Written Answers Nos. 628-637
628. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will facilitate a second-year early childhood care and education scheme place for a child (details supplied). [36780/24]
View answerThank you for your correspondence on behalf of your constituent regarding their daughter's eligibility for the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme.The ECCE programme provides universal, free preschool to children in the eligible age range of 2 years and 8 months to 5 years and 6 months. The upper age limit of 5 years and 6 months for ECCE was set in consultation with the Department of Education and ensures that children transition to primary school with their peers and limits the age range of children beginning primary school.
ECCE is not a mandatory scheme and it is at the parents' discretion if the child avails of the full two years.All children born in 2019 could avail of two free years of ECCE beginning from September 2022 and a second year from September 2023, finishing in June 2024. In certain exceptional circumstances an overage exemption can be given to enable children with additional needs to remain in ECCE past this age limit. Current policy requires that any request for an exemption from ECCE eligibility must be supported by a letter from a medical specialist/social worker (not a GP/PHN/Medical Officer) specifically recommending why an ECCE service would meet the child’s specific needs in a more appropriate way than a primary school. This requirement is not intended to undermine the view of a parent/teacher or other in relation to a child’s needs but, rather, to maintain a clear and standard basis for applying exemptions.
Examples of accepted specialist/medical recommendations are as follows:· Speech and Language Therapist · Occupational Therapist· Senior Psychologist· Physiotherapist· Paediatrician· Developmental Neurologist· Psychiatrist · Psychotherapist · Cardiologist · Oncologist· Ophthalmologist· Otolaryngologist (ENT specialist)· Gastroenterologist· Social Worker / Early Intervention Team
Letters of recommendation can be submitted via email to eyqueries@equality.gov.ie. Applications cannot be considered without this documentation.In deciding on applications for exemptions to the ECCE age requirements, my Department is guided by a review of the overage exemption process which was carried out in 2018 by the National Disability Authority (NDA) for my Department and the Department of Education. In their published report, the NDA concluded that it is in the best interest of children with additional needs to transition to primary school with their age cohort.Supports are available for school-aged children through the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) affiliated to the Department of Education, to support children in the primary school setting.The National Childcare Scheme (NCS) provides financial support to help families with their early learning and childcare costs. Both Universal and Income assessed subsidies are available for children aged between 24 weeks and 15 years of age. For more information including how to apply, parents should visit www.ncs.gov.ie. My Department also funds a national network of City/County Childcare Committees (CCCs) who provide support and advice to parents and childcare providers on all issues for childcare funded programmes. The contact details for the CCCs can be found on www.myccc.ie.
629. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will increase the funding for community, voluntary and charitable organisations to cover this substantial cost associated with the introduction of the Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings System Act 2024, which comes into force in January, and as employers will be obliged to provide 1.5% of employees’ salary as a contribution. [36786/24]
View answerI thank the Deputy for his question.
My Department is currently engaging with the Department of Public Expenditure, NPD Delivery and Reform in relation to the 2025 Estimates. Until these discussions are concluded, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on this matter.
630. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the additional funding that was provided in 2024 for additional development measures for children's services; and the way this funding was spent this year. [36800/24]
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.
631. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a person who wishes to apply for an enhanced medical card or health supports payment under the mother and baby institutions payment scheme may do so without first making an application for a general payment, and, if accepted, thereby agrees to waive any right of action or discontinue any other instituted proceedings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36939/24]
View answerSection 19(5)(b) of the legislation that underpins the Scheme - the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Act 2023 - provides that an applicant to the Scheme shall specify what benefits they are applying for. So, applicants can indeed select just the medical benefits and not the general or work payments. (In practice, the Payment Scheme Office will assess every application and where it finds that an applicant may be entitled to more benefits than applied for, will engage with the applicant to double check their selection.)
An applicant who chooses only to accept health benefits under the Scheme (either the enhanced medical card or the health support payment) does not waive any right of action or does not have to discontinue any other instituted proceedings.
However, I would just highlight that Section 19(4) of the Act is also relevant here. This section precludes more than one application per person unless in one specified circumstance. Essentially if an applicant does decide to apply for health supports only, there is no opportunity to submit another application for a payment at a later date.
632. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of hours of disability home support delivered to date in 2024, by CHO and LHO, in tabular form; and how that compares to disability home support targets. [36983/24]
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.
633. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to clarify if there are separate waiting lists in operation for those children awaiting assessments of needs; those awaiting initial contact; those awaiting therapy following an assessment of need; and those awaiting follow-on therapy after a block of fixed term appointments. [36987/24]
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.
634. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the numbers of children on the service waiting lists for occupational therapy intervention, occupational therapy assessment, speech and language therapy intervention, speech and language therapy assessment, multidisciplinary assessments, assessment of needs, cognitive and/or clinical psychological assessments, play therapy, physiotherapy, hearing tests, psychological supports/intervention; and the time spent on that list, for each CHO and county, in tabular form. [36988/24]
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.
635. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the numbers of children on the service waiting list for assessment of needs, and the time spent on that list, for each CHO and county, in tabular form. [36989/24]
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.
636. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the supports available to the elderly parents of children with special needs (details supplied) will be examined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37019/24]
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.
637. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for an update on the work of the personal assistance review group to develop a protocol for the eligibility and allocation of personal assistant services based on a universally agreed definition. [37039/24]
View answerThe HSE provides a range of assisted living services including Personal Assistant (PA) services to support individuals to maximise their capacity to live full and independent lives.PA Services are provided either directly by the HSE or indirectly through a range of voluntary and private service providers. The majority of specialised disability provision (80%) is delivered through non-statutory sector service providers.
PA services provide one-to-one support to people with physical disabilities. The service facilitates a person’s independence, improves their quality of life, and supports them to participate in their local community. A PA support can range from a few hours a week to daily assistance.
PA services are led and directed by the individual in receipt of the service. The individual is the key decision-maker in determining the support they need as well as the activities they need support with, enabling them to achieve maximum control over their life by tailoring the service to meet their unique support requirements.
In 2024, 80,000 additional PA hours have been funded, bringing the target for delivery to approx. 1.77m PA hours supporting over 2,600 adults across the country.
A Personal Assistance (PA) Review Group has been established by the HSE. The purpose of the PA Review Group is to develop a protocol for the eligibility and allocation of personal assistance services based on a universally agreed definition, in collaboration with my Department, people with disabilities and providers.
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.
