Written Answers Nos. 250-262
250. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if all IPAS accommodation providers for people seeking international protection are obliged to provide a transport service in cases where there is not regular public transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30136/24]
View answerThe Department engages with relevant stakeholders and accommodation service providers as appropriate, to ensure that international protection (IP) applicants placed in accommodation in isolated areas will have access to transportation for basic requirements. The International Protection Procurement Service (IPPS) try to ensure in as far as possible that IP applicants are not located in remote locations however, given the current demand for accommodation, this is not always possible.
In situations where an accommodation centre is located in an area without public transport links within a 2km radius, with manageable access, IPPS will work with accommodation service providers ensure that a shuttle bus service to a nearby town or public transport stop is provided.
251. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide an estimate of the number of children in the 0-3 years age group, in percentage terms, that could avail of the access and inclusion model when he expands it to this cohort; the estimated percentage of children of the overall number of children enrolled in the Early Childhood Care and Education programme that are in receipt of access and inclusion model support; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30138/24]
View answerThe Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) was introduced in 2016 to ensure that children with additional needs or a disability could access and meaningfully participate in the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme.
In line with a commitment in First 5: A Whole-of-Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families 2019-2028, an independent evaluation of AIM was undertaken in order to inform an extension of AIM beyond the ECCE programme as well as any potential enhancements to the model.
The findings from the evaluation were published in January 2024 and have informed the phased extension of AIM, commencing from this September with the extension of targeted AIM supports to ECCE-age children beyond time they spend in the ECCE programme – both in term and out. This will allow children to access early learning and childcare for up to an additional 3 hours in term and 6 hours out of term.
It is the ambition that, over time, all children with additional needs registered in early learning and childcare services will benefit from supports under AIM. To this end, officials are giving consideration to how younger children not yet eligible for the ECCE programme, can be supported through AIM, in addition to school going children in school-age childcare services.
As with the current AIM-eligible cohort, supports would be open to all children based on an individual needs basis. The supports required based on the differing needs of children in 0-3 cohort will differ from those in the ECCE-aged cohort. As the AIM policy and associated supports for 0-3 year olds has not been designed it would not be possible to assess who might avail of such supports.
For ECCE aged children approximately 6.8% of ECCE children avail of targeted AIM supports. Approximately three quarters of children in ECCE benefit from universal AIM supports.
252. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he can instruct his officials to contact Little Orchards Community Creche in Leighlinbridge, County Carlow, which has recently notified parents that it will have to reduce its hours of operation for cost effectiveness reasons; if he will ensure the service receives adequate funding to allow it to reverse this decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30139/24]
View answerIn September 2022, I launched Together for Better, the new funding model for early learning and childcare. Together for Better brings together Core Funding, the Early Childhood and Education (ECCE) programme, the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM), the National Childcare Scheme (NCS), and the newly announced Equal Start.
Core Funding is a grant to early learning and childcare providers towards their operating costs. It aims to improve: Affordability, Quality, Inclusion and Sustainability
I announced on 2 July, details of Year 3 of Core Funding worth €331 million, which will run from September 2024 to August 2025. This is an increase of €44 million (15%) on the current programme year. This funding will accompany new developments to the scheme rules to support services as well as children and their families.
The new developments for Year 3 of Core Funding will include:
• An increase to the flat rate top-up for sessional-only services to €5,000 per service (currently €4,075);
• An increase to the minimum amount of funding a centre-based service will receive to €14,000 per year (currently €8,150);
• An increase to the base rate allocation per place offered across all age groups, with larger increases for children under three years old; and
• Funding to support capacity growth of almost 6% across the sector.
The increases I announced will support expanded capacity, particularly capacity for children under three and stability of income to services, particularly low-income services. Since its introduction, I have pledged to grow Core Funding and I have delivered on that.
Core Funding programme year 3 will also introduce a fee increase approval process. Partner Services with fees below a certain level can apply to increase their fees up to an approved level. To balance the needs of Parents/Guardians and Partner Services, there will be an assessment to ensure there is a demonstrable need for a fee increase before approval is granted.
I have recently been updated by officials within my Department of the issues Little Orchards Community Creche in Leighlinbridge, County Carlow are facing.
I am aware that this service has continued to engage with their local City/County Childcare Committee (CCC) and Pobal regarding these issues, and consequently, are eager to apply to the Department for sanction to increase fees once the application process opens.
Officials in my Department will continue to engage with Pobal and the CCC on this matter.
253. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for an update on the return of therapists to a special school (details supplied). [30146/24]
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.
254. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for an update on the return of therapists to a special school (details supplied). [30147/24]
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.
255. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the totality of the funds requested and drawn down by his Department from EU sources in respect of covid-19 in each of the years 2020 to 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form (details supplied). [30217/24]
View answerI thank the Deputy for her question.
I can confirm that the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has not requested or drawn down funding from EU sources in relation to Covid-19 expenditure in the years 2020 - 2024 (to date).
256. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 475 of 26 September 2023, if he will detail the information that is taken into consideration when categorising people into priority 1 to priority 4 for referral to assistive technology and specialised seating. [30234/24]
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.
257. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 475 of 26 September 2023, if a disabled person can get assistive technology devices that are not on the HSE national list of community funded aids and appliances and proscribing criteria if they have a clinical requirement for the device to support them in their daily living; and if so, the procedure by which a person can apply for an assistive technology device that is not on the list. [30235/24]
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.
258. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of applications for assistive technology and specialised seating made to the central remedial clinic in each of the years 2020 to 2023, in tabular form; the number that were successful in each of these years; the number that were unsuccessful in each of these years; and the timeframe for a review of a decision not to approve a request for assistive technology and specialised seating by the central remedial clinic. [30236/24]
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.
259. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the funding that was allocated to the central remedial clinic in each of the years 2020 to 2023 for assistive technology and specialised seating, in tabular form. [30237/24]
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.
260. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 475 of 26 September 2023, if the central remedial clinic makes the decision to approve or not approve applications for assistive technology and specialised seating directly or if this decision is taken by the resource allocation group in the HSE. [30238/24]
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.
261. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children on disability service waiting lists for children’s disability networks teams, by CHO/CDNT, at the end of each quarter in each of the years 2019 to 2024, in tabular form; and the average length of wait. [30339/24]
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.
262. 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 in each of the years 2019 to 2024, in tabular form; the number overdue for completion; and the estimated number of PTAs waiting for a complete AON diagnostic assessment. [30340/24]
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.
