Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Ceist:486. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when a person (details supplied) will receive an appointment with a CDNT. [53667/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraDisability Services
Ceisteanna (486)
Freagraí scríofa
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.
Childcare Services
Ceisteanna (487)
Robert Troy
Ceist:487. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on correspondence (details supplied) with regard to the recent announcement from his Department on the core funding financial reporting requirements (chart of accounts CoA/Trial balance) and financial management tool, which has caused a lot of concern among childcare providers. [53671/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Core Funding, which commenced in September 2022, is a grant to Early Learning and Care (ELC) and/or School Age Childcare (SAC) providers towards their operating costs. 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.
All Partner Services that had an active Core Funding Contract during the 2022/2023 Programme Year must provide validated Financial Returns as per their Core Funding Partner Service Funding Agreement.
Core Funding payments to providers must run on a programme year, September-August, in line with the school year, the operation of the ELC and SAC sector, and the payments made to providers under the other DCEDIY schemes. Therefore, the financial returns cover the period from 1st September 2022 to 31st August 2023 and must be submitted by an accountant from a registered practice or a registered professional body (ACA, ACAA, CPA, and CIMA), on behalf of each Partner Service.
My Department is not requesting audited accounts, Partner Services are instead being asked to provide financial information mapped to the Core Funding Chart of Accounts, which has been reviewed, signed off and submitted by an accountant.
Services that already use accountancy packages should be able map to the Core Funding nominal codes from the Chart of Accounts. However, if a service does not use an accountancy package, a series of resources have been designed to assist services with meeting this requirement.
My officials have, in recent weeks, engaged with the Early Learning and Childcare Stakeholder Forum (ELCSF) on issues raised by providers on the financial reporting requirements under Core Funding.
To date, four meetings have taken place on 7th, 20th November, 27th November and 1st involving members and nominees from Childhood Services Ireland (CSI), Childminding Ireland, Early Childhood Ireland (ECI), the Association of Childhood Professionals Ireland (ACPI), the Federation of Early Childhood Providers (FECP), the National Childhood Network (NCN), the National Community Childcare Forum and Seas Suas as well as representatives from City/County Childcare Committees (CCC) and Pobal.
Arising from these meetings, officials have developed and discussed proposals to significantly simplify and streamline the reporting requirements under Core Funding and to support providers in preparing and submitting these returns. They are now in the process of finalising updated financial reporting requirements and templates, which will be shared with members and nominees of the ELCSF in advance of publication. Once finalised, updated financial reporting requirements will be shared with providers and all communications, including templates and training material will be updated.
My Department acknowledges that there is additional administration for providers with the introduction of new schemes such as the NCS and Core Funding, and has allocated €32.13 million for administration under Core Funding in year two, and €35.34m for the third year of the scheme. In addition, a number of targeted supports are being considered by my Department to enable Core Funding Partner Services to comply with the financial reporting requirement.
Early Childhood Care and Education
Ceisteanna (488)
Kathleen Funchion
Ceist:488. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated first, full year and annual cost of increasing the current minimum rate of pay for early years educators, by 85 cent, €1.00, €1.25, €1.50, €1.75 and €2.00; and the first, full year and annual cost estimated cost to increase all other grades covered by the early years employment regulation order. [53690/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I 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 costs 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 question (making assumptions specified below in relation to equivalent increases for other roles specified in the EROs) are set out in the table:
|
Pay increase |
Estimated additional cost to employers |
|
€0.85 |
€35 million |
|
€1.00 |
€40 million |
|
€1.25 |
€51 million |
|
€1.50 |
€63 million |
|
€1.75 |
€77 million |
|
€2.00 |
€89 million |
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 €13.85 per hour (and then by each increase listed) or €0.85 (and then by each increase listed) above each of the minimum pay rates in the EROs.
- 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 the proposed wage rates in the question.
- 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 the increased rates above current ERO minimum rates.
- It should be noted that the figures in the table are the additional cost to employers, rather than the additional costs to the State. Core Funding offers a contribution to staff costs. The €287m allocated for Core Funding may already support some employers to pay wage rates above ERO minimum rates.
- The figures in the table do not take into account the income currently received by those working in the sector who are self-employed and who derive their income from profits rather than wages.
Maternity Leave
Ceisteanna (489)
Mick Barry
Ceist:489. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth following reports by the World Breastfeeding Trends Initiative that women in Ireland struggle to access breastfeeding support, if he will consider introducing legislation for the provision of longer maternity leave; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53755/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023 enacted on 4 April 2023 included amendments to the Maternity Protection Acts to provide for the extension of breastfeeding breaks for employees to two years after the birth of the child. An order amending regulations relating to breastfeeding breaks made under the Maternity Protection Acts was also made on that date.
The extension of this entitlement to employees who have given birth within the previous two years is in line with commitments in FIRST 5: A Whole-of-Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families and the National Strategy for Women and Girls. Officials in my Department undertook targeted consultations with employer representative groups and social partners in relation to this proposal.
The Minister for Health holds the policy on the broader promotion of breastfeeding from a public health perspective.
Under the Maternity Protection Acts 1994-2004, a pregnant employee is entitled to 26 weeks maternity leave and a maternity benefit is also payable. A further period of 16 weeks maternity leave may also be taken but there is no associated benefit.
Parents can also avail of their entitlement to Parent's Leave, introduced under the Parent’s Leave and Benefit Act 2019 and subsequently extended. Parent’s leave entitles each parent to 7 weeks’ leave during the first 2 years of a child’s life, or in the case of adoption, within 2 years of the placement of the child with the family. The intention of parent’s leave is to enable parents to spend time with their child in the earliest years and is deliberately non-transferable between parents to ensure that both parents are encouraged and supported in taking time out from work to spend time with their child. This is further supported through the provision of Parent’s Benefit to eligible parents who satisfy certain PRSI conditions while on Parent’s Leave, and is paid at an equivalent rate to maternity, paternity and adoptive benefits.
In line with the EU Work-Life Balance Directive, Parent’s Leave and Benefit is required to increase by an additional two weeks to nine weeks by August 2024. In Budget 2024, the Government provided for the number of weeks of Parent's Leave and Benefit available to eligible parents to be increased from seven weeks to nine weeks from August 2024. The additional two weeks leave and benefit will apply to parents of children who are under age two in August 2024 or, in the case of adoption, where less than two years have passed since the child's placement. The Department of Social Protection is responsible for the associated changes to Parent's Benefit for the increased period of leave.
Taken together, these forms of family leave should support parents of very young children.
All forms of family leave are kept under review to ensure that they are effective in supporting families and children.
Child Abuse
Ceisteanna (490)
Réada Cronin
Ceist:490. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of Section 3 investigations opened before the CASP was implemented at the end of June 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53768/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Statutory and operational responsibility for the delivery of child protection and welfare services is a matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. The Deputy is seeking information in relation to an operational matter for Tusla. Consequently, I have referred the matter to Tusla, and requested that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.
Child and Family Agency
Ceisteanna (491)
Réada Cronin
Ceist:491. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of notifications sent to AGS by area and by year in line with the table provided in reply to Parliamentary Question Nos. 167 and 168 of 12 October 2023 where the data is withheld by the indication of a * to confirm that the notification to AGs took place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53769/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Statutory and operational responsibility for the delivery of child protection and welfare services is a matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. The Deputy is seeking information in relation to an operational matter for Tusla. Consequently, I have referred the matter to Tusla, and requested that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.
Child and Family Agency
Ceisteanna (492)
Réada Cronin
Ceist:492. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 167 and 168 of 12 October 2023, to confirm that the number of Section 3 investigations and notifications to AGS are the same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53770/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Statutory and operational responsibility for the delivery of child protection and welfare services is a matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. The Deputy is seeking information in relation to an operational matter for Tusla. Consequently, I have referred the matter to Tusla, and requested that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.
Departmental Advertising
Ceisteanna (493)
Louise O'Reilly
Ceist:493. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth how much his Department has spent on advertising on a website (details supplied) for each of the years 2019 to 2022 and to date 2023, in tabular form; and whether his Department will still run advertisements on the platform going forward due to issues. [53794/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
My Department's spend on advertising on X (formerly Twitter) is below in tabular form, for the timeframes requested. My Department keeps the platforms it advertises on under constant review.
|
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 YTD* |
|
€0 |
€10,458 |
€18,114 |
€2,412 |
€3,372 |
*2023 up to 27th November
Charitable and Voluntary Organisations
Ceisteanna (494)
Louise O'Reilly
Ceist:494. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if funding will be provided to an organisation (details supplied) in order to hire additional staff to deliver necessary services in the north county Dublin region. [53813/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The organisation referred to by the Deputy received funding of €53,538 from my Department under UBU Your Place Your Space funding in 2023. A funding application under cycle 2 of the UBU Your Place Your Space Scheme has been submitted by this organisation via Dublin and Dun Laoghaire ETB and is currently being reviewed within my Department as part of the process of reviewing all applications received from the 16 ETBs.
On completion of the assessment and approval process the approved funding allocations for funded organisations within the functional areas of each ETB for 2024 will be notified to the relevant ETB.
Funding provided under the UBU Your Place Your Space scheme does not directly fund youth worker posts or salaries. Rather, it is allocated on an organisation 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.
Rights of People with Disabilities
Ceisteanna (495)
Éamon Ó Cuív
Ceist:495. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth whether it is intended to ratify the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with a Disability, along with its Optional Protocol, and incorporate it into Irish law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53841/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Ireland fully ratified the UNCRPD in 2018 and the Government remains committed to continuously advancing the rights of persons with disabilities that it sets out. Ratification of the Optional Protocol is not a precondition to the implementation of the UNCRPD.
The Optional Protocol of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is an international treaty that establishes two procedures aimed at strengthening the implementation and monitoring of the Convention. The first procedure is an individual communications procedure allowing individuals to bring petitions to the Committee claiming breaches of their rights, usually only once all domestic remedies have been exhausted. The second procedure is an inquiry procedure giving the Committee authority to undertake inquiries of grave or systematic violations of the Convention.
Ratification of the Optional Protocol is a commitment in the Programme for Government. The timeline for ratifying the Optional Protocol was anticipated to follow the conclusion of Ireland’s first review period before the UN Committee. This has not taken place yet because of delays at UN level outside of Ireland’s control. Ireland submitted its first State Report in November 2021 and we continue to await a review date from the UN Committee.
In light of this, I am open to the earlier ratification of the Optional Protocol, subject to the State being in a position to meet the obligations that arise. I have already commenced the necessary scoping exercise to ascertain the requirements for ratifying the Optional Protocol at the earliest opportunity.
This scoping work is a procedurally necessary exercise in due diligence for the State to agree to any supra-national and quasi-judicial process, and is in keeping with the State’s long-standing position in relation to ratifying internationally binding treaties.
As a country that takes its international obligations extremely seriously and seeks to act in good faith on the international stage, Ireland does not enter into binding international treaties until we are confident that the obligations set out within can be complied with.
While an exact date for ratification of the Optional Protocol cannot be given at the moment, it is my priority to ensure that ratification takes place at the earliest possible date.
Currently, the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities monitors and evaluates Ireland’s implementation of the UNCRPD through examinations of periodic State Reports, and the State has and is continuing to make progress in the continuous advancement of rights under the Convention.
Hospital Waiting Lists
Ceisteanna (496)
Eoin Ó Broin
Ceist:496. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Health the average wait for a first appointment with the ENT department in Tallaght University Hospital; the number of people waiting for a first appointment, broken down by people waiting over one year, over two years and over three years, in tabular form; and what efforts are being made to reduce waiting times for the service. [53184/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
It is recognised that waiting times for many scheduled appointments and procedures were too long before and have been made worse by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Department of Health continues to work with the HSE and the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) to identify ways to improve access to care.
The 2023 Waiting List Action Plan builds on the foundational work done in the 2021 and 2022 plans, both of which reversed the annual trend of rising waiting lists.
For 2023, funding totalling €443 million is being allocated to tackle Waiting Lists with €363 million of this being allocated to the 2023 Waiting List Action Plan, to reduce hospital waiting lists by implementing longer term reforms and providing additional public and private activity to clear backlogs exacerbated during the pandemic. The remaining €80 million of the €443 million is being targeted at various measures to alleviate community/primary care waiting lists.
With the funding from Budget 2024 (€407 million), we are taking the next steps in the multi-annual approach towards achieving the vision of a world-class public healthcare system in which everyone has timely and transparent access to high-quality scheduled care, where and when they need it, in line with Sláintecare reforms.
In relation to the particular query raised by the Deputy, the attached information, provided to my Department by the NTPF sets out the ENT OPD waiting list at Tallaght University Hospital, in the requested time-bands.
The NTPF has advised that the health system does not collect the data necessary to calculate true average wait times. In particular, the time to treatment of patients who have already received their care is not collected. The NTPF collects data on patients currently on the waiting list and the average time that these patients have been waiting is provided here.
First time Outpatient ENT appointments at Tallaght University Hospital with time bands of >1+ year, >2+ years and >3+ years, and the average waiting times as at 26 October 2023.
|
>1+ year |
>2+ years |
>3+ years |
|
|
Tallaght ENT Outpatient |
1,776 |
671 |
268 |
|
Mean Wait (Days) |
|
|
Tallaght ENT Outpatient Mean |
509 |
|
Median Wait (Days) |
|
|
Tallaght ENT Outpatient Median |
440 |
Note: The health system does not collect the data necessary to calculate average wait times. In particular, the time to treatment of patients who have already received their care is not collected. The NTPF collects data on patients currently on the waiting list and the average time that these patients have been waiting is provided here.
Hospital Appointments Status
Ceisteanna (497)
Pa Daly
Ceist:497. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) can expect to receive an appointment for surgical procedure to remove cataracts (bilateral), as their sight is impaired and is affecting their day-to-day quality of life; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53186/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday 6th October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
Hospital Staff
Ceisteanna (498)
Thomas Pringle
Ceist:498. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health to outline the reasons why the helpline for the neurology nurses in Crumlin Children's Hospital is no longer operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53197/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is an operational matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday 6th October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
Hospital Waiting Lists
Ceisteanna (499)
Thomas Pringle
Ceist:499. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the current waiting times to receive an appointment with the neurologist in Crumlin Children's Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53199/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
It is recognised that waiting times for many scheduled appointments and procedures were too long before and have been made worse by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Department of Health continues to work with the HSE and the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) to identify ways to improve access to care.
The 2023 Waiting List Action Plan builds on the foundational work done in the 2021 and 2022 plans, both of which reversed the annual trend of rising waiting lists.
For 2023, funding totalling €443 million is being allocated to tackle Waiting Lists with €363 million of this being allocated to the 2023 Waiting List Action Plan, to reduce hospital waiting lists by implementing longer term reforms and providing additional public and private activity to clear backlogs exacerbated during the pandemic. The remaining €80 million of the €443 million is being targeted at various measures to alleviate community/primary care waiting lists.
With the funding from Budget 2024 (€407 million), we are taking the next steps in the multi-annual approach towards achieving the vision of a world-class public healthcare system in which everyone has timely and transparent access to high-quality scheduled care, where and when they need it, in line with Sláintecare reforms.
In relation to the particular query raised by the Deputy, the attached information, provided to my Department by the NTPF sets out the Neurology outpatient waiting list at Crumlin Children's Hospital, broken down by time-band, at the end of October 2023.
OP neurology figures by time bands at Crumlin Children’s Hospital as at 26/10/2023 .
|
0-6 Months |
6-12 Months |
12-18 Months |
18+ Months |
Grand Total |
|
|
Paediatric Neurology |
170 |
46 |
9 |
1 |
226 |