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Minister O’Gorman announces “transformative” €183 million budget package

  • €716m (an increase of €78m) for Early Learning and Childcare
  • €259m (an increase of €41m) for International Protection Support and White Paper Transition
  • €899m (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

See Table 1 in Notes to Editors for further details on how this funding will be allocated

Roderic O’Gorman TD, Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, has announced a ground-breaking package of measures for his department under Budget 2022. The measures represent extra funding of €183 million to cover a range of developments and improvements across his department, bringing the total investment by his department to just over €2.1 billion for 2022.

The significant additional funding for the department will be targeted at improving outcomes for children, young people and their families as well as the promotion of equality and human rights.

The funding also provides for the ending of Direct Provision and move to a new system of accommodation and supports for international protection applicants.

Announcing the measures, the Minister said:

“Budget 2022 introduces a ground-breaking package of measures for the early learning and childcare sector designed to deliver quality for children, affordability for parents, stability for providers, and support employers to improve pay and conditions for staff.”

Early Learning and Childcare

Minister O’Gorman is pleased to announce that government investment in Early Learning and Childcare next year will reach €716 million, including a new €69 million funding stream for providers from September 2022 to ensure sustainability of services and support the introduction of an Employment Regulation Order to determine minimum rates of pay for workers as well as conditions of employment. In return for this funding, there will be a commitment from providers not to increase parental fees.

In a full year, over €200m will be available for providers under this new funding stream.

Speaking about the early learning and childcare investment package, Minister O’Gorman said:

“This package marks the beginning of an important and transformative multi-annual investment programme and achieves significant progress on the commitment to increase spending on Early Learning and Childcare to €1 billion by 2028.”

The package of measures for early learning and childcare will have a number of major elements:

New funding stream: From September 2022, a major new funding stream will be introduced. Under the new funding stream, in return for a commitment that fees to parents will not increase, providers will be supported in meeting their operating costs, including increased costs related to improved quality measures. The funding will support the quality of services by better enabling providers to attract and retain qualified staff; establish career structures; introduce or improve other features of provision that are demonstrated to contribute to quality (e.g. non-contact time, planning, training, curriculum implementation).

The additional investment will support the Programme for Government commitment to support the drawing up of an Employment Regulation Order.

The new funding stream for providers will be introduced from September 2022 with €69 million being made available for the measure next year, equivalent to over €200 million in a full year, which will be equivalent to an increase of 16% in the total annual income to the sector.

Developments to the National Childcare Scheme: There will be an extension of the universal subsidy available under the National Childcare Scheme to all children under 15, which will allow all children availing of early learning and childcare to receive a subsidy to offset fees. 2022 will also see a cessation of the practice of deducting hours spent in pre-school or school from the entitlement to the National Childcare Scheme subsidised hours. This will particularly benefit children from low income families whose parents are not in work or study.

Developments to the support infrastructure: Additional investment will be made available for the support infrastructure for the sector. This will cover new childminding initiatives, funding for quality support, and development and reform of the inspection systems. This will ensure that the necessary supports, advice and oversight are in place to deliver quality services for children.

Continued access to EWSS: Early learning and childcare employers will continue to benefit from the exemption to the turnover rule for the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme until April 2022 in order to prevent the additional costs from public health measures being passed on to parents. The value of this exemption is estimated at €56 million for November and December 2021 and €60 million for January-April 2022.

Transition fund: Between May and August 2022, early learning and childcare providers will have access to a new once-off Transition Fund. Up to €5.5 million per month is available for providers to ensure there continues to be no increases in parents’ fees for early learning and childcare in the period leading up to the introduction of a new funding stream in September 2022.

Tusla

The allocation to Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, will increase to a total of €899 million in 2022. This is an effective overall increase of €41 million or nearly 5% over the 2021 allocation (€858m).

The additional resources being provided will allow Tusla to:

  • address increasing demand for Tusla services and the complexity of cases
  • begin to increase statutory residential care provision
  • improve ICT systems and Data Management processes, particularly in the aftermath of the HSE ransomware attack in May 2021
  • fund additional posts and meet expected demand arising from forthcoming Birth Information and Tracing legislation
  • maintain supports for DSGBV services and address recommendations arising from Tusla’s Accommodation Review of refuge provision
  • further grow and develop as an agency
  • support the community and voluntary sector which delivers important services on its behalf.

The Minister said:

“Tusla’s work supports some of the most vulnerable children and families in the State.

"In Budget 2021, I prioritised Tusla for special attention. I provided the largest single year-on-year increase in Tusla’s budget since its establishment in 2014. This allowed Tusla to address a number of significant demand led pressures over this period which have put an increasing strain on resources.

"This investment in Tusla underlines this government’s commitment to ensuring that Tusla has the resources to meet its mission of protecting and supporting our most vulnerable children and families.”

White Paper on Ending Direct Provision

In February 2021 A White Paper to End Direct Provision and to Establish a New International Protection Support Service was published, setting out how the government will end Direct Provision and replace it with a new system of accommodation for people seeking international protection.

The €28 million allocated in Budget 2022 will begin the process of transitioning applicants out of the current system of accommodation and into more appropriate housing in the community.

The Budget allocation will also focus on putting in place integration supports at a local level including an income support payment so that applicants can live their lives independently. It will put in place an integration fund to support applicants to integrate into their new communities and look to deliver benefits for the local community.

On the work to end Direct Provision, the Minister has said:

“I am committed to ending the unfair system of accommodation that is Direct Provision. I and my department will work tirelessly to put in place an appropriate system of accommodation for all applicants and provide the necessary supports to allow for independent living that has the needs of applicants at its core. The White Paper was the first significant step in providing a roadmap for the transition to a new and fairer system which I am introducing with the support of our government between now and the end of 2024.”

Disability

Commenting on measures announced to support people with disabilities, Minister of State with responsibility for Disability, Anne Rabbitte TD, said:

“As Minister with special responsibility for Disability, I am delighted to be able to bring forward a package of budget measures that will advance the rights of people with disabilities and bring us closer to fully realising the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in this country. I am determined to further the momentum that has built up here in Ireland.

“In addition to the €105 million expansion of the €2.2 billion budget for disability services I secured in the Department of Health, I am pleased to say that a budgetary package of €1.8 million has also been secured in DCEDIY.

“This will see over €500,000 to support us in further integrating people with disabilities into the policy-making process and that will allow us to build capacity and raise awareness in relation to CRPD across the state and wider society.

“I am also happy to announce that €1 million funding has been secured for practical supports to help people with disabilities in accessing and retaining employment and in making work pay, such as continued funding for existing employer supports and new funding for actions under the Comprehensive Employment Strategy.

“Ireland is at a critical juncture in terms of disability rights and the measures brought forward under Budget 2022 will allow us to build on our progress to date and drive further progress.”

Other areas – Additional Funding of €23 million

The Minister has also secured an additional €5 million in current funding for youth services to continue to implement the new targeted youth funding scheme, UBU Your Place, Your Space and provide for additional new services in 2022. The additional funding will also enable further support of national youth organisations and local youth clubs, helping them to resume full service delivery after Covid restrictions.

Minister O’Gorman said:

"The additional funding secured for Youth Services is particularly important given the disproportionate impact Covid-19 has had on young people. This additional funding will allow us to re-engage young people in youth services, re-engage and train volunteers, and provide new youth services where needed."

The Minister has also secured funding to allow for the delivery of a range of positive actions for Gender Equality, LGBTI+ and Traveller and Roma initiatives and to support the National Action Plan Against Racism. This includes:

A 10% increase in LGBTI+ related funding to €1.025m to cover continued funding for LGBTI+ organisations through the Community Services Fund, for research and for continued implementation of the National LGBTI+ Inclusion Strategy.

A 6% increase in funding for Traveller and Roma organisations and programmes, bringing the total to €5.6m. This will cover funding for Traveller and Roma organisations, to promote employment for Travellers and Roma and to support the retention of Traveller children in education.

Notes

Table 1: DCEDIY Budget 2022 | Further detail on main funding areas
View the file View
DCEDIY Vote Summary – Budget 2022
View the file View
  • Budget allocation is €2.1 billion in 2022.
  • €183m increase on the 2021 REV allocation

€78m for Early Learning and Childcare to include a €41m increase the core allocation and €37m in a once-off measure

€41m for International Protection Seekers Accommodation This includes €28m for the implementation of the White Paper recommendation

€41m for Tusla the Child and Family Agency

€23m across other areas of the Vote (for example: equality, disability, participation, youth, children’s detention and, Mother & Baby Homes Actions)

The resource allocation includes financial provisions for a range of key services in respect of children and young people including:

  • €899 million for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, representing an increase of 5% over the 2021 allocation allowing the agency to better meet increasing demands for its services and address other important areas of demand in areas including statutory residential care, DSGVB services and the Community and Voluntary sector
  • €716 million for early learning and childcare to include a €41m increase the core allocation and €37m in a once-off measure. This represents an increase of 12% over the 2021 allocation in 2022 to continue the implementation of the ECCE programme, AIM and the National Childcare Scheme (NCS), introduce enhancements to the NCS, introduce a new funding stream to support providers in meeting their operating costs, including increased costs related to improved quality measures, in return for a commitment that fees to parents will not increase; and introduce a short term transition fund in 2022 to cover the period leading up to the introduction of the new funding stream in September 2022
  • €259 million for International Protection Seekers Accommodation, to continue to provide accommodation for those seeking international protection and to continue the implementation of reforms set out in the White Paper on Ending Direct Provision
  • €73 million to implement the new targeted youth funding scheme, UBU Your Place, Your Space, and provide for additional new services in 2022. Youth funding also supports a range of national youth organisations through the universal Youth Services Grant Scheme, youth information centres, local youth clubs and other local, national and international initiatives
  • €27 million to meet the operational costs of the Oberstown Children’s Detention Campus
  • €10 million towards the Intervention Programme for Children and Young People which funds a number of specific measures to support children and disadvantaged young people and other social disadvantage measures through the Dormant Accounts Fund
  • €12 million for programmes to promote refugee and migrant integration, including €1.5m towards the National Action Plan Against Racism
  • €8 million for Children and Young People’s Policy Framework and Other Programmes
  • €7 million for the Decision Support Service to assist vulnerable adults with difficulties
  • €7 million to the Adoption Authority of Ireland to meet its statutory obligations and operational costs, including its significant responsibilities under the proposed new Birth Information and Tracing legislation
  • €6 million for Positive Action for Gender Equality
  • €5 million to the National Disability Authority to allow it to deliver on its statutory duty as the independent state agency to provide information and advice on matters of policy and practice in relation to persons with disabilities
  • €6 million to support initiatives for the Traveller and Roma Communities
  • €5m to youth services to improve access for young people to a range of universal and targeted services across the country. The funding will assist youthwork organisations to resume full service delivery after COVID restrictions are lifted, and to re-engage and train volunteers
  • Over €4 million to support overall management of the government’s Action Plan for responding to the needs of former residents of Mother and Baby and County Home Institutions and to deliver certain key actions, such as intervention at the Tuam site on foot of the proposed Certain Institutional Burials (Authorised Interventions) legislation
  • €3 million towards the establishment costs of the Guardian ad Litem executive office
  • €3 million to the Office of the Ombudsman for Children to support it in the fulfilment of its statutory responsibilities
  • Over €2 million towards the Programme for Peace and Reconciliation to support the development of North/South youth projects

Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (€7.6m)

  • under this programme, IHREC will receive an increased allocation to enable it to continue to meet its statutory obligation to protect and promote human rights and equality as Ireland’s independent national human rights and equality body and to build a culture of respect for human rights, equality and intercultural understanding across Irish society

Action Plan in response to the Final Report of the Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation

  • in responding to the Final Report of the Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation, the government approved a suite of 22 specific measures. The department is currently finalising a high level Action Plan to drive implementation of these measures, many of which respond directly to the concerns and need of survivors and former residents of Mother and Baby and County Home Institutions. The Minister intends to bring this Action Plan to Government and publish it later this month. Once approved, the Action Plan will support cohesive implementation of the commitments made to people who have been badly failed by the State and others in the past
  • while developing the Plan, work has been ongoing on measures which will be of tangible benefit to survivors
  • the Budget 2022 allocation of €4.5 million is essential to ensure overall management of the Action Plan and to progress delivery of a number of the core actions within it. These include an enhanced model of engagement which is a key enabler for every action in the government’s Action Plan. The funding will also enable the establishment of the Agency to oversee intervention at the site of the former Tuam Mother and Baby Institution under the proposed Certain Institutional Burials (Authorised Interventions) legislation
  • over and above this allocation of €4.5 million, further additional funding will be needed to deliver on other major actions within the Plan. For example, a centre-piece of the government’s response is the development of a scheme to provide financial payments and a form of enhanced medical card. Minister O’Gorman has tasked an Interdepartmental Group with developing detailed proposals, guided by a human rights focus and informed by comprehensive consultations with survivors. The Minister will bring costed proposals to Cabinet for approval later this month and will be seeking additional funding for this scheme and related initiatives in 2022
  • another important commitment within the Action Plan is the introduction of Birth Information and Tracing legislation. This legislation seeks to enshrine in law the importance of a person knowing his or her origins. It provides for the full and un-redacted release of birth certificates, as well as the full release of birth, early life, care and medical information as defined in the legislation, to all persons over 16 years of age who are adopted or who otherwise have questions in relation to their origins
  • the proposed legislation also establishes a statutory tracing service and contact preference register to support people seeking to share information or make contact with family. Additionally, it contains important, bespoke measures to address the issues arising for people affected by illegal birth registration
  • the urgent need for this legislation has been recognised by all political parties, stakeholder groups, and professionals working in the area. In recognition of the importance of this legislation, an additional €1.34 million is being provided to the Adoption Authority of Ireland, while additional funding is also being provided to Tusla to support timely and responsive implementation in 2022

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