Written Answers Nos. 386-405
386. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if clarification will be provided regarding a case (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23551/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
387. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason his Department has decided to move over 200 Ukrainians from a facility (details supplied) in Ennis after those individuals and families have lived there for two years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23554/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra388. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his Department’s plans for a facility (details supplied) in Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23555/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra389. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth where the 200 plus Ukrainians who have resided in a facility (details supplied) for two years will be moved to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23556/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 387 to 389, inclusive, together.
The commercial accommodation provider to which the Deputy refers has decided to cease accommodating Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) and has asked that all of the BOTPs in residence be moved to alternative accommodation. My Department's standard commercial accommodation contract provides that either party to the contract can terminate the agreement at any time with four weeks’ notice and the provider in this case has availed of this right. The BOTPs residing at this location have been given notification of same and will be relocated before the end of the month.
While every effort is made to minimise disruption to BOTPs who must be relocated where contracts end, staying in the local area cannot be guaranteed for BOTPs who continue to require State accommodation. My Department cannot guarantee standard or location at this time, and BOTPs are encouraged to engage with their Local Authority to assess the possibility of finding accommodation in the community if possible.
My Department is currently consolidating the BOTP accommodation portfolio in line with current and future needs. As this work progresses and the portfolio is reduced, remaining within existing localities for BOTPs who must be relocated will become less likely.
Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection are entitled to make their own private arrangements including potentially availing of pledged accommodation if they wish, and can avail of some supports to do so. Those wishing to avail of pledged accommodation in any given area should contact the Local Authority in that area or the Irish Red Cross pledge process. The Irish Red Cross can be contacted by email at registerofpledges@redcross.ie or by phoning 1800 50 70 70.
Given the unprecedented level of new arrivals seeking International Protection (IP), and the challenges in providing suitable accommodation, Cabinet has approved an accommodation strategy which includes maximising the occupancy of accommodation under contract to my Department, in its entirety. My Department is actively utilising existing suitable vacancies in the system, where the provider has expressed an interest in assisting with the accommodation of IPs.
The International Protection Procurement Services (IPPS) are currently appraising an offer of accommodation for IPs in the accommodation to which the Deputy refers. Should the offer meet the requisite criteria, it is hoped that a contract can be agreed in the near future. My Department can only confirm use of a premises once a contract has been signed, and will, in the first instance, inform local public representatives and statutory agencies through its Community Engagement Team.
390. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of the reform into the equality legislation, with specific reference to the introduction of socio-economic status as a ground for discrimination; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23557/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe introduction of a new equality ground, based on disadvantaged socio-economic status, is being considered as part of my Department's wider review of the Equal Status Acts 2000 and the Employment Equality Acts 1998 (the Equality Acts). This follows a Programme for Government commitment to examine the introduction of such a ground. It is intended that legislative proposals arising from the review will be brought to Government in the coming weeks.
The review of the Equality Acts has examined the operation of the Equality Acts from the perspective of a person taking a claim under its redress mechanisms. It has further examined the degree to which those experiencing discrimination are aware of the legislation and whether there are practical or other obstacles which preclude or deter them from taking an action.
My Department invited written submissions to a public consultation from 06 July 2021 - 08 December 2021, and was pleased to receive an extensive response. The public were asked for their views on the functioning and accessibility of the Acts; the scope of the current grounds; whether existing exemptions should be modified or removed; and whether the legislation adequately addresses intersectionality. A report summarising the key issues raised in the public consultation was published on 12 July 2023 and can be accessed here: www.gov.ie/en/press-release/cafb4-minister-ogorman-publishes-report-on-the-submissions-to-the-public-consultation-on-the-review-of-the-equality-acts/.
391. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 531 of 14 May 2024, if the breakdown of data for each individual accounted for under the Government’s publication of payments over €20,000 is available on his Department’s website - for example, the breakdown of properties and how much is paid per property; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23563/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Public Sector Reform Plan requires that government departments and agencies publish online reports detailing Purchase Orders relating to payments for goods, services or works procured to a value greater than €20,000.
The Department does not provide a further breakdown of these payments at this time.
392. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will confirm the position with regard to a building (details supplied) in south Tipperary being designated for use by IPAS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23590/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI thank the Deputy for this question. A response will be provided directly to the Deputy in the coming days.
The Deputy may wish to be aware that the Community Engagement Team has been established within my Department which stands ready to respond to queries of this nature, and they may be contacted directly at community@equality.gov.ie.
393. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if she will report on the progress made opening an overnight respite centre in County Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23608/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
394. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 555 of 23 April 2024, when a full HSE response will be received. [23613/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to a PQ previously referred to the HSE, PQ 17867/24, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
395. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of plans in relation to an accommodation centre (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23630/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe accommodation provider to which the Deputy refers has decided to cease accommodating Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) and has asked that all of the BOTPs in residence be moved to alternative accommodation. My Department's standard commercial accommodation contract provides that either party to the contract can terminate the agreement at any time with four weeks’ notice and the provider in this case has availed of this right. The BOTPs residing at this location have been given notification of same and will be relocated before the end of the month.
While every effort is made to minimise disruption to BOTPs who must be relocated where contracts end, staying in the local area cannot be guaranteed for BOTPs who continue to require State accommodation. My Department cannot guarantee standard or location at this time, and BOTPs are encouraged to engage with their Local Authority to assess the possibility of finding accommodation in the community if possible.
My Department is currently consolidating the BOTP accommodation portfolio in line with current and future needs. As this work progresses and the portfolio is reduced, remaining within existing localities for BOTPs who must be relocated will become less likely.
Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection are entitled to make their own private arrangements including potentially availing of pledged accommodation if they wish, and can avail of some supports to do so. Those wishing to avail of pledged accommodation in any given area should contact the Local Authority in that area or the Irish Red Cross pledge process. The Irish Red Cross can be contacted by email at registerofpledges@redcross.ie or by phoning 1800 50 70 70.
Given the unprecedented level of new arrivals seeking International Protection (IP), and the challenges in providing suitable accommodation, Cabinet has approved an accommodation strategy which includes maximising the occupancy of accommodation under contract to my Department, in its entirety. My Department is actively utilising existing suitable vacancies in the system, where the provider has expressed an interest in assisting with the accommodation of IPs.
The International Protection Procurement Services (IPPS) are currently appraising an offer of accommodation for IPs in the accommodation to which the Deputy refers. Should the offer meet the requisite criteria, it is hoped that a contract can be agreed in the near future. My Department can only confirm use of a premises once a contract has been signed, and will, in the first instance, inform local public representatives and statutory agencies through its Community Engagement Team.
396. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if it is planned for international protection applicants to be accommodated at the site of the derelict Heatherside Hospital at Streamhill west Buttevent, County Cork (details supplied); if so, the expected date of arrival for the applicants; the number of international applicants to be accommodated there; the original countries of where these international applicants are coming from; the gender of these international applicants; the duration they will be staying; if transportation will be available for the applicants considering the rural location; if children will be staying at the location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23637/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI thank the Deputy for this question. A response will be provided directly to the Deputy in the coming days.
The Deputy may wish to be aware that the Community Engagement Team has been established within my Department which stands ready to respond to queries of this nature, and they may be contacted directly at community@equality.gov.ie.
397. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a community childcare service (details supplied) has been included in the initial list of 800 services identified for funding through the Equal Start funding model. [23662/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn Monday 20 May, I launched Equal Start, a major new model of government-funded supports to ensure children experiencing disadvantage can access and meaningfully participate in early learning and childcare.
Equal Start comprises of both targeted and universal supports aimed at children, services and parents/families. These supports will be rolled out on a phased basis by 2028 with certain targeted measures to be made available from September 2024.
These supports will fall in to three categories:
• Universal supports available to all partner services,
• Supports targeted at services with higher concentrations of disadvantage,
• Individual children and families experiencing disadvantage.
The identification model for Equal Start takes not only the HP Deprivation Index but also individual children’s data into account. My Department recognises that not all children experiencing disadvantage live in areas on the HP Deprivation Index, therefore there are a variety of objective factors informing identification of children and services who require additional supports.
These are:
• Children and families experiencing socio-economic disadvantage
• Children from a Traveller or Roma ethnic background
• children experiencing homelessness
• Children from international migrant families including those living in an International Protection Accommodation Centre or Emergency Orientation and Reception Centres (EROC).
• Children sponsored through the National Childcare Scheme
As previously indicated approximately 800 services who will receive additional supports by virtue of having higher concentrations of disadvantage will be notified of their status by the Department in the coming weeks.
It is important to emphasise that the model provides for supports at universal and child level regardless of whether the service is on the aforementioned list. These supports will become available in future phases of the Equal Start rollout.
As the identification process is currently being finalised it would not be appropriate to preempt the final list. All services will be notified of their status in Equal Start in the coming weeks.
398. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his response to the concerns raised by the staff of a school (details supplied) in relation to the lack of resources and supports and the impact on the school community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23687/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
399. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there are any new plans for the relocation of people seeking international protection to a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23704/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI thank the Deputy for this question. A response will be provided directly to the Deputy in the coming days.
400. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason St Patrick's Guild, Temple Hill, Dublin, has been excluded from the mother and baby payment scheme. [23705/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme is designed to provide payments and other benefits to people who spent time in one or more of the Mother and Baby or County Home Institutions, that were identified by the Commission of Investigation as having a main function of providing sheltered and supervised ante and post-natal facilities to single mothers and their children. The institutions covered by the Payment Scheme are set out in Schedule 1 to the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Act, which was signed into law on 11th July 2023.
St. Patrick’s Guild was an Adoption Society, with sites in Rathmines, Blackrock and elsewhere and, as such, is not an institution which fell within the terms of reference of the Commission of Investigation. The institution at Temple Hill, Blackrock, commonly known as St. Patrick’s Hospital, was not investigated by the Commission of Investigation because it operated primarily as a children's hospital rather than as an institution providing ante and post-natal facilities.
At page 29 in Chapter 2 of the Social History section of the Commission of Investigation report, which details the different types of institutions that existed, Temple Hill was listed as a children’s hospital and, as such, did not meet the criteria of a Mother and Baby Home - www.gov.ie/en/publication/89e43-chapter-2-institutions/. The Commission referred to the institution as being “frequently wrongly described as a mother and baby home. It was an infants’ nursery and mothers were not resident there. As a hospital, it received funding from the Hospitals Commission.”
For this reason it is not included in this Payment Scheme.
401. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if plans to accommodate people seeking international protection at a location (details supplied) include the provision of transport services in order that they are not isolated and can access other amenities or appointments elsewhere; to list all other proposed services that will be provided to the residents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23717/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 27 March 2024, the Government agreed a new Comprehensive Accommodation Strategy for International Protection (IP) applicants. The 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.
Work has begun to deliver on the new strategy including engaging with the Irish Prison Service on developing some of the Thornton Hall site for IP accommodation. A process to investigate the viability of the site is currently ongoing. Once this process is completed, DCEDIY will discuss further with the Irish Prison Service any next steps.
In general, the Department engages with relevant stakeholders and accommodation service providers as appropriate to ensure that international protection applicants placed in accommodation in isolated areas will have access to transportation for basic requirements.
The International Protection Procurement Service (IPPS) try to ensure in as far as possible that international protection applicants are not located in remote locations, however, given the current demand for accommodation, this is not always possible. In situations where a centre is located in an area without public transport links within a 2km radius, with manageable access, IPPS will ensure that a shuttle bus service to a nearby town or public transport stop is provided.
This Department engages with the Department of Transport, as the need arises, regarding the expansion of the Local Link network for both International Protection applicants and Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection.
402. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to outline where asylum seekers and refugees have been accommodated, by county, in 2023/2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23720/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs of 19 May, there are over 30,000 people accommodated in the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) system as a whole (of whom 7,494 are children) compared with approximately 8,700 people at the end of February 2022.
Ireland and many other European countries are experiencing a significant increase in people seeking international protection (IP). The arrival numbers remain significantly elevated. In the first 20 weeks of 2024, nearly 8,000 people have arrived in Ireland seeking accommodation from the State, averaging 398 people per week. This is more than five times the average from 2017-2019. The highest weekly applications in 2024 was over 610 applicants.
Weekly statistics are available publicly on the Gov.ie website.
gov.ie - IPAS Statistics (www.gov.ie)
gov.ie - Accommodation of Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) (www.gov.ie)
Publicly available statistics in relation to the location of International Protection (IP) applicants are provided on a county local authority basis. Please see, in tabular format, the number of IP applicants accommodated in each county across the country in May 2023 and May 2024, respectively.
|
County |
May 2023 |
May 2024 |
|
Carlow |
45 |
442 |
|
Cavan |
137 |
155 |
|
Clare |
614 |
876 |
|
Cork |
1,507 |
1,837 |
|
Donegal |
1,145 |
1,932 |
|
Dublin |
7,667 |
10,896 |
|
Galway |
675 |
1,599 |
|
Kerry |
507 |
926 |
|
Kildare |
675 |
669 |
|
Kilkenny |
118 |
153 |
|
Laois |
538 |
580 |
|
Leitrim |
100 |
209 |
|
Limerick |
414 |
402 |
|
Longford |
77 |
135 |
|
Louth |
598 |
1,165 |
|
Mayo |
836 |
1,401 |
|
Meath |
905 |
1,001 |
|
Monaghan |
499 |
693 |
|
Offaly |
186 |
389 |
|
Roscommon |
158 |
190 |
|
Sligo |
264 |
509 |
|
Tipperary |
493 |
750 |
|
Waterford |
572 |
676 |
|
Westmeath |
681 |
860 |
|
Wexford |
233 |
589 |
|
Wicklow |
1,004 |
1,429 |
|
Total |
20,648 |
30,463 |
403. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if serious concerns raised by the mother of a child (details supplied) are being thoroughly investigated and addressed, with particular reference to ensuring open dialogue and communication between the mother and Tusla; the action being taken to address these concerns as quick as possible, with particular reference to the paramount safety and welfare of the child concerned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23728/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraStatutory and operational responsibility for the delivery of child protection and welfare services is a matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. The Minister is not permitted to intervene in individual cases as there is an obligation by law that Tusla, is independent in its work.
The Department has forwarded on the details to Tusla and requested a response be provided directly to the Deputy's office.
404. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth how he and his Government colleagues intend to deal with the very serious economic impact of removing a location (details supplied) from the tourism sector in Drogheda, as identified in a report that was published showing a projected €22 million loss to the local economy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23761/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland and many other European countries are experiencing a significant increase in people seeking international protection (IP). The arrival numbers remain significantly elevated. In the first 20 weeks of 2024, nearly 8,000 people have arrived in Ireland seeking accommodation from the State, averaging 398 people per week. This is more than five times the average from 2017-2019.
The State has a legal obligation to assess the claims of those who seek International Protection (IP), and in that time, to provide accommodation and supports in line with the Recast Reception Conditions Directive (transposed under SI 230 of 2018, or the "Reception Conditions Regulations"), to those that require it.
Currently, there are over 30,000 people accommodated in the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) system as a whole compared with approximately 8,700 people at the end of February 2022.
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. 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 Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport, and Media (DTCAGSM) has informed me that Fáilte Ireland’s statutory register of all Short-Term Tourist Letting accommodation in the State will, when implemented, provide a full picture of the stock of tourist accommodation. This will better inform and enhance Fáilte Ireland’s ability to promote wider tourism investment. The combined insights of the accommodation audits and the Register will help shape and inform Ireland’s long-term accommodation development plans to meet changing consumer demands and trends.
With regard to the specific tourism accommodation stock challenge for the tourism sector in Drogheda, tourism is a recognised critical element for social and economic development in the town. Drogheda is a key part of the Ancient Destination Experience Development Plan, that is the Fáilte Ireland roadmap for development of tourism in regions such as the Boyne Valley and environs.
In this context, Government welcomes the collaboration between Fáilte Ireland and Louth County Council on the potential development of an attraction of scale focused on the Boyne, as the development of such attractions is a key element underpinning a strong regional distribution of tourism across the country.
The role of Drogheda, as a key entry point to the tourism and heritage attractions of the Boyne Valley, is recognised by the significant funding which Fáilte Ireland has allocated to the town under its Urban Animation Scheme in order to bring landmark buildings and structures in Drogheda’s historic landscape to life. While the challenges experienced by Drogheda due to displacement of tourism accommodation are not unique to the town, they serve as an exemplar of similar challenges across the country that must be addressed, on the basis of sustained and strategic inter-agency collaboration.
405. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide an update on the steps being taken to expedite the preliminary team assessments (following the High Court judgment in March 2022 which found that these comprehensive assessments carried out since January 2020 did not meet the requirements of the Disability Act 2005; the measures in place to ensure that families who have been waiting for extended periods receive the necessary support and services in a timely manner; the steps being taken to address the resource constraints and staff vacancies that are exacerbating these delays (details supplied);; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23850/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
