Thursday, 16 Jun 2022

Written Answers Nos. 410-420

Ukraine War

Questions (410)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

410. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if hubs that are accommodating persons who have fled Ukraine will continue to be paid if these persons return to the borders of Ukraine for less than a two-week period to collect belongings and who continue to get paid by the Department of Social Protection, conditional on their room or rooms being retained for them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31649/22]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

Since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine on 24 February, and the invoking of the temporary protection Directive by the European Union shortly afterwards, my Department has worked intensively as part of the cross-governmental response.

The operational challenges brought about by responding to the conflict are significant and my Department’s role is focused on the immediate, short-term accommodation needs of those who have fled Ukraine. To date, more than 34,000 people have arrived in Ireland and just in excess of 25,000 of those have been referred to us seeking accommodation from the State.

Overseeing provision of accommodation on this scale during this timeframe for all those who require it remains immensely challenging. Given the ongoing demand on limited resources, with new arrivals to the State every day, it has not been possible to date, to guarantee that vacated temporary accommodation would be held, except where extenuating circumstances may have applied e.g. a hospital stay.

As we move into the next phase of this crisis, we recognise that individuals may need to absent themselves from accommodation from time to time, and for a variety of reasons. Consequently, my Department is consulting with all relevant stakeholders on the appropriate policy to apply in these circumstances.

I note that the disbursement of social welfare benefits or payments, and all relevant policies in place, are a matter for the Department of Social Protection.

Residential Institutions

Questions (411)

Pa Daly

Question:

411. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the plans that are within the proposals for a national memorial and records centre to commemorate those who were boarded out from State care. [31650/22]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

On 29 March, the Government approved high-level proposals for a National Centre for Research and Remembrance. The establishment of the National Centre is a core commitment in the Action Plan for Survivors and Former Residents of Mother and Baby and County Home Institutions; the overarching aim of which is to support the implementation of the 22 commitments made by Government in response to the publication of the Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation Report.

The National Centre will be located on the site of the former Magdalen Laundry on Sean McDermott Street in Dublin 1. It will stand as a site of conscience, and will be a national memorial to honour equally all those who were resident in institutions such as Mother and Baby Homes, Industrial Schools, Reformatories, Magdalen Laundries and the comparable experiences of those who were boarded out.

The National Centre will include a museum, an exhibition space, a central repository of records related to institutional trauma and a research centre. It will also contain a dedicated place for solemn reflection and remembrance. In addition, as part of the development of the site, social housing units, local community facilities and an educational and early learning facility will be constructed. The inclusion of these facilities will make a valuable contribution to the social and economic development of Dublin’s North East Inner City.

The central repository of institutional records will sit at the heart of the National Centre. One unique aspect of the central repository will be the inclusion of the personal testimonies of survivors; allowing the lived experiences of survivors to be formally accepted as part of the official record.

While physically situated in Dublin, the National Centre will be accessible for all survivors, whether in other parts of Ireland or abroad. It will provide digital access to records and exhibits, to enable survivors to visit more easily. In this way, the Centre will be a national institution, which achieves a global and national reach, as well as strong connections to, and benefits for, the local community.

Work is underway to progress the initial planning and development stages of the National Centre.

In addition to the development of the National Centre, the Action Plan contains a series of measures addressing matters relating to individuals who were boarded out. Notably, the Birth Information and Tracing Bill, which has now passed all stages in Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann, provides for a full and clear right of access to birth certificates, birth and early life information for all persons who were adopted, boarded out, the subject of an illegal birth registration or who otherwise have questions in relation to their origins.

Departmental Policies

Questions (412)

Holly Cairns

Question:

412. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department and public bodies and agencies that operate under his remit that operate in direct contact with members of the public have policies in place for members of the public to report instances of sexual harassment or assault that occur on the property of his Department or public body and agency under his remit; if so, if these policies are publicly accessible on the relevant website; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31737/22]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

I can confirm to the Deputy that the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) of my Department has a policy on safeguarding residents against domestic, sexual and gender-based violence and harassment which includes reporting structures and procedures for any incidents.

This policy has been published on our government website under the policy documents section linked below:

www.gov.ie/en/publication/5f9dd-policy-documents/.

Departmental Policies

Questions (413)

Holly Cairns

Question:

413. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department and public bodies and agencies that operate under his remit have policies in place for employees to report instances of sexual harassment or assault that occur involving other employees or members of the public or on the property of his Department or each public body and agency that operate under his remit; if so, if these policies are publicly accessible on the relevant website; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31756/22]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

My Department operates the Dignity At Work policy - an anti-bullying, harassment and sexual harassment policy for employees of the Irish Civil Service - which aims to promote respect, dignity, safety, and equality in the workplace for all employees.

A key objective of the policy is to provide awareness regarding the steps which individuals may take if they believe that they have been bullied, harassed, or sexually harassed.

A copy of the Dignity at Work Policy can be found at

www.gov.ie/en/circular/eaf3ec8c24904a08905f4c2d142f97cc/

The agencies under the remit of this Department have been asked to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.

Further and Higher Education

Questions (414)

Ged Nash

Question:

414. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science when pension increases due to retired public service workers who were employed by FAS, the ETBs and Solas will receive payment of the increases they are owed; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31402/22]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science

From enquiries made with SOLAS, I understand that pension increases due to retired public sector workers previously employed by FÁS and SOLAS have generally been processed and are with the National Shared Services Office (NSSO) for payment or have already been paid. I understand that the increases due in some 35 cases, which involve obsolete salary scales, are being calculated by SOLAS and will be finalised as soon as possible.

The Department of Education has regulatory responsibility for the ETB Sector and has advised that the application of pay increases to retired staff of the ETB Sector is a matter for the NSSO. Officials have advised that the application of increases in some instances are complex and were delayed due to restrictions imposed by the pandemic. The Department of Education has established a working group to work with the Sector and the NSSO and expects that all relevant increases will be paid by the end of the year.

Grant Payments

Questions (415)

Colm Burke

Question:

415. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if consideration will be given by his Department to excluding the pandemic unemployment payments when calculating family income for the purposes of the SUSI grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31468/22]

Written answers

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science

The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter for the centralised student grant awarding authority SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland) to determine. As in any statutory scheme, a core principle of the scheme is that there is consistency of approach and an equitable treatment for applicants as part of the means assessment process. All applications are assessed nationally with reference to the terms and conditions of the relevant student grant scheme and these are applied impartially to all applicants.

For student grant purposes the Covid-19 pandemic unemployment payment has been treated as reckonable income for the SUSI means assessment process since it was introduced in March 2020. This means that the Covid-19 payment is treated in a similar fashion to other Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection payments such as Jobseekers Benefit/Allowance, thus ensuring a consistency of approach and an equitable treatment of students and their families in the SUSI means assessment process.

However if a student or party to their application experiences a change in circumstances that is not a temporary change and is likely to continue for the foreseeable future, they can apply to SUSI to have their application assessed under the change in circumstances provision of the relevant Student Grant Scheme. This could include a student or a party to their application no longer being in receipt of a pandemic unemployment payment.

Further and Higher Education

Questions (416)

Rose Conway-Walsh

Question:

416. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated cost of adjusting the progression criteria for the free fees initiative to allows for overlap of levels where the graduation level will amount to a progression; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31524/22]

Written answers

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science

Details on the number of students not currently eligible under the criteria of the Department's Free Fees Initiative due to previous attendance on an undergraduate course are not readily available. It is therefore not possible to provide an estimate of potential costs as sought.

It is important to note that under the Department's Free Fees Initiative (FFI), the Exchequer pays tuition fees on behalf of eligible first time undergraduate students attending approved full-time undergraduate courses. In order to qualify for funding under the Department’s Free Fees Initiative, students must meet the criteria of the scheme including previous education attendance, progression and attainment.

Under the terms of the scheme tuition fees will not be paid in respect of students who already hold a postgraduate qualification or students pursuing a second undergraduate course of study.

A key principle of the scheme is to support students in progressing through a chosen course of study from year to year. To satisfy the terms and conditions of the FFI in relation to progression, a student must be moving from year to year within a course having successfully completed the previous year or, having successfully completed a course, is progressing to another related course where the award for the subsequent course is of a higher level than the previous course.

The progression criteria was included in the Free Fees Initiative (FFI) to allow for progression to a higher level undergraduate award via an "add-on" years route. This route accommodates students who previously completed a level 6 or 7 course, where the ultimate course award was at level 6 or 7 respectively, to progress to a higher level undergraduate award on a course related to their existing level 6 or 7 qualification (including exceptional circumstances where a student may not necessarily receive an exemption from the normal duration of the course).

Typically students are not supported for a repeat period of study or for a different course at the same level under the FFI (in exceptional circumstances such as ill health an exception may be allowed). The objective of this policy is to help as many students as possible to obtain an undergraduate qualification. However, once an equivalent period of study has been completed on a new higher level course, the student may be eligible for free fees funding for the remainder of the course. An individual student's eligibility for the scheme, is assessed by the institution in accordance with the terms of the scheme.

Where undergraduate students do not meet the qualifying criteria of the FFI they are required to pay tuition fees in full to their higher education institution. It is a matter for the higher education institution as an autonomous body to determine the applicable fee rate for students.

Full details of the free fees criteria are available at the following location: www.hea.ie/funding-governance-performance/funding/student-finance/course-fees/.

Student Accommodation

Questions (417)

Holly Cairns

Question:

417. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the steps that he is taking in response to concerns raised by an organisation (details supplied) concerning the exploitation of international students due to the student accommodation crisis. [31730/22]

Written answers

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science

I am aware of the issues raised by the organisation in question and in the media regarding accommodation issues for some international students.

Given that the welfare of international students is a priority for my Department, I was concerned to hear of the details in this case, which I understand relates to private rental accommodation in Dublin. As a nation, we pride ourselves on being a safe and welcoming destination for our international students.

However, as this relates to private rental accommodation it falls outside the remit of my Department and would be more appropriate for my colleague the Minister of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to speak on the actions being taken by Government to ensure that privately rented accommodation is of the highest standard. I understand from media reports there may have been a legal breach and therefore I do not think it is appropriate to comment any further.

Departmental Policies

Questions (418, 419)

Holly Cairns

Question:

418. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department and public bodies and agencies that operate under his remit that operate in direct contact with members of the public have policies in place for members of the public to report instances of sexual harassment or assault that occur on the property of his Department or each public body and agency under his remit; if so, if these policies are publicly accessible on the relevant website; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31744/22]

Holly Cairns

Question:

419. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department and public bodies and agencies that operate under his remit have policies in place for employees to report instances of sexual harassment or assault that occur involving other employees or members of the public or on the property of his Department or each public body and agency that operate under his remit; if so, if these policies are publicly accessible on the relevant website; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31763/22]

Written answers

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science

I propose to take Questions Nos. 418 and 419 together.

I thank the Deputy for her question on this important matter. Each of our educational institutions and aegis bodies have a duty of care to their students and staff. They have a responsibility to foster a campus culture that is clear in the condemnation of unwanted and unacceptable behaviours, which act as barriers to the safety of both students and staff and their active participation in college life.

Our higher education situations (HEIs) have dignity and respect policies and procedures in place which actively promote a culture where sexual harassment, bullying and other such behaviours are not tolerated, and where everyone is treated with respect, feels valued and have a sense of belonging to the institute. Information of these policies and procedures are publicly available and can be accessed via the website of the HEIs. These policies and procedures are informed by our Framework for Consent policy document.

Significant progress has been made regarding the Framework for Consent in Higher Education, since it was first launched in 2019. The Framework aims to ensure the creation of an institutional campus culture which is safe, respectful and supportive. As part of monitoring requirements moving forward, the HEA requires that institutions, in respect of both staff and students, report progress annually on implementation of the Framework for Consent.

My Department has provided support for a number of consent awareness raising and training initiatives in the HEIs, including the:

- NUIG Active Consent Programme;

- UCC Bystander Training;

- Speak Out report and support online platform; and

- The ESHTE Toolkit and It Stops Now Campaign led by the NWC in conjunction with USI.

My Department is partnering with the Department of Justice and the NUIG Active Consent programme to support the development of an online hub that will provide, for the first time, an integrated, publicly available resource on sexual consent awareness and learning, which will be an important resource for our further and higher education institutions and the wider community.

My Department is also working closely with the Department of Justice to develop a number actions for the further and higher education sector which will be included in the Third Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence Strategy which my colleague Minister McEntee will be publishing shortly.

Allegations of sexual harassment or assault by a staff member of my Department against another staff member are dealt with in accordance with “Dignity at Work – an Anti-Bullying, Harassment and Sexual Harassment Policy for the Civil Service” which is publicly available at: www.cseas.per.gov.ie/wp-content/uploads/Dignity-At-Work-Policy-PDF.pdf . Upon receipt of a bullying or harassment complaint (verbal or written), the Human Resources (HR) Manager will first consider if the complaint may constitute a criminal offence. If there is a possibility that a criminal offence has occurred, the complaint will be referred to the Garda Síochána as soon as possible. Any further Departmental investigation may be put on hold pending advice from the Garda Síochána as to whether to continue processing the complaint.

The creation of an institutional campus culture in each of our further and higher education institutions which is safe, respectful and supportive, is a key priority for me. I will continue to lead the way on institutional change, championing the changes required to achieve a cultural norm where bullying and sexual harassment are not tolerated.

Question No. 419 answered with Question No. 418.

Visa Applications

Questions (420)

Holly Cairns

Question:

420. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Justice the reason that English language long-stay study visas are taking six months to process in the Irish visa office, Ankara; the steps that she is taking to address this long processing period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31731/22]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

Decisions regarding the granting or refusal of study visas are made in a number of Visa Offices overseas, in my Department's Visa Office in Dublin, and at certain Embassies of the Department of Foreign Affairs, which process certain visa applications under delegated sanction from my Department.Applications from Turkish residents are normally processed by the Visa Office in Ankara. Visa processing times for the Ankara Visa Office are published online by the Department of Foreign Affairs at www.dfa.ie/irish-embassy/turkey/visas/visas-for-ireland-weekly-decisions-report/The Ankara Visa Office has seen a more than 50% increase in visa applications received in the year to date to the end of May 2022 in comparison with the same period in 2019 (before COVID-19 related travel restrictions). Long stay study visas account for more than 60% of those being received in 2022. In addition to this increase in applications, the Ankara Visa Office has received an extremely high number of incomplete applications, which is also adding to the longer processing times, given the resources that have to go into examining these applications.The processing time at each Visa Office and location worldwide is determined by a number of factors, such as: the volume and complexity of applications, whether investigation is required or not, individual circumstances, peak application periods, seasonal factors, and the resources available. While every effort is made to process applications as quickly as possible, processing times inevitably vary as a result. Every effort is made to keep visa processing times to a minimum, and a number of measures have been put in place to deal with the increased demand for visas to come to Ireland, including in the Ankara Visa Office. This includes the assignment of additional staff to deal with applications, and more generally the streamlining of visa processes where possible. The position in this regard is being kept under review. The central concern in deciding on visa applications, as with all visa services worldwide, is to strike an appropriate balance between protecting the country's vital national interests by maintaining an effective immigration regime while at the same time facilitating travel for those who meet the criteria. Each visa application is therefore decided on its own merits taking all factors into account.