Patricia Ryan
Ceist:512. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to assist struggling ECCE providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3941/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraEarly Childhood Care and Education
Ceisteanna (512)
Freagraí scríofa
The Government is investing significantly in the early learning and childcare sector and there is an ambitious new funding model being introduced to improve stability and sustainability for providers. There are supports, financial and otherwise, available to services who need them.
On 15th September, I launched Together for Better, the new funding model for early learning and childcare. This new funding model supports the delivery of early learning and childcare for the public good, for quality and affordability for children, parents and families as well as stability and sustainability for providers.
Together for Better, the new funding model comprised of 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, is about getting the most out of the three early learning and childcare programmes, for children, parents, providers, the workforce, and society overall, and ensuring stability and sustainability in the sector.
Core Funding has a budget of €259 million in full year costs for year 1 of the programme (September 2022-August 2023). Core Funding is designed specifically as a supply-side funding stream, paid directly to providers, related to the costs of delivery. Core Funding is based on operating hours, number of places offered by services, and the age group of children for whom the places are offered, given the staffing requirements determined by the regulatory ratios for different care categories, as well as allocations for graduate leaders in services. Structuring Core Funding primarily based on capacity means that Partner Services have an allocation each year that does not fluctuate in line with children’s attendance. Core Funding allows for substantial increases in the total cost base for the sector, related both to pay and non-pay costs, without additional costs being passed on to parents.
Core Funding contributes to services’ sustainability and significantly increases income for the overwhelming majority of services and provides greater funding stability. Already 94% of services have signed up to Core Funding and the scheme remains open for applications.
ECCE-only services across the country form an integral part of the early learning and childcare system. Their exact operations can vary but typically, they open to children for 15 hours per week, 38 weeks per year. The funding model for sessional services is now primarily a combination of the ECCE capitation they receive per child registered with them, (potentially including a top up AIM capitation if there is a staff member with the necessary qualification undertaking an inclusion role, plus additional AIM funding to employ additional staff or reduce adult child ratios if required to support the inclusion of all children), and the Core Funding grant services receive based on the capacity of their service and the qualifications levels of staff, as well as any allowable optional extras they may charge parents.
Core Funding operates alongside ECCE and NCS and by contrast to the other funding schemes, provides payment in respect of the number of child places rather than based on child registrations or attendance. This intentional and deliberate differentiation of approach in the new funding model means the Core Funding element of a service's income is a more stable income source that will not fluctuate year on year. This idea of funding capacity is a key new approach in Core Funding, which many providers advocated for through stakeholder consultation during the design of Core Funding. This mixture of supply-side and demand-led public funding provides a welcome balance to the funding model, and assists services who may be experiencing lower than anticipated child registrations for a number of reasons.
Under Core Funding, the overwhelming majority of services will see an increase in their funding, most will see very substantial increases, and no services will see a decrease in funding if their circumstances remain the same. ECCE services without a graduate lead educator will see capitation increase by at least 9.5% through Core Funding. ECCE services with a graduate lead educator will almost all see increases in income, although it may be smaller proportionally given the significant level of funding available under the old funding model. A very small number of services, approximately 60 of the 4,200 signed-up, will see no increase with their income matched to 2021/2022. For this small number of services who do not experience an increase, a Funding Guarantee applies. This tops-up Core Funding payments to match the difference in ECCE higher capitation and PSP from last year, provided they offer the same amount of graduate led provision as last year. These are larger ECCE-only services – with 20+ children in a session.
Early learning and care services are able to apply for the Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme (TBESS). Under TBESS, businesses engaged in early learning and childcare services 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, are eligible under the scheme.
I have been unequivocal that I do not want any services to be faced with financial sustainability issues and am fully committed to working with these services to support them in delivering early learning and childcare for the public good.
I have secured an increase in the Core Funding envelope for year two of operation (September 2023-August 2024) of €28 million (11% increase), the precise allocation of which will be determined by evidence and analysis emerging from year one of the operation of the scheme.
Given the concerns raised by some small, sessional services, and in order to provide additional timely and robust data in preparation for developments to Core Funding in year 2, I will be undertaking an independent financial review of sessional services; most of which are ECCE providers.
This will involve services volunteering to participate in the review that aims to gather evidence on financial viability to underpin policy development and possible targeted measures through the new funding model.
Services that are experiencing difficulty and who would like support are encouraged to contact their City/County Childcare Committee (CCC) to access case management supports. Services can be assisted on an individual basis through this route and it also allows for trends and themes across the country to be identified that can inform a more systematic response if necessary.
Stability and sustainability of early learning and childcare services is a top priority for Government, as demonstrated by the significant additional investment in the new funding model plus the wider whole-of-government supports for providers throughout the pandemic and now offered through TBESS. The Department, with Pobal and CCCs, will continue to engage with the sector and monitor the financial situation of early learning and childcare services, and supports are available where services face sustainability issues.
Budget 2023 allocates €1.025 billion to early learning and childcare – a clear demonstration from Government of the value of the sector. Together for Better aims to transform the sector and I am committed to working with Partner Services delivering early learning and childcare for the public good.
Early Childhood Care and Education
Ceisteanna (513)
Patricia Ryan
Ceist:513. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of ECCE providers that have left the scheme in each of the past three years, by county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3942/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme is a universal two-year pre-school programme available to all children within the eligible age range. The programme is provided for three hours per day, five days per week over 38 weeks per year and runs from September to June each year, aligned with the primary school calendar.
The figures supplied by the scheme administrator Pobal in the table below show the number of services contracted to offer ECCE for the 2019-20 programme year up to 2022-23 and show an overall reduction of 292 services offering ECCE for the period concerned.
It is to be noted that the unusual net changes recorded for Cork City and Cork County is because of the reorganisation of the county division boundaries, which was implemented in 2022/23.
ECCE is a very successful programme and there are currently 107,248 children registered on the programme, which is an increase on the same period last year. My Department is not aware of any ECCE capacity issues.
My Department funds a national network of County Childcare Committees (CCCs) who provide support and advice to parents and childcare providers. If parents or guardians are having difficulty in accessing an ECCE place, they should contact their local County Childcare Committees (CCCs), who will provide them with advice and support. The contact details for all CCCs can be found on: www.myccc.ie
Table 1: The net change in the number of services contracted to provide ECCE between 2019/20 and 2022/23
|
County Division |
ECCE 2019(Baseline) |
ECCE 2020 |
Net Change 2020/21 vs 2019/20 |
ECCE 2021 |
Net Change 2021/22 vs 2020/21 |
ECCE 2022 |
Net Change 2022/23 vs 2021/22 |
|
Cork City |
83 |
82 |
-1 |
82 |
0 |
128 |
46 |
|
County Carlow |
48 |
46 |
-2 |
45 |
-1 |
45 |
0 |
|
County Cavan |
62 |
64 |
2 |
66 |
2 |
64 |
-2 |
|
County Clare |
127 |
122 |
-5 |
126 |
4 |
125 |
-1 |
|
County Cork |
364 |
352 |
-12 |
346 |
-6 |
294 |
-52 |
|
County Donegal |
141 |
138 |
-3 |
143 |
5 |
138 |
-5 |
|
County Galway |
265 |
254 |
-11 |
256 |
2 |
250 |
-6 |
|
County Kerry |
121 |
123 |
2 |
121 |
-2 |
121 |
0 |
|
County Kildare |
190 |
180 |
-10 |
175 |
-5 |
170 |
-5 |
|
County Kilkenny |
97 |
91 |
-6 |
87 |
-4 |
86 |
-1 |
|
County Laois |
79 |
74 |
-5 |
79 |
5 |
77 |
-2 |
|
County Leitrim |
31 |
30 |
-1 |
31 |
1 |
30 |
-1 |
|
County Limerick |
176 |
167 |
-9 |
164 |
-3 |
161 |
-3 |
|
County Longford |
33 |
33 |
0 |
33 |
0 |
32 |
-1 |
|
County Louth |
112 |
108 |
-4 |
109 |
1 |
104 |
-5 |
|
County Mayo |
126 |
123 |
-3 |
120 |
-3 |
119 |
-1 |
|
County Meath |
198 |
180 |
-18 |
176 |
-4 |
175 |
-1 |
|
County Monaghan |
57 |
56 |
-1 |
60 |
4 |
59 |
-1 |
|
County Offaly |
66 |
62 |
-4 |
61 |
-1 |
61 |
0 |
|
County Roscommon |
54 |
54 |
0 |
53 |
-1 |
56 |
3 |
|
County Sligo |
66 |
69 |
3 |
66 |
-3 |
66 |
0 |
|
County Tipperary |
162 |
154 |
-8 |
155 |
1 |
156 |
1 |
|
County Waterford |
95 |
88 |
-7 |
90 |
2 |
92 |
2 |
|
County Westmeath |
76 |
73 |
-3 |
75 |
2 |
71 |
-4 |
|
County Wexford |
136 |
127 |
-9 |
125 |
-2 |
127 |
2 |
|
County Wicklow |
162 |
148 |
-14 |
145 |
-3 |
143 |
-2 |
|
Dublin City |
390 |
370 |
-20 |
363 |
-7 |
358 |
-5 |
|
Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown |
177 |
167 |
-10 |
168 |
1 |
161 |
-7 |
|
Fingal |
303 |
279 |
-24 |
270 |
-9 |
267 |
-3 |
|
South Dublin |
232 |
209 |
-23 |
205 |
-4 |
201 |
-4 |
|
Grand Total |
4,229 |
4,023 |
-206 |
3,995 |
-28 |
3,937 |
-58 |
Child Protection
Ceisteanna (514)
Richard Boyd Barrett
Ceist:514. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the review of safeguarding practices in an organisation (details supplied) has been completed; if so, when will it be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3973/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I wish to advise the Deputy that I wrote to St John Ambulance to seek information about the publication of the report on 12th December 2022. St John Ambulance replied on 23rd December and confirmed that they had received a completed report from Dr Shannon. The Commissioner of St John Ambulance stated that the organisation was committed to publishing the full report immediately after the relevant legal review had taken place. The Commissioner further informed me that the legal review of the report was underway and that St John Ambulance was committed to completing this process in a timely manner.
The Commissioner stated that he would write again to me in the New Year with a publication date for the report. The Department has also informed Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, of the expected publication of the report. Tusla are tasked with assessing current risks to children. Tusla officials have liaised with St John Ambulance regarding safeguarding measures now in place in this organisation.
It is my intention to write to St John Ambulance in the coming days to get an update regarding the expected publication date of the report if the report has not been published.
Emergency Accommodation
Ceisteanna (515, 516)
Patricia Ryan
Ceist:515. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the progress being made with the provision of modular homes for Ukrainian refugees at Beechgrove, Rathangan, County Kildare; the timeline for delivery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3975/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraPatricia Ryan
Ceist:516. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the progress being made with the provision of modular homes for Ukrainian refugees at Lakeside, Highfield, Dara Park, Newbridge, County Kildare; the timeline for delivery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3976/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 515 and 516 together.
My Department is currently rolling out the first phase of the programme of rapid build homes with sites identified in Cork, Cavan, Tipperary, Sligo and Claremorris. The timeframe for the installation of the rapid build homes has recently been recalibrated in the light of experience to date. Accordingly, it is now expected these homes will start to be installed on a phased basis during January and February 2023 as site enabling works across a range of locations are completed.
The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage sought information from public authorities on potential sites in their ownership which might be suitable for the installation of rapid build units. On foot of the responses received, the Department provided a shorter list of potentially suitable sites to my Department and OPW and this included both Newbridge and Rathangan. As part of the engagement process, I met with members of both communities in relation to the proposed development of rapid build homes to house people who have fled the war in Ukraine. I listened to the concerns expressed by those at the meetings and outlined the emergency context under which the Government had approved the use of the units. Officials are considering the matters raised and engagement continues with respect to both sites.
My Department is working with other Departments and Agencies to ensure the additional resources needed are in place. My Department works closely with the Department of Health in relation to the healthcare needs of displaced people from Ukraine. The HSE has been notified of the proposed number of residents for each site and associated potential healthcare needs. The Department of Education is planning for the extra school places that may be needed. If the local school does not have enough places, alternative arrangements will be made to bring occupant children to schools close by.
Further engagement will take place in the coming weeks regarding the next phase of sites and communities will be notified when their location is under consideration in the next phase.
Question No. 516 answered with Question No. 515.
Disability Services
Ceisteanna (517)
Richard Boyd Barrett
Ceist:517. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the advice to be given to a person with an acquired brain injury who is disabled, is a part-time parent to a child with ASD, and needs help when on access visits to manage their child’s behaviour with a suitable organisation to facilitate visits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4028/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The response to the Deputy's question will issue as soon as possible.
Childcare Services
Ceisteanna (518)
Jennifer Whitmore
Ceist:518. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to the practice of requesting non-refundable monetary deposits in exchange for places in crèche services; if his Department has put in place any conditions to prevent this practice from occurring; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4036/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Supporting parents in bringing down 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 2 January of this year 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. The Funding Agreement clause states: The Partner Service agrees that they will not charge any non-refundable deposits to parents/guardians in the respect of their ELC/SAC service where the parent/guardian takes up the service for which the deposit was paid.
Childcare Services
Ceisteanna (519)
Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:519. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an update on the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4038/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Officials in my Department have contacted the Scheme Administrator, Pobal, in relation to the case raised on behalf of your constituent. Pobal have reviewed the case and advised that the applicant has since submitted a new application, which has been completed. The relevant awards have since been issued by Pobal, which are valid from Monday 30 January.
The application referred to here was submitted in October 2022. Before going in to further detail, it should be noted that this initial application was a non-fast track, offline application. The offline application process may take considerably longer than online, and it is dependent on all required information being correctly submitted.
In detail:
- The application was first submitted on 24 October 2022. It was then referred back by the Scheme Administrator twice on 25 October, and 21 November, as information was either missing or incorrect.
- The applicant contacted the Parent Support Centre on 24 November seeking clarification in relation to the application. Pobal provided support on this occasion and further contacted the applicant on 12 December and 21 December regarding information required as part of the application.
- Pobal attempted to lodge a second call with the applicant on 21 December, however this call went unanswered.
- Between 22 December and 6 January, Pobal attempted to make contact with the applicant a further three times. However, contact was unsuccessful.
- On 23 January, Pobal explained to the contact that their application had been cancelled due to inactivity and that a new application would need to be made.
- A courtesy call was placed by Pobal on 25 January, which the applicant responded to. The applicant was then supported through the application process and, as mentioned, has since successfully completed an application and received a subsidy.
International Protection
Ceisteanna (520)
John McGuinness
Ceist:520. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of applications received by International Protection Accommodation Services, for each county, from property owners offering accommodation for refugees that have yet to be processed; if all applicants have been notified of the status of their application and of the likely timeframe for a decision; if the funding for the refugee programme is being met solely by the Exchequer; and if European Union funding is being provided. [4044/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Deputy, as of 22 January 2023, there are over 19,800 people accommodated in the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) system as a whole.
In regard to your query, I can confirm that no offers from providers that are willing to accommodate international protection applicants (IPAs) are outstanding presently and each proposal is expedited as quickly as possible give the acute accommodation for IPAs at present.
Unfortunately this shortfall is impacting on the single male cohort in particular as a large volume of accommodation providers make offers for family configurations more so than single males.
All offers of accommodation for IPAs are in the process of being evaluated for use from the moment an offer is received.
In regard to your query relating to applicants with offers of accommodation being notified of the status of their application, there is an ongoing appraisal and agreement of terms process that is not subject to delay currently. However, delays may occur with respect to the timelines for delivery encountered by accommodation providers on commercial leasing or ownership arrangements being engaged in by providers or through building or refurbishment practicalities. This is in the control of the contractor rather than this Department. The International Protection Procurement Service (IPPS) works diligently at all times with providers to expedite these projects in as far as it can.
In relation to the funding of IPAS accommodation and ancillary services, this is met solely by the Exchequer presently.
I trust this information clarifies the matter.
International Protection
Ceisteanna (521)
Eoin Ó Broin
Ceist:521. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total number of commercial buildings currently being used by international accommodation services to provide temporary accommodation to international protection applicants and Ukrainians with temporary protection, broken down by local authority area; the number of persons residing in these buildings in each local authority area; and if each individual building has a fire safety certificate for residential occupancy. [4099/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Deputy, as of 22 January 2023, there are over 19,800 people accommodated in the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) system as a whole. This includes the National Reception Centre and IPAS accommodation centres, City West transit hub and emergency accommodation locations nationwide.
At this point in 2022, there were approximately 7,500 persons in IPAS accommodation.
These figures are in addition to the arrival of over 66,000 Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection since 24 February 2022, as a result of the war in Ukraine over 53,500 of whom have sought accommodation from The State.
In regard to your query relating to the total number of commercial buildings currently being used by IPAS to provide temporary accommodation to IPAs and Ukrainian Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs), broken down by local authority area; the number of persons residing in these buildings in each local authority area; and if each individual building has a fire safety certificate for residential occupancy, please see the requested information in tabular form below.
International Protection Procurement Services (IPPS) can confirm that the majority of the commercial buildings being used by IPAS to provide accommodation for people seeking international protection have valid fire safety certs for residential occupation.
One building has a validation process in train and has already had significant remedial works carried out to mitigate fire safety issues.
Although the building has a valid fire cert for office use, one building did not secure a valid fire safety certificate for residential use and, in consultation with the Chief Fire Officer of Dublin Fire Brigade, is in the process of being vacated. Remedial works will begin in addressing all issues once the building has been fully vacated.
|
Property |
Local Authority Area |
Fire cert in place |
Application process in train |
Invalid application |
No of. Residents |
|
Two Gateway, East Wall, Dublin 3 |
Dublin City Council |
Yes |
N/A |
N/A |
410 |
|
Dolcain House, Clondalkin, Dublin 22 |
South Dublin County Council |
No |
No |
Yes – building being vacated |
88 |
|
Century House, North Richmond Street, Dublin 1 |
Dublin City Council |
Yes, works identified from fire assessment being undertaken |
Yes |
|
101 |
|
Cookstown Centre, Tallaght, Dublin 24 |
South Dublin County Council |
Yes |
N/A |
N/A |
220 |
|
Breaffy Woods Arena, Castlebar, Co.Mayo |
Mayo County Council |
Yes, works identified from fire assessment being undertaken |
N/A |
N/A |
213 |
The request for information in relation to commercial buildings in use for the Ukraine response has been requested from their procurement team and is currently being collated. My officials will inform the Minister's office as soon as this information is made available.
Departmental Staff
Ceisteanna (522)
Mairéad Farrell
Ceist:522. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the names of any advisers who have taken up employment in his Department since the Government rotation in December 2022; the annual salary they are being paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4118/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The two special advisers that were in my Department prior to the Government rotation in December 2022, Mr. Eoin Wilson and Mr. Tom Sheppard, have remained in their roles.
The special advisers are paid on the Principal Officer salary scale. This scale ranges from €95,301-€117,879.
Early Childhood Care and Education
Ceisteanna (523)
Brendan Griffin
Ceist:523. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will consider increasing the pay of early years educators (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4135/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I am very conscious of the need for improvement in pay and working conditions for early years educators and school-age childcare practitioners. As the State does not employ staff in early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC) services, my Department cannot set their wage levels or determine their working conditions, but my Department has provided a range of supports to service providers to enable them to improve wages and working conditions.
On 15 September 2022, the first ever Employment Regulation Orders for Early Years Services came into effect, setting new minimum hourly rates of pay for the sector. It is estimated that 73% of those working in the sector saw their wages rise as a result. The Orders are being supported by Core Funding– which has an allocation of €259 million in its first year – to support improvements in staff wages, alongside a commitment to freeze parental fees and sustainability of services.
Also, in December 2021, I published "Nurturing Skills: The Workforce Plan for Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age Childcare (SAC), 2022-2028". This Plan includes specific actions for moving to a graduate-led workforce by 2028, establishing a career framework for staff working in the ELC and SAC sector, including role profiles, qualifications requirements and the strengthening of career pathways. Nurturing Skills also includes actions to support the recruitment and retention of staff with the necessary qualifications, and ongoing staff training and development, to create a workforce which feels valued and is motivated to deliver the best possible service to children.
Early learning and childcare services are private businesses and their policies on operating hours and staffing are a matter for the service provider. As such, the decision to close a service during non-ECCE periods, e.g. over the summer, lies with the service provider.
Regarding social protection entitlements, this matter falls outside of the remit of my Department. Questions over such entitlements are a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Social Protection.
Youth Services
Ceisteanna (524)
Paul McAuliffe
Ceist:524. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the funding stream for the targeted youth employability support initiative in Ballyfermot; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4159/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Targeted Youth Employability Support Initiative 2021 to 2022 was funded by my Department from the Dormant Accounts Funds.
The aim of the Initiative was to provide short-focused interventions to support young people to improve their confidence and encourage them to engage in a wide range of progressive routes to further education, training and employment.
A review of the Initiative will be carried out in accordance with the principles outlined in the Dormant Accounts Fund Principles. My Department will consult with the ETBs who administered the Initiative, and the young people who took part in it, when carrying out the evaluation.
Early Childhood Care and Education
Ceisteanna (525)
Niamh Smyth
Ceist:525. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the parents' association of a core-funded preschool (details supplied) can hold fundraisers to raise money for the preschool; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4160/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
In September 2022, I launched Together for Better, the new funding model for early learning and childcare. This new funding model supports the delivery of early learning and childcare for the public good, for quality and affordability for children, parents and families as well as stability and sustainability for providers. Together for Better 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.
Core Funding is worth €259 million in full year costs to start this partnership for the public good between the State and providers. Its primary purpose is to improve pay and conditions in the sector as a whole and improve affordability for parents as well as ensuring a stable income to providers.
Core Funding is distributed in a fair and reasonable manner that is related to services’ costs of delivery, taking into account the primary drivers of services costs and this is therefore the most proportionate and transparent manner to allocate funding. Core Funding for programme year 2022/23 will support providers in meeting their operating costs, including increased costs related to improved quality measures, in return for a commitment that fees to parents will not increase.
As stated in the Section 6.10. Core Funding Partner Service Funding Agreement, “The Partner Service agrees that they will neither request nor accept any donations, voluntary or otherwise from parents/guardians, in respect of the ELC/SAC services being provided.”
Under the Core Funding Partner Service Funding Agreement, fundraising events are not considered donations; if a Partner Service organises a fundraising event, parents may attend if they wish.
Furthermore, the Funding Agreement does not prevent a Partner Service from seeking or accepting voluntary donations from businesses or the wider community in respect of the ELC/SAC services they provide.
Childcare Services
Ceisteanna (526)
Cian O'Callaghan
Ceist:526. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an update on the proportion of children who require childcare in the Howth and Sutton area of County Dublin; the number of available spaces; if there are plans for new childcare facilities to be built; the action he will take to rectify the lack of childcare in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4239/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The availability of high-quality early learning and childcare is a key Government priority. The Department monitors early learning and childcare capacity on an ongoing basis, with a particular focus on responding to the unmet early learning and childcare needs of families.
The annual data captured by Pobal on behalf of my Department - through the Early Years Sector Profile Survey - is one important data source that allows us to monitor supply and demand. In addition to this survey data, the Department also relies on data from the register of services held by Tusla, data provided by services as part of their application for Core Funding and has also conducted several surveys with parents. Since 2020, five parent surveys have been undertaken by Ipsos MRBI on behalf of the Department.
Data from the most recent Early Years Sector Profile, gathered in April 2022, indicated that the vacancy rates among services in Howth and Sutton were 4% and 8% respectively - lower than the average vacancy rates in Dublin and nationally. These data do not take account of increases in capacity since the introduction of Core Funding.
A series of steps are being taken to address issues of undersupply.
The network of 30 City/County Childcare Committees across the country are in a position to match children and families to services operating with vacant places and engage proactively with services to explore possibilities for expansion among services, particularly where there is unmet need.
Under the National Action Plan for Childminding, there is a commitment to open up access to the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) to parents who use childminders following the extension of regulation to childminders.
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.
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. As part of this work, my Department has been included in the updated list of prescribed bodies that need to be notified on certain planning matters, including the formulation of County Development Plans and Local Area Plans.
In addition, Core Funding - introduced in September 2022 - has already proven to be effective in expanding capacity, particularly in areas of undersupply and additional funding secured in Budget 2023 for year two of Core Funding provides further opportunity to invest in capacity growth.
Updated data on capacity will be gathered this Spring, through the Early Years Sector Profile 2022/23.
Parents experiencing difficulty in relation to their early learning and childcare needs should contact their local City/County Childcare Committee (CCC) for assistance. Contact details for CCCs may be found on: www.myccc.ie
Official Travel
Ceisteanna (527)
Carol Nolan
Ceist:527. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide data associated with his Department's air travel and air travel associated with agencies under the aegis of his Department (details supplied) from 1 January 2020 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4242/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I can inform the Deputy that my Department reports annually on the Carbon Generation log by authorised Departmental Air Travel.
The table below outlines the information requested by the Deputy.
|
Year |
Total Kilometres Travelled (KM) |
Total kilograms of Greenhouse Gas Emissions (KG) |
Price per tonne for Greenhouse Gas emissions (€) |
Total value of DCEDIY Greenhouse Gas Emissions (€) |
|
2020 |
47,602 |
5239.7 |
26.00 |
136.23 |
|
2021 |
95,260 |
37087.6 |
33.50 |
1,242.43 |
|
2022 |
274,106 |
61412.7 |
41.00 |
2,434.95 |
|
2023 (To 25/01) |
7,392 |
1087.5 |
41.00 |
34.87 |
In respect of bodies under the aegis of my Department, I can advise the Deputy as follows:
|
Body |
Location |
|
Child and Family Agency (Tusla) |
Tusla will reply directly to the Deputy |
|
Adoption Authority of Ireland (AAI) |
The AAI will reply directly to the Deputy |
|
Ombudsman for Children’s Office (OCO) |
The OCO will reply directly to the Deputy |
|
Children Detention School (Oberstown) |
Oberstown will reply directly to the Deputy |
|
Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) |
The IHREC will reply directly to the Deputy |
|
National Disability Authority (NDA) |
The NDA will reply directly to the Deputy |
Early Childhood Care and Education
Ceisteanna (528)
Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:528. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will review the pay of preschool teachers (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4310/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I am very conscious of the need for improvement in pay and working conditions for early years educators and school-age childcare practitioners. As the State does not employ staff in early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC) services, my Department cannot set their wage levels or determine their working conditions, but my Department has provided a range of supports to service providers to enable them to improve wages and working conditions.
On 15 September 2022, the first ever Employment Regulation Orders for Early Years Services came into effect, setting new minimum hourly rates of pay for the sector. It is estimated that 73% of those working in the sector saw their wages rise as a result. The Orders are being supported by Core Funding– which has an allocation of €259 million in its first year – to support improvements in staff wages, alongside a commitment to freeze parental fees and sustainability of services.
Also, in December 2021, I published "Nurturing Skills: The Workforce Plan for Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age Childcare (SAC), 2022-2028". This Plan includes specific actions for moving to a graduate-led workforce by 2028, establishing a career framework for staff working in the ELC and SAC sector, including role profiles, qualifications requirements and the strengthening of career pathways. Nurturing Skills also includes actions to support the recruitment and retention of staff with the necessary qualifications, and ongoing staff training and development, to create a workforce which feels valued and is motivated to deliver the best possible service to children.
Early learning and childcare services are private businesses and their policies on operating hours and staffing are a matter for the service provider. As such, the decision to close a service during non-ECCE periods, e.g. over the summer, lies with the service provider.
Regarding social protection entitlements, this matter falls outside of the remit of my Department. Questions over such entitlements are a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Social Protection.
Direct Provision System
Ceisteanna (529)
Pa Daly
Ceist:529. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on his Department's implementation of the measures specific to it contained within the White Paper on ending direct provision. [4312/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the Deputy will be aware the Government made a commitment in the Programme for Government to end the current system of accommodation for International Protection applicants and replace it with a new model that is based on a not for profit approach. As part of this process, I published A White Paper to end Direct Provision and to Establish a new International Protection Support Service on 26th February 2021. This paper sets out a new approach for accommodating applicants that seek International Protection in Ireland and will replace the current system.
Since publishing, the White Paper my Department has placed a significant focus on delivering these reforms. Progress made includes:
- The recruitment of a team dedicated to driving the implementation of the new programme;
- The establishment of Governance structures to oversee transition to the new model in the form of a Programme Board and an External Advisory Committee. The Board has met regularly over the past 18 months to review progress. The board are due to meet again on 2nd Feb 2023 to review project timelines and the work of the sub-committee. The EAG meet with the Department regularly and are also due to meet again on 2nd Feb 2023 ;
- The development of the community accommodation model including the acquisition of a number of properties. The process of appointing Approved Housing Bodies to manage these properties is near completion ;
- The development of an integration programme to support the principle of ‘integration from day one’ as set out in the White Paper.
- The advancement of our Communication Strategy which includes a dedicated webpage where all members of the public can find updates on the progress being made;
- The initiation of a planning process for Phase One Reception and Integration Centres.
- The roll out of an integration fund, offering grants to civil society organisations for projects supporting the integration of International Protection Applicants. I am very pleased to say that over €1.6m in funding has being awarded to 67 organisations through this new International Protection Integration Fund.
As will be appreciated, the war in Ukraine had an unavoidable impact on timelines for the implementation of the White Paper. Alongside this, there has been a substantial increase in the number of people seeking international protection with almost 20,000 applicants currently in IPAS accommodation. My Department is currently accommodating over 75,000 people overall, compared with 8,000 at this time last year.
In this vastly changed context, an overall review of the projected timelines and deliverables in the White Paper is currently underway. This is a complex exercise that will take account of both the delays that have arisen as a consequence of the war in Ukraine and the impact of the substantial increase in numbers seeking International Protection.
The review is reassessing the projections underpinning the White Paper with respect to numbers of arrivals and how this impacts on key deliverables. The review will also consider whether it is preferable to prioritise the implementation of certain aspects of the White Paper reforms over others. The objective of such an approach would be to progress with key reforms that are achievable in the current altered context and build much needed accommodation capacity in the system. This could enable progress on a meaningful reform programme that adheres to the key principles of the White Paper.
The review will also focus on identifying new approaches that will help the system to manage with the uncertainty and its demand led nature and address future needs.
An initial paper with some options and recommendations has been brought to the White Paper Programme Board for their input and feedback. Once the overall review is completed, a new set of proposals will be drafted and submitted to Government for their approval.
The implementation of the new model is and will continue to be a key priority for my Department.
International Protection
Ceisteanna (530)
Eoin Ó Broin
Ceist:530. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of persons currently being accommodated via IPAS in locations (details supplied); and the status type, the number of persons with leave to remain, with temporary protection and applying for international protection, by household type, that is, single, couple, household with children, in each location. [4345/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Deputy, as requested please see below the number of persons currently being accommodated via IPAS in referred locations; and the status type, the number of persons with leave to remain, with temporary protection and those people applying for international protection by household type namely single; couple; household with children, in each location:
|
Accommodation |
Singles with status |
Singles |
Families with status |
Families |
Couples with status |
Couples (No Children) |
Total number of people with status |
Total Occupancy |
|
City West |
0 |
842 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
842 |
|
Red Cow |
21 |
124 |
8 |
103 |
0 |
88 |
45 |
821 |
|
Ibis |
0 |
131 |
1 |
25 |
1 |
59 |
4 |
325 |
|
Dolcain |
0 |
88 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
88 |
|
Towers |
88 |
121 |
21 |
28 |
1 |
12 |
150 |
217 |
|
Total |
109 |
1,306 |
29 |
156 |
2 |
159 |
199 |
2,293 |
Deputy, I trust this information clarifies the matter.
Early Childhood Care and Education
Ceisteanna (531)
James O'Connor
Ceist:531. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the position regarding funding that has been put on hold for an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4454/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
My officials had been engaging on the matter with Pobal, the administrators of all childcare funding programmes on behalf my Department.
I understand that Pobal have been in direct contact with the childcare provider and any remaining issues have been resolved. Outstanding payments due to the service will issue shortly.