Written Answers Nos. 171-190
173. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Social Protection the process for making a complaint for a person who does not have a qualifying payment for the living alone increase but believes they are being discriminated against on the grounds of civil status; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10382/22]
View answerPrimary weekly social welfare payments are intended to enable recipients to meet their basic day-to-day income needs. In addition to these primary payments, my Department also provides a range of other payments, both cash and non-cash, on a weekly, monthly, or less frequent basis. These payments are considered secondary in nature.
The Living Alone Increase (LAI) is one of those secondary payments. It is not a scheme or a stand-alone payment in itself, but rather it is a supplement to a primary social protection payment of €22 per week made to people aged 66 years or over, who are in receipt of certain social welfare payments and who are living alone. For those aged 66 or over, these payments include State Pension (Contributory), State Pension (Non-contributory), Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s (Contributory) Pension, Widow's/Widower's Pension under the Occupational Injuries Benefit Scheme, Incapacity Supplement under the Occupational Injuries Benefit Scheme and Deserted Wife's Benefit.
There are no circumstances where the Living Alone Increase can be paid to people who are not in receipt of a primary qualifying payment from my Department. Any decision to allow those who are not in receipt of a qualifying payment to receive the Living Alone Increase - and thereby establish it as a scheme - would have budgetary and administrative consequences and would have to be considered in the context of Budget negotiations.
If a person believes they have been wrongly refused a primary social welfare payment, they can appeal to the Social Welfare Appeals Office within 21 days of receiving that decision. The Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO) operates independently of the Department of Social Protection.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
174. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason that a person (details supplied) was refused the living alone allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10386/22]
View answerThe Living Alone Increase is a weekly payment for people aged 66 or over who are in receipt of certain social welfare payments and who are living alone. These payments include State pension (contributory), State pension (non-contributory), Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s (contributory) pension, Widow's/Widower's Pension under the Occupational Injuries Benefit Scheme, Incapacity Supplement under the Occupational Injuries Benefit Scheme and Deserted Wife's Benefit.
According to the records of my Department, the person concerned is a qualified adult on their spouse’s State pension (contributory). They are not in receipt of a qualifying payment paid in their own right, and therefore the person concerned is not eligible for the Living Alone Increase.
The person concerned may wish to consider applying for State pension (non-contributory). This is a means-tested residency-based payment for persons of pension age. The current statutory means limit for State pension (non-contributory) is €267.50 per week.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
175. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of persons currently resident in direct provision centres who have been granted leave to remain in the State. [10245/22]
View answerI can confirm the number of people accommodated within International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) centres who have already received permission to remain was 1,970 as at 31 January 2022.
176. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason that two letters addressed to him on 18 and 19 October 2021 from the chairperson of Donegal Education and Training Board on supports for children affected by the MICA defective block crisis did not receive a response from him. [10139/22]
View answerI would like to thank the Deputy for bringing this matter to my attention. I will forward to my officials to ensure a response is issued expeditiously to the Chairperson of Donegal ETB.
177. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if Carlow County Council handed over its records for its former Carlow Mother and Baby Home and Carlow Maternity Hospital also known as Sacred Heart Home to the South Eastern Health Board; if those records are held by either the Adoption Authority of Ireland and or Tusla; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10195/22]
View answerAs the subject matter of the Deputy's question relates to an operational matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, and the Adoption Authority of Ireland, I have referred the matter to them for a direct reply.
178. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children receiving aftercare allowance in the State by Tusla area office. [10196/22]
View answerAs this is an operational matter the question has been referred to Tusla for their direct reply to the Deputy.
179. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children in Ireland that require care placements; the number of placements that are currently available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10236/22]
View answerAs this is an operational matter the question has been referred to Tusla for their direct reply to the Deputy.
180. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of residential care placements for children that have been provided by State agencies in each year since 2002; the number of residential care placements that have been provided by private providers in each year since 2002, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10237/22]
View answerI have been informed that Tusla are continuing work to compile the data that has been requested, which I understand is available from 2014 onward. I have therefore requested that Tusla reply directly to the Deputy with this information as quickly as possible.
A children’s residential centre is defined within the Child Care Act 1991 as “any home or institution for the residential care of children in the care of the Child and Family Agency or other children who are not receiving adequate care and protection.” There are 3 types of placements in residential care: statutory children’s residential centres, private children’s residential centres, and voluntary children’s residential centres.
In 2020 the Department of Expenditure and Reform completed a Spending Review of the cost of Residential Care. While the review identified some benefits associated with the private provision of residential care, such as responsiveness to demand and flexibility of provision, it also identified Tusla's increasing utilisation of this placement type over recent years.
In the 2022 Performance Statement I have requested that Tusla in 2022 increase Tusla-provided residential services and move towards a reduction in reliance on private provision. I also asked Tusla to explore the potential of C&V organisations that are already in receipt of Tusla funding in developing service responses to specific areas of high demand and complexity to lessen dependency on private provision.
181. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his policy priorities for children in State care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10238/22]
View answerIn 2014, my Department launched Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures, (BOBF) which represented the first cross-Government overarching national children’s policy framework for children and young people. BOBF concluded at the end of 2020 and I published the final Annual Report (2020) in January 2022. At that time I stated a need to look forward in our collective efforts to further improve outcomes for children and young people in Ireland, taking the learnings from the BOBF process on board. Work has begun in my Department on the development of the successor Framework and I look forward to working with all stakeholders in its development and implementation.
As the Deputy will be aware, my Department is reviewing the Child Care Act 1991, following extensive consultation with stakeholders. The 1991 Act is a wide-ranging piece of legislation, which seeks to promote the welfare of children who may not receive adequate care and protection. The proposals include changes across a wide range of areas, from relatively minor or procedural issues, to more significant reform proposals. Some of the more significant areas of focus are as follows:
- It is proposed to introduce a guiding principles section to the Act, with the best interests of the child to be the paramount principle.
- Proposals to foster improved interagency cooperation include introducing a duty to cooperate and legislating for both local and national coordination bodies.
- The voice of the child is to be strengthened both in court proceedings and in decisions taken outside the court setting.
- The proposals also include amendments to existing rules for Supervision Orders, Interim Care Orders, Care Orders, Emergency Care Orders and Voluntary Care Agreements.
My Department is also developing new Guardian ad litem legislation, which aims to extend the GAL system to benefit the greatest number of children and young people, and to ensure that the best interests of children and young people are paramount in childcare proceedings. In addition, work is continuing on the reform of the family justice system by the Department of Justice, and my Department continues to be represented on the Family Justice Oversight Group in this respect.
Finally, my priority is to ensure that all children in State care receive a high quality service and are supported to reach their full potential, as children, and into adulthood. My officials liaise on an ongoing basis with Tusla officials, to identity and address issues relating to children in care as they arise, and across all the relevant settings. I also note that in the 2022 Performance Statement, I have requested that Tusla work to increase Tusla provided residential services and move towards a reduction in reliance on private provision.
182. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of direct provision and emergency accommodation centres which were in use by the international protection accommodation services as of 18 February 2022; the occupancy of each of these centres as of 18 February 2022; the contracted capacity of each of these centres in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10491/22]
View answerPlease note the statistics are based on the most recent statistical report available - created 13 February 2022.
|
Centre Type |
No. of Centres |
Contracted Capacity |
Occupancy |
|
National Reception Centre |
1 |
537 |
445 |
|
IPAS Accommodation Centres |
45 |
7,184 |
5,808 |
|
Emergency Accommodation |
24 |
1,578 |
1,105 |
|
Quarantine Accommodation |
3 |
297 |
190 |
|
Pre-reception Accommodation |
5 |
1,306 |
1,244 |
|
Total |
78 |
10,902 |
8,792 |
|
IPAS Accommodation |
County |
Location |
Contracted Capacity |
Occupancy |
|
1 |
Clare |
Knockalisheen |
250 |
211 |
|
2 |
Clare |
King Thomond |
152 |
111 |
|
3 |
Clare |
Clare Lodge Hostel |
65 |
36 |
|
4 |
Cork |
Ashbourne Hse |
95 |
91 |
|
5 |
Cork |
Davis Lane**** |
52 |
56 |
|
6 |
Cork |
Kinsale Road |
301 |
266 |
|
7 |
Cork |
Glenvera |
130 |
101 |
|
8 |
Cork |
Millstreet |
350 |
209 |
|
9 |
Cork |
Clonakilty Lodge |
113 |
83 |
|
10 |
Donegal |
Port Road Apartments |
306 |
258 |
|
11 |
Dublin |
The Towers |
250 |
184 |
|
12 |
Dublin |
The Central Inn |
135 |
87 |
|
13 |
Galway |
Eglinton |
230 |
158 |
|
14 |
Galway |
Great Western House |
163 |
126 |
|
15 |
Galway |
Dominick Street Apartments |
139 |
124 |
|
16 |
Kerry |
Atlas House (Killarney) |
90 |
63 |
|
17 |
Kerry |
Atlas House (Tralee) |
100 |
90 |
|
18 |
Kerry |
Atlantic Lodge |
98 |
56 |
|
19 |
Kerry |
Johnston Marina |
90 |
74 |
|
20 |
Kerry |
Linden House |
88 |
60 |
|
21 |
Kerry |
Park Lodge |
55 |
39 |
|
22 |
Kildare |
Hazel Hotel |
143 |
97 |
|
23 |
Kildare |
Eyrepowell |
152 |
119 |
|
24 |
Laois |
Hibernian Hotel |
63 |
43 |
|
25 |
Laois |
Montague |
202 |
183 |
|
26 |
Leitrim |
Carraig Accommodation Centre |
130 |
104 |
|
27 |
Limerick |
Hanratty's |
118 |
97 |
|
28 |
Limerick |
Griffin House |
63 |
67 |
|
29 |
Longford |
Richmond Court |
82 |
64 |
|
30 |
Louth |
Carroll Village (19 APTs) |
89 |
85 |
|
31 |
Mayo |
The Old Convent |
266 |
230 |
|
32 |
Meath |
Mosney |
600 |
655 |
|
33 |
Monaghan |
St. Patrick's |
280 |
241 |
|
34 |
Offaly |
Marian Hostel |
168 |
101 |
|
35 |
Sligo |
Globe House |
218 |
170 |
|
36 |
Tipperary |
Bridgewater House |
189 |
129 |
|
37 |
Tipperary |
Riverside |
107 |
88 |
|
38 |
Waterford |
Atlantic House |
82 |
75 |
|
39 |
Waterford |
Ocean View |
100 |
89 |
|
40 |
Waterford |
Birchwood |
145 |
124 |
|
41 |
Waterford |
Viking House |
85 |
56 |
|
42 |
Westmeath |
Temple Accommodation |
125 |
98 |
|
43 |
Westmeath |
Athlone |
300 |
251 |
|
44 |
Wexford |
Rosslare Port Lodge |
114 |
76 |
|
45 |
Wicklow |
The Grand Hotel |
111 |
83 |
|
Total |
7,184 |
5,808 |
|
Emergency Accommodation |
County |
Location |
Contracted Capacity |
Occupancy |
|
1 |
Cavan |
Dun Na Ri House Hotel |
40 |
37 |
|
2 |
Cork |
Riverside Park Hotel |
108 |
74 |
|
3 |
Cork |
Travelodge (52 Rooms) |
104 |
40 |
|
4 |
Dublin |
Leitrim Lodge |
21 |
11 |
|
5 |
Dublin |
Cornerpark Lodge |
24 |
23 |
|
6 |
Dublin |
Bolton Street |
22 |
19 |
|
7 |
Dublin |
Airport Manor Hotel |
80 |
62 |
|
8 |
Dublin |
Emmet Road |
21 |
19 |
|
9 |
Dublin |
Moat Lodge |
27 |
17 |
|
10 |
Galway |
The Merriman Hotel (32 Rooms) |
64 |
12 |
|
11 |
Galway |
Travelodge Galway (76 Rooms) |
152 |
48 |
|
12 |
Laois |
Commercial Inn |
24 |
13 |
|
13 |
Louth |
Carnbeg Hotel |
83 |
148 |
|
14 |
Louth |
Setanta |
51 |
38 |
|
15 |
Meath |
San Giovanni House B&B |
25 |
20 |
|
16 |
Meath |
Alverno House |
30 |
25 |
|
17 |
Meath |
The Lodge |
33 |
30 |
|
18 |
Monaghan |
Lisanisk House Hotel |
50 |
46 |
|
19 |
Monaghan |
Treacy's Hotel |
140 |
129 |
|
20 |
Offaly |
Shannon Lodge Hotel |
35 |
13 |
|
21 |
Tipperary |
The White House |
52 |
27 |
|
22 |
Wexford |
Court Town Hotel |
105 |
0 |
|
23 |
Wicklow |
Rathmore Country Holiday Village |
114 |
88 |
|
24 |
Wicklow |
The Esplanade |
173 |
166 |
|
Total |
1,578 |
1,105 |
|
Quarantine Facilities |
County |
Location |
Contracted Capacity |
Occupancy |
|
1 |
Dublin |
Travelodge Phoenix Park |
100 |
77 |
|
2 |
Dublin |
Travelodge Dublin Airport |
125 |
82 |
|
3 |
Limerick |
Travelodge Limerick |
72 |
31 |
|
Total |
297 |
190 |
|
Pre-reception Facilities |
County |
Location |
Contracted Capacity |
Occupancy |
|
1 |
Dublin |
Holiday Inn Express Dublin Airport |
214 |
205 |
|
2 |
Dublin |
Crowne Plaza Hotel Dublin Airport |
209 |
145 |
|
3 |
Dublin |
Travelodge Townsend Street |
393 |
322 |
|
4 |
Dublin |
Red Cow Moran Hotel |
302 |
358 |
|
5 |
Dublin |
Crowne Plaza Hotel Blanchardstown |
188 |
214 |
|
Total |
1,306 |
1,244 |
183. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if a psychologist’s assessment for a person (details supplied) will be covered under the medical card. [10136/22]
View answerThe Disability Access Route to Education (DARE) is operated by the Irish Universities Association (IUA) on behalf of the higher education institutions who set the policy criteria for the scheme.
DARE does not come under the remit of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.
However, the question raised by the Deputy is outside of the aegis of DARE scheme. Questions on services offered or costs covered under a medical card are a matter for the Department of Health to consider and provide an answer on.
184. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the allocation to each higher education institution in respect of funds (details supplied) in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10197/22]
View answerThe table under sets out the disaggregated Exchequer funding provided in relation to TU development and progression as allocated by the HEA to date.
A further €30 million will be allocated under the Transformation Fund later this year, bringing the total funding under that Fund since 2020 to €90 million and including funding from the earlier Higher Education Landscape Fund to €121 million in total since 2013.
In relation to the €40 million secured by my Department together with the HEA under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, this funding which will cover the period to 2024 will be the subject of a HEA call for TU education and training reforms projects in due course.
In addition, my Department and the HEA are working with the Regional Assemblies in seeking to secure over €80 million in funding in respect of TU oriented regional research and development innovation integration projects under the European Regional Development Fund 2021-2027.
|
TU or TU consortium |
HE Landscape Fund (€m) |
TU Transformation Fund (€m) |
|
TU Dublin |
13.1 |
14.50 |
|
MTU |
6.3 |
12.80 |
|
TUSEI |
3.7 |
10.63 |
|
CUA |
5.9 |
9.92 |
|
TÚS |
2.0 |
10.9 |
|
DkIT |
n/a |
0.76 |
|
IADT |
n/a |
0.10 |
|
*HEA |
n/a |
0.39 |
|
Totals |
31.00 |
60.0 |
*Oversight and monitoring
185. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans for the proposed technological university of the south east to acquire staff and fund a campus in County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10198/22]
View answerStaffing matters and the appropriate development or operation of any campus of the new multi-campus South East Technological University will upon its establishment be a matter in the first instance for the governing body of the new university. IT Carlow currently operates a campus presence at Rathnew, Co. Wicklow and to the Department's knowledge there are no plans to expand that presence.
186. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the extent to which he is satisfied regarding suitable premises to accommodate post leaving certificate students in Leixlip, Celbridge, Maynooth, Naas, Clane and Kilcock, County Kildare; the extent to which provision continues to be made to enable such students gain access to suitable courses in appropriately fitted out buildings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10201/22]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware the National Development Plan commits to a step up in investment in further education and training infrastructure. Under plans being developed by my Department, it is projected that expenditure will increase from less than €20m in 2020 to approximately €100m by 2025.
As part of this commitment, I recently announced a new and significantly more ambitious phase of capital investment in the FET sector. This will provide the ETBs with a framework to put forward new projects in 2022 to both upgrade and enhance FET infrastructure and advance the priorities of the Future FET Strategy – building skills, fostering inclusion and facilitating pathways.
It is open to all ETBs including KWETB to apply for funding under this new funding call framework.
187. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science when a person in (details supplied) County Mayo will be called for phase 6 of their apprenticeship; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10302/22]
View answerCraft apprenticeships account for 25 of the 62 existing available apprenticeship programmes .The COVID-related shutdown of on-site learning activity over the last two years had a significant impact on the ability of apprentices to access off-the-job training.
The remaining 37 apprenticeships have not been delayed but may have had disruption to recruitment in, for instance, hospitality. The programmes with the longest waiting lists (electrical, plumbing and carpentry) have seen significant reform measures. €30m of additional funding was allocated in 2021 to tackle the backlog. This included €20m in investment in workshops and €10m in additional teaching and support staff.
In addition to this investment, a number of agreed reform measures are being implemented to help clear the lists. These include changed delivery structures for Phase 2 off-the-job training which is facilitating a third intake of apprentices per annum and an opt-in rapid employer assessment which is being piloted at Phase 7 (on-the-job) for apprentices who have completed Phase 6 and spent more than four years in their apprenticeship.
At the end of January 9,570 craft apprentices were waiting for access to phase 2, 4 or 6 off-the-job training. This is down from nearly 12,000 apprentices who were waiting last August. To ensure that the remainder of the Covid backlog is cleared and the system has the capacity to meet the training needs of rapidly increasing numbers of apprentices, expansion of the apprenticeship system is continuing in 2022.
In particular, further major investment in workshops and staff is planned for this year. Regarding the apprentice that the Deputy referred to in his question, my Departments officials have been in touch with SOLAS and have confirmed that he is due to be called to his phase 6 off-the-job training in Term 1 September 2022 at Carlow IT.
188. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Justice when the Second Optional Protocol on The United Nation's Convention on the Rights of the Child which includes the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography will be ratified (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10251/22]
View answerThe Government continues to be strongly committed to the ratification of the Second Optional Protocol to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
A number of significant pieces of legislation had to be passed to ensure that Ireland is in compliance with the obligations of the Optional Protocol. The enactment of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017 and the Criminal Justice (Victims of Crime) Act 2017 constituted key steps on the pathway to the ratification of the Optional Protocol.
My Department continues to engage with the Office of the Attorney General to determine whether a small number of additional legislative measures may be required to ensure that the State is compliant with all of the extra-territorial jurisdiction requirements under Article 3.1 of the Protocol. My officials are considering advices and, if further legislative amendments are considered necessary, I will bring those forward at the earliest opportunity.
189. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice if undocumented migrants who were born in Britain to Irish parents in circumstances (details supplied) fall under the scope of the undocumented migrants' scheme announced by her Department. [10129/22]
View answerUK citizens are not considered to be ‘non-nationals’ for the purposes of Irish immigration law. They continue to enjoy arrangements under the Common Travel Area (CTA) including the freedom to reside in the State following the UK's departure from the European Union on 31 December 2020.
UK nationals do not require any documentation to continue their lives in Ireland after that date, but may request a Withdrawal Agreement Beneficiary Card under the Withdrawal Agreement, if they so wish. This card is free of charge and can be obtained by making an application on my Department’s online registration renewal system at: inisonline.jahs.ie/user/login .
More information is available on my Department's website at:
www.irishimmigration.ie/extension-of-date-for-non-eea-family-members-of-uk-nationals-residing-in-ireland-before-the-end-of-the-transition-period-on-31-december-2020-to-apply-for-a-residence-document-under-the-withdrawal-agre/
As their residency in the State is secured, they would not be considered to be undocumented and, consequently, are not eligible to apply for the Regularisation Scheme.
It should also be noted that any person born outside of Ireland to Irish parents may be entitled to Irish citizenship, on registering the birth with the Department of Foreign Affairs. Further details are available at:
www.irishimmigration.ie/how-to-become-a-citizen/check-if-you-are-an-irish-citizen-by-birth-or-descent/
190. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice if a person (details supplied) falls under the scope of the undocumented migrants' scheme; the process by which they can apply to the scheme; and the documentation required. [10130/22]
View answerUK citizens are not considered to be ‘non-nationals’ for the purposes of Irish immigration law. They continue to enjoy arrangements under the Common Travel Area (CTA) including the freedom to reside in the State following the UK's departure from the European Union on 31 December 2020.
UK nationals do not require any documentation to continue their lives in Ireland after that date, but may request a Withdrawal Agreement Beneficiary Card under the Withdrawal Agreement, if they so wish. This card is free of charge and can be obtained by making an application on my Department’s online registration renewal system at: inisonline.jahs.ie/user/login.
More information is available on my Department's website at:
www.irishimmigration.ie/extension-of-date-for-non-eea-family-members-of-uk-nationals-residing-in-ireland-before-the-end-of-the-transition-period-on-31-december-2020-to-apply-for-a-residence-document-under-the-withdrawal-agre/
As the residency in the State of the person concerned is secured, they would not be considered to be undocumented and, consequently, are not eligible to apply for the Regularisation Scheme.
It should also be noted that any person born outside of Ireland to Irish parents may be entitled to Irish citizenship, on registering the birth with the Department of Foreign Affairs. Further details are available at: www.irishimmigration.ie/how-to-become-a-citizen/check-if-you-are-an-irish-citizen-by-birth-or-descent/
