Written Answers Nos. 583-602
583. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Social Protection if persons (details supplied) on a community employment scheme can complete their six-year term which is due to expire in 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36815/20]
View answerThe Community Employment (CE) programme is a community centred labour market initiative established for the purposes of social inclusion and activation, to help long-term unemployed people and other vulnerable groups to enter the workforce by breaking their experience of unemployment. These positions are filled on a temporary, fixed term basis.
A number of new conditions were introduced to the CE Scheme in July 2017 to further support progression to employment, broaden CE access to a wider range of people and to standardise the conditions relating to the length of time a CE participant can remain on a CE scheme.
In general CE placements for new entrants aged between 21 and 55 years are for one year. CE participants who are working towards a Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) major award can seek to extend their participation on CE by up to two years to enable them to reach the required standard of qualification. CE participants aged 55 years or older can remain on CE for three years and do not have to work towards a QQI major award.
In either scenario, a maximum of three consecutive year’s participation is permissible. A person may re-qualify for CE after a 12 month break once they satisfy the qualifying conditions. An overall lifetime limit of six years applies to all CE participants (seven years for those on a disability payment).
Prior to 2017, there were two available options for participating on CE. Both options commenced with one year of participation with the possibility of either one or two more years, depending on the option taken. Both options were subject to qualification criteria and neither required the CE participant to undertake any training resulting in the achievement of a major award.
When the new conditions and qualifying criteria were introduced in 2017 a saver clause was provided for the existing clients:
‘Participants who commenced on CE prior to 3rd July 2017 will be entitled to remain under their existing CE eligibility rules, where this is to their advantage. If it is more advantageous to the person, the current criteria can be applied.’
The saver clause allowed participants who commenced under one of the options to continue on CE for a maximum of 3 consecutive years with or without working towards a QQI major award, whichever was more advantageous.
The 2017 saver clause does not allow those affected to continue to participate on CE for six years consecutively. The same continuous limitation of three years continues to apply to all CE participants both pre and post 2017. Participation on CE was never intended to be long-term and the maximum continued participation on CE is three years.
The eligibility criteria of all CE participants are reviewed annually as CE projects are funded under annual contracts. Three participants on the Kildysart Coolmeen Cranny CLG Scheme have exceeded three continuous years participation on the scheme and the new scheme is due to commence on 25th January 2021.
Officials from my Department will review the participation limits for these three participants and will actively work with Kildysart Coolmeen Cranny CLG to secure eligible candidates for the CE scheme. Referrals will be made where CE is considered by the Department’s Case Officers to be a suitable activation measure for the jobseeker.
I trust this clarifies the position.
584. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if an application for a free travel pass will be processed for a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36816/20]
View answerThe SAFE registration process, which my Department uses to authenticate a person's identity, is a face to face process which results in the issuing of a Public Services Card. Customers entitled to free travel receive a free travel variant of their Public Services Card to use when availing of free travel.
At the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, my Department temporarily postponed the SAFE registration process to comply with public health guidelines in respect of social distancing.
My Department has resumed SAFE registration services in Intreo Centres and Branch Offices countrywide. This is being done in accordance with relevant guidelines to ensure the health and safety of customers and staff.
Officials of my Department are contacting customers who are entitled to Free Travel and who have not yet received their Free Travel Public Services Card, inviting them to contact their local Intreo Centre or Branch Office to arrange their SAFE registration appointment.
The person concerned has been contacted by their local Intreo Centre and their SAFE registration appointment has been arranged for Friday 20th November. Once this process is complete, the person concerned will be issued with their free travel Public Services Card.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
585. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the correct level of invalidity pension payable in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36817/20]
View answerInvalidity pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and for no other reason and who satisfy the pay-related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions.
The gentleman concerned was awarded IP from 01 October 2020 at the maximum weekly personal rate of €208.50. His claim for an increase for a qualified child was disallowed as entitlement to this increase is subject to a means test and it was deemed that his spouse's earnings were in excess of the statutory limit for receipt.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
586. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has amended the regulations for the pandemic unemployment payment in order that those in receipt of the payment cannot take part in Springboard conversion courses while remaining on the payment; if so, the reason for this; the reason workers seeking to study during the lockdown must come off the payment; the details of the regulations covering this; when they came into effect; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36825/20]
View answerThe Back to Education Allowance scheme (BTEA) is a full-time education support available to jobseekers. It is a non-statutory scheme operated by the Department which is designed to enable jobseekers to take up full-time education opportunities while continuing to receive income support related to standard jobseeker schemes. Ordinarily a person must be in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment for a minimum period, which is generally between 3 and 9 months in normal circumstances, before being eligible to apply for this support. Exceptionally, this scheme was extended as part of the July Stimulus in response to Covid-19 whereby the qualification period for PUP recipients is waived in these cases. This ensures that those who have lost their employment during the pandemic have immediate access to a range of educational options.
A PUP recipient who wishes to participate in a full time Springboard+ course must transfer to a jobseekers payment if they want to apply for the BTEA. Their rate of BTEA payment will be linked to their qualifying jobseekers rate of payment.
Applicants in receipt of PUP who apply for part-time courses can retain their PUP payment as long as they continue to satisfy the conditions for PUP.
Any person seeking to return to education is advised to engage with their local Intreo Centre to assess their options.
I trust this clarifies the position.
587. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Social Protection if there are circumstances in which a community employment scheme can be extended particularly when the employer and supervisor believe it would be beneficial for both (details supplied). [36892/20]
View answerThe person concerned commenced as a participant on Community Employment on 20th November 2017. As he is over 55, the maximum period on Community Employment per the Department’s Guidelines is 156 weeks. On December 4th next, the customer will have exceeded the maximum period.
However, the person concerned will become eligible again for participation in Community Employment once he has been in receipt of a qualifying payment for a continuous period of 52 weeks after his current scheduled finish date.
588. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the way in which her Department’s annual amount for contingent liability is set; the factors considered when setting contingent liability; if forecasting is undertaken regarding setting future amounts; the contingent liability figure for her Department for 2020; and if the contingent has been utilised to date in 2020. [36911/20]
View answerMy Department recognises and accounts for contingent liabilities in accordance with generally accepted accounting standards. The international accounting standard (IAS.37) defines a contingent liability as:
(a) A possible obligation that arises as from past events and whose existence will be confirmed only by the occurrence or non-occurrence of one or more uncertain future events not wholly within the control of the entity; or
(b) A present obligation that arises from past events but is not recognised because:
(i) it is not probable that an outflow of resources embodying economic benefit will be required to settle the obligation; or
(ii) the amount of the obligation cannot be measured with sufficient reliability.
In accordance with Government accounting rules and generally accepted accounting standards, my Department does not make an accounting provision but discloses, by way of note, the appropriate detail of contingent liabilities in its annual statutory accounts (the Vote 37 Appropriation Account and the Social Insurance Fund Financial Statements). Both accounts are subject to audit by the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General.
My Department does not carry out an actuarial analysis or a formal risk assessment in respect of contingent liabilities. As part of its annual estimate process, however, it makes provision for all expenditure likely to materialise in each financial period.
In accordance with section 10 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005, an actuarial review of the financial position of the Social Insurance Fund (SIF) is conducted every five years for the purpose of determining the extent to which the Fund may be expected, in the longer term, to meet the demands in respect of the payment of social welfare benefits.
589. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason the Covid-19 pandemic unemployment payment is treated as a qualifying payment for back to school clothing and footwear allowance but the payment for the wage subsidy scheme is not, as was the case for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36927/20]
View answerThe back to school clothing and footwear allowance (BSCFA) scheme provides a once-off payment to eligible families to assist with the costs of clothing and footwear when children start or return to school each autumn. The scheme operates from June to September each year.
The allowance is payable in respect of eligible children between the ages of 4 and 17 in respect of whom a qualified child allowance is being paid and eligible children between the ages of 18 and 22 who are in full-time second level education and in respect of whom a qualified child allowance is being paid.
To qualify for BSCFA a person must meet a number of conditions; namely:
- The child must meet the age criteria.
- The applicant must be in receipt of a qualifying payment and getting an increase in that payment for the qualified child (except in certain circumstances) in the period 1 June to 30 September.
- The assessable income for the household must be within prescribed limits.
- The applicant and the child (or children) in respect of whom the allowance is claimed must be resident in the State.
This year, the eligibility criteria for the BSCFA scheme were extended to include the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment as a qualifying payment for the allowance. Recipients of this payment were also required to satisfy all other qualifying criteria in order to qualify for the allowance.
The Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme and the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme are not unemployment payment schemes operated by my Department. These are schemes for which responsibility lies with the Department of Finance and the Revenue Commissioners and are or were available to employers to keep staff on their payroll during the pandemic.
An application was received from the spouse of the person in question and was disallowed as the conditions outlined above were not satisfied. While applications which are outside the terms of the BSCFA scheme will not qualify for payment under that scheme, I should mention that individuals who are refused a BSCFA payment may be considered for exceptional needs payments (ENP) under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme by the officers administering this scheme in the normal way.
Any person who considers that they may have an entitlement to an exceptional needs payment should contact the Department’s Community Welfare Service.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
590. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection when pandemic unemployment payment arrears due to applicants dating back to March 2020 will be issued; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36962/20]
View answerSince the introduction of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment scheme in March, approximately 815,000 people have applied for payment and in some cases, they have done so on a number of occasions as they moved in and out of employment. Consequently, there are over 1.4 million applications to be examined to determine if arrears are due.
During the month of March, my Department received and processed jobseeker claims equivalent in number to a three year claim-load. These applications were processed as quickly as possible, with almost 59,000 people paid in the first week of the scheme, 283,000 people paid in the following week, and over 507,000 people in the third week of the scheme.
My Department is keenly aware that many people are due some arrears and that every case will be different. In order to address an issue of this scale, my Department has been developing an automated process, which will examine each case and look at their overall entitlement to payment and match this against their payment history. The work involved is complex as the Pandemic Unemployment Payment system itself evolved from a manual applications system to one where applications were submitted online and paid over two different payment platforms (one from March to July and the second from July to date).
I can assure the Deputy that this work is a priority for my Department and it is hoped to make payments in the coming weeks.
I hope that this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
591. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection the membership of the Pensions Commission; the date the Commission will commence its work; the time frame for the Commission to finish and report to Government; if she will consider appointing representatives of a group (details supplied) to be a part of the work and membership of the Commission; if the Commission will be inviting submissions from the public; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36987/20]
View answer592. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection the membership of the Pensions Commission; the reason representatives from organisations (details supplied) have not been included in the membership of same to date; her plans to include a representative from the organisations on the Commission; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37001/20]
View answer594. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact that there is concern regarding the absence from the Pensions Commission of organisations that advocate for women and older persons in relation to the establishment of the Commission; and if she will consider requests to include representatives of organisations (details supplied) on the Commission. [37091/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 591, 592 and 594 together.
I am pleased that the Government recently approved the establishment of the Commission on Pensions, as committed to in the Programme for Government.
As the Deputy will be aware, I announced on Budget Day that the planned increase in the State pension age from January of next year will be deferred, in line with our Programme for Government commitment. In this regard, it will remain at 66 years pending the report of the Pensions Commission and I will introduce legislation shortly to give effect to this.
The Commission's Terms of Reference includes the examination of sustainability and eligibility issues with the State Pension and the Social Insurance Fund. More broadly, it will also consider the issue of retirement ages in employment contracts and consider how the pension system can further accommodate carers, who are predominantly women.
The membership of the Commission, approved by Government, reflects the need to have subject matter experts to deal with the complex social and public policy issues arising in pensions, as well as stakeholder representation which will keep the work of the Commission grounded. This includes representation of workers, employers, civil society, academics and those with technical and policy expertise. In this regard, the membership also includes those with involvement in organisations supporting older people. The Government was keen to ensure that the Commission had strong female membership in its membership. It will be chaired by Ms. Josephine Feehily. I am satisfied that the Commission, with its gender-balanced membership and extensive experience of social and public policy, will be keenly aware of the gender dimension of pensions policy and delivery and will bring this perspective to bear in its work.
The Commission will also engage with a range of key stakeholders to ensure that it has a genuine understanding of not only the fiscal sustainability challenges involved, but also the associated social sustainability challenges of implementing potential policy reforms. The exact mechanisms for this engagement will be shaped by the Chair and by Commission members.
It should be noted that while this Government is acutely conscious of the need to consider the sustainability of the State's finances, this is not the only consideration when thinking of the State pension age. The State Pension is the bedrock of the pension system in Ireland. It is extremely effective at ensuring that our pensioners do not experience poverty. The Government is committed to ensuring that this remains the case.
In line with the Programme for Government, the Commission will report to Government by 30 June of next year and the Government will take action having regard to the recommendations of the Commission within 6 months.
Further details of the Commission's membership and terms of reference are available on the Departmental website at: www.gov.ie/en/press-release/b1c64-minister-humphreys-announces-the-establishment-of-the-pensions-commission/.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputies.
593. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection if an appeal by a person (details supplied) will be reviewed; the status of the appeal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37025/20]
View answerI am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence, decided to disallow the appeal of the person concerned by way of a summary decision on 27 August 2020.
Under social welfare legislation the decision of an Appeals Officer is final and conclusive and may only be reviewed by an Appeals Officer in the light of new evidence or new facts. I am advised that the person concerned has submitted additional evidence and that the Department has been requested to return the file to the Social Welfare Appeals Office. On receipt of this file, the Appeals Officer will review the case. The person concerned will be contacted when the review of her appeal has been finalised.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
595. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps she is taking to amend the wage subsidy scheme guidelines to enable persons with disabilities to engage in apprenticeships programmes while receiving the subsidy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37106/20]
View answerThe Wage Subsidy Scheme (WSS) is an employment support to private sector employers, the objective of which is to encourage employers to employ people with disabilities and thereby increase the numbers of people with disabilities participating in the open labour market.
The scheme provides financial incentives to private sector employers to employ people with a disability for between 21 and 39 subsidised hours per week under a contract of employment. The contract of employment offered must be for a minimum of 6 months and the employee must be paid the going rate for the job (which must be at least the statutory minimum wage).
Private sector employers may claim a subsidy, subject to certain conditions, against the cost incurred where a productivity shortfall arises from a disability. The basic rate of subsidy is €5.30 per hour giving a total annual subsidy available of €10,748 per annum based on a 39 hour week.
The Wage Subsidy Scheme is not designed for education, training or apprenticeship programmes which are temporary in nature, but aims to provide substantial full-time jobs in the open labour market for jobseekers with a disability.
Supports for apprentices (including those with a disability) and employers who offer apprenticeship positions are delivered by SOLAS. The July Jobs Stimulus package announced by Government included provision for the introduction of a new Apprenticeship Incentivisation Scheme for employers of apprentices. This development underlines the Government‘s commitment to the value of apprenticeships and their continued expansion, while acknowledging the financial difficulties faced by employers at this time. SOLAS, as the statutory agency overseeing the apprenticeship system, has been charged with responsibility for developing, delivering and administering this new scheme.
I can assure the Deputy that I will keep my Department’s employment support schemes for people with disabilities such as the Wage Subsidy Scheme under review to ensure that they continue to meet their policy objectives. However, any potential changes to these schemes can only be considered in the wider budgetary context.
I trust that this clarifies the issue for the Deputy.
596. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the updated safety mechanisms in place for those in direct provision regarding Covid-19 and the move to level 5 restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36290/20]
View answerIn response to Covid-19, many measures have been put in place by the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) in conjunction with the HSE. These measures were first implemented from the time that country-wide restrictions were imposed in March and April this year and they continue to be implemented and added to for all our accommodation centres.
These measures include:
Provision for self-isolation facilities in centres and offsite self-isolation;
Increased capacity to support physical and social distancing;
Enhanced cleaning regimes and provision of PPE;
Regular communications and information on public health advice to residents and centre managers;
Provision of a free confidential support line for residents operated by the Jesuit Refugee Service;
Cocooning of all medically vulnerable and over 65 residents;
Temporary Accommodation Scheme for healthcare workers;
A comprehensive COVID-19 testing programme; and
Provision of quarantine facilities for IP applicants entering or re-entering accommodation centres.
The comprehensive COVID-19 testing programme testing programme which ran from 12 September to 15 September was an additional public health measure, recommended by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) to safeguard residents and staff in Direct Provision Centres.
Each resident and staff member was offered a test which were free and voluntary. Children aged under 5 years and people who have previously tested positive for COVID-19 were not tested.
The serial testing programme has helped to identify and isolate cases quickly and will enable us to assess the effectiveness of the public health measures put in place at Direct Provision Centres since March 2020. This will also help to decide if extra supports are needed. In their report to NPHET on the outcomes of the testing programme, the HSE concluded that further serial testing on a national scale was not warranted at that time. However, serial testing at individual centres may still take place as and when local public health authorities determine it to be necessary.
My officials in the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) strongly encouraged all residents and staff to participate to help keep themselves, their families and their communities safe from coronavirus. Any resident or staff member invited to attend follow up testing by the HSE is also encouraged to do so.
The IPAS cooperate fully with the HSE in respect of any testing that Public Health may decide to undertake. Any resident who tests positive is moved offsite for self-isolation, along with their close contacts in the centre, until such time as the HSE considers that they can safely return to their centre. The HSE operate two off-site facilities and IPAS also have provided one isolation centre.
In addition to isolation facilities, two quarantine facilities have also been established. One provides 14-day quarantine for persons applying for IPAS accommodation for the first time.
The second quarantine facility is used to accommodate people who had been residing in IPAS accommodation and left their accommodation of their own volition. Such persons seek to return to IPAS accommodation, they are requested to quarantine for 14 days in the quarantine facility as an additional precaution before being re-accommodated.
Wraparound services continue to be provided in all isolation and quarantine centres used by IPAS residents. Psychosocial supports are also provided through a number of NGOs including the Peter McVerry Trust and DePaul to those residents who are required to isolate or quarantine in dedicated offsite facilities due to COVID. These supports are part of the wider wraparound services which cover things like wellbeing checks, information provision, supply runs and COVID symptom checking where appropriate.
These measures around infection control and social distancing undertaken by IPAS and centre staff since last March/April have thus far successfully mitigated the potential for widespread outbreaks of the virus across the accommodation network. PPE continues to be distributed to the centres.
Recently, my officials in IPAS prepared a new IPAS living with COVID plan, which aligns IPAS Covid-19 arrangements with the Government’s Framework Plan for Living with COVID 2020-2021. This document has been issued to all centre managers. The plan covers issues like visitors, overnight absences, school attendance and other practical areas that will be affected as the Government scales up or down the COVID restriction levels in accordance with the national plan.
597. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the amount of additional funding to be provided to domestic violence services in Budget 2021 in order to respond adequately to the increase in domestic violence. [36327/20]
View answerThe response to Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (DSGBV) is a cross Departmental and multi-agency issue. Policy is coordinated by the Department of Justice and Equality (DJE). Under the Child and Family Agency Act, 2013, Tusla, the Child and Family Agency has statutory responsibility for the care and protection of victims of DSGBV.
The Programme for Government sets out a number of commitments regarding DSGBV, including an audit on segmentation of DSGBV responsibilities across government departments and agencies, which will inform future investments in this area.
In 2020 my Department provided €25.3m to Tusla for DSGBV services. Additional funds of some €2m are being allocated during 2020 to address challenges arising from the COVID-19 public health emergency.
I am pleased to have secured significant additional funding for Tusla in Budget 2021 which, I believe, will help the Agency more fully achieve its vision. Specific allocation of Tusla's funding in 2021, including in respect of domestic violence services, will be finalised in Tusla’s Business Plan for 2021 which is currently in development.
598. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to abolish direct provision; when this will be achieved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36364/20]
View answerThe Programme for Government contains a committment to ending the Direct Provision system and replacing it with a new International Protection accommodation policy, centred on a not-for-profit approach. The Government has also committed to the development of a White Paper which will set out how this new system will be structured and the steps to achieving it.
My Department is currently developing the White Paper which I expect to publish by the end of the year. Consultations are currently underway and include discussions with the relevant Government Departments and agencies, the Offices of the Ombudsman and the Ombudsman for Children, the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, relevant NGOs and housing bodies and representatives of residents of Direct Provision centres.
599. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to implement the Workplace Relations Commission recommendation regarding the pay claim of the county childcare committee coordinators; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36365/20]
View answerOfficials of my Department are currently reviewing the Workplace Relations Commission's consideration of the pay rates of the managers of the City and County Childcare Committees (CCCs).
The CCCs are one of the key support mechanisms of my Department, and I want to acknowledge the important role they play in providing vital support and guidance to early learning and care and school age childcare providers, and to parents. CCCs act as the local agent of my Department in the coordination and delivery of the national early education and childcare programmes and the implementation of Government policy at a local level, and in facilitating and supporting the development of quality, accessible ELC and SAC services for the overall benefit of children and their parents.
In 2005 the Minister for Finance sanctioned the rates payable to CCC managers as comparable to
the rates applicable in the Local Authorities for Grade 6. Officials from my Department have been engaging with representatives from the CCCs, including both manager and Board of Management representatives, and their union representatives, in relation to a proposal for a review of the grading of CCC managers.
Officials in my Department are continuing to engage with officials in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in order to resolve this matter, and will liaise with all relevant parties in this regard.
600. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the progress in achieving Action 1.21 of the National Strategy for Women and Girls 2017-2020 to undertake a package of measures to tackle the gender pay gap; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36380/20]
View answer601. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the details of progress in achieving Action 1.22 of the National Strategy for Women and Girls 2017-2020 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36381/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 600 and 601 together.
Addressing the factors behind the gender pay gap is a key commitment in the National Strategy for Women and Girls 2017-2020, and is a multi-faceted task involving a number of Government Departments and agencies. Tackling this issue is good for equality and it also makes good business sense, as firms that can report a low or non-existent gender pay gap will have an advantage in recruiting future employees. Initiatives to address the gender pay gap can also be expected to have a positive impact on disparities in income for women across and after their working lives.
A public consultation was undertaken on the matter in autumn 2017 on the gender pay gap and this attracted a good response, with some 38 submissions received from employers, unions, civil society, professional bodies and individuals from varied backgrounds. In January 2018, a symposium brought together over 130 participants including politicians, senior policymakers, business representatives, trades unions and academics. Consultations have taken place with ICTU and Ibec about the gender pay gap especially in the context of the Gender Pay Gap Information Bill and there will be further contact both in that context and more broadly in relation to this matter.
The Gender Pay Gap Information Bill 2019 was published on 8 April 2019 and the Bill completed Dáil Committee Stage in June 2019. The Bill has been reintroduced by the Government and Report Stage is currently awaited. The aim of the Bill is to provide transparency on the gender pay gap and incentivise employers to take measures to address the issue insofar as they can. Measures such as those included in the Bill have been taken in a number of other countries and, indeed, EU member states were encouraged to take such measures in an EU Commission Recommendation of 2014.
602. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on a matter regarding direct provision (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36482/20]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, the Direct Provision system encompasses the range of State services including accommodation, food, health and education directly provided to international protection applicants through all the relevant Government Departments and Agencies. It is a whole-of-government support system for those seeking international protection in Ireland. Notwithstanding the criticisms levelled at the system, it has proven effective in ensuring that those who come to our country seeking international protection receive food and shelter and have immediate access to our state services. Over 65,000 people have been provided with shelter since its inception.
The Direct Provision system ensures that all applicants can be offered immediate shelter, full board accommodation and a range of services, such as health and education while their applications are being processed. Not every person who seeks international protection chooses to accept this offer, and some choose to live independently or with friends in communities across the country, as they are entirely free to do. Persons accommodated are free to leave the accommodation provided at any time.
The improvements to living conditions for applicants for international protection have been significant over recent years. These include the implementation of self-catering arrangements in a number of accommodation centres. In excess of 75% of residents have their own room, are a couple, are a family unit or, have own-door accommodation. In addition, more than 65% of all residents now have access to independent living arrangements where residents can cook for themselves and their families and have more autonomy over their daily lives.
All new accommodation centres coming on stream will provide for independent living. This allows for access to laundry, food-storage and cooking facilities for the use of residents. It also allows for the provision of a food-hall where residents may obtain food and other essentials free of charge on a points system based on family composition. Own-door accommodation is prioritised for families and is the preferred option for new accommodation offered to the IPAS under the regional tender competitions which were held in the past year.
Information on centres opened in the past year can be found on the following website: www.accommodationcentres.ie.
The Deputy will be aware that the Programme for Government contains a committment to ending the Direct Provision system and replacing it with a new International Protection accommodation policy, centred on a not-for-profit approach. The Government has also committed to the development of a White Paper which will set out how this new system will be structured and the steps to achieving it.
The Advisory Group on the Provision of Support, including Accommodation, to Persons in the International Protection Process was established last year. It was tasked to examine best practice in other European States in the provision of services to international protection applicants, to examine likely longer term trends and to set out recommendations and solutions. The chairperson, Dr Catherine Day, submitted the group's report to the Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee T.D., and myself in late September and, following consideration of the report, Minister McEntee and I submitted the report to Government on 20 October. The Government accepted the Advisory Group’s conclusion that the current system of Direct Provision is not fit for purpose and must be replaced. I published the report on 21 October.
My Department is currently developing the White Paper which I expect to publish by the end of the year. The recommendations of the Advisory Group will inform the White Paper. We will also consider a number of other relevant reports including the Inter-Departmental Working Group Report on Direct Provision (November 2019) and the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice & Equality, Report on Direct Provision (December 2019).
Consultations are currently underway and include discussions with the relevant Government Departments and agencies, the Offices of the Ombudsman and the Ombudsman for Children, the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, relevant NGOs and housing bodies and representatives of residents of Direct Provision centres.
The replacement of the Direct Provision system is complex. It is recognised by all involved that it will take some time. However, the Advisory Group has recommended that we work to have a new system in place by mid-2023.
In order to meet our legal obligations to provide accommodation and other support services for protection applicants, existing accommodation centres will continue to operate in the short to medium term. ? However, in doing so we will be focusing on the provision of own-door accommodation and facilities to allow for independent living (access to cooking and laundry facilities and communal family areas outside bedrooms) and greatly reducing any need for the use of hotels and guest-houses as an emergency measure.
I can assure the Deputy that the Government is committed to the replacement of the Direct Provision system of accommodation provision and other aspects of our international protection system that may be required so that we will have a system in Ireland that exceeds the standards required by the Reception Conditions Directive and will compare favourably with the best systems of our EU partners.
