Written Answers Nos. 199-218
199. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will realign the qualification thresholds for the household benefits package with the newly increased fuel allowance thresholds; if she could provide an estimated costing for this measure; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6403/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Household Benefits Package (HHB) comprises the electricity or gas allowance, and the free television licence. My Department will spend approximately €285 million this year on HHB for over 507,000 customers. People over the age of 70 receive the Household Benefits Package, with one package provided per household. The package is also available to people living in the State aged 66-69 years who are in receipt of certain social welfare payments or who satisfy a means test. The package is available to some people under the age of 66 who are in receipt of certain welfare type payments.
In line with previous increases to the allowable means for Fuel Allowance, the means test threshold for the HHB package was similarly increased. Therefore, from the 2nd of January 2023, the means threshold for HHB purposes for people aged between 66 and under 70 years was increased from €120 to €200 a week above the relevant State Pension (Contributory) rate.
The cost of this measure in 2023 is estimated to be in the region of €1 - 1.5 million.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
201. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Social Protection when she expects progress on reforms to the welfare system for workers who, through no fault of their own, lose their job following years of service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6418/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI recently launched a public consultation on proposals for a new pay-related benefit for jobseekers which builds on commitments in the Programme for Government, the Economic Recovery Plan and Pathways to Work.
A pay-related benefit means that the amount of benefit an eligible person receives when they become fully unemployed is directly linked to their previous earnings, subject to a maximum payment. This is intended to provide a more effective cushion against the income shock when a person loses their employment and would bring Ireland in line with other European countries.
I published a 'Strawman' proposal in December last year which sets out the broad guidelines of a new approach to a pay-related jobseeker's benefit. It is not a final design. The objective of the draft proposal is to invite feedback through a national public consultation process to develop a preferred policy design. Submissions are due by 28th February 2023.
As part of the public consultation process, the Department will host a stakeholder event this week, on 10th February 2023. This is open to stakeholder groups and members of the public.
Full details of how to register for the stakeholder event and how to make a written submission on the proposals for a new pay-related benefit for jobseekers are available on the Department's website at gov.ie.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
202. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on the claims by an organisation (details supplied) in respect of international protection breaches in the context of accommodating newly arrived refugees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6397/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department is aware of its obligations under the Recast Reception Conditions Directive (SI 230 of 2018), where it 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.
Since the beginning of 2022, Ireland has accommodated more than 74,000 people who have fled here, between IPAs and those fleeing the war in Ukraine. Last year, over 15,000 people arrived in Ireland seeking accommodation while their applications for international protection are processed by the International Protection Office (IPO). Over the period 2017-2019 an average of 3,500 people applied for protection each year. In the first month of 2023, 1,200 people have arrived seeking international protection in Ireland.
Due to the nationwide shortage of available accommodation for international protection applicants (IPAs), particularly single males, the Citywest transit hub has been providing emergency shelter while IPAs wait to be assigned to accommodation.
On 24 January, the Citywest transit hub reached capacity and entry for adult IPAs was paused on that date.
As of 2 February the total number of people who have not been accommodated by the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) since 24 January stands at 79.
Over 80 IPAs who were previously not provided accommodation on arrival have since been contacted and accommodated by IPAS.
During this time IPAS has continued to provide accommodation for all IP families with children.
Any IPAs who are not provided with accommodation when applying for international protection at the International Protection Office (IPO) have their contact details taken and are contacted as soon as accommodation becomes available.
The situation will remain under constant review and ongoing intensive efforts are being made by my officials to source accommodation.
The response to the ongoing migration crisis has now entered an extremely difficult phase, with insufficient accommodation available nationwide for IPAs. Procuring enough bed space to keep pace with incoming arrivals remains extremely challenging, leading to very significant shortages.
The outlook for accommodation for people fleeing the war in Ukraine is also extremely challenging.
My Department is exploring all potential sources of accommodation to ensure that accommodation is brought onstream as quickly as possible.
203. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth pursuant to recommendation 17 of the report by the Special Rapporteur on Child Protection (details supplied) the details of any analysis carried out by his Department with regard to establishing a State inquiry into the practice of illegal adoptions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6191/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraRecommendation 17 of the report by the Special Rapporteur on Child Protection was that a State inquiry 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 2022, 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.
Specifically in respect of the Department's analysis of the Special Rapporteur's recommendation - officials are currently considering the recommendation in the context of developing a process for including personal testimonies of survivors in the National Centre for Research and Remembrance in a way that will achieve some of the objectives of a Truth Commission.
In addition to all of the above work, I have also ensured that the Birth Information and Tracing Act 2022 provides a lawful basis for Tusla or the Adoption Authority to investigate if a person has been the subject of an illegal birth registration by means of reviewing records, undertaking a trace and obtaining other information relevant to an investigation. In October 2022, in accordance with section 33 of that Act, and having satisfied myself that it is necessary and in the public interest to do so, I directed Tusla to undertake a review and trace of the files which, in the course of the earlier Independent Review process, were flagged by Tusla as containing suspicious markers which could be indicative of an illegal birth registration. Where any cases are confirmed through this review, I have asked that the affected individuals are informed of this in an ethical, sensitive and fully supported manner. This is in keeping with Government’s recognition of a person’s right to identity and right to know of their confirmed illegal birth registration.
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.
204. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of a report by a person (details supplied) into historical abuse by St. John Ambulance; details of any engagement he has had in 2023 with St. John Ambulance regarding the publication of the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6192/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI 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 of the expected publication of the report. Tusla officials have liaised with St John Ambulance regarding safeguarding measures now in place in this organisation.
I wrote again to St John Ambulance on 26th January 2023 seeking an update regarding the expected publication date of the report.
St John Ambulance is not a body under the aegis of my Department however in my capacity as Minister with responsibility for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, I have encouraged St John Ambulance to engage with Tusla and with the independent review process.
205. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when he expects the Decision Support Service (DSS) to be fully operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6208/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 (the 2015 Act) is an important piece of legislation that represents significant legal reform. It changes the existing law on capacity from the status approach of the wardship system to a flexible functional approach, whereby capacity is assessed on an issue and time-specific basis.
The Act will abolish the wards of court system for adults by repealing the Lunacy Regulation (Ireland) Act 1871. Adults currently in wardship will transition to the new decision-making support arrangements on a phased basis over 3 years from the date of commencement.
The Decision Support Service (DSS), which is the organisation that will operate the provisions of the 2015 Act, will respond to the complex decision-making needs of people with capacity difficulties. To date, the Decision Support Service has made considerable progress in preparing to operate the 2015 Act.
Amendments were required to the 2015 Act prior to commencement, in order to streamline processes in the interests of those using its provisions, and to strengthen the safeguards contained in the Act. The Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Act 2022 is the vehicle for these amendments and was signed into law on 17 December last.
The Government remains committed to commencing the 2015 Act, as amended, as soon as possible. Work is currently underway to draft the necessary Statutory Instruments that are required as part of the commencement process, including the drafting of commencement orders and of regulations that the new system of tiered decision supports will need to function. There are a number of such instruments that will need to be finalised before the 2015 Act, as amended, can be operationalised, and my officials are working closely with the Office of the Attorney General to progress this work in early course. The passage of the 2022 Amendment Act was required in order to provide the legal basis to progress these final preparations.
I expect to be in a position to commence the 2015 Act, as amended, in early 2023.
206. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number and the profiles of Ukrainian and IPP arrivals to County Roscommon, in tabular form, for the years 2022 and to date in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6224/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra207. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number and the profiles of Ukrainian and IPP arrivals to the Ballaghaderreen area of County Roscommon, in tabular form, for the years 2022 and to date in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6225/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 206 and 207 together.
My Department is now accommodating over 74,000 refugees and applicants for International Protection in State-funded accommodation. The information requested regarding County Roscommon and Ballaghadreen has been extracted from our systems and outlined in tabular form below.
Beneficiary of Temporary Protection (BOTP) Accommodation
|
County |
Total Number of BOTPs |
|
County Roscommon |
590 |
|
of which Ballaghadreen |
100 |
|
18 years and above |
69 |
|
Under 18 years |
31 |
International Protection (IP) Accommodation
|
County |
Total Number of IPs |
|
County Roscommon |
112 |
|
Boyle |
27 |
|
Family Units |
6 (27 persons) |
|
Singles |
0 |
|
Ballaghadreen |
85 |
|
Family Units |
19 (56 persons) |
|
Singles |
29 |
208. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for an update on the progress of a successor policy to Better Outcomes Brighter Futures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6233/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraLast year, my Department published a Blueprint for the next National Policy Framework for Children and Young People, which set out the approach we are taking to developing the Framework, and the aims it will set out to achieve.
The new policy framework will address all children and young people aged 0-24, covering the period 2023 to 2028. It will focus on realising children's rights, strongly aligned to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child which Ireland ratified in 1992. It will be informed by the concluding observations of the Committee on the Rights of the Child which held its hearing in Geneva on 24th and 25th January, which I attended along with officials from my Department and across Government.
The Framework will aim to place the rights and wellbeing of children and young people at the centre of decision making. It will raise awareness of children's rights and the role we all have in supporting them, and it will spotlight the most challenging issues facing children and young people, and make progress in these areas through time-bound Cross-Government programmes.
We are developing the content of this new framework informed by published data on the issues for children and young people, and an extensive consultation process. In addition to the 'What We Think' series of reports covering the views of over a thousand children and young people about their lives, we have published a report on our own open, public consultation conducted early last year, and consulted more specifically with vulnerable groups of children and young people whose views may not have been specifically sought before. We also recognise the importance of those working with children and young people to the Framework's success; the Children's Rights Alliance held a series of consultations on our behalf with civil society organisations and we are also consulting professionals from Tusla and other Agencies.
All Departments have a role in ensuring that the rights and wellbeing of children and young people are considered in policymaking, and actions to improve outcomes for children extend across Government. Officials from my Department have convened a Government Reference Panel, and are also meeting each Department separately, to discuss how the framework can support them to achieve their goals for children and young people.
My Department expects to publish the new Framework in the first half of this year.
209. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide details on the costs incurred in transporting asylum applicants and beneficiaries of temporary protection to reception centres, accommodation units and emergency accommodation centres located throughout the State from 2011 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6255/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt has not been possible to collate the scale of information sought in the time available. The information sought will be sent to the Deputy as soon as it is collated.
210. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he has engaged with childminders regarding their concerns about increased regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6258/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra232. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the consultation he is having with an organisation (details supplied) to support an affordable childcare scheme in service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6416/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 210 and 232 together.
The National Action Plan for Childminding 2021-2028 commits to develop new, childminder-specific, regulations that are proportionate and appropriate to the home environment and the family setting in which childminders work. This is a necessary step in enabling non-relative childminders to register with Tusla and take part in the National Childcare Scheme, thus allowing parents who use childminders to access subsidies. I am very conscious that the drafting of new regulations needs considerable care in order to get this right, and needs engagement with childminders themselves.
That is why I have ensured there are childminders on the Steering Group for the National Action Plan as well as on all four Advisory Groups, including the expert Advisory Group on Regulation and Inspection of Childminding. And that is also why engagement and consultation with childminders has been key to the process of bringing childminders into the scope of regulation ever since work on this began in 2016, when the Government established a working group on reform and asked Childminding Ireland to chair it.
As part of its work, the Working Group carried out a consultation with childminders through a survey of Childminding Ireland members and a discussion day that allowed more in-depth discussions with childminders from around the country. The Working Group’s report was published in March 2018, and a Draft Childminding Action Plan was published in 2019, for the purpose of public consultation.
The consultation on the Draft Childminding Action Plan took place in the second half of 2019. The consultation process included: an online survey, of which the majority of respondents were childminders; focus groups with childminders, in which a total of 205 childminders took part; and an open policy debate hosted by my Department to which key stakeholders, including childminders and groups representing childminders, were invited. The findings of the consultation process (which are published on my Department's website) informed the development of the National Action Plan for Childminding.
Consultation with childminders and parents will continue this year as we work on drafting the new regulations. I acknowledge that positive engagement with childminders at local level will be critical to success. An Advisory Group on Consultation and Communications has been formed to support the other Advisory Groups to ensure that proposals they make are underpinned by public consultation. Consultations over the coming months will include a series of focus groups with childminders, exploring aspects of aspects of the new regulations that are to be developed.
In addition, the organisation referred to in the Deputy's question, which represents childminders, is a member of the Steering and Advisory Groups. Officials in my Department continue to work closely with the organisation, engaging on a regular basis. Last month I met with members of the organisation, to listen to their concerns and to address any reservations they might have regarding the development of the new regulations. Their participation is very welcome as I believe that active engagement and consultation with childminders and their representatives will be key to the success of the National Action Plan.
211. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of service providers that dropped out of the ECCE scheme for the 2022-23 year; the number that did not register; the number that have indicated they will not re-register for the 2023-24 year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6259/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme provides universal, free pre-school to children in the eligible age range. The programme is provided for three hours per day, five days per week over 38 weeks per year and the programme year runs from the end of August to the following June in line with the primary school year.
Data provided by Pobal, who are the administrators of the ECCE programme on behalf of my Department shows that from the number of services offering the ECCE programme at the end of the 2021/22 programme year, 44 did not offer the ECCE programme in 2022/23.
There are however 119 new services offering the ECCE programme 2022/23 – therefore there has been a net increase of 67 services offering the ECCE programme this year.
The number of children registered/ expected to register on the ECCE programme 2021/22 and 2022/23 is broadly similar at 107,783 and 109,000 respectively
Providers are not required to notify Pobal of their intention to contract or otherwise to deliver the ECCE programme 2023/24 so this data is not yet collated.
212. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will outline all the measures his Department has taken in the past two years to reduce the cost of childcare for parents; his plans to reduce these costs further for parents in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6262/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraSignificant investment has been made by my Department in the last 2 years to support parents with the costs of paying for early learning and childcare and there are a number of further measures planned in the future.
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.
Between May and August 2022, I secured a fee freeze for the vast majority of providers through the Transition Fund to ensure parents would not be hit with increased early learning and childcare costs as the sector exited the pandemic supports and ahead of the introduction of the new funding model. 95% of providers joined the Transition Fund and committed not to increase their fees for that period. Fee Management measures continued from September 2022 underpinned with Interim Funding and Core Funding contracts.
Core Funding, which began in September 2022, is the new funding stream worth €259 million in full year costs. 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. Participation in Core Funding means that fees cannot increase above September 2021 levels for Partner Services. Core Funding also requires Partner Services to offer the NCS and/or ECCE to all eligible parents to ensure that parents can avail of their full entitlement to subsidised provision. The combination of the fee freeze plus access to increased subsidies ensures improved affordability for parents which is particularly important in the context of rising prices for goods and services across the economy. To date, 94% of services are signed up to Core Funding, ensuring that the fee management measures impacts very widely.
The introduction of fee management is one of the recommendations of the Expert Group in their report, Partnership for the Public Good. The fee freeze for the first year of Core Funding is the first step in this few management process and will be further developed in future years as more information about income and costs in the sector is analysed.
In addition to the core funding model, significant enhancements which have been made to the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) which have improved availability and affordability for parents.
- Previously, the scheme deducted hours spent in preschool or school from the applicants overall award under the income assessed subsidy. In May 2022, I announced the removal of this practice allowing applicants to use their full entitlement to subsidised hours for early learning and childcare.
- In September 2022, I also extended the universal subsidy of the NCS to include all children under 15 years of age.
- In October 2022 I announced additional funding of €121 million for the NCS to increase the universal subsidy from €0.50 per hour to €1.40 per hour. This measure aims to reduce the weekly childcare bill of families by 25% on average.
Currently most childminders are excluded from participation in the National Childcare Scheme, as a result of their legal exemption from Tusla-registration set out in the Child Care Act 1991. In April 2021, I published the National Action Plan for Childminding 2021-2028, which sets out a phased, incremental pathway for non-relative childminders to come into the scope of regulation, supports and subsidies.
In line with the National Action Plan for Childminding, in January this year I received approval for proposals to amend the Child Care Act to change the legal status of childminders. This change will make possible the future regulation of childminders and allow for access to the National Childcare Scheme to be opened in future to parents who use non-relative childminders, reducing the cost of early learning and childcare for those parents. I intend to open the National Childcare Scheme to childminders at the earliest possible opportunity, though it will be necessary first to develop and introduce childminder-specific regulations, and to give childminders adequate time and support to meet regulatory requirements.
Additionally, The end of 3 year review of the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) will commence at the end of 2023. The review will examine how effectively the NCS is operating, whether it is meeting the policy objectives and if further changes are needed.
213. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the measures his Department has taken to reduce costs for those running crèches and childminding facilities; his plans to support them further with costs in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6263/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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.
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, 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. The original allocation for year 1 of Core Funding in Budget 2022 was €207 million. I grew this to €221 million in early 2022 in response to cost pressures, and increased that again to €259 million in September 2022 based on significant capacity growth in the sector.
Core Funding is open to all Tusla registered services subject to their agreement to the terms and conditions of the funding, including financial transparency and fee management. Already 94% of services have signed up to Core Funding and the scheme remains open for applications.
Core Funding is a very significant new injection of funding into the sector and I have secured an increase of €28 million in the Core Funding envelope for year two of operation (September 2023-August 2024). Approximately €4 million of the €28 million will be used to remove the experience requirement on both graduate premiums under Core Funding. The remaining €24 million will be used for further developments and enhancements to the scheme, the precise allocation of which will be determined by evidence and analysis emerging from year one of the operation of the scheme and must be evidence based.
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.
Additionally, early learning and childcare 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.
Due to the level of support provided over the past years through Covid-19 funding - estimated to be in excess of €1 billion - many early learning and childcare services are in a strong financial position. Available funding included the Temporary Wage Subsidy Childcare Scheme, Covid-19 capital grants, Reopening Support Payments, Ventilation grants, Playing Outside Grants, and the Transition Fund, in addition to the very substantial funding through the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme which covered the large majority of the wage bill for most services.
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.
214. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a building (details supplied) is being considered for accommodation for Ukrainian beneficiaries of temporary protection or international protection applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6286/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland is responding to the largest displacement of people on the European continent since the Second World War. Since 24 February 2022, my Department has worked to accommodate an unprecedented volume of persons seeking refuge from the invasion of Ukraine, coming to over 73,000 people, of which over 53,000 have sought accommodation.
Overseeing provision of accommodation on this scale during this timeframe for all those who require it remains immensely challenging. Due to the urgent need to source accommodation, my Department has contracted in excess of 42,000 beds to accommodate Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) in more than 700 settings including hotels, guesthouses, B&Bs, hostels, commercial self-catering accommodation and certain other repurposed settings.
The priority is to place people fleeing the conflict in safe and secure accommodation.
I can confirm that my Department is considering the premises referred to by the Deputy as potential accommodation for Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection. Discussions are ongoing and 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.
215. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department collects data on PPS numbers assigned to international protection applicants; if so, if he will provide the number of PPS numbers assigned from 2011 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6308/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraDeputy, the Department of Children, Equality, Integration, Disability and Youth is responsible for the provision of reception and accommodation services to international protection applicants. DCEDIY does not collect PPSN information relating to international protection applicants (IPAs). Matters relating to PPSNs are a matter for the Department of Social Protection (DSP).
If the Deputy wishes to request statistics on the number of IPAs since 2011, this would be a matter for the International Protection Office which falls under the aegis of the Department of Justice.
I trust this information clarifies the matter.
216. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total number of children currently in foster care; the extent to which the level of care is satisfactory and in accordance with regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6352/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraTusla’s latest Service Performance and Activity Report for October 2022 informs that 3,691 children were in general foster care (63.5% of children in care) and 1,473 children were in relative foster care (25.4% of children in care) at that time. Overall, this totals 5,164 children in foster care as of October 2022 (88.9% of children in care), the most recent information available.
Both Tusla and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth are committed to promoting safe and high quality practice in foster care. This is achieved through the application of Regulations and Standards that govern the placement of children and young people within a foster care setting.
The placement of children in foster care is governed by the National Standards for Foster Care 2003, and underpinned by the Child Care (Placement of Children in Foster Care) 1995 and the Child Care (Placement of Children with Relatives) Regulations 1995.
HIQA carries out announced and unannounced inspections of children’s services, including foster care services. HIQA inspections are carried out against the relevant Regulations and Standards.
Tusla in discharging its statutory responsibilities under the Child Care Act, 1991, as amended, must have the best interests of the child as its paramount consideration. It actively monitors every placement of every child in care, including foster care, to ensure its appropriateness to the needs of that child, and any concerns or breaches of standards or regulations are addressed in this context.
217. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which children’s rights continue to be maintained in accordance with the children’s rights referendum and subsequent legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6353/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra221. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which he remains satisfied that the rights and entitlements of children are adequately protected without intrusion from any other source or threat; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6357/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 217 and 221 together.
Children's rights, and their enjoyment of these rights, are of paramount importance to my Department, and indeed across Government. The importance of child-centred policies and protections represent a core value in society where children can flourish and see a brighter future. There is no doubt that we must work towards ensuring this future and empower children to voice what kind of future they want.
Ireland remains firmly committed to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), a major international human rights treaty that sets out the specific rights of children. The UNCRC was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1989 and Ireland ratified it in 1992.
The UNCRC has four key principles:
- all the rights guaranteed by the Convention must be available to all children without discrimination of any kind (Article 2);
- the best interests of the child must be a primary consideration in all actions concerning children (Article 3);
- every child has the right to life, survival and development (Article 6); and
- the child’s views must be considered and taken into account in all matters affecting him or her (Article 12).
The articles of the UNCRC are wide-ranging and cover a number of areas including health, housing, social security, education, leisure and play, child protection and welfare, criminal justice, international protection as well as access to information and participation in decision-making. Ireland is required to submit regular state reports on measures it has taken to progress the implementation of rights under the Convention, with the most recent report submitted in February 2022.
In January last, I led the State delegation for an oral examination before the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child on Ireland's combined 5th and 6th State Report and the Committee's observations/recommendations are expected shortly.
Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures, the National Policy Framework for Children and Young People, 2014-2020, concluded at the end of 2020. Officials in my Department are currently developing a new policy framework for children and young people to cover the period from 2023 to 2028. This new policy framework is adopting a children’s rights approach, informed by the UN Convention on the Rights of Child, envisioning an Ireland in which the rights of children and young people are respected and realised. The new Policy Framework is timed to allow it to respond to the Concluding Recommendations, that we expect to shortly receive from the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, and will be published this year.
The holding of a Referendum on children's rights was an important commitment of the Government. As you are aware, the 31st Amendment, inserting Article 42A into the Constitution was signed into law on 28th April 2015. The fact that the Amendment now stands as part of our Constitution represents a considerable and symbolic advance in the identification of children as individual rights holders in our country.
218. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children now in the various forms of institutional or custodial care; the extent to which the children’s rights continue to be observed in such circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6354/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAt the end of October 2022, which is the latest data published by Tusla, there were 5,810 children and young people in the care of the State. Of these, 446 (7.7%) were in Residential Care, and 15 (3.4%) were in secure Special Care.
Both Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, and my Department are committed to promoting safe and high quality practice in all areas of Alternative Care. This is achieved through the application of Regulations and Standards that govern the placement of children and young people.
The placement of children in Residential Care is governed by the National Standards for Children’s Residential Centres 2001, and underpinned by the Child Care (Placement in Residential Care) Regulation 1995, and the Child Care (Standards in Children’s Residential Centres) 1996. The placement of children in Special Care is governed by the National Standards for Special Care Units 2014, as well as the Health Act 2007 (Care and Welfare of Children in Special Care Units) Regulations 2017, Health Act 2007 (Care and Welfare of Children in Special Care Units) (Amendment) Regulations 2018, and the Health Act 2007 (Registration of Designated Centres) (Special Care Units) Regulations 2017
HIQA carries out announced and unannounced inspections of statutory Children’s Residential Centres and Special Care units. HIQA carry out these inspections against the identified Regulations and Standards. Tusla is the statutory regulator of Private and Voluntary Children’s Residential Centres, and is therefore responsible for the registration and inspection of these centres in accordance with Regulations, standards, and the relevant provisions of the Child Care Act 1991.
The foregoing sets out the safeguards in place with regard to all placements of children in residential and special care. Tusla in discharging its statutory responsibilities under the Child Care Acts must have the best interests of the child as its paramount consideration. It actively monitors every placement of every child in care to ensure its appropriateness to the needs of that child, and any concerns or breaches of standards or Regulations are addressed in this context.
With regard to the number of children detained within Oberstown Children Detention Campus (Oberstown), occupancy rates in 2022 have averaged approximately 31 per day. As of the 7 February 2023 there were 35 children in Oberstown, 14 on remand awaiting trial and 21 serving sentences, all boys.
Oberstown provides a range of care and education services to children up to the age of 18 and a half detained by the courts on remand or detention orders. It is currently authorised to accommodate a maximum of 46 children – 40 boys and 6 girls.
Oberstown operates under the Children Act 2001 (the Act), as amended, under the auspices of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY).
The Campus strives to provide young people in detention with the highest standards of rights-based, child centred care that meets their needs and enables them to maximise their potential.
Oberstown has developed a range of services and approaches to address the needs of young people. This includes a focus on Care, Education, Health, challenging Offending behaviour and Preparation for leaving under what is known as the CEHOP® model of care.
In 2020, Oberstown adopted a new policy platform – the Children’s Rights Policy Framework – in line with national and international standards. The Framework was developed to ensure that there is a consistent; rights based approach to the care of young people. In September 2021, this Framework became operational and replaced the ‘ Standards & Criteria for Inspection of Children Detention Schools’.
This Framework consists of 12 Rules underpinned by policies and procedures that seek to ensure that Oberstown is a place where young people are safe, where they get the best possible care, and their rights are respected. The Rules cover the five pillars of CEHOP®, the Oberstown model of care, along with other key aspects of the safety and care of young people and staff at Oberstown. It is against the Children’s Rights Policy Framework that Inspectors from the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) carry out independent annual inspections at Oberstown.
In 2021, the Department of Justice adopted the Youth Justice Strategy 2021-2027 and it makes specific references to the role of Oberstown in the youth justice system, assigning lead or co-responsibility to Oberstown for a range of strategic actions.
Oberstown is also fully committed to the implementation of the public sector equality and human rights duty, as set out in section 42 of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Act 2014.
There is an Advocacy Officer employed in Oberstown whose role is to provide a link between young people, Oberstown management and the Oberstown Board of Management. The advocacy process ensures that young people’s rights are both protected and promoted, and that they are enabled to participate actively in this process.
