Written Answers Nos. 1482-1501
1482. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps he is taking to ensure the provision of additional crèche and childcare facilities in Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39058/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 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, which began in September 2022, is the new funding stream 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 differs from the other schemes for subsidising Early Learning and Childcare in that it follows a supply-side model. Services receive funding based on their capacity – the space and opening hours they offer to children – rather than on registrations or attendance. Structuring Core Funding primarily based on capacity means that services have an allocation each year that does not fluctuate in line with children’s attendance. Core Funding contributes to services’ sustainability and significantly increases income for the overwhelming majority of services and provides greater funding stability. This stability of funding should be especially helpful to new services starting up.
Core Funding has provided evidence of increased capacity in ELC and SAC. Initial analysis shows the increased capacity is the type of capacity that is in highest demand relative to supply (i.e. more baby and toddler places as well as school-age places).
Budget 2023 allocates €1,025m 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 entails greater public management of the sector, including new conditions in relation to fees controls, quality improvements, and financial and operational transparency. I am committed to working with Partner Services delivering early learning and childcare for the public good.
Some €69 million has been allocated over the period 2023-2025 to the early learning and childcare sector under the revised National Development Plan (NDP). This will enable significant capital investment in early learning and childcare across three pillars:
1. Building Blocks - Improvement Grant;
2. Building Blocks - Capacity Grant; and
3. Building Blocks - Innovation Grant.
The Building Blocks - Improvement Grant is now closed. Under this Pillar, €9 million was allocated earlier this year in grants ranging from €35,000 to €75,000 for energy upgrades and retrofit projects.
Work is currently underway on the design and delivery of Pillars 2 and 3, which have a combined allocation of €20 million in 2024 and €40 million in 2025.
The Building Blocks – Capacity Grant will fund an expansion of existing services in areas of under supply. Funding will also be provided to support the development of new services, where most needed.
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. 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.
1483. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an update on the return of therapists to special schools; the number that have returned to Cork schools; and the number that will return in September 2023, by role, in tabular form. [39069/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1484. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will outline his Department’s engagement with a hotel (details supplied) and the IPAS and BOTP procurement teams to secure emergency accommodation at this site following its upgrade; what the capacity will be; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39104/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAdditional capacity for circa 260 people has been offered to the Department by this existing provider.
The additional capacity is for international protection applicants who are families.
The Department is awaiting works to be completed and the necessary supporting documentation to be supplied before it can begin to use the additional capacity.
1485. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated full year cost of abolishing childcare fees for parents through increasing the universal childcare subsidy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39124/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department does not hold individualised fee data for parents. These are local agreements between parents and early learning and childcare providers that reflect diverse needs and usage patterns, with fees varying within and across counties.
My Department has not, heretofore, routinely gathered data on parental fee income to early learning and childcare services other than through occasional research studies, e.g. the independent review of costs. The independent review of costs undertaken by Crowe in 2018 on behalf of the Department found that approximately 40% of the total income to the sector in 2017 came from parental fees at a time when annual state investment in the sector was €466 million. This percentage varied significantly across services. Many services relied entirely on State funding while a small proportion of service relied exclusively on parental fees.
Core Funding Partner Services are required to provide financial returns in late 2023 detailing their income and costs, which will provide up to date insight into the financial operations of services and allow an accurate estimate of income from parents fees to be derived, in addition to income from the State and surplus.
1486. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated full year cost of meeting a union's (details supplied) wage increase claim for childcare workers if the increase was to be paid for by the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39125/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI firmly believe the level of pay for early years educators and school-age childcare practitioners should reflect the value of their work for children, families, society and the economy.
The State is not the employer and therefore does not set the pay or conditions for employees in either early learning and care (ELC) or school-age childcare (SAC) services.
However, there is now, through the Joint Labour Committee (JLC) process, a formal mechanism established by which employer and employee representatives can negotiate minimum pay rates for ELC and SAC services, which are set down in Employment Regulation Orders (EROs). This is an independent process from the Department and neither I, nor my officials, have any role in the proceedings of the JLC and any associated negotiated minimum pay rates, the cost of which is borne by the employer.
Among other objectives, Core Funding supports the ability of service providers to meet the additional costs resulting from the EROs for Early Years Services, which came into effect in September 2022, as it provides increases in funding to early learning and childcare service providers to support improvements in staff wages, alongside a commitment to freeze parental fees.
On the basis of 2022 data supplied by Partner Services taking part in the Core Funding scheme, the estimated annual cost to employers of raising all the minimum pay rates specified in the EROs (for different grades and qualification levels) by the rates proposed in the document to which the question makes reference (making assumptions specified below in relation to equivalent increases for other roles specified in the EROs) is approximately €89 million on a full-year basis, inclusive of employer-related costs.
In relation to the estimates above, the following should be noted:
• The cost estimates are based on staff who had an hourly wage recorded in service providers’ submissions for Core Funding, but the Core Funding data has been extrapolated to provide an estimate for all staff working in the sector.
• Current wage data was initially provided by service providers in August 2022, before the EROs for Early Years Services came into force, but has been adjusted upward on the assumption that all staff now earn at least the legally-binding minimum rates of pay specified in the EROs.
• The cost estimates are for the additional cost to employers of bringing staff from their current (since August 2022) wage or the minimum pay rates set out in the EROs, whichever is higher, up to a pay rate of €15 per hour or €2 above each of the minimum pay rates in the EROs, with the exception of graduate managers for whom a minimum rate of €20 per hour is used as the basis for calculation, in line with the wording of the document to which the question makes reference.
• Calculations are based on wage-data available at a point in time. Some services may have increased wages more recently, which would reduce the cost to services of moving from current wage-rates to a €15 per hour minimum wage-rate.
• The cost estimates only relate to staff and managers covered by the current EROs, i.e. the estimates exclude the cost of ancillary staff.
• The cost estimates do not attempt to account for the potential cost implications for the wages of staff who are currently earning more than €2 per hour above current ERO minimum rates.
1487. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated full year cost of expanding the number of childcare places to meet an estimated unmet demand for early years and after-school care currently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39126/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe availability of high-quality early learning and childcare is a key Government priority. My 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 captured from the 2021/22 iteration of the Early Years Sector Profile for example indicated that the vacancy is 8% across Dublin for children aged 0-2. Data collection for the 2022/23 Early Years Sector Profile is currently underway and will give an updated position.
Together for Better, the new funding model, brings together the three Early Learning and Childcare programmes, Early Childhood Care and Education, including the Access and Inclusion Model, the National Childcare Scheme and Core Funding.
Investment in early learning and childcare is at unprecedented levels with public funding for the first time reaching more than €1 billion in 2023 for early learning and childcare – a clear demonstration from Government of the value of the sector.
Core Funding, worth €259 million in Year 1 and €287 million in Year 2, an 11% increase, intentionally introduces Fee Management in a sustainable and considered manner, allowing for substantial increases in the total cost base for the sector without additional costs being passed on to parents.
Core Funding has provided evidence of increased capacity in Early Learning and Care and School Age Childcare. Initial analysis shows the increased capacity is the type of capacity that is in highest demand relative to supply (i.e. more baby and toddler places as well as school-age places).
Some €69 million has been allocated over the period 2023-2025 to the early learning and childcare sector under the revised National Development Plan (NDP). This will enable significant capital investment in early learning and childcare across three pillars:
Building Blocks - Improvement Grant;
Building Blocks - Capacity Grant; and
Building Blocks - Innovation Grant.
The Building Blocks - Improvement Grant is now closed. Under this Pillar, €9 million was allocated earlier this year in grants ranging from €35,000 to €75,000 for energy upgrades and retrofit projects.
Work is currently underway on the design and delivery of Pillars 2 and 3, which have a combined allocation of €20 million in 2024 and €40 million in 2025.
The Building Blocks – Capacity Grant will fund an expansion of existing services in areas of under supply. Funding will also be provided to support the development of new services, where most needed.
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. 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.
1488. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will give urgent consideration to the issues raised by a national organisation (details supplied); if he will ensure that extra supports are provided for this sector at an early date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39158/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra€100 ECCE capitation
My Department funds private early learning and care service providers to provide the ECCE programme at a standard rate of €69 per week per child attending the ECCE programme. €4.50 of this fee goes directly to the provider and the remaining €64.50 reduces the fees paid by the parent/guardian.
In 2010, when the ECCE Programme was first introduced, the standard capitation was €64.50, the higher capitation rate (for services with graduate room leaders) was €75 and the adult child ratio was 1:10. This equated to a maximum weekly income to providers of €645 (with standard capitation) and €750 (with higher capitation) for every 10 children to one adult.
In 2012, as part of austerity measures, the standard capitation was reduced to €62.50 and the higher capitation rate was reduced to €73. To offset this, the adult child ratio increased from 1:10 to 1:11. This equated to a maximum weekly income to providers of €687.50 (with standard capitation) and €803 (with higher capitation) for every 11 children to one adult.
In 2016, ECCE capitation was restored to €64.50 (standard capitation) and €75 (higher capitation) though the increased ratio remained in place. This equated to a maximum weekly income to providers of €709.50 (with standard capitation) and €825 (with higher capitation) for every 11 children to one adult.
In 2017, a non-contact time payment – later known as Programme Support Payment (PSP) – was introduced. This provided additional funding to ECCE providers equivalent to 7 additional days at standard capitation rates (equivalent to an additional €26.14 per week per 11 children or €2.38 per week per child). Funding for the ECCE Programme and PSP combined equated to a maximum weekly income to providers of €735.64 (where standard capitation applied) and €851.14 (where higher capitation applied) for every 11 children to one adult.
In 2018, ECCE capitation was increase by 7% to €69.00 (standard capitation) and €80.25 (higher capitation). Funding for the ECCE Programme and PSP (equivalent to 7 additional days at standard capitation rates equivalent to an additional €27.96 per week per 11 children or €2.54 per week per child) combined equated to a maximum weekly income to providers of €786.96 (where standard capitation applied) and €910.71 (where higher capitation applied) for every 11 children to one adult.
It is important to note that these estimates are based on a static system and do not account for any potential changes in behaviour that would result from these changes. It should also be noted that the above estimate is for increasing ECCE standard capitation only, ECCE higher capitation no longer exists and has been replaced by Core Funding. As higher capitation no longer exists it cannot be costed in the same way as ECCE capitation.
I would also note that I have appointed of Stranmillis University College, Belfast to undertake an independent review of the ECCE programme. The review will assess whether the ECCE Programme is meeting its core objectives and will identify any changes or improvements that can be made to the Programme, based on international evidence and experience to date. As part of the ECCE Review, there will be a wide stakeholder engagement which will include parents and preschool providers. The review is due to conclude at the end of 2023.
Fee freeze lifted to support ERO
I acknowledge that many early learning and childcare services report staffing difficulties in relation to recruitment and retention. In general, staffing pressures in the sector are caused not by insufficient supply of qualified personnel, but by high levels of staff turnover.
However, providers of early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC) are private businesses. As the State does not employ staff in ELC and SAC services, neither I nor my Department can set wage levels or determine working conditions for staff in the sector.
Recruitment and retention difficulties are undoubtedly linked to pay and conditions.??There is now, through the independent Joint Labour Committee (JLC) process, a formal mechanism established by which employer and employee representatives can negotiate pay rates for ELC and SAC services.?
With effect from the 15 September 2022, two new Employment Regulation Orders for Early Years Services which were negotiated through the JLC, came into effect which provide for minimum hourly rates of pay and other conditions of employment for various roles both in early learning and care services and in school-age childcare services.?
The Orders are being supported by Core Funding– which has an allocation of €259 million in its first year – to support amongst other things, improvements in staff wages, alongside a commitment to freeze parental fees and sustainability of services. As announced in Budget 2023, the Core Funding allocation will increase by €28 million for the second year and it is my Department's understanding that the JLC is continuing to meet to discuss possible changes to the EROs.?
I am committed to addressing other challenges which may impact on the recruitment and retention of staff in the sector.
In line with commitments in First 5, in December 2021, I launched Nurturing Skills: The Workforce Plan for ELC and SAC, 2022-2028. Nurturing Skills aims to strengthen the ongoing process of professionalisation for those working in ELC and SAC.
Under Pillar 4 of Nurturing Skills, an action is included to examine the development of a range of entry routes into the sector, including apprenticeships or other work-based learning, and access programmes in further education and higher education. This action is included for delivery in the 2022-2024 implementation plan.
Core Funding, worth €259 million in Year 1 and €287 million in Year 2, an 11% increase, intentionally introduces Fee Management in a sustainable and considered manner, allowing for substantial increases in the total cost base for the sector without additional costs being passed on to parents.
Fee management in Year 1 and Year 2 is effectively a fee freeze, where providers cannot increase the fees charged from September 2021. An increased charge of any kind for an existing and unchanged Service Type will be in breach of Core Funding rules. Partner Services must uphold their contractual obligations regarding their fees charged to parents/guardians as laid out in the Core Funding Partner Service Funding Agreement.
The approach to introducing Fee Management under Core Funding is guided by the recommendations of the Expert Group outlined in Partnership for the Public Good, and approved by Government. It ensures that the introduction of Fee Management to the sector is done in a sustainable and considered manner.
My Department used the most recent data available to allocate Core Funding for Year 2, with data emerging from current operations of services from March 2023 underpinning the recently announced allocation model, as well as the most up-to-date macroeconomic projections. It was also informed by ongoing engagement with provider representatives and providers of all types, via various specific consultation activities and through various fora, including through the Early Learning and Childcare Stakeholder Forum.
More data will be available to my Department through the validated financial returns, which will be gathered in Q4 2023, and will allow further analysis of provider income and costs. This financial return data may underpin developments in Fee Management for Year 3.
Approximately €4m of this new funding will be used to remove the experience requirement on both Graduate Premiums under Core Funding, underpinned by new EROs. This move was widely welcomed in the sector.
The remaining €24m will be used for further developments and enhancements to the scheme. €6.11m in funding has been allocated for non-staff overheads, a significant increase on the current allocation of €23m. This will facilitate the continuation of the fee freeze into the second year of the scheme, ensuring that any potential increases in non-staff costs are not passed on to parents whilst supporting services sustainability.
I do not want any services to be faced with financial sustainability issues and I am fully committed to working with any such service to support them in delivering early learning and childcare for the public good. There are supports, financial and otherwise, available to services who need them.
Sustainability funding is available to Partner Services, community and private, who are experiencing financial difficulty. Partner Services can be assisted through the case management route to ensure their services remain sustainable under Together for Better.
My Department strongly encourages services which are experiencing financial difficulty, and would like support to contact their City/County Childcare Committee (CCC) to access case management supports. Services can be assisted on an individual basis through this route.
Apprenticeship model introduced immediately to mitigate staff crisis
The intention this year is beginning research on alternative entry routes, including apprenticeships, with a view to using that research to inform next steps.
While Nurturing Skills commits to examine alternative entry-routes into the sector, the development of an apprenticeship would rely on the formulation of proposals by employers and education institutions, and approval by the National Apprenticeship Office. The consideration and potential introduction of a new apprenticeship model for early-years educators is therefore not solely a policy matter for this Department.
During the public consultation that took place in the development of Nurturing Skills, there were mixed views amongst stakeholders on the benefits of an apprenticeship model to support recruitment in the sector – some were in favour while some were opposed.
A particular challenge in designing an apprenticeship model suitable for the ELC sector is that apprentices are employees of providers, and all employees of ELC providers must meet a minimum qualification requirement (level 5) before they commence work with children and count in adult-child ratios.
While an apprenticeship specifically to support existing educators to upskill to Level 7/8 degrees is an option, Nurturing Skills also commits to offer funded places on flexible education programmes at levels 6 to 8 to current Early Years Educators to support upskilling and strengthen career development pathways.
Nurturing Skills also includes specific actions for moving to a graduate-led ELC workforce by 2028, establishing a career framework for staff working in the ELC and SAC sector, including role profiles and qualification 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.??
Extension of AIM allocation to full day care hours
One of the commitments within First 5, a Government Strategy for Babies and Children, was to undertake an end-of-year-three evaluation of AIM. That evaluation has now been completed, with the final report due to be published later this year. Subject to evaluation findings and budgetary considerations, Department officials are considering enhancements to, and/or expansion of AIM to full day care hours. This could include beyond the Early Childhood Care and Education programme hours of operation.
Optional extras to be reinstated
The Early Childhood Care and Education Programme (ECCE) is a free universal two-year preschool programme available to all children within the eligible age range.
As ECCE is a subsidised educational programme it must be offered free of charge, however, approved ECCE providers may charge for a limited number of optional extras which are outlined in the ECCE rules. Where a parent/guardian does not choose any of the optional extras, their child must be provided with the full ECCE Programme based service provision. An approved provider must give an accurate description on their fees table of the total cost and frequency with which an optional extra may occur.
1489. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on a submission (details supplied); if his Department can support this submission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39163/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis is a matter form my Cabinet colleague, the Minister for Health.
1490. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an update (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39202/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraWaterways Hotel, Sallins, Co. Kildare, was offered to the Department through its Request for Tender (RFT) for "Bespoke Panel Agreement for the Provision of Accommodation Services and Related Services for Persons Seeking International Protection" which was published in the fourth quarter of 2022.
The Department is now in the process of signing a contract with the Tenderer.
The property will be providing 56 double and twin rooms. It is expected that this property will be available for occupation, following carrying out of mobilisation works, by year end.
1491. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to respond to matters raised in correspondence from an organisation (details supplied); if he will meet with the organisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39231/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am aware that staff recruitment and retention challenges are affecting the sustainability and stability of section 39 and section 56 organisations and their ability to deliver services on behalf of the State. These challenges are mirrored in many of the health and social care professions across the country. The sustainability of the sector is a concern for both the Department and its agencies and we recognise the ability of these organisations to pay their staff is highly dependent on state funding. Similar considerations arise in respect of other sectors across Government adding to the complexity in seeking to resolve matters for any specific sector.
In view of our shared interest in the sustainability of services provided by these organisation, officials from the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, the Department of Health the HSE and Tusla attended a number of engagements with trade unions under the auspices of the Workplace Relations Commission over recent months. It should be noted that section 39 and section 56 organisations are privately owned and run, and the terms and conditions of employment for staff in these organisations are ultimately between the employer and the employee. Employees of section 39 and section 56 organisation do not have an employment relationship with the HSE, Tusla or my Department.
At the end of July 2023, this process culminated in an offer being made in line with those accepted by community and voluntary staff in other sectors. The offer amounted to a 5% increase in funding for pay costs effective from November 2023, with 3% backdated to April 2023, and a clear commitment to re-engage with trade union representatives following future public sector pay agreements.
This offer was not accepted by trade union representatives and it is disappointing that the unions have instead elected to ballot for industrial action. While not pre-empting the outcome of the ballot, it is important to highlight the potential negative impact which industrial action would have on service users and their families. For this reason, I strongly encourage all parties to work collectively to resolve this matter through the appropriate channels and to avoid unnecessary impacts on persons who depend on these essential services.
In relation to the correspondence and request raised by the Deputy, I will be reverting directly to the organisation in question in the coming days.
1492. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the mother and baby institution redress scheme will be open for applications; the timeline for when payments will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39255/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am acutely aware of the sense of urgency surrounding the establishment of the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme and I am focused on delivering the Scheme as soon as possible.
To that end, a significant milestone was achieved on 11 July with the enactment of the underpinning legislation - the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Act 2023.
This Act allows for the establishment of an Executive Office in my Department to oversee the Scheme and the appointment of the Chief Deciding Officer in that office, as well as the staff needed to support the performance of his or her functions.
It also allows for the making of the necessary regulations which must be in place prior to the Scheme opening and provides a lawful basis for access to records and other information which are essential to processing of applications.
With the Act in place, my Department is now developing the administrative structures required to deliver the Scheme. A number of months will be needed to transition to a live Scheme.
1493. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for a status update on the negotiation process between the expert negotiator and religious orders with regard to contributing to the mother and baby institutions redress scheme; the expected timeline for the conclusion of the negotiation process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39256/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraGovernment believes that all relevant parties have a collective responsibility to respond to Ireland's legacy in relation to the Mother and Baby institutions. From its own perspective, Government is working through the commitments made in its Action Plan response, including the development of the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme, intervention at Tuam Mother and Baby Home burial site and access to birth information.
I commenced discussions with regard to a contribution from the religious congregations towards the cost of the Payment Scheme and I recently secured government approval to engage a negotiator to conclude these discussions.
While these discussions are ongoing they are being treated as confidential. Accordingly, it would not be appropriate to say anything further on the matter at this time but I will brief Government on the matter when the process is concluded. I expect this process to take a number more months.
1494. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide, in tabular form, the number of professional youth workers currently employed in each county, as funded under the UBU scheme. [39274/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department does not collate the information requested by the Deputy.
Funding provided under the UBU Your Place Your Space scheme does not directly fund youth worker posts/salaries. Rather, it is allocated on an organisational basis on a 'provision of service' basis to meet the identified local needs of the youth population in an area.
The UBU Your Place Your Space scheme is targeted towards disadvantaged, marginalised or vulnerable young people. The recruitment and employment of staff including youth workers is a matter for the youth organisations and services themselves.
1495. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if buildings associated with the former St. Conleth's Reformatory School in Daingean, County Offaly are being considered or approved as an accommodation centre for international protection applicants or beneficiaries of temporary protection; if so, the duration of the agreed contract; the number of persons who will be accommodated there; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39288/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince February 2022, my Department has worked intensively as part of the cross-government humanitarian response to assist over 92,000 arrivals fleeing the war in Ukraine that have been granted temporary protection, approximately 80% of whom have sought accommodation from this Department.
My Department is focused on providing immediate, temporary accommodation to people fleeing the conflict in Ukraine. This has involved entering into arrangements with over 850 providers including hotels, guest houses and B&Bs, religious properties, with additional capacity operated by voluntary bodies and local authority emergency facilities.
I am advised that my Department has not considered the property to which the Deputy refers at this time.
1496. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will amend the conditions applicable to the core funding programme for childcare services to enable service providers obtain the relevant payment in respect of all children where services expand the number of children provided for during the course of the year, rather than payment being capped at the enrolment level at the end of August each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39352/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraCore Funding is intended, in part, to encourage expansion of capacity in the ELC and SAC sector. However, the scheme is operating within the constraints of the Budget allocated, and therefore some controls are necessary to ensure the scheme remains within its allocation. This makes sure that the scheme continues to be available to all services.
Locking the base rate at the beginning of the year is a necessary control to ensure the scheme operates within the allocation for the year. However, if an ELC or SAC service does expand its capacity during a programme year, the other funding schemes – NCS and ECCE – will pay out for the additional children that take up new places. At the beginning of the next programme year, and every subsequent year, the service can then sign up for Core Funding again with their new higher capacity.
It may also be relevant to note that Core Funding operates on staffed capacity and not enrolments; meaning that if there are any unoccupied places within a service’s maximum capacity at the beginning of the year, funding is still paid in respect of these places.
1497. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of residential places for people with a disability currently being provided as of 1 September 2023 or latest date available; and if he would provide a tabular breakdown by CHO area of same. [39436/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the query refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1498. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of staff in community neuro-rehabilitation teams in each community healthcare organisation (CHO), in tabular form; the specific medical or healthcare posts in each team in each CHO; and the estimated full-year cost of providing a full neuro-rehabilitation team in each CHO. [39438/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1499. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to detail in tabular form the number of people with disabilities in receipt of home support hours in each LHO area as of 1 September 2023 or latest date available; the number of people currently on the waiting list for same in each LHO area; the number waiting 0-3, 3-6, 6-12 and the number waiting 12 months plus. [39439/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1500. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to detail, in tabular form, the number of people with disabilities in receipt of personal assistance hours in each LHO area as of 1 September 2023 or latest date available; the number of people currently on the waiting list for same in each LHO area; the number waiting 0-3, 3-6 months, 6-12 and the number waiting 12 months plus. [39440/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1501. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will detail, in tabular form, for each LHO area, the number of children as of 1 September 2023 or latest date available that were awaiting a first assessment from the HSE under the Disability Act 2005. [39442/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
