Written Answers Nos. 377-396
377. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on the way parents can compare fees being charged by their partner service creche to those frozen from the 2021-2022 programme year, noting that these frozen fee levels are not available from the National Childcare Scheme or from local childcare committees. [37584/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI would like to thank the Deputy for raising this question.
Current fees list for 2024/2025 programme year are available to view by parents on the NCS website under the Childcare Search function. I have asked that historical fees lists for each service provider also be added to the website and this will be introduced in the coming weeks to give parents the ability to check previous years fees where there is a concern.
In the meantime, parents can contact the Parent Support Centre by phone by completing a contact form on the website to ask about year-on-year comparison of fees lists for their individual service. Parents can also contact their local city or County Childcare Committee for information and support regarding fees – the CCCs have access to all fees lists for their region.
My Department will endeavour to have these publicly available as soon as possible.
378. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total number of freedom of information requests submitted to his Department in 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024; the total number of such requests that were rejected in their entirety; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37590/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe table below outlines the number of Freedom of Information requests received by this Department in 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024 and sets out the number of requests that were refused in their entirety at the initial decision maker stage.
|
Year |
Number of FOI requests received |
Number refused |
|
2022 |
259 |
63 |
|
2023 |
394 |
161 |
|
2024 (to date) |
389 |
130 |
In 2022, three decisions to refuse requests were annulled following internal reviews of the decisions made. In 2023, twelve decisions were annulled. To date this year, thirteen decisions have been annulled.
I note that a detailed review of each Department’s FOI performance is published in the Office of the Information Commissioner’s Annual Report 2023. My Department will be reporting to the OIC in January 2025 on FOI activity in the Department in 2024.
379. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total number of accommodation recognition payments currently being paid to households accommodating persons in receipt of temporary protection; to provide a breakdown of these payments, by county; to provide a breakdown of those payments, by accommodation, where the recipient is living in the property and where the property is exclusively occupied by recipients of temporary protection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37636/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Accommodation Recognition Payment (ARP) was introduced in July 2022 to recognise the generosity of people who have opened their homes to provide accommodation to Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) arriving in Ireland from Ukraine. The payment rate under this scheme is €800 per month per property with a unique Eircode, irrespective of whether the property is vacant or shared. The scheme is provided for under Part 2 of the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022 and is administered by the Department of Social Protection on behalf of my Department.
As of 15 September 2024, there are over 16,100 active claims in payment.
The statistical information that the Deputy has requested concerning the share of vacant and shared accommodation is not available. These details are not collected as part of the scheme’s application process.
The claim activity per county is as follows.
|
County |
No. of properties associated with active ARP claims |
|
Dublin |
2,633 |
|
Donegal |
1,264 |
|
Cork |
1,217 |
|
Mayo |
1,020 |
|
Kerry |
860 |
|
Galway |
824 |
|
Tipperary |
710 |
|
Limerick |
698 |
|
Wexford |
683 |
|
Kildare |
638 |
|
Louth |
528 |
|
Waterford |
513 |
|
Westmeath |
486 |
|
Clare |
456 |
|
Meath |
451 |
|
Sligo |
397 |
|
Wicklow |
395 |
|
Offaly |
334 |
|
Carlow |
327 |
|
Leitrim |
327 |
|
Cavan |
315 |
|
Longford |
271 |
|
Laois |
254 |
|
Kilkenny |
249 |
|
Monaghan |
202 |
|
Roscommon |
89 |
|
Totals |
16,141 |
380. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total number of accommodation recognition payments currently being paid to households accommodating persons in receipt of temporary protection; to provide a breakdown, including the number of payments, by county, for each month since September 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37637/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Accommodation Recognition Payment (ARP) was introduced in July 2022 to recognise the generosity of people who have opened their homes to provide accommodation to Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) arriving in Ireland from Ukraine. The payment rate under this scheme is €800 per month per property with a unique Eircode, irrespective of whether the property is vacant or shared. The scheme is provided for under Part 2 of the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022 and is administered by the Department of Social Protection on behalf of my Department.
As of 15 September 2024, there are over 16,100 active claims in payment.
Since the scheme’s launch on 26 July 2022, over 23,300 claims have been made.
The statistical information that the Deputy has requested concerning a breakdown of claims per county per month since September 2023 is not available. A county breakdown of claims made to date is provided below.
|
County |
Total number of claims made to date |
|
Carlow |
425 |
|
Cavan |
404 |
|
Clare |
618 |
|
Cork |
1,775 |
|
Donegal |
1,510 |
|
Dublin |
4,445 |
|
Galway |
1,159 |
|
Kerry |
1,048 |
|
Kildare |
1,008 |
|
Kilkenny |
347 |
|
Laois |
352 |
|
Leitrim |
413 |
|
Limerick |
978 |
|
Longford |
344 |
|
Louth |
737 |
|
Mayo |
1,286 |
|
Meath |
733 |
|
Monaghan |
281 |
|
Offaly |
433 |
|
Roscommon |
104 |
|
Sligo |
493 |
|
Tipperary |
929 |
|
Waterford |
725 |
|
Westmeath |
644 |
|
Wexford |
978 |
|
Wicklow |
620 |
|
- |
583 |
|
Totals |
23,372 |
381. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the projects and programmes with his Department which have been allocated funding under the EU's Recovery and Resilience Programme; the funds drawn down to date in each instance; the profiled drawdown in each of the forthcoming years of the programme; the steps he is taking to ensure that projects and programmes are completed within the specified timeframe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37781/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has not received a funding allocation under the EU's Recovery and Resilience Programme. The Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform (DPENDR) are the responsible department for this fund. The Deputy may wish to put a separate question to that Department on the matter.
382. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of home support hours provided to persons with disabilities in each LHO area in each of the years 2020 to 2023; and the projected number to be provided in each LHO area in 2024. [37799/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra383. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of personal support hours provided to persons with disabilities in each LHO area in each of the years 2020 to 2023; and the projected number to be provided in each LHO area in 2024. [37800/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 382 and 383 together.
As this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
384. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when funding announced in June 2024 will be released for services supporting children with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37805/24]
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.
385. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will review the situation of a person (details supplied) who was put on the waiting list in 2023 and told the current waiting is 27 months before the child can be assessed. [37815/24]
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.
386. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps being taken to improve disability services in County Westmeath. [37838/24]
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.
387. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the amount of equipment issued under AIMS to date in 2024; the type of equipment issued; and the time it took for the said equipment to be issued to educational providers, in tabular form. [37839/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is currently collating the information requested and a reply will issue directly to the Deputy in due course.
388. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the current staffing levels of CDNTs in Longford. [37840/24]
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.
389. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of waiting lists that the HSE operate for children requiring therapy assessments and therapy services. [37848/24]
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.
390. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total number of children who have had an assessment of need completed and are on a waiting list for therapy services; the total number in each CHO and LHO; the total number of children waiting for follow on therapy following a block of fixed term appointments; and the total number in each CHO and LHO, in tabular form. [37852/24]
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.
391. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if children can undergo an assessment of need through primary care services; if children can access disability therapy services through primary care services; and if so, the number of children on the primary care waiting list for an assessment and for therapy services, in tabular form. [37850/24]
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.
392. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide funding or provide details on funding options for an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37871/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department works with Pobal and local City/County Childcare Committee’s (CCC) to offer case management support to services in difficulty. Through this process, services may also access Sustainability Funding following an assessment of need.
A strand of emergency capital for fit-out/renovation of premises or necessary maintenance has been developed by my Department under Sustainability Funding. The purpose of this funding will be to support the completion of essential/emergency capital works in Community Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) settings that are Core Funding Partner Services. Eligible services will be those that are unable to afford the costs of remedial works necessary to ensure the service meets its regulatory requirements and/or remains financially viable in the long term. The service will submit a rationale for the need, provide evidence of need, and prove eligibility for the funding. It is anticipated that this capital funding will be used to provide support to eligible service providers that are unable to afford the costs of essential remedial works. This includes critical fire safety works and emergency capital projects, both internal and external. Assess to this funding is through the Case Management process.
393. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the childcare facilities in place in Palmerstown, Dublin 20; if there are plans to increase availability of services and places in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37876/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraImproving access to quality and affordable early learning and childcare is a key priority of Government.
I am advised that there are six Tusla-registered early learning and childcare services based in Palmerstown that are in receipt of programme funding from my Department.
Data available to my Department demonstrate that, overall, early learning and childcare provision is expanding, specifically:
• Data from the Early Years Sector Profile Survey shows that, between 2021/22 and 2022/23, the estimated number of enrolments in services rose by 8% from 197,210 to 213,154.
• Core Funding application data shows that between Year 1 (from September 2022-August 2023) and Year 2 (from September 2023-August 2024) of the scheme, annual place hours increased by 7.4%.
• Data from Tusla on new service registrations and service closures shows that the overall number of early learning and care and school age childcare services is increasing and closures of early learning and care services have fallen to a five-year low.
• Data from the Early Years Sector Profile Survey showing that, between 2021/22 and 2022/23, the estimated number of staff in the early learning and childcare workforce rose by 8% from 34,357 to 37,060.
• Data from the NCS showing that since 2022, there has been a 22 per cent increase in the number of providers offering the Scheme, a 100 per cent increase in the numbers of children benefitting from the Scheme and a 52 per cent increase in the number of sponsored children.
At the same time, there are also instances of underutilisation of capacity with some services reporting vacant places and others not operating to the maximum of their Tusla capacity.
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.
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. It is important also to note that demand can vary significantly in line with families’ individual composition, circumstances and preferences; employment patterns and income; and the price and availability of services.
An important project that I have initiated this year is the development of a forward planning model to develop a better understanding of the nature of supply and how it relates to demand and in order to support the delivery of more early learning and childcare places in the parts of the country where they are needed.
The model will 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.
My Department also oversees 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 further details of the Building Blocks Extension Grant Scheme in the coming weeks.Additionally, 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. From 30 September, following the commencement of the Childminding Regulations, it will be possible for childminders to start applying to Tusla to go through the registration process. Once registered by Tusla, childminders can then also apply to take part in the National Childcare Scheme. This will increase the numbers of funded and regulated early learning and childcare places available.In individual cases where parents in mid-west Dublin are having difficulty finding a suitable early learning and childcare place, the local County Childcare Committee may be able to assist in identifying vacant places. The Committee will also support services in that area that are considering applying under the Building Blocks Extension Grant Scheme.
394. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will address the critical shortage of registered childminders in County Tipperary, particularly in light of the complex regulations that deter childminders from registering with Tusla; the immediate actions that can be taken to ensure that children with additional care needs, such as those with phenylketonuria, have access to suitable and reliable childcare, given the current lack of available spaces in registered facilities; if he will provide an update on efforts to address these issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37889/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Action Plan for Childminding 2021-2028 commits to extending regulation and supports to all paid, non-relative childminders who work in their own homes. The National Action Plan sets out a phased approach to regulation with a preparatory phase followed by an extended transition period, to allow childminders lead-in time for any requirements. This supportive, phased process aims to facilitate the largest possible number of childminders to enter the regulated sector, the sphere of quality assurance, and access to Government subsidies, while recognising the time and supports required for this reform.
Phase 1 of the National Action Plan is nearing completion. The Child Care (Amendment) Act 2024 will remove the registration exemption relating to childminders to facilitate the extension of regulation to all paid, non-relative childminders. The Act provides a definition of a childminding service and includes it as a type of early years service, and amends the Childcare Support Act 2018 to align with the definition of early years service in the Child Care Act, thus ensuring that childminders will have access to the National Childcare Scheme. The Act also provides for a transition period of three years before registration becomes mandatory. During the transition period, childminders will be able to register with Tusla under new childminder-specific regulations and will then be able to take part in the National Childcare Scheme.
I am satisfied that the new, childminding-specific Regulations, which were published last week, are proportionate and appropriate to the home and family setting in which childminders work. In finalising the new Regulations, substantial changes were made in response to feedback in the public consultation earlier this year. Childminders will be able to start applying to register under the new Regulations from 30 September. Pre-registration training, which has been designed to support childminders with regulatory compliance and the registration process, is being rolled out nationally through the City and County Childcare Committees.
Improving 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.
Data available to my Department demonstrate that, overall, early learning and childcare provision is expanding nationally. There is evidence, however, 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. It is my intention that the capital funding schemes, to be delivered over the next few years will go some way towards alleviating this issue.
An important project that I have initiated this year is the development of a forward planning model to develop a better understanding of the nature of supply and how it relates to demand and in order to support the delivery of more early learning and childcare places in the parts of the country where they are needed. The model will 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.
My Department also oversees 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 further details of the Building Blocks Extension Grant Scheme in the coming weeks.
Additionally, 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.
395. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will consider funding a new family resource centre in Carrickmacross; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37891/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra396. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will increase the funding allocated to family resources centres that carry out valuable work in their communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37892/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 395 and 396 together.
I wish to inform the Deputy that Tusla, the Child and Family Agency administers the FRC Programme, which supports 121 FRCs throughout the country. My Department allocates core funding for the FRC Programme through Tusla, which has advised my Department that the current level of funding is to sustain existing services operating in the FRC Programme.
The Deputy will be aware that at the end of April I brought forward a funding equalisation scheme for existing FRCs, which will see all FRC Programme members receive additional core funding in 2024 and ensure that minimum core funding for all FRCs is at least €160,000 from 2025 onwards. This funding will support the pivotal role FRCs play in so many communities across the country by providing a comprehensive range of services tailored to individual community needs.
In relation to the service mentioned, I can inform the Deputy that at present there are no plans to expand membership of the FRC Programme given the available funding. The commissioning of Family Resource Centres is an operational matter for Tusla, and subject to availability of funding.
However, building on my recent announcement of the funding equalisation scheme in April, it is my intention to seek funding in Budget 2025 to increase the numbers of FRCs. Any expansion of the Programme will, however, be dependent on the success of my Budget negotiations.
Organisations that wish to join the Family Resource Centre Programme are advised to contact Tusla in the first instance to highlight their interest in the Programme. As you will appreciate, the Tusla National Commissioning Office receive frequent requests to become members of the Family Resource Centre Programme from organisations in various parts of the country. In the event the Family Resource Centre Programme is expanded, a transparent process will be established to ensure all applications are treated equitably. The Tusla Area Commissioning Plan will be a critical contribution to the decision-making process. Tusla’s aim is to utilise the total resources available to it in the most efficient, equitable, proportionate and sustainable way in order to improve outcomes for children, young people, and families.
