Written Answers Nos. 201-217
201. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department was informed of the deaths from bubonic plague, also known as the Black Death, of monkeys at Dublin Zoo in 2024; the steps that were taken to prevent and track any contagion to farm animals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3700/25]
View answerMy Department has not received any reports regarding the issue referred to at Dublin Zoo in 2024.
202. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide a detailed breakdown of all funding allocated for the year ahead or spent in the past fiscal year by his Department on artificial intelligence systems or artificial intelligence research; what programs or Department operations, if any, are conducted using artificial intelligence tools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3701/25]
View answerMy Department has funded the following Artificial Intelligence (AI) projects in the past fiscal year:
2024 Funding:
• In respect of Cognitive Services, €2,888 was spent over the course of 2024, researching potential artificial intelligence benefits for my Department.
• Related Cloud Infrastructure, to support those services, totalled €2,805 in the same period.
2025 Funding:
• No new funding has been allocated in the upcoming fiscal year.
The following projects within the department, for research and analysis purposes, currently use Artificial Intelligence.
• Predicting the likelihood of TB outbreaks.
• Image analysis for identifying species susceptible to H5N1 (Bird flu).
• Customer Segmentation analysis for developing Agri-Food policies.
• Analysis for identifying risk factors for Microbial Food Safety.
• Analysing content to produce IT documentation.
• Automatically Preparing IT test scenarios.
The following Department operations, are conducted using artificial intelligence tools.
• Smart text analysis to prevent and contain data breaches.
All current and future use cases are subject to human review, data protection and governance measures. My Department is committed to ensuring that any use of AI is informed by an assessment of any potential human rights and equality implications, with a need for careful management in accordance with privacy and broader ethical and legal frameworks.
203. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount Coillte has paid each year since 2020 on external legal fees contesting appeals made to the Office of the Commissioner for Environmental Information and Information Commissioner in relation to freedom of information and access to information on the environment regulations requests, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3773/25]
View answerCoillte is a private limited company established under the Forestry Act 1988 and, as such, its day-to-day operations, such as the payment of external legal fees, are entirely a matter for the company.
I have accordingly asked Coillte to respond directly to the Deputy on the matters raised.
204. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the details of each time his Department, or public bodies under the aegis of his Department, enlisted the services of consultants in 2023 and 2024; the purpose, value, and duration of each contract in relation to public bodies under the aegis of his Department, including where consulting contracts are classified under ‘business-as-usual outsourcing’ for annual reporting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3776/25]
View answerIt is not possible to provide the information requested by the Deputy in the required time. The information is currently being compiled and I will forward it to the Deputy as soon as it is available.
205. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine for clarification on the Government's policy towards the farming of hemp, particularly in light of a number of cases of licensed hemp farmers being monitored and raided by An Garda Síochána; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3907/25]
View answerCurrent legislation in Ireland does not allow for the growing of hemp unless a specific license has been granted by the Health Products Regulatory Authority which operates under the auspices of the Department of Health.
In addition, the cultivation of hemp is restricted to varieties having less than 0.3% content of tetrahydrocannabinol. Cannabis (which includes hemp) is listed in schedule 1 of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2017, as amended, which means it is subject to the strictest level of control. Issues relating to An Garda Síochána are not a matter for my Department.
The previous Programme for Government included a commitment to fully explore fibre crops such as hemp and consider whether these crops have a viable market. The report on this consultation was published in December 2022 and is available on www.gov.ie.
The overall outcome of that consultation was that the growing of fibre crops such as hemp for the purposes of fibre production only is not currently viable in Ireland. The report concluded that the scaling up of a crop fibre industry would be dependent on numerous factors including the development of stable markets, significant capital investment to increase processing capacity and collaboration with all stakeholders along the supply chain, all of which must be industry led.
Hemp is included as an eligible crop under the Basic Income Support for Sustainability Scheme.
206. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the details of all contracts awarded to a company (details supplied) for the provision of IPAS and/or Ukrainian refugees from 1 January 2019 to 29 January 2025; the date of contract, location of contract, and how many people are covered by the contract; and if contract is renewed and the date of renewal, in tabular form. [3819/25]
View answerProviding reception conditions – accommodation and other basic supports – to applicants is part of Irish and EU law and is also part of our humanitarian duty to provide shelter to people fleeing war and persecution in their home country. The State is currently accommodating almost 33,000 people in international protection accommodation, about 9,000 of whom are children with their families.
As you will be aware, extensive efforts are underway, within this Department and as part of a whole-of-Government response, to source and bring into use suitable facilities to provide shelter and safety to international protection applicants.
Details of contracts or contractual arrangements between the Department and external providers are considered commercially sensitive. In order to preserve the Department's negotiating position, the costs paid to providers or the details of contracts are not published, as making this data available to other accommodation providers would not serve the public interest in terms of value for money. As such, I regret my Department cannot provide the information requested in full.
The Public Sector Reform Plan requires that government departments and agencies publish online reports detailing Purchase Orders (PO) relating to payments for goods, services or works procured to a value greater than €20,000. These are published, once per quarter, on gov.ie:
https://www.gov.ie/en/collection/dfdadb-department-of-children-and-youth-affairs-purchase-orders-for-20000-o/
These reports will provide the Deputy with information about purchase orders relating to both international protection and Ukraine State-supported accommodation from my Department, which I hope is helpful to the Deputy.
207. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total cost of the provision of IPAS accommodation to the State in each year from 2019 to 2024, in tabular form. [3820/25]
View answerSince 2021, there has been a sudden and sustained increase in numbers of people applying for International Protection in Ireland, and in other EU Member States.
This increase happened at the same time as the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the EU Temporary Protection Directive, which saw over 113,000 people from Ukraine come to live in Ireland. Amid a basic shortage of accommodation across society, these changes have placed profound and sustained pressure on the Department’s work to source viable accommodation for new arrivals over the last two years.
Ireland has seen a sharp increase in the number of people applying for international protection since 2022 and our Department provides accommodation for almost 33,000 international protection applicants today, about 9,000 of whom are children with their families.
Providing reception conditions – accommodation and other basic supports – to people seeking international protection is part of Irish and EU law and is also part of our humanitarian duty to provide shelter to people fleeing war and persecution in their home country.
The costs outlined below pertain to accommodation for IP applicants, including transport, facilities management, utilities and other related costs.
Please see, in tabular format, the total spend of IPAS accommodation, noting the 2024 figure is provisional pending completion of the 2024 Appropriation Accounts.
|
2019 |
€129.408,000 |
|
2020 |
€183,215,000 |
|
2021 |
€190,856,000 |
|
2022 |
€356,554,000 |
|
2023 |
€651,756,000 |
|
2024 |
€1.005 billion |
I trust this information is helpful.
208. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth with regards to youth work as the new Programme for Government commits to a new Youth Services Action Plan, despite the publication of the Opportunities for Youth national strategy only last September; if she will clarify whether her Department will provide resources to implement the Opportunities for Youth strategy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3835/25]
View answerAction 17 of the Young Ireland: National Policy Framework for Children and Young People 2023 – 2028 commits to the development and implementation of a 'Youth Services Action Plan' to provide a strategic direction for the delivery of youth services. In response to this commitment, the outgoing Government approved the new national strategy entitled Opportunities for Youth: National Strategy for Youth Work and Related Services 2024 – 2028, which aims to provide a more strategic, data-driven and joined up approach to the delivery of youth work and related services in Ireland. The Opportunities for Youth strategy was published on the 18th of September 2024. The Youth Services Action Plan referenced in the Programme for Government provides a framework for implementing Opportunities for Youth.
In relation to the implementation of the strategy, work is underway on a number of actions for which the Department is the lead, including the Workforce Development Plan and the mapping of services. Officials are currently developing implementation approach to support delivery of agreed Opportunities for Youth actions and ensure effective mainstreaming of strategic objectives.
209. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of Ukrainian refugees and international protection applicants housed, respectively, in each local election area, as of 31 January 2025, in tabular form. [3837/25]
View answerThank you for your question, Deputy.
The number of people fleeing the war in Ukraine who are Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BoTP) and number of people applying for international protection (IP) by local electoral area is set out in the tables at the link below.
This data refers to accommodation supported or provided by this Department.
While it is useful to review information published by the State on how many people are in State-supported accommodation, and where they are located, it should also be noted that distribution of accommodation options across the country has evolved in what has been a rapid and often crisis response to the needs of both groups of people.
Since 2022, over 100,000 people have arrived in Ireland fleeing the war in Ukraine, and numbers of people arriving in Ireland applying for international protection have increased sharply. As a result of these arrivals, pressure on accommodation has been significant, and the Department has had to consider all offers of suitable, available accommodation.
As the need for Ukraine State-supported accommodation reduces steadily, and the State progresses its strategy to develop more State-owned international protection accommodation, over time, it is also intended that greater control and planning can be brought to bear over the dispersal and distribution of arrivals across areas and locations.
The CSO publishes regular updates in their series "Arrivals from Ukraine" which provides a range of maps and datasets based on anonymised data from a number of Government Departments and State bodies and includes information on the location of people who are BoTPs (not just those in State supported accommodation):
www.cso.ie/en/statistics/population/arrivalsfromukraineinireland/
IPAS also publishes weekly and monthly reports on gov.ie in relation to international protection applicants. This includes a per county breakdown of where IP applicants are residing. These statistics are also published at:
www.gov.ie/en/publication/07027-ipas-statistics/
Table: Numbers of BoTPs and international protection applicants in DCEDIY supported accommodation by Local Electoral Area
I trust this information is helpful to the Deputy.
210. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide a detailed breakdown of all funding allocated for the year ahead or spent in the past fiscal year by her Department on artificial intelligence systems or artificial intelligence research; what programs or Department operations, if any, are conducted using artificial intelligence tools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3702/25]
View answerThe Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) is guided by the Interim Guidelines for Use of AI in the Public Service published by the Public Service Transformation Delivery Unit in the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer and by the National Cyber Security Centre on ICT policy and security matters.
Beyond this, DCEDIY does not have a specific policy on the use of artificial intelligence. DCEDIY has recently upgraded its suite of standard office productivity tools to the latest version of these applications, based on the Microsoft 365 platform.
This platform includes additional business intelligence, process automation, app development, and app connectivity products we avail of to develop line of business solutions for the Department. The underlying technology for this platform includes services that are labelled as A.I. DCEDIY does not use AI, including large language models, in the preparation of legislation or statutory instruments; and does not use A.I. for decision making. DCEDIY does not have any specific costs associated with A.I.
211. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to outline her comprehensive plan to address this significant concern on the availability of childcare places (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3740/25]
View answerIncreasing access to affordable childcare is a key priority of government.
Last year, a Supply Management Unit within the Early Learning and Care and School Age Childcare Division was established, and the Programme for Government articulates an intention that the unit be resourced and transformed into a Forward Planning and Delivery Unit to identify areas of need, forecast demand and deliver public supply within the childcare sector where required.
A key part of the Supply Management Unit’s remit is to develop capacity for monitoring, analysing and forecasting of the supply and demand in this sector. The development of a forward planning model is currently underway utilising the expertise of statisticians on secondment from the Central Statistics Office, an early learning and childcare expert from a County Childcare Committee and a GIS mapper working with the Department. The model will seek to identify the nature and volume of different types of early learning and childcare places across the country, whether or not those places are occupied and how that aligns with the numbers of children in the corresponding age cohorts at local area level. This model will assist my Department in identifying where unmet need/demand and areas of low supply exist.
This forward planning model will be a central element of my Department's plans to achieve the policy goals set out in the Programme for Government. These policy goals include:
• To build an affordable, high-quality, accessible early childhood education and care system with State-led facilities adding capacity
• Provide capital investment to build or purchase state-owned childcare facilities, to create additional capacity in areas where unmet need exists.
• Plan the development of State-led facilities in tandem with the school building programme, including Irish medium naíonraí.
Along with my Department's work on developing a forward planning model, early scoping work has been carried out to explore options to introduce a segment of public provision. This will require much more detailed and extensive policy development and design in order to progress to implementation stage, having regard to the wider emerging policy context as set out in the Programme for Government.
I am committed to continuing to improve accessibility and achieve these policy goals within the lifetime of the Government. Further progress on accessibility must be integrated with our efforts to improve availability, affordability and quality.
One way in which Government is supporting the expansion of capacity is through capital funding. The Building Blocks Extension Grant Scheme was launched on the 4th November 2024. Applications for this scheme have now closed and an appraisal process has begun. The primary focus of the Extension Grant Scheme is to increase capacity in the 1–3-year-old, pre-ECCE, age range for full day care. Appraisal of applications for this scheme will consider the supply and demand in the area around the proposed projects and seeks to prioritise funding for areas with the biggest supply/demand mismatch.
€25m will be made available this year to deliver additional capacity under the Scheme and I expect to announce the outcome of the application process in March.
212. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth how many WTE therapist vacancies currently in CDNT teams within the CHO3 area. [3769/25]
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.
213. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the details of each time her Department, or public bodies under the aegis of her Department, enlisted the services of consultants in 2023 and 2024; the purpose, value, and duration of each contract in relation to public bodies under the aegis of her Department, including where consulting contracts are classified under ‘business-as-usual outsourcing’ for annual reporting; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3777/25]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that the Department for Children; Equality; Disability; Integration and Youth consultancy contracts in 2023 and 2024 are listed in the table below. Bodies under the aegis of the department will respond directly to the deputy.
|
Name of Consultants |
Purpose of Contract |
Value |
Duration |
|
Grainne Healy |
Facilitation of consultations to inform the development of a Successor to the National LGBTI+ Inclusion Strategy. |
€58,770 excl. vat |
7 months |
|
Mazars |
Review of the National LGBTI+ Inclusion Strategy 2019-2021. |
€66,450 excl vat |
10 months |
|
Catherine Lynch, CL Consulting |
To carry out an independent evaluation of the Traveller and Roma Education Community Development Worker Scheme. |
€33,700 excl. vat |
9 months |
|
Indecon |
Provision of expertise to support the Periodic Critical Review of the Adoption Authority of Ireland |
€60,855.00 |
24 weeks |
|
Deloitte Management Consultants |
Initial purpose was to assist with delivery of DCEDIY’s humanitarian response to the war in Ukraine, at rapid pace and scale, in a resource constrained environment. Deloitte now continues to assist the Ukraine division with continuous process improvements, consolidation, and streamlining of essential operations in addition to providing strategic advisory support. |
€3,600,000.00 |
2023/2024 |
|
Sile O'Donnell |
Consultancy services: People Strategy Sub Group |
€8,085.00 |
January to July 2024 |
|
Ernst and Young |
Community Sponsorship Review for IRPP |
€57,748.50 |
2 months (Oct-Nov 2023) |
|
Ipsos B&A |
Review and investigation of consolidation of two existing indicator sets (The Children and Young People's Indicator set, and The National Children's Wellbeing Indicators used in SONC) for children's wellbeing. Mixed-method, online survey and focus groups among relevant stakeholders. |
€29,380 |
5 months |
|
Deloitte Ireland LLP |
Provision of Consultancy Services to assist with the response to the International Protection accommodation crisis |
€7,200,000.00 |
2024/2025 |
|
Sector 3 Solutions |
Evaluation of Targeted Youth Employability Support Initiative 2021-2022 |
€47,295.75 |
5 months |
|
Maynooth University |
Development of Impact Measurement Tool for Targeted Youth Employability Support Initiative |
€33,928.54 |
7 months |
|
Deborah Erwin |
Independent Review of North South Education and Training Standards for Youth Work |
€20,000 |
3 months |
|
Hollywood Design Solutions |
Opportunities for Youth Strategy development - 2024 |
€354.24 |
1 month |
|
Javelin Design |
Opportunities for Youth Strategy Design and Printing - 2024 |
€15,660.36 |
3 months |
|
Centre for Effective Services |
Review of youth information provision in Ireland - 2022 to 2024 |
€53,700 |
13 months |
|
Ernst and Young |
Financial Advisory Services |
€136,366.41 |
9 months, with 2 x 6 month extensions |
|
Deloitte |
Tax advice |
€12,000 |
2024/2025 |
|
Bearing Point |
Learning Needs Analysis Report and Concept Note |
€32,256.75 |
2023 |
|
Harvest Resources Ltd |
Mentoring Programme Design Meeting |
€4,243.50 |
2024 |
|
Harvest Resources Ltd |
L&D Strategy for 2024 - 2025 - Phase 1 Diagnostics |
€18,338.50 |
2024 |
|
Deirdre Fullerton, Insights Health and Social Research |
Report Writing Services for Child Summit |
€5,700.00 |
Nov. 2023 - May 2024 |
|
Coyne BMA Enterprises Limited t/a Coyne Research |
Provision of a survey on awareness of children’s rights in Ireland (pre awareness campaign) |
€3,136.50 |
July - Oct. 2024 |
|
Coyne BMA Enterprises Limited t/a Coyne Research |
Provision of a survey on awareness of children’s rights in Ireland (post awareness campaign) |
€4,182.00 |
Nov. 2024 - Jan. 2025 |
|
University College Cork |
Review of Ireland's Legislative Compliance with UN Convention on the Rights of the Child |
€48,913.00 |
Sept. 2024 - Mar. 2025 |
|
Auxilion Ireland Ltd |
Business Process Optimisation |
€23,688.41 |
2024 |
|
Auxilion Ireland Ltd |
PMO Coaching & Training Services |
€9,225.00 |
2024 |
|
A Horan Associates Limited |
March SMT Meeting - Input and Facilitation |
€1,845.00 |
2024 |
|
Institute of Public Administration |
IPA Support Consultations on the establishment of PMO |
€738.00 |
2024 |
|
Peter Ryan t/a RA Consulting |
June SMT Meeting - Input and Facilitation |
€4,357.00 |
2024 |
|
Paul Spain Consulting Limited |
MB Away Days Facilitation – ODP Programme 5 –Organisation of the Future |
€12,915.00 |
2024 |
|
Deloitte Ireland LLP |
People Strategy Implementation |
€21,014.55 |
2024 |
|
Anthony Douglas Consultancy Ltd |
Consultancy Services in relation to the establishment of the Guardian ad litem National service, including the development of the operating model, workforce strategy, practice guidance, and transition plan for the service. |
€108,800 |
Sept. 2023 - Feb. 2025 |
|
Donall O'Shea |
Provision of Policy Development |
€38,000.00 |
2023/2024 |
|
Donall O'Shea |
Provision of Policy Development |
€37,500.00 |
2024/2025 |
|
The Wee Room Autism |
Facilitation of Autism Innovation Strategy Oversight and Advisory Group Meeting |
€3,500.00 |
N/A |
|
FCC Fire-Cert Ltd |
Fire safety consultation regarding Citywest Transit Hub; |
€5,461.20 |
3 weeks |
|
Bridgecastle Information Management Ltd t/a Castlebridge |
Data protection consultancy |
€100,000.00 |
20/06/23 - 20/06/24 |
|
Eqip |
Stenography service |
€2,444 |
18/12/23 - 19/12/2023 |
|
Eqip |
Stenography service |
€450 |
21/08/24 - 21/08/2024 |
|
Dr Angela Palmer |
Provision of specialist services on the Care Experiences Project. |
€65,188.32 |
2023 |
|
Isiltir Group - Michael & Jillian Van Turnout |
Jillian Van Turnout is the Chair of the Stakeholder Advisory Group (SAG) for the Care Experiences Programme. |
€2,500.00 |
2023 |
|
Dr Angela Palmer |
Provision of specialist services on the Care Experiences Project. |
€71,170.90 |
2024 |
|
Isiltir Group - Michael & Jillian Van Turnout |
Jillian Van Turnout is the Chair of the Stakeholder Advisory Group (SAG) for the Care Experiences Programme. |
€2,000.00 |
2024 |
|
Mazars |
Compliance Sampling & Coverage Review |
€36,900 (incl. VAT) |
2024 |
|
Drury Communications |
Early Learning and Childcare Strategy & Communications |
€62,070 (ex VAT) |
2023/2024 |
|
Drury Communications |
Nurturing Skills Communication Strategy |
€21,444 (incl VAT) |
2023/2025 |
|
IT Executive Focus |
ICT Consultancy Services to provide independent analysis and advice to support the determination of system requirements for all Childcare Programmes. |
€32,595 (incl VAT) |
2023 |
|
PFH Technology Group |
ICT Consultancy Services |
€40,681.75 (incl VAT) |
2024 |
|
Indecon international Consultants |
Research and Consultancy Services related to the design and planning for a national ELC Agency |
€285,450 (ex. VAT) |
2023 |
|
Indecon international Consultants |
Review of ELC / SAC schemes/programmes |
€73,000 (ex. VAT) |
2023 |
|
MOD Consultancy |
Board member of the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Governance Oversight Group, in capacity of call centre operations and business processes expert. |
€5,000 ex VAT |
Unspecified |
|
MOD Consultancy |
Contact centre expert for the tender evaluation panel, controls and vendor management. |
€50,000 ex VAT |
Unspecified |
|
MOD Consultancy |
An independent review of tender documentation prior to publication, contact centre management, and operations with regard to the case and payments management solutions. |
€25,000 ex.VAT |
Unspecified |
|
Mazars |
Data Protection Consultants |
€139,000 ex VAT |
2 years with option to extend for two periods of six months. |
|
Optimize Technology |
Project Management / IT Advice |
€139,000 ex. VAT |
12 months with option to extend for a further 2 x 12 month extension options |
|
Quality Matters Ltd. |
Trauma informed training |
€50,000 ex. VAT |
Unspecified, required for 6 months initially plus as further training needed. |
|
RSM Ireland Business Advisory Ltd |
Financial Governance Consultant |
€25,000 ex. VAT |
3 months plus 2 x 6 month extension options |
|
Ernst and Young |
Financial Governance |
€139,000 ex. VAT |
12 months with option for two twelve month extensions. |
|
RGH Consulting Ltd. |
Communications advice to the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth |
€2,000.00 |
2024 |
|
Infopulse Europe GMBH |
Business Process Optimisation process for the development of the gender pay gap portal |
€14,179.00 |
2024 |
|
Women's Aid |
Employer supports for Domestic Violence Leave |
€124,200.31 |
2023 - 2024 |
|
IPSOS B&A |
Strategy Consultancy |
€129,211.51 |
2023 - 2024 |
|
Centre for Effective Studies |
Study to evaluate the implementation of 3 equality strategies |
€37,150 |
2023 |
214. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to outline what steps that have been taken by Government to have the vacant post in CDNT filled; the steps that have been taken to improve staffing levels in the service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3838/25]
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.
215. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of staff in the Child Disability Networks Teams in County Laois; the percentage of posts filled in occupational therapy, physiotherapy, speech and language therapy and psychology and other disciplines, in tabular form. [3839/25]
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.
216. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to confirm when the review of the operation of the Irish Sign Language Act 2017 will commence, as it is due this year. [3847/25]
View answerThe Irish Sign Language Act 2017 gave legal recognition to Irish Sign Language as an indigenous language in its own right, with “Irish Sign Language” meaning the sign language used by the majority of the deaf community of the State.
Section 10 of the Act places an obligation on the Minister of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to report on its operation, 3 years from commencement and every 5 years thereafter.
The Act states that this report must include an assessment of:
• whether any amendments to the scope and contents of the Act are necessary or desirable,
• whether additional provisions need to be made in relation to supports for a child within the school system whose primary language is ISL and,
• the qualifications for the minimum level of ISL competency for persons who are teaching a child whose primary language is ISL.
The Act further requires that persons or organisations representative of the interests of the members of the deaf community are consulted on the matters to be considered in the report.
The National Disability Authority (NDA) was requested by the previous Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to prepare the first of these reports on his behalf, and it was published in 2021.
I am aware of the requirement for the next report, for completion 5 years post commencement, and can confirm that it will be commissioned and completed in keeping with the timeframes stipulated by the Act. This will inform a broader body of work focussed on improving access to interpretation services and ensuring ISL users can actively participate in all aspects of society.
217. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth in light of the fact that section 39 workers are now balloting for industrial action, she will mandate her officials to allow them to fully implement the WRC agreement of October 2023, to provide for the resolution of outstanding issues on pay; if it is her intention to fully restore the link between section 39 workers and the public sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3933/25]
View answerThe programme for government commits to working with the voluntary sector through industrial relations mechanisms and other processes to progress pay issues that affect the delivery of disability services and the long-term viability of organisations within the sector.
The agreement reached at the WRC in October 2023 provided for an 8% increase in pay for staff in Section 39 organisations. As a result of this agreement, 149 Section 39 organisations providing disability services qualified for additional funding from the HSE to meet the terms of the agreement. 19,000 workers in community and voluntary disability services are benefitting from these increases.
Substantive talks resumed at the WRC last June and continued into November, when they were adjourned in the context of the General Election, as the process had become deadlocked due to the complexity of funding and employment arrangements across this diverse sector.
It is worth noting that the Departments had offered a further 8.5% increase in funding for pay through this process. Added to the increases agreed in October 2023, this would have provided for a minimum increase of 16.5% in pay funding over a 3½ -year period, if agreement had been possible.
I realise that some unions are currently balloting members for industrial action, I would encourage them to focus on engagement through the available channels as a resolution can only be reached through dialogue.
