Peadar Tóibín
Ceist:492. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the average annual CAP payments received by farmers in each county in the State. [21720/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraCommon Agricultural Policy
Ceisteanna (492)
Freagraí scríofa
A list of payments by county are published annually by my Department in its Annual Review and Outlook (ARO). The published figures for 2022 are as follows:
Total Payments (Direct and Capital, including TAMS) to Farmers by DAFM by County in 2022
|
County |
Average Farmer Payment (rounded to nearest €500) |
Per County Total payments€ Millions |
|
Carlow |
€21,000 |
€39 |
|
Cavan |
€14,500 |
€68 |
|
Clare |
€16,000 |
€95 |
|
Cork |
€18,000 |
€234 |
|
Donegal |
€13,500 |
€114 |
|
Dublin |
€25,500 |
€21 |
|
Galway |
€14,000 |
€168 |
|
Kerry |
€16,500 |
€126 |
|
Kildare |
€19,000 |
€41 |
|
Kilkenny |
€21,000 |
€69 |
|
Laois |
€18,000 |
€47 |
|
Leitrim |
€14,000 |
€49 |
|
Limerick |
€16,500 |
€83 |
|
Longford |
€15,500 |
€38 |
|
Louth |
€16,500 |
€26 |
|
Mayo |
€12,500 |
€140 |
|
Meath |
€18,500 |
€67 |
|
Monaghan |
€12,500 |
€48 |
|
Offaly |
€18,000 |
€49 |
|
Roscommon |
€14,500 |
€77 |
|
Sligo |
€13,500 |
€52 |
|
Tipperary |
€20,000 |
€139 |
|
Waterford |
€22,000 |
€50 |
|
Westmeath |
€17,500 |
€56 |
|
Wexford |
€19,500 |
€82 |
|
Wicklow |
€21,500 |
€44 |
|
State |
€16,500 |
€2,018 |
Figures for previous years are published in the relevant AROs at: gov - Annual Review and Outlook for Agriculture, Food and the Marine 2023 (www.gov.ie) .
Farm Costs
Ceisteanna (493)
Peadar Tóibín
Ceist:493. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the average cost of a bag of fertiliser in each of the past ten years and to date in 2024. [21721/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Given the wide variety of fertiliser products available, it is not possible to provide the analysis as requested. In addition, my Department collects data on fertiliser production and sales but not prices, as this is a commercial matter.
Accordingly, the following table sets out the CSO Agricultural Price Index for fertilisers for February (the latest month available this year) for the years 2014 to 2024 which provides an average cost to farmers.
CSO Agricultural Price Index (excluding VAT) - Fertilisers
|
Month |
Index |
|
February 2015 |
123.7 |
|
February 2016 |
116.8 |
|
February 2017 |
99.1 |
|
February 2018 |
84.9 |
|
February 2019 |
92.7 |
|
February 2020 |
83.6 |
|
February 2021 |
82.5 |
|
February 2022 |
179.9 |
|
February 2023 |
223.1 |
|
February 2024 |
122.7 |
Base Year 2010=100
Based on the above data, it can be seen that the price of fertiliser - like most commodities - is cyclical in nature. Despite significant rises in recent years, the overall average price index is broadly in line with what it was ten years ago having seen strong downward pressure on prices during the course of the past twelve months.
Departmental Data
Ceisteanna (494)
Peadar Tóibín
Ceist:494. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of live lamb imports into the State in each of the past ten years, in tabular form. [21722/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
All live animals being imported or exported must travel with a health certificate validated by an official veterinarian specifying that the animals fulfil the basic animal health requirements as set out in relevant EU regulations.
My Department does not retain information on veterinary certification for imported sheep prior to 2017. The table hereunder provides data on the quantities of live sheep imported annually for the years 2017 to 2023 inclusive.
|
Year |
Quantity imported (no. of head) |
|
2017 |
492,776 |
|
2018 |
521,798 |
|
2019 |
461,522 |
|
2020 |
446,107 |
|
2021 |
367,936 |
|
2022 |
422,160 |
|
2023 |
435,088 |
Source: TRACES
Departmental Data
Ceisteanna (495)
Peadar Tóibín
Ceist:495. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the quantity in tonnes or otherwise of lamb or sheep meat exported from the State in each of the past ten years, in tabular form. [21723/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Based on data from the Central Statistics Office, the quantity of raw sheepmeat exported from the State for the years 2014 to 2023 is presented in the tabular format below.
The total volume exported for the reference period is 582,701 tonnes yielding an annual average of 58,270 tonnes.
Note that this data excludes small quantities of goatmeat exports which are usually classified under the sheepmeat subheading for customs and statistical purposes.
|
Year |
Volume (metric tonnes) |
|
2014 |
44,448 |
|
2015 |
47,993 |
|
2016 |
55,623 |
|
2017 |
62,185 |
|
2018 |
59,608 |
|
2019 |
60,220 |
|
2020 |
63,971 |
|
2021 |
58,225 |
|
2022 |
66,273 |
|
2023 |
64,154 |
|
Total tonnage 2014-23 |
582,700 |
Source: CSO
Agriculture Supports
Ceisteanna (496)
Claire Kerrane
Ceist:496. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has discussed the announced tillage payment of €100 with an Taoiseach given his public comments on the inadequacy of the announced payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21727/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The wet spring conditions were very challenging for tillage growers resulting in the delayed sowing of spring cereal crops. Thankfully, the improvement in weather has allowed sowing and tillage operations to catch up in recent weeks.
To give confidence to tillage and horticulture (field grown food crops) farmers to plant crops this year, and to give them confidence in the future of their industry, I announced last month my commitment to deliver a €100/ha payment for all crops sown for harvest in 2024. My Department is currently working on the next steps to deliver this payment, including the identification of appropriate funding and the necessary State Aid and other approvals.
As Minister, I continue to engage with Government colleagues, including the Taoiseach to make this payment a reality for farmers who have sown crops this year.
In addition to above support of €100/ha, significant additional support was provided to the tillage sector last year in light of the challenges that growers faced. Payments under the Protein Aid Scheme totalled over €10.1m. The Straw Incorporation Measure provided €16.5 million for tillage farmers, while the Tillage Incentive Scheme provided €8.3 million in support.
Furthermore, I secured €7.147m from the EU Agricultural Reserve to support the tillage sector last year and this was topped up with a further €7.147m in State funding. These funds were paid out in January 2024 to support growers with unharvested crops and as a once-off flat rate payment on the area of oilseed rape and cereal crops.
Environmental Impact Assessments
Ceisteanna (497)
Peadar Tóibín
Ceist:497. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the comparable environmental impacts of agricultural produce produced in Ireland and the produce imported into the EU form the five largest countries in terms of volume; and if the information is not available to him, if he will carry out a comparable environmental impact assessment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21775/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
My department has has not commissioned the specific comparative analysis sought by the Deputy.
However, The Economic and Sustainability Impact Assessment (ESIA) for Ireland of the EU-Mercosur Agreement, commissioned by the Government and published in June 2021, includes a Comparative Analysis of the Impacts of Methods of Production in the Beef Sector in Ireland, versus Mercosur countries, including analysis of emissions intensity.
Additionally, research funded by DAFM under the 2022 Policy and Strategic Studies Research Call entitled “Greenhouse gas emission efficiencies of Irish beef and dairy systems”, undertaken by Teagasc and ICBF is underway.
The focus of GHGBovine is to:
(1) determine the current total GHG emissions and GHG intensity (i.e. per unit product) of a range of beef and dairy production systems operated within Ireland;
(2) determine the temporal change in GHG intensity from said production systems;
(3) host workshops with European and International collaborators to ensure a harmonised dairy life cycle assessments methodology is deployed across life cycle assessment (LCA) models;
(4) conduct LCA of nationally representative beef and dairy production systems operating in European countries and dominant international exporting countries. The FAO's Global Livestock Environmental Assessment Model (GLEAM) will be used for this. This project will provide the current emission efficiency of Irish beef and dairy systems, how they have progressed by implementing recommended management practices, and how they perform relative to European and key international counterparts.
This work will provide valuable information in relation to the Irish Beef and Dairy sector.
Departmental Advertising
Ceisteanna (498)
Carol Nolan
Ceist:498. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total costs incurred by his Department from 2019 to date relating to the placing of advertisements in print media; the names of the print media publications involved, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21858/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
My Department provides public information about the Department's wide range of schemes, services and policies. This includes the publication of Statutory Notices, required to comply with various national and EU legislative requirements, and the placement of advertisements, in national, local and specialist print media.
Print media is one of the channels used for our public information campaigns, including farm safety and the new forestry programme in 2023. Both impacted on the increase in spending in 2023.
A breakdown of expenditure on the placement of advertisements and notices in print media for the period requested is set out in the below table. A list of the print publications involved is set out in the attached document.
|
Year |
Amount |
|
2024 (paid to date) |
€51,535.62 |
|
2023 |
€829,715.18 |
|
2022 |
€332,678.45 |
|
2021 |
€128,424.02 |
|
2020 |
€202,093.75 |
|
2019 |
€185,652.54 |
|
List of Print Publications |
|
|
Anglo Celt |
Limerick Leader |
|
Arab Chamber of Commerce magazine |
Limerick Post |
|
Checkout magazine |
Longford Leader |
|
China Magazine |
Mail on Sunday |
|
Clare Champion |
Marine Times |
|
Clare Echo |
Mayo News |
|
Clonmel Nationalist |
Meath Chronicle |
|
Connacht / City Tribune |
Midland & Tullamore Tribune |
|
Connaught Telegraph |
Munster Express |
|
Cork Evening Echo |
National Ploughing Championship programme |
|
Cork Independent |
Nationalist (Clonmel) |
|
Daily Mail |
Nationalist Series |
|
Daily Star |
Nenagh Guardian |
|
Dairy Digest |
New Ross Standard |
|
Donegal Democrat |
Northern Standard |
|
Donegal News |
Northside People |
|
Drogheda Independent |
Offaly Independent |
|
Drogheda Leader |
Old Moore’s Almanac |
|
Dundalk Democrat |
Public Service Magazine |
|
Dundalk Leader |
RDS Horseshow programme |
|
Enniscorthy Guardian |
Retail News |
|
Evening Herald |
Roscommon Herald |
|
Farmers Handbook |
Roscommon People |
|
Fingal Independent |
Seachtain |
|
Fishing Daily |
ShelfLife |
|
Forest & Energy Review |
Sligo Champion |
|
Galway Advertiser |
Southside People |
|
Horticulture Connected |
Sunday Business Post |
|
ICSA Drystock Farmer |
Sunday Independent |
|
Inish Times |
The Argus |
|
Inishowen Independent |
The Corkman |
|
Ireland-China Business magazine |
The Gazette |
|
Iris Oifigiuil |
The Irish Field |
|
Irish Examiner |
The Kerryman |
|
Irish Farmers Journal |
The Kilkenny People |
|
Irish Farmers Monthly |
The Southern Star |
|
Irish Horse Show |
The Sunday Times |
|
Irish Independent |
Tipperary Star |
|
Irish Skipper |
Tirconaill Tribune |
|
Irish Times |
Tuam Herald |
|
ITGA Spring Newsletter |
Veterinary Ireland magazine |
|
Kerry’s Eye |
Waterford News and Star |
|
Kildare Nationalist |
Western People |
|
Kildare Post |
Westmeath Examiner |
|
Kilkenny Observer |
Westmeath Independent |
Community Care
Ceisteanna (499)
Robert Troy
Ceist:499. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will ensure that community respite hours are commenced for a child (details supplied). [21233/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
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.
Guardians Ad Litem
Ceisteanna (500)
Joe Flaherty
Ceist:500. Deputy Joe Flaherty asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of guardian ad litem appointments, by county, in 2023 and 2022, respectively; and the cost of same, in tabular form. [21424/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
This question has been referred to TUSLA as they currently pay all Guardian ad litem costs, an answer will issue to the Deputy in the coming days.
Guardians Ad Litem
Ceisteanna (501)
Joe Flaherty
Ceist:501. Deputy Joe Flaherty asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of barristers assigned to guardian ad litem appointments, by county in 2023 and 2022, respectively; and the cost of same, in tabular form. [21425/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
This question has been transferred to TUSLA who will reply to the Dpeuty directly over the coming days.
International Protection
Ceisteanna (502)
Fergus O'Dowd
Ceist:502. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will detail with regard to the IPAS contract signed for a hotel (details supplied), if the contract was signed on a payment per head of occupancy or if the contract was agreed for the full 500 beds as 5 March despite full occupancy never being reached due to an insufficient fire certificate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21175/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The D Hotel has been offered to the International Protection Procurement Service (IPPS) and contracted to provide accommodation to International Protection (IP) applicants under the emergency appraisal process, with a capacity of 500 beds. It is functioning as a dispersal centre for the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) with families in residence for a short period of time before transfer to an alternative centre
The Local Authority holds the remit for assessing compliance with Fire Safety and for enforcing the regulations around same. Following the signing of the contract and occupation of the property, the Chief Fire Officer (CFO) visited the site and instructed the provider that alterations to the existing fire protection measures should be undertaken, and reduced the capacity on the existing Fire Certificate to 250.
The provider has carried out the instructions of the CFO and continues to await his written verification of compliance, following verbal confirmation at the time of inspection.
Providers of accommodation are entitled to invoice the Department for the agreed capacity rate as per the contract they have agreed.
Early Childhood Care and Education
Ceisteanna (503)
Michael Lowry
Ceist:503. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an update on the level of funding available to private ECCE preschool providers; if he plans to review the funding allocation within this sector; if he is aware of requests for an increase in ECCE rates, in line with inflation from such private ECCE preschool providers (details supplied); his views on whether the level of funding is sufficient; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21207/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
My Department funds private early learning and care service providers to provide the ECCE programme at a standard rate of €69 per week per child attending the ECCE programme. With the addition of the Core Funding Scheme in 2022, services providing ECCE who are also signed up to Core Funding receive a minimum of €79.20 per child per week in capitation. This figure can rise to a maximum of €95.85 with additional funding for graduate lead educators and graduate managers for sessional services. Core Funding is tailored to the individual service and is specifically designed to contribute to its operating costs and sustainability of the service making it a more flexible platform for investment towards the operating costs of services.
Core Funding in Year 1 – with an overall allocation of €259 million contributed to services’ sustainability and significantly increased income for the overwhelming majority of services while providing greater funding stability. For the small number of services, approximately 60 of the over 4,000 signed up, who saw no increase in their income through Core Funding, a funding guarantee applied. For Year 2 of Core Funding, the budget has increased by 11% to reach €287m, providing a sustainable platform for investment with increases for all services. This increase in funding allowed for the introduction of new targeted measures from September 2023 which are aimed at improving the sustainability of smaller and sessional services. These include a flat rate allocation of €4,075 for all sessional-only services, and a minimum base rate allocation of €8,150, which will benefit small, part time and school-age services.
The allocation will increase again by €44 million or 15% in September 2024, reaching €331 million for Year 3 of Core Funding.
Services that are experiencing difficulty and who would like support are encouraged to contact their City/County Childcare Committee (CCC) to access case management supports. This case management process through the CCCs is the route to access additional sustainability funding if required.
Finally, I would note that I have commissioned an independent review of the ECCE programme. The aim of the review was to explore whether the ECCE Programme is meeting its core objectives and identify any changes or improvements that can be made to the Programme. The Final report is now complete and will be published in the coming weeks, once the report is released I will consider any policy changes which may need to be made to the programme.
International Protection
Ceisteanna (504)
Marian Harkin
Ceist:504. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if, in light of the recent briefing note providing an update on temporary emergency accommodation for international protection applicants at a location (details supplied), he will supply certain clarifications. [21228/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
There are currently over 29,000 people accommodated in the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) system as a whole (of whom nearly 7,000 are children) compared with approximately 8,700 people at the end of February 2022. Together with Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection displaced by the war in Ukraine, this means that Ireland is now accommodating over 100,000 people in state-supported accommodation
This is a nationwide urgent situation and centres have been opened in all parts of the country. Since January 2023, the Department has brought over 100 properties into use to accommodate those who arrive in Ireland seeking international protection. All of the limited accommodation capacity within the IPAS system is currently being used. While demand continues to outstrip supply, the Department on behalf of the Government, is doing all it can to ensure that families and children have been accommodated.
Abbey Manor Hotel, Dromahair, Co Leitrim has a capacity of 155 and is currently providing accommodation 32 people in family configuration.
The briefing note for this centre originally issued on 7 November 2023, and was reissued on 1 May 2024 after the High Court rejected a challenge to prevent the hotel from being used as IPAS accommodation.
A Community Engagement Team (CET) has been established to engage directly with elected representatives, relevant Local Authorities, Local Development Companies, and other entities and individuals. The purpose of the team is to improve the flow of information regarding arrivals into areas and to help equip local communities with the accurate information required to help them understand the current situation and to assist with the welcome and integration process for new arrivals.
The CET is available to engage with public representatives, the local authority and Local Development Company as required.
Child Protection
Ceisteanna (505)
Marian Harkin
Ceist:505. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the child protection measures, if any, that have already been put in place at a location (details supplied) to ensure the safety and security of all children accommodated there. [21229/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The requirement to have adequate security forms part of the contract to accommodate International Protection (IP) applicants. The Department requires that centres are adequately staffed for the running of the centre and that there is a 24/7 staff presence. The particular security needs of each centre are assessed by each provider and agreed with the Department prior to the opening of the centre.
When new International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) Centres open, a designated member of IPAS is responsible for notifying the centre management that it is mandatory that all staff complete the Children First e-learning module. The designated member also ensures that centre managers are categorised as Designated Liaison Persons under Children First, and notifies them that they are required to make mandatory reports of concerns relating to children resident in their centres.
The designated member also monitors the centre’s adherence with requirements of the TUSLA Child Safeguarding Statement Compliance Unit. Where centres have not submitted their Child Safeguarding Statement to the Compliance Unit, they are asked by IPAS to submit the Statement and compliance letter to IPAS when complete. IPAS is also engaging with TUSLA in respect of its report entitled ‘Child Safeguarding Statement Sector Compliance Review: International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS)’ which was developed by the Child Safeguarding Statement Compliance Unit in August 2023. IPAS will continue to engage with TUSLA in respect of the report’s findings and recommendations.
IPAS continues a programme of Child Protection briefings to management and staff in all IPAS accommodation centres. The main focus of these briefings is on reporting child welfare concerns to TUSLA and An Garda Síochána and they engage with centre managers in relation to all related child safeguarding procedures. The IPAS Child Safeguarding Statement has been published on the IPAS website.
Childcare Services
Ceisteanna (506)
Paul Kehoe
Ceist:506. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when a response will issue in relation to an inquiry (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21236/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I can confirm to the Deputy that I issued a response to this enquiry on 7 May.
The introduction of Core Funding in September 2022 brought with it a significant increase in investment for the sector, with €210.8m of brand new funding for the sector in its first year of operation. Its primary purpose is to improve pay and conditions in the sector as a whole and improve affordability for parents as well as ensuring a stable income to providers.
Fee management introduced with this substantial investment under Core Funding follows the recommendations of the Expert Group, approved by Government, to first limit increases in fee rates.
This effectively freezes services fees at those they charged to parents in September 2021 to ensure that the introduction of Fee Management to the sector was done in a sustainable and considered manner. Increasing the Core Funding budget while maintaining the same level of conditions on fees, will help embed the Core Funding Fee Management system in the sector and prepare the sector for the ongoing development of fee management in future years.
Special supports are available from my Department where a service is experiencing financial difficulty or has concerns about their viability, accessed through local City/County Childcare Committee (CCC). This support can take the form of assisting services with interpreting analysis of staff ratios and cash flow, as well as more specialised advice and support appropriate to individual circumstances.
I would encourage any service experiencing financial difficulty and who would like support to contact their CCC to access case management supports. Contact details for the CCCs can be found at www.myccc.ie .
International Protection
Ceisteanna (507)
Catherine Murphy
Ceist:507. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the amount expended on taxis and private bus hire in respect of international protection applicants in 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [21247/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The data requested by the Deputy is not available.
In relation to service providers contracted by the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) to provide accommodation and related services to International Protection (IP) applicants, the Department publishes reports on all payments over €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/)
International Protection
Ceisteanna (508)
Matt Shanahan
Ceist:508. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide the outline specifications his Department is using to assess properties, namely, the minimum number of beds, the threshold costs per bed on offer, the ratio of bathrooms to beds, the requirements to mixed or single gender use and the offered duration of contract from inception (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21265/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Department of Integration appraises properties for temporary emergency accommodation based on the criteria outlined in the current International Protection Procurement Service (IPPS) proposal form. The proposals criteria are drawn from various sources such as the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) National Standards , the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage Guidelines for New Emergency Accommodation (Sep 22), and the DCEDIY guidelines on accommodation for Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection(BOTPS) of Ukraine.
Once an offer of accommodation is received, IPPS sends the proposal form to the prospective provider to complete and return. The proposal template seeks to gather as much information as is reasonably practicable to facilitate an objective assessment of the suitability of the premises to accommodate International Protection (IP) applicants. This includes information on the building's safety and fitness for occupancy, its catering provision and room sizes, its recreational and lounge facilities and various other criteria such as wi-fi, security provision and staffing. The location, layout and configuration of the bedrooms will help determine if the property is suitable for families, couples or single gender use. When assessing accommodation, there is a minimum bed space requirement of 4.65m2 per person. Additionally, the ceiling height should be 2.4m high. The maximum no of beds per room and per property can then be established from this.
There is a requirement for at least 1 toilet for every 8 spaces, hand wash basins with 24 hour hot and cold water supply at a ratio of 1 per 6 bed spaces, and showers available with 24 hour hot and cold water supply at a ratio of 1 per 12 bed spaced. Properties must also ensure that there is a toilet, wash hand basin and Shower provided for persons with severe mobility impairment (and considered in the context of similar bedroom provision).
In the proposal form, prospective providers are invited to provide proposed rate per person for this operation that factors in all services provided such as security, laundry, food provision, staffing, cleaning etc. Properties will be assessed based on their location, building type, the level of capital required to bring the property to Department standards of accommodation and the level of service being provided at the proposed centre. The rate will then be negotiated on and agreed with the provider. Contract duration is typically for a year, although there have been a number of contracts with longer durations, and this is decided on a case by case basis. Criteria are amended periodically as required.
All offers are subject to full compliance with requisite statutory legal regulatory requirements being in place.
International Protection
Ceisteanna (509)
Matt Shanahan
Ceist:509. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if, given that there appears to be a renewed emphasis on the possible suitability of individual housing units to be considered for IPAS accommodation, he will outline what the minimum number of refugee spaces his Department will consider for contract accommodation; the specific considerations his Department is applying when reviewing such property offers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21266/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
On the 27th March 2024 Government agreed a new Comprehensive Accommodation Strategy (CAS) for the accommodation of International Protection applicants. This strategy seeks to address the current accommodation shortfall, while reforming the system over the longer term to ensure the State will always be able to meet its international commitments.
The strategy focuses on the delivery of large Reception and Integration and Accommodation Centres through the following multi-strand approach:1. Use of State land for prefabricated and modular units;2. Conversion of commercial buildings;3. Targeted purchase of medium and larger turnkey properties;4. Design and build of new Reception and Integration Centres;5. Upgrading of IPAS Centres.
The multi-strand approach focuses on both increasing State owned permanent capacity, and the upgrading of additional contingency accommodation, developed to specific national standards, to build an effective system to meet the new realities of increasing need while enabling the State to discharge its duty to meet the material reception conditions of IP Applicants, according to the guiding principles of the White Paper.
Progress made on the strategy has included the launch of an Expression of Interest (EOI) process on e-tenders on the 30th April for the sourcing of suitable properties as IP accommodation. The EOI seeks to identify properties for acquisition under the following criteria:
• 150+ beds;
• Bedrooms in line with National Standards;
• existing properties/buildings in turnkey condition;
• existing properties that require upgrading/refurbishment/renovation.
The table below describes the property criteria and specific considerations as detailed in the EOI.
|
Property Type |
Compliance with |
Location |
Property Requirements (Mandatory |
Property Requirements (Desirable) |
|
i. Turnkey properties for immediate use ii. Properties that require upgrade/renovationiii. Planned building but not built |
i. Full Planning Permission ii. Building Regulationsiii. Fire Safety Regulations iv. National Standards |
i. Populated area or easy access to nearest populated area via Public transport ii. Easy access to shops, GP’s either by foot or Public transport |
i. 150+ bed spaces ii. Bedrooms in line with National Standardsiii. Percentage accessible for people with disabilities |
i. Independent Living/Self Cateringii. Space for shop if external shops are inaccessible iii. Space for ancillary services (Medical, Education etciv. Office Space v. Space for indoor common recreational areas vi. Outdoor space in proximity viii. Space for Buses or delivery trucks to manoeuvre |
Disability Services
Ceisteanna (510)
Darren O'Rourke
Ceist:510. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an update on the existing staff, by grade, in the four CDNTs serving County Meath; the existing staff vacancies, by grade, in the same area; the number of children accessing services and on waiting lists; his plans to address staff vacancies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21267/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
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.
Child and Family Agency
Ceisteanna (511)
John McGuinness
Ceist:511. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if family support payments will be put in place immediately for the grandparents of the children referred to in a Tusla report (details supplied) as they have been supporting the children for weeks without the appropriate financial support; and if the matter will be expedited. [21273/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Statutory and operational responsibility for the delivery of child protection and welfare services is a matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. The Deputy is seeking information in relation to an operational matter for Tusla. Consequently, I have referred the matter to Tusla, and requested that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.