Written Answers Nos. 335-350
335. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason that a person (details supplied) in County Cork had their claims disallowed in respect of the working family payment and the back to school clothing and footwear allowance given that they qualified for these payments to date and given that their income was moderately in excess of the fixed limit for the size of their family. [47257/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraWorking Family Payment (WFP) is an income-tested weekly payment which provides additional financial support to employees on low earnings with children. WFP provides financial support for employees who have low earnings/income relative to their family size. The WFP rate payable is 60% of the difference between the average weekly family income and the relevant prescribed income limit.
In order to qualify for WFP, a family's income must be below a prescribed limit which varies in accordance with the number of qualified children. All family and household income is assessable for WFP and includes an applicant's and their spouse/partner's average net weekly assessable earnings from employment plus any other income such as other social welfare payments, income from self employment, etc.
An application for WFP was received from the person concerned on 5th June 2022. A Deciding Officer reviewed the application, and this application was disallowed as their weekly family income was not less than the prescribed income level for their family size (3 qualified children).
The Department then received a request from the person concerned to have a review of this decision carried out. A Deciding Officer completed the review, and the decision to disallow the application was upheld, based on the household income being in excess of the prescribed income limit for the family size. The person concerned has been notified of this in writing and details of how the decision can be appealed have been outlined in the letter.
If the person concerned has a change in their financial circumstances or they satisfy the conditions for WFP at a later stage they may reapply for WFP.
An application for Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance (BSCFA) was received from the person concerned on 22nd July 2022. The application was processed and the person concerned passed all criteria but failed on the means test as the family income was over the income limit for a family with three children. A review was carried out on the application, and the original decision to disallow the application has been revised. BSCFA has been awarded and the person concerned has been notified of this.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
336. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection if a supplementary welfare application by a person (details supplied) will be expedited; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47262/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraA basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) is a weekly means assessed allowance paid to people who do not have sufficient income to meet their needs and those of their families.
According to the records of my Department, the person concerned applied for a basic SWA on 26/08/2022. In assessing the claim, the Community Welfare Officer awarded the person with a basic SWA payment with effect from 09/06/22. Taking into account a means assessment on the claim, the person was awarded a basic SWA as follows:
- From 09/06/2022 to 25/08/2022: €8.80 per week
- From 26/08/2022 onwards: €111 per week
An initial payment of €26.40 for the period 09/06/2022 to 29/06/2022 was available in the person’s local Post office on 26/09/2022. The remaining arrears due will be available at his Post Office on 27/09/2022.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
337. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) in County Kerry who is in receipt of disability allowance can transfer to invalidity pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47272/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned is awarded disability allowance (DA) from 17 February 2021.
This person should submit her request to the invalidity pension (INVP) section (Social Welfare Services, Government Buildings, Ballinalee Road, Longford, Co. Longford, N39 E4E0) stating that she wishes to revert back to invalidity pension and attach a letter from her employer confirming the date she ceased employment.
Upon receipt of same, my officials will look to restart her INVP claim.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
338. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will review matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); if he will address the queries raised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47304/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFoster carers are paid a weekly allowance, which is a payment to meet the needs of the child in their care. The foster care allowance is currently €325 per week for a child under 12 years of age and €352 per week for a child aged 12 years and over. It is paid in respect of the child and provided in order to allow foster carers to meet all of the child's daily living needs, including food, clothing, basic travel, education costs and hobbies and sports activities. The allowance is not considered as means for social welfare purposes, and is not subject to tax.
If required, Tusla can also provide financial supports to foster carers through either additional or enhanced payments. Additional payments refers to any payment made to a foster carer that exceeds the standard rate of the fostering allowance. Such additional payments may be made in respect of children or young people who have additional needs that are not covered by the standardised fostering allowance. Additional payments can only be made where a child has additional medical or educational needs and when authorisation has been received from the Tusla Area Manager. Each application for an additional payment will be accompanied by supporting documentation evidencing the need.
Enhanced allowances for foster carers can be made when a longer term financial need is identified for additional supports for the child. A maximum of twice the weekly allowance may be paid in respect of children aged between 0-18 years if they require significant care over and above the needs of other children in foster care. This includes children who have been diagnosed with significant special needs and require a high level of personal care and supervision. The purpose of considering an enhanced allowance in these cases is to support foster carers in providing care to these children who have additional needs.
You may be aware that Tusla are in the process of developing a Strategic Plan on Foster Care 2022-2025 and I am aware that Tusla has recently engaged with foster carers in a consultation to inform the development of the Plan.Through this consultation, foster carers highlighted the need for the foster care allowance to be reviewed in light of inflation and increases in social welfare allowances. Tusla is currently finalising the plan, which will then be considered by my Department.
The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance falls under the remit of the Department of Social Protection. For more information on payments made by the Department of Social Protection, please contact the Department of Social Protection, Áras Mhic Dhiarmada, Store Street, Dublin 1, D01 WY03, phone 01-704 3000, or email: info@welfare.ie. Further information can also be found on the Citizen’s Advice website on www.citizensinformation.ie.
339. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if SNAs can be secured under the access-and-inclusion funding model in Montessori schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46579/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) is a model of supports designed to ensure that children with disabilities can access the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme. Its goal is to empower pre-school providers to deliver an inclusive pre-school experience, ensuring that every eligible child can meaningfully participate in the ECCE Programme and reap the benefits of high quality early learning and care.
AIM supports are grouped into universal or targeted. Universal supports are designed to create a more inclusive culture in early learning and care settings, through training courses and qualifications for staff. Where universal supports are not enough to meet the needs of an individual child, targeted supports are available to ensure the child can meaningfully participate in the ECCE programme
AIM level 7 support provides additional funding to pre-schools who have a child requiring extra support. Providers can use this funding either to reduce the child-to-adult ratio in the pre-school room or to fund an extra staff member as a shared resource with other children in the ECCE setting.
AIM does not fund Special Needs Assistants (SNAs). Accordingly, any staff member hired under AIM is a shared resource for all children in the pre-school room and one additional staff member may be deemed to be sufficient to meet the needs of two or more children who have been granted additional capitation, where these children are attending the same pre-school session.
Staff hired under AIM Level 7 must satisfy the qualification requirements of the Early Years Services Regulations 2016, which stipulate that all staff working in pre-school services must have, at minimum, a major award in Early Childhood Care and Education at Level 5 of the National Framework for Qualifications (NFQ) or a qualification deemed by the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to be equivalent. The DCEDIY approved list of Early Years recognised qualifications can be found at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/297c05-early-years-recognised-qualifications/.
340. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he or his Department will intervene in relation to the suspension of childcare provision at a community centre (details supplied) in which dozens of families have faced disruption to essential childcare provision; if he will contact Tusla to attempt to expedite the inspection and certification of an alternative site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46584/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFirstly, let me state that I acknowledge the significant challenge that a service closure or suspension may present for the service, the local community and for parents. However, it should be noted that ELC and SAC services are provided by private enterprises, either privately owned or operated by community organisations. My Department is not involved in decisions around the day to day running of such services and any decision to close is ultimately a matter for the service provider and, in this case, the building owner. My Department cannot intervene in disputes between service providers and building owners.
I have contacted Tusla in relation to this matter. Tusla notes that it is aware of, and empathises with, the difficulties faced by the children, parents and staff as a result of the ongoing situation at this childcare service. Tusla does not have a remit to intervene in ongoing third-party disputes such as the one outlined in this case, as the statutory powers of the Agency are limited solely to the regulation of ELC and SAC services, as prescribed by legislation.
Tusla noted that this matter is currently before the courts and on this basis it would not be appropriate to provide any additional comment on this individual case, pending the outcome of these proceedings.
Tusla remains at the disposal of the service provider in this case, to assist in the progression of any matters in relation to the ongoing registration and regulation of the service in line with the relevant statutory requirements. Should the provider have any additional queries in this respect, these can be directed to Tusla’s Early Years Inspectorate either by telephone on 061 461700, or by email at ey.reception@tusla.ie.
The service provider may also wish to contact their local CCC to discuss what supports may be available to them. Contact details for the CCCs can be found on www.myccc.ie.
341. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if it is possible for the parents of a child (details supplied) to avail of one-and-a-half-years’ of free ECCE scheme entitlement for their child given that their child’s date of birth does not allow them to qualify for two full-years starting from September 2022; if there is leeway to allow for a year-and-a-half free of charge instead of two years given the fact that their child started ECCE in September 2022 and that their parents would be willing to pay for ECCE from September to December 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46603/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme is available to all children within the eligible age range. A child must have reached 2 years and 8 months of age on or prior to 31 August of the relevant programme year to be eligible for the September start date.
The minimum eligibility age of 2 years and 8 months for the ECCE programme was chosen based on national and international best practice.
Children born between January and December 2020 are eligible to begin ECCE in September 2023 and avail of a second year in September 2024. There can be no discretion in this regard. In order to ensure objectivity and fairness, it is essential that clear rules exist for the scheme and that they are applied evenly.
My Department has commenced a 12-month review of ECCE this year, which will consider whether ECCE is meeting its objectives and subject to the findings consider whether any changes need to be made. As part of this review, there will be a wide stakeholder engagement.
342. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there are plans to use school buildings for after-school childcare services; if his Department has engaged with the Department of Education regarding this proposal; his views on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46641/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraGovernment policy, including the National Action Plan for School-Age Childcare (2017) and First 5, the Whole-of Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families (2019-2028) recognises that the use of school facilities that have suitable environments for early learning and care and school-age childcare should be maximised where demand exists and where it can be facilitated by the relevant school authority. This is also identified as a commitment in the Programme for Government.
Already, 14 per cent of all early learning and care and school-age childcare services in Ireland operate from school facilities.
The Department of Education has advised that the use of school facilities lies with the relevant school authority in consultation with the property owner and having regard to the needs of the school, staff and students.
The Department of Education policy is to encourage the use of school facilities, where possible, for community, training and education-related activities, including early learning and care and school-age childcare.
To assist schools in considering applications for use of their facilities, the Department of Education in consultation with representatives of schools has drafted guidelines on the use of school property outside of school hours which is available here:
www.education.ie/en/Publications/Policy-Reports/guidelines-on-the-use-of-school-buildings-outside-of-school-hours.pdf.
These guidelines are not intended to be exhaustive or prescriptive but are provided to assist schools in considering applications for the use of their facilities.
In line with First 5, the Department of Education plans to conduct a survey of a representative sample of schools on the use of school facilities for early learning and care and school-age childcare services. The results of this survey, which is due to commence in Quarter 1 2023, will be used to inform a review of the Guidelines on the use of School Buildings outside of School Hours.
343. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if financial assistance can be given to parents who must avail of non-approved childcare provision such as nannies and childminders given the shortage of approved childcare places in certain areas of Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46646/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe availability of high-quality early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC) that is affordable and accessible is a key Government priority.
I believe that childminders play a central role in provision of both ELC and SAC in Ireland. I recognise that childminders are highly valued by many parents because of the home-from-home setting, their strong and lasting relationships, and the flexibility they can offer. Many families prefer to use childminders, while for some families, in areas where centre-based care is either not available or its opening hours do not match the family’s childcare needs, childminding is the only option.
The limitation of public funding schemes to Tusla-registered ELC and SAC providers helps to ensure that public funding is provided where there is assurance of the quality of provision. While only a small number of childminders are currently required to register with Tusla under the Child Care Act 1991, it is intended that the National Action Plan for Childminding 2021-2028 will result in the opening up of the National Childcare Scheme to a much wider cohort of childminders.
The National Action Plan for Childminding 2021-2028, which I launched in April 2021, sets out a plan for extending State support and regulation to childminding on a phased basis over the coming years. The overall objective of the National Action Plan for Childminding is to improve access to high quality and affordable ELC and SAC through childminding.
To do this, the Action Plan sets out an incremental and supportive pathway to regulation. This will enable more childminders to access Government subsidies, making their services more affordable to parents. It will also enable them to access a variety of supports to assist them in meeting regulatory and quality requirements. The National Action Plan for Childminding commits to develop new childminder-specific regulations that are proportionate and appropriate to the home setting in which childminders work.
The Action Plan has a number of specific objectives including:
- Enable a far greater number of parents who use childminders to benefit from subsidies under the National Childcare Scheme.
- Support quality assurance of childminders and safeguarding of children through extending the scope of regulation and inspection to all paid, non-relative childminders.
- Provide greater recognition of childminders and develop appropriate childminder regulations and inspection processes to reflect the home environment in which childminders work.
- Provide a supportive, phased transition process, to facilitate the largest possible number of childminders to enter the regulated sector, the sphere of quality assurance, and access to Government subsidies, while recognising the time and supports required for this reform.
- Support retention and recruitment of childminders.
Parents currently experiencing difficulty in relation to their ELC and SAC needs should contact their local City/County Childcare Committee (CCC) for assistance. Contact details for CCCs may be found on www.myccc.ie.
344. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if schools (details supplied) will be included in the proposed mother and baby home redress scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46659/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme will provide financial payments and a form of enhanced medical card for people who spent time as mothers or children in Mother and Baby or County Home Institutions.
It is recognised that there are people who suffered stigma, trauma and abuse in other institutions, and outside of institutions also. However, the institutions covered by the Scheme as set out in the Heads of the Bill which was published in March 2022, are those identified by the Commission of Investigation as having a main function of providing sheltered and supervised ante and post-natal facilities to single mothers and their children. The schools referenced in this question are not covered by the Scheme proposals.
345. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if funding is available through his Department to assist a school (details supplied) in County Tipperary to upgrade its transport facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46944/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis is a matter more appropriate for the attention of my cabinet colleague, the Minister for Education.
346. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there are plans to increase the foster care allowance; if further financial supports are available to foster parents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46954/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFoster carers are paid a weekly allowance, which is a payment to meet the needs of the child in their care. The foster care allowance is currently €325 per week for a child under 12 years of age and €352 per week for a child aged 12 years and over. It is paid in respect of the child and provided in order to allow foster carers to meet all of the child's daily living needs, including food, clothing, basic travel, education costs and hobbies and sports activities. The allowance is not considered as means for social welfare purposes, and is not subject to tax.
If required, Tusla can also provide financial supports to foster carers through either additional or enhanced payments. Additional payments refers to any payment made to a foster carer that exceeds the standard rate of the fostering allowance. Such additional payments may be made in respect of children or young people who have additional needs that are not covered by the standardised fostering allowance. Additional payments can only be made where a child has additional medical or educational needs and when authorisation has been received from the Tusla Area Manager. Each application for an additional payment will be accompanied by supporting documentation evidencing the need.
Enhanced allowances for foster carers can be made when a longer term financial need is identified for additional supports for the child. A maximum of twice the weekly allowance may be paid in respect of children aged between 0-18 years if they require significant care over and above the needs of other children in foster care. This includes children who have been diagnosed with significant special needs and require a high level of personal care and supervision. The purpose of considering an enhanced allowance in these cases is to support foster carers in providing care to these children who have additional needs.
Tusla are in the process of developing a Strategic Plan on Foster Care 2022-2025 and I am aware that Tusla has recently engaged with foster carers in a consultation to inform the development of the Plan. Through this consultation, foster carers highlighted the need for the foster care allowance to be reviewed in light of inflation and increases in social welfare allowances. Tusla is currently finalising the plan, which will then be considered by my Department.
347. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the details of a contract between a person (details supplied) and a business regarding the housing of Ukrainian refugees on the business’ property; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46983/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra348. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Ukrainian refugees that were settled at a location (details supplied) in County Donegal have been moved to another location; the circumstances under which this removal arose; the actions that were taken by his Department; the way that this fits with contractual obligations of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46984/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra349. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views in relation to correspondence sent to him on 15 September 2022 regarding a business (details supplied); his views on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46985/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 347 to 349, inclusive, together.
Since 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 49,000 people have arrived in Ireland and in excess of 38,000 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 hotels, guest houses and B&Bs, religious properties, accommodation operated by voluntary bodies and emergency accommodation. My Department has contracted with over 500 accommodation owners, providers and third party agents for the provision of accommodation for people fleeing the war in Ukraine.
The Government is resolute in its solidarity and support for Ukraine, and huge efforts are being made to source facilities that will provide those arriving in Ireland with safety and shelter.
In the case mentioned by the Deputy, the Department has not contracted with the owners of the property. The contract for the provision of accommodation is with a third party agent.
That agent has informed the Department that they will no longer use the property mentioned for the provision of the contracted number of beds, and has moved all refugees out of the property to other contracted accommodation.
The Department is not in a position to intervene in disputes between a contractor and an owner on whose behalf they act.
I trust the above information is of assistance.
350. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when survivors can expect to see their share of the approved €800 million of expenditure over the life cycle of the mother-and-baby homes redress scheme; the estimated amount of additional new measures monies which will need to be provided for 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47010/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am acutely aware of the sense of urgency surrounding the establishment of the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme and ensuring that it is open for applications as soon as possible is a key priority for my Department. It is my intention that the Scheme will be operational and open to applicants in early 2023.
The Government has approved a package of €800 million for the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme and a breakdown of these estimated costs is set out at Chapter 5, Table 9 in the 'Final Report of the Interdepartmental Group (IDG) on the development of the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme', November 2021. This table sets out the estimated year on year cost of the scheme from Year 0 to Year 5, with Year 0 representing start-up costs relating to the establishment of the Executive Office to administer the scheme and Year 1 being the first year of operation.The Interdepartmental Group estimated costs of €313 million for the Scheme in its first year of operation, the bulk of this expenditure (over 90%) will be incurred on financial payments and providing the enhanced medical card. These costs also anticipated that 50% of all potential applicants will apply to the Scheme in the first year of operation.
Funding has been provided in Budget 2022 to cover the estimated setup (Year 0) costs for the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme. Provision for the Scheme in 2023 will be made once the legislation is enacted and is expected to form part of the Revised Estimates process.
