operational responsibility for the delivery of child protection and welfare services is a matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. The Deputy is seeking information in relation to case numbers which is an operational matter for Tusla. Consequently, I have referred the matter to Tusla, and requested that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.
1204. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the length of time that the current proposed core funding model for early childhood care and education will run; the length of time that the current freeze in fees will last; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42041/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAffordable, accessible, high-quality and sustainable early learning and childcare is a key priority for Government. In December 2021, Government adopted the 25 recommendations contained in an Expert Group report, Partnership for the Public Good: A New Funding Model for Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age Childcare (SAC). This new funding model will support delivery of ELC and SAC for the public good, for quality and affordability for children, parents and families. To achieve this, there is a need for greater State investment and greater public management of provision.
Core Funding is the new funding stream worth €221 million in full year costs to start this partnership for the public good between the State and providers. Its primary purpose is to improve pay and conditions in the sector as a whole and improve affordability and accessibility for parents as well as ensuring a stable income to providers. Core Funding allows for an estimated 19% increase in the total cost base for the sector without costs being passed on to parents.
In line with Employment Regulation Orders (EROs) coming into effect for the sector, the programme year for Core Funding 2022/23 starts on 15th September 2022 and ends on 31st August 2023.
A central condition of Core Funding will be that providers agree not to increase fees above those which were charged last year. This will give parents greater certainty about what they will be charged and ensure that increases to NCS subsidies are not absorbed by fee increases.
Partner Services agree that the fees charged to parents/guardians (before the application of subsidies) for the duration of this Funding Agreement (until August 31st 2023) will not exceed the fees charged to parents/guardians for the same services on September 30th 2021 in accordance with the Fee Policy applicable on that date.
In line with the approach to other major funding streams, Core Funding will be operated on an annual basis (September-August) with contract terms reviewed yearly.
1205. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of Tusla child sexual abuse findings that were classified as confirmed that were overturned by the appeal panel and classified as unfounded since the formation of the appeals panel in 2015; the number of alleged perpetrators of child sexual abuse who have sued Tusla due to outcomes and findings; the amount that Tusla has paid out in settlements and legal fees; if Tusla outcomes and findings, which were made prior to the publication of the 2014 policies and procedures, have no standing at present given that these assessments were conducted in the absence of a health board and HSE policy; if this is the case given that it would impact each case prior to the commencement of the 2014 policies and procedures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42080/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraStatutory and operational responsibility for the delivery of child protection and welfare services is a matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. Consequently, I have referred the matter to Tusla and requested that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.
1206. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of whole-time equivalent staff who have been funded at Clones family resource centre in each of the years 2020 and 2021, and to date in 2022; if additional staff places will be funded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42093/22]
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.
I can, however, confirm that since the establishment of Tusla in 2014, the Agency has funded many organisations, mostly in the community and voluntary sector, to deliver services on its behalf under sections 56 to 59 of the Child and Family Agency Act 2013, including Family Resource Centres. It should be noted that these organisations operate independently of Tusla and are responsible for the recruitment of their employees and the terms and conditions under which they are employed. Section 56(14) of the Act of 2013 stipulates that ‘an arrangement under this section shall not give rise to an employment relationship between a service provider, its employees or agents on the one hand and the Agency on the other’.
The commissioning of Family Resource Centres is an operational matter for Tusla. Tusla’s Area Managers engage in the commissioning process and participate in meetings and discussions with community and voluntary agencies. Tusla aims to utilise the total resources available in the most efficient, equitable, proportionate and sustainable way in order to improve outcomes for children, young people, and families.
1207. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the engagements that he has had with the Minister for Justice on the suspension of the Council of Europe agreement on the abolition of visas for refugees. [42155/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information sought by the Deputy is being compiled and will be forwarded to him as soon as possible.
1208. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of temporary protection document holders accommodated by the International Protection Accommodation Services in a location (details supplied), in tabular form. [42156/22]
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. The Department’s role is focused on the immediate, short-term accommodation needs of those who have fled here.
To date, Ireland has welcomed over 46,000 people who have fled conflict in Ukraine into the country since the end of February and has provided accommodation to more than 36,000.
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.
I can advise the Deputy that accommodation is contracted in the location referred to in the Details Supplied to accommodate up to 325 Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) across three accommodation settings. The numbers occupying the accommodation at any given time may vary.
I trust this information is of assistance.
1209. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will commit to a review of the statutory services that are provided in the Newcastle and Rathcoole areas given the demographics in these areas; the statutory services that are funded by the HSE and the Child and Family Support Agency for children and family services and organisations; the services that are funded through other sources, for example, through Pobal and the Department of Education, that are currently available in these areas; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that these communities are being affected by a lack of these services; the plans to address the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42182/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis is a matter for my Cabinet colleague, the Minister for Health.
