Written Answers Nos. 443-457
443. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is satisfied with services being provided in St. Michael’s House across its various locations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46456/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn June of this year, St Michael’s House informed 13 families that they would not be able to accept a referral to their adult disability day service. I met with the families of the school leavers affected on 11th July and heard their concerns for the future of their family members.
I then met with the Board of St Michael’s House on 5th September and noted the impact on the families involved and the requirement for improved communications from both the HSE and St. Michael’s House.
My Department is in regular communication with the HSE in this regard, and I understand that work is ongoing to establish safe, suitable accommodation in Day Services. The HSE Estates Management Team, in partnership with identified service providers, are progressing the establishment of new service locations to accommodate the day service placements.
With regards to recruitment and retention issues, identified providers are actively recruiting to develop the new service offerings in Dublin North while balancing the needs of new service placements with ensuring appropriate levels of staffing for existing services.
An outreach service and/or additional home support services are also being offered to individuals and families affected on an interim basis while service locations are in development. The HSE assigned a Case Manager to each school leaver and each case manager is in regular contact to keep families updated on progress.
444. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will review the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46529/23]
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. As the Deputy may be aware, the industrial action that commenced on Friday 6th October, by management and administrative grades in Fórsa Trade Union in the HSE, will impact on the response times to Parliamentary Questions and Representations.
445. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated cost for 2023 and 2024 of delivering pay parity between section 56, section 38 and section 39 staff. [46720/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing intensive talks convened under the auspices of the Workplace Relations Commission, parties to the process, including the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and the Department of Health, reached agreement with Unions representing Section 39, Section 56 and Section 10 organisations.
The Departments proactively engaged with this voluntary process to ensure the stability and sustainability of services for the benefit of those who rely on these essential services and the workers who are committed to providing quality services.
The agreement, which unions indicated would be recommended to their members, proposes an 8% increase in pay over three phases:
• An increase of 3% from April 1st 2023
• An increase of 2% from 1st November 2023
• An increase of 3% from March 2024.
In addition, the Departments committed to further talks after any future public sector agreement.
Most importantly, this agreement resulted in the postponement of planned industrial action by staff working in these organisations.
No costings are available on the matter of pay parity. It is worth noting that Section 39 and Section 56 organisations are not public bodies, and the terms and conditions of employment for staff in these organisations are ultimately between the employer and the employee.
Although not public-sector organisations, the Departments are aware that staff working in Section 39 and Section 56 funded organisations have been employed using a multiplicity of terms and conditions, including different rates of remuneration, with the organisations largely dependent on the State for funding.
446. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to outline the criteria involved for the allocation of therapist allocation for special schools; the reason a school (details supplied) has not received any allocation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46733/23]
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. As the Deputy may be aware, the industrial action that commenced on Friday 6th October, by management and administrative grades in Fórsa Trade Union in the HSE, will impact on the response times to Parliamentary Questions and Representations.
447. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to confirm that due to staffing issues within the children’s disability network team in the CHO7 area, that no Hanen Programme courses will run for families in the area until January 2024 at the earliest; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46060/23]
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. As the Deputy may be aware, the industrial action that commenced on Friday 6th October, by management and administrative grades in Fórsa Trade Union in the HSE, will impact on the response times to Parliamentary Questions and Representations.
448. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated annual, total first and full-year cost to increase the number of State residential care units for children in care by 10%, 25% and 50%, in tabular form; what this equates to in bed numbers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46061/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this relates to Tusla operational matters, the question has been forwarded to Tusla for direct reply to the Deputy.
449. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated annual, total first and full-year funding allocated to private, for-profit foster care organisations for 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023. [46062/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this relates to Tusla operational matters, the question has been forwarded to Tusla for direct reply to the Deputy.
450. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated first year, full-year and annual cost to reduce childcare fees by 50% from September 2024. [46064/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy has requested the first year, full year and annual costs of reducing childcare fees by 50% from September 2024.
As announced in Budget 2023, the annual cost of increasing the minimum subsidy from €0.50 to €1.40 was estimated to be €121 million. As part of Budget 2024, a further increase in the minimum subsidy from €1.40 to €2.14 per hour effective September 2024 was announced. The 74c increase is calculated by taking the average fee paid by parents on the universal or minimum rate for full-time (i.e 45 hour) fees after existing subsidies have been applied and reducing the balance by 25%.
The first year cost of this increase to the NCS is approximately €35m, while the full year cost is approximately €105m.
Applying the same methodology, the estimated annual cost of double this change is in the region of €191 million for a full year and €64m if applied from the start of the programme year (September).
As fees can vary from service to service and depending on parents usage, impact estimates must be made as an average of the overall parental financial contribution to fees for their early learning and childcare.
The impact of this change will also vary based on the income level of the applicant. Parents on the maximum subsidies under the income assessed subsidy, that is those on annual income of €26,000 and below will see no change in their fee, as they are already in receipt of the highest available subsidy. For remaining parents, with income above €26,000 under the income assessed subsidy, reductions in fees will vary according to income levels, with those currently in receipt of the lowest subsidies benefiting the most and vice versa.
451. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of an application for a child (details supplied) who is currently attending Crumlin Children’s Hospital’s, for a communication device to the children's disability network team assist with their communication, given their previous device broke; when a decision is likely to be reached in this case as it is urgently required by them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46065/23]
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. As the Deputy may be aware, the industrial action that commenced on Friday 6th October, by management and administrative grades in Fórsa Trade Union in the HSE, will impact on the response times to Parliamentary Questions and Representations.
452. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when a child (details supplied) who is currently attending Crumlin Children’s Hospital will be seen by a speech and language therapist in Cork from the children's disability network team to assist with their communication; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46066/23]
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. As the Deputy may be aware, the industrial action that commenced on Friday 6th October, by management and administrative grades in Fórsa Trade Union in the HSE, will impact on the response times to Parliamentary Questions and Representations.
453. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when a child (details supplied) who is currently attending Crumlin Children’s Hospital will be provided with a wheelchair, as it is urgently required by them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46067/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis is a matter for my government colleague, the Minister for Health.
454. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when a child (details supplied) who is currently attending Crumlin Children’s Hospital will receive respite care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46068/23]
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.
As the Deputy may be aware, the industrial action that commenced on Friday 6th October, by management and administrative grades in Fórsa Trade Union in the HSE, will impact on the response times to Parliamentary Questions and Representations.
455. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth how many children are on the waiting list for the CDNT in CHO9; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46102/23]
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. As the Deputy may be aware, the industrial action that commenced on Friday 6th October, by management and administrative grades in Fórsa Trade Union in the HSE, will impact on the response times to Parliamentary Questions and Representations.
456. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth how many children are waiting for primary care speech and language therapy in CHO9; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46104/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs is question refers to services delivered within a primary care setting, this is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Health.
457. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth how many children are waiting on primary care occupational therapy in CHO9; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46105/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs is question refers to services delivered within a primary care setting, this is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Health.
