Tuesday, 7 Nov 2023

Written Answers Nos. 999-1019

Departmental Schemes

Ceisteanna (999)

Ged Nash

Ceist:

999. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide details of how many qualifying organisations applied for the recent 'Scheme A: Supporting Community Services for LGBTI+ Persons' funding open call; the names of those qualifying organisations; how many were successful in receiving 100% of funding requested and the names of those organisations; how many were successful in receiving 80% to 90%, 70% to 80%, 60% to 70%, 50% to 60%, and 1% to 50% of funding requested and the names of those organisations; how many were unsuccessful in receiving any amount and the name of those organisations, for this year and the previous three years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47714/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

The annual LGBTI+ Community services Funding Call has two different funding streams available for applicant organisations, Scheme A and Scheme B. Applicants can apply for €25,000 to €100,000 through Scheme A or €5,000 to €10,000 through Scheme B.

See below details of Scheme A for this year and the previous three years as requested. I should note that I have only provided names of successful applicant organisations below as we do not publish the names of unsuccessful applicants.

In 2023, a total of €882,618.52 was awarded to 14 organisations through Scheme A. The successful organisations are listed in the Table below.

LGBTI+ Community Services Fund 2023 - Scheme A

Organisation Name	Amount Awarded
AMACH! LGBT Galway clg	€70,000.00
BeLonG To Youth Services	€70,000.00
Dublin AIDS Alliance T/A HIV Ireland	€62,076.70
Dublin Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer Pride CLG	€59,500.00
Free Legal Advice Centres	€57,936.35
GOSHH Ireland CLG	€70,000.00
LGBT Support and Advocacy Network Ireland CLG	€70,000.00
Listowel Family Resource Centre	€69,993.70
National Youth Federation t/a Youth Work Ireland	€68,177.20
Outhouse Limited	€65,049.18
ShoutOut	€62,060.60
The Gay Health Network	€60,114.95
The Sexual Health Centre Ltd	€37,991.42
Transgender Equality Network Ireland	€59,718.42

In total, there were 42 applications received for Scheme A in 2023. The success rate was 33%. Successful applicants were awarded 70% of the total amount requested in their application.

In 2022, a total of €1,097,358.35 was awarded to 14 organisations through Scheme A. The successful organisations are listed in the Table below.

LGBTI+ Community Services Fund 2022 - Scheme A

Organisation Name	Amount Awarded
AMACH! LGBT Galway Company Limited by Guarantee	€100,000.00
Belong To	€100,000.00
Dublin AIDS Alliance CLG	€69,677.00
Free Legal Advice Centres	€68,000.00
Gay Switchboard Ireland	€37,000.00
GOSHH Ireland CLG	€100,000.00
Laois Youth Services CLG trading as Youth Work Ireland Laois	€98,156.72
LGBT Support and Advocacy Network Ireland CLG	€98,475.00
LINC - Advocating for Lesbian and Bisexual Women in Ireland	€58,900.00
Listowel Family Resource Centre CLG	€94,874.63
Outcomers	€60,000.00
OutWest	€30,000.00
ShoutOut	€88,660.00
Trangender Equality Network of Ireland	€93,615.00

In total, there were 35 applications received in 2022. The success rate was 40%. Successful applicants were awarded 100% of the total amount requested in their application.

In 2021, a total of €1,450,631.25 was awarded to 29 organisations through Scheme A. The successful organisations are listed in the Table below.

LGBTI+ Community Services Fund 2021 - Scheme A

Organisation Name	Amount Awarded
AMACH! LGBT+ Galway CLG	€84,666.80
Amen Support Services CLG	€31,450.00
Ballinrobe Family Resource Centre CLG	€34,331.50
BeLonG To Youth Services Ltd.	€51,145.35
Candle Community Trust	€28,492.00
Centre for Independent Living CLG	€29,750.00
Cumann na Daoine	€36,031.50
Donegal Women's Centre	€73,681.40
Dublin AIDS Alliance CLG T/A HIV Ireland	€64,122.30
Dublin Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer Pride CLG	€42,500.00
Foróige	€79,679.00
Free Legal Advice Centres	€42,500.00
Gay Project CLG	€73,100.00
GOSHH Ireland CLG	€85,000.00
Laois Youth Services CLG trading as Youth Work Ireland Laois	€46,474.60
LGBT Support and Advocacy Network Ireland CLG	€51,007.65
LINC	€69,912.50
Listowel Family Resource Centre CLG	€72,619.75
Meath Youth Federation CLG	€21,420.00
National Lesbian and Gay Federation Ltd T/A GCN	€56,940.65
Outcomers	€34,000.00
ShoutOut	€40,800.00
Skibbereen Community and Family Resource Centre	€66,300.00
Southill Area Centre CLG	€31,209.45
Spiritan Asylum Services Initiative	€30,977.40
The Sexual Health Centre Ltd.	€23,465.10
Tribli CLG	€68,457.30
Twilight Community Group CLG	€40,800.00
Waterford and South Tipperary Community Youth Service CLG	€39,797.00

In total, there were 31 applications in 2021. The success rate was 94%. Successful applicants were awarded 85% of the total amount requested in their application.

In 2020, a total of €582,499.11 was awarded to 10 organisations through Scheme A. The successful organisations are listed in the Table below.

LGBTI+ Community Services Fund 2020 - Scheme A

Organisation Name	Amount Awarded
Cumann na Daoine, Teo	€42,855.20
Donegal Youth Service CLG	€40,794.98
Gay Project CLG	€76,000.00
GOSHH Ireland CLG	€80,000.00
Laois Youth Services CLG trading as Youth Work Ireland Laois	€40,278.40
LGBT Support and Advocacy Network Ireland CLG	€76,284.00
LINC	€56,729.00
Outcomers ltd	€80,000.00
Teni	€60,000.00
The Sexual Health Centre Ltd.	€29,557.53

In total, there were 25 applications in 2020. The success rate was 40%. Successful applicants were awarded 80% of the total amount requested in their application.

Ukraine War

Ceisteanna (1000)

Robert Troy

Ceist:

1000. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the cost charged to refugees from Ukraine when accommodation is provided, be it in hotels, guesthouses and congregated settings or own-door accommodation; and the amount collected to date. [47715/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

In line with the government decision of the 28th October 2022, a Serviced Accommodation Contribution Policy came into operation, on a phased basis.

The policy applies to certain serviced accommodation (for example hotels, B&Bs, guesthouses and hostels) where self-catering options are not available. Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTP) are now required to make a contribution towards payment for meals in order to avail of this State provided accommodation.

The contribution is €10 per adult and €5 per child per day. The purchase of meals in serviced accommodation is compulsory, and a refusal to pay can result in the offer of accommodation being withdrawn.

BOTPs pay this contribution directly to the accommodation providers, and not my Department. Accordingly, I do not have the information in the format sought by the Deputy.

BOTPs living in the rapid build accommodation units will be required to pay an accommodation contribution. To ensure a fair charging mechanism a differential contribution scheme has been developed. This approach involves setting the accommodation contribution at a percentage of income rather than at a set fee. A 16% rate plus a €40 flat rate utility charge will be applied. The flat rate utility charge will cover electricity (including electric heating), water, internet connection and domestic waste collection.

The accommodation contribution will be administered by the Approved Housing Body (AHB) appointed to manage the properties. This will include determination, collection, arrears management and reporting. I do not have the information sought by the Deputy at this time.

Departmental Advertising

Ceisteanna (1001)

Robert Troy

Ceist:

1001. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide a breakdown of the advertising spend of his Department and agencies under the remit of his Department, by national media outlet and local newspaper outlet, for each of the years 2020 to 2022, in tabular form. [47726/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

Below is a breakdown in tabular form for the advertising spend of my Department across national and local outlets for the three years 2020, 2021 and 2022. The Department does not collate information on behalf of agencies under its remit.

Year	National	Local
2020	€17,582	€17,098
2021	€165,093	€195,044
2022	€255,554	€24,028

Direct Provision System

Ceisteanna (1002)

Eoin Ó Broin

Ceist:

1002. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when his Department started to write to people with status or leave to remain in direct provision centres giving them dates by which they would have to leave the direct provision centre or be moved to another centre; the number of such letters issued to date; the criteria for issuing such letters; the rationale for this policy; the number of people who have been moved on foot of these letters; and a breakdown of these moves, including information on from where and the location to which they have been moved. [47745/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

The International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) is currently accommodating 24,765 people in over 200 accommodation centres throughout Ireland. Of these people, approximately 5,700 have been granted International Protection or a Leave to Remain. Under The European Communities (Reception Conditions) Regulations 2018, those who have had their application determined are no longer entitled to Material Reception conditions. However, IPAS continues to accommodate those with status, until such time that they progress into the community.

IPAS has a specific Transition team who work in collaboration with DePaul Ireland, the Peter McVerry Trust, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and Local Authorities to support residents with status to exit IPAS accommodation and access other housing options. Those with status have the same housing entitlements as Irish Citizens and are supported to register with a Local Authority and, if required, to avail of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) to secure alternative accommodation. In addition, those with status have the same social welfare entitlements as Irish Citizens.

Those with status for the greatest length of time are currently being offered a transfer to alternative emergency accommodation. Those being offered this transfer have been grated status for at least 18 months.

This process began in September 2022, beginning with single applicants with status for over 3 years. Currently singles/couples with status over 18 months have been notified of the offer of emergency accommodation, if they have been unable to source accommodation within 6 weeks of the dated letter.

All those with International Protection/Permission to Remain are written to once status has been granted and are advised they must now seek alternative accommodation. They are also advised that the supports of PMVT/Depaul are available to them. In the past 18 months, over 2000 people with status have left IPAS accommodation and progressed into the community.

Since September 2022:

Number of Households written to	799
Number of Households transferred to emergency accommodation	56
Number of Households remained on medical/welfare grounds	38
Number of Households that left IPAS accommodation	345
Those due to transfer in November/December	360

Offers of emergency accommodation for adult males have included:

• Treacys Hotel, Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan

• Knockalisheen Tented Accommodation, Co. Clare

• Kilbride Army Camp, Co. Wicklow

Offers of emergency accommodation for adult females have included:

• Treacys Hotel, Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan

• Sailors Rest, Buncrana, Co. Donegal

• Breaffy House, Castlebar, Co. Mayo

IPAS wrote to 18 families with status, ranging between 3 to 6 years, in April 2022. These families were offered alternative accommodation in Lakelands Hotel, Scarriff, Co. Clare. They were given until July 2023, and if unable to source alternative accommodation, could avail of the transfer to Lakelands Hotel. These figures are included above.

Those written to were/are in various IPAS accommodation centres across 22 counties.

Childcare Services

Ceisteanna (1003)

James O'Connor

Ceist:

1003. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department will help a local creche (details supplied) in east Cork which was flooded during Storm Babet with immediate extra funding to get it back up and running to help the 100 parents to get back to full-time working; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47775/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

Any service forced to close due to the flooding may apply for the continuation of my Departments funding under force majeure as per the rules governing the early learning and care funded schemes.

There are also special supports available from my Department where a service is experiencing financial difficulty or has concerns about their viability. These supports can be accessed through the local City or County Childcare Committee (CCC). This support can take the form of assisting services with interpreting analysis of staff ratios and cash flow, as well as more specialised advice and support appropriate to individual circumstances.

I encourage any service experiencing financial difficulty, and who would like support, to contact their City/County Childcare Committee (CCC) to access case management supports. Contact details for the CCCs can be found at myccc.ie.

Official Engagements

Ceisteanna (1004)

Matt Carthy

Ceist:

1004. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the engagements his Department, or any agency or body under his direction, has had with the Government of Israel, any state body of the Government of Israel, or any engagement within or with Israel, in 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47801/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

My Department received a request from the Israeli Embassy in June 2023 for relevant officers and/or agencies to participate in a Social Service International Relations Professional Network being established by the Israeli Ministry for Welfare & Social Affairs. This request is under consideration.

Tusla’s International Social Services Team has interacted with Israeli authorities in respect of a very small number of individual cases over the period covering 2021, 2022 and to-date in 2023. Due to the small number, sensitive nature and high risk of identification, no further details can be given.

Official Engagements

Ceisteanna (1005)

Matt Carthy

Ceist:

1005. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the engagements his Department, or any agency or body under his direction, has had with the Palestinian Authority, any organ of the Palestinian Authority, or any engagement within, or with organisations in, the occupied Palestinian territory, in the years 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47819/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

Neither my Department, nor any of the bodies under the aegis of my Department, have had any engagement with the Palestinian Authority, or any organ thereof, in the years 2021, 2022 or to-date in 2023.

Question No. 1006 answered with Question No. 988.

Disability Services

Ceisteanna (1007)

Sorca Clarke

Ceist:

1007. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the current staff vacancies in the SDNT in Springfield Mullingar; and the length of time each has been vacant for. [47875/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

As 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.

Disabilities Assessments

Ceisteanna (1008)

Sorca Clarke

Ceist:

1008. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of referrals that have been outsourced to private providers for assessments of need for 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [47877/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

As 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.

Departmental Correspondence

Ceisteanna (1009)

Michael Healy-Rae

Ceist:

1009. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to consider correspondence from a campaign (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47918/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

The Government is committed to ensuring that workplaces consider the reality of employees’ lives and recognises that menopause is a key health issue for women. The work of the Women’s Health Taskforce, which was convened in September 2019 by the Minister for Health, has been very important in driving progress in this area. The need for more awareness within the workplace of the impact of the symptoms of menopause and menstruation is also acknowledged in the Government's Healthy Workplace Framework, which aims to promote changes in the culture, policies and practices in workplaces in order to lead to improvements in physical and mental health and wellbeing and work-life balance.

My Department is commissioning research with a view to providing a range of advice to employers to better support employees suffering from either menstrual symptoms or going through menopause. It will focus on understanding the factors in terms of working conditions that can affect employees whose menstrual or menopause symptoms limit their daily activities. It will also look at effective support mechanisms that employers have put in place, whether formal or informal and at workplace support mechanisms in place in other countries that have been recognised as good practice and that may be suitable for trial in Ireland.

The project aims to integrate the experiences of a diverse range of employees as much as possible. It is planned that this study will begin early next year and the research will inform the development of Government policy in this area, including guidance for employers, so we can continue to improve the work life balance for all.

Childcare Services

Ceisteanna (1010)

Cian O'Callaghan

Ceist:

1010. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to improve the provision of childcare in an area (details supplied) whereby there are waiting lists for every childcare facility in and around the area, and parents are unable to find any childcare place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47920/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

The 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.

Each year, Pobal compiles data from early learning and childcare and school age childcare providers which informs the Early Years Sector Profile Survey. The most recent data on availability shows that, on the whole supply for early learning and childcare is meeting demand, though there are pockets of undersupply in certain areas and for certain cohorts of children, in particular for babies and toddlers. Pobal advise that this data is not captured on a constituency/electoral division basis and is instead collected at a local authority level. Data captured from the Sector Profile indicated a vacancy rate of 8.5% across Dublin, lower than the national average of 12.3%.

DCEDIY is taking a number of steps to address issues of undersupply.

A funding scheme was introduced last year - Core Funding – which allocates funding for providers based on the cost of delivery. Under Core Funding, providers delivering early learning and childcare for babies and toddlers attract higher levels of funding, given the higher staffing requirements determined by the regulatory ratios for these children. Though only in operation since September 2022, initial analysis shows that this new funding scheme has given rise to a significant growth in capacity – with capacity growth for cohorts (such as babies and toddlers) and where there has been significant pressure on place. €9.27m has been secured in Budget 2024 to invest in a further 3% capacity growth from September 2024.

In addition, and as part of the design of the Building Blocks Capacity Grant Scheme, officials in my Department have commenced a needs analysis in the Early Learning and Childcare sector. This analysis will look at undersupply by region and age category, which will ensure that my Department can fund additional capacity where it is most needed. I hope to provide more details of these two grant schemes in the coming months.

There is also a network of 30 City/County Childcare Committees (CCC) across the country, who are in a position to match children and families to services operating with vacant places. These CCCs engage proactively with services to explore possibilities for expansion among services, particularly where there is unmet need.

Departmental Contracts

Ceisteanna (1011)

Brendan Griffin

Ceist:

1011. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department has entered into a contract with an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47938/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

My Department has not received an offer of accommodation for Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) at the property to which the Deputy refers.

Departmental Communications

Ceisteanna (1012)

Brendan Griffin

Ceist:

1012. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for clarification on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47944/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

Since the beginning of 2022, Ireland and many other European countries have experienced a significant increase of new arrivals seeking international protection. As at 22nd October 2023, the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) is providing accommodation to 24,765 people seeking refuge in Ireland, of whom 651 reside in Kerry.

The Department since January 2022 have brought over 180 properties into use and continues to explore all offers of accommodation for international protection applicants (IPAs) in as far as it can. There remains an acute shortfall with respect to accommodation. The Department is working to bring further properties into use to ensure that all those who arrive in Ireland seeking shelter can be accommodated.

While all efforts are made to notify public representatives and State agencies in advance of utilising a building for accommodation of IPAs, the emergency nature of the response required means that advance communications are not always as comprehensive or as early as the Department would like. Due to the sheer scale of the present crisis this inevitably means that emergency accommodation of those seeking refuge must be occupied on a faster timeline than would otherwise be the case.

However, the Department's Community Engagement Team (CET) will endeavour to improve the flow of information regarding arrivals into areas and to help equip local communities with pertinent information required, which will assist with the welcome and integration process for new arrivals.

Health Service Executive

Ceisteanna (1013)

Ged Nash

Ceist:

1013. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the HSE will provide the assessments and services required to an individual (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47946/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

As 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.

Youth Services

Ceisteanna (1014)

Carol Nolan

Ceist:

1014. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the funding provided by his Department to local education and training boards for the provision of youth services, by county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47962/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

My Department allocates funding to the 16 Education and Training Boards for the provision of youth services and youth supports within the functional area of each ETB rather than by a county by county basis. The below table provides the funding allocated to each ETB from January 1st to 31st October 2023.

Funding provided to ETBs to end October 2023	Cavan & Monaghan ETB	City of Dublin ETB	Cork ETB	Donegal ETB	Dublin Dun Laoghaire ETB	Galway & Roscommon ETB	Kerry ETB	Kildare & Wicklow ETB	Kilkenny & Carlow ETB	Laois & Offaly ETB	Limerick & Clare ETB	Longford & Westmeath ETB	Louth & Meath ETB	Mayo Sligo & Leitrim ETB	Tipperary ETB	Waterford & Wexford ETB	TOTAL
Scheme	Amount €	Amount €	Amount €	Amount €	Amount €	Amount €	Amount €	Amount €	Amount €	Amount €	Amount €	Amount €	Amount €	Amount €	Amount €	Amount €	Amount €
Local Youth Club Grant Scheme (LYCGS)	€67,865.00	€391,667.00	€271,545.00	€79,860.00	€398,889.00	€162,624.00	€67,207.00	€189,270.00	€77,710.00	€82,544.00	€160,140.00	€66,013.00	€166,708.00	€108,124.00	€77,985.00	€131,849.00	€2,500,000.00
ETB Youth Grant	€161,345.00	€1,107,293.00	€378,735.00	€128,121.00	€699,848.00	€284,470.00	€143,046.00	€232,057.00	€267,218.00	€128,125.00	€364,130.00	€141,436.00	€307,396.00	€222,303.00	€196,817.00	€435,541.00	€5,197,881.00
Youth Information Centres (YIC)	€125,711.00	€109,441.00	€139,637.00	€151,503.00	€147,611.00	€55,732.00	€127,011.00	€111,464.00	€55,732.00	€0.00	€114,864.00	€55,732.00	€0.00	€73,478.00	€65,179.00	€120,911.00	€1,454,006.00
Capital funding for youth services/clubs	€49,158.00	€452,389	€126,311.00	€47,357.00	€263,403.00	€103,353.00	€37,651.00	€80,398.00	€81,241.00	€33,783.00	€188,865.00	€38,715.00	€54,040.00	€84,852.00	€59,309.00	€101,585.00	€1,802,410.00
UBU Your Place Your Space funding	€728,355.00	€16,232,798.00	€3,526,502.00	€691,313.00	€8,479,744.00	€2,397,341.00	€760,179.00	€1,883,238.00	€1,134,277.00	€415,778.00	€3,320,132.00	€679,749.00	€847,389.00	€848,357.00	€1,070,146.00	#########	##########
Funding for one off projects/initiatives	€3,500.00			€15,000.00									€20,000.00				€38,500.00
General Grant		€509,379.00															€509,379.00
Migrant Integration Fund	€31,000	€150,000.00	€122,000.00	€100,000.00	€50,000.00	€90,000.00	€126,000.00	€60,000.00	€40,000.00	€24,000.00	€125,000.00	€35,000.00	€70,000.00	€117,000.00	€25,000.00	€85,000.00	€1,250,000.00
Total	€1,166,934.00	€18,952,967.00	€4,564,730.00	€1,213,154.00	€10,039,495.00	€3,093,520.00	€1,261,094.00	€2,556,427.00	€1,656,178.00	€684,230.00	€4,273,131.00	€1,016,645.00	€1,465,533.00	€1,454,114.00	€1,494,436.00	#########	##########

Youth Services

Ceisteanna (1015)

Carol Nolan

Ceist:

1015. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will increase the funding allocation made to the Laois Offaly Education and Training Boards for the provision of youth services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47963/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

My Department is making a significant investment in youth services in the Laois Offaly area in 2023, building on the increases in recent years and securing the achievements into the future.

The table below outlines the funding provided to Laois and Offaly ETB in 2023.

Funding provided to ETBs to end October 2023	Laois & Offaly ETB
Scheme	Amount €
Local Youth Club Grant Scheme (LYCGS)	€82,544.00
ETB Youth Grant	€128,125.00
Youth Information Centres (YIC)	€0.00
Capital funding for youth services/clubs	€33,783.00
UBU Your Place Your Space	€415,778.00
Migrant Integration Fund	€24,000.00
Total	€684,230.00

Following Budget 2024, the full package of current funding for youth services and programmes in my Department will be €77.95 million in 2024, an increase of €5 million on the 2023 allocation.

My officials are examining the options for this year’s allocation in advance of the publication of the Revised Estimates Volume. Any increases to Laois and Offaly ETB will be considered in that context. The increased level of funding will consolidate the achievements since 2020 and provide a strong platform into the future.

Departmental Funding

Ceisteanna (1016)

Ged Nash

Ceist:

1016. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason an application for funding from an organisation (details supplied) has not been granted; if this matter can and will be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47971/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

In 2023, the LGBTI+ Community Services Fund was oversubscribed and as a result the assessment process was very competitive. For this reason, unfortunately, my Department was only in a position to provide funding to 25 out of a total of 101 applicants.

In recognition of the highly competitive funding call, all applications received were assessed and scored in strict adherence with the assessment criteria set out in the published funding call guidelines. Applications were assessed by two separate assessors within the Department. For applications where there was a pertinent difference of opinion between the scores given by those two assessors, an external reviewer was asked to review the application to provide a final score.

Thirty three percent of Scheme A (€25,000 to €100,000) applicants were successful. Due to oversubscription of the fund, and our commitment to fund as many worthwhile projects as possible, successful Scheme A applicants were only awarded 70% of the amount sought in their original application.

Nineteen percent of Scheme B applicants were successful. Successful Scheme B projects (€5,000 to €10,000) were awarded the full amount applied for as it is likely the projects would not be feasible if funding was reduced.

Should additional funding become available, the highest scoring unsuccessful organisation will be contacted.

Any organisation looking for feedback or who wishes to appeal the assessment team’s decision should contact [e-mail].

Guardians Ad Litem

Ceisteanna (1017)

Jackie Cahill

Ceist:

1017. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide a list of the 92 guardians ad litem, their relevant agency, where relevant, and the number of cases assigned to them in 2022 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47997/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

My Department does not maintain a list of guardians ad litem (GALs).

It is currently a matter for the courts to appoint a GAL, judges have freedom to appoint an individual of their choosing to act as a GAL, and as such there is no specific list of active GALS that a judge must choose from, and different courts have their own systems in place.

Under Section 26 of the Child Care Act 1991, Tusla, the Child and Family Agency is required to pay any expenses incurred based on invoices received.

Departmental Correspondence

Ceisteanna (1018)

Niamh Smyth

Ceist:

1018. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to review correspondence regarding funding (details supplied); if he can provide any advice or alternative funding for this role; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47998/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

In 2023, the LGBTI+ Community Services Fund was oversubscribed, and as a result the assessment process was very competitive. For this reason, unfortunately, my Department was only in a position to provide funding to 25 out of a total of 101 applicants.

In recognition of the highly competitive funding call, all applications received were assessed and scored in strict adherence with the assessment criteria set out in the published funding call guidelines. Applications were assessed by two separate assessors within the Department. For applications where there was a pertinent difference of opinion between the scores given by those two assessors, an external reviewer was asked to review the application to provide a final score.

Thirty three percent of Scheme A (€25,000 to €100,000) applicants were successful. Due to oversubscription of the fund, and our commitment to fund as many worthwhile projects as possible, successful Scheme A applicants were only awarded 70% of the amount sought in their original application.

Nineteen percent of Scheme B applicants were successful. Successful Scheme B projects (€5,000 to €10,000) were awarded the full amount applied for as it is likely the projects would not be feasible if funding was reduced.

Should additional funding become available the highest scoring unsuccessful organisation will be contacted.

Any organisation looking for feedback or who wish to appeal the assessment team’s decision should contact [e-mail].

The 2024 LGBTI+ Community Services Fund is due to be launched in June 2024.

Please note that my Department operates a number of funding streams including the LGBTI+ Community Services Fund on the basis of annual or multi annual open calls for funding. These calls are not designed to be core funding for organisations in perpetuity. The engagement and maintenance of staff working on approved projects is a matter for the applicant organisation and not the responsibility of the funding Department.

Departmental Correspondence

Ceisteanna (1019)

Niall Collins

Ceist:

1019. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he can address the concerns raised by a service provider (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48002/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

My officials are in contact with the service provider to which the Deputy refers with regard to the issues that they have raised.