Written Answers Nos. 526-537
526. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 135 of 14 December 2023 and 65 of 7 November 2023, when the mother and baby institutions 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. [2719/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme will be the largest scheme of its type in the history of the State with an anticipated 34,000 people eligible for its benefits. Given its scale and significance the Scheme has been placed on a statutory footing and enabling legislation was signed into law last July.
A comprehensive body of work has been undertaken to develop the substantial administrative framework required to deliver a scheme of this size. This work includes:
• the making of the necessary regulations which must be in place prior to the Scheme opening;
• making arrangements for the staffing necessary to deliver the Scheme;
• Developing a comprehensive training programme for all staff involved in the Scheme;
• Developing hard copy and online application systems;
• Developing the case management IT infrastructure for the Scheme;
• Preparing for a substantive public awareness campaign to be delivered in Ireland and overseas. To this end, a recent stakeholder engagement process for the Payment Scheme has just concluded with representatives reviewing some of the application and information materials for the Scheme.
Opening the Scheme as soon as possible is an absolute priority for me and my Department and the Scheme will open within the first quarter of this year.
To ensure efficiencies in application processing and payments, a blended operating model is being put in place which will provide for the Payment Scheme Office to be supported by an experienced third party.
The Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme is one element of a comprehensive package of support measures agreed by the Government as part of the Action Plan for Survivors and Former Residents of Mother and Baby and County Home Institutions. Other important measures contained in the Action Plan response include access to birth information provided through the Birth Information and Tracing Act 2022, the intervention at the site of the former Tuam Mother and Baby Institution and the establishment of a National Centre for Research and Remembrance on the site of the former Magdalen Laundry on Sean McDermott Street.
527. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the closure of child-care facilities (details supplied) will be examined and addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2723/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraClosure of childcare facilities
Tusla is the independent statutory regulator for early years services, including Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) services and is responsible for maintaining the register of services under the Child Care Act 1991. The latest data on new service registrations and service closures provided by the Tusla Early Years Inspectorate covering the period up to the end of November 2023 shows:
• a net increase of 126 in the overall number of ELC and standalone SAC services year to date;
• a net increase of 158 standalone SAC services (after-school childcare) year to date;
• a five-year low in the number of net ELC (i.e. early learning and care, or pre-school) services closures, (i.e. 32 net closures January-November 2023 compared to 57 net closures in 2022, 77 net closures in 2021, 101 net closures in 2020 and 89 net closures in 2019 for the same time period. It should be noted that net closures of services does not necessarily imply a reduction in capacity in the sector.
In County Cork, up to end November 2023, there were 4 new ELC registrations while 16 ELC services closed. In Kerry, in the same period, there were 4 new ELC registrations while 3 ELC services closed. In County Cork, up to end November 2023, there were 37 new SAC registrations while 11 SAC services closed. In Kerry, in the same period, there were 14 new SAC registrations while 7 SAC services closed. It is important to note that the county-specific SAC data includes both standalone SAC services and combined SAC and ELC services. This means that some services that were listed as closed or newly registered may appear in both the ELC and SAC data.
Increasing supply
Ensuring high-quality early learning and childcare is affordable and accessible to all children and, in particular, children from vulnerable backgrounds, is a key priority for Government.
Recent data shows that, on the whole, the supply of early learning and childcare places are broadly meeting demand. There are pockets of undersupply in certain areas and for certain cohorts, including places for babies and toddlers as well as full time place.
Data from Tusla on service registrations shows that the number of services that have closed in 2023 are lower than previous years. There is considerable diversity in the reasons given for closure by providers. While some services have closed for financial reasons, it is important to note that many have closed for other reasons, such as lack of demand or the retirement of the owner.
My Department is progressing a range of actions to ensure the supply of early learning and childcare and school age childcare meets demand.
A new Supply Management Unit has been established within my Department to lead on this important work. The development of this function is akin to the Department of Education’s Forward Planning Unit.
The Supply Management Unit’s will oversee the allocation of new capital investment. €69 million was allocated to my Department over the period 2023-2025 under the NDP to enable capital investment in the sector.
The Building Blocks - Capacity Grant, which I announced last month, will fund the expansion of existing provision and invest in the development of new provision. My Department is currently undertaking a detailed needs analysis of supply and demand across the sector. This analysis will enable the funding to be targeted to where it is most needed.
Supports for the sector
Core Funding makes a significant additional contribution to services’ income, allowing them to better absorb increased costs including energy costs. In Year 1 of Core Funding, 99% of services saw their income increase through Core Funding with 1%, or close to 60 services, receiving top up payments to ensure their income did not decrease for the same level of provision offered.
All services will have seen further increases to their Core Funding allocations from the second year due to the increased allocations towards non-staff overheads and administrative staff/time. In addition, a number of targeted supports for small and sessional services were introduced in Year 2 of the scheme in order to improve sustainability of these services, specifically a flat rate top up of €4,075 for sessional-only services and a minimum base rate allocation of €8,150. These measures saw the average allocation under Core Funding for sessional-only service increase by 30% this year.
In a continued commitment to supporting these services, these targeted measures will continue to apply in the 2024/2025 programme year.
The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration & Youth funds 30 City/County Childcare Committees which provide support and assist families and early learning and childcare providers with early learning and childcare matters.
The Deputy may also be aware that 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, particularly where there is unmet need.
Where services close, City/County Childcare Committees have successfully supported the reopening of closed services, a recent example being the Before 5 Family Centre in Cork. In the event of closures, City/County Childcare Committees also assist parents with sourcing alternative early learning and childcare places where possible.
Furthermore, for any service who is experiencing financial difficulty or has concerns about their viability, special supports are available from my Department and can be accessed through local City and County Childcare Committees (CCC). Once a service engages with their local CCC they will be able to avail of supports through the case management process.
Through this process, local CCC and Pobal work together to assess and provide support to ELC and SAC services experiencing difficulties. This support can take the form of general operational supports, assisting with interpreting analysis of staff ratios and cash flow, as well as more specialised advice and support appropriate to the individual circumstances of a service. In some instances, financial supports may be deemed appropriate in tandem with the case management process.
Financial supports, which may also be accessed through the case management process, are available to all Core Funding Partner Services, both community and private, who are experiencing financial difficulty, following a financial assessment by Pobal. If any service would like to avail of advice or supports on a concern regarding their sustainability, they are encouraged to reach out to their local CCC. Contact details for their local CCC can be found at www.myccc.ie.
Any parent queries can be directed to Kerry County Childcare Committee (phone: 066 7181582, email: info@kerrycountychildcare.com).
528. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps taken and planned following the publication of a report (details supplied); if a report has issued from his Department further to the publication of this report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2761/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department and the Child and Family Agency (Tusla) continue to take the issue of potential Child Sexual Exploitation very seriously and are committed to promoting safe and high quality practice in all areas of Alternative Care, including working with An Garda Síochána as required. In this regard, my Department and Tusla have undertaken a range of actions in relation to potential child sexual exploitation, including the following:
• I engaged with the authors of the identified report, and my officials have engaged with Tusla, to ensure that any child protection concerns outlined in the report are being followed up, including in respect of any necessary reports to An Garda Síochána. Tusla has confirmed that its National Garda Liaison lead met with An Garda Síochána in relation to the issues raised in the study.
• Tusla has a statutory obligation to notify An Garda Síochána (AGS) of all incidences of suspected child sexual exploitation (CSE), including those relating to children in the care of the State. An Garda Síochána lead the investigation into these notifications.
• In 2021 Tusla implemented its Child Exploitation (CSE) Procedure in partnership with An Garda Síochána. The joint working protocol between Tusla and AGS forms a critical part of the response to child abuse, neglect, and child sexual exploitation. A Principal Social Worker from Tusla has been seconded to the Garda National Protective Service Bureau (GNPSB) for a number of years.
• All staff in residential centres for the care of children have undergone Children First training, which provides guidance for the protection and welfare of children.
• Prior to the publication of the report, my Department and Tusla established a Working Group looking at institutional and organisational abuse. My Department has requested that the Group consider the report and make recommendations as required, after which I will consider any further steps as may be necessary.
• The work of this Group is ongoing, including reviewing criteria for definition of such abuse and reviewing further supports and guidance for staff around any potential indicators of child sexual exploitation of children in State care. The Group has recently commissioned an external research provider to conduct research on this area. That procurement process is completed and a provider is due to commence this research in the coming weeks.
Children in the care of the State are some of the most vulnerable individuals in our society. My Department continues to work closely with Tusla's senior management team on the safeguarding framework for all children in care, to ensure that it continues to be sufficiently robust to protect children from evolving risks.
529. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when a child will receive an assessment of needs (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2856/24]
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. The Deputy will be aware that due to the ongoing industrial action by FORSA administrative and management grade staff in the HSE (which commenced on 6 October, 2023), delays remain in receiving answers to parliamentary questions and ministerial representations.
530. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when a child will receive an assessment of needs (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2857/24]
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. The Deputy will be aware that due to the ongoing industrial action by FORSA administrative and management grade staff in the HSE (which commenced on 6 October, 2023), delays remain in receiving answers to parliamentary questions and ministerial representations.
531. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when a child will receive an assessment of needs (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2858/24]
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. The Deputy will be aware that due to the ongoing industrial action by FORSA administrative and management grade staff in the HSE (which commenced on 6 October, 2023), delays remain in receiving answers to parliamentary questions and ministerial representations.
532. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if TUSLA can make representations on social housing applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2860/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe representations on social housing applications is an operational matter for Tusla. I have referred the question to Tusla for direct response to the Deputy.
533. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when a person (details supplied) will receive the urgent overnight respite care they and their family need; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2881/24]
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. The Deputy will be aware that due to the ongoing industrial action by FORSA administrative and management grade staff in the HSE (which commenced on 6 October, 2023), delays remain in receiving answers to parliamentary questions and ministerial representations.
The HSE has been engaged with Fórsa through the auspices of the WRC in an effort to resolve the dispute but a resolution has not been reached as of yet.
534. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of unaccompanied minors or separated children currently seeking asylum in the State; and the types of care settings they are in, that is foster care, residential care, emergency accommodation, and so on. [2882/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraStatutory 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.
535. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of persons currently in State care who are in special emergency accommodation; the number who were in such settings at the end of each week for the past two years; and if a breakdown can be provided on the number of whom are separated children/unaccompanied minors and those who are not, in tabular form. [2883/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this relates to Tusla operational matters, the question has been forwarded to Tusla for direct reply to the Deputy.
536. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of special emergency accommodation companies that have been set up, or contracted by Tusla in Ireland in each of the past ten years, for the purposes of accommodating children in State care; the names of such companies; and the amounts paid to each company, per child per year, in each of the past ten years, in tabular form. [2884/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraStatutory 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.
537. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children referred to Tusla in each of the past ten years, in tabular form. [2885/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraStatutory 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.
