Written Answers Nos. 431-444
431. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children currently in direct provision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9485/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraDeputy, the number of children currently in International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) accommodation currently stands at 4,139 as of 19 February 2023.
432. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he has had sight of the report into historical child sexual abuse allegations at an organisation (details supplied); when it is expected that this report will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9493/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy that neither this Department nor Tusla, the Child and Family agency has had sight of the Independent report by Dr. Shannon. St John Ambulance continues to complete its due diligence process. However, the organisation has stated that it intends notifying the victims/survivors of the report prior to its publication and to meet with the victims/ survivors to outline the report’s recommendations prior to publication.
433. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he supports allowing asylum seekers to engage with homeless services at local authority-level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9502/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraDecisions on who is eligible to engage with homeless services are matters for the Minister for Housing.
As the Deputy will be aware, the response to the ongoing migration crisis has entered an extremely difficult phase; with no apparent accommodation for international protection applicants (IPAs) at scale available into the short term to medium term.
The overflow facility at the Citywest Transit Hub has reached capacity and it became necessary to pause arrival of new (IPAs) into the overflow facility at Citywest from 24 January.
IPAS is working intensively to procure additional emergency accommodation for those who have not been accommodated since the paused entry to Citywest began. As at 27 February the total number of people who have not been accommodated by IPAS since 24 January stands at 183. As at 24 February, the total number of people who were originally not accommodated by IPAS due to the paused entry to Citywest but have since been offered accommodation stands at 247.
IPAS are currently contacting people who have arrived on 7 February to offer them accommodation and are operating a strict queueing system in chronological order of arrival date to ensure fairness.
Intensive efforts are being undertaken daily by staff in DCEDIY to source emergency accommodation.
Emergency centres have been opened in all parts of the country. There have been over 90 accommodation locations utilised since January 2022 across 17 counties.
434. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will support lifting the restrictions on the right to work, to allow all asylum seekers to work and implementing all the recommendations of a group (details supplied) in relation to the right to work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9505/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, my Department is responsible for the provision of accommodation to persons in the International Protection process. All matters and obligations relating to the Labour Permission Access should be directed to Department of Justice.
435. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will intervene to request an organisation (details supplied) to publish the report completed on child abuse; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9548/23]
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. I wish to further advise that neither this Department nor Tusla, the Child and Family agency has had sight of the Independent report by Dr. Shannon. St John Ambulance continues to complete its due diligence process. However, the organisation has stated that it intends notifying the victims and survivors of the report prior to its publication and to meet with the victims and survivors to outline the report’s recommendations prior to publication.
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.
436. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth whether a hotel (details supplied) will be paid for providing accommodation during the past eight months and which is only being paid for one of those months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9578/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has engaged over 700 properties to provide accommodation for Ukrainian Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection. In line with the Department’s commitment to substantially clear the backlog at the end of 2022, I temporarily re-assigned staff from other parts of the Department in December, doubling the size of the payments unit. The enlarged team approved more than 100 million euros worth of payments.
My Department is prioritising maintaining a practice of more timely payments, including providing more resources to address any issues. Any delays in making payments are deeply regretted and the Department is according this issue very high priority.
I am advised by my officials that this Supplier has received four payments to date – the last one being on 19th of January, 2023 (Invoice 8172).
The outstanding invoices for the company mentioned in the Details Supplied are currently being prioritised for payment. A definite date cannot be supplied as yet, as a number of checks are underway, including queries on a number of these invoices submitted by one of the parties.
The outstanding Invoices being prioritised are numbers 8117, 8171, 8187 and 8208.
437. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of international protection applicants currently accommodated in a facility (details supplied); of this number, the number of children under the age of eighteen years; the average length of stay of those children under the age of eighteen years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9614/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraDeputy, the number of people currently accommodated in Citywest convention centre is 730. There are currently no children under the age of eighteen years accommodated in the Citywest convention centre.
The total number of children currently in International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) accommodation stands at 4,139 as of 19 February 2023.
438. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total of staff and budget of AIM, divided across the services delivered; and the estimated number of clients reached by each service which was delivered in 2022. [9637/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) is a model of supports designed to ensure that children with disabilities can access the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme. Its goal is to empower Early Learning and Care (ELC) providers to deliver an inclusive preschool experience, ensuring that every eligible child can meaningfully participate in the ECCE programme and reap the benefits of quality early years care and education. AIM is a child-centred model, involving seven levels of support, moving from the universal to the targeted, based on the needs of the child and the preschool service. It offers tailored, practical supports based on need and does not require a formal diagnosis of disability.
The main supports are grouped into universal or targeted supports. Universal supports are designed to create a more inclusive culture in Early Learning and Care settings, through training courses and qualifications for staff. Where universal supports are not enough to meet the needs of an individual child, targeted supports are available to ensure the child can meaningfully participate in pre-school. AIM is administered by Pobal and Better Start.
Universal supports (Levels 1-3)
|
Level 1 |
aims to embed an inclusive culture in services, includes the national inclusion policy and guidelines for ECCE, the funding of the Leadership for Inclusion (LINC) training programme, the establishment of Inclusion Co-Ordinator (INCO) roles in ECCE settings, and a small increase in capitation of €2 per registered ECCE child for services with qualified Inclusion Co-ordinators. |
|
Level 2 |
involves provision of information for parents and providers on AIM, through the AIM.gov.ie website and information provided by County/City Childcare Committees. |
|
Level 3 |
recognises the requirement to continue to develop a qualified workforce that can confidently meet the needs of all children participating in the ECCE Programme. Supports include funding of training courses such as Hanen, Lámh and Sensory Processing E-Learning (SPEL). |
Targeted supports (Levels 4-7)
|
Level 4 |
addresses the needs of early learning and care practitioners to have timely access to advice and support from experts in early learning and care (and disability in particular) to assist them meet each child’s needs. |
|
Level 5 |
recognises that some children require specialised equipment, appliances, assistive technology and/or that some early learning and care settings may require minor structural alterations to ensure children with a disability can participate in the ECCE programme. Supports include grants for equipment and some minor capital building works. |
|
Level 6 |
provides access to therapeutic supports where they are critical to enable a child be enrolled, and fully participate, in the ECCE programme. |
|
Level 7 |
Additional assistance in the pre-school room involves additional capitation for service providers where an application process has demonstrated that supports at Level 1-6 have not, or will not, by themselves, meet the child’s needs. Funding can be used by the provider to buy in additional support, or reduce the staff / child ratio, supporting the pre-school leader to ensure the child’s optimal participation. |
Targeted supports under specific strands are tracked across programme years (i.e Sept-Aug). For 2022/2023 to date, 283 children received equipment under AIM Level 5. The number of Level 7 level 7 allocations to pre-school services is 4,321. For the same period, there are 2,400 Inclusion Co-Ordinators in pre-school settings nationally.
More broadly, in 2022, over 6,500 children received over 10,000 AIM targeted supports in over 2,300 services nationwide.
AIM expenditure in 2022 was €35m. The below table shows the amount spent on the different AIM support Levels.
|
Programme Call 2022 |
Total |
|
AIM Level 1 –Inclusion Co-Ordinator |
€5m |
|
AIM Level 1 – Equality, Disability & Inclusion Training |
€0.1m |
|
AIM Level 1 – LINC Programme |
€1.5m |
|
AIM Level 3 – Hanen, Lamh & Spel Training & workshop |
€0.13m |
|
AIM Level 5 –Equipment materials and minor capital |
€0.7m |
|
AIM Level 7 |
€26.7m |
|
City & County Childcare supports |
€.75m |
|
Evaluation of AIM |
€0.06m |
|
Total |
€35m |
439. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total budget and staff of special prenatal and preschool services delivered in particularly disadvantaged areas under ABC or equivalent programmes; and the total number of children served. [9638/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraTulsa’s National Area Based Childhood (ABC) Programme is an area-based Prevention and Early Intervention initiative which is delivered in twelve areas of significant socio-economic disadvantage across the country through the Prevention Partnership and Family Support Programme within Tusla.
Through prevention and early intervention approaches, the ABC programme works in partnership with families, practitioners, communities and national stakeholders to deliver better outcomes for children and families living in areas where poverty is most deeply entrenched. ABC concentrates its work on supporting families, babies, and children aged pre-birth to 6. The total 2023 ABC Budget is €8,537,745.
Based on figures from ten of the twelve ABC sites, in 2022, the ABC programme engaged with a total of 14,486 parents and supported 10,048 babies and children aged birth to 3 years of age as well as 6,548 preschool children. The programme also delivered workforce capacity building to 5,947 professionals.
440. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the commencement date of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Act 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9644/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Act 2022 (the 2022 Act) makes amendments to the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 (the 2015 Act), particularly with regard to the streamlining of processes in the interests of those using the provisions, and the strengthening of safeguards under the 2015 Act. 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 more rights based and flexible approach, whereby capacity is assessed on an issue and time-specific basis.
The 2015 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.
The Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Act 2022 was signed into law on 17 December last. The Government remains committed to the commencement of this Act, and the 2015 Act, 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 will be in a position to commence both the 2022 Act, and the 2015 Act, on 26 April 2023. This will have the effect of abolishing wardship and brining into operation the new system of decision supports.
441. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the timeframe for the commencement of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Act 2022, which was enacted in December 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9669/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Act 2022 (the 2022 Act) makes amendments to the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 (the 2015 Act), particularly with regard to the streamlining of processes in the interests of those using the provisions, and the strengthening of safeguards under the 2015 Act. 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 more rights based and flexible approach, whereby capacity is assessed on an issue and time-specific basis.
The 2015 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.
The Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Act 2022 was signed into law on 17 December last. The Government remains committed to the commencement of this Act, and the 2015 Act, 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 will be in a position to commence both the 2022 Act, and the 2015 Act, on 26 April 2023. This will have the effect of abolishing wardship and bringing into operation the new system of decision supports.
442. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an update in respect of the work of a person (details supplied) in respect of historical matters. [9686/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra443. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he and or Tusla has received any interim or final reports in respect of an organisation’s inquiry (details supplied) undertaken by a person; and if he will make a written request to the organisation to publish the report. [9687/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 442 and 443 together.
As previously advised, 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 under way and that St John Ambulance was committed to completing this process in a timely manner.
My 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.
I can confirm that neither this Department nor Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has had sight of the Independent report by Dr. Shannon. St John Ambulance continues to complete its due diligence process. However, the organisation has stated that it intends notifying the victims/survivors of the report prior to its publication and to meet with the victims/ survivors to outline the report’s recommendations prior to publication.
444. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the cost of the new dedicated State Agency for Early Learning and Care; the reason there is no place available on the new agency for provider representatives; and if he is confident that Frontier Economics will adhere to EU GDPR legislation for the duration of the review that they are undertaking; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9703/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 29th March 2022, Government accepted the findings of the independent Review of the Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age Childcare (SAC) Operating Model in Ireland that a dedicated state agency is the optimal operating model for the ELC and SAC sector for the years ahead. It is envisaged that this dedicated agency will undertake the functions currently carried out by Pobal Early Years (including Better Start), the City and County Childcare Committees, as well as operational functions currently undertaken by my Department.
A dedicated state agency will assist in the development of a more streamlined structure to better support the delivery of ELC and SAC, and will facilitate my Department in implementing and progressing the significant reform agenda envisaged under First 5, the Whole of Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families.
Considerable progress has been made in advancing this ambitious and transformative reform programme. My Department has commenced a comprehensive phase of analysis, planning, consultation, and engagement with sectoral stakeholders to determine how the recommendation arising from the Review can best be implemented. This phase will include a detailed design of a new agency, which will involve a comprehensive evidence-based cost projection for the establishment and annual running costs of a new state agency, determining the appropriate national, local and regional structures, an examination of all legal requirements, transition and continuity planning, and risk management. This work will culminate in a fully costed full agency design and implementation plan which will be presented to Government for approval.
The Programme Board to oversee planning for a dedicated State Agency for ELC and SAC, the membership of which I recently announced, comprises interdepartmental representatives alongside several external experts with experience at senior level in change management and large-scale reform, leadership, governance, public policy, and a knowledge of the ELC and SAC sector. The Board is comprised in this manner to ensure a blend of relevant external and public sector expertise to oversee this significant programme of reform in an impartial and objective manner. However, as part of an overall governance framework, my Department will be undertaking detailed and ongoing consultation with all stakeholders, including provider representatives, throughout the lifetime of the programme to ensure their invaluable views are captured and reflected in the design process. My Department will also ensure that provider representatives, and indeed all stakeholders, will be kept informed of developments throughout the design and implementation planning phase for a new national agency for ELC and SAC.
Following the completion of a procurement competition, Frontier Economics has been commissioned by my Department to complete an independent financial review of sessional services.
As part of the agreement, which has been signed with the Department, Frontier Economics has contracted to comply with all applicable national and EU data protection laws, regulations and guidelines. This includes, but is not limited to, Regulation (EU) 2016/679 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Directive 95/46/EC (the “General Data Protection Regulation”), and any guidelines and codes of practice issued by the Office of the Data Protection Commission as the supervisory authority for data protection in Ireland.
Article 45 of the GDPR allows for transfers on the basis of an adequacy decision. The EU formally adopted ‘adequacy decisions’ for the UK, which are expected to last until June 2025. These recognise that the UK provides an equivalent level of protection for personal data as the EU does.
This independent financial review of sessional services is currently underway, with the report due to be completed by end Q2 2023.
