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Financial Resolution No. 2: Excise - Mineral Oil Tax: Motion
I move:
(1)THAT for the purposes of the tax charged by virtue of section 95 of the Finance Act 1999 (No. 2 of 1999), that Act be amended, with effect as on and from 14 October 2020—
Financial Resolution No. 2 provides for an increase in the carbon charge component of mineral oil tax on petrol and auto diesel with effect from midnight tonight. The increase amounts to €7.50 per...
Financial Resolution No. 2: Excise - Mineral Oil Tax: Motion (Continued)
I thank the Deputies who contributed. I agree with Deputy Howlin, in that supporting the implementation of the carbon tax is the acid test of our seriousness as a country in tackling climate chang...
It will finance a range of important and targeted social protection interventions,-----
-----some of which are particularly relevant to my Department in the context of increases in the qualified child payment, those being, €2 per week for children under 12 years of age and €5 per week...
It will lead to a €5 increase in the living alone allowance and a €3.50 per week increase in the fuel allowance. Those are the social welfare measures that will be funded as a result of this measu...
A number of Deputies raised the issue of rural Ireland. It is important to note that €20 million of the revenue will be used to pilot environmental programmes in agriculture, which is a recognit...
Is the Leas-Cheann Comhairle indicating that I must conclude?
The overall impact of this measure has to be seen in the context of a range of programme for Government commitments, some of which are being financed today, for example, the increased investment in...
Financial Resolution No. 3 - Value Added Tax: Motion
I move:
Financial Resolution No. 4 - Corporation Tax: Motion
I move:
Financial Resolution No. 4 - Corporation Tax: Motion (Continued)
I will try to address some of the issues raised by Deputies. Following on from what the Tánaiste has said, these measures are in the context of wider reviews of corporate tax regimes and the wider...
In that context, Revenue officials here conducted an informal review of the publicly-available information and data concerning tax bases in different jurisdictions, and examining, in particular, ...
The Minister is moving to address that situation through this resolution and to ensure that Ireland's IP allowances are consistent with international best practice. As a result, section 288 of t...
Deputy Paul Murphy asked if this will lead to a significant increase in revenue. It is not expected that there will be, given the current profile of claims demonstrated by Revenue data. The Rev...
Departmental Funding
Was asked: the status of the need for increased funding for the National Youth Council of Ireland in view of the mental health impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The allocations under Budget 2021 are being considered by Government in the context of the annual Estimates process for 2021. As this process is ongoing, the Deputy will appreciate that it would no...
While I recognise and acknowledge that youth sector funding saw deep cuts during the preceding decade, in recent years, funding for the provision of youth services has increased on an annual basi...
It is now more critical than ever that our young people are supported as they experience the social, economic, physical and mental health impacts of the pandemic. In recognition of the vital role...
I am committed to supporting this important sector, which has enormous value both to the many young people involved and from a broader social and economic viewpoint.
Youth Work Supports
Was asked: if an additional €4.7 million in funding for youth work services in 2021 will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The allocations under Budget 2021 are being considered by Government in the context of the annual Estimates process for 2021. As this process is ongoing, the Deputy will appreciate that it would no...
While I recognise and acknowledge that youth sector funding saw deep cuts during the preceding decade, in recent years, funding for the provision of youth services has increased on an annual basi...
It is now more critical than ever that our young people are supported as they experience the social, economic, physical and mental health impacts of the pandemic. In recognition of the vital role...
I am committed to supporting this important sector, which has enormous value both to the many young people involved and from a broader social and economic viewpoint.
School Attendance
Was asked: his plans to address school absences in view of the results of the annual attendance report for the 2017 to 2018 school year; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
As the Deputy may be aware, Tusla Education Support Services (TESS) is responsible for addressing issues in relation to participation, retention and attendance in schools.
Educational Welfare Officers (EWOs) work with young people and their families who are experiencing difficulty with school attendance. The main priority of their work is around the welfare of chil...
The 2017/2018 Annual Attendance Report indicates that non-attendance rates in school remain broadly stable over the past five academic years from 2013/2014 to 2017/2018. There was a slight increa...
All schools have a School Attendance Strategy in place and attendance is a central theme of DEIS planning with all DEIS schools required to set targets for improved school attendance. Non-attend...
For the first time in 2017/2018 schools were asked to indicate if absences were explained or unexplained and this indicated that over 60% of absences in primary schools were explained compared to...
In November 2019, TESS rolled out a very successful campaign to promote positive school attendance called “Every School Day Counts” and over 2,000 schools ran initiatives in their schools to prom...
As the Deputy will be aware, An Taoiseach announced, as part of his speech on the formation of Government on Saturday 27 June, that “Educational welfare functions will be returned to the Departme...
Was asked: the truancy rate for children with a disability at primary and post-primary level; the engagement by school attendance officers with schools and parents in such instances; and if he will make a sta...
The Tusla Education Support Service (TESS) operates under the Education (Welfare) Act, 2000 which emphasises the promotion of school attendance, participation and retention.
TESS operates a referral based system. Under Section 22 of the Education (Welfare), Act 2000 each school is obliged to have a statement of strategies to encourage regular attendance among all stu...
TESS has advised my Department that it does not record the attendance rate for individual cohorts of students including children with a disability at primary or post primary level.
Children in Care
Was asked: the number of children in the care of Tusla in residential placements in the United Kingdom; the number on short term or specialist placements; the number on long term placements; the implications ...
The Deputy is referring to an operational matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. I have therefore referred the matter to Tusla, and asked that Tula respond directly to the Deputy.
Was asked: the number of children in the care of Tusla in foster placements in the United Kingdom; the number on short term or specialist placements; the number on long term placements; the implications of Br...
The Matrimonial and Parental Judgments: jurisdiction, recognition and enforcement (Brussels IIa) Regulation is the legal mechanism in relation to children in the care of Tusla, the Child and Fami...
Was asked: the number of children aged under 12 and aged under 18 resident here by Tusla LHO area in tabular form.
The Deputy is referring to an operational matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. I have therefore referred the matter to Tusla, and asked that Tula respond directly to the Deputy.
Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries
Was asked: if he will consider setting up hubs at mother and baby home sites or nearby so that both the history can be preserved and that records could be accessed on a regional basis.
The Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes is due to submit its final report by 30th October 2020. The important work of this Commission will undoubtedly help us to acknowledge and...
Memorialisation was one of the key issues examined by the Collaborative Forum of former residents of Mother and Baby Homes and related institutions which was set up by my predecessor. My Departme...
The Commission's final report will assist to inform deliberations on the development of local and national memorialisation measures. I am committed to facilitating further engagement with former ...
Childcare Services
Was asked: if his attention has been drawn to reports from parents that some crèches are no longer accepting the national childcare scheme (details supplied); the percentage of crèches availing of the scheme;...
At present, there are 2,874 childcare providers participating in the National Childcare Scheme. In total, there are 4,373 providers participating in at least one programme funded by my Department. ...
Was asked: the reason parents are required to keep their child’s full attendance up in a crèche or risk funding being cut in view of the fact that County Dublin is in level 3 restrictions and there is a stron...
My Department provides a number of funding schemes which provide help to parents and guardians with childcare fees, including the NCS, CCSP and TEC. Under these schemes parents pay a reduced fee, ...
Was asked: the capital supports available to private childcare providers that need assistance in developing premises for early childhood education; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
My Department operates an annual capital funding programme, under which early learning and care and school-age childcare service providers are invited to apply for capital funding to enable them t...
Was asked: the reason qualified and experienced childcare providers that run their businesses from home are prohibited from registering with Tusla preventing them from accessing the national childcare scheme;...
Childcare providers who operate from their homes are required to register with Tusla and are thereby able to take part in the National Childcare Scheme if they care for four or more preschool child...
Was asked: the funding available to preschools for developing and maintaining premises; the funding opportunities that can be availed of; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
My Department operates an annual capital funding programme, under which early learning and care and school-age childcare service providers are invited to apply for capital funding to enable them to...
National Childcare Scheme
Was asked: if a person (details supplied) will be entitled to part funding to allow them avail of the national childcare scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The National Childcare Scheme incorporates two kinds of subsidy towards the cost of quality of childcare.
The universal subsidy is available to all parents of children aged between 24 weeks and 36 months (or until the child qualifies for the Early Childhood Care and Education programme if later). The...
For income-assessed awards, the highest levels of subsidy will go to families at or below the minimum reckonable income threshold of €26,000, with the level of subsidy tapering down smoothly as i...
Parents with a net income threshold of more than €60,000 per annum do not qualify for an income-assessed award under the National Childcare Scheme. However, they may be eligible for a universal s...
If the individual concerned is unhappy with the award, it is open to them to appeal to the scheme administrator through the applicants online portal at ncs.gov.ie
Was asked: if allowance has been made for an increase in the income thresholds for the national childcare scheme; and the thresholds of proposed increases.
Allowance has been made within the design of the National Childcare Scheme for potential changes to be made to the income thresholds. The Scheme has been designed to be flexible, with income thresh...
Currently, for income-assessed awards under the Scheme, the highest levels of subsidy will go to families at or below the minimum reckonable income threshold of €26,000, with the level of subsidy...
The Scheme also offers a universal subsidy which is unrelated to parental income. The universal subsidy is available to all parents of children aged between 24 weeks and 36 months (or until the c...
Youth Services
Was asked: if he will increase investment in youth services including services such as an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The allocations under Budget 2021 are being considered by Government in the context of the annual Estimates process for 2021. As this process is ongoing, the Deputy will appreciate that it would no...
While I recognise and acknowledge that youth sector funding saw deep cuts during the preceding decade, in recent years, funding for the provision of youth services has increased on an annual basi...
It is now more critical than ever that our young people are supported as they experience the social, economic, physical and mental health impacts of the pandemic. In recognition of the vital role...
I am committed to supporting this important sector, which has enormous value both to the many young people involved and from a broader social and economic viewpoint.
Victim Support Services
Was asked: his plans to expand the counselling services and supports available for victims of sexual abuse following court proceedings; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has statutory responsibility for the care and protection of victims of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (DSGBV). In 2020, I am providing core funding o...
Tusla provides annual funding to 16 rape crisis centres nationwide. Services provided by these centres include specialist counselling for individuals seeking assistance in coming to terms with th...
Barnahus is a child-friendly, interdisciplinary and multiagency model of service that brings child protection, policing, medical, therapeutic and forensic services together to provide services fo...
In the Barnahus model, health services, including mental health services and treatment for victims of sexual abuse, are provided by professionals with specialised training and expertise. These pr...
It should be noted that overall responsibility for mental health services lies with the Department of Health. The Health Service Executive (HSE) operates the National Counselling Service (NCS), a...
The O'Malley Report, which was recently published by the Department of Justice, reviewed protections for vulnerable witnesses in the investigation and prosecution of sexual offences. The Departme...
Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
Was asked: the provisions in place for childcare facilities with staffing difficulties due to Covid-19.
I acknowledge that many early learning and care and school-age childcare services are reporting staffing and recruitment difficulties, with increased pressures as a result of Covid-19. There is no ...
Early Childhood Care and Education
Was asked: the status of ECCE deposits and the mechanism of refunds.
Childcare services providing the ECCE programme may charge a refundable booking deposit to hold an ECCE place for a child. The maximum deposit a provider may charge is equivalent to four weeks’ ECC...
In circumstances where a service is holding a legacy deposit for a child who has been attending the service prior to their commencement on the ECCE programme, and where the service has not charge...
My Department funds a national network of County Childcare Committees (CCCs) who provide support and advice to parents and childcare providers. Any parents who have concerns regarding ECCE depos...