Written Answers Nos. 514-533
514. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the capital costs of providing a four-bedroom respite centre for disabled people; the first-year current costs of providing a four-bedroom respite centre for disabled people; and the full-year current cost of providing a four-bedroom respite centre for disabled people, in tabular form. [17453/24]
View answer515. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the Department's target for the provision of respite places for disabled people over the next three, six and nine years, in tabular form. [17454/24]
View answer516. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the amount of funding allocated for the provision of home respite support packages that is within the Department's pre-committed current expenditure baseline. [17455/24]
View answer517. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the current allocation for delivering existing levels of home respite supports for emergency cases, including funding for the 420 packages put in place in 2022 and maintained in 2023, as well as the additional 27 packages delivered in 2023, is within the Department's pre-committed current expenditure baseline. [17456/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 514 to 517, inclusive, together.
As these questions refer to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
518. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the first-year costs of providing 100,000, 200,000 and 500,000 additional personal assistance hours; and the full-year costs of providing 100,000, 200,000 and 500,000 additional personal assistance hours, in tabular form. [17457/24]
View answerAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
519. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the first-year costs of providing 100, 200 and 500 additional intensive home supports; and the full-year costs of providing 100, 200 and 500 additional intensive home supports, in tabular form. [17458/24]
View answerAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
520. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the capital costs of providing one additional adult day service centre; the average number of places provided in an adult day service centre; the first-year current costs of providing 500, 1,000 and 1,500 additional adult day service places; and the full-year current costs of providing 500, 1,000 and 1,500 additional adult day service places, in tabular form. [17459/24]
View answerAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
521. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the cost bands associated with providing additional adult day services places in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024; and the average cost of providing additional day service places in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024; in tabular form. [17460/24]
View answerAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
522. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated number of new day service places for disabled adults that will be needed in 2024, 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029 and 2030, taking into account vacancies arising and demographic change. [17461/24]
View answerAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
523. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of people leaving rehabilitative training and school who were profiled for an adult day service in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023; and the number of adult day service places that were provided in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023, in tabular form [17462/24]
View answerAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
524. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the current costs of filling all vacant posts in children's disability network teams; the number of vacant posts in children's disability network teams where funding is already committed; the number of vacant posts in children's disability network teams where funding has not already been committed; and the current costs of filling the vacant posts where funding has not already been committed. [17463/24]
View answerAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible. The Deputy will likely be aware that the industrial action by certain Forsa grades in the HSE has been suspended. The HSE has indicated that they have recommenced issuing replies to questions but there is a significant backlog of PQs and Reps to be responded to and has advised that they are working to get through these as soon as possible while at the same time managing the volume of current PQs and Reps.
525. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the funding provided to the DPO network in each of the past three years, in tabular form. [17464/24]
View answerI thank the Deputy for the question and outline payments to the DPO network for the last 3 years are as follows.
|
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
|
€20,000 |
€33,000 |
€16,500 (interim - 6 months) |
All funding for the DPO network is provided through the framework of the Disability Participation and Consultation Network (DPCN), of which the DPO Network is a funded member.
Funded members of the DPCN were chosen on foot an open call for DPCN membership and a subsequent merit based evaluation process. The DPCN was formed to build capacity amongst disability stakeholders and to ensure that disabled people and disability organisations are actively engaged and directly consulted on the formation of policy and legislation in line with the UNCRPD.
Funding has been continued this year for the operation of the DPCN on an interim basis, pending full consideration of the evaluation report on the operation of the DPCN which was conducted by the National Disability Authority.
Engagement with Disabled Persons Organisations (DPOs), disabled people, and wider disability stakeholders in consultation, policy-making and implementation, is a core principle of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).
My Department supports, and will continue to support and evolve, frameworks for consulting with disabled people, in furtherance of our CPRD obligations and the powerful phrase "nothing about us without us".
526. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide a breakdown, in tabular form, of the number of children from 2019 to date under 18 years of age awaiting appointments to see the CDNT in each area in County Wexford. [17473/24]
View answer527. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide a breakdown, in tabular form, for each CDNT area of County Wexford of the number of children on the CDNT waiting list for zero to three, three to six, six to 12, 12 to 24, 24 to 36, 36 to 48, and over 48 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17474/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 526 and 527 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. The Deputy will likely be aware that the industrial action by certain Forsa grades in the HSE has been suspended. The HSE has indicated that they have recommenced issuing replies to questions but there is a significant backlog of PQs and Reps to be responded to and has advised that they are working to get through these as soon as possible while at the same time managing the volume of current PQs and Reps.
528. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide an update on the current positions vacant across each section of County Wexford’s CDNT; when it is expected vacant positions will be filled in each area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17475/24]
View answerAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible. The Deputy will likely be aware that the industrial action by certain Forsa grades in the HSE has been suspended. The HSE has indicated that they have recommenced issuing replies to questions but there is a significant backlog of PQs and Reps to be responded to and has advised that they are working to get through these as soon as possible while at the same time managing the volume of current PQs and Reps.
529. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will consider making a financial allocation to Castleblayney care group in order to provide a community centre or facility in conjunction with the housing development for people with special needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17497/24]
View answerAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
The Deputy will likely be aware that the industrial action by certain Forsa grades in the HSE has been suspended. The HSE has indicated that they have recommenced issuing replies to questions but there is a significant backlog of PQs to be responded to and has advised that they are working to get through these as soon as possible while at the same time managing the volume of current PQs.
530. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he can provide an update on the development of a youth services action plan to provide a strategic direction for the delivery of youth services over the lifetime of the Young Ireland Framework; the timeframes for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17501/24]
View answerThe Young Ireland: National Policy Framework for Children and Young People recognises the important role of youth work services in supporting young people to thrive and fully develop their potential. It acknowledges the important ongoing reform programme and further commits to the development of a new Youth Services Action Plan to provide a strategic direction for the delivery of youth services over the lifetime of the Framework.
In the process of developing this work, it was determined that there is a need for broader strategic policy vision to guide the identification of the most impactful actions. In view of this, it is intended that the final document will be a national strategy on youth work services and related non-formal developmental opportunities for young people.
Informed by extensive consultation, work is at an advanced stage in developing this document, which will focus on ensuring we have high-quality, inclusive and accessible youth work services and opportunities that support young people from all backgrounds to fully realise their potential and positively shape their own and our shared future. The new Strategy will be published in the coming months.
531. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth how his Department intends to support the provision of high-quality and inclusive youth opportunities, spaces and services, by providing funding, guidance and other supports to organisations that deliver youth services as per the Young Ireland Framework; the plans for a multi-annual funding that are in place; the timeframes for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17502/24]
View answerThe Young Ireland: National Policy Framework for Children and Young People recognises the important role of youth work services in supporting young people to thrive and fully develop their potential. In line with this, I have continued to invest significantly in youth services throughout the country so that every young person is given the opportunity to achieve their full potential. From Budget 2020 to Budget 2024, current Exchequer funding for youth services and programmes increased from €61.789 million to €77.95 million, a 26% increase overall. Later this year, Government will publish a new national strategy to further enhance young people’s access to high quality youth work and related developmental opportunities and ensure all delivery partners are working together to deliver for young people. Work is at an advanced stage in respect of this document.
In respect of the Deputy's specific query on multi-annual funding, Exchequer funding for youth services is currently allocated on an annual basis in the Budgetary process. My Department is obliged to adhere to the public sector spending code, and therefore it is not possible to enter into multi-annual grant agreements with the youth organisations funded by my Department. However, in order to support organisations to have greater certainty of funding on a multi-annual basis, the UBU Your Place Your Space scheme, which is the largest scheme funded by my Department with €47million in funding in 2024, operates on a 3 year cycle basis, whereby funded youth services continue to receive funding over a 3 year period, subject to the completion of an annual Renewal form by the services involved. The new Targeted Youth Employment Support Initiative will operate on a similar basis, with a three year funding window for services, with annual renewal of funding within that period.
532. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth how his Department intends to implement a robust data collection and evaluation system in order to ensure that young people’s participation in youth services and, in particular, the inclusion of young people who are marginalised, vulnerable or disadvantaged, can be measured and enhanced; the timeframes for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17503/24]
View answerMy Department provides targeted supports for young people aged 10-24 who are marginalised, vulnerable or disadvantaged by means of the UBU Your Place Your Space scheme, under which €47 million is being allocated in 2024 to support young people to participate youth services in their communities. Under this scheme, service providers are required to report on the engagement of young people on a monthly and quarterly basis, disaggregated by age group and gender, and this information is collected in the form of the Annual Progress Reports which are reviewed by my Department.
Because of the diversity of formats and provision-types provided by organisations supported by my Department, there are challenges in designing a robust system for consistent reporting of participation data. My Department is working with the Education and Training Boards, who are responsible for youth funding at a local level, to design a tool that accurately captures this important information.
In order to facilitate improved data reporting across the youth sector, my Department also intends to implement a digital portal for the reporting and analysis of key data, including reliable quantitative data capturing the participation of young people in services. Considerable work has been undertaken to date on this project.
533. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the full cost of providing modular homes for Ukrainians to date; the proposed commencement date for the development of 82 modular homes for Ukrainians on HSE-owned lands at a location (details supplied) in County Tipperary; the proposed cost of this development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17521/24]
View answerAs part of the State’s humanitarian response to the Ukrainian crisis, the Government has developed a Rapid Build Housing Programme to provide accommodation for families fleeing the war in Ukraine who request it. The programme aims to provide short-term accommodation for up to 2,800 Ukrainians at several sites across Ireland. The Office of Public Works (OPW) is leading the development of this accommodation in conjunction with my Department.
This project – the first of its kind – is an important one, as it will provide a blueprint for future developments. As each phase has brought new challenges, these challenges are providing important future learnings.
The programme is being progressed under the emergency derogations from planning that were provided for by Government under S.I. No. 306 of 2022 – European Union (Planning and Development) (Displaced Persons from Ukraine Temporary Protection) Regulations, 2022.
The emphasis in this programme is on delivery of quality homes which will enhance local environments and this has been a priority. Each site will have roads, footpaths, street lighting, community facilities, including green spaces, fully in line with Local Authority planning guidance. The homes will be highly energy efficient, durable units with a 60 year lifespan and the development of the sites will be conducted in an environmentally sustainable way to ensure that, post development, the site will enhance the local area. Construction disruption is limited as the units are manufactured off site. In the future, the units have the potential to be utilised to address other accommodation challenges, including social housing and student accommodation.
The cost of each unit is approximately €145,000 per unit (45m² / 484sqft), inclusive of supply, delivery and provision of loose electrical and household items. This is separate to the site development and utility connection costs, etc. relating to the overall development. As the project is still ongoing and further sites are under consideration, it is not possible to fully specify a final overall programme figure.
To identify suitable State owned sites for the programme, my Department and the OPW have engaged with both the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and other public bodies. As part of this process, a HSE owned site at the location to which the Deputy refers was identified. OPW have assessed the site and plans are being put in place for the site to accommodate 82 units.
A comprehensive communications strategy is being rolled out for each of the sites that have been identified for the programme including at the location to which the Deputy refers. Work is now ongoing, in collaboration with the Local Authorities, to ensure that Councillors are updated on investigation works. Officials from my Department and the OPW met Tipperary Local Authority Officials and Councillors on Thursday 18th April 2024 to provide an overview of the sites plans for the development.
Discussions are currently ongoing with the HSE around licence arrangements once this is completed a start date for the works will be scheduled.
For each of the Rapid Build sites, my Department has put in place structures to ensure planning for the provision of essential and support services, like healthcare and education, are conveyed to the relevant providers in each area. My Department is working with other Departments, State Agencies and stakeholders to ensure these additional resources are in place.
