Written Answers Nos. 258-266
258. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the position in relation to an application for the provision of annual core funding to an organisation in County Cork (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37109/24]
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.
259. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he has received a submission (details supplied); his views on the requests therein; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37112/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have received the submission referenced by the Deputy, and it is being reviewed within my Department.
Budget 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.
My Department has made a significant investment in youth services in 2024, building on the increases in recent years and securing the achievements into the future. The current funding for youth services and programmes in my Department this year is €77.95 million, 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 positive and transformative opportunities and supports to young people.
260. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason funds allocated to successful applicants of the children’s disability service grant fund have not yet been provided to them; when the money will be provided to them; the reason it has taken so long to provide what was described as emergency funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37131/24]
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.
261. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 1345 and 1441 of 9 September 2024, if it is correct that a centre (details supplied) has decided to stay in core funding for year three; and if it is correct that any childcare provider must give three months’ notice if they decide to leave core funding. [37132/24]
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.
262. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason a previous Parliamentary Question (details supplied) was not answered in full; the reason the successful groups and their associated grant allocations were not listed as requested; if he will provide this information, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37133/24]
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.
263. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an updated timeframe for when a decision will be made on the applications for a fee review by early years’ service providers. [37216/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraUp 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).
The fee freeze will remain in place for the majority of these services for year 3 of Core Funding, though services whose fees have been frozen at a level that may not be sufficient to sustain their business even with increased funding available through Core Funding, will have the opportunity to apply for a Fee Increase Assessment.
Only services currently charging low fees (fees below the average in their county) will be eligible to apply and the onus will be on the provider to demonstrate a need for a fee increase. Any approved fee increases will not go above the increased universal NCS subsidy that a parent would be receiving for the full hours offered within the fee. This means that parents receiving the universal NCS subsidy for the full hours offered in these services will not face higher costs.
To date my Department has received 696 self-declaration forms which is step 1 of the process. Of these 285 have completed the second step which is the submission of an application.
Once the submission is reviewed a service will receive a Template notice letter of potential changes which may be shared with parents informing them that their service has applied to increase their fees and noting that any potential increase will not exceed €33.30 for 45 hours or more of care. Once the submission is assessed the service will receive a decision letter usually within 20 working days of receiving the Template notice letter.
264. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an urgent update on an application for a fee review of a service (details supplied). [37217/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraBallymore Community Childcare’s application has been received by my Department and is currently under assessment as part of the Fee Increase Assessment process. My Department is currently working through a large volume of applications and will endeavour to issue follow-up communications to all applicant services as soon as possible, it is expected that decision letters will issue next week.
265. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if an urgent assessment of need can take place in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37246/24]
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.
266. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when an appropriate assessment might take place in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37247/24]
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.
