Written Answers Nos. 415-435
419. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide infrastructure and support for early year settings operating through Irish outside Gaeltacht regions (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28703/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraWith regards to overall funding for early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC) services, my Department allocated more than €1 billion to the sector in 2024 – a clear demonstration from Government of the value of the sector. Over the past eight budgets the unprecedented investment in the sector speaks to the commitment of Government in prioritising the availability of high-quality early learning and childcare services.
Funding provided by my Department for ELC and SAC services is the same for both Irish-medium and English-medium services, whether inside or outside Gaeltacht areas. My colleague the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media provides additional supports for Irish-medium ELC services in the Gaeltacht through her Department and its agencies. In addition, in June of this year, the Minister of State for the Gaeltacht announced five-year funding to provide a comprehensive support and development service to naíonraí outside of the Gaeltacht, to be administered by Gaeloideachas.
My Department is working closely with the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media and the Department of Education to implement a comprehensive set of actions that were agreed as part of the 5 Year Action Plan for the Irish Language 2018-2022. These actions are designed to affirm the importance that ELC and SAC settings have in encouraging the development and revitalisation of the Irish language. The aim of these actions is to build on the existing measures, supports and partnerships in place in the area of Irish-medium early learning and childcare, and to further improve these supports and services.
Inter-Departmental coordination in relation to supports for Irish-medium provision of ELC and SAC, both inside and outside the Gaeltacht, takes place through the National Early Years Oversight Group (established as part of the 5-Year Irish Language Action Plan), which is chaired and coordinated by officials in my Department.
In line with the commitments in the 5-Year Action Plan, the development of a Comprehensive Plan to further the development of Irish language provision in the ELC and SAC sector has commenced. A survey of Irish-medium ELC/SAC settings including childminders was conducted in 2023 to obtain a baseline of the current level of Irish-medium provision in the sector. The survey report, published in October 2023, will complement other research and consultation processes, currently on-going, as well as the work of an Advisory Group which was established to support the drafting of the Comprehensive Plan. It is intended that the Plan will be published later in 2024.
As well as increased investment, funding reform in the sector has seen the introduction of Together for Better, the new funding model for early learning and childcare, bringing together the ECCE programme, including the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM), the National Childcare Scheme and Core Funding, with a fourth programme, Equal Start, recently launched. My Department also runs capital grant schemes, including the Building Blocks Capacity Expansion Grant scheme run earlier this year.
420. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to make strategic investments in early years education (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28705/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI acknowledge that many early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC) services report staffing challenges in relation to recruitment and retention. In general, staffing pressures in the sector are caused not by insufficient supply of qualified personnel, but by high levels of staff turnover. Recruitment challenges may be compounded in Irish-medium settings given the need for staff to have Irish language skills as well as sector qualification requirements.
In line with commitments in First 5, in December 2021, I launched Nurturing Skills: The Workforce Plan for ELC and SAC, 2022-2028. Nurturing Skills aims to strengthen the ongoing process of professionalisation for those working in ELC and SAC and to raise the profile of careers in all parts of the sector. It includes a career framework and commitments to support early years educators to upskill and develop their careers. It also includes commitments to strengthen continuing professional development for staff working in the sector.
I also recently established a sub-group of the Early Learning and Childcare Stakeholder Forum to discuss issues of recruitment and retention with stakeholders in the sector. This group has met on three occasions since December last year and is scheduled to meet again this month.
Furthermore, my Department is working closely with the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media and the Department of Education to implement a comprehensive set of actions that were agreed as part of the 5 Year Action Plan for the Irish Language 2018-2022. These actions are designed to affirm the importance that ELC and SAC settings have in encouraging the development and revitalisation of the Irish language. The aim of these actions is to build on the existing measures, supports and partnerships in place in the area of Irish-medium early learning and childcare, and to further improve these supports and services.
Inter-Departmental coordination in relation to supports for Irish-medium provision of ELC and SAC, both inside and outside the Gaeltacht, takes place through the National Early Years Oversight Group (established as part of the 5-Year Irish Language Action Plan), which is chaired and coordinated by officials in my Department.
In line with the commitments in the 5-Year Action Plan, the development of a Comprehensive Plan to further the development of Irish language provision in the ELC and SAC sector has commenced. A survey of Irish-medium ELC and SAC settings including childminders was conducted in 2023 to obtain a baseline of the current level of Irish-medium provision in the sector. The survey report, published in October 2023, will complement other research and consultation processes, currently on-going, as well as the work of an Advisory Group which was established to support the drafting of the Comprehensive Plan. It is intended that the Plan will be published later in 2024.
421. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to introduce measures to support naíonraí in hiring staff (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28706/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra422. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to the eviction and transfer of Ukrainian parents and children from an accommodation centre (details supplied) in County Cork; if parents and children could be included in the exemption for those over 65 years and those with medical conditions; and if support will be provided to residents to find alternative private accommodation locally. [28736/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe centre to which the Deputy refers is providing accommodation to International Protection (IP) applicants. There are no Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) currently being accommodated in this location.
The International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) does not comment on the particulars of individual transfers.
My Department is currently providing accommodation to over 31,000 International Protection applicants, of whom 5,700 have been granted permission to remain in Ireland and, as such, are no longer in the international protection (IP) process. At the same time, there is currently an ongoing shortfall of accommodation for newly arrived people applying for international protection.
Where a person progresses through the application and review process, and receives a grant of status or permission to remain in Ireland, their status in terms of access to housing becomes the same as other people living in Ireland and Irish citizens. In these circumstances, however, my Department and the IPAS team is aware of the challenges in housing availability across the population and has continued to provide accommodation until residents are in a position to source accommodation independently.
All those with international protection/Permission to Remain are written to once status has been granted and are advised that given their progress through the IP process, they will need to seek alternative accommodation. They are supported to register with a Local Authority and, if required, avail of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) to secure alternative accommodation.
The International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) works with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to support people in securing alternative accommodation once they receive Permission to Remain, given the change to their legal status. A specific Transition team works in collaboration with Depaul Ireland, the Peter McVerry Trust, and Local Authorities to support residents with status to move on from IPAS accommodation.
Where a person cannot secure independent accommodation by the defined date, IPAS will provide temporary, emergency accommodation. Acknowledging the ongoing increases in people arriving into Ireland seeking international protection, and the shortfall in accommodation for new arrivals, my Department will continue to work to support all those using our services.
From 14 March 2024, anyone fleeing the war in Ukraine looking for State-provided accommodation in Ireland is accommodated for a maximum of 90 days in Designated Accommodation Centres (DAC). The aim of the Accommodation Policy is that all Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) will move on from the DACs by day 90 of their arrival in a DAC and be responsible for their own accommodation.
There is a significant emphasis in each DAC between the Local Authorities and the Irish Red Cross to engage with BOTPs around pledge or Offer a Home opportunities. Families are prioritised in this regard. There is also a strong focus from the Local Authorities and the International Organisation for Migration in enabling BOTPs to source private accommodation arrangements and support towards finding employment.
The 90 day policy is not applicable to those aged 66 or over, unaccompanied minors, and BOTPs identified on site by the HSE as being medically vulnerable. These are the only exemptions available on arrival.
While in the DAC, if it becomes apparent to the Local Authority that the BOTP will have significant difficulties in sourcing their own accommodation and/or employment, despite the support of the Irish Red Cross and the Local Authority, they may be considered by my officials as an exceptional case.
Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection are entitled to make their own private arrangements including potentially availing of pledged accommodation if they wish, and can avail of some supports to do so. Those wishing to avail of pledged accommodation in any given area should contact the Local Authority in that area or the Irish Red Cross pledge process. The Irish Red Cross can be contacted by email at?registerofpledges@redcross.ie?or by phoning 1800 50 70 70.??
BOTPs may also explore private rented accommodation either through their own means or with the assistance of Rent Supplement, if eligible. Rent Supplement is a means-tested payment administered by the Department of Social Protection to help meet the cost of private rented accommodation. Their local Department of Social Protection office may be able to provide further information relating to Rent Supplement. Contact details for the local offices can be found on gov.ie (Intreo centres and local branch offices).
423. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide an update on the case of a child (details supplied) who, having been referred via the public health nurse over a year ago for an assessment to Blackberry Park children's disability network team, Limerick, has yet to receive an appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28768/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
424. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated cost to clear assessment of needs waiting lists for children with autism. [28813/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
425. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated full-year cost of ensuring that the timelines for assessment of needs outlined in the Disability Act 2005 are adhered to for every child in need of such an assessment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28837/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
426. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated full-year cost of providing free childcare for all children under five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28839/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy has requested the full year cost of providing free childcare for all children under five years.
According to the most recent Census data, there are 293,769 children under 5 in Ireland.
To generate the cost of providing free early learning and childcare to these children, it is assumed that they avail of a full time place, on a year round basis (52 weeks per year).
According to the latest data from the Annual Early Years Sector Profile Survey, the median weekly fee for a full time place is €197.43.
To calculate the cost of this measure, the below formula was used.
(number of children under 5) x (number of weeks of early learning and childcare used) x (mean weekly fee for a full time place)
This formula generates a cost of €3.01bn.
This estimate assumes that 100% of children under 5 will avail of a full time place on a year round basis and does not take account of a range of factors including parental preference and work patterns, current usage patterns, existing State supports and availability.
According to a recent survey carried out by IPSOS on behalf of my Department in 2023, just under half of children not yet in school were cared for at home (45%), while over one in four (27%) attended a centre-based setting.
From August 2024, the combined durations of Maternity, Paternity and Parent’s Leave and Benefit will equate to 46 weeks paid leave for a two-parent family. In addition, 16 weeks of unpaid maternity leave is available, 26 weeks of unpaid parental leave is available and, as part of the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023, the right to request flexible working for parents and carers and remote working for all employees has commenced.
The ECCE programme already provides two year of pre-school to every child (over 3 hours per day, 5 days per week, 38 per year) at no cost to parents.
427. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated full-year cost of providing free after school childcare for all children in primary school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28840/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy has requested the full year cost of providing free childcare for all children in primary school.
According to Department of Education data, there were 558,143 children enrolled in primary school in 2023.
To generate the cost of providing free childcare to these children, it is assumed that they avail of 20 hours of childcare per week in term (38 weeks per year) and they avail of childcare on a full time basis out of term (14 weeks per year).
According to the latest data from the Annual Early Years Sector Profile Survey, the median hourly fee for school-age childcare in term is €5.00 while the median weekly fee for school-age childcare out of term is €165.
To calculate cost of childcare "in term" the following formula was used:
(number of children enrolled in primary school) x (number of in term weeks) x (number of hours per week) x (median hourly fee for childcare in term time)
This generates an in term cost of €2.12bn.
To calculate cost of childcare "out of term" the following formula was used:
(number of children enrolled in primary school) x (number of out of term weeks) x (median weekly fee for childcare out of term)
This generates an out of term cost of €1.29bn.
Combining the in term and out of term costs, the total full year cost is estimated to be €3.41bn.
This estimate assumes that 100% of primary school children will participate in every available hour of childcare in term and out of term and does not take account of a range of factors including parental preference and work patterns, current usage patterns and availability.
According to a recent survey carried out by IPSOS on behalf of my Department in 2023, parental care was the main form of childcare for school-going children in term (62%) and out of term (66%), while the percentage that used centre-based childcare in term and out of term was 14% and 4% respectively.
428. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated full-year cost of increasing spending on childcare to 1% of GDP. [28841/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraOver the past nine budgets, investment in Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age Childcare (SAC) has risen from €260 million in 2015 to €1.1 billion in 2024, reaching the First 5 investment target 5 years ahead of time.
In 2022, Ireland’s GDP at constant prices was €475 billion. To increase spending to 1% of GDP, equalling €4.7 billion, an additional investment of €3.6 billion would be necessary.
It is important to note that GDP is a misleading indicator in the Irish context. The OECD emphasises that, in the Irish context, “one should rely on other indicators” as GDP gives an inaccurate indicator of the country’s economic health.
A modified GNI was recommended by the Economic Statistics Review Group as a more useful comparator. This is designed to exclude globalisation effects that are disproportionally impacting the measurement of the size of the Irish economy. Figures on Ireland’s modified GNI in 2023 are not yet available however in 2022, Ireland’s modified GNI at current prices was €273 billion. To increase spending to 1% of modified GNI in 2022, equalling €2.7 billion, an additional investment of €1.6 billion would be necessary.
The First 5 Strategy published in 2018, commit the Government to at least doubling public spending on ELC and SAC by 2028. This target was reached in 2023, five years ahead of schedule. A revised investment target was set in the second implementation plan for First 5, which I published in November 2023. This specifies that, over the period 2023-2028, Ireland will work to close the existing gap in public investment in early learning and care against the EU average.
429. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated full-year cost of increasing wages for all childcare workers by €2 an hour via a public subsidy. [28842/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI firmly believe the level of pay for early years educators and school-age childcare practitioners should reflect the value of their work for children, families, society and the economy.
The State is not the employer and therefore does not set the pay or conditions for employees in either early learning and care (ELC) or school-age childcare (SAC) services.
However, there is now, through the Joint Labour Committee (JLC) process, a formal mechanism established by which employer and employee representatives can negotiate minimum pay rates for ELC and SAC services, which are set down in Employment Regulation Orders (EROs). This is an independent process from the Department and neither I, nor my officials, have any role in the proceedings of the JLC and any associated negotiated minimum pay rates, the cost of which is borne by the employer.
Among other objectives, Core Funding supports the ability of service providers to meet the additional costs resulting from the EROs for Early Years Services, which came into effect in September 2022, as it provides increases in funding to early learning and childcare service providers to support improvements in staff wages, alongside a commitment to freeze parental fees.
On the basis of 2024 data supplied by Partner Services taking part in the Core Funding scheme, the estimated annual costs to employers of raising all the minimum pay rates specified in the EROs (for different grades and qualification levels) by the rates proposed in the question (making assumptions specified below in relation to equivalent increases for other roles specified in the EROs and accounting for proportional or no increases required for those above ERO rates or above the proposed increase) are set out in the table:
|
Pay increase |
Estimated additional cost to employers |
|
€2.00 |
€81 million |
However, where a €2 per hour increase was sought for all staff, equally, the total estimated employer cost would be approximately €152 million taking in to account the relevant assumptions made below.
In relation to the estimates above, the following should be noted:
• The cost estimates are based on staff who had an hourly wage recorded in service providers’ submissions for Core Funding, but the Core Funding data has been extrapolated to provide an estimate for all staff working in the sector.
• Cost estimates are based on the most recent data available to the Department which was provided by service providers in May 2024, this data was provided prior to the new EROs for Early Years Services came into force on 24 June 2024.
• Calculations are there based on minimum rates of pay set out in the initial ERO which came in to effect in September 2022.
• The estimated costs are for the additional cost to employers of bringing staff, from their current wage or the minimum pay rates set out in the EROs agreed in September 2022, whichever is higher, up to the new pay rate as listed in the request. E.g. for an early years educator, costs are estimated based on current rate of pay of €13.00 (Initial ERO minimum rate for Educators) + increased listed of €2.
• Calculations are based on wage-data available at a point in time. Some services may have increased wages more recently, which would reduce the cost to services of moving from current wage-rates to the propose wage rates in the question.
• The cost estimates only relate to staff and managers covered by the current EROs, i.e. the estimates exclude the cost of ancillary staff.
• The cost estimates do not attempt to account for the potential cost implications for the wages of staff who are currently earning more than the increased rates above current ERO minimum rates.
• It should be noted that the figures in the table are the additional cost to employers, rather than the additional costs to the State. Core Funding offers a contribution to staff costs. The €287m allocated for Core Funding may already support some employers to pay wage rates above ERO minimum rates.
• The figures in the table do not take into account the income currently received by those working in the sector who are self-employed and who derive their income from profits rather than wages.
430. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated full-year cost of increasing childcare subsidies to 100% of fees paid by parents availing of childcare subsidies. [28843/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy has requested the full year cost of increasing subsidies to 100% of fees paid by parents availing of early learning and childcare subsidies.
It is assumed that the Deputy is referring to the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) which is provided by my Department to offset the cost of early learning childcare to parents.
My Department does not hold individualised fee data for parents as these are local agreements between parents and providers; instead an average weekly full time fee derived from the Annual Early Years Sector Profile 2023 is used in the below calculations.
Assuming a 45-hour week for all children, officials in my Department estimated the cost of increasing the NCS hourly minimum (universal) subsidy so that all fees are covered by the NCS. The below new NCS minimum (universal) subsidy was calculated to achieve the desired outcome.
|
- |
NCS Minimum subsidy rate |
|
Current |
€1.40 |
|
100% fees covered by NCS |
€4.38 |
The ESRI SWITCH model was then used to estimate the quantum of this change and applied to the Departments baseline cost of the NCS for 2024. The results are given in the below table.
|
- |
NCS Minimum Subsidy rate (€) |
Cost of change (€m) |
|
Baseline |
1.40 |
0 |
|
Change |
4.38 |
442 |
As fees can vary from service to service and depending on parent’s usage, impact estimates must be made as an average of the overall parental financial contribution to fees for their early learning and childcare.
The impact of this change will also vary based on the income level of the applicant. Parents on the maximum subsidies under the income assessed subsidy, that is those on annual income of €26,000 and below will see no change in their fee, as they are already in receipt of the highest available subsidy. For remaining parents, with income above €26,000 under the income assessed subsidy, reductions in fees will vary according to income levels, with those currently in receipt of the lowest subsidies benefiting the most.
These estimates come with some important caveats. Firstly, the above costings are based on the NCS as it operates currently and its rates as time of this PQ being asked. As part of Budget 2024 I announced an increase to the NCS universal subsidy from €1.40 per hour to €2.14 and an extension of the NCS to a larger cohort of childminders from September 2024. As these are not yet implemented, the impact of these changes have not been factored into the above costing.
Finally, the costings are on the basis of a static system; that is, the model assumes that the level of usage of eligible early learning and childcare remains static. Any changes to subsidies may create a change in behaviours in families, for example, women returning to workforce and using formal early learning and childcare for the first time.
431. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the amount of annual funding provided for children with disabilities to participate in preschool education. [28844/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe award winning Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) has supported more than 28,000 children with a disability to access and meaningfully participate in the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme since it was first introduced in September 2016.
In Budget 2024, I was very pleased to secure an allocation of €57.497m for AIM, including an additional €14m. €7m of the additional allocation is supporting the increasing cohort of children with a disability requiring AIM supports to access and meaningfully participate in the ECCE programme and €7m will provide an extension of AIM support from September 2024. This means that children with a disability registered on the ECCE programme will now be fully supported to access and participate in early learning and childcare settings for up to 30 hours per week year round (including ECCE programme attendance of 15 hours per week during term time).
It is intended that over time, all children with additional needs in early learning and childcare services will have access to supports under AIM. To this end, officials in my Department will also be considering an extension of AIM to children under 3 as well as an extension of AIM to school-age childcare.
432. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the funding spent on the drive to recruit health and social care professionals into children’s disability network teams which ended in January 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28899/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
433. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of vacancies advertised through the drive to recruit health and social care professionals into children’s disability network teams which ended in January 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28900/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
434. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the availability of the 2023 national report on children’s disability network teams staff census and workforce review; to provide a copy of such if available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28901/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
435. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number and location of therapist posts, including speech and language therapist, psychological and others appointed to special schools within CHO3, in 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [28937/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
