Written Answers Nos. 550-569
  Early Childhood Care and Education
  Early Childhood Care and Education
  Departmental Contracts Data
  Early Childhood Care and Education Funding
  Early Childhood Care and Education
  Child Care Services Funding
  Early Childhood Care and Education Data
  Youth Services Funding
  Child Care Services
  Child Care Services Funding
  Child Care Services Funding
  Education and Training Boards Data
  Combatting Cyberbullying
  Departmental Bodies Data
  Personal Injury Claims
  Community Services Programme
  Local Authority Staff
  Action Plan for Rural Development
  Departmental Contracts Data

Tuesday, 23 January 2018

Dáil Éireann Debate
Vol. 964 No. 1

Written Answers Nos. 550-569

Early Childhood Care and Education

 550. Deputy Tom Neville   asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs   the progress being made in relation to the reinstatement of the original promise of an extra preschool year for children with disabilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3023/18]

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (Deputy Katherine Zappone):   I believe the question asked by the Deputy is in relation to a recent announcement that I would pause a decision on the overage exemption for the ECCE Programme, pending further consultation. 

Overage exemptions were introduced at the onset of the ECCE programme in 2010. At that time, the ECCE Programme only operated for a 38 week period, or one programme year.  For some children with special/additional needs, attending preschool five days a week was not feasible and so an allowance was made to enable them split ECCE over 2 years, for example, a child may have availed of 3 days ECCE provision in year one and 2 days in year two. Their total ECCE provision remained at 38 weeks.

In order to facilitate this, in the cases where the child would have been over the age limit for ECCE (5 years and 6 months when finishing ECCE) an overage exemption was approved. This flexibility was never intended to conflict with the legislative requirement to start school by age six. The law and policy on school start-age is clearly established in Ireland. Children should be in school by the time they are six and the primary school system has a variety of resources to support children with disabilities. If children are not in school by six, under the Educational Welfare Act, the Educational Welfare service of Tusla must be satisfied that the child is receiving a minimum standard of education in a place other than a recognised school. (Tusla does this by sending Educational Welfare Inspectors out to the place of the child's education. Should this be required, this would be in addition to the Early Years Inspectorates funded by my Department.)

Since ECCE was first introduced, my Department has worked to improve the pre-school experience for children with disabilities and to optimise their early development. The two main enhancements are:-

- ECCE entitlement currently averages at 61 weeks, up from 38 weeks, and it will expand further to 76 weeks from September 2018. This is in keeping with good international practice.

- The Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) has been introduced with 7 different levels of support for children with disabilities. Over 5,000 children have so far benefited from targeted supports and many multiples of this from universal supports available under AIM.

Purely in the best interests of children, and for no other reason, a proposal was considered to remove the overage exemption to the upper age limit to the Programme. On 6th December 2017, I announced that I paused a decision on the removal of the Upper age limit exemption for ECCE so that further consultation with parents can occur. This means that for the 2018/2019 ECCE year the overage exemption will continue to be available.  

In summary, from September 2018, all children, including children with disabilities will be able to access a full two years of ECCE.

Early Childhood Care and Education

 551. Deputy Michael McGrath   asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs   when a person (details supplied) attending a preschool under the Early Childhood Care and Education scheme will have a special needs assistant appointed for them through the better start access and inclusion model; and if she will make a statement on the matter.  [3043/18]

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (Deputy Katherine Zappone):   The Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) supports children with a disability to access and fully participate in the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme. It was introduced in June 2016 and is administered by Pobal on behalf of my Department. AIM includes 7 levels of progressive support, moving from the universal to the targeted. The degree of support provided depends on the needs and strengths of the child in the context of the pre-school setting they are attending.

A pre-school provider, in partnership with a parent, can apply for AIM Level 7 support - additional capitation. Where the AIM Early Years Specialist (EYS) (a support provided under AIM Level 4) considers that an AIM Level 7 support is critical to a child's participation in the ECCE programme, they will further consider the degree of Level 7 support required having regard to the needs of the child and the pre-school setting.

There are two rates of Level 7 capitation. The lower rate is €130 per week (which is calculated on the basis of 10 hours of support per week) and the higher rate is €195 per week (which is calculated on the basis of 15 hours of support per week). 

This additional capitation can be used to reduce the adult to child ratio in the pre-school room or can be used to buy in additional assistance.

In relation to this particular child, Pobal has advised that an application for support under AIM Level 7 was received on 16th January 2018.  An EYS has been assigned and will be in contact with the pre-school provider by telephone shortly to arrange for an observation visit to take place. Following this, the EYS will submit a recommendation to the Pobal AIM Level 7 appraisal team who will review this information and make a decision. The outcome of the application will then be communicated to the applicants. Pobal has advised that they would expect a turnaround of between 4 and 6 weeks from receipt of the application to communication of the decision to this child's parents and pre-school provider.

Departmental Contracts Data

 552. Deputy Niall Collins   asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs   the contracts her Department or agencies under her remit has with a company (details supplied); the status of these contracts; the contingency plans that may now be required; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3140/18]

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (Deputy Katherine Zappone):   I can confirm that the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, the Adoption Authority and Oberstown Detention Centre does not have any contracts with the company mentioned.

  I have referred the question to Tusla and the Ombudsman for Children's Office and asked them to provide the information sought directly to the Deputy.

Early Childhood Care and Education Funding

 553. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae   asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs   if she will address issues (details supplied) in relation to capital funding for child care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3221/18]

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (Deputy Katherine Zappone):   In budget 2018 I secured €6.86 million in capital funding for the expansion and improvement of early years and school age childcare services in Ireland. This capital funding will directly support outdoor play areas, extra spaces and essential maintenance, for example.  The investment reflects my on-going commitment to developing quality, affordable childcare in Ireland, and assisting providers in delivering high quality services to parents and children.

One of the key objectives of my Department for 2018 was to open this capital scheme as early as possible to enable the evaluation and award process early in the year and the works to be completed by year end. This is based on feedback from providers regarding previous capital programmes and I am delighted that we have made some progress in this regard. My Department first notified the Capital 2018 programme to providers in November 2017.  This early notification aimed to achieve an earlier application window (opening in February 2018), and an earlier commencement of works (end May 2018), than in 2017. It is intended that this will allow services the opportunity to commence their capital works as early as possible after applications are approved in May 2018.

With respect to 2 of the 5 strands of Capital 2018: as in previous years, priority has been given to community/not for profit services, many of which were established using significant state investment under previous capital programmes, the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme (EOCP) or the National Childcare Investment Programme (NCIP). In such cases, capital funding for maintenance of these properties is released in accordance with public spending guidelines, with the aim of protecting the value of previous significant investment by the state.

Furthermore, as community services are non-profit-making, the capital funding available under Strands 2 and 5 is intended to assist where private financing may not be achievable. The key aim of Strand 2 and 5 grants will be to ensure that community services continue to be fit for purpose with capital funds contributing towards the provisions of, for example, essential repairs to the existing building and facilities, replacement of the building’s fixtures and fittings, and/or works highlighted as a direct result of an inspection by TUSLA or other competent authorities. 

My Department and I remain committed to developing the annual Early Years Capital programme in respect of the needs of children and providers, with the aim of providing childcare facilities of the highest quality.  My Department has supported both private and community services over the last number of years and our intention is to continue to do so.  My Department is also currently enhancing its capacity to examine medium and long term needs in the sector and this will enable further analysis of the need for multiannual and larger scale capital development.

Early Childhood Care and Education

 554. Deputy James Browne   asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs   the position regarding a person (details supplied) whose playschool placement in Enniscorthy, County Wexford, was ended with one day’s notice; if her Department will provide alternative Access and Inclusion Model and Early Childhood Care and Education placements in Enniscorthy; the alternative arrangements which have been offered to the person’s parents; and if she will make a statement on the matter.  [3252/18]

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (Deputy Katherine Zappone):   I must inform the Deputy that the date of birth provided in relation to the child in question indicates that they would not become eligible to enrol in the ECCE programme until September 2018, at the earliest, and, consequently, they are not yet eligible to avail of the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) programme.

It is my understanding that an official from my Department has been in touch with the parents to discuss this matter further. The parents and pre-school provider may apply for AIM supports in respect of this child in May/ early June 2018 so that his eligibility may be assessed and if approved, supports put in place from September 2018.

Child Care Services Funding

 555. Deputy Anne Rabbitte   asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs   the amount allocated and drawn down in respect of the learner fund in 2016 and 2017, by county. [3307/18]

 557. Deputy Anne Rabbitte   asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs   the amount allocated to each county under learner funds 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively. [3309/18]

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (Deputy Katherine Zappone):   I propose to take Questions Nos. 555 and 557 together.

  As the funding was administered, in part, through the County and City Childcare Committees (CCCs), I am unable to provide a county by county breakdown of funding. However, funding has always been offered on a national level and not on a county by county basis.  The allocation of funding to each county area is a direct reflection of the uptake of the opportunity offered through the Learner Fund and the demand for further education and training that existed in the Early Years sector in that area at the time. My Department placed no restrictions on the share of the available funding that could be accessed through each CCC.

  The county by county breakdown is outlined in the following table;

Early Childhood Care and Education Data

 556. Deputy Anne Rabbitte   asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs   the number of registered early years services in each county, as of January 2018, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3308/18]

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (Deputy Katherine Zappone):   Details of the number of registered early years services in each county, as of January 2018, are outlined in the accompanying table.

Question No. 557 answered with Question No. 555.

Youth Services Funding

 558. Deputy Anne Rabbitte   asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs   the amount of funding provided to youth services in each county in 2017, in tabular form. [3310/18]

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (Deputy Katherine Zappone):   My Department administers a range of funding schemes and programmes to support the provision of youth services to young people throughout the country, including those from disadvantaged communities.  Targeted supports for disadvantaged, marginalised and at risk young people are provided through the Special Projects for Youth Scheme, the Young Peoples Facilities and Services Fund, Rounds 1 and 2, Local Drugs Task Force Projects and certain other programmes including the Local Youth Club Grant Scheme and Youth Information Centres.   

  Details of the funding provided to youth services and projects by my Department for 2017 are not  readily available in the format requested by the Deputy.  The funding for the provision of youth services is administered on behalf of my Department by the sixteen Education and Training Boards. In many instances the functional areas of ETBs covers more than one county.  The capital and current funding provided to each ETB for the youth services within its functional area is outlined in the accompanying table. 

Child Care Services

 559. Deputy Anne Rabbitte   asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs   the number of child care providers who have been trained as Leadership for Inclusion Programme workers on the new Access and Inclusion Model model launched in June 2016, by county, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter.  [3311/18]

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (Deputy Katherine Zappone):   The Leadership for Inclusion (LINC) Programme, which was established in 2016 , is a Level 6 Special Purpose Award designed to support inclusion of children with a disability in free pre-school provided under the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme.

  The LINC Programme, which won the ‘Best Online Learning Experience’ from the Education Awards 2017, contains online and classroom based sessions in order to ensure a flexible and quality learning experience, enabling pre-school practitioners in full-time employment to attend this important continuing professional development (CPD) programme. 

  The Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) makes provision to fund 900 pre-school practitioners to enrol in this Programme annually over the period 2016/17 -2019/20.

  Details of the number of pre-school practitioners that have graduated from the LINC Programme 2016/17 is set out in the accompanying table.

Child Care Services Funding

 560. Deputy Anne Rabbitte   asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs   the funding her Department provided to each community child care committee in each year since 2008; and the various functions for which this funding was provided. [3312/18]

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (Deputy Katherine Zappone):   33 City and County Childcare Committees (CCCs) were established in 2001 to advance the provision of childcare facilities in their local areas. They comprise local representatives from the statutory, community and voluntary sectors, childcare providers and parents. There are now 30 CCCs, as Limerick City and Limerick County CCCs have amalgamated, as have Waterford City and Waterford County and North and South Tipperary. Each committee has a distinct legal identity and board of directors. City and County Childcare Committees receive funding from my Department for the operations of the Committee, allowing each one to employ staff and implement actions contained in its strategic plan, which is approved by my Department to reflect national policy objectives. Pobal acts as managing agent on behalf of the Department in relation to the performance of individual CCCs. Pobal appraises and monitors the local planning and implementation of activities and outcomes of each CCC associated with my Department's funding, and supports CCCs individually and collectively.

  The CCCs support the delivery of the childcare programmes operated by my Department: the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme, the Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) Programme and the Training and Employment Childcare (TEC) Programme. CCCs perform a range of activities to promote the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) including providing information and support for parents and ECCE settings. They are also responsible for rolling out the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion training programme to pre-school practitioners nationwide. They provide support and guidance to local service providers and parents in relation to the childcare programmes and support quality in keeping with national frameworks and policy objectives. CCCs are also available to co-ordinate and provide training to providers and offer support to families with regard to Early Years services within their respective catchment areas.

  The information requested by the Deputy is outlined in the table. This table outlines the core funding allocated annually to each CCC from 2008 to 2018. To note that my Department also provides additional annual funding to the CCCs to support a number of initiatives including the administration of the Childminding Development Grant, the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM), and  the Parent and Toddler Initiative.

table contd

Child Care Services Funding

 561. Deputy Anne Rabbitte   asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs   the amount of capital funding that was awarded to child care facilities in each county under strand 1, 2 and 3 of the capital funding scheme, respectively. [3313/18]

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (Deputy Katherine Zappone):   In 2017, Early Years Capital funding was made available to childcare providers in a competitive process under three distinct strands.

  Early Years Capital Strand 1 comprised individual grants up to a total value of €50,000 for the creation of new childcare places. To date the total amount of capital funding allocated under this strand nationally is  €4,297,743 making up 91 separate grants.

  Early Years Capital Strand 2 comprised individual grants up to a total value of €20,000 for the essential maintenance and repair of community childcare services. To date the total amount of capital funding allocated under this strand is € 2,128,589, making up 131 separate grants.

  Early Years Capital Strand 3 provided individual grants up to a total value of €5,000 for the creation of natural outdoor play areas. To date the total amount of capital funding allocated under this strand is €2,135,752, making up 463 separate grants.

  Please see attached breakdown of Early Years capital funding allocated by county and by strand per county.

Education and Training Boards Data

 562. Deputy Anne Rabbitte   asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs   the educational and training boards in which there is a full-time youth officer in place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3314/18]

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (Deputy Katherine Zappone):   My Department provides  an annual youth work function allocation to each of the sixteen Education and Training Boards (ETBs) to assist with the cost of their statutory youth officer functions.  These functions include the provision, co ordination, administration and assessment of youth work services in its functional area.  

The funding allocation provided to each ETB covers the cost of a minimum of one full time youth officer while many of the larger ETBs have multiple youth officers assigned to them.

The youth officer post in Longford Westmeath ETB is currently filled by a 0.75 youth officer.  The ETB has recently made a submission to my Department seeking an increased youth officer allocation for 2018.  This submission is currently being considered in the context of the overall youth officer allocations for 2018.

Combatting Cyberbullying

 563. Deputy Róisín Shortall   asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs   further to Parliamentary Question No. 38 of 28 November 2017, if the issue of loot boxes and other in-app purchases in video games with a Pan European Game Information rating of under 18 years of age can be included in the discussions her departmental officials have undertaken or will undertake in relation to the protection of children online from a cross-Governmental perspective.  [3391/18]

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (Deputy Katherine Zappone):   I am concerned about the need to protect children from online abuse and other dangers from which they need protection. I believe these issues require a whole of government approach and my Department is working with other relevant Departments in this regard. 

My Department has no remit in relation to the regulation of video games or online technologies. The classification of video games and regulations relating to gambling, are within the remit of my colleague the Minister for Justice and Equality.

Departmental Bodies Data

 564. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív   asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs   the number of agencies, boards or other bodies under the aegis of her Department that have been disbanded or amalgamated or whose functions were subsumed back into her Department since 2011; the number of such bodies set up by her Department since that date; the names of the bodies in each case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3398/18]

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (Deputy Katherine Zappone):   I would like to inform the Deputy that there are four bodies under the aegis of my Department.  These are the Adoption Authority of Ireland, the Child and Family Agency, the Oberstown Children Detention School Campus and the Ombudsman for Children's Office. My Department also provides the primary source of funding for Gaisce, the President's Award. Gaisce is a limited company set up under the Companies Acts.

The Children (Amendment) Act 2015 provided for the amalgamation of Oberstown Boys School, Oberstown Girls School and Trinity House School on 1 June 2016.  

The Child and Family Agency Act, 2013 provided for the establishment of Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. On its establishment in 2014, Tusla assumed responsibility for functions previously performed by the Health Service Executive relating to child welfare and protection.

The Child and Family Agency Act, 2013 also made provision for the transfer of the previous responsibilities held by the Family Support Agency (FSA) and the National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB) to Tusla with the aim of facilitating the greater integration of services for children and families. The transfer of these responsibilities from the FSA and the NEWB, both under the aegis of the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, saw the disbandment of these organisations on the establishment of Tusla on 1 January, 2014.

In 2011, the Government decided that the Family Mediation Service should transfer from the Family Support Agency to the Legal Aid Board. This aimed to facilitate the use of mediation in family disputes in order to speed up the legal process, reduce cost and ameliorate the stress of contested court proceedings. The commencement order for Part 16 of the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2011 gave effect to the transfer from 1st November 2011.

In September 2011, the Children Acts Advisory Board was dissolved by means of the commencement by the Minister of Health of Part 6 of the Child Care (Amendment) Act 2011.

Personal Injury Claims

 565. Deputy Michael McGrath   asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs   the amount paid out and the number of claims the payouts related to by each agency under the aegis of her Department in respect of personal injury claims in each of the years 2010 to 2017; the number of claims that were settled outside of court in each of these years; the number of payments that were as a result of a court judgment in each of these years; the nature of the claims; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3415/18]

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (Deputy Katherine Zappone):   As the subject matter of the Deputy's question relates to an operational matter for the State agencies under my aegis of my Department, I have referred the matter to the attention of each agency for attention and direct reply. These include Tusla, the Adoption Authority of Ireland, the Office of the Ombudsman for Children and Oberstown Children Detention Campus.

Community Services Programme

 566. Deputy Robert Troy   asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development   if he will reverse the decision to cut funding from Pobal and the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection Community Services Programme wage contribution which will have a detrimental affect on a club (details supplied).  [2761/18]

Minister for Rural and Community Development (Deputy Michael Ring):   The Community Services Programme supports community organisations to provide local services through a social enterprise model.  Around 425 organisations are supported under the CSP, with funding provided as a contribution to the cost of a manager and an agreed number of full-time equivalent positions. 

  The organisation in question submitted a business plan to Pobal during 2016 as part of the normal CSP Re-Contracting Process.  The business plan did not satisfy the criteria for continued funding under the programme and the organisation was notified that it would exit the programme in 2018. 

  In the interim, and pending an appeal of the decision, funding was approved for a manager and two full-time equivalent staff for 18 months to June 2018.  The organisation did not appeal the decision.   

  The organisation can still submit a revised business plan to Pobal and, if it satisfies the programme criteria, it may be reconsidered for funding beyond June 2018.

Local Authority Staff

 567. Deputy Timmy Dooley   asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development   the local authorities that have a full-time equivalent, FTE, broadband officer.  [3321/18]

Minister for Rural and Community Development (Deputy Michael Ring):   My Department provides funding to support the employment of a Broadband & Telecommunications Officer in each Local Authority. Broadband & Telecommunications Officers are currently employed in all 31 Local Authorities and have a remit in relation to both broadband and mobile phone access.

These Officers play an important role as the dedicated local point of contact for telecoms operators on coverage and rollout issues, and for promoting telecommunications infrastructure development in their respective Local Authority areas.

The response to the appointment of the Broadband & Telecommunications Officers has been very positive, with the telecoms industry strongly welcoming the structures put in place. Their employment is also ensuring a much greater degree of consistency in engagement with the industry and in clearing obstacles to the rollout of infrastructure.

My Department is in contact with the Broadband & Telecommunications Officers in all Local Authorities on a continuous basis, both collectively through two Regional Action Groups established by my Department, as well as bilaterally to address issues impacting on the rollout of telecoms infrastructure at local level.

Action Plan for Rural Development

 568. Deputy Michael Moynihan   asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development   when the grants for refurbishing old buildings in rural communities that were announced in the Action Plan for Rural Development will be available; the details of the scheme; the grant assistance which will be available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3027/18]

Minister for Rural and Community Development (Deputy Michael Ring):   The Action Plan for Rural Development contains a number of measures which have the objective of rejuvenating Ireland’s rural towns and villages to make them more attractive places in which to live and work, and to increase their tourism potential.

The 2017 Town and Village Renewal Scheme was launched in April 2017 and, in October, I announced the allocation of €21.6 million to 281 projects in towns and villages across rural Ireland. These projects cover a number of initiatives, ranging from public realm works to the creation of enterprise and creative hubs.

As part of the 2017 Town and Village Renewal Scheme, a pilot to encourage residential occupancy in rural towns and villages was also announced. This proposed pilot scheme will consider ways in which properties that are currently not in use in town centres can be renovated to allow them to be used for residential purposes. This will further help to rejuvenate town centres while also contributing to the housing needs of individuals.

Following initial discussions at official level, I have now established a Steering Group to accelerate and oversee the design and delivery of the pilot scheme. This group will meet shortly and details of the pilot scheme will be made available when they are finalised.

Departmental Contracts Data

 569. Deputy Niall Collins   asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development   the contracts his Department or agencies under his remit has with a company (details supplied); the status of these contracts; the contingency plans that may now be required; and if he will make a statement on the matter.  [3152/18]

Minister for Rural and Community Development (Deputy Michael Ring):   Four state bodies fall under the remit of my Department, Pobal, Irish Water Safety, the Western Development Commission and the Charities Regulatory Authority.

  Neither my Department or any of the above agencies have any contracts with the company in question.