Written Answers Nos. 1095-1114
1095. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of persons residing in the direct provision system currently who have been granted asylum in the State but are economically unable to leave the direct provision system. [11695/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) is currently accommodating nearly 27,000 people in over 200 accommodation centres throughout Ireland. Of these 27,000 people, approximately 6,000 have been granted Permission to Remain. Data relating to the economic position of persons granted permission is not collated.
Under The European Communities (Reception Conditions) Regulations 2018, those who have had their application determined are no longer entitled to Material Reception conditions. However, International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) continues to accommodate those with status, until such time that they progress into the community.
All those with 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 the Peter McVerry Trust (PMVT)/ DePaul are available to them.
Those with status for the greatest length of time are currently are offered a transfer to alternative emergency accommodation. Since January 2024, over 800 people with status have left IPAS accommodation and progressed into the community. This process began in September 2022
IPAS has a specific Transition team who work in collaboration with DePaul Ireland, the PMVT, 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.
1096. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide an update on Tusla’s Residential Childcare Strategy, launched in January 2022; the targets for the introduction of 31 voluntary beds in the first two years of the strategy (2022 and 2023) and an additional 79 places by the statutory and voluntary providers during the lifetime of the strategy; and if he will detail the number of beds/places introduced in the voluntary and statutory providers since the strategy was launched. [11696/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this relates to Tusla operational matters, the question has been forwarded to Tusla for direct reply to the Deputy.
1097. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is aware that many parents feel as though the care and support provided to their disabled children has decreased under the community disability network teams, specifically in relation to children with Down syndrome being provided more generalised care as opposed to specialised services that existed under the CRC; his advice for parents with these concerns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11716/24]
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 likely be aware that the industrial action by certain Forsa grades in the HSE has been suspended. The HSE has indicated that they have recommenced issuing replies to questions but there is a significant backlog of PQs and Reps to be responded to and has advised that they are working to get through these as soon as possible while at the same time managing the volume of current PQs and Reps.
1098. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the further education, training and employment opportunities for young people with intellectual disabilities finishing post-primary school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11725/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraEducation, training and employment will be important considerations under the next National Disability Strategy. DCEDIY is working collaboratively across government and with stakeholders to ensure that this Strategy sets out appropriately ambitious actions in realising our obligation under the UNCRPD to ensure that people with disabilities are afforded opportunities to learn and work on an equal basis with others.
Meaningful and ambitious action across employment, training, and education will all be fundamental to the success of the next NDS in ensuring that disabled people are empowered to live lives of their own choosing and are provided with necessary supports to realise their career aspirations.
My Colleague, Minister Simon Harris, published the fourth National Access Plan to Higher Education in August 2022. The plan aligns with and builds on the wider ambitions of the Programme for Government to provide accessible, affordable education to all citizens.The plan identifies students with a disability including students with an intellectual disability as groups who are underrepresented in Higher Education. Since the launch of the plan Minister Harris has made a number of key improvements including:
• Providing €3m of funding to support universal design in higher educations with projects currently ongoing.
• Increasing the Fund for Students with a disability by 5% for 2024 bringing funding available to over €8million.
• Recently provided funding to 10 Higher Education Institutions who will provide courses for students with an intellectual disability across the country over the next 3 years. Course provision is due to commence in September 2024.
• On the 9th February Minister Harris also announced a further €1.8 million to support inclusion measures. Part of this funding will be prioritised to progress recommendations made by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism such as the roll out of sensory maps of college campuses. Some of the funding will also allow further Universal Design measures.
Fostering Inclusion is one of the three core pillars around which the Further Education and Training (FET) Strategy 2020-2024 is built. ETBs continue to provide a broad range of supports to encourage learner participation, offering a full suite of programmes to all participants, regardless of ability or entry level. Programmes for learners who may require additional assistance, including those with intellectual disabilities, tend to be delivered through Adult Literacy, Community Education and Specialist Training settings. SOLAS provides funding under the Fund for Students with Disabilities to the ETBs, who manage the funding allocations to PLC colleges for services and accommodations required to support students with disabilities. This Fund for Students with Disabilities (FSD) allocates funding to further and higher education colleges for the provision of services and supports to full-time students with disabilities. The Strategic Performance Agreements for 2022-24 agreed between SOLAS and the individual ETBs provide for the rolling out of the FSD across wider FET provision. An additional €2m was allocated to the FSD as part of Budget 2024 to progress this extension. Specialist Training Provision is also provided across the 16 ETBs, providing vocational and training opportunities for learners who require more intensive supports. Evaluation of the STP programme is ongoing, and is due to be finalised this year.
1099. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of respite places available in Cork from 2018 to date for patients aged under 65 years; in tabular form. [11730/24]
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 likely be aware that the industrial action by certain Forsa grades in the HSE has been suspended. The HSE has indicated that they have recommenced issuing replies to questions but there is a significant backlog of PQs and Reps to be responded to and has advised that they are working to get through these as soon as possible while at the same time managing the volume of current PQs and Reps.
1100. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide an update on the proposed bill to ban conversion therapy; to the estimated date of publication; and whether it is his intention to pass the bill within this Government's term of office. [11734/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra1101. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there will be any exemptions under the proposed Bill to ban conversion therapy; and if so, the justifications for these exemptions. [11735/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1101 and 1100 together.
I propose to take PQs 11734/24 and 11735/24 from the Deputy together.
The Programme for Government contains a commitment to legislate to ban conversion therapy. The National LGBTI Youth Strategy 2018 – 2020 and the National LGBTI+ Inclusion Strategy 2019 – 2021 also contain commitments in relation to conversion therapy.
Given the complex and sensitive nature of the proposed legislation, my Department is carefully considering the key policy principles that will underpin the legislation to ensure that individuals are protected from harmful conversion practices while the necessary and appropriate services for those with concerns in areas of sexual orientation and gender identity are not affected.
Intensive work on drafting the General Scheme is ongoing and officials continue to engage with the Office of the Attorney General on the matter. As the particulars of the General Scheme are not yet finalised, I am not in a position to comment on its details including in relation to exemptions. It is planned that legislative proposals will be brought forward shortly.
1102. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if it is his intention to provide a legal basis for nonbinary gender recognition; and if so, to provide an update on work carried out within his Department to date on the matter. [11736/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government – Our Shared Future - contains a commitment to complete the work of the interdepartmental group tasked with examining legal recognition of non-binary people. This is in line with the report by the Review Group on the Review of the Gender Recognition Act 2015 submitted to the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection in 2018 and the subsequent Report to the Oireachtas under Section 7 of the Act, issued by that Department in 2019.
The Department of Social Protection holds policy responsibility for the Gender Recognition Act 2015. Issues relating to the legal basis for gender recognition should be directed to that Department.
1103. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth whether he or his Department have engaged with representatives from trans organisations in relation to concerns about the national gender service and the formulation of a new model of care; if so, to provide a list of organisations they have engaged with; and if not, whether he will commit to doing so. [11742/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister with responsibility for equality, I recognise the importance of engaging with civil society groups on issues affecting their lives, including those representing LGBTI+ people, and I continue to do so. As Minister with oversight responsibility for the National LGBTI+ Inclusion Strategy, I chair the meetings of the National LGBTI+ Inclusion Strategy Steering Committee. The Steering Committee comprises representatives from key government departments and public bodies along with NGOs, particularly those representing LGBTI+ people.
Issues in relation to the provision of healthcare for trans people have been discussed at Steering Committee meetings. Meeting minutes, including meeting participants are published online. (gov - LGBTI+ National Inclusion Strategy Committee (www.gov.ie)).
Matters in relation to the National Gender Service and a new model of care fall under the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Health.
1104. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of an assessment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11751/24]
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 likely be aware that the industrial action by certain Forsa grades in the HSE has been suspended. The HSE has indicated that they have recommenced issuing replies to questions but there is a significant backlog of PQs and Reps to be responded to and has advised that they are working to get through these as soon as possible while at the same time managing the volume of current PQs and Reps.
1105. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the likely date for an awareness raising campaign to commence in relation to the new Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Human Trafficking) Bill 2023 (details supplied); if the details of the campaign have been decided; if assurances will be given that this awareness campaign on the OPSC will be made available to the general public; and if so, the way this will be done. [11773/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is firmly committed to ratification of the Second Optional Protocol to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography.
The Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Human Trafficking) Bill 2023, which is currently before the Houses, will remove the final obstacles to ratification of the Protocol. The Bill will deal with the issues relating to extra-territorial jurisdiction and amend the Criminal Justice (Mutual Assistance) Act 2008 by the insertion of the Second Optional Protocol to the list of international agreements to which the Act of 2008 applies to ensure that Ireland is compliant with the requirements of the Protocol.
Information on the Second Optional Protocol will initially be made available on the Young Ireland website, which is currently being designed, and further information raising actions will be decided as matters progress.
1106. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department plans to act on correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11775/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraA Department official has contacted the person concerned directly in relation to this matter The Ukraine Crisis Temporary Accommodation Team (UCTAT)? is not in a position to provide accommodation for people with specific complex medical needs, although through the first initial HSE assessment in?CityWest?all staff will do their best to meet the accommodation needs of each case presented.
Where medical issues are raised, my Department works with the HSE on the basis of a protocol which sets out the priority cases for medical moves. All requests to relocate on medical grounds must be sent to my Department at -UkraineTempAccom@equality.gov.ie
Unless a case is deemed eligible for a move to our very limited accommodation near hospitals and treatment centres, BOTPs can access supports for treatment and transport through the Community Response Forum.
BOTPs have the same access to medical services as people normally resident in Ireland who are often also not living close to hospitals or specialist services. The Department of Transport has set up local transport links, such as the community car, to assist with such situations.
Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection are entitled to make their own private arrangements including potentially availing of pledged accommodation if they wish, and can avail of some supports to do so. Those wishing to avail of pledged accommodation in any given area should contact the Local Authority in that area or the Irish Red Cross pledge process. The Irish Red Cross can be contacted by email at?registerofpledges@redcross.ie?or by phoning 1800 50 70 70.???
While the Department will make every effort to review requests received as quickly as possible, it may take some time to respond.
1107. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth whether accommodation previously assigned for those seeking temporary protection from Ukraine is becoming available for use for international protection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11787/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraDue to continuing downward trends in BOTPs seeking accommodation from the State coupled with increases in BOTPs leaving State provided accommodation to seek more independent living, vacancies have arisen in my Department’s portfolio of commercial BOTP accommodation. These vacancy numbers change daily in response to moves in and out of accommodation and while they can appear significant at times, not all of these vacancies can be used in the short term.
Where a provider has not committed to renewing a contract or where an issue has been raised with my Department such that the provider’s offering is under review, vacancies cannot be used until these matters have been resolved. In addition, where contracts will end in the short term, a certain proportion of the portfolio of vacancies must be maintained so as to facilitate the movement of resident BOTPs.
Notwithstanding these limitations, my Department has recently undertaken a priority review of capacity within the BOTP portfolio to identify any vacancies that can be used for IPs in the short term and has begun engaging with providers in this regard. Up to 500 spaces have been identified and actions are now underway to move IPs into properties where BOTPs are and where vacancies exist with the agreement of the providers concerned.
Following the Government decision to implement a time limited accommodation offering for those seeking accommodation in the State, my Department has paused the procurement of commercial accommodation to accommodate BOTPs; providers visiting the offers portal are instead encouraged to consider accommodating IPs. Work has also begun to consolidate the wider BOTP portfolio so that it better aligns with future needs. Where contracts are being ended as part of this process, my Department will work to identify accommodation which could be suitable for use for IP. This is however a commercial decision to be made by the providers concerned and their agreement will be needed to make this happen.
While my Department is working to progress this as quickly as possible, this will be an ongoing process due to complexities of room configuration, contractual matters, and the requirement to move BOTPs to alternative accommodation.
1108. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will consider moving to a fully publicly funded model of early years and school age care to bringing Ireland line with the best-in-class systems available in other countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11813/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra1110. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will ringfence dedicated funding for the purposes of developing a coherent five-year plan to create a unified, publicly funded model of early years and school age care that incentivises the recruitment and retention of a graduate workforce, that is affordable and accessible for parents and crucially, places children's rights at its core (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11815/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1108 and 1110 together.
The Programme for Government contains a number of commitments for early learning and childcare, including reforming the system to create one that brings together the best of community and private provision and the development of a new funding model for affordable, accessible, sustainable and high quality early learning and childcare.
An Expert Group was established in September 2019 to develop a new funding model for the early learning and childcare sector. Under their terms of reference, the Expert Group was not asked to propose changes to the current model of delivery (i.e. privately-operated provision), rather that the Group should seek to further achieve policy objectives of quality, affordability, accessibility and contributing to addressing disadvantage in a privately-operated system through increased public funding and public management.
In December 2021, Government approved the 25 recommendations contained in the Expert Group report, Partnership for the Public Good: A New Funding Model for Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare. The recommendations were accepted in full by Government and implementation of this new funding model is well underway.
Of the 25 recommendations, three are grouped under the title 'Role of the State'. In particular, the final recommendation states that, “[I]n the medium term, the Minister should mandate the Department to examine whether some element of public provision should be introduced alongside private provision.”
Taken together, these recommendations reflect a key theme of the report, which is the importance of strengthened State involvement and enhanced public management in the sector, in conjunction with increased State funding. This is underpinned by a cultural shift to a partnership relationship between providers and the State that reflects the public good dimension of early learning and childcare, with new responsibilities on both sides.
In September 2022, I launched Together for Better, the new funding model for early learning and childcare that supports the delivery of early learning and childcare for the public good. This new funding model supports the delivery of early learning and childcare for the public good, for quality and affordability for children, parents and families as well as stability and sustainability for providers. 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.
Together for Better brings together three major programmes, the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme, including the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM), the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) and the new Core Funding scheme. A fourth programme – the Equal Participation Model is under development.
This new funding model being implemented aims to transform the sector to one that is increasingly publicly funded and publicly managed. This is the start of a multi-annual investment plan – with investment this year exceeding €1.1 billion – achieving the First 5 investment target five years ahead of time. Full implementation of all recommendations, including recommendation 25, which would likely involve an estimate of cost and timeline for delivery of a portion of public provision, will be progressed in the coming years as additional funding is secured through the annual Estimates process.
1109. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps he will take to ensure that the Stakeholder Response Team (SRT) will work with services in the local area, such as the CCCs, to source alternative places for children when child care closures are unavoidable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11814/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra1112. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when a child care setting has confirmed with Pobal that it is to close, this will trigger a response from a Stakeholder Response Team (SRT); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11817/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra1113. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps he will take to ensure that when child care settings are at risk of closures, the Stakeholder Response Team (SRT) will work with a range of local agencies and others to devise a sustainable plan for the setting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11818/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1109, 1112 and 1113 together.
Tusla, the independent statutory regulator for early years services, including ELC and SAC services, is responsible for maintaining the register of services under the Child Care Act 1991. Where an ELC or SAC service ceases operations, the registered provider is required by law to advise Tusla of this and the service will then be removed from the public register. Tusla provides my Department with the verified closure figures a month in arrears, to allow time for verification.
Data from Tusla on service registrations shows that the number of services that closed in 2023 are lower than previous years. At end 2023, there were 86 new registrations of ELC services and 115 closures. This compares with 83 new registrations and 141 closures in the same period in 2022.
At end 2023, there were 210 new standalone SAC services that have registered with Tusla and 52 standalone SAC services that have closed. In 2022, 130 new standalone SAC services were registered with Tusla while 42 standalone SAC services closed.
A table on ELC and standalone SAC closures and new services (below) covers the period Jan 2019 to Jan 2024.
There is considerable diversity in the reasons given for closure by providers. While some services have closed for financial reasons, many have closed for other reasons (e.g. retirement of the owner/manager, property related, availability of staff, and reduction in child numbers). To note the reasons for closure are not verified by Tusla and are self-reported.
My Department has a range of supports in place to avert closures, or assess closures of services – similar to the work of the Stakeholder Response Team, which was proposed by Early Childhood Ireland in their recent publication.
Through Case Management, City/County Childcare Committees and Pobal work together to assess and provide support to early learning and childcare services experiencing difficulties. This support focuses on operational as well as financial supports to assist services to manage their immediate difficulties and transition to a more sustainable model of delivery.
Where services close, City/County Childcare Committees have successfully supported the reopening of closed services. In the event of closures, City/County Childcare Committees also assist parents with sourcing alternative early learning and childcare places where possible.
A new Supply Management Unit was established in my Department in January 2024. This new Unit includes an Early Learning and Childcare Supply Management Advisor and Coordinator on secondment from Dublin City and Wicklow Childcare Committees. A key part of the Supply Management Unit’s remit will be to develop a planning function, for monitoring, analysing and forecasting of investment needs, in line with a recommendation of the Expert Group in their Report – Partnership for the Public Good. The development of this function - akin to the Department of Education’s Forward Planning Unit - will be supported by the Data Analytics Units in the Department and a statistician, recently seconded from the CSO, to work in the Early Learning and Childcare Division.
TUSLA REGISTRATION OF SERVICES*
|
2019 |
ELC |
SAC Standalone* |
Total |
|
Total New |
93 |
93 |
|
|
Total Closures |
196 |
196 |
|
|
Net Difference |
-103 |
0 |
-103 |
|
2020 |
ELC |
SAC Standalone |
Total |
|
Total New |
91 |
164 |
255 |
|
Total Closures |
197 |
12 |
209 |
|
Net Difference |
-106 |
152 |
46 |
|
2021 |
ELC |
SAC Standalone |
Total |
|
Total New |
65 |
142 |
207 |
|
Total Closures |
141 |
15 |
156 |
|
Net Difference |
-76 |
127 |
51 |
|
2022 |
ELC |
SAC Standalone |
Total |
|
Total New |
83 |
130 |
213 |
|
Total Closures |
141 |
42 |
183 |
|
Net Difference |
-58 |
88 |
30 |
|
2023 |
ELC |
SAC Standalone |
Total |
|
Total New |
86 |
210 |
296 |
|
Total Closures |
115 |
52 |
167 |
|
Net Difference |
-29 |
158 |
129 |
|
2024 (January only) |
ELC |
SAC Standalone |
Total |
|
Total New |
7 |
12 |
19 |
|
Total Closures |
1 |
2 |
3 |
|
Net Difference |
6 |
10 |
16 |
* Registration of SAC Services only commenced in 2020
1111. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to ensure that when a childcare setting indicates that it is going to close, it must first be signalled this within the Pobal Hive, by giving a minimum of three months' notice and six months if at all possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11816/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraTusla 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. Where an ELC or SAC service ceases operations, the registered provider is required by law to advise Tusla of this within 28 days of ceasing operation and the service will then be removed from the public register. The Tusla register is publicly available on their website a month in arrears, to allow time for verification.
My Department already has a range of supports in place to avert closures, or assess closures of services.
Through Case Management, City/County Childcare Committees and Pobal work together to assess and provide support to early learning and childcare services experiencing difficulties. This support focuses on operational as well as financial supports to assist services to manage their immediate difficulties and transition to a more sustainable model of delivery.
Where services close, City/County Childcare Committees have successfully supported the reopening of closed services. In the event of closures, City/County Childcare Committees also assist parents with sourcing alternative early learning and childcare places where possible.
A new Supply Management Unit was established in my Department in January 2024. A key part of the Supply Management Unit’s remit is to develop a planning function, for monitoring, analyzing and forecasting supply and demand for early learning and childcare provision, in line with a recommendation of the Expert Group in their Report – Partnership for the Public Good. The new until will also develop policy to respond to evidence of supply and demand misalignment, including through the administration of capital funding.
1114. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of IPAS applicants now residing in a facility (details supplied) by status, that is, male, female or child; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11832/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI thank the Deputy for his question.
I am advised by my officials that a deferred response in relation to PQ Ref: 8747/24 was issued to the Deputy on 12th March 2024. The matters raised in PQ Ref: 11832/24 were addressed in this response.
I trust this information clarifies the matter.
