Written Answers Nos. 612-631
612. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the recruitment embargo applies to clerical staff working in the disability sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24817/24]
View answerThank you Deputy for your question.
Since the announcement of the HSE's recruitment pause, and to ensure disability services were not unduly effected, Minister Rabbitte and officials have engaged consistently with the HSE, and in November 2023 announced specific derogations for categories of staff employed across the HSE and Section 38 specialist community-based disability services.
This derogation applies only to the list of grades below, allowing vacancies to be filled as they arise on a strictly one for one basis, to help protect these disability services:
Medical staff: grades 1012 and 1538.
Domestic staff: grade 4110.
Drivers: grade 4737.
Service Coordinators and Area managers: grades 6006 and 6024.
Family support workers: grade 6416.
Day service supervisors: grades 6402 and 6425.
Care Assistants: grade 6482.
Social Care Workers.
Personal Assistants.
Further to these derogations, services can make a risk representation to the relevant National Director to consider a business case for a temporary exception to be made, if approved by the CEO, to assist with additional recruitment.
My Department recognises that appropriate staffing of disability services is a priority, and remains fully committed to supporting the HSE's work in this area.
613. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department is aware that the phone line for the mother and baby homes scheme (details supplied) has been down since last week [24823/24]
View answerI would like to thank the Deputy for bringing this matter to my attention. Yes, I can confirm that I and the Payment Scheme Executive Office were aware that there were issues with the phone system in the early part of last week. I am happy to report that these matters have been resolved and the phone lines are up and running since Wed 29 May.
All information on the Scheme, and how to apply, and what information applicants will need, can be found at the dedicated Payment Scheme website - gov.ie/paymentscheme. Resources include an information booklet for the scheme, questions and answers, and short 'how to' videos on the straightforward application process. The Helpline is also available at +353 1 522 9992. Applicants will be supported throughout the application process with information and advice. They will be able to get assistance with any aspect of the application process if they need it.
Alternatively, a person can contact either their local Citizens Information Centre or the National Advocacy Service who have application forms and can provide assistance in completing applications.
614. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of additional WTE senior social workers and senior dietitians that were recruited into CDNTs within Tipperary in 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [24892/24]
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.
615. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated cost of providing 300,000 extra personal assistant hours for persons with disabilities. [24893/24]
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.
616. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason a number of section 39 workers have not received the pay increases that have been agreed to; if he is aware of how this is impacting on the ability of certain organisations (details supplied) to recruit staff into the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24904/24]
View answerThe Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth acknowledges the essential role provided by the staff in organisations who provide services to some of the most vulnerable people in our society and recognises that the ability of community-based organisations to pay their staff is largely dependent on State funding.
To support the sustainability of services, including the ability of voluntary organisations to recruit and retain staff, the Department and its agencies are proactively engaged with a Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) process with unions representing staff in what are known as Section 39 and Section 56 organisations. The process also includes staff from providers in other sectors funded by separate statutory agencies and Departments.
The pay agreement reached in October 2023 delivered a significant increase in funding to these services, amounting to a phased 8% increase in funding for pay for Section 39 staff. An additional €41m has been made available to the HSE in 2024 to meet the full year cost of this increase for S39 disability service providers, with the balance provided for in the Department of Health Vote.
The HSE has contracted dedicated resources to work with employer organisations and has set up a portal to expedite payments. Significant interim payments were made to qualifying organisations in late January/early February 2024 and the HSE is currently in the process of administering the balance of funding to eligible organisations.
At 30th May, of 1,160 organisations to whom communication was made, 515 have made submissions.
Almost all submissions require additional interaction between the contractor and the Section 39 organisation; this has been a positive interactive process involving validation and clarification. A number of Section 39s have taken the opportunity to adjust their submissions following this engagement. This process is ongoing with Section 39 organisations who have submitted their claim. As at 30th May, 91 organisations which include the largest organisations have exited this process and KOSI has recommended a cumulative payment total to date of €32.5m (relating to uplifts due to 9,407 workers).
The IWA is one of the Section 39 providers which is eligible to benefit from the 8% pay increase that was agreed between the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, the Department of Health and trade unions in October 2023. An interim payment towards the 2023 element of the pay award was made in early February 2024. The HSE has also recently confirmed that the IWA’s application under the current process was approved. As a result, the organisation has benefitted from an additional €719k to facilitate staff pay increases.
617. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there has been an update on details relating to a person’s time in mother and baby home (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24918/24]
View answerOn 28 February 2021, with the dissolution of the Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation, my Department became the data controller for all the personal data contained in the records and databases that transferred from the Commission.
My Department is responsible for fulfilling data subject rights, including the right of access to personal data. I am very mindful of the importance to people who were born in Mother and Baby Homes of access to their personal data. I continue to be committed to vindicating the rights of each data subject in respect of their personal data and my Department is committed to meeting its obligations as a data controller when dealing with Subject Access Requests (SARs). Responses are provided to individuals on a case by case basis in accordance with the requirements of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
Records and databases transferred to my Department were compiled by the Commission of Investigation over a 6 year period from 2015 to 2021. While the majority of records have been catalogued at this time, the residual cataloguing is expected to be completed by the end of 2024. As records are catalogued, personal data relating to individuals is provided to them as advised in correspondence relating to their SAR. My officials have contacted the individual directly in relation to the matter.
618. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when payments under the mother and baby institutions payment scheme will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24939/24]
View answerI am pleased to inform the Deputy that, following the opening of the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme on 20 March, the first offers of awards under the Scheme were made in April, while the first payments were made and the first medical cards were issued in May.
619. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when a decision will be made on an application to the mother and baby institutions payment scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24940/24]
View answerWhile I try to be helpful at all times in the parliamentary process, the Deputy will be aware that I cannot be involved in individual cases and cannot comment on same.
The legislation underpinning the Payment Scheme - the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Act 2023 - specifically provides for the explicit independence of the Chief Deciding Officer in administering the application process and making decisions on applications. Therefore, it would be inappropriate for me to engage in the process in relation to the status of individual applications.
All information on the Scheme, and the application process, can be found at the dedicated Payment Scheme website - gov.ie/paymentscheme . Resources include an information booklet, questions and answers, and short 'how to' videos on the straightforward application process. A Helpline is also available at +353 1 522 9992. Applicants will be supported throughout the application process with information and advice as and when they may need it.
In addition to all these applicant supports, public representatives can contact the Payment Scheme Office via a dedicated email address paymentschemereps@equality.gov.ie if they are assisting constituents in relation to the Scheme.
In this case, I suggest that the applicant in question contacts the helpline directly and I am sure they will be assisted appropriately.
620. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if those in receipt of redress through the mother and baby homes redress scheme will have their associated medical cards be assured for the recipients’ lifetime, or be subject to intermittent review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24942/24]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, under the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme, applicants are entitled to an enhanced medical card where they spent 180 days or more in a scheduled institution. This medical card is not means-tested, and is awarded solely on the basis of eligibility under the Scheme.
This being the case, the enhanced medical card is not subject to intermittent review and will be available to the recipient throughout their lifetime.
621. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will review the decision to refuse transport for three days per week to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24943/24]
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.
622. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will engage with the estates section of the HSE regarding a proposal (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24951/24]
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.
623. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of early years educators who have completed continuous professional development under quality training from city/county childcare committees; in particular diversity, equality and inclusion training, the Always Children First training and the Introduction to Aistear, in tabular form;; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24960/24]
View answerContinuous Professional Development (CPD) is the term used to describe any learning activities that an early years educator /school-age childcare practitioner engages in consciously and proactively as a professional to develop and enhance their knowledge and skills.
My Department funds 30 City/County Childcare Committees (CCCs) to act as its local agent in the delivery of national early learning and childcare programmes and the implementation of Government policy.
The role of the CCCs is to provide support and guidance to local service providers and parents in relation to the various early learning and childcare programmes, and support quality in keeping with national frameworks and policy objectives. CCCs also play a role in facilitating the delivery of some CPD courses to early years educators and school-age childcare practitioners on behalf of my Department.
In December 2021, I launched Nurturing Skills: The Workforce Plan for Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age Childcare (SAC), 2022-2028. It sets out a number of key objectives to support the ELC and SAC workforce to continue and further strengthen the ongoing process of professionalisation and at the same time to give those working in the sector the prospect of career development and professional recognition. Pillar 3 specifically references the need to develop a national CPD system.
The table shows the number of early years educators and SAC practitioners who completed continuous professional development under quality training from CCCs in the year 2023. Training programmes are delivered each year to different groups of educators / practitioners.
|
Training programme |
Number of individuals who completed training in 2023 |
|
Equality, Inclusion & Diversity |
763 |
|
Always Children First |
3,345 |
|
Communities of Practice Events |
1,288 |
|
Introduction to Síolta and Aistear |
1,305 |
624. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the cost of providing continuous professional development under quality training from city/county childcare committees; in particular diversity, equality and inclusion training, the Always Children First training and the Introduction to Aistear, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24961/24]
View answerContinuous Professional Development (CPD) is the term used to describe any learning activities that an early years educator /school-age childcare practitioner engages in consciously and proactively as a professional to develop and enhance their knowledge and skills.
My Department funds 30 City/County Childcare Committees (CCCs) to act as its local agent in the delivery of national early learning and childcare programmes and the implementation of Government policy.
The role of the CCCs is to provide support and guidance to local service providers and parents in relation to the various early learning and childcare programmes, and support quality in keeping with national frameworks and policy objectives. CCCs also play a role in facilitating the delivery of some CPD courses to early years educators and school-age childcare practitioners on behalf of my Department.
In addition to the CCC annual funding, a separate funding allocation is provided to CCCs for quality development supports, a proportion of which supports the delivery of quality development training.
The table outlines the funding provided to CCCs in 2024. It includes the 2024 overall budget allocation*. It also includes a breakdown for quality development related supports including the delivery of CPD courses and a separate breakdown for the delivery of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion training.
* This breakdown does not include funding under separate areas such as supports specific to the Ukraine Response, Access and Inclusion supports or Childminding Development Officers. It is not possible to break down the CCCs' overall budget allocation in such a way as to distinguish the staff time and other costs used for all CPD.
|
- |
|
|
|
|
City/County Childcare Committees |
2024 Overall Budget Allocation |
2024 Quality Development Budget Allocation |
2024 Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Budget Allocation |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dublin City |
€1,372,163 |
€10,000 |
€15,000 |
|
County Cork |
€885,682 |
€10,000 |
€12,500 |
|
County Galway |
€775,308 |
€9,500 |
€10,000 |
|
Fingal |
€815,792.88 |
€9,500 |
€17,500 |
|
South Dublin |
€800,073.75 |
€9,000 |
€10,000 |
|
County Limerick |
€787,494 |
€7,500 |
€10,000 |
|
County Meath |
€635,163.31 |
€7,500 |
€7,500 |
|
County Kildare |
€677,390.77 |
€7,500 |
€10,000 |
|
Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown |
€593,796 |
€7,500 |
€10,000 |
|
County Tipperary |
€731,540 |
€7,500 |
€7,500 |
|
County Wicklow |
€601,860 |
€6,000 |
€7,500 |
|
Cork City |
€568,602 |
€6,000 |
€5,000 |
|
County Donegal |
€667,003 |
€6,000 |
€7,500 |
|
County Wexford |
€534,125 |
€5,750 |
€5,000 |
|
County Clare |
€487,398 |
€5,750 |
€5,000 |
|
County Kerry |
€542,398 |
€5,750 |
€5,000 |
|
County Mayo |
€497,971 |
€5,750 |
€2,500 |
|
County Louth |
€474,888 |
€5,500 |
€5,000 |
|
County Kilkenny |
€458,663.50 |
€5,000 |
€5,000 |
|
County Waterford |
€734,245.16 |
€5,000 |
€5,000 |
|
County Laois |
€341,855 |
€5,000 |
€0 |
|
County Westmeath |
€431,722 |
€5,000 |
€5,000 |
|
County Sligo |
€414,366 |
€5,000 |
€2,500 |
|
County Cavan |
€523,193 |
€4,000 |
€2,500 |
|
County Monaghan |
€351,667 |
€4,000 |
€2,500 |
|
County Offaly |
€382,470 |
€4,000 |
€2,500 |
|
County Roscommon |
€372,873.09 |
€4,000 |
€2,500 |
|
County Carlow |
€359,587 |
€3,750 |
€2,500 |
|
County Leitrim |
€325,136.92 |
€3,750 |
€2,500 |
|
County Longford |
€328,467.45 |
€3,750 |
€2,500 |
|
Total |
€17,472,895 |
€184,250 |
€187,500 |
625. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of early years educators who have completed continuous professional development under quality training from Better Start, in particular Hanen, Lámh, SPEL and Aistear and Play; the annual cost, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24962/24]
View answer626. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the cost of providing continuous professional development under quality training from Better Start, in particular Hanen, Lámh, SPEL and Aistear and Play, in tabular form;; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24963/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 625 and 626 together.
Continuous Professional Development (CPD) is the term used to describe any learning activities that an early years educator /school-age childcare practitioner engages in consciously and proactively as a professional to develop and enhance their knowledge and skills.
Extensive CPD activities – formal, non-formal and informal – are already undertaken by early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC) services and their staff. A wide range of courses, training initiatives and CPD opportunities have been available to ELC and SAC services and their staff, supported by Government, and rolled out through a diverse range of organisations including Better Start, City/County Childcare Committees (CCCs), National Voluntary Childcare Organisations (NVCOs), and education institutions.
Better Start was established in 2014 by my Department, in association with the Department of Education, to deliver quality-related supports to ELC services and to support a cohesive approach to State-funded supports for quality across the ELC sector. Better Start coordinates the delivery of CPD, including Hanen Teacher Talk, Lámh Module One and Sensory Processing in Early Learning (SPEL). Better Start deliver 'Aistear & Play' CPD as part of the National Síolta Aistear Initiative suite of courses supporting the roll out of Aistear. Better Start is hosted by Pobal on behalf of my Department.
The Better Start Learner Management System will undergo further improvements in the coming months to allow for the national approach to CPD outlined in Nurturing Skills (the Workforce Plan for ELC and SAC 2022-2028) to be implemented. This will support the sector in identifying and accessing relevant CPD opportunities.
In 2023, Better Start received €16,798,000 in funding from my Department. Only part of the funding relates to the Quality Development Service and to the Learning and Development Unit, which provides training supports for the sector. The majority of Better Start costs relate to the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM). It is not possible to provide a more detailed breakdown of costs of specific training programmes.
The table below provides the number of individuals who completed CPD training through Better Start in specific courses in the year 2023. Training programmes are delivered each year to different groups of educators / practitioners.
|
Year |
Course |
Numbers Completed in 2023 |
|
2023 |
Hanen Teacher Talk |
289 |
|
2023 |
Lámh Module One |
290 |
|
2023 |
Sensory Processing in Early Learning (SPEL) |
530 |
|
2023 |
Aistear and Play |
339 |
627. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of referrals into the Better Start Quality Development Service from city/county childcare committees, by CCC area, Tusla and self-referrals, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24964/24]
View answerBetter Start was established in 2014 by my Department, in association with the Department of Education, to deliver quality-related supports to early learning and care services and to support a cohesive approach to State-funded supports for quality across the early learning and care sector. Better Start is hosted by Pobal on behalf of my Department.
The Quality Development Service (QDS) forms one strand of Better Start activities. The QDS works with early learning and care settings in a mentoring capacity to promote and develop the quality of practice, as set out in Síolta, the National Quality Framework for Early Childhood Education, and Aistear, the Early Childhood Curriculum Framework.
The QDS offers a range of quality development options nationwide, including quality practice queries, focused quality practice development, and whole setting quality development for individual or multiple settings.
Requests for the service come directly to Better Start, principally from self-requests. All requests for the service are processed centrally. Early Years Specialists are allocated to the services on the basis of availability, skills and experience, as far as possible matching the service profile.
The table below shows the source of referrals since 2015 for the Better Start Quality Development Service:
|
CCC area |
AIM Specialist |
Aistear & Play workshops |
Better Start QDS Specialist |
CCC |
Core Funding Quality Action Plan |
Department of Education Inspector |
Self Request |
Tusla Inspector |
Quality Development Practice supports |
Total |
|
Cork City |
5 |
1 |
1 |
14 |
3 |
2 |
15 |
1 |
0 |
42 |
|
County Carlow |
1 |
1 |
2 |
16 |
4 |
0 |
5 |
6 |
1 |
36 |
|
County Cavan |
7 |
2 |
0 |
21 |
3 |
0 |
11 |
11 |
3 |
58 |
|
County Clare |
2 |
1 |
1 |
19 |
5 |
1 |
12 |
10 |
0 |
51 |
|
County Cork |
12 |
9 |
2 |
43 |
13 |
0 |
26 |
16 |
0 |
121 |
|
County Donegal |
17 |
1 |
1 |
30 |
9 |
1 |
20 |
3 |
4 |
86 |
|
County Galway |
10 |
1 |
1 |
37 |
8 |
3 |
20 |
30 |
3 |
113 |
|
County Kerry |
5 |
4 |
2 |
18 |
1 |
0 |
6 |
9 |
2 |
47 |
|
County Kildare |
7 |
3 |
5 |
33 |
7 |
2 |
27 |
40 |
3 |
127 |
|
County Kilkenny |
1 |
1 |
2 |
20 |
3 |
0 |
7 |
5 |
0 |
39 |
|
County Laois |
2 |
0 |
0 |
19 |
1 |
0 |
10 |
5 |
1 |
38 |
|
County Leitrim |
4 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
15 |
1 |
0 |
24 |
|
County Limerick |
4 |
1 |
0 |
54 |
2 |
1 |
15 |
20 |
2 |
99 |
|
County Longford |
1 |
1 |
1 |
20 |
3 |
1 |
3 |
0 |
2 |
32 |
|
County Louth |
6 |
1 |
4 |
26 |
4 |
2 |
19 |
10 |
1 |
73 |
|
County Mayo |
2 |
0 |
0 |
19 |
6 |
2 |
10 |
1 |
1 |
41 |
|
County Meath |
6 |
0 |
1 |
20 |
6 |
0 |
17 |
3 |
1 |
54 |
|
County Monaghan |
3 |
0 |
1 |
8 |
1 |
0 |
4 |
1 |
2 |
20 |
|
County Offaly |
1 |
2 |
0 |
9 |
4 |
0 |
4 |
6 |
1 |
27 |
|
County Roscommon |
1 |
0 |
2 |
4 |
1 |
0 |
8 |
2 |
0 |
18 |
|
County Sligo |
3 |
1 |
1 |
8 |
3 |
0 |
4 |
1 |
1 |
22 |
|
County Tipperary |
4 |
3 |
1 |
19 |
4 |
0 |
11 |
2 |
1 |
45 |
|
County Waterford |
1 |
2 |
1 |
12 |
2 |
0 |
10 |
6 |
0 |
34 |
|
County Westmeath |
1 |
1 |
0 |
21 |
11 |
0 |
6 |
8 |
2 |
50 |
|
County Wexford |
3 |
2 |
4 |
27 |
5 |
1 |
12 |
16 |
2 |
72 |
|
County Wicklow |
1 |
1 |
1 |
17 |
1 |
1 |
9 |
8 |
0 |
39 |
|
Dublin City |
10 |
3 |
14 |
133 |
17 |
4 |
64 |
30 |
3 |
278 |
|
Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown |
1 |
2 |
8 |
38 |
6 |
3 |
18 |
12 |
0 |
88 |
|
Fingal |
6 |
8 |
6 |
49 |
7 |
2 |
35 |
22 |
1 |
136 |
|
South Dublin |
11 |
1 |
3 |
51 |
10 |
1 |
28 |
14 |
4 |
123 |
|
Total |
138 |
53 |
66 |
806 |
152 |
27 |
451 |
299 |
41 |
2,033 |
628. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of early years services who have completed their Better Start QDS, by geographical area, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24965/24]
View answerBetter Start was established in 2014 by my Department, in association with the Department of Education, to deliver quality-related supports to early learning and care services and to support a cohesive approach to State-funded supports for quality across the early learning and care sector. Better Start is hosted by Pobal on behalf of my Department.
The Quality Development Service (QDS) forms one strand of Better Start activities. The QDS works with early learning and care settings in a mentoring capacity to promote and develop the quality of practice, as set out in Síolta, the National Quality Framework for Early Childhood Education (2006), and Aistear, the Early Childhood Curriculum Framework (2009).
The QDS provides a skilled and experienced team of Early Years Specialists to work directly in a mentoring capacity with early learning and care services, on a national basis. The Early Years Specialists use the Aistear Síolta Practice Guide (National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, 2014) as a key resource in mentoring services to develop quality for children.
The purpose of the Practice Guide is to support early years educators in using Aistear and Síolta together to develop the quality of their curriculum and in doing so, to better support children’s learning and development.
Requests for the QDS come directly to Better Start, principally from self-referrals. All requests for the service are processed centrally. Early Years Specialists are allocated to the services on the basis of availability, skills and experience as far as possible matching the service profile.
Better Start Early Years Specialists work with the management and staff of early learning and care services to build on service knowledge, strengths and experience in order to enhance the quality of provision for young children. Early learning and care services are supported in action planning and goal setting using the Aistear Síolta Practice Guide. Early Years Specialists will usually visit the service on a weekly or fortnightly basis over a period of about six months.
These supports are delivered in a coherent and consistent way to support the provision of high quality services and promote positive outcomes for children. Since 2015, 1,201 early learning and care services have completed QDS, with 108 services completing QDS in 2023. The table below provides these figures broken down by county geographical area.
|
County |
Number of services that completed QDS supports in 2023 |
Number of services that completed QDS supports, 2015-2023 |
|
Carlow |
1 |
20 |
|
Cavan |
1 |
26 |
|
Clare |
4 |
34 |
|
Cork |
6 |
95 |
|
Donegal |
5 |
49 |
|
Dublin |
40 |
358 |
|
Galway |
7 |
71 |
|
Kerry |
6 |
26 |
|
Kildare |
8 |
74 |
|
Kilkenny |
2 |
28 |
|
Laois |
2 |
27 |
|
Leitrim |
0 |
9 |
|
Limerick |
2 |
68 |
|
Longford |
1 |
20 |
|
Louth |
6 |
39 |
|
Mayo |
1 |
21 |
|
Meath |
3 |
30 |
|
Monaghan |
0 |
12 |
|
Offaly |
2 |
17 |
|
Roscommon |
1 |
9 |
|
Sligo |
0 |
12 |
|
Tipperary |
3 |
32 |
|
Waterford |
1 |
20 |
|
Westmeath |
3 |
31 |
|
Wexford |
2 |
48 |
|
Wicklow |
1 |
25 |
|
Total |
108 |
1,201 |
629. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the administration cost for the provision of Better Start and the administration cost of city/county childcare committees; in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24966/24]
View answerThe allocation for the Better Start initiative in 2023 amounted to €16,798,000. Better Start entails a quality development service, which involves professional development, mentoring and coaching. Better Start also supports the Access and Inclusion model (AIM), and provides a range of learning and development supports to staff in the sector.
The allocation for the City and County Childcare Committees (CCCs) in 2023 included an operational grant of €13,081,000 to perform a wide range of activities to support the early learning and care (ELC), school-age childcare (SAC) and childminding sectors. Of this operational grant there are staff costs, administration costs and programme costs. The notional administration costs would amount to €1,940,325 but this entails the costs associated with the delivery of training and other supports to ELC/SAC providers, childminders; information services for parents and guardians, and a whole range of other activities.
630. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the tasks performed by Better Start and the city/county childcare committees on behalf of his Department’s early years division, in tabular from; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24967/24]
View answerTable 1: Tasks performed by Better Start on behalf of Early Learning and Care (ELC) & School-Age Childcare (SAC) Division
|
Service |
Description |
|
Quality Development Service (Better Start) |
Provides mentoring and coaching to ELC settings, based on the Síolta and Aistear frameworks and Tusla’s Quality and Regulatory Framework (QRF), so that those settings are of high quality and deliver positive outcomes for children. |
|
Learning and Development unit (Better Start) |
Supports the administration of DCEDIY CPD resources to the ELC and SAC sector. Coordinates the delivery of Continuing Professional Development, including Hanen Teacher Talk, Lámh Module One and Sensory Processing in Early Learning (SPEL). |
|
Access and Inclusion (AIM) (Better Start) |
Better Start work with ELC providers to improve quality and create an inclusive environment for children. AIM Early Years Specialists in Better Start under Level 4 of AIM (Early Years Educational Advice and Support) is to work with parents and ELC providers to develop an inclusive learning environment for children and assess any additional supports that may be required within the parameters of AIM. Better Start offer coaching and mentoring which focuses on a child’s strengths through reflection on practice. |
|
|
|
The City and County Childcare Committees (CCC) were established in 2001 to advance the provision of ELC and SAC in local areas. The CCCs provide a wide range of supports to the ELC, SAC and childminding sector, to parents and other stakeholders on behalf of my Department. An Annual Statement of Work for the CCCs describes in detail the tasks performed to ensure CCCs:
• Provide support to the sector locally in the coordination and delivery of the national early learning and childcare programmes and the implementation of Government policy at a local level.
• Facilitate and support the development of quality, accessible ELC, SAC and childminding services for the overall benefit of children and their parents.
• Provide support and guidance to local ELC, SAC and childminding service providers and parents in relation to the national childcare programmes and support the delivery of quality early learning and childcare in accordance with national frameworks and policy objectives.
• Facilitate the development of ELC, SAC and Childminding in a strategic and coordinated manner.
• Provide information and support to parents in relation to the provision of ELC, SAC and childminding services within their CCC area.
On 29th March 2022 Government accepted the findings of the independent Review of the ELC and SAC Operating Model in Ireland that a dedicated state agency is the optimal operating model for the sector for the years ahead. This Review undertook a comprehensive analysis of the existing operating model, which included, amongst other organisations, Better Start and the 30 CCCs. It is envisaged that this state agency will undertake the functions currently carried out by these organisations as well as Pobal Early Years and operational functions currently undertaken by my Department.
Significant progress has been made in advancing plans for a dedicated state agency for ELC and SAC.
My Department has commenced a comprehensive planning and analysis phase which includes robust stakeholder consultation, an examination of all legal requirements, transition and continuity planning, risk management, and a comprehensive evidence-based cost projection for the establishment and annual running costs of the new agency. This work will culminate in a full agency design and implementation plan, which will be presented to Government for approval.
631. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the costs associated with preforming the tasks carried out on behalf of his Department by Better Start and the city/county childcare committees, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24968/24]
View answerThe Better Start initiative was allocated €16,798,000 in 2023. Better Start entails a Quality Development Service (QDS), which involves professional development, mentoring and coaching. Better Start also supports providers working with children with special needs under the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM). In addition, Better Start provides a range of learning and development supports to staff in the sector.
The City and County Childcare Committees (CCCs) were allocated an operational grant of €13,081,000 in 2023 to perform a wide range of activities to support the early learning and care (ELC), school-age childcare (SAC) and childminding sectors. In addition, the CCCs were provided with funding to support the delivery of a number of specific programmes and initiatives.
