Written Answers Nos. 122-129
122. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the additional supports that he has put in place to ensure that communities that have welcomed refugees and asylum seekers are not in a position of having to use funding and resources that were previously allocated before the current crisis in Ukraine; and the supports that he has ensured are delivered from other Departments [56979/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department supports the integration of migrants through several funding streams. These include the Communities Integration Fund, the National Integration Fund, and the newly launched International Protection Integration Fund. My Department also provides funding for these initiatives through the Integration and Employment of Migrants stream of the European Social Fund Plus 2021-2027 Employment, Inclusion, Skills and Training programme.
The purpose of the Communities Integration Fund is to support communities across Ireland to play a greater role in promoting the integration of migrants. Annually, a total of €500,000 is made available to local community-based organisations to carry out integration projects in their local areas. Organisations eligible to apply include local community groups, sports clubs, faith-based groups, arts groups, cultural organisations, and schools. Applicant organisations must operate on a not-for-profit basis.
The National Integration Fund arises from Action 6 of the Migrant Integration Strategy, which calls for funding to be made available to promote positive action initiatives to address areas where migrants find it difficult to avail of opportunities on an equal basis with other members of Irish society.
The purpose of the National Integration Fund is to support communities across Ireland to play a greater role in promoting the integration of migrants at both a regional and national level. Funding is made available over a maximum of three years. It can be used for both once-off initiatives and short- to medium-term projects. NIF projects take an inclusive approach, aiming to bring migrants and host communities together, and may not be directed solely to any one particular group or nationality.
In July, my Department launched the International Protection Integration Fund 2022. This new grant scheme was designed to enable community-based organisations across Ireland to support the integration of International Protection applicants. A total of €1.6 million has since been awarded to 67 organisations.
My Department has also recently run an open Call for Proposals for projects under the Integration and Employment of Migrants stream of the European Social Fund Plus, 2021-2027 Employment, Inclusion, Skills and Training programme. This call placed particular emphasis on providing employment-readiness supports to Ukrainian refugees. A number of projects have been selected for funding and will shortly be advised of their successful applications.
123. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he has had discussions with his Ministerial colleagues on the impact of long-Covid on children and their ability to engage in society fully. [56900/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis is a matter for my cabinet colleague, the Minister for Health.
125. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when it is intended to ratify the Optional Protocol of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. [56793/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) on 20 March 2018. This marked an important milestone in a process to strengthen the rights of people with disabilities in Ireland that has gathered momentum since Ireland became a signatory to the Convention in 2007.
Ireland's approach to meeting the obligations of the UNCRPD is one of continuous advancement - each year moving forward on key reforms to consistently strengthen and uphold obligations and rights arising from the Convention.
I recognise the importance of the Optional Protocol to the UNCRPD. As the Deputy will be aware, the Optional Protocol is an international treaty that establishes procedures aimed at strengthening the implementation and monitoring of the Convention, and both I and my colleagues across Government support this fully.
Ratification of the Optional Protocol is a commitment in the Programme for Government. The timeline for ratification was originally anticipated to follow the conclusion of Ireland’s first review period before the UN Committee.
Due to delays at UN level Ireland’s appearance before the Committee will now be delayed. Due to this delay, Minister O’Gorman and I have indicated that we are open to the earlier ratification of the Optional Protocol.
My Department is currently working to scope out the requirements for earlier ratification. This scoping work is required due to the long standing position of the state in relation to honouring international agreements. As a matter of foreign policy, Ireland does not enter into binding international treaties until we are confident that the obligations set out within can be complied with.
While I am not yet in a position to give an exact date for ratification, it is a priority for me to ensure that the Optional Protocol is ratified at the earliest possible date.
126. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an update on the little book bag initiative; the number of books that have been distributed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56223/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe First 5 My Little Library initiative offered a book bag with books and resources to every 4 and 5 year old who started school in September. The children received an invitation to participate in the action through their early learning and care settings or special pre-school.
The objective of this action was that all children starting school in September 2022 would have storybooks in their home and be members of their local library. 60,000 bags that were provided to the libraries, 51,000 bag pickups were reported collected be end October.
The statistic really worth noting is that 20,000 children in the target age group have joined the library since the initiative started and 10,000 children have renewed their membership ensuring they have access to a lifetime of books.
The books included were selected by an appropriate committee of experienced librarians, and books and bags have been procured by the LGMA. Insert resources have been prepared by invited partners to be supplemented at county level including information for parents on transitions to primary school from NEPs. The feedback from parents on the books and resources is so far very positive.
The bags are still available in English and Irish and families can select which language bag they would like.
Extra flexibility was offered to Ukrainian families where the book bag is available to all children newly arrived in Ireland starting primary school.
An evaluation of the initiative is currently underway. Any spare bags will be held by the libraries for future projects.
128. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the engagement that he has had with Ministerial colleagues since Budget 2023 on increasing the payments to foster carers.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56899/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can assure the Deputy that I am acutely aware that foster parents at this present time are experiencing significant financial pressures and the challenges this brings to caring for the children under their care.
I met with the CEO of Tusla met in the aftermath of Budget 2023, and discussed the issue of payments for foster carers. It was recognised during this meeting that foster carers, like many others, are experiencing cost of living pressures and both myself and Tusla wanted to respond to this in a positive and meaningful way.
Following this engagement it was agreed that a single additional once-off cost of living payment in respect of each child in foster care would be paid. The payment is to be made at the current foster care allowance rate of €325 for a child under 12 and €352 for a child over 12. It is the intention of Tusla and my Department that the payment should issue to all applicable cohorts of foster carers.
Additionally I have been engaging with Tusla around the issue of travel costs incurred by foster carers when they are facilitating access or medical visits for the foster child. I can advise that Tusla has committed to reviewing the current supports available to foster carers in respect of travel costs. Tusla have advised that they will be in a position to provide an update to me on their proposals in the latter half of February 2023.
In relation to engagement with ministerial colleagues, I am conscious that issues relating to other financial supports, which have been raised by foster carers fall within the remit of the Department of Social Protection. These include reducing the current six month qualification period for foster parents to receive child benefit and the ineligibility of foster parents to receive the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance. Foster carers have also highlighted issues around their eligibility for the State Pension Contributory, which is also within the remit of that Department.
While I have not yet had an opportunity to address these specific issues with my ministerial colleague, the Minister for Social Protection I can advise the Deputy that I plan to meet with her in the near future on this matter.
I am aware that the Department of Social Protection has some measures available to recognise caring periods outside of paid employment in the calculation of a State Pension payment. Credit for Home Caring Periods may be awarded to a maximum of 20 years and foster carers are entitled to the benefits of this scheme, on the same basis as other carers, once certain qualifying criteria are met.
The Deputy may be aware that the Report of the Commission on Pensions contains certain recommendations in respect of long-term carers. I can inform him that officials from my Department are engaging with their counterparts from the Department of Social Protection in respect of this recommendation, seeking to ensure that foster carers are included in this proposal.
I can assure the Deputy that I will continue to work with Tusla and with my Government colleagues and any other relevant stakeholders in the coming months to review and seek to improve supports available to foster parents.
129. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the additional supports that he has put in place to ensure that local communities in counties Cavan and Monaghan that have welcomed refugees and asylum seekers are not in a position of having to use funding and resources that were previously allocated before the current crisis in Ukraine; the supports that he has ensured are delivered from other Departments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56980/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAnnually, a total of €500,000 is made available by my Department under the Communities Integration Fund (CIF) to local community-based organisations to carry out integration projects in their local areas. Organisations eligible to apply include local community groups, sports clubs, faith-based groups, arts groups, cultural organisations, and schools. In 2022, two Cavan-based projects received funding; Cavan County Local Development and Teach Oscail Family Resource Centre. No Monaghan-based organisations applied for funding.
My Department also provides funding to support the integration of migrants through the National Integration Fund (NIF). NIF funding is provided over three years, and the last funding call was in 2020. Projects generally have a broader geographical scope than CIF projects, with many operating in multiple counties or nationwide. One project, Sports Against Racism Ireland, specifically mentioned Cavan in its application. There will be another NIF funding call launched in 2023.
In July, my Department launched the International Protection Integration Fund 2022. This new grant scheme was designed to enable community-based organisations across Ireland to support the integration of International Protection applicants. A total of €1.6 million has since been awarded to 67 organisations, with 10 initiatives targeting applicants in Monaghan and 7 initiatives targeting applicants in Cavan. Proposed initiatives in those counties include the establishment of language cafés to encourage the development of conversational English skills, and the delivery of wellbeing workshops aimed at bolstering the mental health of young people in the International Protection system.
My Department has recently run an open Call for Proposals for projects under the Integration and Employment of Migrants stream of the European Social Fund Plus, 2021-2027 Employment, Inclusion, Skills and Training programme. This call placed particular emphasis on providing employment-readiness supports to Ukrainian refugees. Information on successful projects will be publicised shortly.
