Written Answers Nos. 955-974
955. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the funding that has been applied for or is being considered in relation to the Grange building childcare facility in Mullingar, County Westmeath. [63501/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department does not share details of funding applications received from individual services or those under consideration.
Early learning and childcare providers can access funding though my Department’s funding model, Together for Better, which brings together three major programmes: the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme, including the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM); the National Childcare Scheme (NCS); and the new Core Funding scheme.
In addition, I successfully secured approximately €70m in the revised National Development Plan (NDP) allocation for the Building Blocks Capital Programme designed to meet current and long-term early learning and childcare infrastructure needs.
The Building Blocks Capital Programme includes three strands:
- €9m Building Blocks - Improvement Grant
- €45m Building Blocks - Capacity Grant
- €15m Building Blocks - Innovation Grant
Applications for the Building Blocks - Improvement Grant (relating to green energy and retrofitting), closed on 16 December.
Early learning and childcare services are also eligible to apply for the Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme (TBESS). Under TBESS, businesses engaged in school-age childcare who have suffered an increase of at least 50% in the average unit price of electricity and/or natural gas for the relevant billing period in 2022, as compared with the average unit price for electricity and/or gas for the corresponding reference period in 2021, will be eligible under the scheme.
959. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the rationale for Ireland including a specific reservation to the provisions of the UNCRPD (details supplied). [63600/22]
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. Both I, and the wider government, are committed to the advancement of rights under the UNCRPD, and progress in this area is a key focus of mine.
At the time of ratification, Ireland entered three reservations to Articles 12, 14 and 27 of the Convention.
The rationale behind the reservation to Article 27 of the Convention is to allow for the continued operation of appropriate occupational health assessments in recruitment to front line posts where there are particular requirements with regard to performance of duties. This arises in the case of operational roles in the Defence Forces, An Garda Síochána, the Prison Service, and the Emergency Services.
The reservation is not intended to preclude recruitment of persons with disabilities into alternative and appropriate roles, including within the organisations above. Rather it is accepting of the fact that an accident scene or fire scene, for example, may not be a safe or appropriate working environment for persons with certain types of disability.
962. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if International Protection Accommodation Services is in the process of procuring factory premises in Shannon for the provision of accommodation to Ukrainian refugees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63738/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department’s role is focused on the immediate, short-term accommodation needs of those who have fled here from Ukraine. To date, more than 70,000 people have arrived in Ireland and in excess of 51,000 of those have been referred to this Department seeking accommodation from the State.
The wider situation regarding accommodation remains extremely challenging. Ireland is now accommodation in excess of 70,000 persons- between those fleeing the war in Ukraine and those seeking international protection. Further arrivals are anticipated throughout the winter period and my Department continues to procure shelter from multiple sources when it comes to accommodating those fleeing the war in Ukraine.
My Department is not in a position to disclose details of negotiations, nor of commercially sensitive information such as accommodation rates, durations and capacities of individual contractors. We will continue to assist those seeking shelter and security as best we can.
963. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department is in the process of procuring factory premises in Shannon for the provision of additional accommodation capacity for persons in direct provision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63739/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra975. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a warehouse facility in Shannon, County Clare, is being converted for use as a direct provision centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1158/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 963 and 975 together.
Under the Recast Reception Conditions Directive (SI 230 of 2018), the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) is legally required to provide accommodation to international protection applicants who seek it while their claim for international protection is being determined by the International Protection Office which falls under the aegis of the Department of Justice.
The accommodation of international protection applicants (IPAs) is a demand-led process with applicants arriving in the country and seeking accommodation spontaneously. In 2022, over 15,000 IPAs arrived in Ireland, the largest number of arrivals accommodated since records began. For context, the average arrival figure for IP applicants for the 3 year period from (2017 to 2019) was 3,500. As of 9 January 2023, there are over 19,300 people accommodated in International Protection Application Services (IPAS) accommodation centres. This compares with circa 7,500 people accommodated at the same time last year.
In parallel, Ireland has responded to the largest displacement of people on the European continent since the Second World War. Since 24 February 2022, the Department has worked to accommodate an unprecedented volume of persons seeking refuge from the invasion of Ukraine, amounting to almost 55,000 people.
The pressure to accommodate almost 75,000 people in such a short period of time has led to significant shortages, particularly for the international protection cohort. Access to suitable accommodation is severely constrained. The number of IPAs and Ukrainian BOTPs arriving in Ireland is expected to remain at elevated levels for the foreseeable future. The Department has been forced to avail of all offers of accommodation made, including the use of office buildings and tented accommodation, to address the shortfall. While the Department is aware that these types of accommodation are less than ideal it is working hard to find solutions, through the use facilities management companies in some cases, to offer emergency food, shelter and sanitation provision to both cohorts.
Emergency centres have been opened in all parts of the country. There have been over 60 accommodation locations utilised since January across 17 counties.
My Department cannot comment on individual buildings. However, I can assure you that the Department considers all offers of accommodation from all areas of the country and when offers of accommodation are made to my Department they are carefully considered and appraised.
965. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the new childcare policy has made the model less flexible for those not availing of full-time childcare (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63765/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraSignificant investment is being made by my Department to address affordability for parents through the National Childcare Scheme (NCS). As the Deputy is aware, I announced additional funding of €121m as part of Budget 2023 for the NCS, which has been allocated to reduce average parental co-payments for early learning and childcare.
From 2 January 2023, all families accessing registered early learning and childcare received a minimum hourly NCS subsidy of €1.40. This is an increase of €0.90 from the previous minimum hourly rate.
Early learning and care (ELC) and school aged childcare (SAC) services are provided by private enterprises, either privately owned or operated by community organisations. While service providers are contracted by my Department to provide services at a subsidised rate to parents, and those providers must pass on the NCS subsidy in full and cannot increase fees, they are however free to set their own policies regarding levels of early learning and care offered, including whether or not they offer part-time places.
Notwithstanding this, the ECCE rules are clear in relation to children already registered on the ECCE programme and there is no requirement on the parent to avail of 5 days full time care in order to continue on the ECCE programme for the remainder of the ECCE programme year.
Section 2.4 of the ECCE rules states: “An Approved Provider may not displace a child availing of a shorter week in favour of a child applying for five days of ECCE after the child’s ECCE registration is complete”
Lastly, the Scheme has been designed to be flexible so that parents can access their award through any registered early learning and childcare service in contract to deliver the NCS. My Department funds a national network of County Childcare Committees (CCCs) who provide support and advice to parents and childcare providers. I would encourage the parent to contact their local CCC regarding any issues around childcare. The contact details for the CCCs can be found on myccc.gov.ie.
966. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will urgently review a matter (details supplied) reported over the weekend that families have been given only 48 hours’ notice before being moved to the other side of the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63803/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe wider situation regarding accommodation for Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection remains extremely challenging. My Department is now accommodating approximately 70,000 people, including both those fleeing war in Ukraine and International Protection applicants, compared to 7,500 in 2021.
Managing available beds occasionally necessitates moves, in order to ensure accommodation is available for all those who seek it.
In most cases, large-scale moves occur due to contracts ending and my Department endeavours to provide as much advance notice as possible. I am mindful of the impact that all such moves have on those affected.
As of now, the planned move to which the Deputy refers has not occurred. Officials from my Department have been liaising intensively with our implementing partners. Implementing partners have been engaging with Beneficiaries in Dundalk in terms of securing alternative accommodation in the area.
In addition, Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection are entitled to make their own private arrangements and can avail of some supports to do so. Beneficiaries may be able to avail of offers of pledged accommodation. Those wishing to avail of such accommodation should contact the Local Authority in that area that they wish to reside in.
967. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to establish a State inquiry into the practice of illegal adoptions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63815/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraRecommendation 17 of the report by the Special Rapporteur on Child Protection was that a State inqu iry into illegal adoptions (broadly defined) should be established on a non-statutory basis. The question of creating an effective non-statutory inquiry is a sensitive, complex and challenging one. The Special Rapporteur acknowledges this and, in particular, notes the challenges associated with access to records for a non-statutory inquiry. In this regard, it is also important to note that some of the actions set out in the Government Action Plan for Survivors and Former Residents of Mother and Baby and County Home Institutions achieve some of the objectives of a Truth Commission as proposed by the Special Rapporteur.
In March of this year, Government approved high-level proposals for a National Centre for Research and Remembrance. The National Centre will stand as a site of conscience and will be designed to be an enduring and educational memorial to honour all those who were resident in Industrial Schools, Mother and Baby Homes, Magdalen Laundries and related institutions. The National Centre will be located on the site of the former Magdalen Laundry in Sean MacDermott Street in Dublin city centre and will have an inclusive, national and global reach. The Centre will comprise a number of distinct, yet interrelated, areas, including a museum and exhibition space, the development of which will be led by the National Museum of Ireland, as well as a research centre and central repository of records related to institutional trauma in the 20th century, which will form part of the National Archives. It is anticipated that the central repository will sit at the heart of the Centre and will ultimately be underpinned by legislation. One unique aspect of the central repository will be the intended inclusion of the personal testimonies of survivors; allowing the lived experiences of survivors to be formally recognised as part of the official record. Inclusion of the personal testimonies of survivors will ensure that the lived experiences of survivors will be captured in their own words, for publication and archiving for posterity in the National Centre.
The centralised archive of institutional records and personal testimony will, in turn, support further future analysis and research on these important matters.
As a consequence of all of this ongoing work, the Government will need to give further consideration to the specific recommendation on the establishment of a Truth Commission.
Finally, I would note that An Garda Síochána is tasked with investigating all criminal offences reported to it and they have confirmed to my Department that they will have no difficulty doing so where any person who considers themselves a victim of illegal birth registration or illegal adoption practice wishes to report any such case.
968. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to ensure that all persons whose illegal birth registration is established in the future are entitled to financial support; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63816/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraRecommendation 16 of the report by the Special Rapporteur on Child Protection is that provision should be made to cover legal costs associated with a declaration of parentage of persons affected by illegal birth registrations. Through the Birth Information and Tracing Act 2022, the Government has introduced new mechanisms to formally recognise the lived identity of those affected by illegal birth registration, including in relation to parentage. These mechanisms are delivered via the General Registration Office at no cost to the individual. In addition, the Government approved a single once-off payment of €3,000 to each individual whose illegal birth registration has been confirmed by Tusla. Recognising the costs which may arise in engaging with the reality of a confirmed incorrect birth registration, this single once-off payment of €3,000 is intended as a contribution towards those costs. The payment is provided on an ex-gratia basis. While it could be used for DNA testing, Tusla has covered the costs of DNA testing for individuals in cases where records were insufficient to confirm an illegal birth registration and will continue to provide this support. Accordingly, the scheme provides, on an ex-gratia basis, a single once-off payment of €3,000 to each individual whose illegal birth registration has been confirmed by Tusla on or before the date of 30th September 2022. In October 2022 I formally requested Tusla to administer the payment to affected individuals and provided funding for this purpose. As the relevant Minister, I have the option to review this cut-off date should Tusla confirm additional cases of illegal birth registrations in the context of its work under the Birth Information and Tracing Act 2022.
969. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of a buildings block grant for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63855/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department was allocated €70m in the National Development Plan allocation. This will enable significant capital investment in early learning and childcare across three pillars: Building Blocks - Improvement Grant, Building Blocks - Capacity Grant and a Building Blocks - Innovation Grant.
My Department has allocated €9m for The Building Blocks - Improvement Grant for Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) facilities.
Grants will range from €35,000 to €75,000 across two separate strands: Green Energy and Retrofit. The Green Energy Strand 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 – Improvement Grant. The closing date for this capital grant scheme was 16th December last.
Pobal are now appraising applications received and I am advised that successful applicants will be notified in March.
970. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide information on the way that a person (details supplied) can access information on their redress claim through the mother and baby institutions payment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63901/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI recognise the importance of delivering the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme for survivors. The legislation for the Scheme was published in October 2022 and passed Committee Stage in Dáil on 15th November 2022. I hope to bring the Bill to Report Stage in the Dáil in the coming weeks.
The operational elements, which includes the establishment of an Executive Office to administer the Scheme, are being progressed alongside the legislation and intensive work is underway in my Department in this regard also. Subject to the legislation being passed and enacted, and the administrative structures being established, the Scheme will open for applications as soon as possible in 2023.
In advance of being opened for applications, the Scheme will be advertised extensively both nationally and abroad and detailed information on how to apply for the Scheme will be made available as part of this publicity campaign. Applicants will also be supported to make an application, where they require this support. An information summary providing details on the Scheme is currently available to view on my department's website at: www.gov.ie/en/publication/0c637-mother-and-baby-institutions-payment-scheme/
971. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to avoid housing international protection applicants in inappropriate or dangerous accommodation; and the position regarding contingency plans to avoid such situations arising when a shortage of accommodation arises. [63940/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe accommodation of international protection applicants (IPAs) is a demand-led process with applicants arriving in the country and seeking accommodation spontaneously. In 2022, over 15,000 IPAs arrived in Ireland, making it by far the highest yearly arrival figure to date. For context, the average arrival figure for IP applicants for the 3 year period from (2017 to 2019) was 3,500.
As at 9 January 2023, there are over 19,350 people accommodated in International Protection Application Services (IPAS) accommodation centres. This compares with circa 7,500 people accommodated at the same time last year.
At the same time, Ireland has responded to the largest displacement of people on the European continent since the Second World War. Since 24 February 2022, the Department has worked to accommodate an unprecedented volume of persons seeking refuge from the invasion of Ukraine, coming to almost 55,000 people.
The pressure to accommodate almost 75,000 people in such a short period of time has led to significant shortages, particularly for the international protection cohort. The Department has been forced to avail of all offers of accommodation made, including the use of office buildings, in order to address the accommodation shortfall.
Access to suitable accommodation is severely constrained. The number of IPAs and Ukrainian BOTPs arriving in Ireland is expected to remain at elevated levels for the foreseeable future.
It is important to note that there are inspections carried out under the current system. At present, all IPAS permanent accommodation centres are subject to three unannounced inspections per year. In 2022, inspections were carried out in each centre by an independent inspections company (QTS Ltd) and one by officials of the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS). The third round of inspections were delayed as the usual mid-year round of inspections due to the Department’s response to the Ukraine crisis.
In 2022, all IPAS centres with the exception of 2 permanent centres had 2 inspections carried out. 5 centres had 3 inspections carried out. A total of 110 inspections were completed by QTS Ltd. 59 of the above inspection reports have been published to date.
Inspections cover a wide range of issues including fire safety, appropriate signage and information for residents, the condition of communal areas and sleeping quarters, the quality of food provided and adherence to hygiene and other health and safety requirements.
It is the Government's intention that the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) will monitor permanent International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) centres against national standards as part of transitional arrangements for moving to the new model. It is important that compliance with the national standards should be measured through on-site assessment.
Planning is well advanced on this process. My Department has worked intensively with HIQA over the past two years to prepare for its monitoring role, and it is my intention that HIQA will commence inspections in early 2023 once legislation is in place. The aim is that this will be done by means of regulation and that these regulations will be finalised within the current Oireachtas session.
In advance of the introduction of independent monitoring, IPAS has taken steps to support adherence to the National Standards through its contract arrangements with accommodation centres. All properties selected under IPAS’ most recent tender process are required to be able to implement the National Standards.
The National Standards meet the requirements of the relevant legislation – the EU (recast) Reception Conditions Directive which Ireland opted into in June 2018. These standards were adopted by Government in 2019 and have been in effect since the beginning of 2021.
972. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when an invoice (details supplied) will be paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63951/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by my officials that the invoice referred to is being given priority for processing with a view to making payment as soon as possible.
973. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department has plans to help support parents, especially single-parent households, with the significant deposits required in order to enrol children in playschools and day care services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1023/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraSupporting parents in bringing the cost of Early Learning & Care and School-Aged Childcare is a core ambition of the Government and of mine as Minister. To that end, the Deputy will be aware that, owing to the significant investment made available by the Government for providers over two successive Budgets, from this month the cost of childcare has fallen for thousands of parents participating in the National Childcare Scheme. It is my aim to reduce this cost further.
With regard to the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme and the Community Childcare Subvention Plus (CCSP) Saver programme, my Department allows for the collection of deposits by early learning and care providers however these deposits are subject to certain conditions.
For ECCE, a provider may only charge a refundable booking deposit to hold an ECCE place for a child. The maximum deposit a provider may charge is equivalent to four weeks ECCE payment, however, the deposit must be returned to the parent/guardian once the child’s ECCE registration is approved.
For CCSP, the maximum deposit a provider may charge is equivalent to two weeks’ payment. The full amount of the CCSP subvention held on deposit must be refunded to the parent/guardian once the child’s registration is approved.
It is also a condition of the new Core Funding scheme that deposits to secure early learning and care places must be refundable, which extends the requirement to do so beyond services participating in ECCE and CCSP.
In line with a commitment in First 5, the whole-of-Government strategy to improve the lives of babies, young children and their families, and informed by recommendations in the Partnership for the Public Good report on a new funding model for early learning and care and school-age childcare, officials in my Department are currently progressing the development of a new strand of funding - Tackling Disadvantage - whereby, services will be provided with a proportionate mix of universal and targeted supports to support children and families accessing their services who are experiencing disadvantage.
Consultations with a wide range of stakeholders have commenced, to inform and shape this work, including organisations representing families and single parent households.
974. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will consider a review of the Equal Status Acts 2000 to 2015 to ensure that trans persons and all members of the LGBTQ+ community are covered under protections in the legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1063/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs part of the review of the Equality Acts (Equal Status Acts 2000-2018 and the Employment Equality Acts 1998-2015), a public consultation process was launched in July 2021, to examine the functioning of the Acts and their effectiveness in combatting discrimination and promoting equality. The review includes Programme for Government commitments to consider the introduction of a socio-economic ground for discrimination and the protections for transgender, non-conforming and intersex persons under the Acts.
The review is examining the operation of the Acts from the perspective of the person taking a claim under its redress mechanisms. It will examine the degree to which those experiencing discrimination are aware of the legislation and whether there are practical or other obstacles which preclude or deter them from taking an action.
The Department invited written submissions to the public consultation in July 2021 and I was pleased to note the extensive response to the consultation. The public were asked for their views on the functioning and accessibility of the Acts; the scope of the current grounds; whether existing exemptions should be modified or removed; and whether the legislation adequately addresses intersectionality. Submissions are currently being analysed by officials in the Department and a report will be published in due course.
It is intended that legislative proposals arising from the review will be brought forward in 2023. However, as the review has not yet completed, it is not yet possible to indicate the nature or scope of those proposals.
