Written Answers Nos. 1066-1090
1067. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of the National Quality Standards Framework for Youth Work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13743/24]
View answerThe National Quality Standards Framework for Youth Work (NQSF) is intended to be a practical and developmental framework to enable youth work organisations to assess service provision and to identify areas for development, to be progressed through a continuous improvement plan. The NQSF is currently being reviewed within my Department.
1068. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department has plans to develop a Youth Work workforce development strategy. [13744/24]
View answerYouth workers and volunteers are central to the delivery of youth services to young people. The relationships which young people develop with their youth workers or volunteer leaders can be transformative to a young person's life.
I have committed to developing a workforce development plan for the youth sector, to support the recruitment and retention of staff and volunteers in the sector. My officials are currently carrying out preparatory work on the development of a plan, and will be carrying out consultation with stakeholders, including youth workers and volunteers, youth organisations, young people and providers of youth work training.
1069. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of youth workers in employment via the UBU scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13745/24]
View answerMy Department does not collate the information requested by the Deputy.
The UBU Your Place Your Space scheme is targeted towards disadvantaged, marginalised or vulnerable young people. Funding provided under this scheme does not directly fund youth worker posts/salaries, rather, it is allocated on a 'provision of service' basis to meet the needs of the youth population in an area. The recruitment and employment of staff including youth workers is a matter for the youth organisations and services in receipt of funding.
1070. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he can provide appropriate respite services in a suitable location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13760/24]
View answerAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1071. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason it is taking so long for a child (details supplied) who is nearly 5.5 years of age to have their AON completed. [13765/24]
View answerAs 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 Fórsa 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.
1072. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide an update on the case of a child (details supplied) who, having been referred for an assessment of needs two years ago, has yet to receive an appointment date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13798/24]
View answerAs 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 Fórsa 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.
1073. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the amount spent by his Department on travel and accommodation costs associated with Ministerial visits abroad to date in 2024, in tabular form. [13800/24]
View answerA direct reply issued to the Deputy on 15 April 2024.
1074. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of properties either owned or leased by his Department, which are currently vacant; the length of time the properties have been vacant for; and the location of the properties, in tabular form. [13818/24]
View answerI can confirm to the Deputy that my Department does not own or lease any buildings that are currently vacant.
1075. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of Parliamentary Questions which he referred to Tusla for response, in the past year, which have yet gone unanswered; and if a specific figure can be provided in the case of Parliamentary Questions submitted by this Deputy. [13846/24]
View answerI can confirm that across my entire Department the number of parliamentary questions forwarded by my officials to Tusla, the Child and Family Agency since the beginning of 2023 to date in 2024, that are awaiting response, currently stands at 17, of these 8 are from Deputy Tóibín.
1076. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the annual cost to increase childcare wages as set by the ERO by €1, €1.25, €1.50, €1.75 and €2, annually for five years, in tabular form, for each grade; and the full year cost, per year, for each grade. [13850/24]
View answerI 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 |
|
€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 propose 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.
1077. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the public funding received by each individual Early Years and School Age Childcare service by funding scheme (e.g., ECCE, Core Funding, NCS, CCSP, CCS), for the programme year 2022/2023, in tabular form. [13851/24]
View answerIn September 2022, I launched Together for Better, the new funding model for early learning and childcare. 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. 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 strand - the Equal Participation Model (EPM) is in development.
Core Funding, which began in September 2022, is the new funding stream to start this partnership for the public good between the State and 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.
Core Funding is designed specifically as a supply-side funding stream, paid directly to providers, related to the costs of delivery. Core Funding is based on operating hours, number of places offered by services, and the age group of children for whom the places are offered, given the staffing requirements determined by the regulatory ratios for different care categories, as well as allocations for graduate leaders in services.
Structuring Core Funding primarily based on capacity means that Partner Services have an allocation each year that does not fluctuate in line with children’s attendance. Core Funding contributes to services’ sustainability and significantly increases income for the overwhelming majority of services and provides greater funding stability. 95% of services signed up to Core Funding in the first programme year.
The move towards high levels of transparency and openness is an integral part of the new funding model. The publication of this list is in line with Expert Group report Partnership for the Public Good which called for greater transparency and accountability for public funds.
The Core Funding programme year is from September to August. My Department will publish a list of all Partner Services who participated in Core Funding during the first year of the scheme and their Core Funding allocation. Core Funding during its first programme year, (from September 2022 till August 2023) had a budget of €259 million.
This list will be published by the Department in the near future when all final adjustments to the grant values have been made to ensure that values are correct and final on publication. This will be an annual list which will be published at the end of each programme year. A detailed explanation of what the list contains will be published alongside the list.
I and my Department are committed to working with Partner Services delivering early learning and childcare for the public good.
1078. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of places that have been provided in designated accommodation centres for the purposes of the temporary protection directive. [13895/24]
View answer1081. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth whether there were any persons residing in the designated accommodations centres prior to their designation; if they are going to remain there; and if not, where they will be accommodated subsequently. [13898/24]
View answer1082. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the duration that such designated accommodation centres are expected to serve a person, by location if the dates in question are different. [13899/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1078, 1081 and 1082 together.
Under the revised accommodation policy, those granted Temporary Protection from 14 March 2024 who seek accommodation from the State are offered a maximum of 90 days of State-supported accommodation in a Designated Accommodation Centre (DAC). It is expected that such Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) will transition to independence within the 90-day maximum stay. Information and supports are provided in DACs to assist in this transition.
The 90 day maximum applies to BOTPs who arrived on or after 14 March 2024, regardless of the DAC location to which they are allocated. The 90 days for each respective BOTP begin upon their allocation to a DAC.
The overall capacity available across the DAC portfolio is reviewed on an ongoing basis. My Department continually runs data modelling of arrival numbers, which allows us to plan for the DAC capacity required to service fluctuating arrival numbers and to maintain capacity in the centres based on the turnover within them as BOTPs source and transition to their own accommodation. Currently, there are over 3,000 bed spaces provided across 6 DACs. Information is available at gov - Designated Accommodation Centres - Current Availability (www.gov.ie).
It is forecast that the DAC capacity already in place will be sufficient in the weeks ahead to cope with current BOTP arrival numbers, as well as certain scenarios where numbers increase. This will remain under review, with further DAC capacity likely to be sourced from within the Department’s existing accommodation portfolio to replace and supplement existing capacity, for example, where contracts conclude.
A number of the DACS were previously used as short term emergency accommodation for BOTPs. All BOTPs who were accommodated in these centres were moved into alternative accommodation prior to the designation of the centres.
1079. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if it remains the policy of his Department that those in 'designated accommodation centres' for the purposes of the temporary protection directive and the Social Welfare Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2024, shall only be newly arrived beneficiaries of the directive, and that no persons will be accommodated in these centres who arrived prior to the enactment of the Act. [13896/24]
View answer1080. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there is any intention to open further designated accommodation centres; and how many places he intends to provide in this category of accommodation. [13897/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1079 and 1080 together.
The overall capacity for Designated Accommodation Centres (DACs) remains under review. My Department continually runs data modelling of arrival numbers, which allows us to plan for the DAC capacity required to service fluctuating arrival numbers and to maintain capacity in the centres based on the turnover within them as Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) source and transition to their own accommodation within their 90-day maximum stay.
It is forecast that the DAC capacity already in place will be sufficient in the weeks ahead to cope with current BOTP arrival numbers, as well as certain scenarios where numbers increase. This will remain under review, with further DAC capacity likely to be sourced from within the Department’s existing accommodation portfolio to replace and supplement existing capacity, for example, where contracts conclude.
I can also confirm to the Deputy that, with effect from the implementation date of 14 March 2024, accommodation in DACs is reserved for BOTPs who have sought State-supported accommodation under the new 90-day policy.
1083. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children on waiting lists for an assessment of need for each quarter to date 2019-2024, by CHO inclusive, in tabular form; the number overdue for completion; and the number of estimated PTAs waiting for a complete AON, as reported in the Roadmap for Service Improvement 2023-2026: Disability Services for Children and Young People. [13920/24]
View answerAs 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 Fórsa 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.
1084. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what actions his Department will take to address and correct the misclassification of Neptune House, Temple Hill, Blackrock, County Dublin, as a ‘children’s hospital’, when it was at all times in practice, and commonly known as, a mother and baby home, such misclassification being in opposition to operational fact and preventing children placed there from gaining redress; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13941/24]
View answerThe institutions covered by this Payment Scheme are those identified by the Commission of Investigation as having a main function of providing sheltered and supervised ante and post-natal facilities to single mothers and their children.
The institution at Temple Hill, Blackrock, commonly known as St. Patrick’s Hospital, was not investigated by the Commission of Investigation because it operated primarily as a children's hospital rather than as an institution providing ante and post-natal facilities.
At page 29 in Chapter 2 of the Social History section of the Commission of Investigation report, which details the different types of institutions that existed, Temple Hill was listed as a children’s hospital and, as such, did not meet the criteria of a Mother and Baby Home - www.gov.ie/en/publication/89e43-chapter-2-institutions/. The Commission referred to the institution as being “frequently wrongly described as a mother and baby home. It was an infants’ nursery and mothers were not resident there. As a hospital, it received funding from the Hospitals Commission.”
For this reason it is not included in this Payment Scheme.
1085. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 484 of 20 February 2024, the terms of the IPAS contract offered to a hotel (details supplied) including the duration of same and the value of this contract; if IPAS have been informed of building extension works currently ongoing at this site and if any discussions or correspondence has been conducted in respect of increasing the IPAS capacity at this site when this has been completed; whether sufficient community engagement will take place prior to any decision in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13947/24]
View answerI thank the Deputy for this question. A response will be provided directly to the Deputy in the coming days.
The Deputy may wish to be aware that the Community Engagement Team has been established within my Department which stands ready to respond to queries of this nature, and they may be contacted directly at community@equality.gov.ie.
1086. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of the case of a child (details supplied) who having been referred for an assessment of needs three years ago has yet to receive an assessment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13953/24]
View answerAs 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 Fórsa 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.
1087. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is aware of the case of a person (details supplied); and if consideration will be given to their request for a decision. [13957/24]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, in response to the crisis in Afghanistan Ireland, through the Irish Refugee Protection Programme (IRPP), has welcomed over 600 people from Afghanistan. My Department has co-operated with a wide range of organisations to identify individuals and families most at risk.
The case the Deputy is referring to was referred to the IRPP by an NGO partner on 21 March 2024. This case will be examined for consideration under the Afghan Humanitarian Programme. My Department accepts a limited number of refugees from Afghanistan in a manner dependent on capacity and the application of objective criteria to establish a specific protection need.
Afghan Humanitarian Cases are admitted using the Community Sponsorship Programme as a framework. A Community Sponsorship Group is established and must have housing sourced and integration supports in place. The Community Sponsorship group engages directly with a Regional Support Organisation in Ireland for support. More information on the Community Sponsorship programme can be found on the website of The Open Community (the National Support Organisation for the Programme) - www.theopencommunity.ie
1090. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps taken to address issues around the undersupply of childcare services for children under one year in the Dublin 1, 3, 7, 9 and 11 areas, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14031/24]
View answerThe First 5 Strategy aims to support parents to be at home with their children for the whole of their first year. Research suggests that children benefit particularly from parental care in this period and the Strategy sets out this evidence in detail. Under Phase 1 an individual entitlement to seven weeks of paid Parent’s Leave and Benefit was delivered to potentially allow children to benefit from an additional 14 weeks parental care in their first year.
The First 5 Implementation Plan (2023-2025) sets out additional measures that will allow parents to spend the whole of their baby’s first year in the home through a combination of paid family leave schemes by 2028. This includes increasing Parent’s Leave and Benefit for each parent to nine weeks by August 2024. This leave 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.
By 2025, the combined durations of Maternity, Paternity and Parent’s Leave and Benefit will equate to 46 weeks leave for a two-parent family. Mothers also have an entitlement to 16 weeks of Additional Maternity Leave which is unpaid. Many parents add annual leave to their family leave entitlements which allows for at least a further four weeks of paid leave per parent. Family leave provisions are kept under review to ensure that they are effective and respond to the needs of families.
Data from the Annual Early Years Sector Profile 2021/22 show there were 43,498 places for children aged 0-3 nationally. This excludes places for children in most childminding settings. The First 5 Implementation Plan (2023-2025) aims to ensure that there are adequate places available to meet demand. By 2028, there will be 60,000 state-funded ELC places for children under 3 in line with the revised Barcelona Targets set by the European Commission. This target will provide sufficient places for 35% of 1-3 year olds, with additional places for children under 1, to continue to support parental choice. Delivery of this target will include the design and implementation of Pillars 1-3 of the Building Blocks Capital Programme for Early Learning and Childcare under the National Development Plan, the implementation of the recommendations of National Action Plan for Childminding and the implementation of the recommendations in Partnership for the Public Good.
