Written Answers Nos. 38 - 44
38. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she has received any Health Information and Quality Authority reports on investigations into conditions in direct provision centres; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35427/14]
View answerThe Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) of my Department is responsible for the accommodation of protection applicants in accordance with the Government policy of direct provision and dispersal. Direct provision provides for full board accommodation supports while a final decision is awaited by a person on their protection or any related leave to remain application. Currently, just over 4,300 persons are residing in 34 asylum accommodation centres under contract to RIA.
RIA accommodation centres are not subject to inspections by the Health, Information and Quality Authority (HIQA). That is not to say that there is no inspection system in place in direct provision. There is, in fact, a rigorous inspection system in place in which each centre is inspected three times a year, twice by RIA staff and once by an independent inspection company, QTS Limited. In addition, to ensure transparency in relation to standards in centres, all completed inspection reports of centres undertaken since 1 October 2013 are being published on the RIA website.
The Deputy will be aware of the commitment in the Statement of Government Priorities 2014-2016 includes to "...establish an independent Working Group to report to Government on improvements with the protection process, including direct provision and supports for asylum seekers". My intention is to proceed with the establishment of that Working Group, whose mandate will include reporting back to Government on improvements in relation to direct provision.
As the Deputy may be aware, I held a Round Table on 18 September to provide non-governmental organisations active in the field of asylum the opportunity to outline the key issues for them in relation to the State's current arrangements for asylum seekers. I also intend to use the outcome of that meeting to inform the terms of reference of the Working Group. The issue of the inspection regime that applies to the direct provision system may also be considered in that context.
39. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will make immediate improvements to the living conditions and standards in direct provision hostels for those seeking asylum in the State; if she favours ending the system of direct provision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35387/14]
View answerThe Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) of my Department is responsible for the accommodation of protection applicants in accordance with the Government policy of direct provision and dispersal. Direct provision provides for full board accommodation supports while a final decision is awaited by a person on their protection or any related leave to remain application. Currently, 4,330 persons are residing in 34 asylum accommodation centres under contract to RIA.
The Deputy will be aware from my answer to Question 35740/14 today as to how the Government intends to give effect to the commitment in the Statement of Government Priorities 2014 – 2016 in relation to the protection process, including direct provision.
The intention in prioritising the International Protection Bill is to reduce the length of time an applicant spends in the protection system through the establishment of a single applications procedure. It would also be my intention that that issue of the length of time that persons spend in direct provision would be addressed by the Working Group which is being established.
The intention more generally will be to focus on achieving improvements in the direct provision system as it currently operates which will bring real benefits to those living there.
40. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to adopt the recommendation of the Oireachtas committee on justice to criminalise those who purchase sex through prostitution. [35402/14]
View answerI am examining the recommendations made by the Joint Committee on Justice Defence and Equality, the advices of the Attorney General and the views of the Minister for Health regarding a new approach to prostitution legislation.
As you will be aware, prostitution raises a wide spectrum of issues. When I have had the opportunity to complete consideration of the issues, proposals will be brought to Government in the usual manner.
41. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will improve income and activation supports for persons with disabilities by increasing disability payments by €20 per week and strengthening supplementary benefits; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36140/14]
View answer42. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will maintain the back to education allowance at its current rate and make no reduction to this. [36154/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 41 and 42 together.
The appropriate rates of welfare supports in 2015, including the weekly rates of disability payments and back to education allowance, will be considered in the context of the Government’s discussions on the next Budget. In this regard, a €20 increase per week in disability payments (such as Disability Allowance, Illness Benefit, Invalidity Pension, Disablement Benefit, and the Blind Pension) would cost approximately €254 million in a full year.
44. Deputy Derek Nolan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if a person participating in a rural social scheme may claim widower's pension simultaneously; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35983/14]
View answerThe rural social scheme (RSS) provides income support for farmers and those engaged in fishing who have an entitlement to specified social welfare payments. Participants are engaged for 19½ hours per week to provide certain services of benefit to rural communities.
An individual in receipt of a widow’s or widower’s pension may retain his/her payment whilst on the RSS. They will receive an additional €20 weekly payment paid directly by the RSS. In cases where the rate of widow’s or widower’s pension is under €188 per week, the RSS payment will be adjusted to ensure a minimum total weekly amount of €208 is received.
