Written Answers Nos. 595-605
595. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to examine the case for respite for a child (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29966/24]
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.
596. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a place in a residential house will be provided to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29031/24]
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.
597. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide an update on the Government's response to the eviction notices issued to parents and children living in IPAS accommodation; the measures being taken to prevent these families from being evicted and to ensure their children's lives are not further disrupted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29088/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra599. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 476 of 8 May 2024, if his attention has been drawn to the considerable distress that has resulted from the issuance of transfer letters to children in direct provision with respect to resulting forced school transfer; his Department’s thinking on the refusal to extend the definition of “significant welfare needs” to the impact that such a transfer would have on these children; if he will provide the definition of “significant welfare needs” that his officials are using with regard to these decisions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29107/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra608. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth in relation to the decision to proceed with the eviction notices issued to those living in IPAS accommodation giving them a deadline of 5 July 2024 to find alternative accommodation, if he considered, at a minimum, extending the current exemption in place for those over the age of 65 years or with significant medical or welfare needs to parents and their children who are not transferred to the emergency accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29326/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra612. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the arrangements for alternative accommodation have been made for the approximately 30 families who were in international protection accommodation (details supplied) in Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29435/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 597, 599, 608 and 612 together.
The International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) does not comment on the particulars of individual transfers.
The Department is currently providing accommodation to over 31,000 people, of whom over 5,500 have been granted permission to remain in Ireland and, as such, are no longer in the International Protection process. At the same time, there is currently an ongoing shortfall of accommodation for newly arrived people applying for international protection.
Where a person progresses through the application and review process, and receives a grant of status or permission to remain in Ireland, their status in terms of access to housing becomes the same as other people living in Ireland and Irish citizens. In these circumstances however, the Department and the IPAS team is aware of the challenges in housing availability across the population and has continued to provide accommodation until residents are in a position to source accommodation independently.
All those with International Protection(IP)/Permission to Remain are written to once status has been granted and are advised that given their progress through the IP process, they will need to seek alternative accommodation. They are supported to register with a Local Authority and, if required, avail of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) to secure alternative accommodation.
Given the change in legal status, IPAS works with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to support people in securing alternative accommodation. A specific Transition team works in collaboration with Depaul Ireland, the Peter McVerry Trust, and Local Authorities to support residents with status to move on from IPAS accommodation.
Where a person cannot secure independent accommodation by the defined date, IPAS will provide temporary, emergency accommodation. Acknowledging the ongoing increases in people arriving into Ireland seeking international protection, and the shortfall in accommodation for new arrivals, the Department will continue to work to support all those using our services.
598. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the position regarding a property (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29103/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI thank the Deputy for this question. A response will be provided directly to the Deputy in the coming days.
600. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will consider increasing maternity, paternity and parental leave for parents of multiple births; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29117/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere have been significant improvements in the duration of family leaves for working families in recent years in line with the Government's commitment in the Programme for Government to supporting parents, including by extending paid leave for parents to allow them to spend more time with their baby during the first year.
The Maternity Protection Act 1994 and the Maternity Protection (Amendment) Act 2004 provide a pregnant employee with 26 weeks of paid maternity leave and an additional 16 weeks of unpaid leave, alongside other entitlements such as breastfeeding breaks which have been extended to two years following the birth of the child through the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023.
While the Maternity Protection Acts 1994-2004 do not explicitly refer to multiple births, the entitlement arises from the pregnancy and confinement, which are treated as a single event, regardless of the number of children arising. This applies also to the unpaid leave.
The Paternity Leave and Benefit Act 2016 provides the relevant parent (other than the mother of the child) with 2 weeks paid paternity leave. S.6(5) of the Act limits this entitlement in the case of multiple births to a single period of leave.
Under the Parent’s Leave and Benefit Act 2019, working parents are entitled to seven weeks of paid parent's leave for each relevant parent for each child, to be taken in the first two years after the birth or adoptive placement of a child. While the Parent’s Leave and Benefit Act 2019 limits the entitlement in the case of multiple births to that of a single birth at s.5(5), the duration of the leave is increasing to 9 weeks in respect of each child from 1 August 2024.
Similarly, the Parental Leave (Amendment) Act 2019 has increased the entitlement to leave to 26 weeks that can be taken by an employee who is a relevant parent. The upper age limit of the eligible child has been increased to the age of 12 or of 16, where the child has a disability or long-term illness which allows a parent more time in which to avail of the extended leave entitlement. This leave entitlement is for each eligible child.
Family leave provisions are kept under review to ensure that they are effective and respond to the needs of families. Family leave entitlements are also mindful of the impact of the leaves on workplaces.
601. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total funding provided to each of the CHO areas for CDNT services from 2015 to date, including the total numbers of population served in each of the relevant CHOs, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29118/24]
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.
602. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of persons with disabilities who received home support hours, by CHO, in 2023 and 2024; the number of persons with disabilities in 2023 and 2024 who received personal assistance hours, by CHO, in 2023 and 2024; the total number of hours provided in each category, by CHO, in 2023 and 2024; the target number of hours for each category in each CHO for 2023 and 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29157/24]
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.
603. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the supports available to a carer who needs to purchase a car for the purpose of transporting the individual they care for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29162/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Carer’s Strategy encompasses objectives related to the accessibility and affordability of different modes of transport for carers and those for whom they provide care. This strategy falls to the remit of the Minister of Health, and queries related to specific supports for carers in this context should be directed to that department.
Addressing the specific context of disability and within the remit of my own Department, we know that transport is a key factor in ensuring independence and facilitating full participation in the community. Reliable transport is something we all depend upon to socialise, to access arts and culture, to participate fully in work and education and to look after our health. My Department is committed to realising these supports, and ensuring people with disabilities are supported to live full, autonomous lives, in line with our commitments under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
The UNCRPD articulates a right to reliable transport and mobility supports under Article 9, stipulating that State Parties take appropriate measures to ensure that disabled people have access, on an equal basis to others, to transportation. This imperative is one we are taking seriously and tackling with ambition as we work to develop the next National Disability Strategy.
In the disability context, the Disabled Drivers and Passengers Scheme constitutes a specific avenue of support which may be of assistance depending on a person's specific circumstances, providing tax reliefs linked to the purchase and use of specially constructed or adapted vehicles by drivers and passengers with a disability. This Scheme falls to the remit of the Minister of Finance, whose department will be best placed to provide further detail.
604. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is aware of a situation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29186/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI thank the Deputy for this question. A response will be provided directly to the Deputy in the coming days.
605. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason for the delay in awarding compensation, under the mother and baby institutions payment scheme, to a person (details supplied); and when they can expect to receive their compensation. [29190/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhile I try to be helpful at all times in the parliamentary process, the Deputy will be aware that I cannot be involved in individual cases and cannot comment on same.
The legislation underpinning the Payment Scheme - the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Act 2023 - specifically provides for the explicit independence of the Chief Deciding Officer in administering the application process and making decisions on applications. Therefore, it would be inappropriate for me to engage in the process in relation to the status of individual applications.
All information on the Scheme, and the application process, can be found at the dedicated Payment Scheme website - gov.ie/paymentscheme. Resources include an information booklet, questions and answers, and short 'how to' videos on the straightforward application process. A Helpline is also available at +353 1 522 9992. Applicants will be supported throughout the application process with information and advice as and when they may need it.
In addition to all these applicant supports, public representatives can contact the Payment Scheme Office via a dedicated email address paymentschemereps@equality.gov.ie if they are assisting constituents in relation to the Scheme.
In this case, I suggest that the applicant in question contacts the helpline directly and I am sure she will be assisted appropriately.
