Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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437. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the main policy achievements of his Department since 27 June 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61644/22]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Since my appointment as Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, the remit of the Department has been broadened with the inclusion of a number of very important new policy areas including equality, integration and disability.

Significant work has been completed across all policy areas since 2020 and, with the publication of my Department’s Statement of Strategy 2021-23 in March 2021, we have set out ambitious goals that we want to achieve across a range of policy areas over this period. The Department's activities in meeting these goals are outlined in its Annual Reports.

Since the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine on February 24, my Department continues to work as part of the whole-of-Government response with a focus on meeting the immediate, temporary accommodation needs of those fleeing the conflict. Responding to the needs of the over 60,000 people fleeing Ukraine, of whom in excess of 49,000 have sought accommodation from the State, has been a huge challenge and has had a significant impact on resources in the Department. This will be addressed in our 2023 Business Plan.

I set out below the main policy achievements of my Department since 27 June 2020 as they relate to the six strategic goalsoutlined in my Department’s Statement of Strategy 2021-23.

1. We will develop, implement and influence evidence informed policies and legislation that improve the outcomes for those we serve.

In 2020:

- My Department launched a consultation inviting written submissions on its initial proposals to amend the Child Care Act, 1991. The Department initiated a review of the operating and oversight model used to support the delivery of accessible, affordable and high quality early learning care and school age childcare services.

- A new programme of consultation was launched on the future early learning and care and school-age childcare workforce and a future funding model for the sector.

- An Independent Review of the Cost of Providing Quality Early Learning and Childcare in Ireland was published.

- The Government’s First 5 Annual Implementation Report 2019 was published.

- In December 2020, the Government approved drafting of the Bill to extend paid Parents’ Leave from two weeks to five as well as approving provisions to amend the Adoptive Leave Act 1995 to allow male same-sex couples avail of adoptive leave.

- The Government approved the drafting of the Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2021, which provides for reform of the Guardian ad litem (GAL) system.

In 2021:

- The Gender Pay Gap Information Act, 2021 was signed into Law on 13 July 2021.

- The family leave provisions under the Family Leave and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2021 were commenced on 1 April 2021, which enabled parents to avail of three weeks additional Parent’s Leave and Parent’s Benefit.

In 2022:

- My Department published the Institutional Burials Bill in February 2022. This legislation provides a legal basis to allow recovery and identification of the children inappropriately interred at the site of the former Mother and Baby Home in Tuam.

- The Birth Information and Tracing Bill was signed into law in June 2022, providing a clear right for each person to full access of their information.

- The Child Care (Amendment) Act was signed into law in July 2022. This Act strengthens the voice of children in child-care proceedings.

- The Government approved the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Bill in October 2022. The Payment Scheme provides financial payments and an enhanced medical card in acknowledgement of suffering experienced while resident in Mother and Baby and County Home Institutions.

2. We will ensure the provision of a range of quality and sustainable services, underpinned by strategic investment, that meet the needs of individuals, families and communities.

In 2020:

- In July 2020, a Focused Policy Assessment of the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Higher Capitation payment was published. The report showed that the introduction of the Higher Capitation payment, which provides increased funding for services with a graduate workforce, has contributed to a rise in the number of practitioners with a degree level qualification.

- In August 2020, over €2.32 million in capital grant funding was announced for 147 targeted, staff-led, youth projects/services and 25 national youth organisations across the country. The grants enabled youth services to purchase and replace essential equipment to support the running of their services for young people and for national youth organisations to provide innovative models of safe online communication for staff and with young people.

- A new programme of consultation was launched on the future early learning and care and school-age childcare workforce and a future funding model for the sector.

- National Quality Guidelines for School-Age Childcare Services were launched, as well as the award of the 2020 round of Childminder Development Grants, totalling just over €190,000.

- The Report of the Advisory Group on Direct Provision was published jointly with the Department of Justice, and formed a key input to the White Paper to End Direct Provision that was subsequently published in February 2021.

In 2021:

- Budget 2022 saw the introduction of additional funding of €183 million comprising:

- an increase of €78m for Early Learning and Childcare

- an increase of €41m for International Protection Support and White Paper Transition

- an increase of €41m for Tusla, the Child & Family Agency

- additional funding of €23m secured for a range of areas in the department including for Youth Services, Equality and Inclusion, Disability, Mother and Baby Homes actions, Refugee and Migrant Integration; Traveller and Roma Initiatives and for the Adoption Authority, amongst others

- The Department published a White Paper to end Direct Provision and to establish a new International Protection Support Service.

- The Department published the National Action Plan for Childminding, which aims to improve access to high quality and affordable early learning and care and school-age childcare through childminding.

In 2022:

- My Department launched the new funding model for ELC and SAC, Together for Better. This new model brings together 3 major elements, the Early Childhood Care and Education programme, including the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM), the National Childcare Scheme and Core Funding, and is launched as Core Funding comes into operation, with 90% of eligible services signing up.

- The project to reform the Youth Services Grant Scheme moved into its implementation phase and my Department activated a Project Implementation Plan with a detailed outline of how the projects deliverable will be achieved.

- My Department increased the funding allocation for Tusla the Child and Family Agency to €935 million. This will help to address increasing demand for Tusla services, address the provision of statutory residential care as recommended by the IGEES Spending Review of Residential Care and support the community and voluntary sector funded by Tusla to deliver important services on its behalf. This will also allow Tusla to continue its existing capital programmes.

- The My Little Library initiative was rolled out for all children starting school in September 2022. This initiative provides a My Little Library book bag to each child for collection in libraries across the country.

- Following the publication of the Birth Information and Tracing Bill in June, my Department launched a new Information and Tracing Service in October 2022. This allows applications to be made for access to birth, early life, care and medical information.

- My Department has worked closely with our colleagues in Tusla to support the Department of Justice in launching its Third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence.

- My Department finalised Ireland’s National Action Plan for Implementation of the EU Child Guarantee.

- Supporting Parents, the national model for parenting support services, was approved by Government and implementation of key actions are underway.

- My Department hosted Dail na nÓg and Seanad na nÓg and an international conference on child participation with the Council of Europe

- The National Youth Assembly was established and delivered three Assemblies on Climate, Rural life and Artificial Intelligence

- Multiple consultations were held with children and young people in support of policy objectives of the Department and other departments and agencies

3. We will help those who are vulnerable, including children, young people and at risk individuals, to overcome adverse circumstances and to achieve their full potential.

In 2020:

- In September 2020, officials agreed a joint approach to be adopted by Tusla and HSE for the management and funding of placements for children with disabilities in care, or those transitioning out of State care, and to provide a person-centred pathway to meet the needs of children with a complex disability and their families.

- The Disability Participation and Consultation Network was launched. Its purpose was to make sure people with a disability would be involved in the development of policy and legislation.

- Discussions on how to address pay and conditions in the early years care and school age care sector were held in partnership with SIPTU and CSI/IBEC, which culminated in a subsequent decision to establish a Joint Labour Committee.

- The Minister marked International Migrants Day with the announcement of €2.2m in funding to support migrant integration projects across Ireland.

- The 13th Report of the Special Rapporteur on Child Protection was presented to Government and published. It was the first annual report to be submitted by Professor Conor O’Mahony, who was appointed as the new Special Rapporteur in July 2019 for a term of three years.

In 2021:

- National Children First Awareness Week ran from 1 to 7 November 2021. The aim of the week was to raise awareness of Children First and remind wider society, including organisations working with children and young people, of our collective responsibility to keep them safe in our communities.

- The Department announced new funding schemes worth €800,000 as part of What Works Initiative.

In 2022:

- A Disability Division was established within my Department and a new Assistant Secretary was appointed. My Department is actively engaging with colleagues in the Department of Health and the HSE to support the Transfer of Functions programme of work.

- Eight new services were delivered under UBU Your Place Your Space in 2022.

- My Department implemented its objectives under the European Year of Youth through establishing a National Steering Group and additional funding to support grants for youth activities.

- Development and roll out of ELC and SAC Action Plan for Ukrainian Children and their Families, including legislative amendment to allow people with residency rights to access the NCS under the Temporary International Protection Directive.

4. We will promote the development of a progressive, respectful and equal society, informed by the experiences of past generations and seek to respond to the needs of survivors.

In 2020:

- The Department published the General Scheme of the Preservation and Transfer of Specified Records of the Commission of Investigation (Mother and Baby Homes and certain related Matters) Bill, which was enacted later in the year.

- Budget 2021 saw extra funding of some €121 million for Tusla, International Protection Seekers Accommodation, Traveller and Roma Initiatives and Youth services, bringing the total investment in the Department to over €1.9 billion for 2021. The significant additional funding was targeted at improving outcomes for children, young people and their families as well as the promotion of equality and human rights. The funding also provided for the inclusion and integration of persons seeking international protection.

- On 30 October 2020, the Minister received the final report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes and certain related matters.

- Additional funding of €4.7 million was announced to support domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (DSGBV) services across the country in 2021.

- I confirmed the 29 projects around the country that would receive funding of €700,000 under the 2020 LGBTI+ Communities Services Fund.

- The Irish Sign Language Act, 2017 was formally commenced on 23 December, 2020.

- My Department, together with the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA), IHREC and Pavee Point Traveller and Roma Centre, launched a report on the rights and living conditions of Travellers in Ireland.

In 2021:

- The Department published An Action Plan for Survivors and Former Residents of Mother and Baby and County Home Institutions and details of the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme.

- The Department launched a consultation on the review of the Equality Acts.

In 2022:

- Following the publication of the Birth Information and Tracing Bill in June, my Department launched a new Information and Tracing Service in October 2022. This allows applications to be made for access to birth, early life, care and medical information.

- My Department has worked closely with our colleagues in Tusla to support the Department of Justice in launching its Third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence.

5. We will work in partnership with individuals, families and communities, and across Government Departments, public bodies and civil society to achieve better outcomes.

In 2020:

- A €90,000 scheme was announced for Comhairle na nÓg ICT Capital Funding, open to applications from all Local Authorities to support the work of Comhairle na nÓg.

- How’s Your Head – Young Voices during COVID-19’, a national consultation with young people on mental health and wellbeing, was published.

- 113 community projects around the country were allocated funding of almost €500,000 under the 2020 Communities Integration Fund. This was the fourth year of the Communities Integration Fund, bringing the total amount made available to over €2 million.

In 2021:

- Ireland’s draft State Report under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child was published for consultation in October 2021.

- The Minister of State with Special Responsibility for Disability, Ms Anne Rabbitte T.D., published Ireland’s first report to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

- The Department launched the ‘National Framework for Children and Young People’s Participation in Decision-Making’.

- The Department announced major reforms to the funding model for early learning and childcare services.

In 2022:

- My Department finalised Ireland’s National Action Plan for Implementation of the EU Child Guarantee.

- Supporting Parents, the national model for parenting support services, was approved by Government and implementation of key actions are underway.

- My Department hosted Dail na nÓg and Seanad na nÓg and an international conference on child participation with the Council of Europe

- The National Youth Assembly was established and delivered three Assemblies on Climate, Rural life and Artificial Intelligence

- Multiple consultations were held with children and young people in support of policy objectives of the Department and other departments and agencies

6. We will maintain high standards of performance and corporate governance with engaged, motivated and supported staff.

In 2020:

- The Department recruited 32 new staff in 2020, accounting for around 8.5% of employees in the Department. Additionally, a number of specialist external recruitment competitions were carried out to increase the Department’s skillset.

- The Department launched a review of the operating and oversight model used to support the delivery of accessible, affordable and high quality early learning care and school age childcare services.

- The Department established a new Information Management Unit to respond quickly to its GDPR obligations, with particular reference to records previously held by the Commission on Mother and Baby Homes.

- A review of the Tusla Oversight Agreement setting out the formal oversight and governance engagements between DCEDIY and Tusla also commenced.

In 2021:

- The Department recruited 171 new staff in 2021, accounting for around 35% of employees in the Department. 32 employees or 6% of all staff were promoted through internal or external competitions. Again, a number of specialist external recruitment competitions were carried out to increase the Department’s skillset.

- The review of the operating model for Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age Childcare (SAC) concluded in 2021 and, subject to Government approval, work was due to commence in early 2022 on identifying how best to implement its findings.

- A review of the existing DCEDIY-Tusla Oversight Agreement was completed. This set out the key aspects of the relationship and governance arrangements between the Department and Tusla. The revised Oversight Agreement was finalised and signed by both parties in 2021

- The Department reviewed and amended its Risk Management Framework in September 2021.

In 2022:

- From 1 January until 12 December 2022, the Department recruited 212 new employees with 3% of all staff promoted through internal or external competitions. A number of specialist external recruitment competitions were also carried out to increase the Department’s skillset. The Department also recruited for an Assistant Secretary position for the Disability Division.

- In March 2022, my Department published the Independent Review of the Operating Model in respect of ELC and SAC, a commitment made in the First 5 strategy. Following this report, my Department commenced a period of further detailed analysis in respect of this important reform project.