Written Answers Nos. 399-414
399. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will give urgent consideration to the issues outlined in a national representative organisation concerning childcare funding (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31916/23]
View answerThe report to which the Deputy refers was not provided to me in advance of its publication on 27 June. However, I acknowledge the Deputy’s provision of excerpts from “Voices from the frontlines: Service providers identify key challenges and opportunities for Ireland’s ELC and SAC sector” produced for the Federation of Early Childhood Providers (FECP) as part of this parliamentary question. The published report was received on 28 June, therefore my reply refers to the specific points referred to the in excerpts provided and to previous correspondence from FECP, received on 16 June, on related matters.
In that correspondence, the FECP called for increases in public funding, changes to the fee freeze and an increase in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) capitation to €120 per child per week. In respect of these issues, I have been very clear:
• Investment in Early Learning and Childcare is already at unprecedented levels, with the Core Funding scheme allocation alone increasing by 11% in year 2 of the scheme to an overall budget of €287m to the sector. I am committed to prioritising further increases in funding as part of the annual Estimates process.
• Fees charged to parents remain high and I am committed to reducing costs for parents through National Childcare Scheme (NCS) subsidies and fee management introduced in September 2022 through Core Funding. Maintaining the fee freeze is entirely appropriate given the substantial additional investment in the sector being made through Core Funding.
• Through ECCE capitation and Core Funding combined, services will receive a minimum weekly capitation of €79.20 per child and a maximum of €95.85 per child, with additional funding for graduate lead educators, graduate managers and for sessional services. There is no clear evidence supporting an increase in capitation to €120 per week, at an overall cost of €210m.
While the large majority of representative groups and individual providers have embraced Core Funding, the FECP has been vocal in its campaign for changes to the scheme from when it was first announced. To respond to concerns raised previously by the FECP, I appointed Frontier Economics to undertake an independent financial review of sessional services. The review began in Q1 2023 and while the final report is outstanding, interim information received by the Department is inconclusive and sector-wide findings are not possible given the small number of services who engaged with the review. Nonetheless, I announced targeted measures worth an additional €7.22 million through Core Funding year 2, to support smaller and sessional services.
My officials and I have regular engagement with the sector on the funding model (and indeed wider issues), principally through the Early Learning and Childcare Stakeholder Forum, comprised of a number of representative organisations, including the FECP. I am committed to this ongoing engagement and on 26 June I offered to meet with the FECP once I had received their report and have had the opportunity to consider its contents.
With regard to supporting children with additional needs, the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) is a model of universal and targeted supports designed to ensure that children with additional needs can meaningfully participate in the ECCE programme.
AIM currently operates in tandem with the ECCE programme and as such, provision of AIM supports are directly linked with ECCE programme participation / hours of operation.
One of the commitments within First 5, the Government Strategy for Babies and Children, is to undertake an end-of-year-three evaluation of AIM. That evaluation has now been completed, with the final report due to be published later this year. Subject to evaluation findings and other relevant developments, my officials will be considering enhancements to, and/or expansion of AIM. This could include provision beyond ECCE programme hours of operation to, for example, all early learning and care (ELC) services and all school-age childcare (SAC) services.
In relation to the administrative burden associated with my Department's funded schemes, there are two important developments of note for the upcoming Programme Year. Taking into account the feedback of providers, including those who partook in the ELCSF subgroup, services will only have to complete one online Fee Table and one Parent Statement per family, going forward.
The Parent Statement, which is closely based on the document introduced last year under Core Funding, must be co-signed by the provider and parent/guardian of each family in the service, and kept on file. For providers participating in more than one scheme, this will noticeably reduce administration by taking the place of multiple documents including the NCS parental agreement. This is a substantial improvement for providers, particularly in relation to the NCS, as there will be no need to issue or sign a new Parent Statement if there is an increase in a family’s subsidy or rate.
I acknowledge that many providers report staffing difficulties in relation to recruitment and retention. In general, staffing pressures in the sector are caused not by insufficient supply of qualified personnel, but by high levels of staff turnover, linked to pay and conditions.
However, providers are private businesses. As the State does not employ staff in these services, neither I nor my Department can set wage levels or determine working conditions for staff in the sector.
There is now, through the independent Joint Labour Committee (JLC) process, a formal mechanism established by which employer and employee representatives can negotiate minimum pay rates for different roles in early learning and childcare services.
On 15 September 2022, two Employment Regulation Orders for Early Years Services, negotiated through the JLC, came into effect, providing for minimum hourly rates of pay for various roles in these services.
The Orders are being supported by Core Funding – which has an allocation of €259 million in its first year – to support amongst other things, improvements in staff wages, alongside a commitment to freeze parental fees and support for sustainability of services. As announced in Budget 2023, the Core Funding allocation will increase by €28 million for the second year. I understand that the JLC for Early Years Services is continuing to meet in relation to possible amendments to the Employment Regulation Orders.
I am also committed to addressing other challenges, which may impact on the recruitment and retention of staff in the sector. In December 2021, I published "Nurturing Skills: The Workforce Plan for ELC and SAC, 2022-2028". Nurturing Skills aims to strengthen the ongoing process of professionalisation for those working in the sector. One of the five "pillars" of Nurturing Skills comprises commitments aimed at supporting recruitment, retention and diversity in the workforce, and it includes actions to raise the profile of careers in the sector.
The safety and protection of children remains the first priority of Government in early learning and childcare. Central to achieving this is enforcement of regulations, which have children at the heart of their implementation.
In 2022, I made amendments to the Regulations to allow for the streamlining of the re-registration process. This has resulted in a significant reduction in administration for nearly 4,000 services.
In relation to inspection of early years services, my Department is currently working on implementing the actions set out in First 5 and the recommendations of the OECD Country Policy Review in relation to the streamlining of inspection.
In the short term, my Department is working with the Tusla Early Years Inspectorate and the Department of Education Inspectorate to ensure that sectoral inspection activities are streamlined and coordinated to the greatest extent possible, and that the inspection system and its interlinking parts are communicated clearly and effectively to the sector.
With regard to closures, data from Tusla on service registrations shows that the number of services that closed so far in 2023 is lower than the figure from last year for the same period.
At end May 2023, there were 23 closures and 15 new registrations of ELC services for 2023. This compares with 38 closures and 16 new registrations in the same period in 2022. Year on year comparisons are not relevant for SAC services due to registration only commencing recently. There is considerable diversity in the reasons given for closure by providers.
400. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the ongoing efforts by his Department, if any, to provide integrated before- and after-school services given the necessity for both parents to remain in employment due to high mortgages; if it is anticipated that this issue is being provided for in a meaningful way via the school building programme to ensure appropriate accommodation for same on site within schools; the extent to which there is any ongoing collaboration with the Department of Education in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31932/23]
View answerFirst 5, the whole-of-government strategy to improve the lives of babies, young children and their families recognises the potential for the use of school facilities for before and after-school early learning childcare. Data captured through the Annual Early Years Sector Profile in Spring 2022 revealed that approximately 15% of early learning and childcare services are located on school sites. Data collection for this year's Early Years Sector Profile is currently underway and will provide an updated position.
The Department of Education has advised that the use of school facilities lies with the relevant school authority in consultation with the property owner and having regard to the needs of the school, staff and students.
The Department of Education policy is to encourage the use of school facilities, where possible, for community, training and education-related activities, including early learning and childcare.
To assist schools in considering applications for use of their facilities, the Department of Education in consultation with representatives of schools has drafted guidelines on the use of school property outside of school hours, which is available here:
www.education.ie/en/Publications/Policy-Reports/guidelines-on-the-use-of-school-buildings-outside-of-school-hours.pdf .
These guidelines are not intended to be exhaustive or prescriptive but are provided to assist schools in considering applications for the use of their facilities.
In line with First 5, the Department of Education conducted a survey of a representative sample of schools on the use of school facilities for early learning and care and school-age childcare services and it will be used to inform a review of the Guidelines on the use of School Buildings outside of School Hours.
402. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to amend the online process for the creation of enduring powers of attorney to enable legal representatives or advocates to set up an online portal with the Disability Support Services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31991/23]
View answerUnder the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act, as amended, the Decision Support Service is the body responsible for the operation of the majority of the Act, including in relation to the making of Enduring Powers of Attorney (EPAs).
The Decision Support Service (DSS) is responsible for the design and development of its own systems to deliver functions under the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015.
The DSS has established an online customer portal to allow members of the public to create secure accounts and complete applications to create and register decision support arrangements, including enduring powers of attorney. The ICT system of which the portal is a part has been developed in line with the government’s ‘digital first’ approach, following expert advice and consideration of the experience in other jurisdictions. It has been developed subject to an approved, funded plan and extensive engagement with the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner. There are no plans to develop separate portals for the exclusive use of legal firms or other parties.
Since commencement of the 2015 Act on 26 April, the Decision Support Service has managed over 2300 queries and the Registration team has reported over 685 fully verified online accounts, including 226 applications to create EPAs. This is a very encouraging level of engagement with the online portal which the Director of the Decision Support Service hopes will continue and improve.
The DSS is a digital first but not digital only service, and facilitates manual workarounds for ID verification, account creation and the submission of applications. Regarding legal practitioners, the DSS has stated that it is the prerogative of any donor to instruct a solicitor in relation to the making of an EPA. In their guidance, which is available on the DSS website, the DSS states that a donor should consider doing so - particularly in complex advance planning matters.
The DSS approached the Law Society to offer to assist with the development of guidance for legal practitioners in relation the new EPA systems and contributed a step -by-step guide to its processes, which was included in an update published by the Law Society last week. The same guidance is available on the DSS website, together with other resources, including ‘How to Guides’, specimen completed documents, explainer videos and a dedicated FAQ. The DSS remains available to all its stakeholders to provide information and guidance.
The DSS encourages all adults to think about advance planning - this is why the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 Act is described as ‘an Act for everyone’. Anyone requiring assistance in relation to making or assisting a donor to make an EPA is welcome to contact the DSS by phone or email and its team will be pleased to help.
403. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total advertising budget allocated by his Department and agencies in each of the past ten years, and to date in 2023, respectively; the funding provided directly to RTÉ in each year; if he has sought and secured an assurance that none of this funding was rebated via the RTÉ advertising barter account; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32002/23]
View answerThe Department has utilised the services of a media buying agency since 2019. The information, as requested, is below. The Department does not collate information on behalf of agencies under its aegis.
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|
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
Total |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ex VAT |
€29,128.14 |
€0.00 |
€12,775.52 |
€48,388.48 |
€0.00 |
€90,292.14 |
|
Inc. VAT |
€35,814.24 |
€0.00 |
€15,708.04 |
€59,495.64 |
€0.00 |
€111,017.92 |
404. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the amount paid out to all consultancy firms for any services rendered; and the cost per contract for the year-to-date 2023, in tabular form [31691/23]
View answerDeputy,
In response to your question, the Department of Health's total expenditure from Subhead A7 - Consultancy for the year-to-date 2023, is set out per the table attached.
It is the policy in the Department only to engage the services of external consultants where highly specialised skills are not available within the Department and, in particular, when such an approach is felt to be more appropriate and cost-effective.
405. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health if he will personally intervene to ensure that a person (details supplied) continues to receive a vital medicine to deal with a condition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31700/23]
View answerUnder 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.
406. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if any unsolicited information was received by his Department or HIQA between 2015 to date regarding alleged sexual abuse or physical abuse in the HSE-run community nursing facility (details supplied). [31704/23]
View answerI would like to thank the Deputy for his question. My Department requires some additional time to reply in detail and I will write to you directly on the issues raised.
407. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) qualifies for the HSE pandemic bonus payment, who was contracted as a GP in a HSE Covid assessment hub in Tallaght and Kildare treating patients with Covid in PPE and who is having difficulty receiving confirmation as to whether they would be eligible for this payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31705/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
I would also like to remind the Deputy that it is against Department policy to comment on individual cases.
408. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if urgent orthodontic treatment will be facilitated in the case of a child (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31712/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
409. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health with respect to the “Emily” case and the NIRP independent review which was carried out and completed in November 2022, if the community health organisation which the CNU was located in, carried out any separate reviews or reports into the grievous incidents that took place at the home; if so, if he will undertake to make any review/report public in order for the appropriate bodies to learn from this horrendous series of events; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31717/23]
View answer410. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health with respect to the “Emily” case and the NIRP independent review which was carried out into an unnamed HSE community nursing unit following a grievous sexual assault which took place in the CNU in April 2020, if he plans to publish the report which was completed in November 2022 in order for stakeholders and service providers to learn from the very serious incidents which took place, including the recruitment processes of the facility, the safeguarding processes which failed in this home, and the wider governance issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31718/23]
View answer412. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health with respect to the “Emily” case and the NIRP independent review which was carried out and completed in November 2022, if he can confirm whether the HSE has accepted the recommendations contained within the report in full; if not, if he can detail the reasons for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31724/23]
View answer429. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health regarding the HSE nursing home in which an employee was convicted of raping a resident, to clarify the number of referrals made by the HSE to An Garda Síochána following the public statement by the CEO of the HSE on a radio programme (details supplied) in relation to this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31838/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 409, 410, 412 and 429 together.
The Government takes matters and allegations of abuse very seriously.
I would strongly encourage anyone who has a concern about the safeguarding of adults at risk within a health or social care service to make contact with the local HSE Safeguarding and Protection Team for that area. If a crime is suspected, the matter should also be reported to An Garda Síochána. I welcome the HSE’s unequivocal apology for the failures in Emily’s care. I also welcome the appointment by the HSE of Jackie McIlroy, an adult safeguarding expert from Northern Ireland, to further examine issues relating to the Emily case, and to look at HSE safeguarding more broadly.
As the matters raised are operational, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
411. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the progress he is making on expanding the national heel-prick test; how many diseases babies born today in Ireland are currently being tested for; when he will decide on including spinal muscular atrophy in newborn screening (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31721/23]
View answerThe expansion of the National Newborn Bloodspot (NBS) Programme is a priority for me, and the National Screening Advisory Committee (NSAC) has been progressing work on this expansion.
This independent expert group considers and assesses evidence in a robust and transparent manner, and against internationally accepted criteria. It is important we have rigorous processes in place to ensure our screening programmes are effective, quality assured and operating to safe standards, and that the benefits of screening outweigh the harms. As you will appreciate, these are lengthy and complex processes.
However, I am glad to note that significant progress has been made on expansion over the past year. Since May 2022, babies are now screened for nine conditions following a recommendation from the NSAC to add ADA-SCID to the Programme.
In January 2023, I approved a recommendation from the Committee for the addition of T-cell receptor excision circle (TREC)-based screening for all types of Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID) to the NBS programme. The Committee made its recommendation to me based on their consideration of a comprehensive Health Technology Assessment report from HIQA.
The HSE is now undertaking an extensive body of work to prepare for implementation. Provision for this addition will be included in the relevant HSE service planning processes in line with HSE budgeting procedures.
A Health Technology Assessment (HTA) on the addition of an eleventh condition to the NBS programme, Spinal Muscular Atrophy, is now underway by HIQA. I am advised that the NSAC expect HIQA to complete this process over the coming months and that the HTA will be presented to and considered by the Committee at a meeting before the end of this year.
I look forward to receiving a recommendation from the Committee following their consideration of the HTA once it is available.
413. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the availability of funding for the construction of adult day services within the community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31727/23]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
414. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health when a child (details supplied) who is currently attending Crumlin Children’s Hospital will be provided with a wheelchair, as it is urgently required by them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31740/23]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive (HSE) have responsibility for the provision of aids and appliances, including wheelchairs, under the Community Funded Schemes, I have asked HSE to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.
