Thursday, 22 Sep 2022

Written Answers Nos. 295-303

Ukraine War

Questions (295)

Carol Nolan

Question:

295. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total number of Ukrainian refugees who are currently in Ireland; the types of accommodation in which they are currently residing, including the numbers in hotels, bed and breakfasts, private residences, other rented accommodation, and temporary accommodation such as community halls; the total number of persons who are being accommodated in each type of accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46456/22]

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 to the Ukraine crisis.

The operational challenges brought about by responding to the conflict are significant. Our country has never experienced an influx of displaced persons like the one that we have seen over the past months.

My Department’s role is focused on the immediate, short-term accommodation needs of those who have fled here. To date, more than 49,000 people have arrived in Ireland and in excess of 38,000 of those have been referred to this Department seeking accommodation from the State.

Overseeing provision of accommodation on this scale during this timeframe for all those who require it remains immensely challenging. Due to the urgent need to source accommodation, a broad range of accommodation types have been contracted, including emergency accommodation.

Approximately 500 contracts are in operation providing accommodation to Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) fleeing the war in Ukraine. Currently contracted accommodation capacity includes beds in hotels, guesthouses, B&Bs, hostels, self-catering accommodation and certain other repurposed settings.

As of 20th September, the total number of people in serviced accommodation is 34,288. The total number of people in emergency accommodation is 783. Contingency planning continues with multiple avenues explored when it comes to procuring accommodation.

In sourcing and securing accommodation, the central consideration is the safety and security of the displaced people fleeing the war in Ukraine.

I trust the above information is of assistance.

Ukraine War

Questions (296)

Carol Nolan

Question:

296. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if Ukrainian refugees are being housed in a location (details supplied); the number of units that are currently being used for this purpose; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46457/22]

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 to the Ukraine crisis.

The operational challenges brought about by responding to the conflict are significant. Our country has never experienced an influx of displaced persons like the one that we have seen over the past months.

My Department’s role is focused on the immediate, short-term accommodation needs of those who have fled here. To date, more than 49,000 people have arrived in Ireland and in excess of 38,000 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. Due to the urgent need to source accommodation, a broad range of accommodation types have been contracted, including emergency accommodation.

The priority is to place people fleeing the conflict in safe and secure accommodation.

The Government is committed to delivering a humanitarian response to welcome people seeking protection in Ireland as part of the European Union's overall response. The scale of response to this crisis has been unprecedented and Irish people have displayed an incredible level of generosity in their support and pledges of accommodation.

I can advise the Deputy that the referred to accommodation (details supplied) has not been contracted for accommodation for Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection.

Ukraine War

Questions (297)

Niall Collins

Question:

297. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the social care needs of a group (details supplied) are being catered for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46460/22]

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 to the Ukraine crisis.

The operational challenges brought about by responding to the conflict are significant. Our country has never experienced an influx of displaced persons like the one that we have seen over the past months.

My Department’s role is focused on the immediate, short-term accommodation needs of those who have fled here. To date, more than 49,000 people have arrived in Ireland and in excess of 38,000 of those have been referred to this Department seeking accommodation from the State.

Overseeing provision of accommodation on this scale during this timeframe for all those who require it remains immensely challenging. Due to the urgent need to source accommodation, a broad range of accommodation types have been contracted, including emergency accommodation.

In sourcing and securing accommodation, the central consideration is the safety and security of the displaced people fleeing the war in Ukraine.

The Department of the Taoiseach is coordinating a cross-government response with each Department and relevant agency involved. Supports to those arriving and fleeing the war in Ukraine are coordinated at local level by the Community Forum.

Building on structures and relationships that were highly effective during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Community Response Forum enables all those involved to work together under the stewardship of the Local Authority. The role of the Community Response Forum is to provide a co-ordination point for the community and voluntary response in their area. Supplementing the supports and services being provided by government agencies at local level, the forum provides for communication and information sharing in the coordination of local community and voluntary actions in providing community supports to the new BOTP communities.

Through the efforts of local volunteers, community workers, public bodies and private sector contributions, many recent arrivals are being supported with basic needs such as clothing, access to the internet, transport, English classes and information on how to access local services such as childcare, healthcare and education.

Other areas of my Department are also actively supporting arrivals from Ukraine.

The Early Years Division in my Department has taken responsibility for a number of actions supporting Ukrainian parents and children, allowing them to access preschool and ensuring children’s well-being. These actions have included the development and translation of introductory information on the Irish early learning and care sector. A capacity analysis across the country identified vacant preschool places and work is ongoing to match children to the vacant places and to create additional early childhood care and education, ECCE, places, where possible, in areas of high demand. Information on the access and inclusion model for children with disabilities accessing preschool has been translated into Ukrainian and Russian.

Tusla has also put additional staff into its services around educational welfare too in order to support the work of linking students to school places.

Tusla has a significant role in the State's response to support individuals, particularly women and children, displaced from Ukraine as a result of the war and coming into Ireland. Tusla is committed to balancing the needs of families in a humanitarian crisis with its child protection responsibilities and requirement to support families and promote the welfare of children.

With regard to supports for children, Tusla has compiled a list of 116 community contact centres across the country. These are local family support services which are either provided directly by Tusla or Tusla-funded services.

As a country, we have responded well to assist those relocating to Ireland from the conflict in Ukraine. I and my officials will continue to assist Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection with the services within my remit, and to coordinate closely with other Departments and agencies in providing a whole of government response.

Grant Payments

Questions (298)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

298. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding SUSI grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46393/22]

Written answers

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

Under the terms of the Student Grant Scheme, grant assistance is awarded to students attending an approved course in an approved institution who meet the prescribed conditions of funding, including those relating to nationality, residency, progression, previous academic attainment and means.

To satisfy the terms and conditions of the scheme in relation to progression, a student must be moving from year to year within a course, having successfully completed the previous year or be transferring from one course to another where the award for the subsequent course is of a higher level than the previous course.

Generally speaking, a grant will not be paid to a student for a repeat period of study on the same course, or for a different course at the same level, irrespective of whether or not a grant was paid previously. The objective of this policy is to help as many students as possible to obtain one qualification at each level of study. However, once a student progresses to a course at a higher level or completes the equivalent period of study on a new course, the student may be eligible for student grant assistance for the remainder of the course. Article 15(7) of the Student Grant Scheme 2022 refers.

Notwithstanding this, under Article 15(8) of the Student Grant Scheme 2022, the awarding authority SUSI has discretion to award a grant for a repeat period of study in exceptional circumstances, such as serious certified illness, which impacted on a student completing a particular period of study or undertaking exams in line with guidelines drawn up by the Minister.

SUSI treats each application for repeat funding on a case-by-case basis and it is it is a matter for the individual student to demonstrate to the satisfaction of the awarding authority that there were exceptional circumstances.

Any student who believes his/her student grant application has been assessed incorrectly may also avail of the opportunities to appeal to SUSI and subsequently to the independent Student Grant Appeals Board.

Student Accommodation

Questions (299)

Richard O'Donoghue

Question:

299. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if discussions are expected with colleges to help students acquire accommodation in the student complexes that are housed by families and not students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46444/22]

Written answers

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

Neither I nor my Department are aware of instances where Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) owned purpose built student accommodation (PBSA) is as the Deputy suggests being used for the accommodation of persons who are not students. During the Summer months in 2022 a number of HEIs provided their student accommodation for persons fleeing the war in the Ukraine but it is understood all such accommodation has been, or is being, reverted to its primary usage for students ahead of the start of the academic year. Outside of the academic year the short term rental of student accommodation is a matter for the HEIs as autonomous institutions. My officials are currently engaged in a series of meetings with HEIs in relation to the development of a new policy, agreed by Government, which for the first time would see the State intervening to assist with the cost of building PBSA in return for affordable rents for students. A section dedicated to student accommodation had been established in my Department to progress this policy and that section is conducting meetings with representative bodies, students and other stakeholders as well as individual HEIs in the context of assisting in developing pathways to accommodation and accelerating their delivery.

Qualifications Recognition

Questions (300)

Gary Gannon

Question:

300. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide an update on the decision regarding students of a third level institution (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46552/22]

Written answers

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

Following the decision by DBS to withdraw its Applied Social Care degree from consideration for approval by CORU, I asked my officials to assess the situation in order to better understand the options available to these students and seek a satisfactory solution. Engagements have been ongoing between my Department's officials, the Department of Health, CORU, QQI and DBS, and all relevant parties will continue to work to identify a way forward for affected students.

I understand that DBS has been meeting with its students on an individual basis to explore their options and I understand these options primarily include the refund of fees paid or the transfer to another social care programme where possible and suitable. Both QQI and CORU are working with DBS and other programme providers to support and facilitate the transfer of students where they have chosen this option and these engagements are ongoing.

The options available to students will depend on what stage their studies are at, and some students may have more than one option available to them. I encourage the affected students to remain in close contact with DBS regarding this issue, as they are best placed to provide updates as to the options available.

Citizenship Applications

Questions (301)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

301. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the correct procedure to obtain Irish citizenship in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46509/22]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

There is no record of the person referred to by the Deputy having submitted an application for naturalisation. The person cited can apply in the normal manner and have that application assessed in line with the criteria.

There are no provisions to apply different criteria depending on the nationality of the applicant.

The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is governed by the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended. Each application is assessed individually in accordance with the provisions of the Act. A determination on whether an applicant satisfies the statutory criteria attendant to naturalisation can only be made after an application is received.

Applicants are required to have five years reckonable residence in the State prior to making an application, except for spouses of Irish nationals where the requirement is three years. In both cases, the final 12 months must be continuous residence in the State with up to 6 weeks allowed to facilitate foreign travel for business, family or holiday purposes.

Detailed information on Irish citizenship and the naturalisation process, along with the relevant application forms and guidance notes, is available on my Department's immigration website at: www.irishimmigration.ie/how-to-become-a-citizen/.

Citizenship Applications

Questions (302)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

302. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice if a citizenship application by a person (details supplied) will be approved and expedited; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46510/22]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

There is currently no naturalisation application awaiting processing for the person referred to by the Deputy.

The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is governed by the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended, and all applications are processed in line with the eligibility criteria as set out under the Act. Each application is assessed individually in accordance with the provisions of the Act. A determination on whether an applicant satisfies the statutory criteria attendant to naturalisation can only be made after an application is received.

Applicants are required to have 5 years reckonable residence in the state prior to making an application, except for spouses of Irish nationals where the requirement is 3 years. In both cases, the final 12 months must be continuous residence in the State with up to 6 weeks allowed to facilitate foreign travel for business family or holiday purposes.

Detailed information on Irish citizenship and the naturalisation process, along with the relevant application forms and guidance notes, is available on my Department's Irish Immigration website at: www.irishimmigration.ie/how-to-become-a-citizen/.

Antisocial Behaviour

Questions (303)

Gary Gannon

Question:

303. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice if her attention has been drawn to an increase in violent attacks in Dublin city centre on women, members of the LBGTQI+ community, and other minority groups; and if she has liaised with the Garda Commissioner or local Garda stations to develop plans to ensure the city’s safety. [46553/22]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

As the Deputy is aware, Ireland has become a more diverse and welcoming country in recent decades.

I strongly condemn the actions of the small minority of people who subject others to abuse or attack resulting from their own prejudice. These types of attacks cannot, and will not, be tolerated.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that Assistant Commissioner, Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR) and all members of An Garda Síochána in the DMR remain conscious and alert to any criminal offences which may be perceived by the victims or any other people to, in whole or in part, be motivated by hostility or prejudice, based on actual or perceived age, disability, race, colour, nationality, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation or gender. All Hate Crime Investigations have a Garda Diversity Officer (GDO) assigned.

Support is available to and provided to victims of domestic abuse, including members of the LGBTQ+ community. Domestic Abuse Coordinator Teams (DACT) are in place in each District in the DMR and case managers are appointed to maintain appropriate contact with the injured party, including those who are members of the of LGBTQ+ community.

I am further informed that there are 110 Garda Diversity Officers trained in the DMR and allocated across each of the six Garda Divisions. The 34 of these trained GDOs in the DMR North Central and South Central Divisions, together with plans to train additional members represents An Garda Síochána’s commitment in the DMR to continue to deliver the necessary support and specialist assistance to members of the LGBTQ+ community. All Gardaí, including GDOs undertake online Hate Crime training, which included significant input from LGBTQ+ organizations and representatives in creating same.

Garda management in the DMR continue to fully optimize all available Garda resources to ensure that there is a sustained overt and covert Garda presence in Dublin City Centre to reduce opportunities for anti-social behaviour, public order offences and assaults from happening. This is supported through vital Operations initiated in the city by Assistant Commissioner, DMR aimed at safeguarding vulnerable persons, such as, Operation Citizen, and Operation Saul, to name a few.

As outlined, there is ongoing training that will increase members' understanding and will enhance the Garda service being delivered to victims of crime including members of the LBGTQ+ community. The GDO network continues to expand and develop across the DMR improving accessibility of the Garda Service to minority, diverse and hard to reach communities.

Separately, as the Deputy will be aware, we are currently developing legislation which will update existing laws on incitement to hatred and introduce hate crime laws for the first time.

A new Bill which is expected to be published in the coming weeks, will create new, aggravated forms of certain existing criminal offences – ie hate crimes - where those offences are motivated by prejudice against a protected characteristic.

The Bill will also strengthen the law around incitement to hatred - or hate speech – by reflecting the current context more accurately; including online hateful content. Offences will include inciting hatred against a person or persons because they are associated with a protected characteristic, and also dissemination or distribution of material inciting hatred.

The protected characteristics that underpin the new legislation are race; colour; nationality; religion, ethnic or national origin; sexual orientation; gender (including gender expression or gender identify); and disability.

Development of this legislation follows a comprehensive consultation process that began in 2019 and included public events across Ireland, along with surveys, consultation and engagement with people with lived experience of the impact of hate speech and hate crime.

I met with LGBTQ+ organisations in recent months to update them on progress in developing the Bill and to ensure that their concerns inform the final drafting process.

The text of the new legislation is currently in the final stages of drafting, and it is expected to go to Government for approval in the coming weeks.