Written Answers Nos. 107-122
107. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a disabled person (details supplied) who is a primary medical certificate holder will receive the cost-of-living disability support grant payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50489/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs part of Budget 2023, the social protection budget has been designed to assist people with cost of living increases through a mix of lump sum payments, increases to weekly payment rates and an expansion of the fuel allowance scheme.
The measures introduced include the provision of a one-off €500 Cost-of-Living Disability Support Grant, which will be paid in November 2022 to recipients of the Disability Allowance, Blind Pension, Invalidity Pension and the Carer's Support Grant. Recipients who are in receipt of one (or more) of these payments will qualify for the €500 payment.
As the person concerned is in recipient of state pension non-contributory, they are not eligible for the Disability Support Grant. They will however receive a double payment of their pension on 21 October 2022 under the Autumn Cost-of-Living Support measure I also announced in the recent Budget and will receive a Christmas Bonus double payment on 9 December 2022.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
108. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will clarify the matter regarding PRSI contributions that relate to carer's benefit in cases in which a recipient is applying for a further round of carer's benefit in respect of care for a second eligible person commencing immediately after the expiry of the current eligibility; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50514/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy department provides a comprehensive package of carers’ income supports including Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance and the Carer’s Support Grant. Combined spending on these payments to carers in 2022 is estimated to exceed €1.5 billion.
A primary qualifying condition for the Carer’s Allowance and Carer’s Benefit payments is that the applicant provides full-time care and attention to a person in need of such a level of care. The person being cared for must be so incapacitated as to require full-time care and attention and be likely to require this full-time care and attention for at least 12 months.
The Carer's Benefit payment is an entitlement based on social insurance contributions. Carer’s Benefit is a payment made to insured people who may be required to leave the workforce or reduce their working hours to care for a person(s) in need of full-time care. It is payable for a period of 2 years (104 weeks) for each care recipient and may be claimed over separate periods up to a total of 2 years (104 weeks).
Only PRSI contributions paid in Classes A, B, C, D, E, H count towards Carer’s Benefit. Class S (self-employed contributions) do not count.
For a first claim the Carer must have:
- 156 PRSI contributions paid since entry into insurance
AND EITHER
- 39 contributions paid in the "Relevant Tax year"
or
- 39 contributions paid in the 12 months immediately before the commencement of the Carer's Benefit claim
or
- 26 contributions paid in the "Relevant Tax year" and 26 contributions paid in the previous "Relevant Tax year".
For a first claim, the Carer must also have been employed in full-time employment for at least eight weeks, either consecutive or not, in the 26-week period immediately prior to the commencement of the Carer's Benefit claim. Full-time employment in this context is defined as insurable employment for at least 16 hours per week or 32 hours per fortnight.
For a second or subsequent claim for Carer’s Benefit, as in the situation outlined by the Deputy, the Carer does not need to satisfy the PRSI contribution conditions afresh. Equally, the employment condition outlined above does not need to be satisfied afresh on a second or subsequent claim where a person was in receipt of Carer's Benefit within the previous 26 weeks.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
109. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Social Protection the role that her Department has played in the integration of Ukrainian refugees into communities; if her Department and any agencies under her remit have had an involvement at local or national level in the response; the further steps that her Department intends on taking to ensure that services are provided to assist with same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50522/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is committed to providing people fleeing the war in Ukraine who have been granted Temporary Protection status the supports and services, including income supports and employment services, needed to assist with integration into their new communities.
The priority for my Department is to make payments as quickly as possible and to put arrangements in place to pay the most appropriate social welfare to people arriving from Ukraine. A fast-track approach in processing these supports is in place which includes dedicated teams of staff, a simplified decision-making process and quick processing of PPSNs to allow access to public services.
As of 10 October 2022, my Department has issued over 57,000 PPS numbers to individuals under the Temporary Protection Directive. My Department has processed over 27,000 income support claims, with payments being made in respect of 28,000 adults and 14,000 children. In addition my Department has processed over 10,500 claims for Child Benefit. My Department’s means tested supplementary Welfare service is also available under the Community Welfare Service in the Intreo Centres which includes Additional Needs payments.
The Public Employment Service which operates through the Department’s network of Intreo Centres is also available to help people arriving from Ukraine as they seek employment in the Irish labour market. Since April, Intreo Employment Services have been engaging with people from Ukraine on a one-to-one basis, either in their local Intreo Centre or on an outreach basis at employment support events specifically for people covered by the Temporary Protection Directive. As of September 30th, employment services staff have engaged with 19,082 people.
My Department is working closely with education and training boards to facilitate access to relevant training supports, including English language training and training initiatives for particular sectors or roles.
My Department also actively participates on the Community Response Fora, established under the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme, in each Local Authority Area to coordinate local measures to welcome people coming to Ireland under the Temporary Protection Directive.
110. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Social Protection if the unsuccessful fuel allowance application by a person (details supplied) will be retained and awarded in January 2023 when the means limit has no longer been exceeded; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50548/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe new means limits announced in the budget, will come into effect from January 2023.
A new application will be required and further details will be announced in due course once the operational requirements and the necessary IT systems are finalised.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
111. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection if persons participating on the jobs initiative scheme will be entitled to apply for fuel allowance under announcements made for Budget 2023. [50549/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Fuel Allowance is a payment of €33 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €924 each year) from late September to April, which is supporting over 370,000 households in 2022, at an estimated cost of €366 million. The purpose of this payment is to assist these households with their energy costs. The allowance represents a contribution towards the energy costs of a household. Only one allowance is paid per household.
The Job Initiative Scheme provided full-time employment for people 35 years of age or over who had been unemployed for 5 years or more. Since November 2004, there has been no recruitment to the Scheme. Since January 2004, participants on the Job Initiative Scheme could no longer retain their entitlement to Fuel Allowance while participating on the scheme. This decision was taken as the minimum rate of payment to participants on the scheme was significantly higher than the rate of qualifying Social Welfare payments.
There has been no change to this decision and participants on the Job Initiative Scheme cannot retain their entitlement to Fuel Allowance while participating on the scheme.
The minimum rate of payment to a Job Initiative participant is still significantly higher than most Social Welfare primary payments, including payments such as Illness Benefit and Jobseeker's Benefit, which are non-qualifying payments for Fuel Allowance. Participants on the Job Initiative Scheme are also considered to be in full time employment and not in receipt of a Social Welfare support payment.
While consideration is always given to suggested improvements to the Department's schemes, any decision to provide participants on the Job Initiative Scheme with access to the Fuel allowance payment would change the targeted nature of the Fuel Allowance scheme, as it would be awarding the payment to people in full-time employment, irrespective of means.
Finally, the Department of Social Protection provides Additional Needs Payments as part of the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme for people with an urgent need which they cannot meet from their own resources. These payments are available through our Community Welfare Officers.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
112. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) in County Cork will be approved for a free fuel allowance. [50554/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe aim of the fuel allowance scheme is to help qualified households with the cost of heating their home during the winter months.
One of the conditions for receipt of fuel allowance is that a person must satisfy a means test. The fuel allowance means test is linked to the maximum rate of State pension (contributory). An individual can have a weekly income of €120.00 above the maximum rate for State pension (contributory) plus any increases for age, living alone and dependants and still be eligible for the fuel allowance.
On 13 September 2022, the person concerned requested a review of their fuel allowance entitlement. Following a means assessment, it was determined that the household means were €782.75 which exceeds the permissible weekly means of €373.30 for the household. The application was disallowed, and the person concerned was notified in writing on 03 October 2022.
As the Deputy is aware, I announced an increase in the fuel means threshold for those aged under 70 from €120.00 to €200.00 from January 2023. As the household means of €782.75 exceeds the new permissible means of €453.30 for the household, the person concerned will not qualify for fuel allowance from January 2023.
Under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, Exceptional Needs Payments may be made to help meet an essential, once-off cost which customers are unable to meet out of their own resources, and this may include exceptional heating costs. Decisions on such payments are made on a case-by-case basis.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
113. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 225 of 5 October 2022 if she will provide the number of persons on the community employment scheme stream to date; and if she will reflect on her position in respect of the once-off €500 payment and issue the payment to this cohort. [50668/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn response to the ongoing cost of living pressures, my Department will spend approximately €1.2 billion during the coming months to help individuals and families through this difficult period.
The €500 lump sum payment to those on Disability Allowance, Blind Pension and Invalidity Pension will be paid only to those receiving these payments in the relevant week in November.
However, the 20,913 participants of the Community Employment scheme will be eligible for the Autumn Cost of Living Double Payment later this month, and the Christmas Bonus in December. Those participants with children may also be eligible for the Double Payment of Child Benefit in November.
As part of Budget 2023, I was pleased to announce a €12 increase in weekly payments from next January. This will apply to Disability Allowance recipients and Community Employment, Rural Social Scheme and Tús scheme participants. I am also increasing the Qualified Child rate by €2 per week.
In addition, I am increasing the top-up rate on these employment schemes by €5 per week. This means that, combined with the rate increase, participants on these schemes will see a rise of €17 per week next year, and more for participants with adult or child dependents.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
114. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide a breakdown of supplementary welfare allowance applications to date in 2022, by county; the number of applications awarded; the number refused; the total amount paid out; and the reason given for the payments, in tabular form [50694/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme is the safety net within the overall social welfare system in that it provides assistance to eligible people in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs and those of their dependents. Supports provided under the SWA scheme can consist of a basic weekly payment, a weekly or monthly supplement in respect of certain expenses, as well as additional needs payments to assist with costs that cannot be met from a clients own resources and are deemed to be necessary.
The basic supplementary welfare allowance provides immediate assistance for those in need who are awaiting the outcome of a claim or an appeal for a primary social welfare payment or do not qualify for payment under other State schemes.
Rent supplement provides short-term income support to eligible people living in private rented accommodation whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation costs and who do not have accommodation available to them from any other source. The scheme ensures that for those who were renting, but whose circumstances have changed due to temporary loss of employment, can continue to meet their rental commitments.
Under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, my Department can make additional needs payments to help meet expenses that a person cannot pay from their weekly income. This is an overarching term used to refer to exceptional and urgent needs payments, and certain supplements to assist with ongoing or recurring costs that cannot be met from the client’s own resources and are deemed to be necessary. Payments are made at the discretion of the officers administering the scheme, taking into account the requirements of the legislation, and all the relevant circumstances of the case in order to ensure that the payments target those most in need of assistance.
Table 1 shows the number of Basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance claims registered, awarded and disallowed by county from January 2022 to September 2022.
Table 2 shows the number of additional needs payment claims registered, awarded and disallowed by county from January 2022 to September 2022.
These tables do not reflect claims that were withdrawn, cancelled or awaiting further information. The claim figures represent a snapshot of claim activity and are subject to change.
Table 3 shows the number of rent supplement recipients awarded by county at end of September 2022. Statistics are not available for Rent supplement claims registered and disallowed at present.
Table 4 shows the total expenditure for Basic SWA, Rent Supplement and Additional Needs Payments to end of August 2022. Figures for September 2022 are not yet available. A breakdown by county of this expenditure is not available.
Any person who considers they may have an entitlement to an additional needs payment is encouraged to contact their local community welfare service. There is a National Community Welfare Contact Centre in place - 0818-607080 - which will direct callers to the appropriate office.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Table 1- Basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance claims registered, awarded and disallowed by county from January 2022 to end of September 2022
|
County |
Registered |
of which Awarded |
of which Disallowed |
|
Carlow |
993 |
500 |
68 |
|
Cavan |
1,010 |
631 |
163 |
|
Clare |
1,988 |
1,648 |
161 |
|
Cork |
5,203 |
3,974 |
389 |
|
Donegal |
1,869 |
1,476 |
152 |
|
Dublin |
14,798 |
9,005 |
847 |
|
Galway |
2,547 |
1,715 |
158 |
|
Kerry |
2,743 |
2,045 |
251 |
|
Kildare |
1,921 |
1,059 |
166 |
|
Kilkenny |
1,210 |
715 |
131 |
|
Laois |
1,084 |
733 |
44 |
|
Leitrim |
494 |
405 |
36 |
|
Limerick |
2,278 |
1,612 |
169 |
|
Longford |
561 |
435 |
32 |
|
Louth |
1,901 |
1,260 |
153 |
|
Mayo |
1,475 |
999 |
146 |
|
Meath |
1,889 |
1,485 |
117 |
|
Monaghan |
479 |
307 |
46 |
|
Offaly |
1,049 |
905 |
65 |
|
Roscommon |
826 |
571 |
47 |
|
Sligo |
943 |
702 |
18 |
|
Tipperary |
1,895 |
1,389 |
236 |
|
Waterford |
1,639 |
1,126 |
146 |
|
Westmeath |
1,288 |
987 |
173 |
|
Wexford |
2,264 |
1,355 |
237 |
|
Wicklow |
1,723 |
1,152 |
123 |
|
Grand Total |
56,070 |
38,191 |
4,274 |
Table 2 - Number of additional needs payment claims registered, awarded and disallowed by county from January 2022 to September 2022
|
County |
Registered |
Awarded with value |
Disallowed |
|
Carlow |
1,636 |
789 |
132 |
|
Cavan |
1,593 |
996 |
146 |
|
Clare |
3,482 |
2,335 |
434 |
|
Cork |
7,971 |
5,307 |
1,052 |
|
Donegal |
4,891 |
3,458 |
298 |
|
Dublin |
29,254 |
18,857 |
1,776 |
|
Galway |
4,396 |
2,419 |
500 |
|
Kerry |
4,608 |
2,488 |
463 |
|
Kildare |
3,185 |
1,647 |
333 |
|
Kilkenny |
1,996 |
1,260 |
232 |
|
Laois |
1,983 |
1,167 |
85 |
|
Leitrim |
1,375 |
1,032 |
116 |
|
Limerick |
3,744 |
2,375 |
251 |
|
Longford |
2,072 |
1,529 |
178 |
|
Louth |
2,887 |
1,694 |
306 |
|
Mayo |
2,659 |
1,400 |
263 |
|
Meath |
3,746 |
2,827 |
298 |
|
Monaghan |
670 |
433 |
24 |
|
Offaly |
2,104 |
1,534 |
118 |
|
Roscommon |
1,368 |
738 |
85 |
|
Sligo |
1,928 |
1,230 |
91 |
|
Tipperary |
3,576 |
2,207 |
379 |
|
Waterford |
2,882 |
1,671 |
412 |
|
Westmeath |
3,143 |
2,123 |
348 |
|
Wexford |
2,651 |
1,463 |
438 |
|
Wicklow |
3,142 |
1,993 |
294 |
|
Grand Total |
102,942 |
64,972 |
9,052 |
Table 3 – Rent Supplement recipients by county at the end of September 2022
|
County |
Recipients |
|
Carlow |
111 |
|
Cavan |
145 |
|
Clare |
58 |
|
Cork |
1,516 |
|
Donegal |
56 |
|
Dublin |
5,071 |
|
Galway |
370 |
|
Kerry |
360 |
|
Kildare |
455 |
|
Kilkenny |
42 |
|
Laois |
38 |
|
Leitrim |
25 |
|
Limerick |
217 |
|
Longford |
34 |
|
Louth |
106 |
|
Mayo |
141 |
|
Meath |
129 |
|
Monaghan |
97 |
|
Offaly |
44 |
|
Roscommon |
57 |
|
Sligo |
60 |
|
Tipperary |
107 |
|
Waterford |
55 |
|
Westmeath |
203 |
|
Wexford |
218 |
|
Wicklow |
403 |
|
Total |
10,118 |
Table 4 – Total expenditure for Basic SWA, Rent Supplement and Additional Needs Payments to end of August 2022
|
Scheme |
Provisional Expenditure |
|
Basic Supplementary Welfare Allowances |
€83.5m |
|
Rent Supplement |
€52.3m |
|
Additional Needs Payments (excluding ongoing supplements) |
€32.3m |
115. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on her Department’s work on a straw-man proposal for the restructuring of long-term disability payments; if she will provide details of the unit or group that is carrying out this work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50712/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Roadmap for Social Inclusion 2020 – 2025 includes a commitment to develop and consult on a ‘strawman’ proposal for the restructuring of long-term disability payments to simplify the system and take account of the concerns expressed in the Make Work Pay report.
The Cost of Disability research report was published by my Department in December 2021, which is feeding into the preparation of the strawman reform proposals. Work on these proposals is being led by the Illness, Disability and Carers Policy Unit within my Department. This work is advancing and I intend to carry out a wider consultation process with all stakeholders and advocacy groups in due course.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
116. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of a review (details supplied); if the review is on track to be completed by Q4 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50713/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Roadmap for Social Inclusion 2020-2025 is a whole of Government strategy that aims to reduce consistent poverty and improve social inclusion in Ireland. The Roadmap was published in January 2020 and contains seven high level goals, delivered by 66 unique commitments.
Implementation of Roadmap commitments is underway with a number of commitments either fully achieved or close to completion and work ongoing in relation to the remaining commitments. The first Progress Report on the implementation on Roadmap commitments is available on gov.ie. The second Progress Report is expected to be published shortly and will provide an update on progress towards the Roadmap goals, covering the period October 2021 to June 2022. It will be accompanied by a Report Card detailing progress on each of the Roadmap commitments.
The Roadmap commits to undertaking a Mid-Term Review in 2022, which is currently underway. This includes:
- a review of progress in the implementation of commitments;
- an assessment of the existing Roadmap ambition, goals and commitments; and
- a review of the existing Roadmap indicators.
Consultation will inform each of these elements, and an independent provider, Ipsos, has been appointed to undertake stakeholder engagement. This engagement commenced with the Social Inclusion Forum which was held in June 2022 and included a session on the Mid-Term Review. A public consultation process was open from the 6th September to 7th October 2022, with key stakeholder engagement taking place next.
All components of the Mid-Term Review are on track to be completed this year, with the findings to be considered by the Roadmap Steering Group at its next meeting in December.
117. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the funding for early learning in childcare to be provided by his Department in 2023 could also be made available to those parents whose childcare provider is not registered with the national childcare scheme; the options that are available to such parents to avail of the State support; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50369/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department has secured a landmark €1.025 billion in funding under Budget 2023 for early learning and childcare. This includes additional funding of €121m for the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) which has been allocated to reduce average parental co-payments for early learning and childcare by 25%.
From 2 January 2023, all families accessing registered early learning and childcare will receive a minimum hourly NCS subsidy of €1.40.
In September 2022, there were 69,485 children in receipt of a subsidy under the NCS. The Scheme calculates and awards subsidies to parents, which are paid directly to their childcare provider once correctly registered.
The actual subsidy payment is based on the hours agreed between the parent and the provider, and claimed on the NCS system. All claims are paid in arrears based on the attendance of a child. As such the child must be registered with a childcare provider and the provider must confirm that attendance.
Given the substantial public monies involved and the importance of meeting the scheme's important policy goals providers must register with Tusla under section 58C of the Child Care Act 1991.
There must be a Funding Agreement in force between the Minister and the childcare service provider. The agreement includes important governance items on fees, opening hours and service calendar, attendance, declarations and compliance
A list of approved providers offering the National Childcare Scheme is maintained on the National Childcare Scheme website (www.ncs.gov.ie)
As per the 2022 Programme Call, the number of early learning and childcare providers that are currently contracted and available to offer the NCS is 3,279. It must be noted that early learning and childcare providers are private businesses. As such, it is a matter for each provider to decide whether they enter into any contractual arrangement with the Department - including for the NCS. It is, however, open to all registered early learning and childcare providers to opt in to contract on an annual basis to participate in this Scheme.
I appreciate the difficulties caused when a parent’s preferred early learning and childcare provider does not engage with the NCS. However, the NCS has been designed to be flexible so that parents can access their award through any early learning and childcare providers that are registered to provide the Scheme - including any Tusla registered childminder and school age childcare services. The CHICK number, which unlocks the subsidy award, can be used in any registered service contracted to deliver the NCS.
Parents who require support sourcing a place for their child should contact their local City/County Childcare Committee – the details of which may be found on myccc.ie.
118. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason that the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) scheme is restricted by age limits, whereby children must have reached the age of two years and eight months before 1 September, meaning that any children who have not reached this age are met with inflexibility and will be unable to qualify for a further seven months; the further supports that can be provided for children with additional needs who have been informed they can no longer be accommodated in their childcare facility due to their additional needs without the support of AIM and where a child has missed the cut-off point and is now ineligible for supports until they reach the age of three-and-a-half years; the reason that children can be excluded from a childcare facility due to their additional needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50468/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraParticipation of children with disabilities in the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) universal pre-school programme in mainstream early learning and care services is supported by the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM), which is delivered by my Department.
The goal of AIM is to create a more inclusive environment in pre-schools, so all children, regardless of ability, can benefit from quality early learning and care. The model achieves this by providing universal supports to pre-school settings, and targeted supports, which focus on the needs of the individual child, without requiring a diagnosis of disability.
As such, AIM operates in tandem with the ECCE programme and provision of AIM supports are directly linked with ECCE participation / hours of operation. The minimum eligibility age of 2 years and 8 months for the ECCE programme was chosen based on national experience and a review of international practice. It also had regard to the regulatory environment for early years’ education and care in this country and issues such as child development readiness and adult-child ratios.
The ECCE programme is available to all children for 2 years although the age at which individual children start ECCE will vary depending on the date of birth of each child.
First 5, A Government Strategy for Babies and Children, committed to undertake an end-of-year-three evaluation of AIM which is due to be published soon. Subject to evaluation findings and other relevant developments, Department officials will be considering enhancements to, and/or extension of, AIM to, for example, all ELC services and/or to children outside of the eligible age range for the ECCE programme.
If any family is having difficulties securing a place in Early Learning and Care and School Aged Childcare Provision, I would strongly advise them to contact their local County Childcare Committee (CCC). Contact details for CCCs can be found at www.myccc.ie.
119. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide the details of each privately run residential care home for children placed in State care; and the number of children currently placed in each residential care home, in tabular form. [50491/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is an operational matter, the question has been referred to Tusla for their direct reply to the Deputy.
120. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if HIQA conducts inspections of private residential care homes for children in State care; and if so, the number of inspections that have taken place in each of the years 2019 to 2021 and to date in 2022. [50492/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraResidential services are provided directly by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, and also by Private and Voluntary organisations that have been commissioned to do so by the Agency. Tusla uses a mix of these providers and its own directly provided services in order to maximise the availability of placements that are best suited to meet the needs of individual children and young people.
Tusla is the statutory regulator of Private and Voluntary Children’s Residential Centres, and its Alternative Care Inspection and Monitoring Service (ACIMS) is responsible for the registration and inspection of these centres. Registrations are granted based on centre adherence to the National Standards for Children’s Residential Centres, 2001, created under Section 63 of the Child Care Act, 1991 and underpinned by the Child Care (Placement in Residential Care) Regulation 1995, and the Child Care (Standards in Children’s Residential Centres) 1996.
The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) is responsible for inspecting those children’s residential care services that are provided directly by Tusla. It also monitors these settings against the relevant Regulations, as well as the National Standards for Children’s Residential Services.
Both Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth are committed to promoting safe and high quality practice in all areas of Alternative Care. This is achieved through the application of Regulations and Standards that govern the placement of children and young people, including where Residential Care placements are operated by a private provider.
Tusla has provided the information below regarding the number of inspections that it has conducted of Voluntary and Private Residential Centres in each of the years 2019 to 2021, and to date in 2022:
Tusla ACIMS Inspections of Private and Voluntary Residential Centres:
|
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 - YTD Q2 |
|
128 |
112 |
165 |
91 |
121. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if Tusla has contracted private companies to conduct inspections of private residential care homes for children in State care; if so, the details of the companies that have been contracted; the total value of contracts awarded; and the number of inspections carried out by each contractor, to date, in tabular form. [50493/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is an operational matter, the question has been referred to Tusla for their direct reply to the Deputy.
122. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to the shortage of early childhood care and education places in the Drumcondra, Griffith Avenue area of Dublin; and if more early childhood education and childcare places will be provided. [50540/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe availability of high-quality early learning and childcare is a key Government priority.
Since 2015, significant increases in State investment in early learning and childcare has given rise to a substantial growth in the numbers of children participating in these services. Every year, more than 100,000 children participate in the universal pre-school programme (ECCE) and the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) subsidises more than 80,000 children.
Before the onset of Covid-19, national data indicated that, on the whole, supply of early learning and childcare places was meeting demand, with evidence of undersupply for certain age groups and in certain areas.
Data gathered throughout the Covid-19 pandemic revealed lower demand for early learning and childcare, and reduced occupancy among early learning and childcare services.
My Department has continued to monitor early learning and childcare capacity, with a particular focus on monitoring Covid-19 impacts as public health restrictions have been lifted and on responding to the unmet early learning and childcare needs of families. Data captured earlier this year parallels the pre-Covid-19 context, whereby the supply of early learning and childcare places is meeting demand though there is evidence of undersupply for certain age groups including children under 3, and in certain areas.
In April of this year, City/County Childcare Committees (CCC) undertook a nationwide survey of capacity in early learning and childcare services. This survey was followed in May by the Annual Early Years Sector Profile Survey that is undertaken by Pobal.
Preliminary analysis of the latest data captured by CCC and Pobal reveal a drop in vacancy rates across the country – with the national vacancy rate now averaging at 13.3%. The overall vacancy rate in Dublin was 12.4% - though the vacancy rate for ECCE children in Dublin was slightly higher at 13.3%
The network of 30 CCC across the country, including Dublin City CCC are in a position to match children and families to services operating with vacant places. In addition, the CCC has been mobilised to engage proactively with services to identify vacant places and to explore possibilities for expansion among services, particularly where there is unmet need. Parents experiencing difficulty in relation to their early learning and childcare needs should contact Dublin CCC for assistance. Contact details for CCCs may be found on www.myccc.ie.
In addition to this, a range of other steps are being taken by my Department to address issues of under supply.
Some €70m has been allocated to my Department through the revised National Development Plan (NDP) – with the majority of this funding earmarked for new places.
Under the National Action Plan for Childminding, my Department has committed to opening up access to the NCS to parents who use childminders following the extension of regulation to childminders, which is expected to happen within the first 2-3 years of the Plan.
My Department, in partnership with the Department of Housing Planning and Local Government, is in the process of updating the 2001 Planning Guidelines for Local Authorities on Early Learning and Childcare Settings.
In addition, the new Core Funding scheme, introduced on 15 September, has given rise to a significant growth in capacity - with initial analysis showing a significant capacity growth for certain cohorts (such as babies and toddlers) and in areas where there has been significant pressure on places, including Dublin.
To meet the cost of this capacity growth, I recently announced that the original allocation for Core Funding will be increased to €259 million for Year 1 of the Scheme. In addition, the full year value of Core Funding will increase by €28 million to €287 million in Year 2 of the Scheme.
Funding earmarked for the Scheme in Year 2 will be informed by the emerging data from Year 1 and may focus on promoting further capacity expansion.
