Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein)
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514. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the first year and full year cost of increasing the affordable childcare subsidy for children under three years of age by €1 per hour; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27917/22]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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There are two types of subsidies available under the National Childcare Scheme (or the Affordable Childcare Scheme):

- Currently, universal subsidies are available to all families with children under 3 years old. They are also available to families with children over 3 years who have not yet qualified for the free preschool programme (ECCE). This subsidy is not means tested and provides 50c per hour towards the cost of a registered childcare place for a maximum of 45 hours per week.

- Income Assessed Subsidies are available to families with children aged between 24 weeks and 15 years. This subsidy is means tested and will be calculated based on your individual circumstances. The rate will vary depending on family income, child’s age and educational stage, and the number of children in the family. The maximum available income assessed  subsidy dependent on the aforementioned conditions is €5.10 per hour or a maximum weekly subsidy of €229.50.

Budget 2022 announced a number of changes to the NCS which will be rolled out this year. The first change removes the practice of deducting hours spent in pre-school or school from the entitlement to NCS subsidised hours, benefiting an estimated 5,000 children from low income families. This came into effect on 2 May 2022. The second change will extend the NCS universal subsidy to all children under 15 from September 2022. Full year estimates of these changes have been factored into the costs below but the impact of these changes will not be fully known until Q4 2022.

The estimated costs based on the scenarios presented are derived from current levels of usage and expenditure adjusted for the Budget 22 changes. These individual estimates are based on no behavioural change and should be interpreted with caution. It should be noted that changes to subsidies may result in changes to patterns and levels of usage by families. These changes are likely to be more pronounced at higher rates of increase.

Based on the above, the following are the estimated costs, assuming that the minimum targeted subsidy is increased so as never to be below the universal subsidy:

- First year cost of approximately €6 million

- Full year cost of approximately €18.5 million.

Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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515. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason that the State did not acquire the Bessboro lands when they were in the control of NAMA given the likelihood of burials on the site. [28025/22]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes was established in 2015 to investigate and report on a wide range of issues associated with Mother and Baby institutions, including burial practices. The Commission’s fifth interim report, which was published in March 2019, covered burial arrangements in the institutions. The final report of the Commission was published in January 2021.

In relation to Bessborough, the Commission concluded that it is likely that some of the children who died in the institution are buried in the grounds but was unable to find any physical or documentary evidence of this. The Commission carried out cartographic and landscape assessments of possible unrecorded burial arrangements and also followed up with people on responses to its appeal seeking information about burials in Bessborough. As no evidence of locations was found, the Commission did not consider it feasible to excavate the full available site, which amounts to 60 acres.

The Deputy’s question refers to a period which predates the publication of the Commission's report and its conclusions on the Bessborough site. In addition, I understand from my colleague, the Minister for Finance, that NAMA does not typically own or control properties; rather it owns loans for which the properties act as security. Under Section 10 of the National Asset Management Agency Act 2009, it is required to deal expeditiously with its acquired assets and to obtain the best achievable financial return from them. The State has to follow the same procedure as any other potential buyer of loans acquired by NAMA.

I am very conscious of the hurt that continues to be felt by survivors and family members of the people who died while resident in Mother and Baby institutions, including the former institution in Bessborough, Cork.  As Minister, I have maintained a close interest in sites associated with these institutions. In 2021, I made submissions to An Bord Pleanála and Cork City Council as part of the normal planning process in respect of two planning applications made on the Bessborough lands, requesting that due consideration be given to the sensitivity of the site and the conclusions of the Commission. An Bord Pleanála refused permission to develop the area in question because it was not satisfied that the site was not previously used as a children’s burial ground.

It is a matter for the relevant planning authorities to make determinations regarding planned developments at the site of former Mother and Baby institutions, including Bessborough.  I have consistently highlighted that adequate consideration should be given to requests from relatives of the deceased, survivors and their families for appropriate access and respectful memorialisation in due course.

In addition I have engaged with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage with a view to supporting local authorities, including Cork City Council, in incorporating appropriate policies on burial sites into their development plans.

I will continue to raise the importance of respectful treatment of sites linked to former Mother and Baby institutions and promote engagement with relatives of the deceased, former residents and other stakeholders for that purpose.