Written Answers Nos. 436-442
436. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the projects approved to date for funding in Cavan/Monaghan under a scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28972/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraCapital funding has been allocated to the early learning and childcare sector under the revised National Development Plan (NDP). This will enable significant investment in early learning and childcare.
Under the Building Blocks - Improvement Grant, which operated in 2023, €9 million was allocated in grants ranging from €35,000 to €75,000 were awarded under two strands, Green Energy and Retrofit. The following services based in Cavan and Monaghan were awarded funding under this scheme:
|
County |
Service |
Grant awarded |
|
Cavan |
Krafty Kidz Community Childcare Cavan |
€74,115.5 |
|
Cavan |
KraftyKidz Daisy Hill |
€75,000.00 |
|
Cavan |
Superkids Preschool |
€65,017.36 |
|
Monaghan |
Art Mooney Childcare Company |
€73,575.18 |
|
Monaghan |
Clevercloggs Full Day Care Nursery Ltd, Castleblayney |
€69,392.22 |
|
Monaghan |
Clevercloggs Full Day Care Nursery Ltd, Monaghan Town |
€49,828.89 |
|
Monaghan |
Inis Óg Childcare |
€75,000.00 |
This scheme is now closed.
In 2024 and 2025, my Department is delivering capital investment through the Building Blocks Capacity Grant. The primary focus of the Building Blocks Capacity Grant Schemes is to increase capacity in the 1-3 year old, pre-ECCE, age range for full day or part-time care.
Under the Building Blocks Expansion Grant scheme grants of between €25,000 and €100,000 were awarded to projects to undertake renovation or upgrades to existing space to cater for more children. I am advised that KraftyKidz, Daisy Hill in Cavan has been provisionally approved for funding of €82,897.60 under this scheme. Pobal has contacted applicants with the outcome of the appraisal process and the pre-contracting stage is now underway.
437. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when his Department expects to have assessed the submissions received under the expression of interest for acquisition or lease of international protection accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28975/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department launched an Expression of Interest (EOI) process on the 30 April 2024 for the sourcing of suitable properties as International Protection Accommodation. The EOI seeks to identify properties for acquisition/lease 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.
Initial Stage One submissions were accepted up to the 25th May with progressions to Stage Two thereafter. Submissions are continuing to be accepted after the 25th May but priority is been given to submissions received by or before the initial submission date.
Stage One is being evaluated at present and those deemed as meeting the EOI essential criteria will be progressed to Stage Two where a full comprehensive evaluation based on a weighted criteria and due diligence will be performed. The number of submissions that reach the qualifying criteria for Stage One will determine the timeline for completion of the Stage Two process. Properties for immediate purchase are being prioritised.
438. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the average duration spent in IPAS accommodation by persons denied protection status post-decision for applications in which a final decision was made from January 2023. [28976/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department releases weekly and monthly statistics that are available publicly on the gov.ie at the links below:
gov.ie - IPAS Statistics (www.gov.ie)
www.gov.ie/en/publication/07027-ipas-statistics/
There are currently 31,000 international protection applicants residing in IPAS accommodation. 5,595 people with status were in IPAS accommodation at the end of May 2024.Further statistics on those who reside in IPAS accommodation who have not been successful in their application are not collated by DCEDIY for publication.
439. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth how the implementation of the EU Migration Pact, particularly in respect of the Recast Reception Conditions Directive and Procedures Regulation, will affect the State's obligations as regards the provision of accommodation for international protection applicants. [28980/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe implementation of the new EU Migration Pact will result in broadly similar obligations in the area of accommodation provision. The introduction of reforms in other areas of the Pact, such as the proposed border procedure, may result in shorter processing times with a consequent reduction in the duration of accommodation provision. My Department is working with colleagues in the Department of Justice to progress a number of workstreams on Pact implementation.
440. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the occupancy of IPAS accommodation at the end of each month from January 2023 to June 2024; and if these figures are inclusive of those with status currently being accommodated in IPAS. [28981/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are currently over 31,000 people accommodated in the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) system as a whole (of whom over 7,876 are children) compared with approximately 8,700 people at the end of February 2022.
|
End Month |
Total in IPAS Accommodation |
|
Jan-23 |
19,635 |
|
Feb-23 |
19,936 |
|
Mar-23 |
20,307 |
|
Apr-23 |
20,322 |
|
May-23 |
20,910 |
|
Jun-23 |
21,573 |
|
Jul-23 |
22,478 |
|
Aug-23 |
23,194 |
|
Sep-23 |
23,983 |
|
Oct-23 |
25,019 |
|
Nov-23 |
25,876 |
|
Dec-23 |
26,279 |
|
Jan-24 |
27,092 |
|
Feb-24 |
27,975 |
|
Mar-24 |
28,478 |
|
Apr-24 |
29,456 |
|
May-24 |
31,032 |
|
Jun-24 |
31,252* |
*As at 23 June 2024.
Weekly and Monthly statistics are available publicly on the gov.ie at the links below:
gov.ie - IPAS Statistics (www.gov.ie)
www.gov.ie/en/publication/07027-ipas-statistics/
The published figures are inclusive of those with status who are currently residing in IPAS accommodation.
441. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will report on HSE funding for adult transition supports for young adolescents transitioning from post primary or special schools into disability day service; the funding allocated for this in CHO7 in 2022, 2023 and 2024, and the number of young adolescents in CHO7 to transition from post primary or special schools into disability day services in the corresponding timeframe, in tabular form;. [29016/24]
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.
442. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if urgent assistance can be provided in the case of persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29062/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department is not in a position to comment on individual cases.
Under the European Communities (Reception Conditions) Regulations 2018, those who have had their application determined are no longer entitled to Material Reception conditions. However, the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) continues to accommodate those with status, until such time that they progress into the community.
All those with International Protection/Permission to Remain are written to once status has been granted and are advised they must now seek alternative accommodation. They are also advised that the supports of the Peter McVerry Trust/Depaul Ireland are available to them.
Those with status for the greatest length of time are currently being offered a transfer to alternative emergency accommodation, currently singles/couples with status over 9 months and families with status over 18 months. This process began in September 2022 with single people with status.
In the past 24 months, over 4,600 people with status have left IPAS accommodation and progressed into the community
IPAS has a specific Transition team who work in collaboration with Depaul Ireland, the Peter McVerry Trust, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and Local Authorities to support residents with status to exit IPAS accommodation and access other housing options. Those with status have the same housing entitlements as Irish Citizens and are supported to register with a Local Authority and, if required, to avail of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) to secure alternative accommodation. In addition, those with status have the same social welfare entitlements as Irish Citizens.
There is currently an accommodation shortfall for arriving International Protection (IP) applicants. This shortfall is currently in respect to single adult males and IPAS is now experiencing increasing pressure in its efforts to secure accommodation for arriving families, including those with children.
Given this and Ireland's legal obligation to provide accommodation to IP applicants, those who have held permission to remain in Ireland for a considerable length of time may be transferred to alternative emergency accommodation. This policy is in place to help ensure accommodation in non-emergency settings is available to newly arrived persons seeking International Protection.
