Written Answers Nos. 422-441
422. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when amendments or a decision will be made to end the accommodation recognition payment scheme, which is due to expire on 31 March 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13096/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Accommodation Recognition Payment scheme is currently in place until 31 March 2025. However, the scheme may be extended by Ministerial order, subject to Oireachtas approval.
In making an order to extend the scheme, I am required under the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022 (Act of 2022) to have regard to the need to continue to make provision for a financial contribution to assist in increasing the availability of accommodation for temporary protection beneficiaries
This scheme is an important instrument of public policy that has supported my Department in meeting the accommodation needs of those fleeing the war. It has also diverted thousands of beneficiaries away from State-contracted accommodation.
Section 4(2) of the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022 enables me to make such change to a date considered appropriate, following consultation with the Minister for Social Protection and the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform. I can confirm that I have undertaken those consultations and that a decision on an extension of the scheme will be made before March 31.
The Act of 2022 also requires, where such an order is proposed to be made, that a draft of the order be laid before each House of the Oireachtas and that the order shall not be made until a resolution approving the draft has been passed by each House of the Oireachtas. I wish to confirm a draft order to extend the scheme has been laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas and will shortly be considered in each House.
423. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if it is her intention to close the accommodation recognition payment scheme to new entrants given that the current scheme is due to expire on 31 March 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13097/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Accommodation Recognition Payment Scheme, which is currently in place until 31 March 2025, is an important instrument of public policy that has supported my Department in meeting the accommodation needs of those fleeing the war. It has also diverted thousands of beneficiaries away from State-contracted accommodation.
Section 4(2) of the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022 enables me to make such change to a date considered appropriate, following consultation with the Minister for Social Protection and the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform. I can confirm that I have undertaken those consultations.
The Act of 2022 also requires, where such an order is proposed to be made, that a draft of the order be laid before each House of the Oireachtas and that the order shall not be made until a resolution approving the draft has been passed by each House of the Oireachtas. I wish to confirm a draft order to extend the scheme has been laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas and will shortly be considered in each House.
424. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if it is her intention to ban additional payments by a beneficiary of temporary protection to an accommodation recognition payment application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13098/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Accommodation Recognition Payment (ARP), which is provided for under Part 2 of the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022, is paid in recognition of the generosity of those who host. It is not intended to substitute rent. The legislation is silent in terms of additional contributions requested by the host provided this does not constitute a rental agreement. However, a host may agree with beneficiaries in the accommodation to have certain costs such as utilities covered by them.
The requirements of the scheme are quite clear. Where a rental agreement is in place, ARP will not be payable to a host as provided for in section 6(1)(e) of the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022. Section 6(4) of the Act of 2022 defines a rental agreement as “an agreement or arrangement under which one party grants to the other party a right to occupy all or part of a dwelling, subject to the payment of money by that other party to the first-mentioned party.”
The Government continues to keep the operation of the scheme under review.
425. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of recipients of the accommodation recognition payment are doing so in respect of a property which is not their own principle primary residence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13099/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Accommodation Recognition Payment was introduced to recognise the generosity of private individuals who have provided accommodation on a humanitarian basis to Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) from Ukraine. The monthly payment rate under this scheme is €800 per property with a unique Eircode, irrespective of whether the property is vacant or shared with the host.
The information that the Deputy has requested is not available as this data is not collected. As previously mentioned, the payment is available to hosts irrespective of whether the property is their principal residence, provided the scheme’s eligibility criteria are met. It is also open to a tenant to apply for the payment, in place of the owner, provided they have the consent of any other owners or tenants.
426. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the meetings she has had, any written briefings she has received, or other information brought to her attention in respect of the accommodation recognition payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13100/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm for the Deputy that I was briefed by officials in the usual course on arrival in this Department and the Accommodation Recognition Payment was flagged as a priority. I have also been briefed in person and in writing when considering the scheme’s future.
As required under the governing legislation, I have consulted with the Minister for Social Protection and the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform on the scheme’s future.
I have also received correspondence from numerous stakeholders, including NGOs, civil society organisations, public officials and members of the public, concerning the scheme and its future.
427. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if she has sought or received any briefings, reports or analysis on the impact that the accommodation recognition payment may be having on the private rental sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13101/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has not sought or received reports or analysis on impacts that the accommodation recognition payment may be having on the private rental sector.
However, before considering extending the scheme, my Department consulted its key pledge stakeholders; the Irish Red Cross, the International Organisation for Migration and the Local Government Management Agency, via survey and facilitated discussion, as well as the Ukraine Civil Society and Action Forums through a survey only.
The scheme has been of huge value in supporting the State to meet the accommodation needs of those beneficiaries who have sought refuge here. As of 10 March 2025, there were almost 20,100 active claims in payment in respect of hosting over 37,200 beneficiaries of temporary protection (BOTPs).
Rather than interfering with the rental market, the scheme has been responsible for introducing a stream of accommodation that wouldn’t have been otherwise available, diverting BOTPs away from state-contracted accommodation and the private rental sector – a view expressed by a number of support organisations in recent submissions to me seeking an extension of the scheme.
The Accommodation Recognition Payment is not rent. It is not compensation. It is a recognition of the humanitarian hosting of Ukrainians fleeing a war.
The scheme is also a more cost-effective solution for the State than commercial accommodation. It has allowed us to move away from a total reliance on tourism and hospitality settings, and has enabled us to better consolidate our accommodation portfolio generally.
As the Temporary Protection Directive has been extended to 4 March 2026, consideration is being given to the extension of the scheme. A decision will be made shortly.
428. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if her attention has been drawn to a shortage of pre-school places in Shankill; the work her Department is doing to ensure that this is addressed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13107/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraImproving access to quality and affordable Early Learning and Care and School Age Childcare is a key priority of Government.
Early learning and childcare capacity is increasing. An annual sector profile demonstrates an 8% increase in enrolments between 2021/22 and 2022/23. Core Funding application data shows that between Year 1 and Year 2 of the scheme, annual place hours increased by almost 8%. The Tusla register of services demonstrates a net increase in the numbers of registered early learning and childcare services in 2024. However, it appears that demand for Early Learning and Care and School Age Childcare remains higher than available supply, particularly for younger children and in certain parts of the country.
Demand for early learning and childcare beyond sessional pre-school provision is highly elastic and shaped very substantially by families' individual composition, circumstances, and preferences; employment patterns and income; and the price and availability of services.
Last year, a Supply Management Unit within the Early Learning and Care and School Age Childcare Division was established, and the Programme for Government articulates an intention that the unit be resourced and transformed into a Forward Planning and Delivery Unit to identify areas of need, forecast demand, and deliver public supply within the early learning and childcare sector where required.
A forward planning model is in development which will be central to my Department's plans to achieve the policy goals set out in the Programme for Government to build an affordable, high-quality, accessible early childhood education and care system, with State-led facilities adding capacity.
My Department continues to support the ongoing development and resourcing of Core Funding which has given rise to a significant expansion of places since the scheme was first introduced. Core Funding, which is in its third programme year, funds services based on the number of places available, whether or not they are filled.
This provides stability to services, and reduces the risk associated with opening a new service or expanding an already existing service. For the current programme year, the allocation for Core Funding allows for a 6% increase in capacity. Additional funding was secured in Budget 2025 to facilitate a further 3.5% increase from September 2025, in the fourth programme year.
The Government is also supporting the expansion of capacity through capital funding. The Building Blocks Extension Grant Scheme was launched on the 4th of November 2024. Applications for this scheme have now closed and an appraisal process is underway. The primary focus of the Extension Grant Scheme is to increase capacity in the 1–3-year-old, pre–Early Childhood Care and Education, age range for full day care.
Appraisal of applications for this scheme will consider the supply and demand in the area around the proposed projects and seeks to prioritise funding for areas with the biggest supply/demand mismatch. €25m will be made available this year to deliver additional capacity under the Scheme and I expect to announce the outcome of the application process in the coming weeks.
My Department funds 30 City/County Childcare Committees, which provide support and assist families and early learning and childcare providers. The network of 30 City/County Childcare Committees across the country can assist in identifying vacant places in services for children and families who need them and engage proactively with services to explore possibilities for expansion among services, particularly where there is unmet need.
Parents experiencing difficulty in relation to their early learning and childcare needs should contact their local City/County Childcare Committee for assistance. Contact details for Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Childcare Committee may be found at dlrccc.ie.
429. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of WTE psychologists based at children's disability network teams within CHO3 in 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form. [13118/25]
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.
430. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the details of any secondments from consulting firms to her Department since 2020; the consulting firm involved; the purpose of the secondment; the durations of the secondments; who paid the salary of the individual seconded; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13177/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere have been no secondments from consulting firms to my Department since 2020.
431. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason that foetal alcohol spectrum disorder is not deemed by her Department or agencies under her aegis to be a disability at this time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13233/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraResponsibility for foetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) resides with Department of Health’s (DOH) Health and Wellbeing unit. FASD is not deemed to be a disability at this time, and as a result, the services needed to address issues around FASD are primarily found within the remit of DOH. The DOH currently have the remit over the Expert Advisory Group on FASD directly relevant to the question posed by the Deputy, therefore this is a matter for the office of the Minister for Health.
432. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if her Department, or any agency under her Department’s remit, have, since 1 November 2024, entered any contract in respect of a hotel (details supplied) or have had any discussions, or received any offers, in respect of using this premises for any reason; the details of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13272/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraA response will be provided directly to you in the coming days.
434. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health the number of people on adolescent primary care mental health waiting lists in each of the past four years who were assessed for transition to primary care mental health waiting lists. [13005/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra435. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health the number of people in each of the past four years who were removed from primary care mental health waiting lists due to reaching the age of 18, broken down by CHO. [13006/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 434 and 435 together.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.
436. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE community orthoptist posts in the CHO5 area in the year 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form. [12957/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.
437. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Health if the commitments made in the 2020 Programme for Government regarding the implementation of an informed consent model of care for hormone replacement therapy, simplifying the process for 16 and 17 year old trans people to acquire a gender recognition certificate, and ensuring that Government bodies use a trans or non-binary individual’s correct pronouns remain the policy and ambition of the current Government; if the current Government has watered down its commitments towards trans and non-binary people given the lack of attention they are paid in the 2025 Programme for Government when compared with the 2020 Programme for Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12966/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs set out in the Programme for Government 2025, this Government is committed to ensuring a gender healthcare service that is based on clinical evidence, respect, inclusiveness and compassion.
The provision of proper, appropriate and integrated gender healthcare services is something that I and the HSE want to ensure is in place for those who are questioning their gender identity or are experiencing gender incongruence or dysphoria.
A new clinical programme for gender healthcare has been initiated by the HSE, and over the next two years an updated clinical model for gender healthcare services will be developed. This work will inform an implementation plan for its delivery.
The model of care will be developed in a consultative way, engaging with stakeholders, healthcare professionals working in gender healthcare, those that use and receive support from the service and their families. The initial work will involve carrying out an evidence-based review of current research.
International evidence on clinical interventions, including but not limited to hormone therapies and gender affirming surgery, will be included in this review of the evidence base. The Model of Care will consider all available information, and will not be aligned with any one study, report, or set of guidelines.
Developing a Model of Care for Gender Healthcare Services is expected to be a complex process and the HSE and my department will work closely together to support the process, ensure transparency and keep the patient at the centre of the process.
It is important that the HSE is given time to develop a model of care that is based on the best clinical evidence and that will deliver the best outcomes for persons with gender incongruence or dysphoria.
In short, I and the Government as a whole, remains strongly committed to the development of appropriate gender healthcare services.
In respect of gender recognition arrangements, Section 7 of the Gender Recognition Act 2015 (GRA 2015) required the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to commence a review of the Act within 2 years of its coming into operation, and to report to the Oireachtas within 12 months of the commencement of the review. The implementation of the review groups recommendations is a matter for the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection.
438. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health the supports and services currently available on a State-wide basis for people suffering with fibromyalgia; the details of the specific provisions in the north west, including any planned expansions or improvements to service delivery in the area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12967/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
439. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Health the total number of copper communication lines within her Department currently in active operation and for which her Department is paying for on a monthly basis inclusive of ISDN, PTSN and copper-based lease lines; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12988/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has no active copper communication lines in place, inclusive of ISDN, PSTN and copper based leased lines.
440. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health the protocol that is followed when persons who are on waiting lists for adolescent primary care mental health teams reach the age of 18; if they are informed of their being removed; if they are automatically added to an adult list or informed of their right to apply for an adult waiting list; and whether such persons are removed from the list. [12998/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive Service to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
441. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health if persons who have reached the age 18 and are on primary care adolescent primary care mental health waiting list, are then removed from the waiting list. [12999/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
