Written Answers Nos. 161-180
161. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of adults under 65 years living in a nursing home and supported under the fair deal scheme in 2023 and 2024; the measures his Department has undertaken to address the Wasted Lives report published by the Ombudsman in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28493/24]
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.
162. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to reform the funding mechanism for an organisation (details supplied), which provides vital services in home and community care for vulnerable people, to enable them to continue to provide these services safely; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28588/24]
View answerThe Department of Children Equality Disability Integration and Youth does not directly fund any charitable voluntary groups. Under Section 39 of the 2004 Health Act funding is provided by the Health Service Executive. I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
163. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 343 of 25 June 2024, his Department’s plan to accommodate Ukrainian beneficiaries of temporary protection who reach the 90-day cut-off for State-provided accommodation and who have no alternative accommodation in place; the options available to persons who find themselves in such a position; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28394/24]
View answerWith effect from 14 March 2024, anyone fleeing the war in Ukraine who registers for temporary protection and is looking for State-provided accommodation in Ireland, is accommodated for a maximum of 90 days in a Designated Accommodation Centre (DAC).
At Day 90, if a Beneficiary of Temporary Protection (BOTP) has not found alternative accommodation or left the country, they will be transported to an information clinic in the Citywest Transit Hub where my officials and other partners are available to offer information on options available to them to make their own arrangements for accommodation if they wish to remain in Ireland.
Standard social welfare payments are not available to Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) residing in DACs. While resident in a DAC, they are entitled to receive the BOTP Weekly Payment of €38.80 per adult and €29.80 per child in respect of daily expenses. They may also be entitled to Child Benefit and/or an Additional Needs Payment.
When they leave the DAC, BOTPs are entitled to apply for standard social welfare assistance, equivalent to Irish citizens, subject to meeting the eligibility conditions.
All Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection are supported in the DAC by the Irish Red Cross and the Local Authority to find alternative accommodation, either through a Government sponsored scheme or privately. Intensive supports continue to assist BOTPs to source independent accommodation.
To date all those who have availed of this particular support have sourced independent accommodation within the 90 day period or have chosen to leave the State. Since the 14 March, there has been more than 600 departures from DACs. Approximately 50% of the departures have found private accommodation in Ireland and 29% have found accommodation via a Government Scheme, such as pledged accommodation and ‘Offer a Home’’. The remainder have travelled from Ireland or chosen not to report on their arrangements.
164. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason his Department has put a cap of 180 days on the mother and baby redress scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28401/24]
View answerThe Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme recognises time spent in a Mother and Baby Institution and, in this way, the associated harsh conditions endured over a period of time. The requirement for children to have spent at least 180 days in a relevant institution is not intended to disregard or diminish any person’s experience and Government recognises that there are people who will be disappointed by this.
The Government proposals for the Payment Scheme were developed following deliberations on the very complex issues in question. They were informed by a consultation process undertaken with survivors, as well as a report and proposals from an Interdepartmental Group (IDG). Government ultimately decided on proposals which were, in overall terms, broader than those proposed by the IDG and the recommendations from the Commission of Investigation.
For children who spent less than six months in an institution and who were adopted in infancy or left the institution with their birth family, the priority need expressed by survivors was access to records.
As of 24 June 2024, under the Birth Information and Tracing Act, the Adoption Authority of Ireland and Tusla have completed 13,259 applications for information. All applications are now being processed in accordance with statutory timeframes and there is no backlog.
It is important to emphasise that the Payment Scheme is just one element of the Government’s response to the country’s complex legacy of Mother and Baby Institutions. Of the seven major commitments set out in the Government Action Plan for Survivors, published in November 2021, six are now delivered and in place, with the seventh well underway. One of these commitments is counselling support for all survivors and former residents regardless of time spent in an institution. This support is in place, is free of charge, and survivors and former residents can self refer or be referred by a medical professional.
165. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to ensure that family resource centres receive funding (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28402/24]
View answer166. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide enhanced supports to family resource centres (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28403/24]
View answer182. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide improved supports to family resource centres (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28435/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 165, 166 and 182 together.
I wish to inform the Deputy that Tusla, the Child and Family Agency administers the FRC Programme, which supports 121 FRCs throughout the country. My Department allocates core funding for the FRC Programme through Tusla, which amounts to some €24 million in 2024. Tusla has advised my Department that the current level of funding is to sustain existing services operating in the FRC Programme.
The Deputy will be aware that at the end of April I brought forward a funding equalisation scheme for existing FRCs, which will see all FRC Programme members receive additional core funding in 2024 and ensure that minimum core funding for all FRCs is at least €160,000 from 2025 onwards. This funding will support the pivotal role FRCs play in so many communities across the country by providing a comprehensive range of services tailored to individual community needs.
Any potential changes in funding are considered as part of the annual Budgetary process, which represents a significant number of competing priorities in a challenging fiscal space. It is my intention to seek funding in Budget 2025 to stabilise funding to existing Programme members, and to explore options to increase the numbers of FRCs. Any expansion of the Programme will, however, be dependent on the success of my Budget negotiations.
Tusla funding to FRCs operates through a specific budgetary line, and expenditure on FRCs is reflected in Tusla’s Annual Report and Financial Statements. In addition, specific topics or instances of activity can be flagged by FRCs with Tusla’s National Commissioning Office. An example of this is work done by FRCs with Ukrainian Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection living in the local communities.
The Deputy should also be aware that FRCs draw on various sources of funding provided by other Government Departments, agencies and private sources.
In relation to counselling services, the FRC Programme members are intrinsic to the delivery of such services on behalf of Tusla. In addition to counselling funding provided by Tusla, of the €1.5 million secured by my Department under Dormant Accounts Funding for counselling services, a total of €579k in counselling grants was allocated by Tusla to Family Resource Centres, to allow them to continue their important work of providing counselling services in the community. This additional funding increases counselling, psychotherapy and therapeutic services to children and young people experiencing social and economic disadvantage in communities around Ireland. It will help to address unmet need and reduce waiting lists for community-based counselling services.
167. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated first-, full-year and annual cost of increasing the current minimum rate of pay for early years educators, by €0.85, €1, €1.25, €1.50, €1.75 and €2; and the first-, full-year and annual estimated cost to increase all other grades covered by the early years employment regulation order. [28404/24]
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, 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 2024 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 |
|
€0.85 |
€24.7 million |
|
€1.00 |
€30 million |
|
€1.25 |
€41.7million |
|
€1.50 |
€53.8 million |
|
€1.75 |
€67.2 million |
|
€2.00 |
€81 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.
• Cost estimates are based on the most recent data available to the Department which was provided by service providers in May 2024, this data was provided prior to the new EROs for Early Years Services came into force on June 24th.
• Calculations are there based on minimum rates of pat set out in the initial ERO which came in to effect in September 2022.
• The estimated costs are for the additional cost to employers of bringing staff, from their current wage or the minimum pay rates set out in the first EROs, whichever is higher, up to the new pay rate as listed in the request. E.g. for an early years educator, costs are estimated based on current rate of pay up to €13.85 (Initial ERO minimum rate for Educators 13.00+ increased listed 85c).
• 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.
168. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated first- and full-year costs associated with the proposed early years and childcare State agency; the status of the establishment of the agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28405/24]
View answerSignificant progress has been made in advancing plans for a dedicated state agency for early learning childcare and school age childcare. It is envisaged that this agency will undertake the functions carried out by Pobal Early Years (including Better Start), the 30 City/County Childcare Committees, as well as operational functions currently undertaken by my Department.
A Programme Oversight Board has been established to ensure that proposals for a new agency are based on offering the best possible service to children and their families, educators and practitioners and service providers while ensuring value for money.
My Department is currently engaging with independent consultants who have been contracted to carry out a phase of research, analysis and stakeholder engagement to inform the design of the agency. This work, which is expected to take 18-24 months, is currently focused on information gathering, analysis and an initial design phase to take place throughout 2024 and 2025. A second phase relates to a more in-depth design and costing exercise to take place from 2025 and is scheduled to take 6-9 months. The work will culminate in a costed agency design, including the remit, organisational structure and service delivery model, which will be presented to Government for approval.
While full costs will not be available prior to the completion of the design and costing phase, the independent Review of the Operating Model conducted by Indecon presented indicative costs for a dedicated agency at an estimated €14.5m for one-off establishment costs and an annual cost of approximately €50m which represented an additional annual cost of €4.5m compared to the current model. However, economies of scope and scale in the new agency may potentially result in cost savings over time. It should be noted that these costs are only preliminary and may change subject to the completion of the detailed design of the new agency, a full analysis of TUPE obligations, and a comprehensive, robust and evidence based exercise to determine detailed costings.
My Department is committed to ongoing consultation with all stakeholders throughout the design process. In that regard, a series of stakeholder consultation sessions have already been held with key stakeholders in December 2023, January 2024, May 2024 and June 2024 with valuable input being received as part of a collaborative co-design process to develop a vision, mission and values for the agency, and a mapping exercise on the proposed functions for the new agency.
169. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated cost to increase the building blocks improvement grant allocation by 10%, 20%, 25% and 50%. [28406/24]
View answerCapital funding has been allocated to the early learning and childcare sector under the revised National Development Plan (NDP). This will enable significant investment in early learning and childcare.
In 2024 and 2025, my Department is delivering capital investment through the Building Blocks Capacity Grant. The primary focus of the Building Blocks Capacity Grant Schemes is to increase capacity in the 1-3 year old, pre-ECCE, age range for full day or part-time care.
Under the Building Blocks - Improvement Grant, which operated in 2023, €9 million was allocated in grants ranging from €35,000 to €75,000 to fund energy upgrades or retrofit projects.
This scheme is now closed and my Department does not have any further capital funding available for this grant scheme. The table below provides what would be the indicative costs of increasing the Building Blocks Improvement Grant allocation by varying percentages:
|
Building Blocks – Improvement Grant Allocation |
Increase by 10% |
Increase by 20% |
Increase by 25% |
Increase by 50% |
|
€9,000,000 |
9,900,000 |
€10,800,000 |
€11,250,000 |
€13,500,000 |
170. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated annual, total first- and full-year cost to increase the number of State residential care units for children in care by 10%, 25% and 50%, in tabular form; what this equates to in bed numbers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28407/24]
View answerAs this relates to data collated by Tusla, the question has been forwarded to Tusla for direct reply to the Deputy.
171. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated annual, first- and full-year cost to increase the aftercare payment for all young people up to the age of 23 years, irrespective of whether they are in full-time education; and the annual costs over a five-year period. [28408/24]
View answerAs this relates to Tusla operational matters, the question has been forwarded to Tusla for direct reply to the Deputy.
172. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated annual, first- and full-year costs of extending the mother and baby homes redress scheme to 0-6-month-old babies, who are currently excluded. [28409/24]
View answerThe Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme will provide financial payments to an estimated 34,000 people, some 19,000 of whom will also benefit from an enhanced medical card or health support payment. These benefits are in recognition of experiences while resident in Mother and Baby and County Home Institutions. The overall cost of the Payment Scheme is estimated at €800 million.
The Government proposals for the Payment Scheme were developed following deliberations on the very complex issues in question. They were informed by a consultation process undertaken with survivors, as well as a report and proposals from an Interdepartmental Group (IDG). Government ultimately decided on proposals which were, in overall terms, broader than those proposed by the IDG and the recommendations from the Commission of Investigation.
Despite this broadening of eligibility criteria, an estimated 24,000 people who, as babies, spent less than 6 months in an institution, do not qualify for the Scheme. Chapter 5 of the IDG report provides a series of costings for different scenarios. Table 10, which applies to the scenario most relevant to this question, outlines an estimated total cost of approximately €1.124 billion to provide financial payments to all mothers and children (58,000 people) regardless of time spent in an institution.
The Payment Scheme represents one element of a comprehensive package of support measures agreed by the Government as part of the Action Plan for Survivors and Former Residents of Mother and Baby and County Home Institutions. The Action Plan is providing additional support to all those who may not be eligible for the Payment Scheme through other measures including access to birth information, the services of an appointed Special Advocate for Survivors and the establishment of a National Centre for Research and Remembrance.
173. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated capital cost of providing 24, 36 and 48 additional planned residential places, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28410/24]
View answer174. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the first- and full-year current cost of providing 24, 36 and 48 additional planned residential places, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28411/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 173 and 174 together.
To be taken in Tandem with PQ 28410/24. As this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
175. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated capital cost of providing one, two and three additional respite centres for people with disabilities in each of the nine CHO areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28412/24]
View answer176. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the first- and full-year current costs of providing one, two and three additional respite centres for people with disabilities in each of the nine CHOs, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28413/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 175 and 176 together.
As these questions refer to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
177. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated capital cost of providing 100, 250 and 400 additional intensive support packages for children with disabilities who have high/complex support needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28414/24]
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.
178. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated annual, first- and full-year cost to provide 500, 1,000 and 1,500 additional adult day service places. [28415/24]
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.
179. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated cost of providing 100,000, 200,000 and 500,000 additional personal assistance hours for people with disabilities, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28416/24]
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.
180. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated first- and full-year current costs of providing 100, 250 and 400 additional intensive support packages for children with disabilities who have high/complex support needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28418/24]
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.
