Written Answers Nos. 120-132
120. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide the criteria used to decide the location of emergency accommodation allocated to individuals and families, and the consideration taken of the needs of the people with regard to access to schools and support networks in their local area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43487/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department's role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of local authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of homeless services rests with individual local authorities. My Department does not fund any homeless service directly but provides funding to local authorities towards the operational costs of homeless accommodation and related services under Section 10 of the Housing Act, 1988.
In September 2022 my Department published Guidelines for Development of New Emergency Accommodation. These guidelines have been issued to all local authorities and set out the expectation and standards required in the development of emergency accommodation
The operation of homeless accommodation services is a matter for individual local authorities in consultation with the Management Group of the relevant regional joint Homelessness Consultative Forum, performed in accordance with Chapter 6 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2009.
The National Quality Standards Framework (NQSF) for homeless services is in place nationally for local authority and NGO delivered services. The Framework was developed to ensure a consistent approach in how local authorities and service providers respond to the needs of those experiencing homelessness and to improve the quality of services provided. In general, the operation of these emergency accommodation facilities is contracted out by local authorities, under service level agreements, to NGOs involved in the delivery of homeless services.
121. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide the results of all six-monthly audits undertaken at the emergency accommodation at a facility (details supplied), in tabular form, as provided for under the NQSS framework, for the years 2020 to date in 2024; if possible, the date for the next scheduled audit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43488/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department's role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of housing authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of homeless services rests with individual housing authorities.
My Department does not fund any homeless service directly but provides funding to housing authorities towards the operational costs of homeless accommodation and related services under Section 10 of the Housing Act, 1988. While responsibility for the provision of accommodation for homeless persons rests with individual housing authorities, the administration of homeless services is organised on a regional basis, with nine administrative regions in place. A homelessness consultative forum has been established in each region in accordance with Chapter 6 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2009. Decisions on the range of emergency accommodation services, funding required in each region, and operational matters including the results of audits under the NQSF framework on emergency accommodation facilities are a matter for individual housing authorities in consultation with the Management Group of the relevant regional joint Homelessness Consultative Forum.
County Kildare is in the Mid East region for the purposes of homeless administration, along with Meath and Wicklow. The details sought by the Deputy are not available to my Department, and are a matter for Kildare County Council in consultation with the Mid East Statutory Management Group who have responsibility for the operation of homeless accommodation in that Region.
122. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will detail the maximum length of stay in emergency accommodation; and set out the exit strategy being applied to assist the individual or family to exit homeless accommodation into housing. [43489/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra123. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will set out the measures his Department is or will be putting in place to assist older people currently accessing emergency accommodation, particularly in County Kildare, specifically to address the shortage in the supply of suitable-size appropriate housing, and the exit strategy being applied to assist the individual. [43490/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 122 and 123 together.
My Department’s role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of local authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of emergency accommodation and related services for homeless persons rests with individual local authorities.
My Department publishes quarterly progress reports which are based on quarterly performance reports submitted by the nine regional lead authorities responsible for the administration of homeless services at local level. These quarterly performance reports include details of the numbers of individuals prevented from entering emergency accommodation, and those exiting emergency accommodation into tenancies and the duration of stay in emergency accommodation. The quarterly progress report summarises the data submitted to the Department.
The duration of stay data is reported as six-monthly bands ranging from less than six months to more than 24 months and is also disaggregated by household type. These bands refer to consecutive stays in emergency accommodation and are based on a point-in-time count, informed by emergency accommodation usage on the last night in the quarter. The most recent published data is in respect of Q2 2024 and the report is available on my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/80ea8-homelessness-data/
Supporting individuals and families facing homelessness is a priority for Government. Critical to supporting households to exit homelessness is increasing the supply of housing. Almost 12,000 new social homes were delivered in 2023, through Build, Acquisition and Leasing, including 8,110 new build homes, the highest level of new build social homes in nearly 50 years. Including HAP and RAS, 21,733 social housing solutions were delivered throughout 2023.
Record state investment of over €5bn has been made available this year to support the largest State home building programme ever. Budget 2025 will provide €6bn in capital to help us to deliver more social, affordable and cost rental homes for our people.
A key action of Housing for All required local authorities to develop Housing Delivery Action Plans to include details of social and affordable housing delivery. The Plans set out details of both social and affordable housing delivery as appropriate over the period 2022-2026, in line with targets set under Housing for All. In developing their Plans local authorities were asked to make adequate provision for 1, 2, 3 and 4+ bedroom homes in line with local need.
An allocation of €303 million, an increase of €61m on the 2024 provision, has been made under Budget 2025 to provide homeless prevention services, emergency accommodation and other services for households experiencing homelessness. This is a 25% increase on the 2024 budget allocation. This funding will support the provision of emergency accommodation and supports that households require to exit emergency accommodation to a tenancy.
Local authorities and their service delivery partners will work closely with all households in emergency accommodation to support them to secure an exit to a tenancy. With the significant increase in social housing stock, I have asked local authorities to ensure that sufficient homes are being allocated to exit households from emergency accommodation.
I am continuing to work closely with the National Homeless Action Committee, which I chair, to ensure that there is a continued focus by the various stakeholders on additional measures that we can take to eradicate homelessness and to support all those experiencing homelessness.
124. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will review the decision not to accede to the UN Water Convention in light of its ability to enhance Ireland's international co-operation on water; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43579/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe UNECE Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes (Water Convention) requires Parties to prevent, control and reduce transboundary impact, use transboundary waters in a reasonable and equitable way and ensure their sustainable management.
While Ireland intends to accede to the Convention, there is no agreed timetable to do so at this time.
Cooperation with authorities in Northern Ireland on water management issues is continuing within the structures of the EU Water Framework Directive under the auspices of the Belfast-Good Friday Agreement. These structures are facilitating ongoing transboundary water cooperation.
125. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of vacancies, by grade, in her Department at the end of August 2023 and August 2024; the number of staff, by grade, on career break for more than five years; and the number of staff, by grade, on career break for more than six years at those same times. [43325/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn respect of the information sought by the Deputy, it is set out in the tables below. Unfortunately, my Department does not have a grade breakdown of vacancies at the end of August 2023.
At the end of August 2024, my Department held the vacancies tabled below.
|
Vacancy Grade |
Total |
|
AO |
3 |
|
AO specialist |
3 |
|
AP |
18 |
|
CO |
160 |
|
EO |
100 |
|
HEO |
149 |
|
Grand Total |
433 |
Staff on Career Breaks - end August 2023
|
Grade and Duration |
Number |
|
5 years up to 6 years |
|
|
Administrative Officer |
1 |
|
Clerical Officer |
3 |
|
Higher Executive Officer |
1 |
|
Total |
5 |
|
6 years or more |
|
|
Assistant Principal Officer |
1 |
|
Clerical Officer |
12 |
|
Executive Officer |
2 |
|
Services Officer |
1 |
|
Total |
16 |
|
Grand Total 5 years or more |
21 |
Staff on Career Breaks - end August 2024
|
Grade and Duration |
Number |
|
5-6 years |
|
|
Executive Officer |
2 |
|
Higher Executive Officer |
1 |
|
5-6 years Total |
3 |
|
6 years and over |
|
|
Administrative Officer |
1 |
|
Clerical Officer |
13 |
|
Executive Officer |
2 |
|
Higher Executive Officer |
1 |
|
Services Officer |
1 |
|
6 years and over Total |
18 |
|
Grand Total |
21 |
I trust this clarifies the matter.
126. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of staff coming to an end of career break in her Department in 2023 and 2024 who were notified of an appropriate vacancy in accordance with paragraph 39 of the 2013 circular Career Break Scheme in the Civil Service from the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43386/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra127. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of staff coming to an end of career break in her Department in 2023 and 2024 where there was no appropriate vacancy in accordance with paragraph 39 of the 2013 circular Career Break Scheme in the Civil Service from the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform and the post was put on a redeployment panel in accordance with paragraph 40 of the 2013 Career Break Circular from the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43387/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra128. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of staff coming to an end of career break in her Department in 2023 and 2024 when it was not possible to make a reasonable offer within the 12 month period after the expiry of the career break; the number of staff in that situation where the possibility of facilitating the civil servant on a supernumerary basis was explored in accordance with paragraph 41 of the 2013 circular Career Break Scheme in the Civil Service from the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43388/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra129. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of times in 2023 and 2024 in which no offer was made to staff within the Department within the 12-month period after the expiry of the career break, where the post was not put on a redeployment panel and where facilitating the civil servant on a supernumeracy basis was not explored; the reason for such inaction, if any; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43389/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra130. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection if she is aware of the hardship caused to staff on career break in her Department by the practice of extending career breaks beyond five and six years, while there are appropriate vacancies unfilled; if she considers that it is fair to the staff to impose considerable hardship on them unnecessarily; if she realises that the staff who find themselves in these circumstances are being deprived of income, service and pension entitlements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43401/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 126 to 130, inclusive, together.
In 2023 and 2024 to date there have been 18 staff who have been notified of an appropriate vacancy in accordance with paragraph 39 of the 2013 circular Career Break Scheme in the Civil Service from the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform.
In 2023 and 2024 to date no post in the Department of Social Protection has been put on the redeployment panel.
In 2023 and to date in 2024 any request received in Social Protection from the NSSO regarding a staff member requesting to return from career break, contact has been made with the candidate and an offer has been made within the 12-month period after expiry of the career break.
DSP typically does not extend career breaks beyond five years. However, such extensions may be considered, in exceptional circumstances, upon request from the staff member, and following the Career Break circular guidelines and procedures
131. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if an urgent review of an application for domiciliary care allowance can take place in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43402/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraDomiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) is a monthly allowance payable to a parent / guardian in respect of a child aged under 16 who has a severe disability requiring continual or continuous care and attention substantially in excess of the care and attention normally required by a child of the same age and where the level of that disability is such that the child is likely to require this level of care and attention for at least 12 consecutive months. This level of care and attention must be required to allow the child to deal with the activities of daily living in areas such as mobility, personal care, feeding / diet, communication, speech / language, sleeping, behaviour, safety, sensory issues, including any other additional needs.
Eligibility for DCA is not based entirely on the type of disability or diagnosis but primarily on the impact of the child's disability, in terms of the associated overall level of care and attention required by the child compared to a child of a similar age who does not have such a disability. The decision process that applies in the consideration of whether a child meets the conditions for DCA, includes the examination of all relevant factors identified as impacting on the child's additional care needs.
An application for DCA in respect of the child concerned was received by my Department on 26 August 2024. A Deciding Officer disallowed the claim as per decision dated 10 October 2024. Based on the information provided, the child was not considered to satisfy the conditions for DCA. This determination considered the supporting medical evidence that was provided by the applicant in their application. The Deciding Officer also had regard to the professional opinion of a departmental Medical Assessor in making their decision and a copy of this opinion was issued to the applicant for information along with the decision notification.
On foot of your request for a review of eligibility for DCA in this case, a full re-examination of this DCA application and my Department's original decision of 10 October 2024 will now be undertaken by a Deciding Officer. Once that review has been completed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the decision in writing.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
132. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Social Protection further to departmental correspondence in response to Parliamentary Questions No. 353 of 18 May 2023 and No. 372 of 18 May 2023, if she will request the furnishing of updated data on long Covid claimants from her officials, to be furnished as soon as it is collated; if she will ensure it covers the date range from 2020 to October 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43470/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraA total of 7,736 individuals transferred to regular Illness Benefit from the covid-related Enhanced Illness Benefit. This total includes some individuals who transferred due the closure of the Enhanced Illness Benefit scheme in September 2022.
Of these, 213 people were on Disability Allowance at the end of September 2024 with a start date after their Illness Benefit claim. 206 individuals had a claim for Disability Allowance rejected after their Illness Benefit claim.
