Written Answers Nos. 1422-1441
1422. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if action 3.21 of the Roadmap for Service Improvement 2023-2026 has been implemented; the outcome from this process in terms of the number of additional third level health and social care professions programmes that were agreed; and the timeframe within which these additional programmes will be offered. [34644/24]
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.
1423. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if action 4.3 of the Roadmap for Service Improvement 2023-2026 has been delivered. [34645/24]
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.
1424. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if action 4.4 of the Roadmap for Service Improvement 2023-2026 has been delivered. [34646/24]
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.
1425. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if action 4.5 of the Roadmap for Service Improvement 2023-2026 has been delivered. [34647/24]
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.
1426. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if action 4.6 of the Roadmap for Service Improvement 2023-2026 has been delivered. [34648/24]
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.
1427. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if action 4.7 of the Roadmap for Service Improvement 2023-2026 has been delivered. [34649/24]
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.
1428. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if action 4.8 of the Roadmap for Service Improvement 2023-2026 has been delivered; and if so, to detail the findings of this survey. [34650/24]
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.
1429. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if action 4.9 of the Roadmap for Service Improvement 2023-2026 has been delivered; and if so, the findings from these workshops. [34651/24]
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.
1430. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if action 5.1 of the Roadmap for Service Improvement 2023-2026 has been delivered; and the number of additional WTE senior posts recruited as part of this action. [34652/24]
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.
1431. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of CDNT staff vacancies that have been filled to date as part of the Roadmap for Service Improvement 2023-2026. [34653/24]
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.
1432. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number and location of new family resource centres that have been opened each year since he assumed office; his plans, if any, to support the establishment of any new family resource centres in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34654/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to inform the Deputy that since I first assumed office at the end of June 2020 there have been no additions to the Family Resource Centre Programme, which stands at 121 member organisations.
However, I recently brought forward a funding equalisation scheme for existing Family Resource Centres, which will ensure that all Family Resource Centre Programme members are in receipt of a minimum core funding level of €160,000 from 2025 onwards. This increase in core funding will support the pivotal role Family Resource Centres play in so many communities across the country by providing a comprehensive range of services tailored to individual community needs.
My Department funds Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, and it administers the Family Resource Centre Programme, which currently supports the 121 Family Resource Centres throughout the country. For 2024, there are no plans to expand membership of the Programme, and the commissioning of Family Resource Centres is an operational matter for Tusla, and subject to availability of funding.
However, it is my intention to seek funding in Budget 2025 to increase the number of Family Resource Centres. Any expansion of the Programme will however, be dependent on the success of my Budget negotiations.
1433. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on concerns raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34656/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra1447. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason he will contest the legal challenge that will be initiated by those excluded from the mother and baby institutions payment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34801/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1433 and 1447 together.
The Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme recognises time spent in a Mother and Baby Institution and, in this way, the associated harsh conditions endured over a period of time.
Government decided on the scope of the Scheme informed by the Commission of Investigation reports and recommendations, the workings of an interdepartmental group and a stakeholder engagement process. The requirement for children to have spent at least 180 days in a relevant institution is not intended to disregard or diminish any person’s experience and Government recognises that there are people who will be disappointed by this.
For children who spent less than six months in an institution and who were adopted in infancy or left the institution with their birth family, the priority need expressed by survivors was access to records. As of 2 September 2024, under the Birth Information and Tracing Act, the Adoption Authority of Ireland and Tusla have completed almost 13,700 applications for information. All applications are now being processed in accordance with statutory timeframes and there is no backlog.
It is important to emphasise that the Payment Scheme is just one element of the Government’s response to the country’s complex legacy of Mother and Baby Institutions. Of the seven major commitments set out in the Government Action Plan for Survivors, published in November 2021, six are now delivered and in place, with the seventh well underway. One of these commitments is counselling support for all survivors and former residents regardless of time spent in an institution. This support is in place, is free of charge for all, and survivors and former residents can self refer or be referred by a medical professional.
In my role as the Government Minister responsible for this Government-approved scheme, I am duty-bound to defend it against legal challenge, acting in the public interest and in accordance with State Litigation Principles.
1434. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will support an increase of €15 million funding for youth work sector in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34658/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraBudget 2025 is currently being considered by Government in the context of the annual estimates process. Therefore, the Deputy will appreciate that it would not be appropriate for me to comment further at this stage.
However, from 2020 to Budget 2024, current Exchequer funding for youth services and programmes increased from €61.79 million to €77.95 million, a 26% increase overall. The current full package of funding for youth services in my Department of €77.95 million represents an increase of €5 million, or 6.8%, on the 2023 budget.
In the context of Budget 2025, I am committed to supporting this important sector which provides such positive and transformative opportunities and supports to young people.
1435. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will revise the recently announced inter-departmental enhanced in-school therapy supports for special schools pilot programme to include several schools (details supplied); if he will engage with parent representatives from the schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34714/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince 2021 the Government has sought to reinstate the pre-existing on-site health and social care supports to special schools. Between 2021 and 2022 Government provided funding for the reinstatement of 223 posts that had been historically provided. While some services have been reinstated, it is acknowledged that progress has been affected by the shortage of health and social care professionals. The focus of the Special Schools pilot that I jointly launched on August 9th is to provide the effective delivery of enhanced in-school therapy supports to children in selected special schools.
Some six schools have been selected for the initial phase of the pilot with ten others to be added in time. The initial six special schools selected to participate in the pilot were chosen following detailed engagement between officials in my Department, the Department of Education, the HSE and the NCSE, based on where the needs profile of the children identified as greatest from an educational perspective, and where resourcing is not currently available in proportion to these needs.
There are a further ten schools to be selected in the full Pilot and efforts to bring clarity on that phase are underway, with an expectation that a decision will be made by end of October. A school not being selected in Phase 1 does not preclude selection in other phases. Special schools not included in the initial cohort will be considered for selection.
1436. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to consider the establishment of a Cabinet sub-committee on young people; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34735/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Cabinet Committee on Children and Education and Disability oversees Programme for Government commitments relating to Children, Education and Disability, and has ultimate oversight of Young Ireland: the National Policy Framework for Children and Young People 2023-2028.
Young Ireland includes commitments relevant to both children and young people up to the age of 24, including youth services as key supports in assisting young people to thrive. Young Ireland’s governance structures are currently being established and will provide a forum for stakeholder engagement and drive implementation of these policy commitments, and ensure accountability in the development of policies impacting children and young people.
The membership of this Cabinet Committee comprises the:
· Taoiseach;
· Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and for Defence;
· Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications and for Transport;
· Minister for Health;
· Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth;
· Minister for Education;
· Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform;
· Minister for Finance;
· Minister for Social Protection and for Rural and Community Development;
· Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage; and,
· Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.
The Minister of State with special responsibility for Special Education and Inclusion, and the Minister of State for Disability are invited to participate in all meetings of the Committee. Other Ministers or Ministers of State are invited to participate as required.
1437. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the length of time an application by a person (details supplied) is expected to take; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34742/24]
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.
1438. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of flights he has taken to or from Shannon Airport, Cork Airport and Knock Airport since assuming office. [34751/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFrom 2020 to present, there have been no flights taken to or from Shannon, Cork and Knock airport by the Minister.
1439. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to detail the funding allocated by his Department to a centre (details supplied), including any contributions to their new building, in tabular form. [34774/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy is seeking information in relation to an operational matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. Consequently, I have referred the matter to Tusla, and requested that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.
1440. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to detail the funding allocated by his Department to a centre (details supplied) in Finglas and the service improvements delivered since 2020, in tabular form. [34775/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy is seeking information in relation to an operational matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. Consequently, I have referred the matter to Tusla, and requested that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.
