Written Answers Nos. 350-370
350. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to endorse, support and roll out the school leavers programme initiated by South Kerry Development Partnership following the success of Kerry Social Farming, across County Kerry and throughout the country (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14848/25]
View answerMy department is funding social farming initiatives across the country.
South Kerry Development Partnership currently has a contract with my Department for a Social Farming Model project to increase participant and host farmer engagement so that the social farming opportunity is available to more people in Kerry and to offer choice to people with disabilities to engage with farm families. Funding has been provided annually and the Partnership is currently in the third of possible four extensions of up to 12 months under the existing contract.
The project outlined in the details supplied fall outside the remit of my Department.
351. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will clarify whether or not his Department have acquired, vis-a-vis a leasehold contract or direct purchase, a building in Shannon, County Clare to establish a new accommodation centre for international protection applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14718/25]
View answerThank you for your question, Deputy. A response will be provided directly to you in the coming days.
352. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if she will address concerns that the proposal to allow the Carna Bay Hotel in Carna, in the Connemara Gaeltacht, to be used as an international protection accommodation centre will have a serious impact on the ability of the area to host those who want to educate themselves about the Irish language; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14875/25]
View answer353. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to clarify the status of the Carna Bay Hotel in Carna, in the Connemara Gaeltacht, with respect to its use as an international protection accommodation centre; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14877/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 352 and 353 together.
Thank you for your question,Deputy. A response will be provided directly to you in the coming days.
354. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the role her Department takes on the provision of early years education and care in rural communities; to outline their locations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14933/25]
View answerCore Funding is a grant to providers designed to support quality, sustainability, and enhanced public management, with associated conditions in relation to fee control and cost transparency, incorporating funding for administration and to support the employment of graduate staff.
The introduction of Core Funding in 2022 brought a significant increase in investment for the sector, with €259 million of funding paid directly to services in year 1 of the scheme, of which €210.8 million was entirely new funding. This funding increased by 11% in year 2 (to €287 million). The scheme increased by a further 15% in year 3 (to €331 million).
Currently 93% or more than 4,400, providers having signed up for Core Funding in year 3.
A number of targeted supports for small and sessional services in Year 2 of Core Funding were introduced in order to improve sustainability of small-medium services, and these supports were enhanced in September 2024 for Year 3. These measures currently include a flat rate top up of €5,000 (increased from €4,075 in Year 2) for sessional-only services, and a minimum base rate allocation of €14,000 (increased from €8,150 in Year 2). There is also a maximum base rate allocation of €500,000 in place for the current programme year.
Partner Services can choose how they spend their Core Funding Grant, as long as they align with the approved areas of expenditure in the Core Funding Partner Service Funding Agreement (the Core Funding Contract).
There are also wider financial supports available from my Department where a service is experiencing financial difficulty or has concerns about their viability, which can be accessed while remaining within Core Funding.
This support can take the form of assisting services with interpreting analysis of staff ratios and cash flow, financial support for services (subject to an assessment of need), as well as more specialised advice and support appropriate to individual circumstances. There is a specific strand of this financial support for eligible community services in very rural and isolated areas, where they can be affected by demographic fluctuations due to the low population.
These supports can be accessed by any Core Funding Partner Service by contacting their local County/City Childcare Committee.
The Early Years Care and Education (ECCE) programme requires providers to have a minimum of 8 children registered on the programme to receive funding from my Department under the programme.
To support rural services unable to meet this minimum number requirement, a service may apply for an exemption to the minimum numbers rule based on the limited availability of ECCE providers in an area.
Each year, Pobal compiles data from Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) providers as part of the Early Years Sector Profile. This data is sourced from both the Annual Early Years Sector Profile Survey (AEYSP) and the Early Years Platform (EYP). The most recent published data on Service Provider location for the 2023/2024 programme year indicates that in total 1,133 services, 25% of all services, were located in rural areas.
The table below provides figures for the total number of services in each Local Authority area, the number and proportion of these services that are located in rural areas.
As can be seen from the table below the local authorities with the highest proportion of services in rural areas for the 2023/2024 programme year were Mayo (47%), Roscommon (47%) and Kerry (45%), while the local authorities with the lowest proportion of services in rural areas were Dublin – Dublin City (0%), Dublin – Dún Laoghaire – Rathdown (1%) and Dublin – South Dublin (1%).
|
Local Authority |
Total Number of Services |
Number of Services in Rural areas |
Services in Rural Areas as % of all Services |
|
Carlow |
49 |
8 |
16% |
|
Cavan |
78 |
27 |
35% |
|
Clare |
143 |
60 |
42% |
|
Cork City |
168 |
3 |
2% |
|
Cork County |
358 |
133 |
37% |
|
Donegal |
166 |
39 |
23% |
|
Dublin - Dublin City |
427 |
0 |
0% |
|
Dublin - Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown |
185 |
2 |
1% |
|
Dublin - Fingal |
297 |
23 |
8% |
|
Dublin - South Dublin |
226 |
2 |
1% |
|
Galway |
309 |
131 |
42% |
|
Kerry |
149 |
67 |
45% |
|
Kildare |
184 |
39 |
21% |
|
Kilkenny |
96 |
29 |
30% |
|
Laois |
92 |
28 |
30% |
|
Leitrim |
39 |
14 |
39% |
|
Limerick |
206 |
74 |
36% |
|
Longford |
39 |
17 |
44% |
|
Louth |
107 |
16 |
15% |
|
Mayo |
133 |
63 |
47% |
|
Meath |
194 |
57 |
29% |
|
Monaghan |
65 |
17 |
26% |
|
Offaly |
71 |
24 |
34% |
|
Roscommon |
62 |
29 |
47% |
|
Sligo |
83 |
27 |
33% |
|
Tipperary |
191 |
68 |
36% |
|
Waterford |
98 |
26 |
27% |
|
Westmeath |
82 |
18 |
22% |
|
Wexford |
151 |
64 |
42% |
|
Wicklow |
166 |
28 |
17% |
|
Total |
4,614 |
1,133 |
25% |
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 early learning and childcare sector where required.
A forward planning model is in development which will be central to my Department's plans to achieve the policy goals set out in the Programme for Government to build an affordable, high-quality, accessible early childhood education and care system, with State-led facilities adding capacity.
355. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his officials and or his predecessor received correspondence (details supplied); and if a response issued. [14639/25]
View answerThe correspondence history to which you referred to was reviewed by officials in my Department on foot of your question this week.
This correspondence was a notification from Kildare County Council to the Oireachtas email address of the former Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.
The notification was in relation to planning matters at a site being used to provide IPAS accommodation. Planning matters at a contracted IPAS centre are a matter between the relevant Local Authority and the provider.
The notification was acknowledged to the sender, and the correspondence case was subsequently closed.
I trust the above is helpful to the Deputy.
356. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of actual and attempted cyberattacks on her Department during each of the years 2022, 2023 and 2024, the countries of origin of those attacks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14685/25]
View answer359. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total sum spent on cybersecurity measures within her Department during each of the years 2022, 2023 and 2024. [14667/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 356 and 359 together.
ICT services are provided to the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) by the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO). The provision of ICT security is part of that service.
DCEDIY ICT Staff engage closely with the OGCIO on the issue of cyber security, who in turn engage with the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) to ensure best practice is followed as it relates to all aspects of cyber security.For operational and security reasons, the NCSC has advised not to disclose details of systems, funding and processes which could in any way compromise those efforts, in particular, information which might assist criminals to identify potential vulnerabilities in departmental cyber security arrangements. Therefore, it is not considered appropriate to disclose any of the arrangements in place in relation to cyber security measures and services, or their cost, or to comment further on operational security matters.
357. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children in Dublin 1, 3, 7 and 9 who are on a waiting list for assessment of needs for 2023, 2024 and 2025; the average number of years they have been waiting, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14735/25]
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.
358. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth whether any direction, guidance or advice has been given to any Tusla staff or members of the national special care referrals committee in relation to reducing the number of applications for special care. [14711/25]
View answerSpecial care units are secure, residential facilities for children in care aged between 11 and 17 years. They are detained under a High Court care order for a short-term period of stabilisation when their behaviour poses a real and substantial risk of harm to their life, health, safety, development or welfare. In line with Article 37 of the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child, such detention, which deprives a child of their liberty, is used only as a measure of last resort.
Tusla, The Child and Family Agency has statutory responsibility for the operation of special care and the provision of special care beds. Every effort is being made by Tusla to support the provision of appropriate care, including special care where required, to vulnerable children.
Recruitment and Retention of staff in Special Care is a significant difficulty for Tusla. This has led to a reduction in operational capacity which has resulted in delays for young people being admitted to Special Care.
Across 2024 and into 2025, Tusla has continued to focus on addressing the well documented and complex issues impacting the capacity challenges in Special Care. All appropriate staff, led by the CEO and Executive Management Team(EMT), progressed key actions to increase special care capacity, reduce the delays for young people waiting admission to Special Care who are subject to a High Court Order, and to support the timely discharge of young people who no longer require placement in Special Care.
Actions taken by Tusla to date have included:
• Targeted and focussed campaigns to increase the number of staff working in Special Care
• Progression of new grades and remuneration specific to Special Care
• Targeted retention initiatives for special care staff
• Improvements to staff safety and wellbeing resulting in significant reductions metrics relating to Violence, Harassment and Aggression (VHA).
• Continued delivery of the Tusla Alternative Care strategies to increase placement capacity across the continuum of care (Foster Care, Residential Care and Step-down placements)
• Review of existing use of residential care centres to determine if they can be repurposed to support onward placement from Special Care.
Tusla have confirmed that these actions have not included any guidance to Tusla staff or members of the national special care referrals committee to reduce the number of referrals made to the national Special Care referrals committee.
Following intensive work by Government, Tusla has been given sanction to advertise a new grade and pay scale for Special Care, to sit alongside existing grades.
This new Tusla Special Care Worker grade offers an improved salary scale, offering 19.4% higher pay at top-of-scale compared to the Tusla Social Care Worker grade. An additional €1 million has been made available in Budget 2025 to support Tusla to address staffing issues in special care.
Officials from my Department continue to work closely with Tusla to address the issues in the provision of Special Care places.
360. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to urgently examine and proposal in regard to a pilot summer programme in respect of a special school in County Kerry (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14792/25]
View answerThis is a matter for my cabinet colleague, the Minister for Education.
361. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if funding will be approved for residential care at a facility in Waterford for a person (details supplied); the date when the application for funding was first submitted; and the timeline for a decision. [14840/25]
View answerAs this question relates to a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the deputy directly as soon as possible.
362. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 1424 of 19 March 2025, and the letter provided, if she will direct the HSE to actually provide the answer to the question asked in respect of each individual child disability network for the specific years identified and request that information from each of the individual specified child disability networks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14892/25]
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.
363. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when she expects the planned review of core funding to take place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14899/25]
View answerCore Funding, which was introduced in 2022, operates alongside all other early learning and childcare programmes and constitutes additional income to services on top of these programmes, and parental fees.
The scheme is designed to meet the combined objectives of:
• Improved affordability for parents through the introduction of fee management and
• contractual requirements on providers to offer the National Childcare Scheme and/or the ECCE programme
• Improved quality through better pay and conditions for the workforce by supporting agreement on an Employment Regulation Order through the Joint Labour Committee;
• Supporting the employment of graduate staff; and
• Improved sustainability and stability for services.
Since the Core Funding was introduced, the effectiveness of the scheme in meeting these objectives has been subject to ongoing review and the scheme itself has evolved year on year.
The introduction of Core Funding in 2022 brought a significant increase in investment for the sector, with €259 million of funding paid directly to services in year 1 of the scheme, of which €210.8 million was entirely new funding to the sector.
Core funding increased by 11% to reach €287 million for the second year of the scheme (September 2023 to August 2024). The allocation of this additional funding in year 2 of the scheme was informed by the emerging data from Year 1 as well as data from an independent financial review of sessional services and feedback from stakeholders. In year 2, new targeted supports - aimed at improving the sustainability of smaller and sessional services – were introduced. These include a flat rate allocation of €4,075 for all sessional-only services, and a minimum base rate allocation of €8,150, which will benefit small, part time and school-age services.
Core Funding increased by another 15% to €331 million for the current and third year of the scheme (September 2024 to August 2025). Again, the allocation of this additional funding in year 3 of the scheme was informed by the emerging data from previous years as well as feedback from stakeholders. Targeted supports for small and sessional services in Year 2 of Core Funding were enhanced in Year 3. Specifically, the flat rate allocation was set at €5,000 (increased from €4,075 in Year 2) for sessional-only services, and the minimum base rate allocation was set at €14,000 (increased from €8,150 in Year 2). Moreover, while the fee freeze continued in Year 3 for most services, and in response to concerns raised by some providers, there was also changes to fee management in Year 3, including:
• A fee increase process for certain providers
• A fee cap
Key achievements of the scheme to date include:
• High participation rates among services, with 93% of providers participating in year 3 of the scheme and a higher number of providers in absolute terms when compared to previous years;
• A fee freeze in the majority of services;
• A 29% increase in the number of services offering the NCS since 2022;
• Supported the agreement of Employment Regulation Orders in 2022 (that resulted in improved pay for more than 70% of those working in the sector) and again in 2024 (that resulted in improved pay for more than 50% of those working in the sector)
• Extended support for graduate-led provision outside the ECCE programme, with almost 3,000 services now receiving Graduate Premiums;
• Improved stability of funding for services contributing to the lowest number of service closures in the last 6 years; and
• A significant expansion of capacity, with analysis showing the increased capacity is the type of capacity that is in highest demand relative to supply
Budget 2025 makes additional funding available for year 4 of Core Funding. These increases will bring the full year allocation for year 4 of Core Funding (September 2025-August 2026) to €350.64 million. A further €45 million for the full 2025/2026 programme year has been ring-fenced specifically to support employers to meet the costs of further increases to the minimum rates of pay in the sector. Combined, and contingent on the third successive Employment Regulations Orders, the Core Funding allocation will exceed €390 million in year 4. Again, the allocation of this additional funding in year 4 of the scheme is being informed by the emerging data from previous years as well as feedback from stakeholders.
The new Programme for Government, which was published on 15 January 2025, commits to review and increase Core Funding, ensure that providers’ fees are open, transparent and equitable and readily available to parents, and to maintaining the fee cap.
The scope of that review will be considered in the context of broader and related commitments in the Programme for Government to improve affordability, access, availability and quality.
364. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to examine the case for services at a facility (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14904/25]
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.
365. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the current uptake on the ECCE scheme; the number of childcare providers involved in the scheme; to provide a breakdown of these by location; what plans she has to reform or amend the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14940/25]
View answerThe Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme provides free universal pre-school to children in the eligible age range. The programme is provided for three hours per day, five days per week over 38 weeks per year. The programme year runs from the end of August to the following June in line with the primary school year.
The following table outlines: the uptake for the ECCE programme for the 2024-25 year; the number of childcare providers who have signed a funding agreement with my Department and a breakdown by location.
This information provided by Pobal, the administrator of the ECCE programme on behalf of my Department, is taken from the Early Years Hive system as at 25 March 2025. These figures are subject to change where for example a provider may close or a new provider may join the programme. Equally a child may leave the programme or a new child may join, as unlike school, attendance at ECCE is voluntary.
|
County |
Total Service Providers |
Total unique children |
|
Carlow |
42 |
1,216 |
|
Cavan |
63 |
2,042 |
|
Clare |
118 |
2,621 |
|
Cork |
402 |
12,307 |
|
Donegal |
136 |
3,766 |
|
Dublin |
961 |
26,096 |
|
Galway |
245 |
5,988 |
|
Kerry |
118 |
3,283 |
|
Kildare |
172 |
6,082 |
|
Kilkenny |
85 |
2,204 |
|
Laois |
75 |
2,223 |
|
Leitrim |
30 |
781 |
|
Limerick |
157 |
4,302 |
|
Longford |
33 |
931 |
|
Louth |
100 |
3,048 |
|
Mayo |
115 |
3,079 |
|
Meath |
171 |
5,285 |
|
Monaghan |
59 |
1,632 |
|
Offaly |
60 |
1,752 |
|
Roscommon |
51 |
1,396 |
|
Sligo |
63 |
1,603 |
|
Tipperary |
157 |
3,677 |
|
Waterford |
87 |
2,587 |
|
Westmeath |
68 |
2,353 |
|
Wexford |
122 |
3,441 |
|
Wicklow |
144 |
3,582 |
An independent review was completed last year with the final report published in October. The objective of the review was to establish how the Programme has performed to date and identify any changes to the Programme.
Overall, the review indicated the remarkable success of the ECCE Programme which has transformed early learning experiences and development opportunities for young children in this country.
The key parameters of the Programme were examined during this review and a number of potential enhancements were identified. Officials in my Department are currently considering these findings and scoping potential enhancements. It is important to consider the impact of any changes to ECCE in the context of its potential opportunities impacts and risks for all stakeholders.
366. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what preparatory work is underway within her Department to contribute to the planned review of the National Development Plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14971/25]
View answerMy Department is currently collating the information requested and a reply will issue directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
367. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1490 of 19 March 2025, his views on a matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14919/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
368. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Health if she will consider the creation of State-run residential addiction treatment centres; if the money seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau could be used to fund such treatment centres; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14952/25]
View answerUnder the Health Act 2024, as amended, the HSE is responsible for the provision of health and personal social services including residential treatment services. The HSE either provides these services directly or contracts service providers to provide them on its behalf.
Treatment services for substance use are structured within a 4 Tier Model. Many cases requiring intervention, or treatment, are managed within Tier 2 or Tier 3 services within the community. Treatment within Tier 4 will not be necessary or appropriate for all cases. Service users are offered the least intensive intervention appropriate to their need when they present for treatment initially, and where this fails, more intensive interventions are then offered.
According to 2023 National Drug Treatment Reporting System, the total number of cases treated for problem drug use was 13,104. This included 1,795 cases that received inpatient (overnight) treatment. Separately, there were 8,163 cases treated for alcohol as the main problem. Of these, 2,743 received inpatient (overnight) treatment. In total, there were over 4,500 cases of inpatient treatment for drugs or alcohol in 2023.
In 2023, an additional €1.8 million was made available for Tier 4 residential addiction treatment services for the purchase of additional treatment episodes across the country. This will benefit individuals requiring residential treatment.
The number of residential beds available for drug treatment services in 2023 was 1,036. The demand for the creation of additional residential treatment services can be considered under the HSE capital plan.
The Department of Justice has advised that the creation of the Community Safety Innovation Fund was announced in 2021 to reinvest proceeds of crime funds returned to the exchequer by the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) back into communities, to fund innovative local projects aimed at building stronger, safer communities. The Fund has since been renamed the Community Safety Fund (CSF). The fund has a value of €4 million for 2025.
Investing this money back into the community is a tangible way of showing that there can be a direct link between the activities of law enforcement and building stronger, safer communities. The CSF encourages and supports the development of ways in which to improve community safety from those people who best understand the needs in their locality.
I am further advised that the themes of last year’s successful applicants included projects aimed at addressing anti-social behaviour, domestic violence, drug-related intimidation, safety on public transport, social exclusion, youth programmes, prison post-release support and more.
I am committed to a health-led response to drug addiction. I am currently developing a new national drugs strategy, informed by the recommendations of the Citizens Assembly on Drug Use. The new strategy will include measures to enhance access to, and the delivery, of drug services in the community, including residential treatment services.
369. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the measures being put in place to address the shortage of public health nurses in Dublin mid-west. [14654/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
370. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health if there are any plans to recognise Foróige employment as part of CORU application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14661/25]
View answerIf the Deputy is enquiring in the context of incremental credit for a applicant taking up a new post, the general principal regarding incremental credit is that new appointees to any grade start at the minimum point of the scale (Department of Health Circular 2/2011). Incremental credit is normally granted on appointment, in respect of previous experience in the Civil Service, local authorities, health service and other public service bodies and statutory agencies. I do note however, that Foróige do not fall into this bracket.
There are separate special arrangements for incremental credit for those taking up a post in any of the following grades: Nurses, Craftworkers, NCHDs, Therapy grades, Dentists, Dental Nurses, Social Care Workers (ID services), Pharmacists Assistant, and Technical Services Officers.
If the grade the applicant is taking up with CORU falls to any of those grades indicated above as having 'special arrangements', the applicant may wish to review the incremental arrangements specific to the grade in question, which can be found online (from page 102) at this link: https://assets.hse.ie/media/documents/ncr/20240930_HSE_Guidelines_on_Terms_and_Conditions_of_Employment.pdf
