Written Answers Nos. 941-953
941. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 18 of 24 October 2024, the number of payments made in each category of Schedules 2 and 3 of the 2023 Act; the number of applications refused and the reasons therefor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44591/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme is designed to provide payments and medical supports to people who spent time in one or more of the 44 Mother and Baby or County Home Institutions as set out in Schedule 1 to the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Act, 2023.
As of 28 October, over 5,300 applications have been received, of which over 4,800 are completed applications which can be processed. In the case of incomplete applications, applicants are being supported by the Payment Scheme Office in order to provide outstanding information so that their application can move forward. This could be, for example, a supporting document such as certified photo ID.
Almost 4,200 notices of determination have issued, over 82% of which contain an offer of benefits under the Scheme. Applicants have 6 months to consider their offer before they need to respond. Where notices of determination do not provide an offer of benefits, this is due to not meeting the relevant eligibility criteria.
To date, over 2,600 applicants have accepted an offer under the Scheme, and more than 2,200 payments are either processed and completed or in the process of being made (over 1,000 in Schedule 2 and over 1,200 in Schedule 3).
942. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if consideration will be given to granting a second overage exemption for the ECCE programme (details supplied), whose developmental age differs significantly from her chronological age due to medical and developmental delays; and if he will review the criteria and available supports to ensure that all children, regardless of developmental pathway, are given equal access to early childhood education and the necessary support mechanisms to facilitate their attendance. [44595/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme, funded by my Department, provides universal, free pre-school to children within the eligible age range of 2 years and 8 months to 5 years and 6 months. The upper age limit of 5 years and 6 months for ECCE was set in consultation with the Department of Education and ensures that children transition into primary school with their peers.
In a limited number of circumstances, it is possible to apply for an exemption to the upper age limit of 5 years 6 months where a child has special/additional needs. An exemption has already been granted for the child named and there is no provision for granting a second overage exemption.
I am acutely aware that the transition to primary school can be an anxious time for parents however the ECCE programme should not delay a child’s entry to primary school.
The National Disability Authority (NDA) in 2018, carried out a review of the over-age exemption process for this Department and the Department of Education.
In their published report, the NDA concluded that it is in the best interest of children with additional needs to transition to primary school with their age cohort.
Supports are available for school aged children through the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), affiliated to the Department of Education, to support children in the primary school setting. I would urge the child’s parents to contact her local Special Education Needs Organiser (SENO) for further assistance at NCSE.ie.
943. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the position in relation to the provision of a residential placement for a person in County Cork (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44616/24]
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.
944. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 288 of 18 June 2024, whereby it was stated that Cork Kerry Community Healthcare are in contact with the family of the child (details supplied) regarding transport to be provided, if he will provide an update; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44665/24]
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.
945. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what steps are being taken to improve supports for children with disabilities in Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44689/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to service/operational matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
946. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total number of children on waiting lists under CDNT and primary care for occupational therapy and speech and language therapy in counties Roscommon and Galway; and the average waiting times, in tabular form. [44745/24]
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.
947. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total number of children on waiting lists for assessments of need in counties Roscommon and Galway; and the average waiting times, in tabular form. [44746/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to service/operational matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
948. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of individuals whose Tusla files were lost, either wholly or partially, in the HSE cyberattack of May 2021; and the specific cause of the data loss. [44768/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra949. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of individuals whose Tusla files are unaccounted for by the agency. [44769/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 948 and 949 together.
Thank you Deputy for your questions in relation to the loss of files and the consequences of the criminal cyberattack on the HSE.
As you are aware, on 14 May 2021, the Health Service Executive (HSE) was the victim of a major ransomware cyber-attack which affected its IT systems. At that time, the HSE provided several IT services to Tusla. During the cyber-attack, some personal information belonging to a number of people who have been involved with Tusla services, and a small number of Tusla employees, was illegally accessed and data was copied. The Tusla Information and Communications Technology (ICT) department worked closely with the HSE and security experts to contain the cyber-attack. Tusla and the HSE were assisted by the Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau, the International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) and the National Cyber Security Centre to support the response. The Data Protection Commissioner (DPC) was also notified.
In total, Tusla notified 6,986 individuals of their data being illegally accessed and copied as a result of the cyber-attack.
No Tusla case files are unaccounted for following the cyberattack on the Health Services Executive in May 2021.
Due to the sensitive nature of the information Tusla is required to maintain, staff are familiar with Data Protection, systems are designed with it in mind and Tusla has an excellent record of transparency and cooperation with the Data Protection Commission.
More detail of the 14 May 2021 Cyber-attack on the Health Service Executive (HSE) and the impact on Tusla can be found on the Tusla website here: www.tusla.ie/dataprotection/
950. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for details of which HSE Health areas will be reviewing the 2025 section 39 funding applications for an organisation (details supplied); if he will arrange for the organisation to be contacted directly to provide point of contact and liaise with them in relation to each of their applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44775/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhilst the Minister has committed to funding the helpline service, funding for the other 3 areas mentioned are a matter for Department of Health. In order to respond in a timely manner, the DCEDIY are accepting this PQ for referral to the HSE noting that other relevant matters are under the responsibility of the Department of Health.
951. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if financial or other supports are available to a mother who is homeschooling their seven children of various ages under home tuition; if so, the details and the way to apply for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44822/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis is a matter for my cabinet colleague, the Minister for Education.
952. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if Directive (EU) 2019/1158 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2019 on work-life balance for parents and carers and repealing Council Directive 2010/18/EU has been transposed into Irish law. [44826/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraEU Directive 2019/1158 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2019 on work-life balance for parents and carers has been transposed in full through the provisions of the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023. Enacted on 4 April 2023, the Act introduces important entitlements for workers, including leave for medical care purposes for parents of children under 12, and the right to request flexible working for parents and carers, as provided for in the EU Work Life Balance Directive (2019/1158). Such flexible working arrangements will allow parents and carers to alter their working day or pattern to care for children or others for whom they have caring responsibilities. The Act also provides for a right to request remote working for all employees.
All of the provisions of the Act have now been commenced, including the introduction, as of 3 July 2023, of leave for medical care purposes for parents and carers and amendments to the Maternity Protection Acts to provide for the extension of breastfeeding breaks. An order amending regulations relating to breastfeeding breaks made under the Maternity Protection Acts was also made on that date.
The right to request flexible working for parents and carers and the right to request remote working for all employees, were commenced on 6 March 2024 following the preparation of a Code of Practice by the Workplace Relations Commission. The Code includes guidance for employers and employees on their obligations regarding compliance. In addition, all workers have the right to request remote working from their employer.
The 2023 Act provides explicitly for a review of the right to request flexible working for parents and carers two years after commencement of those provisions.
Legislative provisions introducing domestic violence leave were also commenced on 27 November 2023. Section 7 of the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023 inserts a new Section 13AA into the Parental Leave Act 1998 (as amended) to provide for five days paid domestic violence leave in any 12 month period. Victims of domestic violence will receive their full pay if they need to take domestic violence leave.
953. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of mobile phones issued to staff in 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024; and the total costs expended by his Department on handsets and phones bills over the same timeframe. [44855/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to inform the Deputy that the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) has issued the following number of mobile handsets over the period covered…
133 devices in 2022
125 devices in 2023
121 devices in 2024
For a total cost, excluding VAT, of handsets and phone bills of €198,797.94.
|
- |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
|
Number of mobile handsets ordered for each of the following years |
133 |
125 |
121 |
|
Total phone bill costs for each of the following years ( i.e. total handsets and phone bills costs) |
€77,614.56 |
€59,560.10 |
€61,623.28 |
