Written Answers Nos. 1342-1361
1342. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total number of premises in each local authority area for which accommodation recognition payments are currently being paid to households accommodating persons in receipt of temporary protection, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34187/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Accommodation Recognition Payment is administered by the Department of Social Protection on behalf of my Department. I am informed that the data as requested by the Deputy is not available.
Applicant data is not collected by reference to local authority area. However, the distribution of ARP recipients by county is set out below.
|
Property Eircode County Name |
Property Count (as of week ending 18 August 2024) |
|
Dublin |
2535 |
|
Donegal |
1156 |
|
Cork |
1144 |
|
Mayo |
963 |
|
Kerry |
796 |
|
Galway |
781 |
|
Tipperary |
679 |
|
Limerick |
666 |
|
Wexford |
662 |
|
Kildare |
606 |
|
Louth |
505 |
|
Waterford |
492 |
|
Westmeath |
456 |
|
Meath |
438 |
|
Clare |
433 |
|
Wicklow |
377 |
|
Sligo |
363 |
|
Offaly |
324 |
|
Carlow |
311 |
|
Leitrim |
306 |
|
Cavan |
297 |
|
Longford |
263 |
|
Kilkenny |
237 |
|
Laois |
237 |
|
Monaghan |
197 |
|
Roscommon |
84 |
|
Totals |
15308 |
1343. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 832 of 20 September 2023, when a full response will issue. [34210/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister of State with special responsibility for Disability, I wish to advise that my officials are currently liaising with colleagues in the HSE to expedite the response to this PQ.
1344. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the progress made in reducing the waiting list for assessment of needs for children on the waiting list; if he could detail the waiting time remaining for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34236/24]
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.
1345. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if, in view of the withdrawal of a crèche (details supplied) in Rathfarnham from the core funding scheme, and resultant significant increases in fees for parents, he will outline the action he intends to take to ensure affordable childcare is available in the area. [34251/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra1441. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the action he will take to ensure that affordable childcare is available in Rathfarnham following the withdrawal of a crèche (details supplied) from the core funding scheme, and the resultant significant increases in fees for parents. [34786/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1345 and 1441 together.
The service referred to by the Deputy has been in contract for Core Funding since the scheme was introduced in 2022. The service received €481,157.98 in year 1 of Core Funding and, as of June this year, the service had an approved contract value of €498,003.32 for year 2 of the scheme.
As of 2 September, the service referenced has contracted into Core Funding for programme year 3.
Year 3 of the scheme (September 2024 – August 2025) sees significant further investment with the budget increasing by 15% to €331m. The increased measures include:
• The Base Rates for all age groups increasing, with larger increases in funding for places offered to children under the age of three.
• The flat rate for services registered on the Tusla Early Years Register as sessional only is increasing from €4,075 to €5,000.
• The minimum Base Rate allocation is increasing from €8,150 to €14,000. This is the minimum amount of funding a centre-based service (not childminders) will receive through their Base Rate and ensures a minimum guaranteed income for services.
• The maximum Base Rate allocation is decreasing from €600,000 to €500,000. Up to now, services availing of Core Funding have not been allowed to raise their fees above what was charged to parents on 30 September 2021 (or at the point of first signing up for Core Funding if the service did not exist on 30 September 2021).
While this fee freeze will remain in place for the majority of services for year 3 of Core Funding, my Department has introduced:
• a new Fee Increase Assessment and Approval Process whereby a Partner Service meeting certain criteria may apply to increase their fees up to an approved level, and
• a cap on fees for services joining Core Funding for the first time this year. This will extend to all services from September 2025.
In addition to Core Funding and the fee increase assessment and approval process, supports are available from my Department where a partner service is experiencing financial difficulty or has concerns about their viability, which can be accessed while remaining within Core Funding. The supports can be accessed through local City or County Childcare Committee (CCC). I would strongly encourage services to avail of these supports as an alternative to withdrawing from Core Funding and removing the benefit of Core Funding to children and their families.
Some Providers may choose to withdraw from Core Funding or not participate/sign up for Year 3 of the Core Funding scheme, therefore, as private businesses, are free to set their own fees and/or increase fees if they wish to do so.
Once contracted into Core Funding services who wish to withdraw must give 3 months’ notice to the scheme administrator of their intention to withdraw.
Core Funding remains open to all eligible providers. To date, over 4,000 providers have either started or submitted their Core Funding application – a figure that is on par with this time last year.
For a list of Partner services, and individual year Core Funding allocations please visit the Together for Better website, at first5fundingmodel.gov.ie/together-for-better/.
1346. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the long-term State supports and benefits paid to foster families from his Department; to outline the increases to these payments in each of the past five Budgets; if his Department and the Department of Social Protection have ever carried out an analysis of the supports required by foster carers including financial support; if the stay-at-home foster parent will be acknowledged by way of qualifying contributions for a State pension; if there is an individual care plan for each person being fostered both during and after the period of fostering; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34253/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe administration and payment of the statutory foster care allowance and associated payments to foster carers falls under the remit of Tusla, the Child and Family Agency.
My Department resources Tusla to provide alternative care services, including the foster care allowance. It was a priority of mine to secure a meaningful increase to the foster care allowance in this year’s Budget in order to support the vital role being carried out by foster carers.
In Budget 2024, from 1st January 2024 the rates of the foster care allowance increased by €25 per week, up to €350 per week for children aged under 12 and €377 per week for those over 12. The foster care allowance will be further increased in November 2024, up to €400 per week for children aged under 12 and €425 per week for those over 12.
If required, Tusla can also provide additional financial supports to foster carers through either additional or enhanced payments. Additional payments refers to any payment made to a foster carer that exceeds the standard rate of the fostering allowance. Such additional payments may be made in respect of children or young people who have additional needs that are not covered by the standardised fostering allowance.
Enhanced allowances for foster carers can be made when a longer-term financial need is identified for additional supports for the child. A maximum of twice the weekly allowance may be paid in respect of children aged between 0-18 years if they require significant care over and above the needs of other children in foster care. This includes children who have been diagnosed with significant special needs and require a high level of personal care and supervision. The purpose of considering an enhanced allowance in these cases is to support foster carers in providing care to these children who have additional needs.
My Department regularly keeps under review the supports received by foster carers to ensure that they can adequately support the foster children under their care. I can assure the Deputy that I remain committed to working closely with my Government colleagues and relevant stakeholders, including Tusla, to seek to improve the suite of supports for foster carers. I am not aware of any analysis of the nature suggested by the Deputy which has been carried out by the Department of Social Protection.
I am aware that eligibility for the State Pension (Contributory) is an area of serious concern for foster carers. I can inform the Deputy that officials from my Department and I have met with the Minister for Social Protection, and officials from her Department, to discuss the issue of State Pension (Contributory) eligibility for foster carers on a number of occasions. I can further advise that officials from my Department are currently engaging with their counterparts in Tusla on this matter.
Further, the Department of Social Protection held an online information session in May of this year to provide foster carers with information about eligibility for the State Pension (Contributory), and other schemes which that Department operates, which may be of interest to foster carers.
In respect of the Deputy’s question in relation to care plans, I am conscious that Tusla has a statutory obligation to prepare a care plan for each child and young person in foster care under the Child Care Act 1991, as amended.
Tusla also has a statutory obligation to provide an aftercare plan for each young person leaving care who is eligible. Care leavers, depending on need, may be allocated an aftercare worker, and all care leavers, without exception or age limit, can attend drop-in centres organised by the Tusla aftercare service.
Aftercare plans are informed by an assessment of need carried out prior to the young person leaving care. The aftercare plan sets out the assistance that may be provided by Tusla to the eligible person from the age of 18. Specifically, the Child Care Act 1991 as amended states that any assessment of need shall include an assessment by Tusla of the needs (if any) of the person being assessed in relation to: education, financing and budgeting matters, training and employment, health and wellbeing, personal and social development, accommodation and family support.
1347. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of persons who have engaged with the mother and baby redress scheme since it has opened; and the number of persons who have engaged but withdrawn from engagement of same. [34265/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraBy use of the term "engaged", I am taking to mean the Deputy is enquiring about applications. As at Monday 2nd September, 5,035 applications have been received of which 4,242 are complete applications and are progressing or have been determined. (In the incomplete application category, the applicants are being supported by the Payment Scheme Office in order to provide the outstanding information required so that their application can move forward. This could be, for example, a supporting document such as certified photo ID.)
A Notice of Determination, which is a decision on an application to the Payment Scheme, has issued in 2,448 cases. To date, 1,432 offers under the Payment Scheme have been accepted, with 1,306 paid or in the process of being paid, and with an average payment of just under €15,500. Almost half of these applicants were also deemed eligible for health supports under the Payment Scheme i.e. the Enhanced Medical Card or, for those living outside of Ireland, the once-off Health Support Payment valued at €3,000.
One application to the Scheme has been withdrawn.
1348. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to advise on correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34307/24]
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.
1349. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of graduates each year that are entering the early years and school age system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34309/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the State does not employ staff in Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age Childcare (SAC) services, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY), does not keep a staff register of those who have graduated with a recognised Early Years qualification, nor of graduates who join the sector as part of the workforce.
The information below sets out the number of graduates that achieved an NFQ award at Level 5 or higher in childcare, early childhood education and care, or Montessori in each of the years 2018 to 2023. This information was sourced from the Higher Education Authority (HEA) and Quality & Qualifications Ireland (QQI). The statistical data for 2023 Higher Education graduates is not available currently.
No. of Persons awarded relevant childcare qualifications at NFQ Level 5 or above:
|
Year |
Number of Persons |
|
2018 |
4,738 |
|
2019 |
4,278 |
|
2020 |
5,806 |
|
2021 |
4,118 |
|
2022 |
4,749 |
|
2023* |
3,529* |
* QQI awards only. Relevant records of awards made by Higher Education Institutions was not available.
First 5, the whole-of-Government strategy for babies, young children and their families, recognises that the workforce is at the heart of high-quality early learning and care (ELC). The evidence suggests children achieve better outcomes when staff are well qualified. This is undisputed internationally. Nurturing Skills, The Workforce Plan for Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare, 2022-2028, seeks to continue to build on commitments in First 5 to develop an appropriately skilled and sustainable professional workforce, and includes a commitment and actions to achieve a graduate-led workforce by 2028.
The data in the table below sets out the percentage of staff with a qualification by NFQ Level over the past 5 years and illustrates the growth in the number of staff with a childcare relevant degree level qualification (NFQ Level 7 and above) from 21.9% in 2018 to 35% in 2022.
|
Qualification Level by Staff % |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
|
Staff with NFQ Level 7+ |
21.9% |
25% |
26.6% |
33.2% |
35% |
|
Staff with NFQ Level 6 |
43.1% |
41.8% |
42.2% |
36.9% |
35.2% |
|
Staff with NFQ Level 5 |
28.6% |
26.8% |
25.7% |
24.9% |
24.3% |
|
Staff with Other* |
6.4% |
6.4% |
5.5% |
5% |
5.5% |
*Other Qualifications include non childcare qualification e.g. staff who are on employment schemes or other government funded programmes.
I am committed to growing the number of of graduates in the sector and achieving our aim of a graduate led workforce. To support this objective I launched the new Nurturing Skills Learner Fund in December last year which, will help early years educators to undertake approved degree-level qualifications while continuing to work in the early learning and care (ELC) sector.
1350. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth where the surplus funding for unused resources was allocated in the circumstances where a service provider (details supplied) was being funded for 30 hours' services for a service user and for large periods of 2022, 2023 and 2024 a service was not being provided at all, and at a later date, the service was one day a week, and much less than the funding provided; and where the funding provided was accounted for. [34312/24]
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.
1351. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he has any plans to align the qualifying age limit of the child, by which parental leave must be taken, between public sector and private sector workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34321/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra1357. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will introduce legislation extending parental leave to allow parents to take the leave before their child’s 16th birthday instead of their 12th birthday as at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34368/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1351 and 1357 together.
Under the Parental Leave (Amendment) Act 2019, an employee who is a relevant parent in respect of a child under the age 12 is entitled to 26 weeks’ unpaid parental leave for each child. Where a child has a disability or long-term illness, the entitlement can continue until the child is 16. A relevant parent is a parent, an adoptive parent, or a person acting in ‘loco parentis’.
The Parental Leave (Amendment) Act 2019 raised the maximum age limit of the eligible child for which parental leave can be taken from 8 years to 12 years. There are no current plans to raise the age limit further.
It should be noted that the legislation only sets out the minimum entitlement to parental leave. Depending on an individual’s contract of employment, they may have more extensive rights to parental leave, as employers have the option to offer more than the entitlement set out in the legislation.
Family leave provisions are kept under review to ensure that they are effective and respond to the needs of families. Family leave entitlements are also mindful of the impact of the leaves on workplaces.
Considering the recent significant increase in family leave entitlements through the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023, the Government has no plans to make further amendments to parental leave entitlements.
1352. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if concerns regarding the funding of youth services (details supplied) will be addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34341/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn regard to youth workers terms and conditions, my Department does not directly employ youth workers. Rather, funding is allocated on a 'provision of service' basis to meet the needs of the youth population in an area. The recruitment and employment of staff including youth workers is a matter for the youth organisations and services in receipt of funding.
I have continued to invest significantly in youth services throughout the country so that every young person is given the opportunity to achieve their full potential. From 2020 to Budget 2024, current Exchequer funding for youth services and programmes increased from €61.8 million to €77.95 million, a 26% increase overall.
I am very cognisant of the challenges being experienced by some clubs in recruiting volunteers, particularly in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is important to note that support for volunteer-led clubs throughout the country is already provided by means of both the Youth Services Grant Scheme and the Local Youth Club Grant Scheme. A number of organisations funded under the former scheme receive substantial annual funding to support the provision of developmental and other supports to their networks of volunteer-led clubs. Reform of the Youth Services Grant Scheme is currently underway and funding is available for additional youth organisations to benefit from the Scheme. The application process for funding for eligible youth organisations closes on 16th September.
I have committed to developing a workforce development plan for the youth sector, to support the recruitment and retention of staff and volunteers in the sector. My officials are currently carrying out preparatory work on the development of a plan, and will undertake consultations in the period ahead with stakeholders, including youth workers, youth organisations, and providers of youth work training.
My Department is currently carrying out a mapping exercise in respect of youth services, which will include the premises currently used for youth services and help to identify gaps and shortfalls in the availability of spaces for youth services. This analysis is necessary to enable the Department to determine how best to direct capital funding over the period ahead. While this research is underway, I have prioritised the direct delivery of services and programmes for young people and secured an increase of €5 million, or 6.8%, in Budget 2024 for current expenditure.
1353. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the plans in place to provide full-time residential care for a person (details supplied); if the lack of services for persons with disabilities in north Kerry will be addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34354/24]
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.
1354. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide additional funding to allow therapy and support services (details supplied) in County Wexford continue to provide services in the county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34358/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI acknowledge that Children at Risk in Ireland (CARI) offers an important and vital service to children who have experienced sexual abuse, and the support offered by the service to the parents of those children.
CARI is commissioned by Tusla to provide child-centred therapy for children & adolescents who have been affected by sexual abuse. CARI also provides therapy to children, up to 12 years of age, who present with sexually harmful behaviour.
In August 2023, CARI advised Tusla of issues relating to a financial deficit and sustainability and Tusla has engaged with CARI since these difficulties came to light. Tusla has worked with CARI on a cost containment plan to support a financially sustainable organisational structure, and optimise the therapy provided within the agreed funding allocation.
The Board of CARI also commissioned an independent review of their funding and operating model. The Board of CARI and Tusla were satisfied that the cost containment recommendations would support an organisation structure that is financially sustainable and operates within the agreed funding allocation. It will also maximise the amount of therapy provided by CARI in its Limerick and Dublin locations.
In recognition of the difficulties faced by CARI, Tusla allocated €1.050m in funding in 2023 which included two emergency one off payments totalling €250,000. The once off additional funding of €250,000 was provided by Tusla to allow the Board of CARI time to develop a business plan for 2024 in line with their allocation and to provide a sustainable model of financial governance.
Tusla continues to support CARI and in 2024 is providing core funding of €625,000 and an additional €150,000 to CARI to support the implementation of the Barnahus model.
Tusla Local Service Managers also commission additional services from CARI, on an on-going basis, in line with local need and funding allocations, and this continues in 2024 and is separate to and in addition to core funding allocated for CARI.
It is important to note that Tusla has not reduced funding to CARI’s core funding allocation.
The recommendations in the cost containment plan included the closure of the Wexford Outreach service. This service provided therapeutic services for four children. A therapeutic plan has been agreed for each child, and when the service closed at the end of August 2024, the four children continue to be provided with the required therapy services until their treatment is scheduled to conclude, arranged by local Tusla therapeutic teams.
Tusla continues to engage with CARI on funding and sustainability matters, and my Department is kept informed of developments.
1355. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 257 of 30 May 2024, if he will ensure that a response is issued by the HSE as a matter of urgency and that an immediate autism assessment and the necessary services are expedited for the child. [34363/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have requested my officials to engage with the HSE to ensure that a response to the PQ issued by the HSE as a matter of urgency. With regard to the services outlined, this will be a matter for the HSE to progress, having regard to the resources available and the ongoing demands on those resources.
1356. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will implement increased time for maternity and paternity leave associated with multiple births (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34365/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere have been significant improvements in the entitlements to paid and unpaid leaves for working families in recent years in line with the Government's commitments in the Programme for Government around supporting working parents, including by extending paid leave for parents to allow them to spend more time with their baby during their earliest years.
The Maternity Protection Act 1994 and the Maternity Protection (Amendment) Act 2004 provide a pregnant employee with 26 weeks of paid maternity leave and an additional 16 weeks of unpaid leave, alongside other entitlements such as breastfeeding breaks after the return to work, which have been extended to two years following the birth of the child through the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023.
While the Maternity Protection Acts 1994-2004 do not explicitly refer to multiple births, the entitlement arises from the pregnancy and confinement, which are treated as a single event, regardless of the number of children arising. This applies also to the unpaid leave. This is because maternity leave is primarily viewed as leave intended to enable the mother to recover from the birth.
While the Parent's Leave and Benefit Act 2019 limits parent's leave to a single birth, it is important to note that the duration of such leave has increased in August 2024 to nine weeks of paid parent's leave for each relevant parent for each child, to be taken in the first two years after the birth or adoptive placement of a child.
Under the Parental Leave Acts, 26 weeks unpaid leave can be taken by an employee who is a relevant parent to take care of a child. The upper age limit of the eligible child has been increased in 2019 to the age of 12 or of 16, where the child has a disability or long-term illness which allows a parent more time in which to avail of the extended leave entitlement. This leave entitlement is for each eligible child.
S.7(3) of the Parental Leave Acts also provides that the amount of parental leave in the case of more than one child is limited in a particular year, unless the children are of a multiple birth in which case this limit does not apply.
Family leave provisions are kept under review to ensure that they are effective and respond to the needs of families. Family leave entitlements are also mindful of the impact of the leaves on workplaces.
There is no intention at present to amend the leave provisions in respect of multiple births.
1358. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the public money paid to a company (details supplied); his views on the fact that the company is still operating despite the negligent practices regarding the safety and welfare of children that have been reported. [34370/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra1359. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to explain how Tusla’s governance and oversight was not up to standard with regard to a company (details supplied), considering how Tusla were previously caught out by similar private providers in the special emergency accommodation sector with the same issues regarding Garda vetting. [34371/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1358 and 1359 together.
My Department and Tusla continue to take the issue of non-compliance with Garda vetting requirements by commissioned services very seriously and are committed to ensuring ongoing review of compliance by these services. Tusla has oversight and governance measures in place for all commissioned services.
Tusla ensures that all commissioned services are operating in compliance with the National Vetting Bureau (Children and vulnerable persons) Acts 2012. Through the service level agreements between Tusla and commissioned services, compliance with Garda vetting and child safeguarding statements is reviewed and monitored on an ongoing basis. When this issue arose, Tusla advised my Department that it referred the organisation in question to its Child Safeguarding Statement Compliance Unit for review and to ensure that the organisations Child Safeguarding Statement was compliant with the requirements of the Children First Act 2015.
While Tusla does not comment on individual or specific external service providers, it’s important to note that under Children First, supervision/access centres are classified as a ‘relevant service’ as they provide care and supervision of children whilst in the centre. Therefore, any such service providers working with Tusla are required to have a Child Safeguarding Statement and relevant policies and procedures for reporting child protection and welfare concerns.
Tusla commissions over 660 Section 56 organisations to provide critical support services to children and families across the country. As part of the commissioning process, providers are required to sign a service level agreement which outlines the governance systems, processes, and standards to ensure an appropriate service for the children they work with.
In a small number of cases, Tusla uses external private providers, such as supervision/access centres, often on direction of the Court. Where Tusla engages such services, the conditions to be met are outlined to ensure they are compliant with Tusla standards. Therefore, any such service providers are required to have a Child Safeguarding Statement and relevant policies and procedures, including Garda vetting.
Where Tusla becomes aware of a situation such as that outlined, Tusla would work closely with the provider to assure itself that the appropriate governance systems and processes are in place while children are availing of the service. If this cannot be assured, Tusla may put in place additional safety mechanisms or discontinue use of the service until assurances could be provided.
As previously mentioned, Tusla is not in a position to comment on individual or specific external service providers, but Tusla has confirmed that it ceased using the services of this organisation in February 2024.
1360. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the action his Department is taking to help increase the availability of childcare places in Cork, in view of the substantial waiting lists for spaces in crèche’s and childcare facilities in the county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34377/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraImproving access to quality and affordable early learning and childcare is a key priority of Government.
My Department has in place a range of supports and funding schemes to support the delivery of early learning and childcare places but services are independently operated, either by community not-for-profit or by private for-profit providers.
This year, I established a Supply Management Unit within the Early Learning and Care and School Age Childcare division of my Department. A key part of the Supply Management Unit’s remit is to develop a planning function for monitoring, analysing and forecasting of the supply and demand - akin to the Forward Planning Unit in the Department of Education.
This unit is currently undertaking a forward planning project to identify the quantum 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.
Data available to my Department shows that the level of capacity in the sector has risen substantially year-on-year between 2022 and 2023. However, there is also evidence that demand for places is increasing and, for certain cohorts and in certain areas, outstripping supply. This is partly driven by the significant improvements in affordability that have been achieved in recent years and I acknowledge that some families experience challenges in accessing places, particularly for younger children.
The Supply Management Unit will oversee the administration of capital investment under the National Development Plan, through the Building Blocks Capacity Grant. The primary focus of the Building Blocks Capacity Grant Schemes is to increase capacity in the 1-3 year old, pre-ECCE, age range for full day or part-time care. Appraisal of applications for this scheme considers the supply and demand in the area around the proposed projects and seeks to prioritise funding for areas with the biggest supply/demand mismatch. I hope to announce details of the Building Blocks Extension Grant Scheme in the coming weeks.
My Department is currently engaging with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to examine and review the 2001 Planning Guidelines for Local Authorities on Early Learning and Childcare Settings with a view to updating them.
In addition, under the National Action Plan for Childminding, I have committed to opening up access to the National Childcare Scheme to parents who use childminders following the extension of regulation to childminders. This will increase the numbers of funded and regulated early learning and childcare places available.
In individual cases where parents are having difficulty finding a suitable early learning and childcare place, the local city or county childcare committee may be able to assist in identifying vacant places.
1361. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of persons on a waiting list for CDNT in Carlow; the number of staff available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34331/24]
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.
