Written Answers Nos. 270-289
270. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason that the wage subsidy scheme is not available to disabled people who are self-employed; if she will consider extending the wage subsidy scheme to disabled people who are self-employed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52546/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraPeople with a disability who are self-employed, or considering self-employment, cannot avail of the Wage Subsidy Scheme (WSS). This provision also applies to directors of limited companies who work as paid employees in their company.
The Wage Subsidy Scheme is an employment support to private sector employers. The objective of the scheme is to encourage employers to employ people with disabilities, who they may not otherwise consider due to a potential productivity loss. The incentive is intended to encourage employers to take on new employees. The scheme provides financial incentives to employers to hire new staff with a disability for between 21 and 39 subsidised hours per week under a contract of employment. The employee must be subject to and have the same rights as per the conditions of employment as any of their other employees. These conditions include the payment of Class A PRSI contributions.
It should be noted that my department provides a wide range of other employment-related supports for persons with disabilities seeking to enter self-employment.
- Disability Allowance and Blind Pension
Both Disability Allowance and Blind Pension are structured to support recipients to avail of their own employment opportunities, be that self-employment or insurable employment. When an individual commences employment, they can avail of an income disregard of €140 per week. In addition, 50% of earnings between €140 and €375, are also disregarded for the purpose of the means test. Earnings above €375 are assessed at 100%. As part of Budget 2023, I have increased the earnings disregard for both the Disability Allowance and Blind Pension by €25 per week, from €140 to €165.
- Partial Capacity Benefit
The Partial Capacity Benefit scheme allows a person who has been in receipt of Invalidity Pension or Illness Benefit, the latter for a minimum of 26 weeks, and who may not have full capacity for work, to enter or return to employment or self-employment and continue to receive a partial or full payment. The personal rate of payment of Partial Capacity Benefit is based on a medical assessment of a person’s restriction regarding their capacity for work and the payment they are moving from, i.e., Invalidity Pension or Illness Benefit. After the medical assessment, if a person's restriction regarding their capacity for work is rated as moderate, severe or profound their payment continues at 50%, 75% or 100% of their previous rate, respectively. If assessed as ‘mild’ they will not qualify for Partial Capacity Benefit.
Partial Capacity Benefit has been designed so there are no restrictions/limits on earnings from employment or on the number of hours a person can work under the scheme. A person who participates on the scheme may return to an Illness Benefit or Invalidity Pension payment if, for example, the employment ceases or if the person cannot continue to work.
- Back to Work Enterprise Allowance (BTWEA)
The Back to Work Enterprise Allowance scheme encourages people getting certain social welfare payments to become self-employed. This includes persons in receipt of Disability Allowance and Blind Pension. A person who avails of the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance scheme retains a percentage of their social welfare payment for up to 2 years. Once accepted onto the scheme the person retains 100% of their original payment in year one and 75% in year two.
- Reasonable Accommodations and Self Employment
The Departments Reasonable Accommodation Fund includes the Workplace Equipment Adaptation Grant (WEAG). Where a person with a disability is self-employed and requires a more accessible workplace or adapted equipment they can apply for a grant towards the costs of adapting premises or equipment. A grant of up to €6,350 is available towards the cost of adaptations to premises or equipment. It is important to note that applications from persons who are self-employed which may be in excess of this sum may be considered on an individual basis, up to a maximum of €9,523, if specialist training for assistive technology is required.
A review of the Reasonable Accommodation Fund is ongoing and it is expected that the review will be published before year end.
As part of my department’s commitments under the Comprehensive Employment Strategy, a review of the Wage Subsidy Scheme is currently being undertaken and a public consultation will be held in the coming months. The public consultation will invite people with disabilities, employers, and the general public to share their views on the WSS. These views will be used to inform the WSS review and the future of the scheme.
I can assure the Deputy that I will keep my department’s employment support schemes for people with disabilities under review, such as the WSS Review outlined above, to ensure that they continue to meet their policy objectives. However, any potential changes to these schemes can only be considered in the wider budgetary and policy context.
I trust that this clarifies the issue for the Deputy.
271. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of disabled people who availed of the wage subsidy scheme in each year from 2017 to 2021; the expenditure on the wage subsidy scheme for people with disabilities in each year from 2017 to 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52547/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Wage Subsidy Scheme is an employment support to private sector employers, the objective of which is to encourage employers to employ people with disabilities and thereby increase the numbers of people with disabilities obtaining and sustaining employment in the open labour market. The scheme provides financial incentives to private sector employers to hire people with a disability for between 21 and 39 subsidised hours per week under a contract of employment.
The basic rate of subsidy is €6.30 per hour giving a total annual subsidy available of €12,776 per annum based on a 39-hour week. The contract of employment offered must be for a minimum of 6 months and the employee should be subject to and have the same rights as per the conditions of employment as any of the other employees. Included in these conditions is the requirement that the employee must be paid the going rate for the job which must be at least the statutory minimum wage. The person with a disability must be either a new employee for that company, or an employee who has been employed in that company for a period of no longer than 12 months.
As requested by the Deputy, the table below outlines the expenditure on and the number of employers and participant employees who availed of the Wage Subsidy Scheme for each year between 2017 and 2021:
Wage Subsidy Scheme Expenditure, Recipients and Participants 2017- 2021
|
Year |
Expenditure (€m) |
Employers Total |
Employees Total |
|
2021 |
15.90 |
1,345 |
2,327 |
|
2020 |
18.36 |
1,895 |
3,047 |
|
2019 |
23.81 |
1,979 |
2,881 |
|
2018 |
22.32 |
1,880 |
3,074 |
|
2017 |
20.84 |
1,769 |
2,869 |
As part of my department’s commitments under the Comprehensive Employment Strategy, a review of the Wage Subsidy Scheme is currently being undertaken and a public consultation will be held in the coming months. The public consultation will invite people with disabilities, employers, and the general public to share their views on the Scheme and how it operates within an overall policy context.
I trust that the Deputy will find this information useful.
272. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if child benefit will continue to be paid to a person (details supplied) who is in full-time education. [52549/22]
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.
Child Benefit is not payable in respect of children aged 18 or above. The person concerned has a child that will reach the age of 18 in October 2022, this will be the final month for which Child Benefit will be paid in respect of that child.
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
273. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if the payments that are due to a person (details supplied) will be issued to them as soon as possible. [52556/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, Community Employment (CE) supervisors and CE assistant supervisors sought for several years through their union representatives, SIPTU and Fórsa, the allocation of Exchequer funding to implement a 2008 Labour Court recommendation relating to the provision of a pension scheme for CE supervisors and CE assistant supervisors who are employed by CE scheme sponsoring organisations.
Following an agreement between the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and the Minister for Social Protection, a final settlement was reached with unions representing CE supervisors and assistant supervisors at the end of 2021. This settlement resolves this long-standing issue through the payment of a once off ex-gratia payment to eligible CE supervisors and assistant supervisors. This settlement which will benefit approximately 2,500 people employed by CE schemes going back to 2008. It is estimated to have a total cost of over €24 million.
Generally, under the terms of this settlement, on reaching retirement age, eligible CE supervisors and assistant supervisors will receive a once off ex-gratia payment in respect of time employed by CE schemes since 2008. People who retired since 2008 and who have reached retirement age are now able to apply for this payment.
Over the past number of months, an administrative and ICT system to accept applications and process payments was put in place within the Department of Social Protection. The first group of ex-gratia applications have been received - these relate to persons who retired since 2008. Discussions are ongoing with the Department of Expenditure and Reform as regards the timing of issuing of these payments.
A notification will issue to recipients as soon as the payments are processed.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
274. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Social Protection if the case of a person (details supplied) will be examined; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52578/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraA review of the customer concerned case has been completed and they do not qualify for BP65 based on their current record & the legislation governing the award of Benefit Payment for Over 65s (BP65).
In order to qualify:
The person concerned must have 104 overall cons – which they have.
They must also have 39 paid or credited cons in the GCY (currently 2020) – and again they satisfy this condition as they signed for Jobseeker's Credits in 2018 and have a continuous claim.
In order to qualify the person concerned must also have 13 paid contributions either in the GCY or in any one of the following four years – the current year 2022, last year 2021 or the 2 years prior to the GCY (2018 / 2019). The person concerned does not satisfy this condition as their last paid contributions are in 2017.
As BP65 claims are made under JB & JBSE legislation, in order to qualify all applicants must satisfy the above contribution criteria. My Department also reviewed this case see if they would have had an entitlement to extended JB when they turned 65 but their contributions had exhausted in March 2018.
This case went to appeal, and the Appeals Officer confirmed that they had not established an entitlement to BP65 under the governing legislation and the appeal did not succeed.
The person's last paid contributions were in 2017 and, as such, they fall outside the terms of the scheme.
275. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will clarify the position of the local employment services in Clondalkin and Tallaght, specifically the reason that 39 staff have been made redundant; if this is a direct consequence of her Department tendering out of services in local employment; the local employment services that are currently available to unemployed people in this area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52619/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs part of a significant State-wide expansion of employment services across the State, my Department signed a contract with South Dublin County Partnership (SDCP) for the provision of an Intreo Partners Local Area Employment Service (IPLAES) across Clondalkin and Tallaght. This is one of 21 contracts providing this service. The SDCP previously operated both Job Clubs and Local Employment Services on behalf of the Department.
This new Intreo Partners service is client focused, with the emphasis on assisting the long-term unemployed and others distant from the labour market with the necessary help in finding employment.
Despite a significant increased investment in employment services by my Department in South Dublin, I understand that the SDCP has issued redundancy notices to staff. Though regrettable, my Department cannot direct the employment and staffing of third-party contractors. In line with the contract the SDCP is required to sufficiently staff its employment service with appropriately qualified staff and comply with statutory employment provisions.
Once contracts were signed by IPLAESs, my Department issued upfront payments and provided every assistance to IPLAESs to mobilise services to the long term unemployed within their catchment areas. Referrals are now being made to almost all service providers, including most recently to SDCP.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
276. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the current weekly entitlement in respect of a payment in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52647/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned is not currently in receipt of any payment from the Department and there are no claims pending for any Departmental schemes.
Any enquiries in relation to Residency status should be directed to the Department of Justice.
277. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if continued PRSI-based entitlements continue whilst the applicant is in receipt of invalidity pension in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52648/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned is in receipt of Invalidity Pension (IP) since 12 March 2020. Their contribution record has been updated with PRSI credited contributions for the period they have been in receipt of IP, and they will continue to receive PRSI credited contributions for the duration of their IP claim.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
278. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the maximum allowable income from employment while retaining disability allowance for a patient with a heart condition and other health issues; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52651/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraDisability Allowance is the primary disability related social assistance scheme in the State. As of August 2022, there were some 157,000 people in receipt of this payment. The scheme is subject to a means test, medical assessment and habitual residency requirement.
Disability Allowance has been designed to support recipients to pursue employment opportunities, be that self-employment or insurable employment. When a person is in employment, an income disregard of €140 per week is applied. In addition, 50% of earnings between €140 and €375 per week are also disregarded for the purpose of the means test. Earning above €375 are assessed at 100% i.e., for every euro above €375 a euro reduction is applied.
A number of measures were introduced as part of Budget 2023 which will see increases being applied, to both the Disability Allowance and Blind Pension schemes, from January 2023, these include:
- A €12 per week increase to the personal rate for both the Disability Allowance and Blind Pension, bringing the weekly rates to €220 per week. This will include proportionate increases for qualified adults and for people getting a reduced rate
- The earnings disregards for both the Disability Allowance and Blind pension will increase by €25 per week, from €140 to €165. This will mean a person will be able to earn €165 per week without having any effect on their payment.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
279. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if fuel allowance is payable in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52653/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFuel Allowance is a means tested payment, payable to people who either live alone or only with certain other qualified people.
An application for Fuel Allowance was received from the person concerned on 12 July 2022.
Based on the information provided to the Department, the person does not qualify for the allowance as their household means are in excess of the current limit. The person concerned was notified of this decision on 20 July 2022.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
280. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the current position in regard to disability entitlement in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52654/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe individual concerned has been in receipt of Disability Allowance (DA) since 2016.
I can confirm that the Department received a phone call from the person concerned on 16 June 2021 notifying a change in their circumstances. Following the resultant review of their DA claim, the person concerned was notified on 16 July 2021 that their entitlement would cease with effect from 21 July 2021. Based on the information provided by the person, their means were in excess of the statutory limit for DA under section 210 and 302(b) of the 2005 Social Welfare Consolidation Act. The person concerned was notified of their right to request a review of this decision or to appeal it to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO).
The person concerned requested a review of this decision on 17 November 2021 and following a review, it was found that their means had decreased from 15 December 2021 and their payment was reinstated. A letter notifying the person of this decision issued on 23 February 2022 and arrears of payment due were issued. The person concerned was notified of their right to request a review of this decision or to appeal it to the SWAO.
The person concerned requested a review of the decision dated 23 February 2022 and following a review it was found that there had been a subsequent increase in their means and the rate of payment was reduced accordingly. The person concerned was notified in writing of this decision on 18 July 2022 and was also notified of their right to request a review of this decision or to appeal it to the independent SWAO.
An appeal was lodged with the SWAO. However, as part of the ongoing appeal, further information was required, and the person concerned was written to on 11 October 2022. To date, no reply has been received. Once the information has been received and reviewed, the SWAO will be in touch with the person in due course in relation to the progress of the appeal.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the deputy.
281. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will indicate eligibility for working family payment in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52655/22]
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.
To qualify for Working Family Payment the applicant or the applicant and their spouse, partner or cohabitant must be in employment working a minimum of 38 hours per fortnight as defined in legislation.
According to our records to date the person concerned has not applied for WFP.
The easiest and fastest way for customers to make an application for Working Family Payment is online via mywelfare.ie.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
282. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Social Protection due to the cost of living crisis, her plans to reintroduce child benefit payments to those parents of children aged 18 to 22 years of age in full-time education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52676/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraChild Benefit is a monthly payment made to families with children in respect of all qualified children up to the age of 16 years. The payment continues to be paid in respect of children until their 18th birthday who are in full-time education, or who have a disability. Child Benefit is currently paid to over 631,000 families in respect of almost 1.2 million children with an estimated expenditure of more than €2.1 billion in 2022.
In Budget 2023, I secured a significant Social Welfare package of almost €2.2 billion. As part of that, one of my priorities was to provide support for families and children. Parents who are in receipt of Child Benefit will receive a cost-of-living double payment on 1st November 2022 which will be made to approximately 638,000 families in respect of over 1.2 million children at an estimated cost of €170.4 million.
At no time previously was Child Benefit paid up to the age of 22 and there are currently no plans to extend Child Benefit in respect of full-time students aged 18 to 22 years of age in full-time education. Such an extension would have significant cost implications.
Families on low incomes may be able to avail of a number of social welfare schemes that support children in full-time education until the age of 22, including:
Increase for a Qualified Child (IQCs) with primary social welfare payments;
the Working Family Payment for low-paid employees with children; and
the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance.
Budget 2023 provides for a €40 weekly increase in the Working Family Payment income limits for families of all sizes from January at a cost of approximately €16.8 million in 2023. I have also provided for a €500 lump sum payment to all families in receipt of the payment in November 2022 at an estimated cost of €23 million.
I also provided for the weekly rates of the Increase for a Qualified Child to increase by €2 to €42 per week in the case of children under age 12 and by €2 to €50 per week in the case of children aged 12 or over. This increase will take effect from January at an estimated cost of €30.4 million in 2023.
These schemes provide targeted assistance that is directly linked to household income and thereby support low-income families with older children participating in full-time education.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
283. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide in tabular form a breakdown of the applications to date to the Magdalen laundries redress scheme by country of residence; the number of successful applications to the scheme by country of residence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52640/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing the formation of the present Government, responsibility for the administration of the Magdalen Restorative Justice Ex-Gratia Scheme, which was established in 2013, was transferred to my Department from the Department of Justice. However, the database used for the recording of information on applications and awards made under the scheme remains under the control of the Department of Justice. It has not been possible in the time available to arrange access to the database in order to compile the breakdown of applications and awards as sought by the Deputy. I have asked my officials to make direct contact with the Deputy once this task has been completed.
284. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will commit to an increase in funding to all Family Resource Centres, so that all FRCs receive a minimum of €166,400 annually through core funding under the National FRC programme with an adequate percentage increase annually thereafter in view of the recent increase in Tusla funding in Budget 2023 to €37 million. [52478/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThank you Deputy for raising this matter. I have personally met with a number of Family Resource Centres over recent months to discuss their concerns. This area of work is a significant priority for me, and for this Government.
The Government greatly appreciates the work of family resource centres and the work of all the community and voluntary bodies funded by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency.
As you mention, I have secured an additional €37 million in funding for Tusla in budget 2023. The net funding available to Tusla is determined annually as part of the estimates process and notified to the agency through my annual Performance Statement. In response to the Performance Statement, Tusla will prepare a Business Plan for 2023 and as always family resource centres will be a component. Funds are limited and there are increasing demands for essential services provided by Tusla.
Throughout 2018 and 2019, my Department provided Tusla with an additional €4.5 million to invest in the family resource centres programme. This funding facilitated the expansion of that programme to 121 family resource centres and provided additional supports in core funding for existing family resource centres.
In 2020 and 2021, Tusla provided additional supports as needed to family resource centres and other funded community and voluntary partners to assist with pressures arising from Covid-19.
In 2021, Tusla had a core budget of €18 million for the family resource centres programme. An additional 4% in funding was allocated to the family resource centres in 2022 to target sustainability.
Family resource centres have also benefited from Dormant Account funding €650,000 in 2021 and €1 million in 2022.
I am aware that family resource centres are providing significant levels of assistance on the ground in communities who are welcoming Ukrainian people and I have asked Tusla to continue to support Family Resource Centres in those efforts. I am seeking funding for family resource centres for this purpose during discussions with the Minister for Public Expenditure.
It must be noted other Government bodies also provide substantial funding to family resource centres to deliver services on their behalf. In 2020 more then half of their funding came from non-Tusla sources such as Local Authorities, ETBs, the HSE, Pobal and the Dept. of Social Protection.
A spending review of Tusla-funded family support services is underway. This review will help inform future priorities for investment in these services.
I will continue to engage with Tusla, and family resource centres on the key issue of their funding and sustainability of the valuable services they provide to our communities.
285. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will reconsider his position to set up a database to hold DNA samples of family members of those who were resident at St. Mary's Mother and Baby home in Tuam. [52479/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Institutional Burials Act 2022, which came into effect on 15 July last, provides the underlying legislative basis for an intervention, whereby the remains of those who died and were buried in a manifestly inappropriate manner, may be recovered and re-interred in a respectful and appropriate way. It also provides for the identification of remains and their return to family members, where possible.
The Act allows the Government, by Order, to direct an intervention at a particular site where the criteria for manifestly inappropriate burials are met and to approve the appointment of a Director of Authorised Intervention to oversee and manage a phased, step-by-step approach to the excavation, recovery, analysis, identification (if possible) and re-interment of the remains.
On 4 October, the Government made an order under the Act to establish an independent Office to lead an intervention at the site of the former Mother and Baby institution in Tuam, Co. Galway. The making of the Order follows on from Resolutions in the Dáil and Seanad last month approving the draft Order that was agreed by Government in July.
The Government order specifies that the functions of the Director of Authorised Intervention, Tuam will include carrying out a DNA Identification Programme, which involves taking DNA samples from eligible family members and human remains buried at a site and analysis of those samples by Forensic Science Ireland. The purpose of the analysis is to compare DNA profiles to establish if there is a familial link between people who believe they have family members buried at the site and the human remains that are recovered.
The Act defines an eligible family member as a person who has reasonable grounds to believe that he/she is a child, parent, sibling, half-sibling, grandparent, grandchild, aunt, uncle, niece or nephew (whether of the whole blood or the half-blood), grandniece or grandnephew of the person who is buried at an intervention site.
The Act provides that Forensic Science Ireland can establish the Databases that will allow for DNA profile comparison.
I intend to appoint a Director to head up the Office as soon as possible. Arrangements for the recruitment of a Director to head up the Office are currently being finalised and my officials are liaising with the Public Appointments Service in this regard. It is expected that once the post is advertised, the appointment of a Director will take a number of weeks. When appointed, the Director will make arrangements for a public information campaign to promote awareness of the Identification Programme, including how family members can notify the Director of his or her interest in participating in the Programme, in line with the provisions of the Act.
286. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason that childminders who have a service reference number for their premises are Tusla registered and have an active NCS or ECCE contract, are excluded from applying for a building blocks improvement grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52486/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraLast month, I was pleased to announce a €10m Capital Grant for the Early Learning and Childcare Sector. The Building Blocks - Improvement Grant is part of a wider Building Blocks Capital Programme for Early Learning and Childcare under the National Development Plan.
Grants will range from €35,000 to €75,000 across two separate strands: Green Energy and Retrofit.
The Green Energy Strand/Strand A will support the Climate Action Agenda and the Programme for Government, which aim to transition to a carbon neutral economy by the end of 2050 and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 51% by 2030.
Services that sign up for the Core Funding Scheme are eligible for funding under for the Building Blocks - Capital Programme. Applications from eligible services will be accepted in Q4 2022 and successful applicants will be notified in early 2023.
The grant scheme is part of a wider Building Blocks Capital Programme designed to meet current and long-term Early Learning and Childcare infrastructure needs – with details of a €45m Building Blocks - Capacity Grant and a €15m Building Blocks - Innovation Grant to be announced in the coming months.
Unfortunately, at this present time the grant is not available to Childminders. Given the limited resources available under Building Blocks - Improvement Grant, my Department has prioritised centre-based childcare facilities.
There may be an opportunity in the future to avail of Capital Grants. My Department advises services to contact their local County Childcare Committees, who will provide information on any future capital scheme.
287. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if early years' service providers who provide early years education from their personal private residence are eligible to apply for the building blocks improvement grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52487/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraLast month, I was pleased to announce a €10m Capital Grant for the Early Learning and Childcare Sector. The Building Blocks - Improvement Grant is part of a wider Building Blocks Capital Programme for Early Learning and Childcare under the National Development Plan.
Grants will range from €35,000 to €75,000 across two separate strands: Green Energy and Retrofit. The Green Energy Strand/Strand A will support the Climate Action Agenda and the Programme for Government, which aim to transition to a carbon neutral economy by the end of 2050 and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 51% by 2030.
Services that sign up for the Core Funding Scheme are eligible for funding under for the Building Blocks - Capital Programme. Applications from eligible services will be accepted in Q4 2022 and successful applicants will be notified in early 2023.
The grant scheme is part of a wider Building Blocks Capital Programme designed to meet current and long-term Early Learning and Childcare infrastructure needs – with details of a €45m Building Blocks - Capacity Grant and a €15m Building Blocks - Innovation Grant to be announced in the coming months.
Unfortunately, at this present time the grant is not available to Childminders, including those operating from personal private residences. There may be an opportunity in the future to avail of Capital Grants. My Department advises services to contact their local County Childcare Committees, who will provide information on any future capital scheme.
288. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the Mother and Baby Institutions payment scheme will be extended to those who spent less than the prescribed time period of six months in an institution given that many persons have been excluded from the scheme on this basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52490/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn answering this question, it is important to note that the Scheme is one element of a comprehensive package of support measures agreed by the Government to respond to the priority needs of survivors and former residents as part of the Action Plan for Survivors and Former Residents of Mother and Baby and County Home Institutions.
Following intense deliberations on what are very complex issues, the proposals developed for the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme went beyond the recommendations of the Commission of Investigation. The Scheme will stand in recognition of time spent, harsh conditions, emotional abuse and all other forms of harm, mistreatment, stigma and trauma experienced while resident in a Mother and Baby or County Home Institution. The graduated payment rates under the Scheme proportionately acknowledge the more prolonged experience of harsh institutional conditions which were endured by those who spent longer periods of time in these institutions.
In relation to children who spent less than six months in an institution and who were adopted or otherwise separated from their birth family, the overwhelming priority need which has been expressed, through extensive engagement with those concerned, is access to records. So for those children who spent short periods of time in an institution during their infancy, the Action Plan provides a response to their needs in the Birth Information and Tracing Act 2022 and the investment which has been made available to support implementation of this legislation. The legislation provides guaranteed access to birth certificates, as well as wider birth and early life information for those who have questions in relation to their origins. It also supports contact and family reunion, where that is the wish of both parties, by means of the new statutory tracing service and Contact Preference Register.
It should also be underlined that free counselling support has been in place since before the publication of the Commission’s report, through the National Counselling Service in the HSE. This is free of charge, includes out of hours support and those who identify themselves as survivors of the institutions are prioritised for the next available counselling space. Counselling support is also being provided to survivors, former residents and adopted persons by Barnardos, Tusla and AAI under the auspices of the Birth Information and Tracing Act 2022.
289. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth in relation to the Mother and Baby Institutions payment scheme if it is open to persons to challenge the Commission's interpretation of specific named institutions; and if so, if the process will be outlined. [52491/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government does not wish to disregard or diminish any person’s experience and recognises that there are people who suffered stigma, trauma and abuse in other institutions and outside of institutions who will not qualify for the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme.
The Commission found that the named Mother and Baby Homes were ‘unquestionably the main such homes that existed during the 20th century in terms of the function they fulfilled with regard to single women and their children. They all received State funding to a greater or lesser degree and the State was directly responsible for establishing a number of them.’
If it were to come to light that an institution fulfilled a similar function with regard to single women and their children as the Mother and Baby Home Institutions and the State had a regulatory or inspection function, section 43 of the recently published draft Bill enables the Minister to insert an additional institution into the Schedule. This will allow a person to make an application in respect of time spent as a relevant person in that additional institution. Section 15 then provides a related provision in allowing for an applicant to submit a second application in a case where they were also resident in an institution that has been added to the Schedule.
