Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I am pleased to outline the elements of the budget 2022 for the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. My Department has received an additional €183 million, bringing the total investment in 2022 to €2.1 billion. This is a significant budget package, which reflects the high priority that my Department places on strengthening supports for children, childcare workers, refugees and migrants, women and members of the Traveller and LGBTI+ communities.

In the area of early learning and childcare, Government policy is committed to increasing spending to €1 billion per year by 2028. From September 2022, I will introduce a new major core funding stream for early learning and childcare. A total of €69 million is being made available next year for this stream, equivalent to €207.5 million in a full year, representing a 16% increase in the total annual income to the sector. In return for a commitment that parents' fees will not increase, providers will be eligible for this new core funding stream to help cover increasing operating costs linked to quality improvement measures, including staff pay and conditions.

I am pleased to announce a number of important developments to the national childcare scheme, NCS. The practice of deducting hours spent in preschool or school from the entitlement to the NCS subsidised hours will cease in 2022. This change will particularly benefit an estimated 5,000 children from low-income families whose parents who are not currently in work or study. From September 2022, I will extend the universal subsidy available under the scheme to 40,000 additional children. This extends the universalism of the scheme. This package marks the beginning of an important and transformative multi-annual investment programme and significantly achieves progress on the commitment to invest €1 million per annum by 2028.

I pay tribute to the childcare workers, providers and professionals who campaigned tirelessly for many years to ensure the work they do is properly valued. Coming from a base of almost zero State investment ten years ago, next year, €760 million will be invested in the sector. It is an example of our commitment to the best outcomes for our youngest citizens.

In this year's budget, I provided the largest single year-on-year increase in Tusla's budget since its establishment to allow it to address significant and complex demand-led pressure. Next year, I will advance it further. In 2022, Tusla will receive €899 million, which is an increase of €41 million, or 5%. The additional resources will allow Tusla to continue to grow, to provide front-line services to the most vulnerable children, families, victims of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, and support the services provided by its partners in the community and voluntary sector.

I am committed to ending the unfair system of accommodation that is direct provision. We are working to implement a new system of accommodation for all applicants and provide the necessary supports to allow for independent living. The €28 million additional funding allocated in budget 2022 will allow me to continue the process of implementing the White Paper and allowing international protection applicants to move to more appropriate independent accommodation.

Regarding other areas of my Vote, I am delighted to announce an extra €5 million in funding for youth organisations throughout the country. I wish to recognise the introduction of the youth travel card announced by the Minister for Transport yesterday. That innovation comes from Comhairle na nÓg, an organisation funded by my Department, which lobbied me and the Minister for Transport. It is because of its work that this card has been delivered in this budget.

We are investing to make Ireland a more inclusive and a fairer country. Next year, I will allocate €12 million, an increase in €3 million, for refugee and migrant integration and action to combat racism. Positive actions for gender equality will receive an additional €2 million next year, bringing funding to €6 million. We have secured an increase in LGBTI+-related funding, bringing it to more than €1 million, and €5.6 million for Traveller and Roma supports.

Our Department is new and growing. During this year, we have produced groundbreaking new policy measures. This significant financial investment from the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform will allow me and the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, to keep the most vulnerable citizens of this country at the very centre of the work we do.

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