Written Answers Nos. 453-472
453. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to the withdrawal of access for volunteers at a location (details supplied); the actions he will take to address these concerns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39964/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn order to ensure the safety of International Protection (IP) applicants, the management of site security and access at accommodation centres for those seeking IP is the responsibility of the providers contracted to run the centre. Visits to centres, including by volunteer organisations, are facilitated between 10:00 – 22:00.
As part of established policy and procedure, visitors and volunteers are requested to notify accommodation centre management who they wish to visit and fill in the appropriate visitor log with personal details for health and safety purposes. Visitors and volunteers are required to adhere to the directions of accommodation centre management. The accommodation centre manager may restrict the number of visitors or volunteers at any one time on the basis there might be a health and safety risk or security risk.
I am informed by my officials that the providers of the accommodation centre in question are engaging with local volunteers to ensure adherence to the aforementioned procedure, and that English classes are to be relocated to another nearby location while this is ongoing.
454. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason a person (details supplied) has been waiting for an occupational therapy appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39989/24]
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.
455. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for a breakdown of the €336 million announced in Budget 2025 for disability services into funds allocated for existing level of services and funds allocated for new measures. [39996/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra456. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for a breakdown of the €336 million announced in Budget 2025 for disability services into the individual measures to which this funding is to be allocated, and the amount of funding per measure; and to detail the amount each measure is to be allocated, broken down by existing level of services and new measures, in tabular form. [39997/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra457. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for a breakdown of the €336 million announced in Budget 2025 for disability services into capital and current expenditure. [39998/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra479. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide a breakdown of the funding allocated to the disability sector in Budget 2025, with a clear outline on what funding is for additional services and what funding is for the provision of services already in existence. [40233/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 455, 456, 457 and 479 together.
The €336m in additional funding for Disability Services includes:
• €290m in ELS, a significant provision which recognises the challenges prevailing in the sector including the increased cost of service provision, pay cost pressures and service provider sustainability.
• In addition, the ELS will provide for the full year cost of new service activity in 2024 and, in a departure from previous years, ELS will also include provision for service expansion in line with demographic growth.
• A further €42m is allocated for new development measures to build on the service expansion achieved in 2024.
• Across ELS and NDM, funding has been provided for Children’s Services, Day Services, Residential Services, Respite, Personal Assistance and Home Support hours and other supports to assist people to continue living independently in their own home.
• In addition, the capital allocation for Disability services will increase by €4m (from €23m in 2024 to €27m in 2025) supporting infrastructure development across respite, day services, children’s services and decongregation.
• The specific quantities of service to be provided through this additional allocation will be set out in more detail in the HSE’s National Service Plan.
458. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 551 of 23 April 2024, when he will publish his Department’s legislative proposals arising from its wider review of the Equal Status Acts 2000-2018 and the Employment Equality Acts 1998-2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40008/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe ongoing review of the Equality Acts is examining the functioning of the Acts and their effectiveness in combatting discrimination and promoting equality.
In July 2021, my Department undertook a public consultation process as part of this review. A report summarising the key issues raised in the public consultation was published last year and can be accessed here: www.gov.ie/en/press-release/cafb4-minister-ogorman-publishes-report-on-the-submissions-to-the-public-consultation-on-the-review-of-the-equality-acts/ .
In light of time constraints, I have chosen to prioritise some issues that I had originally intended to progress together with the wider review. I was very pleased to publish the Maternity Protection Bill 2024 last week, and intend to progress it to enactment swiftly including bringing Committee Stage amendments which would restrict the use of non-disclosure agreements in cases of discrimination.
In the meantime, my officials are finalising the legislative proposals arising from the review and giving further consideration to issues raised by stakeholders. It is planned that these legislative proposals will be brought to Cabinet as soon as possible.
459. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide a breakdown of the allocation of the additional €7 million for youth services announced as part of Budget 2025; to provide a breakdown in terms of current and capital spending; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40096/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra460. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide detail on the funding available from his Department for a new pilot initiative to address holiday hunger among young people attending youth work services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40097/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra462. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide detail on the funding available from his Department to implement the new national strategy for youth work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40099/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra463. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide detail on the funding provided under Budget 2025 for universal youth services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40100/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 459, 460, 462 and 463 together.
I am very pleased to have secured an increase in youth service funding by 9% for 2025, bringing my Department's investment under our main youth budget subhead to a total of €84.9 million.
This increased level of funding will enable the expansion of youth service capacity to engage more young people, across both universal and targeted youth services, including the establishment of 10 new targeted youth services under the UBU Your Place Your Space scheme. Additionally, a new pilot initiative will be implemented to support selected youth services in providing meals during school holiday periods, as part of the Government’s commitment to tackling Holiday Hunger. Furthermore, €1 million in capital funding is being allocated under the Youth Affairs subhead, with €500,000 specifically earmarked for upgrading play and recreation facilities.
My officials are examining the options for 2025 allocations in advance of the publication of the Revised Estimates Volume, with a more detailed breakdown to be released at that time on the percentage increase in allocation for universal services.
Question No. 460 answered with Question No. 459.
461. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide detail on the funding available from his Department to participate in decision making within the framework of the Participation of Children and Young People in Decision-Making: Action Plan 2023-2028; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40098/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Participation of Children and Young People in Decision-making: Action Plan 2023-2028 builds on the ambitions of the National Strategy for Children and Young People's Participation in Decision-making 2015-2020, and expands into more areas such as the home, digital and legal settings in which children and young people engage. All participation initiatives undertaken by DCEDIY, through the National Participation Office and Hub na nÓg , are guided by the National Participation Framework for Children and Young People's Participation in Decision-making. The Framework provides practical tools for all adults working with, and for children and young people, to ensure their voices are included in decision-making.
My department does not provide funding under the Participation of Children and Young People in Decision-making: Action Plan 2023-2028, but support is readily available through established structures and resources which are funded by my Department to promote and support the participation of children and young people in decision-making.
• Hub na nÓg, an initiative of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, is the national centre of excellence and coordination in children and young people’s participation in decision making. Hub na nÓg supports government departments, state agencies, public service and non-government organisations in providing opportunities for children and young people to participate in decision-making, with a particular focus on those that are seldom-heard;
• The National Framework for Children and Young People’s Participation in Decision-making supports departments, agencies and organisations to improve their participation practice with children and young people;
• Participation checklists and evaluation forms guide decision-makers in the use of the Lundy model and good practice principles in planning and implementing the involvement of children and young people in decision-making.
• The National Participation Office (NPO) which manages and coordinates the activities of Comhairle na nÓg (youth councils), Dáil na nÓg (youth parliament), the Comhairle na nÓg National Executive, The National Youth Assembly of Ireland and other related youth participation initiatives and structures.
• In addition DCEDIY is building the capacity of civil and public servants and sectoral decision makers through bespoke training modules.
Question No. 463 answered with Question No. 459.
464. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of recruitment agencies Tusla is currently on a contract with regarding employment of staff; and the costs associated with each of the contracts, in tabular form. [40130/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to inform the Deputy that my officials have asked Tusla to respond directly to you on this matter.
465. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of Palestinian citizens given advance clearance to relocate to Ireland while still in the Palestinian regions under Israeli attack, Gaza and the West Bank in particular, as programme refugees, in the past year; and the number and citizenship of others who have benefitted from the Irish refugee protection programme since October 2020 when he became responsible for administering the programme. [40137/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Irish Refugee Protection Programme (IRRP), which was established in 2015, operates on the basis of UNHCR referrals of refugees for consideration for resettlement in Ireland and more recently, a humanitarian scheme for Afghan nationals impacted by the Taliban takeover in 2021.
UNHCR's mandate does not include Palestine Refugees in Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, Jordan or the Syrian Arab Republic. This is under UNWRA's mandate.
Over 1,100 people have been resettled in Ireland in the period since I assumed responsibility for administering this Programme. The programme has resettled Syrian and Afghan nationals who were residing in a variety of countries, including Jordan, Lebanon, Iran and Pakistan.
466. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated cost of increasing wages to ERO rates in the early years sector in 2022 and 2024, for early years educators, lead educators, deputy managers and managers, in tabular form. [40165/24]
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, 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.
The calculation for the 2022 EROs are based on Annual Early Years Sector Profile Survey (AEYSP) 2021/22 data, for which data was collected in June 2022, shortly before the EROs came into force. Based on this data, it is estimated that the total cost to employers of bringing staff up to initial ERO rates whose wages were below the proposed ERO rates was €55 million and are set out by role in the table below:
|
Role |
Rates |
Total wage cost to meet ERO (incl Employer Cost and Extrap) |
|
Educator |
Up to 13 |
€ 18,338,367.04 |
|
Lead Educator |
Up to 14 |
€ 9,471,710.89 |
|
Grad Lead Educator |
Up to 15.50 |
€ 11,968,849.48 |
|
Deputy Manager |
Up to 15.70 |
€ 3,370,182.82 |
|
Manager |
Up to 16.50 |
€ 3,318,400.51 |
|
Grad Manager |
Up to 17.25 |
€ 8,416,768.68 |
|
Total |
€ 54,884,279.43 |
Assumptions made for analysing AEYSP datasets were as follows;
• Where there was no rate of pay recorded for a staff member, the mean rate for the role was used.
• The same approach was used for those who had incomplete working hours recorded in the dataset.
• Reported wage rates under €8/hr and over €70/hr were assumed to be erroneous and were replaced by the average pay rate for the role of the individual staff member.
• A similar approach was used for staff reported to work more than 60 hours a week.
• Where annual (instead of hourly) incomes had been entered, hourly rates of pay were calculated based on the working weeks and hours entered for the individuals.
• As there is no indicator within the AEYSP dataset for Graduate Premiums, the proportion of Lead Educators and Managers with Level 7 and above qualifications was estimated based on the proportions of staff in these roles who are receiving Graduate Premiums in Core Funding.
• The total wage costs include a 20% employer contribution (to reflect PRSI, holiday replacement, and sick pay) and an extrapolation rate associated with the response rate for the dataset.
On the basis of 2024 data supplied by Partner Services taking part in the Core Funding scheme, the estimated costs to employers of meeting the minimum pay rates specified in the June 2024 EROs is €20.1 million and are set out by role in the table below:
|
Role |
June 2024 ERO rates |
Total wage cost (incl Employ Cost and Extrap) |
|
Educator |
€13.65 |
€ 7,771,855.00 |
|
Lead Educator |
€14.70 |
€ 3,177,695.00 |
|
Grad Lead Educator |
€16.28 |
€ 6,215,036.00 |
|
Manager |
€17.33 |
€ 1,452,891.00 |
|
Grad Manager |
€18.11 |
€ 1,485,582.00 |
|
Total |
€ 20,103,059.00 |
In relation to the estimated costs, 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 June 24th.
• Calculations are based on minimum rates of pay set out in the initial ERO which came into 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 first EROs, whichever is higher, up to the new ERO rate. E.g. for an early year’s educator, costs are estimated based on current rate of pay up to €13.65 (Initial ERO minimum rate for Educators 13.00+ increased listed 65c).
• 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.
• Core Funding data on the role of Deputy Manager was inconsistently entered and in small quantities that would not allow for accurate estimates on costing s to be calculate. It is assumed that the role of Deputy Manager is being reflected in the rates of other roles.
467. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated cost of giving early years staff a 50c pay increase over twelve months, for all grades. [40166/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra468. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated cost of giving early years staff a 75c pay increase over twelve months, for all grades. [40167/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra469. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated cost of giving early years staff a €1 pay increase over twelve months, for all grades. [40168/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 467, 468 and 469 together.
I 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, 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) are set out in the table:
|
Pay increase |
Estimated additional cost to employers |
|
€0.50 |
€18.4 million |
|
€0.75 |
€29.9 million |
|
€1.00 |
€42.3 million |
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.
• Calculations are there based on minimum rates of pay set out in the initial ERO which came into effect in June 2024.
• 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 first EROs, 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 up to €14.15 (Initial ERO minimum rate for Educators €13.65+ increased listed 50c).
• 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 €350m 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.
Question No. 468 answered with Question No. 467.
Question No. 469 answered with Question No. 467.
470. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department records the number of early years facilities affected by mica, pyrite, defective concrete blocks, and other construction defects, respectively; if such data is publicly available, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40169/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department works with Pobal and local Childcare Committees to offer Case Management Supports to services in difficulty. Through this process, services may also access Sustainability Funding following an assessment of need. One strand of this funding can support a service with the cost of relocation. Services who experience issues with defective blocks or construction issues are encouraged to contact their local City/County Childcare Committee (CCC).
In the first instance the local CCC will assist the service in trying to source a suitable alternative location. If a suitable alternative location is sourced, my Department will engage with Pobal and the CCC regarding the service, and will assist in funding a relocation through the Case Management Process.
My Department is aware of 3 services who have engaged their CCC as they have been affected by mica.
The safety of children and staff is paramount, and the Department has been assured that services will not be able to operate if it is deemed unsafe to do so.
471. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the last time that a Department inspector visited Citywest to determine the number of persons from Ukraine that are currently staying there as beneficiaries of temporary protection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40178/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraSenior departmental officials are located within the Citywest Complex and work there on a daily basis. Additionally, a dedicated senior official in my Department has overall responsibility for the hotel and visits the hotel weekly. This official receives daily occupancy reports and holds regular meetings with hotel management.
472. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of meals that are served each day at Citywest to persons from Ukraine who are currently staying there as beneficiaries of temporary protection; if these are all accounted for with the Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40179/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy officials have confirmed that the number of meals served to Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) staying in Citywest Hotel is approximately 4,000 per day. Residents contribute €10 per adult and €5 per child per day and are provided with three meals daily. I can confirm that BOTPs are required to check in outside the food hall before gaining access to ensure they are entitled to meals.
