Written Answers Nos. 161-175
161. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she has considered the impact of the automatic enrolment retirement savings system on childcare providers as an additional cost; if there is guidance available for providers on this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52341/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAmong 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 or reduce parental fees.
The base rates in Core Funding have been developed using the various components associated with the cost of delivery of service provision such as; staff pay and conditions, including contact and non-contact time, holiday pay, sick pay and other employer costs such as pension contributions; administrative staff/time and non-staff overhead costs. These components have been factored into the calculation of the budget for Core Funding since the scheme began in 2022.
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.
Core Funding has seen consistent increased State investment to the sector year on year, and is set in year 4 to be worth over €390 million contingent on the establishment of new minimum rates of pay in the sector through updated Employment Regulation Orders. This is an increase of over 50% since the scheme began in September 2022 with an allocation of €259 million.
This allocation includes the €45 million ring-fenced funding which is available to support providers in meeting increased costs resulting from further increases to the minimum rates of pay. The independent Joint Labour Committee negotiate new minimum rates of pay for the sector based on all the information available to them, including the full suite of existing and new funding available to the sector and the imminent introduction of auto-enrolment pensions. This measure was signed into law in 2024, in October 2024 it was announced that it would take effect in September 2025. It was announced in April of this year that this measure will now take effect in January 2026.
Although, the cost of delivery components such as improvements to staff pay have been used to derive the base rates the eligible areas of expenditure of the Core Funding grant are much broader. Partner Services can choose how to spend their Core Funding grant in accordance with the approved areas of expenditure outlines in the Funding Agreement.
The Department of Social Protection is responsible for the introduction of the auto-enrolment scheme and a range of resources for employers and employees are available.
The Department for Children, Disability and Equality is planning a bespoke online information session, in conjunction with the Department of Social Protection, on auto-enrolment for ELC and SAC service providers. Further information on that session will be shared with service providers as soon as they are confirmed.
162. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if consideration has been given to the impact on community and private childcare providers of the introduction of auto-enrolment and the significant added cost this will place on providers; if she plans to take any action on this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52369/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAmong 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 or reduce parental fees.
The base rates in Core Funding have been developed using the various components associated with the cost of delivery of service provision such as; staff pay and conditions, including contact and non-contact time, holiday pay, sick pay and other employer costs such as pension contributions; administrative staff/time and non-staff overhead costs. These components have been factored into the calculation of the budget for Core Funding since the scheme began in 2022.
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.
Core Funding has seen consistent increased State investment to the sector year on year, and is set in year 4 to be worth over €390 million contingent on the establishment of new minimum rates of pay in the sector through updated Employment Regulation Orders. This is an increase of over 50% since the scheme began in September 2022 with an allocation of €259 million.
This allocation includes the €45 million ring-fenced funding which is available to support providers in meeting increased costs resulting from further increases to the minimum rates of pay. The independent Joint Labour Committee negotiate new minimum rates of pay for the sector based on all the information available to them, including the full suite of existing and new funding available to the sector and the imminent introduction of auto-enrolment pensions. This measure was signed into law in 2024, in October 2024 it was announced that it would take effect in September 2025. It was announced in April of this year that this measure will now take effect in January 2026.
Although, the cost of delivery components such as improvements to staff pay have been used to derive the base rates the eligible areas of expenditure of the Core Funding grant are much broader. Partner Services can choose how to spend their Core Funding grant in accordance with the approved areas of expenditure outlines in the Funding Agreement.
The Department of Social Protection is responsible for the introduction of the auto-enrolment scheme and a range of resources for employers and employees are available.
The Department for Children, Disability and Equality is planning a bespoke online information session, in conjunction with the Department of Social Protection, on auto-enrolment for ELC and SAC service providers. Further information on that session will be shared with service providers as soon as they are confirmed.
163. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the measures which will be taken to ensure pay parity for those providing childcare (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52458/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraPay is one of a number of issues impacting the early learning and care and school-age childcare workforce. The level of pay for early years educators and school-age childcare practitioners does not reflect the value of their work for children, families, society and the economy.
It is my intention to deliver on the Programme for Government commitment to ‘continue to implement Employment Regulation Orders to attract and retain early years educators.’
As the State is not the employer of staff in the sector, neither I nor the Department can set wage levels or determine working conditions for staff in the sector.
The Joint Labour Committee is the formal mechanism established by which employer and employee representatives can negotiate minimum pay rates, which are set down in Employment Regulation Orders.
I acknowledge the Joint Labour Committee is independent in its functions, and I do not have a role in its statutory negotiation processes. However, outcomes from the Joint Labour Committee process are supported by Government through Core Funding, which in the programme year 2025/26 will increase by 6% to €350 million. An additional €45 million has been ringfenced to support employers to meet the costs of further increases to the minimum rates of pay and is contingent on updated Employment Regulation Orders.
Through the Joint Labour Committee process, Employment Regulation Orders have been signed into law in September 2022 and June 2024 to progressively increase average wage rates in the sector for staff at different grades by approximately 13%.
I have been informed that the Joint Labour Committee has, after public consultation, unanimously agreed on proposed new minimum rates of pay for the sector and has submitted these proposals to the Labour Court. If adopted by the Labour Court, these proposals will be laid before the Minister of State for the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment for consideration, as provided for under the Industrial Relations Act 1946.
If adopted and established as Employment Regulation Orders, these proposals are another welcome step in the process of improving pay in the sector and may see minimum hourly rates of pay for graduate lead educators increase to €17.50.
The improvement of pay and conditions is a key enabler for the implementation of ‘Nurturing Skills: The Workforce Plan for Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare 2022 – 2028’, which sets out a strategic framework for professional development, career progression, and workforce sustainability for the sector.
164. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she is aware of the case of a child (details supplied) whose mother applied for an Assessment of Need on 16 June 2024 under the Disability Act 2005, and was notified by the HSE that an assessment will not be carried out for 32 months; the steps she will take to ensure assessments are carried out within three months; and the interim supports available for children who are awaiting assessments. [52466/25]
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.
165. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the steps her Department is taking to address the waiting times for students referred from schools, to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52477/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis is a matter for my cabinet colleague, the Minister for Health.
166. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the way in which her Department is working with schools to promote early intervention and prevention in youth mental health; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52478/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis is a matter for my cabinet colleague, the Minister for Health.
167. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number and percentage of assessments of need completed within timelines as provided for in regulations, in each quarter for each year 2022 to date in 2025, for each service provider, in tabular form. [52495/25]
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.
168. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number and percentage of persons with a disability who are in receipt of less than their full allocation of home support at the end of quarter three for each year 2022 to date in 2025, in tabular form. [52496/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra169. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number and percentage of persons with a disability who are in receipt of less than their full allocation of personal assistance hours at the end of quarter three for each year 2022 to date in 2025, in tabular form. [52497/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 168 and 169 together.
As this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
170. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number and percentage of persons with a disability who are in receipt of less than their full allocation of respite services at the end of quarter three for each year 2022 to date in 2025, in tabular form [52498/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly.
171. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of assessments of needs overdue for completion at the end of quarter three for each year to date, in tabular form [52499/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra173. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of persons overdue for assessment of need at the end of September in each year 2020 to 2025, in tabular form; and the number for each local health area or community healthcare network or children’s disability network team. [52586/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 171 and 173 together.
As this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
172. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of assessments of need conducted from 2023 to date in 2025, for each local health area or community healthcare network, in tabular form; the number conducted in the first nine months of each year; and the number and percentage of assessments in each year provided publicly, privately, and the number insourced. [52585/25]
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.
174. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children on waiting lists for initial contact with a children’s disability network team at the end of September in each year 2022 to 2025, for each team, in tabular form. [52587/25]
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.
175. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number and percentage of children in receipt of partial services from a children’s disability network team, for each team, in tabular form. [52588/25]
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.
