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Wednesday, 15 Dec 2021

Written Answers Nos. 151-170

Departmental Policies

Questions (153)

Christopher O'Sullivan

Question:

153. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the main policy achievements and initiatives undertaken by his Department during 2021; and his main priorities for 2022. [62196/21]

View answer

Written answers

My Department has seen significant achievements and initiatives in 2021, the majority of which are listed below.

Apprenticeships

- In April, the five-year Apprenticeship Action Plan was launched.

- The action plan aims to, among other things, increase the number of apprenticeships to 10,000 per year by 2025.

- Between January and November this year, there had been 6,471 apprenticeship registrations. This represented a 29% increase on 2019 figures for the same period.

- €20 million has been provided to expand apprenticeship – supporting almost 4,000 additional apprentice places annually.

- Employers who register and keep on new apprentices will continue to receive funding under the Apprenticeship Incentivisation Scheme, which was extended by my Department to end December 2021.

- Through Budget 2022, my Department has established a new Employer Apprentice Grant (to replace the incentivisation scheme), which will see annual payments to employers of €2,000 per apprentice for those apprenticeships not eligible for off-the-job training allowances.This means that, for the first time, employers of all apprentices will now have access to some level of financial support, either through direct payment of allowances to apprentices or through the new grant.

- Also under the Apprenticeship Action Plan, a new National Apprenticeship Office will provide even closer cooperation between SOLAS and the Higher Education Authority, to manage apprenticeship delivery across the further and higher education sectors.

Safe return to campus

My Department has also worked with the further and higher education sector to safely return more than 500,000 students to campus, supported by:

- specific sectoral advice

- distribution of 18.5 million face coverings to over 200 locations;

- on-campus vaccination clinics, where more than 6,000 vaccine doses were provided;

- securing Government approval in July for €105 million to support the campus return, in addition to €21 million of extra student support;

- addressing a number of key capital investment priorities in higher education institutions, with a €38 million devolved capital grant allocation;

- supporting the Unicov COVID-19 surveillance research project, including studying rapid testing and wastewater monitoring;

- recently providing a €9 million fund to support publicly-funded further and higher education institutions in providing antigen testing kits to students.

Technological Universities

The technological university programme has accelerated in 2021, and will continue to do so next year.

- Munster Technological University became the second TU in the State on 1 January.

- The Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest was established on 1 October.

- The new TU for the West and Northwest, Atlantic Technological University, is anticipated to open officially on 1 April 2022.

- A TU is set to be established in the South East in the 2021/2022 academic year.

- TU Dublin will be able to accommodate up to 10,000 students with the opening of the Central Quad at its Grangegorman campus this year.

Student Accommodation

- Student rental protections have been agreed in partnership with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

- A circular has issued to chief executives of all local authorities to confirm that purpose-built student accommodation should not be used for short-term residential accommodation indefinitely, and that it should be safeguarded for use by students and other people related to higher education institutes during the academic year.

SUSI Student Grant Scheme

In October as part of the Budget, my Department made changes to the student grant scheme for the first time in a decade. These changes included;

- a continued entitlement to a student grant for applicants who received an improved offer after sitting the Leaving Cert this year

- several Department of Social Protection and other payments no longer count towards an applicant’s income total

- an increase in the postgraduate fee grant

- an increase in the maximum income threshold for postgraduates

- the social welfare payment for 65-year-olds is included as a qualifying payment for the special rate of maintenance grant

- supports given to Travellers to progress in higher education during the COVID-19 pandemic do not count towards an applicant’s income total

CAO, further education and apprenticeships

Since early December, the CAO website includes information on further education and apprenticeships, alongside higher education. This is in order to have Further Education, Higher Education and Apprenticeships as visible options for prospective students at 3rd level.

The Right Course

In January this year, my Department launched a new website, The Right Course is a resource for those for in businesses, employees or unemployed people outlining the supports and skills and training options available to them at third level. This includes short courses, digital skills courses and options for return to education at third level.

Adult literacy

In September, my Department launched 'Adult Literacy for Life' – a 10-year adult literacy, numeracy and digital literacy strategy. The strategy makes a number of commitments, including:

- increasing the number of learners engaging with literacy and language support by 20,000

- expanding the range of courses available over the first half of the strategy’s lifetime

- reducing the number of adults in Ireland with unmet:

- literacy needs, from 18% to 7%

- numeracy needs, from 25% to 12%

- basic digital skills, from 47% to 20%

Equity of access

- My Department has supported procurement of additional ICT devices – including laptops – to support disadvantaged students who have difficulty in accessing a suitable device for their studies.

- Other investments include equipment and infrastructure required to support the creation of additional student places; general ICT and equipment-related upgrades; health and safety works, and other building upgrades; investments to support universal access and energy efficiency and decarbonisation-related upgrades.

- The Eduroam programme has been extended and offers students options to connect to their institution’s online services, including connections in municipal and commercial locations and commercial locations. The initial 140 locations include some of the most isolated and rural communities in the country, where access to broadband is a major challenge.

- Other equity of access initiatives include €450,000 ring-fenced funding for members of the Traveller and Roma communities; and the student support scheme for international protection applicants being expanded to fund postgraduate courses.

Zero tolerance of harassment and sexual harassment in third-level education

Measures to put this policy into action included:

- the launch in April of national staff and student surveys on sexual violence and sexual harassment in Irish Higher education institutions, which resulted in 7,901 responses from students and 3,516 from staff;

- an eight-week campaign in May to help educate students and staff to deal with disclosures of sexual harassment and violence;

- the publication in June by higher education institutions (HEIs) of their action plans aimed at ending sexual violence and harassment, following my request to do so;

- the launch in July of an online sexual consent learning hub, with the Department of Justice;

- the launch of 'Speak Out', an online and anonymous tool for students and staff to report violence and sexual harassment, in October.

Climate action

- The Energy Efficiency and Decarbonisation Pathfinder Programme for the higher education sector, co-funded with SEAI, is already supporting eight projects and a further eight projects were recently selected to proceed through the design stage. A similar programme will be extended to the further education and training sector.

- Capital investments will also target the green skills and the research and innovation that are critical to Ireland’s transition to a climate neutral economy.

- Upskilling and training continue to be offered to businesses under the Climate Ready initiative.

- Other initiatives include collaboration between Skillnet Ireland and Chambers Ireland to teach the key principles of sustainable resource management to business leaders; and transport, energy, and waste and circular economy leaders programmes.

Creating Our Future

The Creating Our Future campaign, managed by Science Foundation Ireland, asked the public what researchers in Ireland can do to create a better future.

- Over 18,000 ideas were received from members of the public.

- The Creating Our Future Expert Committee and its working groups, will begin analysing the data.

- The committee intends to submit its draft findings to the Campaign Steering Committee in February 2022

- Following this, a report is expected to be submitted to Government in March 2022.

Research Policy

- A consultation period for a national research strategy is under way.

- Ireland has joined European counterparts in agreeing a new European Research Area policy framework to maximise the economic and social impact of research and innovation investment, support green and digital transitions, and ensure the ERA is committed to fair, open, inclusive and gender equal career paths.

Main priorities for 2022

My Department’s priorities are to maintain and improve upon the significant momentum built in 2021, to advance our strategies and action plans in all the vital areas under the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science’s remit, in line with the Programme for Government.

Question No. 154 answered with Question No. 148.

Covid-19 Tests

Questions (155)

Rose Conway-Walsh

Question:

155. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if the €9 million allocated to antigen tests for third level students is designed and intended to ensure in-person examinations at the end of the first semester of 2021-2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62396/21]

View answer

Written answers

The intention of Government is to strengthen the prevention and intervention measures around COVID-19 in response to the changing context. My Department recognises the potential role of rapid antigen testing as one part of a package of surveillance and vigilance measures including self-monitoring and other public health measures.

Following public health advice to the sector from the Expert Advisory Group on Rapid Testing, advice which is published and available on the Department’s website, a once-off fund of €9m to provide rapid antigen testing kits to students in further and higher education has been announced by my Department.

To answer the Deputy's question directly, the intention of the fund is not related to examinations but to encourage the use of antigen testing amongst students and will involve:

- Providing funding to institutions via the funding agencies to make a small number of antigen tests available free to students

- Respecting the autonomy and flexibility of institutions in deciding at institutional level how best to provide these tests to students as soon as practicable

- Developing a communications campaign for students to increase the awareness of rapid antigen testing and their appropriate use.

The fund will be made available to further and higher education institutions through SOLAS and HEA, including to the private institutions represented by HECA, with approximately 20,000 students, to ensure that we promote the use of antigen testing amongst young people.

In addition to this once-off specific fund, the UniCov study continues in a number of universities.

Immigration Support Services

Questions (156)

Neasa Hourigan

Question:

156. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Justice if the promised new IT system to prevent bots block booking INIS appointments at the Burgh Quay office is now operational; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62020/21]

View answer

Written answers

A new Immigration Service appointment and scheduling system, which will streamline and further improve the registration process, is currently being developed and is expected to be available to customers shortly.

In the meantime, the online booking system is available to all customers who should continue to apply directly for appointments as they become available without charge, at: burghquayregistrationoffice.inis.gov.ie.

Currently, due to public health restrictions, for the safety of all our customers and staff, the Registration Office can only operate at 50% of our normal capacity. This means that we can register a maximum of 200 customers per day, resulting in 1,000 customers being registered every week. My officials continue to engage with stakeholders to understand how best their needs can be met. My Department is also finalising plans to increase the number of appointments available to customers in the near future.

For customers seeking to register for the first time, the public office in Burgh Quay is now open from 08:00 to 20:30 to provide assistance to customers. Staff in the Burgh Quay Registration Office have been working extra hours, including at weekends, to meet the demand for first-time registrations to attend in person and to process the online renewal of permissions.

My Department is also aware that there have been issues in the past around the securing of registration appointments and has continually introduced software fixes designed to improve the system. These new measures have been partly successful in preventing the block booking of appointments by third party agents.

However, some third party agents continue to provide appointment booking services in return for payment on the basis that the person provides them with their personal details in advance. My Department strongly advises against this practice of providing sensitive and personal data to unregulated and unknown third parties.

Prison Service

Questions (157)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

157. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice the ways in which the Bangkok Rules are being upheld in Ireland’s women’s prisons in relation to the agreement that prison for women should, as closely as possible, resemble their homes as there is currently no communal dining, no privacy due to overcrowding and very limited access to their children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62047/21]

View answer

Written answers

I wish to reassure the Deputy that the accommodation of women prisoners in the Irish Prison Service is operated in full compliance with the Bangkok Rules passed at the United Nations in 2010.

The ethos upon which Irish Prisons are operated is that women prisoners should live together in a community style setting with no categorisation of female prisoners and a regime very much focused on training and rehabilitation.

My officials in the Irish Prison Service report that communal dining is available to women prisoners in certain areas in Limerick Prison but that prisoners are permitted to dine in by themselves or with their cell mate. In the Dóchas Centre the women are accommodated in houses rather than cell blocks and most prefer not to dine communally.

Overcrowding is not currently an issue for women in either the Dochas Centre or Limerick Prison. The following table provides both the number in custody and the bed capacity for both the Dochas Centre and Limerick Female Prison as at 14 December 2021.

Prison

Number in Custody

Bed Capacity

Dochas Centre

108

146

Limerick Female

24

28

Privacy is afforded to all prisoners for various activities, where appropriate, including phone calls and contact with their children. All women prisoners have access to video calls, care workers, solicitors and key workers.

The Prison Service is acutely aware of the importance of assisting prisoners to maintain close contact with their children while in custody. The Deputy will be aware that in order to protect the prison population from the risk of Covid-19, a number of infection control measures were introduced throughout 2020 and 2021. Regrettably, this included the suspension of physical visits to prisoners for extended periods of time. The Prison Service introduced a new video visit system to ensure that prisoners could continue to have visual contact with their families throughout this time.

Limerick Prison has a Tusla approved and award winning visitors area and the Prison Service work closely with care workers, the courts and Tusla to provide access visits where appropriate.

Finally, it may interest the Deputy to know that the construction of a new prison facility to provide accommodation for 50 female prisoners in Limerick Prison is advanced and is scheduled to become operational in the third quarter of 2022. The design of the facility is based on the principle of rehabilitation and normalisation recognising the unique requirements of female offenders.

Prison Service

Questions (158)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

158. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice the offence profile of sentenced prisoners in the Dóchas Centre and Limerick female prison for each month over the past three years, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62048/21]

View answer

Written answers

It has not been possible to obtain the information requested by the Deputy in the time permitted. Relevant information has been sought which I will send to the Deputy directly when it has been compiled.

Prison Service

Questions (159)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

159. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice the offence profile of remand prisoners in the Dóchas Centre and Limerick female prison for each month over the past three years, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62049/21]

View answer

Written answers

It has not been possible to obtain the information requested by the Deputy in the time permitted. Relevant information has been sought which I will send it to the Deputy directly when it has been compiled.

Prison Service

Questions (160)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

160. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice the length of time being spent on remand by remand prisoners in the Dóchas Centre and Limerick female prison for each month over the past three years, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62050/21]

View answer

Written answers

It has not been possible to obtain the information requested by the Deputy in the time permitted. Relevant information has been sought which I will send it to the Deputy directly when it has been compiled.

Prison Service

Questions (161, 162)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

161. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice the number of prisoners under sentence in the Dóchas Centre and Limerick female prison who self-identified as being from the Traveller community, for each month over the past three years, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62051/21]

View answer

Catherine Murphy

Question:

162. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice the number of remand prisoners in the Dóchas Centre and Limerick female prison who self-identified as being from the Traveller community, for each month over the past three years, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62052/21]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 161 and 162 together.

It has not been possible to obtain the information requested by the Deputy in the time permitted. Relevant information has been sought and I will send it to the Deputy directly when it has been compiled.

Question No. 162 answered with Question No. 161.

Prison Service

Questions (163)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

163. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice the number of remand prisoners and prisoners under sentence in the Dóchas Centre and Limerick female prison who are primary caregivers to children, for each month over the past three years, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62053/21]

View answer

Written answers

I am advised by my officials in the Irish Prison Service that the information sought by the Deputy regarding the number of remand prisoners and prisoners under sentence in the Dochas Centre and Limerick female prison who are primary caregivers to children is not recorded by the Irish Prison Service.

I can however advise the Deputy that the Irish Prison Service introduced a new feature to the Prisoner Information Management System (PIMS) in June 2018 to record family details, including number of children and number of children under 18, on the basis of self-declared information.

The table below provides details of prisoners in the Dochas Centre and Limerick Female Prison who declared, on committal, that they have children, as at 14 December 2021.

Prison

Prisoners in Custody with Children

Dóchas Centre

82

Limerick Female

17

Prison Service

Questions (164)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

164. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice when she plans to publish the three-day monitoring report on operations in the Dóchas Centre and the investigation report under section 31(2) of the Prisons Act 2007; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62054/21]

View answer

Written answers

The Office of the Inspector of Prisons is a statutory body, independent in how it carries out its work, set up under the Prisons Act 2007. The Inspector's key role is to carry out regular inspections of prisons.

The Inspector has been asked to carry out an investigation into matters arising in the Dóchas Centre, under section 31(2) of the Prisons Act. The Inspector has indicated that she is currently finalising this investigation and I expect to receive it in the coming weeks.

I can further advise the Deputy that the Inspector of Prisons three day monitoring report of Mountjoy Women’s Prison (Dóchas Centre) was received in my office in August 2020 and it is my intention to consider both of these reports and their publication together in due course.

An Garda Síochána

Questions (165)

Jackie Cahill

Question:

165. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Justice the current waiting times for Garda vetting applications to be processed; if this process has been delayed by Covid-19; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62114/21]

View answer

Written answers

As the Deputy will appreciate, vetting applications are an operational matter for An Garda Síochána. Neither I, as Minister, nor my Department have any role in the processing of individual vetting applications.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that all Garda National Vetting Bureau (GNVB) staff have continued to work on-site over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, working Monday through Sunday to ensure that delivery of this essential pubic service is maintained. Since 12 March 2020, over 158,000 COVID-19 related Vetting Applications have been processed and GNVB have been instrumental in supporting efforts to curb the impact of COVID-19 across Ireland.

Throughout this period, GNVB has focused on ensuring that minimum disruption was caused to the vetting process for the 26,600 relevant organisations working with children and vulnerable persons across Ireland, despite the huge demands placed on the services of the GNVB.

I am further advised that the GNVB has recently experienced a surge in demand for Garda vetting from relevant organisations upon their resumption of services following the easing of restrictions. This has resulted in the GNVB receiving exceptionally large amounts of vetting applications within very short timeframes, as opposed to the more traditional spread of applications annually.

This has caused a larger than normal volume of vetting applications to be in the system at the same time, and with other pressing demands, has extended the standard turnaround times from 5 working days, to approximately 8 working days for most applications.

The GNVB has previously communicated with all of the relevant organisations to advise them of the current turnaround times and to assure them that the GNVB continues to process their vetting applications as expeditiously as possible.

As the Deputy may be aware, earlier this year, I announced the establishment of an inter-departmental group to undertake a review of Garda vetting arrangements and legislation and await their recommendations.

Departmental Policies

Questions (166)

Christopher O'Sullivan

Question:

166. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice the main policy achievements and initiatives undertaken by her Department during 2021; and her main priorities for 2022. [62199/21]

View answer

Written answers

In February 2021 I published Justice Plan 2021, the first in a series of annual plans outlining actions to drive reforms across the Justice sector to build a justice system that works for everyone. These actions reflect my priorities as Minister for Justice, in line with the various commitments set out in the Programme for Government. The various actions are aligned with the Department's five strategic goals, which are to:

- Tackle crime, enhance national security and transform policing

- Improve access to justice and modernise the courts system

- Strengthen community safety, reduce reoffending, support victims and combat domestic, sexual and gender based violence

- Deliver a fair immigration system for a digital age

- Accelerate innovation, digital transformation and climate action across the justice sector.

The full Justice Plan 2021 is available to view at: www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Department_of_Justice_Action_Plan_2021.pdf/Files/Department_of_Justice_Action_Plan_2021.pdf

In line with my commitment to report biannually on progress under the Justice Plan, I published a mid-year report in August this year. This is available at: www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Justice-Plan-2021-Mid-Year-Progress-Report.pdf/Files/Justice-Plan-2021-Mid-Year-Progress-Report.pdf

I am now reviewing the overall progress made under Justice Plan 2021 with my officials to develop the next iteration for 2022 which will set out my priorities for next year in line with our strategic goals and Programme for Government commitments. Justice Plan 2022 will be published in the New Year, alongside the end of year progress report on Justice Plan 2021.

Notwithstanding the above, I am pleased to set out for the Deputy some of the key policy and legislative developments and achievements to date in 2021.

My Department has made substantial progress on delivering reforms recommended by the Commission on the Future of Policing, including publication of the landmark General Scheme of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill.

Further key actions delivered to tackle crime include the publication of the General Scheme of the Hate Crime Bill; the publication of the Hamilton Review and implementation plan to tackle white collar crime; Ireland’s successful connection to Schengen Information System (SIS II) leading to an increased number of arrests; and enactment of the Criminal Procedure Act 2021 which will improve efficiencies in the criminal trial process, by introducing preliminary trial hearings.

In terms of improving access to justice, the Peter Kelly Report, Reform of Civil Justice in the State has been published, an implementation group has been established and an implementation plan has been prepared for submission to Government in the coming weeks.

We are also progressing work to reform the family justice system. Last September, I published the General Scheme of the Family Court Bill which will restructure the family justice system to enable jurisdictions in appropriate Courts. Drafting of the Bill is ongoing while we await pre-legislative scrutiny of the General Scheme, with a view to publication of the Bill by the end of February 2022. In parallel, the Family Justice Oversight Group are working to develop a new family justice system.

We have also published the General Scheme of the Judicial Appointments Commission Bill which will replace the Judicial Appointments Advisory Board with a new Commission, and established a Judicial Planning Working Group to work on judicial numbers over the medium term.

The General Scheme of the Gambling Regulation Bill was published recently, bringing us closer to the establishment of a Gambling Regulator.

We have introduced strong measures to tackle the cost of insurance, including bringing into operation new personal injuries guidelines and enacting the Perjury Bill to establish a statutory criminal offence for perjury.

Strengthening the safety of all communities is a cross-Government priority. We have established three pilot Local Community Safety Partnerships (in Dublin’s North Inner City, Longford and Waterford) which will inform the roll-out of the new Community Safety model nationwide. We have also established an implementation plan and Board to deliver on the recommendations of the Drogheda Scoping Report, to improve community safety and wellbeing in Drogheda.

We are making strides in providing greater supports to victims of crime, and combating domestic, sexual and gender based violence. We are driving implementation of Supporting a Victim’s Journey, our plan to implement the recommendations of the O’Malley Review.

We are currently drafting legislation to put the recently published revised National Referral Mechanism for victims of human trafficking on a statutory footing. We have put in place additional practical supports for victims including additional grant supports for relevant NGOs. The Criminal Justice (Smuggling of Persons) Bill was also enacted which strengthens the laws around human trafficking.

We have enacted Coco’s Law, the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act, and published draft legislation to strengthen the post-release monitoring and management of sex offenders.

We have established the new statutory parole board and commenced the parole act, which increases the time for those serving life sentences from 7 years to 12 years before they are eligible to be considered for parole.

To support young people and divert them away from crime, a new Youth Justice Strategy 2021-2027 was launched and is being implemented; we have established an Anti-Social Behaviour Forum to bring forward proposals to tackle the issue of anti-social behaviour (including subgroups examining the misuse of scramblers and quadbikes, and knife crime) and have published the General Scheme of the Criminal Justice (Exploitation of Children in the Commission of Offences) Bill.

In terms of developments in the immigration area, an end-to-end review of relevant international protection processes by a multi-disciplinary team from my Department has been completed and published. This is part of the work ongoing to reduce processing times for international protection applications.

As the Deputy will be aware, I recently announced a landmark scheme to regularise the immigration status of thousands of long-term undocumented migrants and their families who are living in Ireland.

Of course it is important to note that all the above mentioned milestones and achievements are just a snapshot of the substantial programme of work being delivered on by my Department. We continue to work with our agencies and partners across the sector to receive feedback, ensure that the targets set out in the Plan are met and to inform the development of future Justice Plans.

Domestic Violence

Questions (167)

Sorca Clarke

Question:

167. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Justice if she has had engagement with organisations (details supplied) or similar agencies to tackle the increase in domestic violence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62374/21]

View answer

Written answers

Tackling domestic abuse and providing supports for victims is a priority for me and for this Government. We are working collectively to address the immediate challenges posed by the pandemic, but is also working to improve how we deliver supports and services to domestic abuse victims going forward. The organisations referred to by the Deputy are among our important partners helping us take this work forward.

As the Deputy may be aware, my Department is leading the development across government of the third national strategy on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence and has engaged in an innovative partnership with the sector to lead the development and design of this strategy. This inclusive process is key to ensuring a comprehensive, impactful strategy which will outline how the Government will radically improve services and supports for victims.

We have partnered with two specific organisations to in the development of this new strategy. This includes examining how progress on actions is identified and reported, analysis of progress to date and of possible priority issues to be addressed, how drafting of actions should be approached, expert advice on moving to an outcome-focused framework, expert advice on the development of a prevention focus strategy, and support for wider public consultation. The process is being supported by external consultants. The work of the consultants is overseen and directed by an executive group consisting of my Department, Safe Ireland, and the National Women's Council of Ireland.

At the outset of the pandemic, and in repose to the increased risk of domestic abuse posed by restrictions, my Department initiated the ‘Still Here’ public awareness campaign. This was done in partnership with frontline services, to reassure victims that access to support services continues to be available during this time. We also provided additional funding for support organisations to help them overcome the challenges presented by the pandemic in delivering their services.

Again the contribution, input and support of the organisations referred to above, and indeed of all our partners, was instrumental in getting this important message out and the Still Here campaign continues.

As the Deputy may well be aware, my Department is also currently implementing Supporting a Victim’s Journey, which is our plan to help victims and vulnerable witnesses in sexual violence cases. It will reform the criminal justice system at every point a victim comes into contact with it. I am committed to continuing to work with my colleagues across government and with our partners and stakeholders to deliver what is needed to do this and I can inform the Deputy that we engage with all our NGO stakeholders on a regular basis in this regard.

I would like to thank all of the organisations who give of their time and expertise and work with us to improve how we support victims of domestic, sexual and gender based violence. Their input is central to making sure we create the most appropriate and sustainable structure that respond to the needs of victims.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (168)

Holly Cairns

Question:

168. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health if the Omicron variant of Covid-19 has been detected in meat processing plants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62385/21]

View answer

Written answers

As of the 13th December 2021, the Health Protection Surveillance Centre have confirmed the identification of ten cases of the Omicron (B.1.1.529) variant of concern through whole-genome sequencing. All appropriate public health actions are being taken in relation to these cases, including enhanced contact tracing.

My Department cannot comment on the circumstances of individual Omicron cases which have arisen as to do so would breach the duty of confidentiality to the individuals concerned, particularly with the currently low number of cases.

A number of actions have been swiftly implemented to limit potential spread of the SARS-CoV-2 Variant B.1.1.529 (Omicron). The actions agreed by Government are intended to limit spread of this variant while further evidence emerges relating to its transmissibility and the impact it has on disease severity, vaccines and treatments.

Regulations are now in place which require travellers from scheduled countries to present evidence of a “not-detected” result from a RT-PCR test taken not more than 72 hours before arrival in the country. On arrival, they are required to complete a period of home quarantine at the address declared on the passenger locator form for 14 days and seek a PCR test from the HSE on Day 2 and Day 8. Following two negative PCR test results, arriving passenger may exit home quarantine on Day 10.

Immediate actions have included a review conducted by the HSE of recent positive cases to identify S-gene target failure (SGTF) (a potential marker for Omicron). All identified cases are being followed up by HSE Public Health and further laboratory investigation takes place as required.

The HSE has put a number of additional measures in place with immediate effect:

- Collection of travel history has been re-introduced for all positive cases and enhanced contact tracing now in place for all detected cases with travel history

- Flight contact tracing has been reintroduced

- The Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) has published interim guidance on required actions for all Clinicians, Hospitals and Public Health services in the HSE

- All specimens from positive cases with a recent history of travel are being forwarded for S-gene target failure analysis and for whole genome sequencing if failure detected

The Department of Health, the HSE, the HPSC and the NVRL are meeting regularly to review the evolving situation. The epidemiological situation both here, and internationally, and all emerging evidence in relation to the Omicron (B.1.1.529) variant, will continue to be kept under close review in respect of potential implications for the pandemic. The measures outlined will continue to be reviewed as necessary.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (169)

Holly Cairns

Question:

169. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the number of reported Covid-19 cases found in meat processing plant workers between 1 January 2020 and 1 December 2021, inclusive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62386/21]

View answer

Written answers

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Health Promotion

Questions (170)

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

170. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1136 of 9 September 2021, if he will provide an update on strategic action 1.4 of the Healthy Ireland Strategic Action Plan 2021-2025, to establish a second Healthy Ireland Council; the actions that have been taken to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62014/21]

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Written answers

The Healthy Ireland Strategic Action Plan 2021-2025 sets out in strategic action 1.4, under Governance and Policy for Healthy Ireland, to “Establish a second Healthy Ireland Council to provide intersectoral leadership to implement actions to realise the strategic outcomes of Healthy Ireland”. In the timeframe for implementation actions, between 2021 and 2023, the plan also sets out a commitment to “Set out the terms of reference and the appropriate membership of the Healthy Ireland Council and convene the Council”.

It is expected that a second Healthy Ireland Council will be established and will convene within the timeframe set out in the Strategic Action Plan.

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