Written Answers Nos. 1-25
14. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the plans for Columb barracks, Mullingar; the extent of the lease or licence secured from the Department of Defence, and if the area under licence will be broadened. [43580/24]
View answerThe Government's Comprehensive Accommodation Strategy (CAS) for people seeking International Protection (IP) aims to address the current serious shortfall in accommodation for people seeking international protection and to build a more sustainable system for the longer term. This is now being implemented.
Accommodation in the new strategy is being delivered through the use of State land for prefabricated and modular units, conversion of commercial buildings, and targeted purchasing of turnkey properties. It will also involve design and build of new Reception and Integration Centres and upgrading of IPAS Centres. This will be supplemented, as required, by high standard commercial providers.
To date, five state sites have been licensed to the Department including Crooksling, River Lodge, Heatherside (HSE), Thornton Hall (IPS) and Lissywollen, Athlone (OPW). Tented accommodation has been stood up at both Crooksling and River Lodge, with Thornton Hall and Athlone to be occupied in the coming weeks and months.
Columb Barracks
A tender process has been completed and a contractor appointed for the delivery of 40 modular 8 bed accommodation units on the Columb Barracks site in Mullingar. These units will replace the tented accommodation that is currently on the site for IP applicants and increase the bed space from the current 160 in tents to 320.
The delivery of the modular units is being carried out under a Ministerial Order which was signed and sealed for the delivery of 40 modular 8-bed accommodation units on the site.
The contract to develop this site was awarded at the end of May. The works on site have started and the first units are now on site. The current delivery timelines for this project is partial handover in mid-October with full-handover by mid-December 2024. This would represent a delivery time frame of just over 4 months from awarding of contract to Phase 1 delivery and full delivery of just over 6 months, which represents a very rapid pace of delivery.
The original licence for the site was for a period of 12 months commencing March 2023, with the option for an extension by one or more 3 month periods. Work is underway to renew the current licence with no plans to extend the area currently under licence. Columb Barracks remains under the remit of the Department of Defence, which still retains ownership of the overall site.
In addition to providing accommodation for international protection applicants, a portion of the licensed area was selected by Government in 2023 as a ‘proof of concept site’ to examine the potential of rapid build ‘pod’ style accommodation for Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) fleeing the war in Ukraine. 62 modular units in total have been delivered as part of this project, accommodating up to 248 BOTPs.
15. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth how the national childcare scheme has grown in recent years; when he expects parents using registered childminders to be able to avail of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43358/24]
View answerThe National Childcare Scheme (NCS) provides financial supports to parents to help reduce the cost of early learning and childcare. The Scheme has undergone a number of enhancements in recent years to further improve affordability for parents. These include the extension of the Universal subsidy to all children under 15 and two increases to the minimum hourly subsidy, which is now worth €2.14 per hour.
These enhancements have helped to result in a positive growth in the number of families benefitting from NCS subsidies. As of 17th October, a total of 209,919 unique children have benefitted from an NCS subsidy in 2024 (YTD). Compared to the same period in 2023, this represents a positive growth of approx. 20%. Of these children, the largest growth is seen in the number benefitting from a Universal award, which is up 32% since 2023.
All childminders are now eligible to register with Tusla. This follows the commencement of legislation on 30th September which removes the legal exemption of childminders from registration and ensures parents who use Tusla-registered childminders are eligible for subsidies under the NCS.
In order to access NCS, childminders must register with Tusla and then enter into contract to provide the Scheme. In order to register with Tusla, a childminder is required to undertake pre-registration training, as well as meeting a number of other regulatory requirements and making an application to Tusla. There is a childminding development officer in every City/County Childcare Committee (CCC) whose remit is the support of childminders and delivery of pre-registration training. Pre-registration training started for childminders on 23 September and the register opened on 30 September. To date, 59 childminders have completed their pre-registration training and a number have begun the process of registering with Tusla.
In the meantime, parents are advised to visit www.ncs.gov.ie for more information on the Scheme, including details on how to apply for a subsidy. Additionally, a Childcare Search function is available on the NCS website which details a list of early learning and childcare services participating in the NCS, including childminders.
16. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an overview of the new equal start DEIS model for childcare; how many services are included; what additional supports are provided; how the model can tackle child poverty; what future expansion of the model is envisaged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43341/24]
View answerIn September 2024, my Department commenced the roll-out of Equal Start, a major model of supports to ensure children experiencing disadvantage can access and meaningfully participate in early learning and childcare.
Equal Start includes a suite of universal supports, child-targeted supports, and setting-targeted supports to ensure every child and every early learning and childcare setting will benefit from a continuum of supports that reflects a continuum of need.
Targeted measures includes a specific focus on key groups including children living in disadvantaged areas, Traveller children, Roma children, "sponsor" children availing of the National Childcare Scheme , children experiencing homelessness and children in the International Protection system.
790 services have been targeted with over 721 services have completed the sign up process thus far.
Equal start will roll out in phases. I have targeted services with the highest level of need in the first phase.
For the 24/25 programme year this includes additional staffing supports providing for a 15% increase in staffing hours for Tier 1 services, and 8% for Tier 2 services based on the minimum staffing required under regulation.
I have also made provision for additional supports for Traveller and Roma families delivered through Better Start and Tusla, language and literacy measures including the roll-out of Early Talk Boost,
I was pleased secure a second wave of funding in Budget 2025 to provide for
• An additional Nutrition Programme in priority ECCE only services;
• The development of a Parent Community Coordinator post to enhance parental engagement in services;
• The update and roll-out of Diversity Equality and Inclusion guidelines and training.
These measures will target around 35000 children with the highest level of need.
This investment provides a strong foundation of the roll-out of the next phase of supports.
I want to ensure that every child has the best possible start in life, enjoys a happy childhood. and has the opportunity to reach their potential.
17. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what assessment was carried out regarding the suitability of Lissywollen international protection centre for an additional 1,000 persons. [43581/24]
View answerThe proposed development of the site at Lissywollen, Athlone for the accommodation of International Protection Applicants is an urgent and important project, part of an overall Government strategy to provide accommodation for people applying for international protection.
We are working to engage with local groups and representatives about this development, with a view to keeping people informed and answering any questions they may have about the development.
A Comprehensive Accommodation Strategy (CAS) agreed by Government on 27 March 2024 provides for key measures that will enable the delivery of additional bed spaces in the next number of months, to bridge the gap between the immediate crisis and longer-term reform.
It provides for key measures that will enable the delivery of additional bed spaces in the next number of months, to bridge the gap between the immediate crisis and longer-term reform. The CAS signals a move away from full reliance on commercial providers and towards a core of State-owned accommodation, delivering 14,000 State-owned beds by 2028.
The site at Lissywollen, Athlone is intended to be one of the accommodation centres under this Government-approved accommodation strategy. My officials have worked with the OPW, local State services to plan for the development and the current engagement, and are working with an experienced accommodation provider to develop an effective service.
To date, our Community Engagement Team (CET) has issued a briefing note to local elected representatives, convened meetings including at Leinster House for local Oireachtas members, at Athlone with representatives from Athlone Moate Municipal District, and they also met the Principal and Board of Management Chair of the local national school. The CET is now working to convene a meeting of community stakeholders, with the support of the Local Development Company, as soon as possible.
All relevant State support services in the area have been informed of the accommodation centre so that they can prepare what additional supports will be needed to assist these people settle into the local community. This includes the Departments of Health, Education, Justice, Transport, HSE, An Garda Síochána, the Local Government Management Agency, the local integration teams and local development office.
In the context of the crisis faced by the State in accommodating IP arrivals, and having regard to the location of the site at Athlone, my Department would like to ensure every effort is made to allay local concerns and will continue to do so over the coming weeks.
18. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 41 of 2 October 2024, the number of applications to the mother and baby institutions payment scheme received to date; the number refused and the reasons therefor; the number where a notification of a positive determination has been made; the number accepted; of those accepted, the number fully completed; the number of payments made in each category of Schedules 2 and 3 of the 2023 Act; the average time from receipt of application to receipt of payment; if he is satisfied with the way in which the scheme is operating; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43208/24]
View answer24. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth how many payments have issued under the mother and baby institutions payment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43558/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 18 and 24 together.
As of 21 October, almost 5,300 applications have been received, of which over 4,700 are completed applications which can be processed. In the case of incomplete applications, applicants are being supported by the Payment Scheme Office in order to provide outstanding information so that their application can move forward. This could be, for example, a supporting document such as certified photo ID.
Nearly 3,900 notices of determination have issued, over 82% of which contain an offer of benefits under the Scheme. Applicants have 6 months to consider their offer before they need to respond. Where notices of determination do not provide an offer of benefits, this is due to not meeting the relevant eligibility criteria.
To date, 2,495 applicants have accepted an offer under the Scheme, and more than 2,025 payments are either processed and completed or in the process of being made.
Average processing time, from application receipt to notice of determination, is 70 days and once an award is accepted it takes, on average, 16 days to delivery of payment into an applicant's account.
Overall, we have received positive feedback that applicants are finding the application process straightforward and the information line helpful. We have also received some feedback regarding delays. These may emerge for different reasons. For example, if the Payment Scheme Office has to contact applicants to seek further information, or if there are issues in the verification of application details. In such cases, the Payment Scheme Office engages with the applicant to resolve those difficulties so that applications can be processed as quickly as possible.
I am advised that each and every application is handled on an individual basis to ensure thorough and accurate processing, and depending on the nature of enquiries, the response timeline can vary. Overall, the Payment Scheme Office are constantly working to improve the applicant experience and reduce processing times, taking on board feedback from survivors and other stakeholders, while upholding the integrity of the Scheme through proper and robust validation processes. It is ultimately the aim of the Payment Scheme Office to ensure the correct award amount is paid to the correct applicant in as timely a manner as possible.
19. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the measures his Department is taking to increase the number of facilities that will take children under two years and eight months into childcare to assist parents returning to work; if he acknowledges the problem this is causing in having professionals return to key roles in employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43397/24]
View answerImproving access to quality and affordable early learning and childcare is a key priority of Government.
This year, I established a Supply Management Unit within the Early Learning and Care and School Age Childcare Division of my Department. A key part of the Supply Management Unit’s remit is to develop capacity for monitoring, analysing and forecasting of supply and demand in the sector.
In addition to developing this forward planning model, the Supply Management Unit oversees the administration of capital investment under the revised NDP. Some €89 million has been allocated to my Department between 2023 and 2026.
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 care. Under the Building Blocks Extension Grant Scheme, some €25 million will be available in 2025 to deliver additional capacity. I hope to announce further details of the Building Blocks Extension Grant Scheme in the coming weeks.
The overall funding model is designed to support quality provision across the full age range for ELC. Core Funding was intentionally designed to address some of the pre-existing disparities in funding levels across ECCE and non-ECCE provision. Higher levels of funding are available for capacity for younger children, to support the higher operating costs for these children arising from the higher staff ratio requirements. In addition, Core Funding includes a graduate premium to support employment of graduates with a relevant degree at level 7 or above into leadership roles. This aspect of Core Funding encourages employment of graduates as Lead Educators across all ELC.
20. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the proposals there are to provide additional childcare places in Cavan and Monaghan, taking in to account difficulties incurred by parents in obtaining placements for children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43432/24]
View answerImproving access to quality and affordable early learning and childcare is a key priority of Government.
My Department employs a range of approaches to identify and address shortages of early learning and childcare places in certain areas, bearing in mind the wide range of types of early learning and childcare provision offered by services and required by families.
This year, I established a Supply Management Unit within the Early Learning and Care and School Age Childcare Division of my Department. A key part of the Supply Management Unit’s remit is to develop capacity for monitoring, analysing and forecasting the supply and demand of childcare.
Capital 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. 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 care.
Under the Building Blocks Extension Grant Scheme, some €25 million will be available in 2025 to deliver additional capacity.
Along with these measures, Core Funding, which is in its third programme year, funds services based on the number of places available, whether or not they are filled.
This provides stability to services, and reduces the risks associated with opening a new service or expanding an already existing service. For the current programme year, I ensured that the allocation for Core Funding would be able to capture almost a 6% increase in capacity. I secured additional funding in Budget 2025 to facilitate a further 3.5% increase from September 2025, in the fourth programme year.
21. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there are plans to add the tenth ground of discrimination and codify socioeconomic status as a protected ground under the Equality Act 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43570/24]
View answerThe introduction of a new equality ground, based on disadvantaged socioeconomic status, was considered as part of my Department's wider review of the Equal Status Acts 2000 and the Employment Equality Acts 1998 (the Equality Acts). This followed a Programme for Government commitment to examine the introduction of such a ground. It is intended that legislative proposals arising from the review will be brought to Government in the coming weeks.
The review of the Equality Acts has examined the operation of the Equality Acts from the perspective of a person taking a claim under its redress mechanisms. It has further examined the degree to which those experiencing discrimination are aware of the legislation and whether there are practical or other obstacles which preclude or deter them from taking an action.
My Department invited written submissions to a public consultation from 06 July 2021 - 08 December 2021, and was pleased to receive an extensive response. The public were asked for their views on the functioning and accessibility of the Acts; the scope of the current grounds; whether existing exemptions should be modified or removed; and whether the legislation adequately addresses intersectionality. A report summarising the key issues raised in the public consultation was published on 12 July 2023 on the Department's website.
22. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth how LGBTQI+ funding streams provided by his Department go towards organisations working with and initiatives for the benefit of LGBTQI+ people living in rural areas, and LGBTQI+ older persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43345/24]
View answerIn line with the commitments in the National LGBTI+ Inclusion Strategy, my Department continues to support LGBTI+ organisations and initiatives through the annual LGBTI+ Community Services Fund Call. The call provides for initiatives that will promote inclusion, protect rights and improve quality of life and well-being for members of the LGBTI+ community, both local and regional, enabling them to participate fully in Ireland's social, economic, cultural and political life.
Since its establishment in 2020, a total of 123 LGBTI+ projects have been allocated €4,457,323 in funding. Of this, 72% of the projects have had a geographical scope outside of the Dublin region. To illustrate a few examples, GOSHH Ireland’s rainbow development project has done a huge amount of work in Limerick, Clare and Tipperary. Outcomers has worked on visibility and support groups in the northeast; Louth, Meath, Cavan and Monaghan and Youth Work Ireland Cork has established pop up rural support groups.
This funding call is very much in keeping with the aims and objectives of the National LGBTI+ Inclusion Strategy. My Department is committed to providing support and funding to a wide and diverse range of LGBTI+ organisations in their delivery of targeted programmes and services throughout Ireland, ensuring they are accessible to all LGBTI+ persons, irrespective of their age or where they live.
Details of successful projects are published on my Departments website every year. I anticipate announcing the successful projects to be funded under the 2024 LGBTI+ Community Services Fund shortly.
23. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the process that follows a legal challenge taken against the HSE by parents of a child not given an assessment of needs within the statutory six months; what follows a legal challenge that is successful; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43545/24]
View answerThe Assessment of Need process is set out in the Disability Act, 2005. The aim of an Assessment of Need under the Disability Act is to identify whether a person has a disability, the nature and extent of the disability, any health and education needs arising from that disability, as well as what services are required to meet those needs.
The Disability Act outlines the statutory timelines under which Assessments of Need under the Act must be completed. In summary, the assessment report must be completed within 6 months of the date the application was received. There is a detailed process available to those who wish to take a legal challenge. In brief, the process involves:
1. Complaint issued to the HSE under s14(1)(b) of the Disability Act 2005 - investigated by a Disability Complaints Officer.
2. If it is found that the AON was not commenced or completed with the statutory timeframes, the Disability Complaints Officer will issue a report that the HSE have failed to commence/complete the AON within the specified period and will recommend that it be commenced/completed by a certain date.
3. If the Applicant is unhappy with a decision of the Disability Complaints Officer, they can appeal the decision to the Disability Appeals Officer, an independent office under my remit, under s18 of the Disability Act.
4. If the HSE do not action the recommendations of the Disability Complaints Officer or the Disability Appeals Officer within 3 months, proceedings can be brought before Dublin Circuit Court under s22 of the Disability Act 2005 to enforce the recommendation by way of Court Order.
It is important to note that where timeframes have not been adhered to, and where there is a resultant legal challenge, the HSE do not contest such applications in the Circuit Court and consent to orders to complete the Assessment of Need. In practical terms, the HSE advises that it complies with whatever the Court requests the HSE to do, which in most cases would be an order to complete the Assessment of Need.
