Written Answers Nos. 538-549
538. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children referred to Tusla last year 2023, and if a breakdown can be provided on the referral reason; and the occupation of the person who made the referral. [2886/24]
View answerStatutory 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.
539. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason funding was cut to an organisation (details supplied) recently; if he is aware that this means that the service will now cease to operate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2890/24]
View answerTusla provides funding to Raphoe Diocesan Pastoral Services for counselling services to children, young people and families in Donegal, which includes a core budget and other additional payments which have been provided to help address the growing demand for the service countywide and the current waiting lists.
Tusla – Child and Family Agency is committed to working with Raphoe Diocesan Pastoral Services to maintain the important counselling services they provide in communities across Donegal and to support the organisation going forward.
Senior officials from Tusla met with Raphoe Diocesan Pastoral Services on Tuesday 16th January. Following a productive meeting the Agency has committed to continue to work with the organisation to help them resolve current financial operational issues and to develop a sustainability plan and ensure necessary clinical governance and oversight of operations are in place. The Agency will engage with other key stakeholders to support the service, in order for it to continue to provide vital counselling supports across the county.
Speaking about the situation, Gerry Hone, Regional Chief Officer West North West, Tusla said: “I am fully aware of the significance of the counselling services provided by the Raphoe Diocesan Pastoral Services to communities across Donegal. We are committed to working with the organisation to help them to develop a sustainability plan so that they can continue to provide these important services in the area.
We are conscious of how the closure of this service would affect local communities and the concern that this has caused across the county. We will also look at how existing funding can be utilised to continue to provide essential supports.”
Tusla will continue to engage with Raphoe Diocesan Pastoral service on funding supports to the service.
540. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for an update on proposed closure plans for a service (details supplied) which operates across Donegal providing not-for-profit child and adult counselling services; the status of plans to ensure these services are retained in the county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2911/24]
View answerTusla provides funding to Raphoe Diocesan Pastoral Services for counselling services to children, young people and families in Donegal, which includes a core budget and other additional payments which have been provided to help address the growing demand for the service countywide and the current waiting lists.
Tusla – Child and Family Agency is committed to working with Raphoe Diocesan Pastoral Services to maintain the important counselling services they provide in communities across Donegal and to support the organisation going forward.
Senior officials from Tusla met with Raphoe Diocesan Pastoral Services on Tuesday 16th January. Following a productive meeting the Agency has committed to continue to work with the organisation to help them resolve current financial operational issues and to develop a sustainability plan and ensure necessary clinical governance and oversight of operations are in place. The Agency will engage with other key stakeholders to support the service, in order for it to continue to provide vital counselling supports across the county.
Speaking about the situation, Gerry Hone, Regional Chief Officer West North West, Tusla said: “I am fully aware of the significance of the counselling services provided by the Raphoe Diocesan Pastoral Services to communities across Donegal. We are committed to working with the organisation to help them to develop a sustainability plan so that they can continue to provide these important services in the area.
We are conscious of how the closure of this service would affect local communities and the concern that this has caused across the county. We will also look at how existing funding can be utilised to continue to provide essential supports.”
541. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the current number of Tusla beds occupied in residential centres; for a breakdown on this figure, to show the number of beds occupied in special care centres, voluntary centres, private centres and centres for separated children seeking international protection. [2932/24]
View answerAs this relates to Tusla operational matters, the question has been forwarded to Tusla for direct reply to the Deputy.
542. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of therapists working in children's disability network teams who are responsible for undertaking of assessment of needs determination. [2950/24]
View answerAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible. The Deputy will be aware that due to the ongoing industrial action by FORSA administrative and management grade staff in the HSE (which commenced on 6 October, 2023), delays remain in receiving answers to parliamentary questions and ministerial representations.
543. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to review the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3017/24]
View answerThank you for bringing this to my attention.
Officials in my Department have directed Pobal to contact the relevant Early Learning and Care provider directly to advise them that the ECCE registration will be maintained beyond the allowable period given the exceptional nature of this case.
This will also ensure that AIM funding is uninterrupted and there will be no requirement to reapply for AIM.
544. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for a breakdown by local election area (LEA) across the country on the number of Ukrainian refugees and international protection applicants, respectively housed in each LEA as of 18 January 2024. [3022/24]
View answerThe information is not available in the manner requested by the Deputy with respect to Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) or in relation to International Protection applicants. However, data at local authority and county level for BOTPs and at county level for IP applicants is presented in the following tables.
BOTPs by Local Authority
|
Local Authority |
BOTP number |
|
Carlow County Council |
841 |
|
Cavan County Council |
1224 |
|
Clare County Council |
3778 |
|
Cork City Council |
2077 |
|
Cork County Council |
3835 |
|
Donegal County Council |
5163 |
|
Dublin City Council |
2441 |
|
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council |
373 |
|
Fingal County Council |
1357 |
|
Galway City Council |
1220 |
|
Galway County Council |
2357 |
|
Kerry County Council |
7228 |
|
Kildare County Council |
619 |
|
Kilkenny County Council |
902 |
|
Laois County Council |
618 |
|
Leitrim County Council |
1073 |
|
Limerick City and County Council |
2095 |
|
Longford County Council |
350 |
|
Louth County Council |
870 |
|
Mayo County Council |
2887 |
|
Meath County Council |
1899 |
|
Monaghan County Council |
442 |
|
Offaly County Council |
1409 |
|
Roscommon County Council |
732 |
|
Sligo County Council |
1813 |
|
South Dublin County Council |
2554 |
|
Tipperary County Council |
1633 |
|
Waterford City and County Council |
1174 |
|
Westmeath County Council |
1699 |
|
Wexford County Council |
1950 |
|
Wicklow County Council |
1543 |
|
Grand Total |
58,156 |
BOTPs by County
|
County |
BOTPs number |
|
Carlow |
841 |
|
Cavan |
1224 |
|
Clare |
3778 |
|
Cork |
5912 |
|
Donegal |
5163 |
|
Dublin |
6725 |
|
Galway |
3577 |
|
Kerry |
7228 |
|
Kildare |
619 |
|
Kilkenny |
880 |
|
Laois |
618 |
|
Leitrim |
1073 |
|
Limerick |
2095 |
|
Longford |
350 |
|
Louth |
870 |
|
Mayo |
2887 |
|
Meath |
1899 |
|
Monaghan |
442 |
|
Offaly |
1409 |
|
Roscommon |
732 |
|
Sligo |
1813 |
|
Tipperary |
1633 |
|
Waterford |
1174 |
|
Westmeath |
1699 |
|
Wexford |
1972 |
|
Wicklow |
1543 |
|
Grand Total |
58,156 |
My Department also releases weekly statistics in relation to international protection (IP) applicants. This includes a per county breakdown of where IP applicants are residing. These statistics are located on the Gov.ie website: gov.ie - IPAS Statistics (www.gov.ie)
IP Applicants
|
County |
Occupancy |
|
Carlow |
197 |
|
Cavan |
159 |
|
Clare |
719 |
|
Cork City |
631 |
|
Cork County |
983 |
|
Donegal |
1661 |
|
Dublin City |
3060 |
|
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown |
722 |
|
Fingal County |
2370 |
|
Galway City Council |
1129 |
|
Galway County Council |
168 |
|
Kerry |
800 |
|
Kildare |
778 |
|
Kilkenny |
150 |
|
Laois |
620 |
|
Leitrim |
83 |
|
Limerick City and County |
413 |
|
Longford |
144 |
|
Louth |
878 |
|
Mayo |
1311 |
|
Meath |
912 |
|
Monaghan |
568 |
|
Offaly |
251 |
|
Roscommon |
194 |
|
Sligo |
442 |
|
South County Dublin |
3379 |
|
Tipperary |
581 |
|
Waterford |
654 |
|
Westmeath |
768 |
|
Wexford |
596 |
|
Wicklow |
1274 |
|
Total |
26,586 |
545. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the breakdown of the number of Ukrainian refugees housed in Ireland by the Government and international protection applicants, respectively housed in Ireland, by county, in tabular form. [3026/24]
View answerIreland is currently accommodating more than 100,000 people between those fleeing Ukraine and International Protection (IP) applicants. This includes almost 75,000 Ukrainian people who have sought accommodation from the State and over 26,000 IP applicants currently in International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) accommodation.
Intensive efforts are being undertaken daily by Department officials to source emergency accommodation. However, procuring enough bed space to keep pace with incoming arrivals remains extremely challenging.
My Department publishes regular information on the accommodation of Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection by local authority, and this can be found at: gov.ie - Topics & Content BOTPs Accommodated by County and by LA (cloud.gov.ie)
Please find latest figures for each county below:
|
County |
BOTP Number |
|
Carlow |
841 |
|
Cavan |
1224 |
|
Clare |
3778 |
|
Cork |
5912 |
|
Donegal |
5163 |
|
Dublin |
6927 |
|
Galway |
3577 |
|
Kerry |
7228 |
|
Kildare |
619 |
|
Kilkenny |
880 |
|
Laois |
618 |
|
Leitrim |
1073 |
|
Limerick |
2095 |
|
Longford |
350 |
|
Louth |
870 |
|
Mayo |
2887 |
|
Meath |
1899 |
|
Monaghan |
442 |
|
Offaly |
1409 |
|
Roscommon |
732 |
|
Sligo |
1813 |
|
Tipperary |
1633 |
|
Waterford |
1174 |
|
Westmeath |
1699 |
|
Wexford |
1972 |
|
Wicklow |
1543 |
|
Grand Total |
58,358 |
My Department also releases weekly statistics in relation to international protection (IP) applicants. This includes a per county breakdown of where IP applicants are residing. These statistics are located on the Gov.ie website: gov.ie - IPAS Statistics (www.gov.ie)
|
County |
Occupancy |
|
Carlow |
197 |
|
Cavan |
159 |
|
Clare |
719 |
|
Cork City |
631 |
|
Cork County |
983 |
|
Donegal |
1661 |
|
Dublin City |
3060 |
|
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown |
722 |
|
Fingal County |
2370 |
|
Galway City Council |
1129 |
|
Galway County Council |
168 |
|
Kerry |
800 |
|
Kildare |
778 |
|
Kilkenny |
150 |
|
Laois |
620 |
|
Leitrim |
83 |
|
Limerick City and County |
413 |
|
Longford |
144 |
|
Louth |
878 |
|
Mayo |
1311 |
|
Meath |
912 |
|
Monaghan |
568 |
|
Offaly |
251 |
|
Roscommon |
194 |
|
Sligo |
442 |
|
South County Dublin |
3379 |
|
Tipperary |
581 |
|
Waterford |
654 |
|
Westmeath |
768 |
|
Wexford |
596 |
|
Wicklow |
1274 |
|
Total |
26,586 |
546. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of modular homes housing Ukrainian refugees by county in place as of 18 January 2024, by county and number of modular units, in tabular form. [3039/24]
View answerIn 2022, the Government approved the construction of 700 rapid build homes with the potential to house up to 2,800 individuals in family units. The rapid build homes are being constructed on State owned land.
The OPW is leading the development of this accommodation in conjunction with my Department. Following further engagement and the completion of suitability assessment work, further sites will come on stream in the first half of 2024.
The completion timelines are subject to any technical issues arising during construction. There were a number of such issues that arose over the past few months relating to site conditions, remedial works, boundaries, ESB connections. This delayed earlier forecasted dates of completion on sites included in the programme.
All the sites will have roads, footpaths, street lighting and community facilities, including green spaces fully in line with Local Authority planning guidance. The rapid build homes will be highly energy efficient, durable units with a 60-year lifespan and the development of the sites is being conducted in an environmentally sustainable way to ensure that, post development, the site will enhance the local area.
Local Representatives in each constituency where the first phase rapid build homes were planned received a full briefing from my officials and the OPW. This briefing of Local Representatives is continuing as more sites are identified.
The breakdown of the number of modular homes housing Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) in place as of 18 January 2024, by county and number of modular units is set out in the table below. Each unit houses a family of 4 BOTPs.
|
No |
County |
No. of Units |
|
1 |
Cork |
64 |
|
2 |
Cavan |
28 |
|
3 |
Tipperary |
62 |
|
4 |
Sligo |
22 |
|
5 |
Mayo |
28 |
|
6 |
Offaly |
64 |
|
7 |
Laois |
42 |
|
8 |
Meath |
20 |
|
Total |
330 |
547. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will he provide funding for a campaign to raise awareness of parental mental health, the impact on children, and the provision of information relating to local parenting support services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3042/24]
View answer548. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will take the necessary steps to establish a network of local peer support groups, utilising the Parent Peer Support Fund, in communities for parents and families dealing with parental mental health issues within the home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3043/24]
View answer549. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will ring-fence funding for the provision of targeted intensive supports for parents facing mental health issues, such supports to be tailored to meet the specific needs of each family; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3044/24]
View answer550. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will engage with the relevant bodies to allow the parenting status of all adults engaged with mental health services to be recorded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3045/24]
View answer551. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to take the necessary steps to ensure that all adults with children under 18 who are engaging with adult mental health services should be offered a referral automatically to local family/parenting support services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3046/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 547, 548, 549, 550 and 551 together.
The provision of parent and child mental health services in Ireland lies specifically within the remit of the Department of Health and the Health Service Executive (HSE). However, my own Department plays an important role in supporting the well-being and mental health of parents and children. In the case of those children who are accessing HSE mental health services, it may be appropriate for a referral to be made to provide additional parenting or family support and this can be undertaken by a professional based on their assessment of the needs of the family. In circumstances whereby a child engaged with adult mental health services, I am advised that Tusla would be supportive of information being shared with parents/carers by the HSE professionals about family and parenting supports services within their area, but would not recommend automatic referral.
Under Supporting Parents: A National Model of Parenting Support Services , my Department is working to geomap all parenting support services provided by Tusla, making these more accessible for parents and practitioners to identify. My Department is also promoting parenting supports on our social media channels and on dedicated supporting parents’ pages on gov.ie.
The Parent Peer Support Fund is an action under Supporting Parents: A National Model of Parenting Support Services. 2024 is the second year of the Parent Peer Support Fund and I am pleased to advise that the funding was increased for 2024 from €50,000 in 2023 to €75,000 in 2024 and the fund will now reach more communities. Currently there are a wide array of services and organisations in receipt of funding; these include peer supports for single parents, those parenting a child with additional needs, migrant parents, young parents and parents with children in hospital. Applications are considered from parent peer support initiatives nationwide, including those specific to parental mental health.
Similarly, under Supporting Parents: A National Model of Parenting Support Services , an awareness fund has been established to promote parenting support activities in Children and Young People's Services Committees (CYPSC) areas. Initially piloted in 10 CYPSC areas, this fund has been increased in from €50,000 in 2023 to €135,000 in 2024 and funding will now be awarded to all 27 CYPSC areas to promote parenting supports. It is at the discretion of each CYPSC to prioritise promotion of the parenting support services in their areas based on assessed needs.
CYPSC ensure effective inter-agency coordination and collaboration to achieve the best outcomes for all children and young people in its area. This is achieved through effective planning, coordination of supports locally through funding from my Department and Tusla and other Government Departments such as the Department of Health. CYPSC have identified mental health supports as their top priority and are responding to emerging needs accordingly. CYPSC carry out extensive work on mental health initiatives in communities around the country and this work is coordinated with local partners and the community and voluntary sector including state agencies. CYPSC are utilising their programme funding and Healthy Ireland funding, to plan and coordinate supports such as mental health and well-being supports for marginalised children and young people, mental health awareness and knowledge for parents and how to access supports and online well-being supports for young people amongst other initiatives.
Family and Parenting support services are funded by Tusla and others to provide tailored community-based services and awareness raising for those families who would benefit from information, advice, support and assistance in bringing up their children, so that these children will reach their full potential. The majority of these services are accessible without referral directly to Tusla – either by referral/contact by other professionals directly into the service or by self-referral by the family.
Tusla’s Family Support Programme encompasses a wide range of activities that strengthen positive informal social networks through community based programmes and services. The main focus of these services is on early intervention, aiming to promote and protect the health, well-being and rights of children, young people and their families. At the same time, particular attention is given to those who are vulnerable or at risk. The services include family support provided by Tusla, Family Resource Centres, Family Centres, in-home services, home visiting, counselling and therapy services and parenting programmes. These services include those delivered directly by Tusla, including those provided under the Prevention, Partnership, and Family Support (PPFS) service, and those that are funded or co-funded by Tusla but operated by organisations in the community and voluntary sector.
