Written Answers Nos. 774-793
774. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the immediate actions being taken to address the understaffing and funding issues within Tusla; the means by which she plans to address the understaffing in the north west, specifically regarding caseloads of children in foster care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51503/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThank you Deputy, for your question on this important matter. I will outline the actions that the Department has been and continues taking to address Tusla's funding and staffing requirements.
In 2025, Tusla received an increase in funding of €153m. This brought it's budget from €1.132bn in 2024 to €1.284bn in 2025 representing the third consecutive year that Tusla's funding exceeded €1bn.
The increased funding in 2025 is enabling Tusla to support foster carers, increase residential care capacity, address gaps in special care provision, and expand provision for family support services.
Tusla had 5,417 whole time equivalent (WTE) staff, as at the end of June 2025. This equates to a net increase of 291 WTE (5.7%) from June 2024. This includes a net additional 77 social workers (4.9%) and 73 social care workers (5.5%). Staffing numbers are expected to rise further by the end of 2025.
Notwithstanding these increases, the Government acknowledges the current level of social work vacancies in Tusla, and the challenges in recruitment and retention, as well as increasing levels of referrals to Tusla.
The Department has ensured that social worker staffing is included as a priority in Tusla's Performance Framework 2024-2026.
The Department is supporting Tusla with a number of initiatives to retain and recruit social workers, and other disciplines, to meet demand for services.
These initiatives include:
• A new Special Care Worker grade, offering a top salary nearly 20% higher than the standard Social Care Worker grade, and over 3% higher than the Social Care Leader grade.
• A Social Work Apprenticeship programme, launched with the HSE and UCC in 2024. Tusla welcomed 36 apprentices in 2024 and a further 77 to date in 2025 under this programme.
• A work based-learning programme, leading to a BA in Social Care. Tusla has welcomed 18 work-based learners to this programme in 2025.
Further increases to Tusla funding are being sought in the context of Budget 2026. This reflects the increased levels of demand for Tusla services across society. Both I and the department are working closely with government colleagues, to secure significant additional investment in Tusla for 2026.
775. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she intends to allocate funding in the upcoming Budget for a team for the southeast, in line with the Programme for Government commitment to complete the nationwide roll out of community neurorehabilitation teams; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51576/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government – 'Securing Ireland’s Future’ - includes a commitment for advancing Neuro-Rehabilitation services nationally including the completion of the national rollout of Health Service Executive (HSE) Community Neuro-rehabilitation Teams.
The HSE is leading on the implementation framework in respect of the recommendations of the National Policy and Strategy for the provision of Neuro-Rehabilitation Services in Ireland 2011-2015.
The Neuro-Rehabilitation Strategy Implementation Framework was launched in February 2019. The overarching aim of the Strategy is the development of neuro-rehabilitation services to improve patient outcomes by providing safe, high quality, person-centred neuro-rehabilitation at the lowest appropriate level of complexity. This must be integrated across the care pathway and provided as close to home as possible or in specialist centres where necessary.
The National Neurorehabilitation Strategy and National Clinical Programme for Rehabilitation Medicine outline the need for people who experience impairments resulting from a neurological illness or injury to have access to specialist Neuro-Rehabilitation services through coordinated networks called Managed Clinical Rehabilitation Networks.
The aim is to configure services into population based Managed Clinical Rehabilitation Networks (MCRNs) with the aim being to develop MCRNs around the country.
To support the HSE’s work in delivering on the implementation framework, responsibility for the development of in-patient services lies with the Department of Health, while the Department of Children, Disability and Equality holds responsibility for the development of community neuro-rehabilitation teams.
Community Neuro Rehabilitation Teams (CNRTs) are specialised teams providing specialist neuro-rehabilitation to people with complex needs close to home. They provide a critical link in the care pathway by facilitating early discharge and continuity from both acute and post-acute rehabilitation facilities.
The National Neuro-Rehabilitation Strategy is rolling out CNRTs nationally, underpinned by standardised process and procedures.
The HSE’s 2025 National Service Plan, sets out its commitment to develop Community Neuro-Rehabilitation Teams (CNRTs) in line with the 2019 Neuro-Rehabilitation Implementation Framework and enhance capacity for its implementation nationally, to ensure equity access for those who need it regardless of where they live.
To date, this Government has provided funding for Community Neuro-Rehabilitation Teams (CNRT) in HSE Galway, Roscommon and Mayo, HSE South-West, HSE Dublin South and Wicklow and HSE Dublin South West, South City and West and Kildare West Wicklow. Each team includes 12 Whole Time Equivalents and recruitment is progressing with all four teams currently being onboarded.
In addition to these new teams, there are two CNRTs in existence in HSE Donegal and HSE Mid West that predate the strategy.
Moving forward with the strategy, the intention is to enhance the existing CNRTs, develop CNRT’s in Regional Health Areas (RHAs) where they are currently not yet in place and to create a large population-based Community Neuro-Rehabilitation Team within each RHA, following the implementation of the new Regional Health Areas within Sláintecare.
Consideration of Specialist Disability Services and funding requirements for Budget 2026 is ongoing. The Department of Children, Disability and Equality has been actively engaging with the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation and the Health Service Executive throughout this process.
Confirmation and further information on funding to be provided will be made public following the announcement of the Budget 2026, later this year.
As Budget 2026 has not yet been announced, confirmation regarding funding for CNRTs in specific regions cannot yet be provided. Following confirmation of 2026 funding, the HSE will publish their 2026 National Service Plan, which will set out expected activity for 2026.
776. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will review the waiting times of two to three years for shared care placements, similar to the case of a child (details supplied) in acute crisis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51586/25]
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.
777. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of duty social workers provided by Tusla, divided by area, in tabular form. [51590/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to inform the Deputy that my officials have asked Tusla to respond directly to you on this matter.
778. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the average length of service for duty social workers in Tusla. [51591/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to inform the Deputy that my officials have asked Tusla to respond directly to you on this matter.
779. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will review correspondence regarding foster carers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51597/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFoster carers play a vital and valued role in the care of the most vulnerable children in our society. Foster care is the preferred option for children who cannot live with their family of origin, and foster carers provide a safe, secure and stable home environment for these vulnerable children and young people.
The Programme for Government 2025 (PfG) sets out the Government’s intention to provide further support for foster carers, including further increases to the foster care allowance and the new Initial Placement Payment, a commitment to examine pension provision for foster carers, and examine eligibility for the Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance.
With regard to aftercare, Tusla provides financial support to eligible care leavers who are engaged in a qualifying educational course or training programme. The aftercare allowance amounts to €300 per week and is dependent on the eligible young adult attending an accredited education course, third level course or training programme as outlined in the young adult’s Aftercare Plan. The allowance is provided to cover a young adults day to day costs, including accommodation as they progress in their chosen accredited course or training program. Officials will continue to engage with and support Tusla in improving aftercare services for care leavers.
I am aware that eligibility for the State Pension (Contributory) is an area of genuine concern for foster carers. The PfG contains a commitment to develop a pension solution for foster carers in recognition of the enormous contribution they make to vulnerable children in our society, and to acknowledge their long-term commitment and to ensure that they are supported and valued after their fostering years. It should be noted that eligibility for the State Pension (Contributory) is a matter which falls under the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Social Protection. I look forward to working closely with the Minister for Social Protection and Government colleagues, to progress efforts to improve pension provision for foster carers.
I welcome the recent announcement of the extension of eligibility for the Back to School Allowance to encompass foster carers. This measure is an important step in the Government’s commitment to providing further support to children in foster care. Payment of the Allowance falls wholly under the remit of the Department of Social Protection, and is aimed at helping families with the extra costs of clothing and footwear while attending school.
While I understand that there may be some concern among foster carers that the Allowance will be based on household income, I would note that the foster care allowance is disregarded for the purposes of this Allowance.
With regard to therapeutic services for children in care, Tusla has committed to a strategic approach seeking to deliver an integrated framework for these services as part of a three-year plan to establish the high-level framework and operating model for Tusla Therapeutic Services. As part of this plan Tusla has established multi-disciplinary teams across six service areas by recruiting Speech and Language Therapists and Occupational Therapists to work with existing therapeutic staff such as psychologists. Any additional funding requirements in respect of Tusla’s Therapeutic Services in Budget 2026 will be given due consideration by officials in my Department.
I have met with a number of foster care stakeholder bodies since becoming Minister for Children, including the Irish Foster Care Association, and I am keenly aware of the current challenges facing the sector. As Minister I fully intend to prioritise foster care and ensure that we build upon the suite of supports of which foster carers can avail.
780. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide a regional breakdown of the childcare providers who have withdrawn from core funding, including both the number and proportion of providers in Dublin; and the steps she plans to take to encourage these providers to return, so that parents are not left paying the equivalent of a mortgage for their childcare. [51601/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department is aware that some service providers have regrettably chosen to withdraw from Core Funding.
In the interest of clarity, transparency and consistent reporting, I have defined a service that left Core Funding as any service that had a gap between contracts for Core Funding of 4 or more weeks. There are a number of reasons that a service might fall into this definition, for example a service could have withdrawn from the scheme, been removed from the scheme for breach of rules, or experienced a delay in re-contracting following a change of circumstance application or between programme years. In relation to withdrawals specifically, services may choose to leave the scheme mid-year for a multitude of reasons including being denied a fee increase, temporary closures, financial difficulties and administrative requirements. Many services have left and later re-joined the scheme. There may be a small number of services who left the scheme and subsequently closed at a later date and are not captured in the figures below.
As of 5 August 2025, there were 1,165 services in Dublin listed as being open on the Early Years Platform, of which 66 (6%) had left Core Funding at one point over the past 3 years and continued to operate outside of this scheme on this date. A further 92 services (8%) had left Core Funding at one point over the past 3 years but later rejoined and were signed up to the third year of the scheme on this date. The overwhelming majority of services, 904 (or 78%), had continued to participate in Core Funding from the date on which they first signed up for the scheme. I am also aware that between 5 and 31 August 2025, one additional services located in Dun Laoghaire Rathdown reached the end of their notice period and withdrew from Core Funding.
The fourth year of Core Funding began on 1 September 2025 and as of 26 September, 4,379 services have signed up to the fourth year of Core Funding. This represents an increase of 5 per cent on this point in time last year. Every year there are a number of services who sign up to Core Funding in the weeks following the commencement of the programme year. Officials in the Department will be working to update these figures, reflecting an accurate assessment regarding participation in the fourth year of the scheme.
A breakdown, by Local Authority Area in Dublin, is below in tabular format.
|
County Division |
Continued participation |
Left but returned in Year 3 |
Left and did not return in Year 3 |
Never participated |
|
Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown |
148 |
8 |
13 |
27 |
|
South Dublin |
186 |
18 |
10 |
18 |
|
Dublin City |
327 |
47 |
27 |
28 |
|
Fingal |
243 |
19 |
16 |
30 |
Core Funding has been designed with maximum participation of providers in mind as reflected in the year-on-year growth of investment in the Scheme (rising from €259 million in year 1 to over €390 million in year 4). This represents an increase of over 50% in Core Funding in three years.
The 2025/2026 allocation represents an increase of over €60 million (over 18%) on the previous programme year, which will facilitate:
• Support for providers in meeting the costs of increases in minimum pay rates as a result of newly negotiated Employment Regulation Orders by the independent Joint Labour Committee;
• Increased funding for early learning and care capacity offered to ensure Partner Services can keep pace with rising costs without needing to increase fees charged to parents;
• An increase to the minimum amount of funding a centre-based service will receive, increasing to €14,400 per year from the current level of €14,000;
• A reduction in the maximum allocation for a service’s capacity to €450,000 to best spread a limited budget across the entire sector; and
• Funding to support capacity growth of 3.5% across the sector.
In addition to this increased allocation, being in Core Funding unlocks additional supports for services to access, including:
• access to wider financial supports where a service is experiencing financial difficulty or has concerns about their viability;
• access to enhanced support for services caring for concentrated numbers of children facing disadvantage through Equal Start; and
• opportunities to apply for capital grants through the Department.
Moreover, the annual changes to the allocation model and in the conditions attached to the funding has ensured the Scheme remains responsive, balancing the needs of providers while seeking also to meet a range of other objectives. Among these objectives is ensuring taxpayers’ money is being used in a way that sustains services while not unreasonably increasing their private profit.
Participation in Core Funding is optional, but it remains open to all Tulsa registered providers, subject to their agreement to the terms and conditions of the Core Funding Agreement. It is a matter for providers to decide whether they wish to sign up to Core Funding and benefit from the significant financial supports it offers to providers and the certainty it gives to parents through the associated fee management measures.
Core Funding remains open, and these withdrawn services may reapply during the year and as can be seen above more services have returned in the Dublin areas than have not returned.
The Department is always exploring the potential for further changes to enhance Core Funding. Any changes for Year 5 – starting in September 2026 – would be based on the operation of year 4 of the Scheme starting this month as well as stakeholder input. The Department will continue to engage with the sector, and continue to develop the scheme so that it can continue to see the high uptake levels it has seen this year, and indeed since it was launched in 2022.
781. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to review an application under the family resource centre programme (details supplied); if she will outline the reasons this application was unsuccessful; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51617/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to inform the Deputy that the Department was not involved in the assessment process. A comprehensive national application and assessment process was undertaken, which was led by Tusla and independently chaired by a representative of the University of Limerick. All applications were reviewed and scored against the clearly defined and published criteria. This process was outlined in the Tusla outcome letters issued to all applicants. Accordingly, it would not be appropriate for the Department to conduct reviews of any unsuccessful applications.
I understand that Tusla recently met with the service detailed at the request of the service, and the meeting was very positive. The service was thanked for its time, effort and interest in applying to be part of the national Programme. It welcomed the opportunity to discuss its application and how it might move forward.
It was made clear that regretfully on this occasion Tusla was only in a position to admit five new services to the Family Resource Centre Programme. This was out of a total of forty-nine applications, reflecting a very strong interest in Programme membership. The service was advised that its proposal scored strongly across the assessment criteria and was robust, well-evidenced, and strongly aligned with both community needs and Tusla’s commissioning priorities.
782. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for an update on the granting of an extension for a childcare service (details supplied) under the building blocks improvement scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51625/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application was received from Glor na nOg under the Community Extension strand of the Building Blocks Extension Grant Scheme. The service was successful in its progression to next stage, which involves the completion of a legal framework, and includes the signing of a Grant Agreement.
While the Department can appreciate the service is anxious to commence projects works, it is a condition of the scheme that all contracting requirements and pre-payment conditions must be met in advance of any works commencing.
I understand that this matter is being progressed by the Chief States Solicitors Office.
783. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the total number of recipients of the national childcare scheme, by year from 2020 to date in 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51727/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Childcare Scheme (NCS) provides financial support to help parents reduce the cost of early learning and childcare.
Subsidies are available for children aged between 24 weeks and 15 years of age.
The minimum rate available is €2.14 per hour, which is available for up to 45 weekly hours.
The total number of recipients of the National Childcare Subsidy to date in 2025 (26/09/25) is 229,819.
For your information, the table below details the number of unique children in receipt of the NCS by year from 2020 to 2025, and further breaks those figures down into universal subsidy, income assessed subsidy, and sponsor subsidy. Please be aware the grand total may not align to the subtotals as children may move between different subsidy types during a given year.
|
Subsidy rate type |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 YTD |
|
Income Assessed subsidy |
33,157 |
52,944 |
70,512 |
81,612 |
85,079 |
76,809 |
|
Sponsor subsidy |
944 |
2,914 |
5,207 |
7,204 |
8,617 |
9,165 |
|
Universal subsidy |
14,979 |
22,581 |
53,339 |
104,192 |
137,939 |
153,795 |
|
Grand Total |
48,039 |
76,436 |
123,552 |
182,295 |
218,498 |
229,819 |
784. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the total number of recipients of the national childcare scheme universal subsidy, by year from 2020 to date in 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51728/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra785. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the total number of recipients of the national childcare income-assessed subsidy, by year from 2020 to date in 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51729/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra786. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the total cost of the national childcare scheme, by year from 2020 to date in 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51730/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra787. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the total cost of the national childcare scheme income-assessed subsidy, by year from 2020 to date in 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51731/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra788. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the total cost of the national childcare scheme universal subsidy, by year from 2020 to date in 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51732/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 784 to 788, inclusive, together.
The National Childcare Scheme (NCS) provides financial support to help parents reduce the cost of early learning and childcare.
Subsidies are available for children aged between 24 weeks and 15 years of age. The minimum rate available is €2.14 per hour, which is available for up to 45 weekly hours.
The total cost of the National Childcare Subsidy to date in 2025 (26/09/25) is €383,385,393. To date in 2025, the universal award cost €200,288,032 and the income assessed award has cost €156,642,360.
To date in 2025 (26/09/25), there have been 229,819 unique recipients of the National Childcare Scheme. The universal subsidy has served 153,795 children, while the income assessed subsidy has served 76,809 children.
The number of children using the Scheme has grown by over 70% since 2022 due to enhancements further improving the affordability of childcare for parents. These include the extension of the upper age eligibility for the Universal award from 3 years of age to 15 years of age in August 2022. There have also been two increases to the minimum hourly subsidy rate bringing it up to the current rate of €2.14. Since September 2024, all childminders are able to register for the NCS making the scheme more accessible to more parents.
This growth was further supported by Core Funding, which aims to ensure affordability for parents through fee management conditions and ensuring that providers offer NCS and ECCE to all eligible children.
For your information, the table below details the cost of the NCS by year from 2020 to 2025, and further breaks those figures down into universal subsidy, income assessed subsidy, and sponsor subsidy.
Please be aware the grand total may not align to the subtotals as children may move between different subsidy types during a given year.
|
- |
€ cost by subsidy type |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
|
Income Assessed |
0 |
41,931,065 |
107,963,344 |
157,156,299 |
203,908,722 |
212,877,972 |
156,642,360 |
|
Universal |
48,669 |
4,320,222 |
11,930,959 |
18,875,987 |
118,367,043 |
180,030,830 |
200,288,032 |
|
Sponsor |
0 |
1,180,510 |
6,530,233 |
13,863,364 |
19,701,611 |
26,188,240 |
26,455,001 |
|
Total |
48,669 |
47,431,798 |
126,424,536 |
189,895,650 |
341,977,377 |
419,097,041 |
383,385,393 |
Also for your information, the table below details the number of unique children in receipt of the NCS by year from 2020 to 2025, and further breaks those figures down into universal subsidy, income assessed subsidy, and sponsor subsidy.
Please be aware the grand total may not align to the subtotals as children may move between different subsidy types during a given year.
|
Subsidy rate type |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 YTD |
|
Income Assessed subsidy |
33,157 |
52,944 |
70,512 |
81,612 |
85,079 |
76,809 |
|
Sponsor subsidy |
944 |
2,914 |
5,207 |
7,204 |
8,617 |
9,165 |
|
Universal subsidy |
14,979 |
22,581 |
53,339 |
104,192 |
137,939 |
153,795 |
|
Grand Total |
48,039 |
76,436 |
123,552 |
182,295 |
218,498 |
229,819 |
789. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the estimated cost of granting every recipient the maximum rate of subsidy available under the national childcare scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51733/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are two types of subsidies available under the NCS.
• A universal subsidy which is available to all families with children under 15 years old. This subsidy is not means tested and provides €2.14 per hour towards the cost of a registered childcare place for a maximum of 45 hours per week.
• Income Assessed Subsidies are available to families with children aged between 24 weeks and 15 years. This subsidy is means tested and will be calculated based on individual circumstances. The rate will vary depending on the level of family income, child age and educational stage, and the number of children in a family.
It is assumed that the Deputy is requesting a cost estimate for every recipient, regardless of their subsidy type, to receive the maximum income-assessed subsidy available. As the maximum rate is based on age, we have used a rate of €4.35, as this is the highest rate available for children over 1 year old. Although the rate for under 1s is higher, there is a proportionally lower number of children of that age in the system. As this would affect the results of this request, children under 1 are assumed to continue receiving a subsidy of €5.10, and all other children would receive a subsidy of €4.35.
Officials in the Department used the ESRI SWITCH model to estimate the quantum of this proposed change and then applied it to the Department's Budget 2025 allocation for the NCS (€529.8 million).
According to the SWITCH model, the estimated cost of granting every recipient the maximum rate of subsidy (€4.35 per hour) would be €426.22 million per year. However, as the figures above are calculated using estimates, a number of caveats apply. The costing is on the basis of a static system; that is, the model assumes that the level of usage of eligible early learning and childcare does not increase or decrease but remains static. Any changes to subsidies would likely create a change in behaviour of families, for example, return to/increased labour force participation and use of formal ELC for the first time.
Any growth in the size of the sector in response to this behavioural shift would result in a corresponding increase in the cost to the government of National Childcare Scheme subsidies. It would also result in corresponding increases in the cost of some other funding schemes, e.g. Core Funding, Equal Start and AIM. In the absence of behavioural response estimates, these impacts have not yet been modelled.
To ensure the supply of places rises to meet the likely additional demand, the Department would need to ensure sufficient supply of ELC and SAC places which would require expansion of existing services, establishment of new services and workforce supply. These may require significant increases in public investment in (a) capital funding to support the creation of additional places, and (b) measures to support increases in staff wages (e.g. via Core Funding for example) to strengthen recruitment and retention of early years educators and school-age childcare practitioners.
Work is currently under way to develop an Action Plan to build an affordable, high-quality, accessible early learning and childcare system, informed by stakeholder consultation. This will set out future steps to reduce the cost of early learning and childcare further to €200 per month over the lifetime of the Government. This work will include detailed analysis of the costs of achieving these reductions, over time.
790. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children at early intervention stage who started in a primary school ASD class in the Mid-West in September 2025; if this number can be classified by each of the Mid-West Children's Disability Network Teams (CDNT) or area; the number of the children in each CDNT or area who require speech and language support; the number of the children in each CDNT or area are pre-verbal/non-speaking; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51828/25]
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.
791. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 1857 of 8 September 2025, if she will clarify information provided (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51845/25]
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.
792. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to outline the role, work programme, KPIs and reporting schedule of the Special Advocate for Survivors; the funding provided to survivor-facing advocacy bodies since 2023, broken down by organisation, posts funded, and outputs delivered; the number and qualifications of advocates specifically recruited to support survivors of Industrial and Reformatory Schools; and the way in which duplication is being avoided and referral pathways into health, housing and social protection are being ensured; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51886/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraMs. Patricia Carey was appointed to the role of Special Advocate for Survivors of Institutional Abuse in March 2024. Operating independently of the Minister and the Department, her primary role is to amplify the voices of survivors as a central, essential input to Government deliberations on matters which affect them and to promote the collective interests of survivors.
Strategic objectives include:
• Engagement and Consultation with Survivors and Affected Persons
• Establishment of an Advisory Council to support the work of the Special Advocate office
• Amplify voices of Survivors and Affected Persons and represent the collective interests of Survivors
• Promotion of the Special Advocate for Survivors role as a support/ resource
• Provide opportunities, with appropriate supports, for survivors to meet and share their lived experiences, to build and foster a sense of community
• Engage with Government and provide reporting on issues raised by Survivors and Affected People
• Proactively engage with Overseas Survivors and Affected People
• Development of communication and information systems in order to signpost Survivors & Affected People to relevant supports and services
In addition, the provision of an annual report to the Minister on her activities and the full suite of consultations, engagements and processes undertaken is one of the deliverables of the role. The First Annual Report of the Special Advocate was published on 24th June and is available to view online through the following link:
www.gov.ie/en/department-of-children-disability-and-equality/publications/contact-us/
Funding for the office of the Special Advocate for Survivors is provided annually by the Department of Children, Disability and Equality. In 2024, total funding was €442,000 – this included all service and programme support costs, as well as salaries for the Special Advocate and the secretariat team of 3. The budget for 2025 is €580,000, with the increase reflecting a full year of operation.
The Department also provides funding via the Commemorative Grant Scheme for Mother and Child Institutions. This scheme is designed to provide financial assistance to survivor centred advocacy groups for the purpose of organising commemorative events. The following table summarises the funding provided from 2023 to date.
|
Organisation |
Events |
Amount Issued |
Amount Spent* |
Amount Unspent & Returned to Dept.* |
|
Bessboro Commemoration Group |
Annual Commemorative Events 2023, 2024 and 2025 |
€6,400 |
€4,523 |
€1,877 |
|
Castlepollard Mother and Baby Home Group |
Annual Commemorative Events 2023, 2024 and 2025 |
€7,360 |
€4,061 |
€799 |
|
Fréa – Renewing Roots |
Screening of Films including ‘Stolen’ in various locations in 2024 and 2025 |
€9,042 |
€4823 |
€106 |
* Final costs for 2025 have not yet been received as some events have taken place recently or are yet to take place
The Special Advocate's qualifications include an NFQ Level 8 Degree, NFQ Level 9 qualifications in Education and Teaching; Equality Studies; Public Sector Governance; Leadership and additional qualifications in Mediation and, Charity Law and Governance.
The remit of the Special Advocate encompasses Mother and Baby Institutions, County Home Institutions, Magdalen Laundries, Industrial and Reformatory Schools and those adopted, boarded out or subject to illegal birth registration. The establishment of an independent Special Advocate with this broad remit has created one centralised resource for survivors to contact for support and advice, avoiding duplication and ensuring survivors are referred to the relevant services.
793. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the core funding levels of support per hour to childcare providers; the payments for specific additional elements delivered, which will apply for the coming school year; the level of increase in each case compared to last year; and the estimated number of providers and children served by those who have continued operating under the scheme and by those who have left the scheme. [51898/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe calculation of a services Core Funding grant contains multiple elements – the Base Rate, Graduate Premiums, Targeted Measures and the new Staff Funding Additional Contribution.
The base rate, which is the majority of the allocation, provides funding on the basis of a services staffed capacity. It is calculated as the number of places offered multiplied by the hours for which those places are offered multiplied by the applicable hourly rate from Table 1 below.
Unlike other funding streams within the Department, a place does not need to be filled for a service to receive funding, but the service does need to have the necessary staffing in place to meet the regulatory adult to child ratios.
Table 1: Hourly rates payable through the Base Rate from 1 September 2025
|
Age range |
Adult to Child ratio |
Value per place per hour offered |
|
Full and Part time |
|
|
|
0 to 1 years of age |
1:3 |
€1.90 |
|
1 to 2 years of age |
1:5 |
€1.28 |
|
2 to 3 years of age |
1:5 |
€1.10 |
|
3 to 6 years of age |
1:8 |
€0.80 |
|
Sessional |
|
|
|
0 to 1 years of age |
1:3 |
€1.90 |
|
1 to 2.5 years of age |
1:5 |
€1.28 |
|
2.5 to 6 years of age |
1:11 |
€0.76 |
|
School Age |
|
|
|
4 to 15 years of age |
1:12 |
€0.59 |
The graduate premiums provide additional funding on the basis of graduate leadership in a service. Both the Graduate Lead Educator Premium and the Graduate Manager Premium are paid out a rate of €4.44 per graduate-led hour for early learning and childcare provision.
The targeted measures consist of a flat rate top-up for sessional-only services, a minimum base rate allocation and a maximum base rate allocation. The flat rate top-up for sessional-only services is paid out at an annual rate of €5,000 per service or a weekly rate of €96.15 to services who are registered with Tusla to offer only sessional provision.
The minimum base rate allocation is currently set at €14,400. Any centre-based service whose base rate allocation (and flat rate allocation where applicable) falls below this level will see their grant automatically topped up to the minimum allocation.
The maximum base rate allocation is currently set at €450,000. No service will receive more than this amount in respect of their capacity. The Graduate Premiums and Staff Funding Additional Contribution are applied separately and can bring a services allocation above the minimum or maximum value.
This year, a new element of the calculation was introduced to distribute the new funding ring-fenced for improvements to staff pay and conditions – called the Staff Funding Additional Contribution. Data available to the Department shows that the 2022 and 2024 Employment Regulation Orders did not absorb all of the available Core Funding signalled for staff pay and graduate leaders in previous years. The amount of funding released from the ring-fenced funding will therefore be proportionate to the cost of the agreed EROs, with a maximum of €1.14 payable per hour through the Staff Funding Additional Contribution.
The calculation of the Staff Funding Additional Contribution per service is linked to the staffing requirements set out by regulations and reflects that the funding that has been available for graduate-led provision for the previous three years can and should be facilitating higher rates of pay for graduates. It will be calculated as:
Minimum staffing hours minus Graduate Lead Educator Premium hours multiplied by a maximum of €1.14 per eligible hour
This funding is ring-fenced for staff pay and conditions and can only be used for this purpose. The release of the funding is contingent on the establishment of updated Employment Regulation Orders by the independent Joint Labour Committee.
It is important to note that although there are various elements used to derive the grants for individual services, the eligible areas of expenditure of the Core Funding grant are much broader. Services can choose how to spend their Core Funding grant in accordance with the approved areas of expenditure outlined in the Funding Agreement. The Staff Funding Additional Contribution is the only element of the grant which has a prescribed use.
The increase to each element of the grant going from year 3 (2024/2025) to year 4 (2025/2026) is outlined below in tabular format. The year 4 allocation reflects increases secured in Budget 2025 to facilitate 3.5% capacity growth and to ensure that providers have increased income to continue to be able to meet rising costs whilst maintaining an effective fee freeze.
The Staff Funding Additional Contribution is a newly introduced element of the grant designed to distribute the ring-fenced funding for improving staff pay and conditions, contingent on the establishment of updated Employment Regulation Orders. €45 million is available for this purpose.
Table 2: Breakdown of the funding allocated to each element of Core Funding in Year 3 and Year 4
|
Element of grant |
Year 3 2024/2025 |
Year 4 2025/2026 |
Year-on-year change |
|
Base Rate |
€263m |
€280.2m |
€17.2m |
|
Graduate Premiums |
€59m |
€61m |
€2m |
|
Targeted Measures |
€9.3m |
€9.4m |
€0.1m |
In the interest of clarity, transparency and consistent reporting, I have defined a service that left Core Funding as any service that had a gap between contracts for Core Funding of 4 or more weeks. There are a number of reasons that a service might fall into this definition, for example a service could have withdrawn from the scheme, been removed from the scheme for breach or rules, or experienced a delay in re-contracting following a change of circumstance application or between programme years. In relation to withdrawals specifically, services may choose to leave the scheme mid-year for a multitude of reasons including being denied a fee increase, temporary closures, financial difficulties and administrative requirements. Many services have left and later re-joined the scheme. There may be a small number of services who left the scheme and subsequently closed at a later date and are not captured in the figures below.
As of 5 August 2025, there were 4,807 services listed as being open on the Early Years Platform, of which 141 (3%) had left Core Funding at one point over the past 3 years and continue to operate outside of this scheme. In May 2025, there were 8,016 unique children registered for ECCE, NCS and/or CSSP across these services for the 2024/2025 programme year.
A further 336 services (7%) had left Core Funding at one point over the past 3 years but later rejoined and are currently signed up to the third year of the scheme. In May 2025, there were 17,583 unique children registered for ECCE, NCS and/or CSSP across these services for the 2024/2025 programme year.
The overwhelming majority of services, 4,056 or 84%, have continued to participate in Core Funding from the date on which they first signed up for the scheme. In May 2025, there were 209,942 unique children registered for ECCE, NCS and/or CSSP across these services for the 2024/2025 programme year.
The fourth year of Core Funding began on 1 September 2025 and uptake continues to remain on par with the same point in previous years, with a greater number of services signed up to the scheme than on the same date last year. Every year there are a number of services who sign up to Core Funding in the weeks following the commencement of the programme year and services are still in the process of registering children on the other schemes. Officials in the Department will be working to update these figures, reflecting an accurate assessment regarding participation in the fourth year of the scheme and the number of unique children registered for subsidies across the services.
The Department will continue to engage with the sector, and continue to develop the scheme so that it can continue to see the high uptake levels it has seen this year, and indeed since it was launched in 2022.
