Wednesday, 16 Oct 2024

Written Answers Nos. 201-221

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International Protection

Questions (201)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

201. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the tender document for the management of the new IPAS centre at Thornton Hall was published; the number of companies that tendered for the contract; the other companies that tendered for the contract; which company tendered with the lowest price; the determining factor in the success of the IEMS winning this contract; and if a company (details supplied) was a registered company when it won this contract; and if the company or another company won any other contracts within IPAS, his Department or with the Department of Justice. [41678/24]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

My Department is progressing works for the accommodation centre, for people applying for IP, at Thornton Hall.

An accelerated procurement process begun in May 2024 for Thornton Hall. Three competent facilities management operators were invited to submit proposals for the creation of suitable tented accommodation, and ancillary services. The successful tenderer would thereafter operate the site. The proposals were assessed on quality of service, and cost with 60% of the total marks being allocated to the former, and 40% being allocated to the latter.

The proposal by IEMS Ltd was preferred with respect to both quality of service, and cost. An email was sent on 27 May 2024, notifying the provider of the contract award.

The Department does not routinely provide information identifying the number of sites operated by a specific service provider.

Information on payments for IPAS accommodation is available on the gov.ie/IPAS website here, and while specific individual contractual arrangements are considered commercially sensitive, the Department publishes reports on all payments over €20,000. These reports are published quarterly.

International Protection

Questions (202)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

202. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total cost of the provision of IPAS accommodation for each of the past five years; and the fees paid to the ten largest suppliers of services, construction and property in each of the past five years. [41679/24]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

Over recent years, Ireland, alongside many other EU Member States and other countries, has experienced a very significant increase in people seeking International Protection (IP).

The Government and this Department is making every effort to accommodate people seeking international protection against this backdrop of unprecedented demand. This is part of Irish and EU law and is also part of our humanitarian duty to provide shelter to people fleeing war and persecution in their home country.

At the moment, there are over 32,000 people accommodated in the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) system,, of whom approximately 9,000 are children. At the end of August 2022, by comparison, our system was accommodating approximately 7,000 people.

The increase in costs over recent years aligns to the increased numbers of people needing accommodation. The below costs include all accommodation and related costs, including transport, facilities management and other related expenditure.

Please see, in tabular format, the costs for IPAS Accommodation for the years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024 as of 11 October respectively:

Year	Total Spend
2020	€183,215,000
2021	€190,855,653.80
2022	€353,758,433.24
2023	€651,713,647.33
2024	€748,870,389.68

Contractual arrangements between the Department and external providers are considered commercially sensitive. In order to preserve the Department's negotiating position, the costs paid to providers are not published, as making this data available to other accommodation providers would not serve the public interest.

The Public Sector Reform Plan requires that government departments and agencies publish online reports detailing Purchase Orders (PO) relating to payments for goods, services or works procured to a value greater than €20,000. These are published, once per quarter, on gov.ie

(www.gov.ie/en/collection/dfdadb-department-of-children-and-youth-affairs-purchase-orders-for-20000-o/)

The Department does not provide a further breakdown of these payments at this time.

Departmental Legal Cases

Questions (203)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

203. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of legal cases taken against his Department in each of the past ten years and to date in 2024; the costs incurred by his Department in relation to such cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41711/24]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

My Department is currently collating the information requested and a reply will issue directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Data Protection

Questions (204)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

204. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of data breaches experienced by his Department in each of the past ten years and to date in 2024; if a breakdown will be provided on the nature of the breaches; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41728/24]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

My Department is committed to protecting the rights and privacy of all individuals in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (EU 2016/679). As a data controller, my Department is cognisant of its obligations and has implemented a range of measures to protect personal data including a suite of policies and procedures and a data breach management policy.

The Department processes any personal data breaches that occur in accordance with its obligations under the GDPR. The Department has an internal personal data breach reporting protocol. All breaches must be formally notified to the Department’s Data Protection Officer for assessment. In respect of each incident reported, an assessment is conducted having regard to the protocol the Department has in place. Where appropriate, data breaches are reported to the Data Protection Commission and individuals are also informed in relation to a breach of their data, as appropriate.

The obligation to notify the Data Protection Commission of a personal data breach, and for the Department to maintain a register of all personal data breaches, only exists since the GDPR came into effect in May 2018.

In the years 2017 to 2024 (to date), a total of 168 breaches were recorded by my Department, broken down as follows:

2017 – 2 breaches.

2018 – 14 breaches.

2019 – 10 breaches.

2020 – 17 breaches.

2021 – 25 breaches.

2022 – 25 breaches.

2023 – 33 breaches.

2024 – 42 breaches to date

The majority of the breaches that occurred in my Department in the period 2017 – 2024 were as a result of administrative error. These were generally where an email was sent to an incorrect recipient, where an intended recipient incorrectly received data as part of an email attachment, or where an intended recipient inadvertently had sight of the full email recipient list.

Where data breaches were not reported to the Data Protection Commission, the breach was deemed to comprise no risk to the individual. In instances where the breach was deemed to be a low risk to the rights and freedoms of data subjects, the Data Protection Commission was notified. 40 breaches warranted formal notification to the Data Protection Commission. In instances where the breach was deemed to be a high risk to the rights and freedoms of an individual, the data breach was notified to the Data Protection Commission and the individual concerned in line with GDPR requirements. In 1 instance, the Department notified the relevant individual in relation to the data breach.

Official Travel

Questions (205)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

205. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total costs associated for his Department in relation to trips abroad taken by Ministers in his Department in each of the past five years and to date in 2024. [41746/24]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

The Department is collating the necessary information and a substantive response will issue directly to the Deputy in the coming days.

Departmental Expenditure

Questions (206)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

206. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the amount spent by his Department on public relations in each of the past ten years and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [41765/24]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

I thank the Deputy for his question. Below, in tabular form, is the information requested. There was no relevant expenditure in the years prior to 2017. The expenditure for 2024 covers the period to October 2024.

Amount Spent

Departmental Consultations

Questions (207)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

207. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total amount of consultancy fees incurred by his Department in each of the past ten years and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [41783/24]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

I wish to advise the Deputy that the Department for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has incurred the following amounts in consultancy fees in each of the past ten years and to date in 2024:

Year	Total Value
2014	€2,676.00
2015	€3,076.00
2016	€0.00
2017	€138,523.00
2018	€50,292.00
2019	€112,067.78
2020	€49,945.38
2021	€242,900.00
2022	€621,826.59
2023	€1,648,746.02
2024	€2,015,083.46

Departmental Advertising

Questions (208)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

208. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the amount spent by his Department on traditional and online advertising in each of the past ten years and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [41801/24]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

The amount spent by my Department on traditional and online advertising from 2016 to date can be seen below in tabular form.

Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Year	Traditional & Online Advertising Spend
2024	€ 1,239,891
2023	€ 1,116,334
2022	€ 488,111
2021	€ 609,349
2020	€ 274,328
2019	€ 790,553
2018	€ 144,846
2017	€ 1,100
2016	€ 4,024
Total	€ 4,668,536

Child and Family Agency

Questions (209)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

209. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children referred to Tusla to date in 2024; the source of the referrals, as was provided in response to Parliamentary Question No. 570 of 1 February 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41855/24]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

The Deputy is seeking information in relation to an operational matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. Consequently, I have referred the matter to Tusla, and requested that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.

Child and Family Agency

Questions (210)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

210. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children referred to Tusla in each of the past ten years, in tabular form. [41856/24]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

The Deputy is seeking information in relation to an operational matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. Consequently, I have referred the matter to Tusla, and requested that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.

Child Protection

Questions (211)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

211. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of unborn children placed on the child protection notification system by Tusla in each of the past ten years and to date in 2024. [41857/24]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (Deputy Roderic O'Gorman)

The Deputy is seeking information in relation to an operational matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. Consequently, I have referred the matter to Tusla, and requested that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.

Child Protection

Questions (212)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

212. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children who have died, either in State care or while known to child protection services, in each year since 2011; and if details can be provided on cause of death. [41858/24]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

As this relates to data collated by Tusla, the question has been forwarded to Tusla for direct reply to the Deputy.

The Deputy may also be aware that the The National Review Panel (NRP) for the investigation of serious incidents including the deaths of children in care and known to the child protection service has published a 2023 Annual Report which provides a summary of causes of death 2010-2023, linked here: www.tusla.ie/uploads/content/NRP_Annual_Report_2023.pdf

Children in Care

Questions (213)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

213. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total number of children currently residing in special emergency arrangements under Tusla; and the number of whom are separated children/unaccompanied minors. [41859/24]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

As this relates to data collated by Tusla, the question has been forwarded to Tusla for direct reply to the Deputy.

Children in Care

Questions (214)

Fergus O'Dowd

Question:

214. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if an issue with school children of refugee status leaving the care of Tusla (details supplied) will be urgently examined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41882/24]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

A young person, upon reaching the age of 18 and who has been in State care is deemed to have left care. Care leavers who have spent 12 months in care between the age of 13-18 are eligible for aftercare supports. Further, a young person’s time spent in accommodation provided under section 5 of the Child Care Act 1991 can form part of those 12 months care experience but where this is the sole care experience the young person is not eligible for full aftercare supports.

All eligible care leavers are supported through aftercare services provided by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. Care leavers, depending on need, may be allocated an aftercare worker, and all care leavers, without exception or age limit, can attend drop-in centres organised by the Tusla aftercare service.

Young people who have had a care history with Tusla are entitled to an aftercare service based on their eligibility and assessed needs. This assessment considers a number of factors including the young persons educational and accommodation needs. The Child Care Act (Amended) 1991 sets out that where Tusla is providing assistance to a person in accordance with an aftercare plan by arranging for the completion of education and by contributing to maintenance while completing education, and that person attains the age of 21 years, Tusla may continue to provide that assistance until the completion of the course of education or the end of the academic year during which the person attains the age of 23, whichever is the earlier.

Tusla has advised that young people in the care of the Agency with International Protection status are, in the main, fully supported to complete secondary education. In circumstances wherein a young person is placed in foster or supported lodgings care, they will continue to be supported in their current placement until the completion of their secondary education, if they are in their final school year. If they are not in their final year of secondary education, they will be supported to identify a placement that supports the continuation/conclusion of their education.

Tusla has informed that if young people turn 18 in children’s residential units, efforts are made to identify a placement that supports the continuation/conclusion of their education. This often involves seeking a short extension of the young person’s placement to identify same.

I can inform the Deputy that if a young person is briefly accommodated by the Agency and has International Protection Status, but does not meet the eligibility criteria for aftercare, the Agency will liaise with other stakeholders to support the young person’s transition from care.

If reunification is not possible and a young person turns 18, the Tusla team for Separated Children Seeking International Protection is entitled to make a referral to my Department’s International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) for accommodation.

Children in Care

Questions (215)

Fergus O'Dowd

Question:

215. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total number of children under the care of Tusla in secondary education who hold refugee status and who are due to turn 18 years-of-age during this school term; if Tusla can indicate what measures/plans are in place to support these individuals to remain in full-time education after turning 18 years-of-age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41883/24]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

As this relates to data collated by Tusla, the question has been forwarded to Tusla for direct reply to the Deputy. Additionally the Deputy may wish to view the latest available data published on data.tusla.ie/.

Disability Services

Questions (216)

Michael Moynihan

Question:

216. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the details of the increase in funding for specialist community based disability services (details supplied) in each CHO area since 2020; the estimated funding to be provided for each CHO area in 2025; the new and additional services provided in each CHO area since 2020; the new and additional services to be provided in each CHO area in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41898/24]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

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.

Disability Services

Questions (217)

Pauline Tully

Question:

217. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the capital expenditure allocation for new residential places and decongregation in respect of persons with disabilities in each of the years 2021 to 2024, in tabular form. [42036/24]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

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.

Disability Services

Questions (218)

Pauline Tully

Question:

218. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total expenditure allocated to his Department for maintaining existing levels of services in respect of disability services in each of the years 2021 to 2024, in tabular form. [42037/24]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

Over the past four years significant resources have been invested in disability services. Core funding has increased from an opening position of €2bn in 2021 to a total allocation of €3.2bn in Budget 2025.

The Existing Level of Service (ELS) funding for 2025 is €209.4m, representing a 7.3% increase the over the opening position of €2.9bn, while the New Development Measure (NDM) funding is €41.4m, representing a further 4.3% increase. The specific quantities of service to be provided through the additional €336m announced in Budget 2025 will be set out in more detail in the HSE’s National Service Plan.

It is important to note that, in a departure from previous years, the ELS allocation includes a provision for demographic growth in 2025, allowing for a certain level of service expansion before NDM funding is even taken into account. The ELS also includes full year funding for new activity undertaken in 2024, including where that activity exceeded the target set out in the NSP.

The ELS and NDM funding made available to Disability Services since 2021 is shown in the table below.

Disability Services Annual Expenditure (€’m)
Year	Opening Position	ELS	NDM	REV	% Increase from Opening to Rev
2021	€2,029.1	€91.1	€77.5	€2,210.9	9.0%
2022	€2,210.9	€82.0	€54.5	€2,347.3	6.2%
2023	€2,347.3	€173.4	€23.3	€2,595.3	10.6%
2024	€2,595.7	€197.8	€74.1	€2,867.6	10.5%
2025	€2,867.6	€209.4*	€41.4	€3,199.4	11.6%

*ELS in 2025 includes provision for demographic growth.

International Agreements

Questions (219)

Joan Collins

Question:

219. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on a matter (details supplied). [42078/24]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

The Government is firmly committed to ratification of the Second Optional Protocol to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

In consultation with the Office of the Attorney General, several legislative measures have been implemented which were necessary to ensure that Ireland is in compliance with the obligations of the Optional Protocol. Enactment of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017 and the Criminal Justice (Victims of Crime) Act 2017 were significant steps on the pathway to the ratification of the Optional Protocol.

Further legislative amendments relating to the extra-territorial jurisdiction requirements under Article 3.1 are intended to ensure that the State is in compliance with certain outstanding aspects of the Protocol. These amendments have been included in the General Scheme of the Criminal Justice (Sexual Offences and Human Trafficking) Bill 2022 which was approved for publication by the Government on 27 July 2022.

The Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Human Trafficking) Act 2024 (Act 28 of 2024) was signed into law on 17 July 2024, which amends the Sexual Offences (Jurisdiction) Act 1996 and the Criminal Justice (Mutual Assistance) Act 2008; and to provide for related matters, for the purposes of giving effect to the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography.

Following enactment of this legislation, officials in my Department will be working with the Attorney General’s Office on the next steps to ensure readiness across all relevant Departments.

Ukraine War

Questions (220)

Brendan Howlin

Question:

220. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason Ukrainian nationals in receipt of accommodation under the temporary protection arrangements afforded to such nationals in a hotel (details supplied) have been told that they are required to move despite having established deep links in the local community, including children attending the local schools; the reason the contract for this facility is not being renewed; if he will reconsider the renewal of this contract having regard to the disruption and upset being caused; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42086/24]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

The property to which the Deputy refers has been in contract with my Department for the provision of temporary emergency accommodation to Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) fleeing the war in Ukraine.

As part of the standard contract renewal process undertaken by my Department with regard to temporary emergency accommodation, the accommodation provider was requested to submit a Fire Safety Assessment as set out in the Code of Practice for Fire Safety Assessment of Premises and Buildings (March 2022).  The provider is afforded at least 12 weeks to submit this documentation, which provides reassurance that the property is safe for occupation from a fire safety perspective.  The documentation was not provided for this property and my Department therefore proceeded to terminate the contract, with effect from 3 November 2024. 

Where contracts with accommodation providers are not renewed, my Department undertakes to offer alternative accommodation for those BOTPs who still require it.

Every effort is being made to keep BOTPs as local as possible.  However, given the number of moves that are taking place, this is not always possible. People affected who wish to stay in the area are welcome to make their own arrangements, including through pledged accommodation, subject to availability. Due to the scale involved, the only factors that can be considered when allocating follow-on accommodation are HSE assessed medical needs. It is not possible to take other issues such as employment or school places into account when allocating follow-on accommodation.

I appreciate that this is not easy for people and that moving location can be very disruptive, but at all times my Department was clear that State-funded accommodation is temporary and subject to change.

Commissions of Investigation

Questions (221)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

221. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total cost associated with each Commission of Investigation under the remit of his Department in the past twenty years. [42455/24]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

My Department is currently collating the information requested and a reply will issue directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

• Written Answers Nos. 190-200
• Written Answers Nos. 222-238