Written Answers Nos. 150-173
150. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason a person (details supplied) is waiting three years for an assessment of need; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21435/25]
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.
151. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the duration of the lease on an IPAS centre (details supplied); if she intends to renew this lease once lapsed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21309/25]
View answer152. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if her attention has been drawn to an IPAS centre (details supplied) which is not fire-safety compliant; the actions she will take to address this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21310/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 151 and 152 together.
Thank you for your questions, Deputy. A response will be provided directly to you in the coming days.
153. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if she will provide an update on the action that has been undertaken in furtherance of the stated commitment in the Programme for Government to introduce an ‘earn and learn’ apprenticeship model enabling childcare staff to gain qualifications and advance their careers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21337/25]
View answerMy Department is currently implementing Nurturing Skills, the workforce plan for the early learning and care and school age childcare sector. It aims to strengthen the ongoing process of professionalisation for those working in the sector and to raise the profile of careers in the sector.
Aligned to the Programme for Government commitment to introduce an ‘Earn and Learn’ apprenticeship model enabling staff in this sector to gain qualifications and advance their careers, Pillar 4 of Nurturing Skills includes an action to examine the development of a range of entry routes into the sector, including apprenticeships or other work-based learning, and access programmes in further education and higher education.
It is my intention to commission research on alternative entry routes in 2025, with a view to using that research to inform next steps.
While Nurturing Skills commits to examine alternative entry-routes, the development of an apprenticeship would rely on the formulation of proposals by employers and education institutions, and would require approval by the National Apprenticeship Office. The consideration and potential introduction of an apprenticeship model in the sector is therefore not solely a policy matter for my Department.
During the public consultation that took place in the development of Nurturing Skills, there were mixed views amongst stakeholders on the benefits of an apprenticeship model to support recruitment into the sector.
While an apprenticeship specifically to support existing early years educators to upskill to National Framework f Qualifications Level 7/8 degrees is an option, Nurturing Skills also commits to offer funded places on flexible education programmes to current early years educators to support upskilling and strengthen career development pathways through the new Nurturing Skills Learner Fund.
The Nurturing Skills Learner Fund commenced in 2024 on a pilot basis for 350 staff working in the early learning and care and school-age childcare sector to support them to upskill to level 7 and 8 degrees. The Nurturing Skills Learner Fund will continue in pilot phase in 2025 for up to 350 additional educators commencing studies in Autumn 2025.
154. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if an autism assessment and assessment of needs for a child (details supplied) will be provided following applications for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21341/25]
View answerAs this question refers to the service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
155. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if she will commit to providing multi-year development funding which was available pre-2008, for residential placements for adults with disabilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21354/25]
View answerThe Government approved the Disability Action Plan in July 2023 in order to address capacity deficits which had been identified in the Disability Capacity Review. From this, the Action Plan for Disability Services was developed, providing a multi-year framework for service expansion and strategic policy development with a view to maximising effectiveness and impact.
The Action Plan has informed budget deliberations and the prioritisation of areas for development in coming years. It is a living document which will be reviewed and updated in the light of priorities, policy considerations and the funding available under the current and subsequent Budgets.
€106.6m in additional funding has been provided to residential services in Budget 2025. This includes €78.68m to meet the incremental cost of 2024 new developments and €27.9m new funding in respect of 2025.
Unlike the position for capital expenditure (where multi-annual commitments are made within the National Development Plan), my Department is obliged to adhere to the Public Sector Financial Procedures, whereby Exchequer funding for current expenditure is allocated on an annual basis, following the annual budgetary process. As a result, it is not currently possible to enter into multi-annual funding agreements.
156. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when her Department will publish the new LGBTIQ+ inclusion strategy, as this received Government approval in 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21357/25]
View answerI am pleased to inform the Deputy that since approval of the National LGBTIQ+ Inclusion Strategy II 2024-2028 by the previous Government in October 2024, my officials have been working to finalise the first two-year Action Plan (2025-2026), to accompany the new Strategy. It is anticipated that the Strategy and Action Plan will be published shortly.
As outlined in the 2025 Programme for Government, the Government is committed to implementing the National LGBTIQ+ Inclusion Strategy II 2024 -2028. The Strategy reflects the determination and commitment of Government Departments and State Agencies to work together to improve the lives of LGBTIQ+ people.
157. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for an update on proposals for legislation to ban conversion practices; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21358/25]
View answerThe Programme for Government, ‘Securing Ireland’s Future’, contains a commitment to advance legislation to ban conversion practices.
Given the complex and sensitive nature of the proposed legislation, my Department is carefully considering the key policy principles that will underpin the legislation to ensure that individuals are protected from harmful conversion practices while the necessary and appropriate services for those with concerns in areas of sexual orientation and gender identity are not affected.
Work on drafting the General Scheme is ongoing and officials continue to engage with the Office of the Attorney General on the matter.
158. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there are plans in place to introduce Traveller-specific UBU funded youth projects in Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21374/25]
View answerThe UBU Your Place Your Space scheme (UBU) is DCEDIY's largest youth funding scheme, targeting marginalised and disadvantaged young people, including young Travellers, aged between 10-24. The scheme currently provides funding to 250 targeted youth services across 16 Education and Training Boards (ETBs), with the ETBs co-ordinating delivery of funding to the services in their local area.
There are over 60 UBU services specifically targeting young Travellers across the country, 15 of these services are Traveller-specific youth projects. While there are no Traveller-specific UBU services in Cork, there are 6 UBU projects where Traveller young people have been identified as the target group for the service. A table of these services and their UBU funding allocation is detailed below.
Budget 2025 secured an allocation of €1.2m for 10 new UBU targeted youth services to be opened. The establishment of these new UBU services will provide targeted, youth worker-led youth services to up to 1,000 disadvantaged young people.
Each ETB will be invited to make a submission for a new UBU service in their functional area utilising available demographic data. The 10 submissions that demonstrate the greatest need will be selected to establish a new UBU service.
In addition, my Department is also conducting a comprehensive mapping exercise of the youth services sector, aiming to capture all youth services, both youth worker-led and volunteer-led. The first stage, which involved mapping the 250 projects funded through the UBU scheme, has been completed.
This mapping exercise leverages CSO population data and the Pobal deprivation index to help identify gaps in youth service provision and enable the Department and stakeholders to develop proposals to expand youth service provision where necessary. The mapping exercise will also provide information to young people, their guardians, and teachers on youth services which are available in their communities.
As the Deputy is aware, following the formation of the new Government on the 23 January 2025, An Taoiseach Micheál Martin appointed Deputy Helen McEntee as Minister for Education and Youth, while I was appointed Minister for Children, Disability and Equality. This restructuring requires a transfer of functions between our Departments, with the responsibility for Youth transferring from the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to the Department of Education. As a result of this change, the selection process for the new UBU services will be completed under the Department of Education once the Youth function transfers which is due to take place on 1 May 2025.
UBU Services in Cork specifically targeting young Travellers 2025
|
Name |
2025 UBU Allocation |
|
Foroige Bishopstown YDP |
€186,903 |
|
Foroige Charleville Youth Project |
€149,595 |
|
Foroige Togher |
€142,528 |
|
Foroige - Knocknaheeny |
€625,846 |
|
CDYS Fermoy |
€107,633 |
|
YMCA Carberry |
€128,598 |
|
Total |
€1,341,103 |
159. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the application process will open, via TUSLA, for the provision of the previously announced five new family resource centres; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21387/25]
View answerI am pleased to inform the Deputy that in the coming days Tusla, the Child and Family Agency will announce the opening of the application process for groups/organisations that wish to join the Family Resource Centre Programme. Membership of the Programme will increase from 121 members to 126 members in 2025, in line with a Government commitment to expand the Programme. I very much welcome this development.
The application process will be managed by Tusla, and I extend my best wishes to all the groups/organisations that express an interest in becoming members of the Family Resource Centre Programme.
160. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of respite hours provided to disabled adults within Tipperary in 2024 and to-date in 2025, in tabular form. [21440/25]
View answerAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly.
161. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of WTE psychiatrists based in north Tipperary children's disability network team in 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form. [21441/25]
View answerAs this question refers to the service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
162. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of WTE behaviour therapists and early intervention specialists employed in North Kildare Children's Disability Network Teams in the years of 2023, 2024 and to-date in 2025, in tabular form. [21498/25]
View answerAs this question refers to the service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
163. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children on disability service waiting lists for children's disability networks teams, by CHO/CDNT at the end of quarter 1 of each year 2019, 2024, and 2025, in tabular form; the average length of wait; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21546/25]
View answerAs this question refers to the service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
164. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of people on disability service waiting lists for each service type, excluding children's disability network teams, at the end of quarter 1 of each year 2019, 2024, and 2025 in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21547/25]
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.
165. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children on waiting lists for an assessment of need at the end of quarter 1 of each year 2019, 2024, and 2025 in tabular form; the number overdue for completion; the number of estimated PTAs waiting for a complete AON, in tabular form as reported in the Roadmap for Service Improvement 2023-2026: Disability Services for Children and Young People. [21548/25]
View answerAs this question refers to the service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
166. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children on disability service waiting lists for children's disability networks teams, by CHO/CDNT at the end of March each year 2019, 2024, and 2025, in tabular form; the average length of wait; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21549/25]
View answerAs this question refers to the service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
167. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children on waiting lists for an assessment of need at the end of March each year 2019, 2024, and 2025 in tabular form; the number overdue for completion; the number of estimated PTAs waiting for a complete AON, in tabular form as reported in the Roadmap for Service Improvement 2023-2026: Disability Services for Children and Young People. [21551/25]
View answerAs this question refers to the service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
168. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the plans to ensure that everyone requiring an assessment of needs receives one within an adequate timeframe; the timeframe in which such will be delivered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21589/25]
View answerAs this question refers to the service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
169. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children currently awaiting respite with Enable Ireland in Kilkenny and Carlow at present. [21609/25]
View answerAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly.
170. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the average waiting time for children awaiting respite with Enable Ireland in Kilkenny and Carlow at present. [21611/25]
View answerAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly.
171. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if plans are in place to reduce the waiting time families are experiencing for respite services with Enable Ireland in Kilkenny and Carlow at present. [21612/25]
View answerAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly.
172. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth her views on the role of institutions run by Protestant denominations run institutions here; and her plans to examine legacy issues and issues of redress relating to same. [21624/25]
View answerThe Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes made significant findings in relation to the failings of the State and religious organisations who ran Mother and Baby and County Home Institutions. The Government believes that all relevant parties have a collective responsibility to respond to Ireland's legacy in relation to these institutions and this includes bodies of Catholic and Protestant denomination. The State has accepted its own responsibility by apologising to survivors of these institutions and committing to a suite of measures to respond to their priority needs and concerns. These measures are set out in the Action Plan for Survivors, a cornerstone of which is the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme.
This Payment Scheme provides payments and health benefits to people who spent time in any of the Mother and Baby or County Home Institutions that were identified by the Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation as having a main function of providing sheltered and supervised ante and post-natal facilities to single mothers and their children. The institutions covered by the Payment Scheme are set out in Schedule 1 to the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Act 2023 and include institutions such as Bethany and Denny House that were operated by Protestant organisations.
Chapter 2 of the Social History section of the Commission of Investigation report - www.gov.ie/en/publication/89e43-chapter-2-institutions/ - details the different types of institutions that existed and whether they could be considered Mother and Baby Institutions. The underlying assessment was conducted irrespective of the denomination of the operating institution.
If it were to come to light that any other institution, in which the State had a regulatory or inspection function, fulfilled a similar function with regard to single women and their children as those included in the Payment Scheme, section 49 of the Act provides that the Minister, with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, may insert an additional institution into the Schedule.
Government's Action Plan for Survivors, which responds to the legacy of Mother and Baby Institutions and the priority needs of survivors, continues to be advanced on a non-denominational basis. Of its seven major commitments, six are now delivered and in place, while the seventh is well underway. Key actions include access to birth information, the services of the Special Advocate and counselling support, all already in place, as well as the ongoing development of a National Centre for Research and Remembrance.
173. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the service pathway for children referred to speech and language therapy in in HSE Dublin north west: the waiting time for children in this area to access speech and language therapy; if there is prioritization system for children on the waiting list; if children who are non-verbal given prioritisation; the pathway for young children under five years; the evidence for providing services in blocks of therapy, regardless of severity of communication issues; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21672/25]
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.
