Written Answers Nos. 630-645
630. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children waiting an initial CNDT appointment in CHO9; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42945/24]
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 Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children waiting an AON appointment in CHO9; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42946/24]
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.
632. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps his Department and the HSE have taken to improve the CDNT wait times in CHO9; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42951/24]
View answerAs this question refers to service/operational matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
633. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of professional vacancies currently on AON teams across CH09; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42952/24]
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 Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of professional vacancies currently on CDNT teams across CH09; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42953/24]
View answerAs this question refers to service/operational matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
635. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the amount his Department has spent outsourcing AON assessments to private contractors in each of the years 2022 to 2023 and to date in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42954/24]
View answerAs this question refers to service/operational matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
636. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the work of his Department to improve foster care services and enhance the support provided to foster parents since 27 June 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42977/24]
View answerAs Minister a priority of mine has been to improve foster care services and improve and expand the suite of supports available to foster carers.
In 2022, Tusla published the Strategic Plan for Foster Care Services for Children and Young People 2022 – 2025. My Department engaged with Tusla regarding this plan which forms part of Tusla’s overall Alternative Care Strategy across the continuum of care. The strategic plan set out various recommendations to improve foster care services and strengthen support for foster carers. The implementation plan for this strategy has been underway since its publication, with many commitments now completed.
During my time as Minister a reoccurring challenge expressed by foster carers, Tusla, and other stakeholders had been the rate of the foster care allowance which had not been increased since 2009. As part of Budget 2024 I secured a meaningful increase to the foster care allowance.
From 1st January 2024 the rates of the foster care allowance increased to €350 per week for children aged under 12 and €377 per week for those over 12. The foster care allowance will be further increased in November 2024, up to €400 per week for children aged under 12 and €425 per week for those over 12. These increases mean that foster carers will receive over €1,700 additional funding per child over the course of 2024. In 2025 this means that foster carers will receive an additional €3,900 over the course of the year.
In addition Budget 2025 sets out further investment and support towards children in foster care, including funding which will be used to provide a bonus payment at the start of each initial foster care placement from 2025. The bonus payment will aim to alleviate the substantial out-of-pocket expenses during the initial placement period, which can deter potential foster carers from coming forward and can strain the resources of those already fostering.
I can also inform the Deputy that Budget 2025 includes funding for additional mileage support for foster carers bringing foster children to appointments.
In addition, as part of Budget 2025 there will be a double week of the foster care allowance paid to foster carers ,in respect of each child in foster care, before the end of 2024.
I can assure the Deputy that I will continue to work closely with Government colleagues and with Tusla to support the provision of foster care services and to improve the suite of supports available to foster carers.
637. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department can provide grants or funding assistance for the construction of a specialised care home for individuals with Angelman Syndrome, including for a person (details supplied); if he will fully consider this request for assistance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43012/24]
View answer638. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth why Ukrainian nationals in receipt of accommodation under the temporary protection arrangements afforded to such nationals in a hotel (details supplied) have been told that they are required to move despite having established deep links in the local community, including children attending the local schools; why the contract for this facility is not being renewed; if he will reconsider the renewal of this contract having regard to the disruption and upset being caused; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43017/24]
View answerSince the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine in February 2022, my Department continues to work as part of the whole-of-Government response with a focus on providing access to emergency temporary accommodation to those fleeing the conflict who request it, in line with Government policy. This supports Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) to make longer term independent arrangements if they decide to remain in Ireland for the duration of the Temporary Protection Directive.
My Department is reducing the number of contracts for accommodation for people fleeing the war in Ukraine for a number of reasons, including a decrease in numbers needing accommodation, compliance concerns, value for money and greater oversight of the portfolio.
My Department has decided to prioritise ending contracts with non-compliant providers as part of this consolidation. This includes ending contracts where the Fire Safety Assessment documentation has not been submitted within the required timeframe. As part of this exercise, my Department made a decision to end its commercial contract for the specific property to which the Deputy refers.
It is not possible to delay the relocation of BOTPs from this property. The BOTPs who are currently resident at the accommodation will be offered placement at an alternative site in the near future if they still require accommodation and my officials will be in contact in due course.
In terms of moving people, every effort is being made to keep BOTPs, as local as possible. However, given the number of moves that are taking place, this is not always possible. Due to the scale involved, the only factors that can be considered when allocating follow-on accommodation are HSE assessed medical needs. It is not possible to take other issues such as employment or school places into account when allocating follow-on accommodation, and people will be encouraged to make their own arrangements if they wish to stay in their current area.
I appreciate that this may not be easy for people and that moving location may be disruptive. My Department strives to minimise any such disruption to BOTPs and communities in its relocations while ensuring the safety and security of BOTPs. BOTPs are informed that State-provided accommodation is temporary and subject to change.
Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection are entitled to make their own private arrangements including potentially availing of pledged accommodation if they wish, subject to availability, and can avail of some supports to do so. Those wishing to avail of pledged accommodation in any given area should contact the Local Authority in that area or the Irish Red Cross pledge process. The Irish Red Cross can be contacted by email at registerofpledges@redcross.ie or by phoning 1800 50 70 70.
BOTPS may also explore private rented accommodation either through their own means or with the assistance of Rent Supplement, if eligible. Rent Supplement is a means-tested payment administered by the Department of Social Protection to help meet the cost of private rented accommodation. Their local Department of Social Protection office may be able to provide further information relating to Rent Supplement. Contact details for the local offices can be found on gov.ie (Intreo centres and local branch offices).
639. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 185 of 9 October 2024, to provide a breakdown of the €21.552 million allocation, outlining how much was allocated to local authority integration teams and how much was allocated to the community integration forums in Budget 2025. [43020/24]
View answer640. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 185 of 9 October 2024, how much of the €21.552 million allocated to local authority integration teams and the community integration forums in Budget 2025 is new money. [43021/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 639 and 640 together.
A Local Authority Integration Team (LAIT) has now been established in each Local Authority. The teams work directly with International Protection Applicants, Those with Status, Programme Refugees and Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection with the overarching aim to empower individuals to ultimately live independently in the community.
The role of the teams is to provide ongoing integration supports, information, advice and guidance. The teams link individuals with relevant supports and services and work with service providers to provide complementary support.
The teams are also integral members of the Community Integration Forums (CIF). The Forums are the newly permanent and expanded structure which incorporates both the existing Community Response Forum for Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTP), and the Interagency Working Groups currently in place for the Irish Refugee Protection Programme.The purpose of the Forums, which are driven and chaired by the Chief Executive of the local authority, is to act as a collaborative network and working group across the mainstream services, community and voluntary organisations, and NGOs working with International Protection Applicants, Programme Refugees and BOTP.
In Budget 2025, I secured an allocation of €15.956m for the Local Authority Integration Teams and of €5.596m for the Community Integration Forum. The allocation for 2024 was €6m and €4m respectively. Recruitment for the LAITs has been on-going throughout 2024. The 2025 allocation is representative of the full year costs at full staffing levels for 2025.
641. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children in the State currently awaiting an assessment of need; the number who have been waiting less than 3 months; the number that have been waiting 3- 6 months; the number that have been waiting 6-12 months; the number that have been waiting more than 12 months, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43049/24]
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.
642. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children currently awaiting an assessment of need in County Cavan and County Monaghan; the number who have been waiting less than 3 months; the number that have been waiting 3- 6 months; the number that have been waiting 6-12 months; the number that have been waiting more than 12 months, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43050/24]
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.
643. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total number of respite hours provided to disabled adults in County Cavan and County Monaghan in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [43051/24]
View answerAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly.
644. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the cost to the State of assuming the current wage bill for early years educators, lead educators, graduate lead educators, deputy managers, and managers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43054/24]
View answerAs the State does not employ staff in ELC and SAC services, neither I nor the Department can set wage levels or determine working conditions for staff in the sector.
However, there is now, through the independent Joint Labour Committee (JLC) process, a formal mechanism established by which employer and employee representatives can negotiate terms and conditions of employment including minimum pay rates for different roles in ELC and SAC services.
Outputs from the JLC process has seen two increases in minimum rates of pay for roles in the sector and positively impacting over 70% and 50% of the workforce respectively.
Based on 2024 data supplied by Partner Services taking part in the Core Funding scheme and extrapolated to represent all services in the sector, the estimated employer costs for staff working in services (excluding ancillary staff) is approximately €956 million. This cost includes employer costs such as PRSI, Sick Pay, Holiday pay etc and is the estimated cost of assuming the current wage bill for the sector.
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 into effect in September 2022.
• 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 proposed 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.
• The figure does 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.
645. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if an address is registered with IPAS as an accommodation centre (details supplied); if IPAS is inquiring into what is happening at the location given reports that the owner cannot remove the occupants, who are refusing to vacate; if payments for the provision of accommodation at this address are being paid to a company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43105/24]
View answerI thank the Deputy for this question. A response will be provided directly to the Deputy in the coming days.
