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Tuesday, 21 Mar 2023

Written Answers Nos. 921-945

International Protection

Questions (921)

Joe Flaherty

Question:

921. Deputy Joe Flaherty asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there are plans to allow asylum seekers to engage with homeless services at local authority-level, based on the outcomes of the Advisory Group on the Provision of Support including Accommodation to Persons in the International Protection Process. [12883/23]

View answer

Written answers

Decisions on who is eligible to engage with homeless services are matters for the Minister for Housing.

As the Deputy will be aware, the response to the ongoing migration crisis has entered an extremely difficult phase, with no apparent accommodation for international protection applicants (IPAs) at scale available into the short term to medium term.

The overflow facility at the Citywest Transit Hub has reached capacity and it became necessary to pause arrival of new (IPAs) into the facility from 24 January.

The Department can confirm that there are currently 295 international protection applicants who have not been accommodated since the paused entry to Citywest came into effect on 24 January.

A total of 322 IPAs who were previously unaccommodated have since been accommodated.

IPAS is working intensively to procure additional emergency accommodation for those who have not been accommodated since the paused entry to Citywest began. IPAS are currently contacting people who have arrived on 13 February to offer them accommodation and are operating a strict queueing system in chronological order of arrival date to ensure fairness. Intensive efforts are being undertaken daily by staff in DCEDIY to source emergency accommodation. Emergency centres have been opened in all parts of the country. There have been over 90 accommodation locations utilised since January 2022 across 17 counties.

Maternity Leave

Questions (922)

Neasa Hourigan

Question:

922. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an update on plans to amend current legislation that prevents women from deferring their maternity leave while they are being treated and recovering from cancer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12895/23]

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Written answers

The Maternity Protection Act 1994 and the Maternity Protection (Amendment) Act 2004 provide a pregnant employee with six months of paid maternity leave and an additional 16 weeks of unpaid leave, alongside other entitlements such as breastfeeding breaks which will be extended to two years following the birth of the child through the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill.

The Acts include provisions for the postponement of maternity leave in the event of the hospitalisation of the child and for the termination of additional unpaid maternity leave in the event of illness of the mother.

All forms of family leave are kept under review to ensure that they are effective in supporting families and children. I have asked my officials to examine the issues raised by the Irish Cancer Society regarding the deferral of maternity leave where a mother falls ill during this period and this work is ongoing.

Sustainable Development Goals

Questions (923)

Denis Naughten

Question:

923. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the progress made by his Department in respect of targets and goals set out in sustainable development goals of the 2030 United Nations Agenda for Sustainable Development under the policy remit of his Department; and if these targets and goals will be met by their respective deadlines. [12897/23]

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Written answers

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is a significant and ambitious framework. A whole-of-Government approach to its implementation has been taken in Ireland. My Department continues to engage with the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC), who lead on SDG implementation, and sit on the Interdepartmental SDG Working Group chaired by DECC. DCEDIY regularly updates the group with progress reports in relation to its actions and areas of responsibility within Ireland’s Second National Implementation Plan for the Sustainable Development Goals, 2022 – 2024, which was published in October 2022.

The Plan was developed by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications in collaboration with all Government Departments, key stakeholders, and based on input from two public consultation processes. A key objective of the Plan is to achieve greater policy coherence for Sustainable Development (PCSD) with the aim of accelerating achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at all levels of Government.

The Plan is supplemented by two supporting documents: an SDG policy map which identifies the lead Departments and relevant national policies for each of the 169 SDG targets; and a Policy Update document which provides policy updates for each of the SDG targets. These documents are available at www.gov.ie/sdgs

The Central Statistics Office, in collaboration with all Government Departments, has prepared as series of statistical publications which monitor and report on how Ireland is progressing towards meeting its targets under the 17 SDGs. Reports are available for SDGs 1 – 16 and can be found on the central statistics website.

Ireland will present its second Voluntary National Review (VNR) to the United Nations High-Level Political Forum in July 2023. The VNR report will comprise a high-level data section and a more detailed appendix reporting on progress in respect of achieving the SDGs and related targets. My Department has contributed to this review in respect of our areas of responsibility.

My Department is currently progressing plans to integrate the SDGs into our upcoming Statement of Strategy 2023 – 2025. By aligning our Statement of Strategy with the Second National Implementation Plan for the Sustainable Development Goals, we will ensure that the SDGs are a priority in all work carried out by this Department and our aegis bodies. This action will allow DCEDIY to continue meet its obligations and targets line with the Second National Implementation Plan for the Sustainable Development Goals, 2022 – 2024.

Care Services

Questions (924)

Pádraig O'Sullivan

Question:

924. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there are plans underway in his Department to establish a cross-departmental working group on young carers; if this is an area that falls specifically under the remit of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12921/23]

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Written answers

A number of Government Departments are engaged in supporting young carers.

The Department of Social Protection provides funding to support Family Carers, which includes the following schemes to support young carers:

- resources that include practical information designed to help in particular teachers and staff in educational settings to identify and support young carers,

- creation of digital resources for disseminating information to educators and young carers, and

- activities which focus on work with schools to support students with caring responsibilities.

The Department of Health published the National Carers Strategy in 2012 and it includes an objective to “Support children and young people with caring responsibilities and protect them from adverse impacts of caring”. The Strategy is currently under review by the Department of Health.

My own Department recognises that young carers face particular challenges and they are recognised as a disadvantaged group which is eligible for targeted supports under the UBU funding scheme.

There is not currently a cross-departmental group on young carers. Officials of my Department have reached out to the relevant Departments to suggest that the establishment of such a group be considered as part of the review of the National Carers Strategy.

Care Services

Questions (925)

Pádraig O'Sullivan

Question:

925. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department provides funding for young carers to access counselling or psychological support; if not, if provision will be made for such funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12923/23]

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Written answers

My Department provides funding to Tulsa for family support services which includes community-based counselling services.

These services support children and families by providing access to marriage/relationship counselling, bereavement counselling services for adults, and counselling and support for children in relation to bereavement and parental separation. Some services funded under the budget that work specifically with children and young people include:- Rainbows Ireland- Barnardos Children's Bereavement Service- Crosscare Teen Counselling- CARI- Foróige

Disability Services

Questions (926)

Francis Noel Duffy

Question:

926. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason children's disability network team 2 Ballyboden is not able to use the local primary care centre in Ballyboden, Dublin to offer its services. [12925/23]

View answer

Written answers

As this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Residential Institutions

Questions (927)

Thomas Pringle

Question:

927. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if it has been brought to his attention that survivors are reporting a high-level of inconsistency in the provision of records from institutions (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12960/23]

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Written answers

The Birth Information and Tracing Act 2022 provides guaranteed access to birth and early life information where it exists. Where a relevant body holds relevant records, those records will be released to the applicant.

Unfortunately, due to the historic nature of the records, and the nature of activities involved, the records held in respect of a particular applicant may not be consistent with those in respect of a different applicant in terms of quantity and format.

I acknowledge that this may cause upset or frustration to an applicant who does not receive the information that they hoped for. However, the Adoption Authority of Ireland and the Child and Family Agency, Tusla are committed to ensuring that every applicant receives all of the information they are entitled to under the Act, where such information exists on record.

Residential Institutions

Questions (928, 929)

Thomas Pringle

Question:

928. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if it has been brought to his attention that survivors of institutional abuse are reporting that where redactions are made to records by way of “white out” as opposed to “black out” they are finding records difficult follow as they cannot ascertain the location of the redaction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12961/23]

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Thomas Pringle

Question:

929. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will issue guidelines to institutions that redactions should be made to records by way of “black out” as opposed to “white out”; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12962/23]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 928 and 929 together.

The Birth Information and Tracing Act 2022 provides a clear and guaranteed right of access to birth, early life, care, and medical information to all persons who were adopted, boarded out or nursed out, subject to an illegal birth registration, or resided as a child in a mother and baby or county home institution. Where this information is available, it must be released in all cases without exception.

In some cases it may be required to redact third party information, for example on a birth register, where individual lines relate to different persons. No redactions are ever made to a person's own information. I am also aware that in a very small amount of cases, historic files of private organisations which subsequently transferred to the Adoption Authority of Ireland (AAI) and the Child and Family Agency, Tusla (known as relevant bodies) contained redactions that are not possible to undo.

With regard to the form that redactions take, this is an operational matter for Tusla and the AAI. However, as both organisations are open to feedback and are happy to engage with applicants, I would urge anyone who is not satisfied with the information they have received to engage directly with the relevant body. Further information on how to do this is available on www.birthinfo.ie. For my part, I will also seek to engage with both bodies on this matter.

Question No. 929 answered with Question No. 928.

Early Childhood Care and Education

Questions (930)

Steven Matthews

Question:

930. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the position regarding the First 5 Little Library Initiative; if a library book bag will be provided to every child starting school in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12978/23]

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Written answers

The Little Library is an initiative under the First 5 Strategy.

It is led by my Department, with the Department of Rural and Community Development (DRCD) and the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) and is funded under Dormant Accounts Funding.

Under the Little Library Initiative 2021, 4,500 early learning and childcare services, including childminders, were offered an opportunity to connect with their local library and receive a series of book bags.

Book bags were made available in May and again in October 2021, to ensure early learning and childcare services build a library of quality books for young children, and to encourage them to make greater use of their local library. Books were made available in the Irish and English language. In addition, accessible versions of some titles were developed by the National Council for the Blind of Ireland (NCBI).

Under the Little Library Initiative 2022 - My Little Library - a free book bag with storybooks and resources was offered to every 4 and 5 year old who started school in September 2022.

The children received an invitation to participate in the initiative through their early learning and care setting.

The objective of this initiative was that all children starting school in September 2022 would have storybooks in their home and be members of their local library.

My Little Library was available in English and Irish.

The initiative ran from Easter to the October bank holiday. Of the 60,000 book bags that were provided to the libraries, 51,000 book bag pickups were reported. All remaining book bags are being held by the libraries for future use.

Over 24,000 children in the target age group have joined the library since the initiative started and a further 10,000 children have renewed their library membership.

Funding has been secured from the Dormant Accounts Fund to continue the Little Library Initiative in 2023. The details of the 2023 Initiative are currently being drawn up by my officials in consultation with the LGMA and Libraries Ireland and will be announced shortly.

An evaluation of the First 5 Little Library initiative is also currently underway.

Disability Services

Questions (931)

Kathleen Funchion

Question:

931. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the current vacancy rate for Carlow children’s disability network team. [12979/23]

View answer

Written answers

As this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Departmental Policies

Questions (932)

Matt Carthy

Question:

932. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he intends to restore the title of early childhood care and education rather than early learning and care, considering the former title is recognised across the EU and internationally and reflects the important role that providers play in the education of children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13012/23]

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Written answers

The term “early learning and care” was first used in First 5, the Whole-of-Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families, 2019-2028. First 5 adopted the term early learning and care, or ELC, to define: “any regulated arrangement that provides education and care from birth to compulsory primary school age – regardless of the setting, funding, opening hours or programme content – and includes centre and family day-care; privately and publicly funded provision; pre-school and pre-primary provision.” This precise definition is used in the EU Council Recommendation on High-Quality Early Childhood Education and Care Systems to define “early childhood education and care” (ECEC) and so both terms have the same meaning.

The term was chosen as it recognises the inseparability of learning and care. High-quality care includes learning, and high-quality learning is dependent on care. ELC is a term that can be broadly understood by all, helping to ensure that the nature and value of this work will continue to gain wider recognition.

“Childcare” has in the past been the term most commonly used in Ireland, yet this term is not in line with current thinking in relation to the educational role played by the sector. In developing First 5, my Department looked internationally to other countries that have experienced similar challenges and found that in a number of English-speaking countries the move from “childcare” to the term “early learning and (child)care” (used in Scotland, Australia, Canada and the United States), contributed to a change in the public’s perception of what it is the sector does.

It was the ambition in First 5 to use a term that would describe the importance of the sector’s work and that could be used with consistency across different stakeholder groups. First 5 therefore aimed to move official terminology from “childcare” to “early learning and care”. The term "early learning and care" highlights that learning starts before schooling, reinforces the fact that learning and care are inseparable, focuses on the educational experience from the child's perspective, and is in keeping with the Aistear early childhood curriculum framework and its promotion of the child as a co-constructor of knowledge, which is so important in high-quality early education. Indeed, it is the term ‘learning’ and not ‘education’ that permeates the Aistear curriculum framework.

The term “early learning and care” also chimes with the OECD’s description of settings for early childhood as "a community of learners, where children are encouraged to participate and share with others, and where learning is seen as primarily interactive, experiential and social" (OECD, Starting Strong II).

State Bodies

Questions (933)

Holly Cairns

Question:

933. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps he is taking in response to individuals being informed that they will not be provided with their personal information with in the statutory 90 days, under the Birth Information and Tracing Act 2022, by a State body (details supplied). [13050/23]

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Written answers

The Birth Information and Tracing Act 2022 provides guaranteed access to birth and early life information where it exists, thereby addressing a decades-long historic injustice. In this context, there is an initial surge of demand for services under the Act and everyone is committed to responding to this demand as quickly as possible.

As of Monday 13th March, a total of 2,992 applications for information have been received by the Adoption Authority of Ireland (AAI), with approximately 55% of these being received in the first two weeks following enactment.

A total of 1,247 information requests have been completed by the AAI since applications opened.

In addition, the AAI has successfully identified 214 matches on the Contact Preference Register for people seeking to contact relatives. 66 pairs of relatives have been facilitated in making contact to date and the AAI is working with the other matched people to facilitate contact.

The AAI is actively engaging with those affected by delays and expects to clear the backlog of applications received by it by Autumn 2023. However, it is important to note that many applicants will receive their information much sooner than this, as more and more people obtain their information every week. Since the start of 2023, 643 new information requests have been processed.

I am deeply conscious of the frustration caused to applicants receiving a notification indicating that there will be a delay in the compilation and release of their information. However, I am confident that the AAI is doing its utmost to respond to all of the applications received within the shortest possible period.

Furthermore, officials from my Department have been engaging with both the AAI and the Child and Family Agency, Tusla in respect of the ongoing implementation of services under the Birth Information and Tracing Act 2022 . Both agencies advise that they have re-assigned staff members to work exclusively on processing applications and that they will continue to keep every person who is waiting for information informed about their application.

Early Childhood Care and Education

Questions (934)

Holly Cairns

Question:

934. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will ensure that funding is put in place for childcare providers to receive a wage all year round. [13051/23]

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Written answers

I am very conscious of staffing pressures in the early learning and childcare (ELC) sector, and of the need for improvement in pay and working conditions for early years educators and school-age childcare practitioners.

As the State does not employ staff in ELC and school-age childcare (SAC) services, I cannot set wage levels or determine working conditions for staff in the sector. Additionally, as ELC services are private businesses, their policies on operating hours and staffing are a matter for the service provider. As such, the decision to close a service for part of the year, e.g. outside term-times for services that offer the ECCE free pre-school programme, lies with the service provider.

In December 2021 I published "Nurturing Skills: The Workforce Plan for Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age Childcare (SAC), 2022-2028" . This Plan includes specific actions for moving to a graduate-led workforce by 2028, establishing a career framework for staff working in the ELC and SAC sector, including role profiles, qualifications requirements and the strengthening of career pathways. Nurturing Skills also includes actions to support the recruitment and retention of staff with the necessary qualifications, and ongoing staff training and development, to create a workforce which feels valued and is motivated to deliver the best possible service to children.

For more information on Nurturing Skills please see www.gov.ie/NurturingSkills.

One of the key enablers set out in Nurturing Skills was the need to improve the pay and conditions for the workforce. On 15 September 2022, following a process I commenced the year before, the first ever Employment Regulation Orders for Early Years Services came into effect, setting new minimum hourly rates of pay for different roles in the sector, including higher minimum rates for lead educators and managers with relevant degree-level qualifications.

It is estimated that 73% of those working in the sector saw their wages rise as a result. The Orders are being supported by Core Funding, which has an allocation of €259 million in its first year, to support improvements in staff wages, a freeze in parental fees, and sustainability of services.

Early Childhood Care and Education

Questions (935)

Holly Cairns

Question:

935. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will ensure that AIM funding is provided in a timely manner. [13052/23]

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Written answers

The Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) is a suite of universal and targeted supports designed to ensure that children with a disability can access the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme.

The key objective of AIM is to support early learning and care providers to deliver an inclusive pre-school experience, ensuring that children with a disability can meaningfully participate in the ECCE programme, thereby reaping the benefits of quality pre-school education.

Pobal on behalf of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth administers AIM. Applications for AIM Level 7 supports open in May each year, for the upcoming programme call. Service providers in conjunction with parents/carers are advised to apply for supports at least three months prior to a child’s ECCE start date. This is to allow for the processing and approval of applications.

Key to AIM is assessment of a child's needs. In many instances this will require an onsite visit and observation by a Better Start Early Years Specialist. Obviously this can only occur after the start of the programme year and as such approval cannot be immediate.

Pobal in consultation with the Department are currently taking a number of steps to minimise time to approval in the future including a review of the approach to renewals for children entering into a second year of ECCE.

Whilst the level 7 process is currently by and large in line with Pobal targets, Pobal and the Department will continue to review processes and seek opportunities to create efficiencies.

Early Childhood Care and Education

Questions (936)

Holly Cairns

Question:

936. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth how an individual can receive funding to cover the cost of training hours for creche/childcare staff to care for a young child who requires PEG feeding. [13054/23]

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Written answers

A wide range of training programmes and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) resources are provided and made available free of charge to early years educators, school-age childcare practitioners and childminders by my Department and by the agencies and support organisations that it funds, including Better Start, the City / County Childcare Committees, and a number of National Voluntary Childcare Organisations. Training programmes include but are not limited to the National Síolta Aistear Initiative, training in child protection, the Healthy Ireland Smart Start programme, the Leadership for Inclusion Programme, and other training programmes that form part of the Access and Inclusion Model. Funding has also been provided in recent years for services to undertake the First Aid Responder training programme.

Various funding programmes run by my Department, including the ECCE programme, the National Childcare Scheme, and most recently the new Core Funding for early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare services, support staffing costs, which include staff 'non-contact time', e.g. time for participation in training programmes. Although Core Funding is calculated based on the hours that the service is open and available to children, non-contact time is factored into the base rate. An allowance for non-contact time is built into the contribution for staff costs and there is also a separate contribution for administrative staff/time. It is at the discretion of the service as to how Core Funding is utilised, provided the purpose conforms to the approved areas of expenditure as set out in the Core Funding Partner Service Funding Agreement.

One of the commitments in First 5, the Whole-of-Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families, 2019-2028, was to undertake an end-of-year-three evaluation of the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM). AIM is a suite of universal and targeted supports designed to ensure that children with disabilities can access the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) pre-school programme. That evaluation has now been completed, with the final report due to be published later this year. Subject to evaluation findings and other relevant developments, Department officials will be considering enhancements to, and/or expansion of, AIM.

Disability Services

Questions (937)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

937. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when a child (details supplied) who has autism will receive the care and attention of the HSE.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13060/23]

View answer

Written answers

As this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Early Childhood Care and Education

Questions (938)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

Question:

938. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the current waiting times for psychological assessments of need for children in the public system per CHO, in tabular form. [13062/23]

View answer

Written answers

As this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Direct Provision System

Questions (939)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

939. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department has entered into an agreement to use a building (details supplied) in County Kerry as a direct provision centre to accommodate asylum seekers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13064/23]

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Written answers

Deputy,

My Department has not been offered the property in question as a potential location for the accommodation of international protection applicants (IPAs) or Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) and, therefore, it has not been considered as such.

A detailed assessment must take place before any property can be deemed suitable as accommodation for IPAs/BOTPs.

Direct Provision System

Questions (940)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

940. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department has entered into an agreement to use a building (details supplied) in County Kerry as a direct provision centre to accommodate asylum seekers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13068/23]

View answer

Written answers

Deputy,

My Department has not been offered the property in question as a potential location for the accommodation of international protection applicants (IPAs) or Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) and, therefore, it has not been considered as such.

A detailed assessment must take place before any property can be deemed suitable as accommodation for IPAs/BOTPs.

Direct Provision System

Questions (941)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

941. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department has entered into an agreement to use a building in (details supplied) in County Kerry as a direct provision centre to accommodate asylum seekers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13069/23]

View answer

Written answers

Deputy,

My Department has not been offered the building in question in County Kerry as a potential location for the accommodation of international protection applicants (IPAs) or Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) and, therefore, it has not been considered as such.

A detailed assessment must take place before any property can be deemed suitable as accommodation for IPAs/BOTPs.

Early Childhood Care and Education

Questions (942)

Michael Creed

Question:

942. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will outline the supports that are available from his Department to assist a small rural primary school board of management with the provision of pre-school and after school care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13075/23]

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Written answers

Last September, I was pleased to announce the Building Blocks – Improvement Grant, a Capital Grant for the Early Learning and Childcare Sector. The closing date for this scheme was 16th December last and applicants will be advised of the outcome in the coming weeks.

The Building Blocks - Improvement Grant is part of a wider Building Blocks Capital Programme for Early Learning and Childcare under the National Development Plan. It is designed to meet current and long-term Early Learning and Childcare infrastructure needs – with details of a Building Blocks - Capacity Grant and a Building Blocks - Innovation Grant to be announced in the coming months.

In this regard, I would encourage existing or prospective childcare providers to engage with their local County Childcare Committee, which will offer support and assistance to childcare providers with all aspects of my Department's funding programmes, including capital programmes.

Disability Services

Questions (943)

Duncan Smith

Question:

943. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of the provision of a community neuro-rehabilitation team in CHO7, particularly with regard to the budget allocation for this team; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13087/23]

View answer

Written answers

As this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible. Answered By HSE.

Disability Services

Questions (944)

Duncan Smith

Question:

944. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of the provision of a community neuro-rehabilitation team in CHO9, particularly with regard to the budget allocation for this team; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13088/23]

View answer

Written answers

As this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Asylum Seekers

Questions (945)

John Brady

Question:

945. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number and type of premises in County Wicklow used by the State for accommodation for refugees and asylum seekers; the number in each premises for each month since January 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13112/23]

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Written answers

There are currently 9 providers of IPAS accommodation in County Wicklow, which has increased from three providers in January 2022. Please see a detailed breakdown of the type of premises and the number / type of residents for each accommodation centre in Wicklow from January 2022 to February 2023.

January 2022

Hotel

85

Couples/Single Persons/Families

Guest House/ Apartments

88

Couples/Single Persons/Families

Hotel

166

Couples/Single Persons/Families

February 2022

Hotel

85

Couples/Single Persons/Families

Guest House/ Apartments

88

Couples/Single Persons/Families

Hotel

166

Couples/Single Persons/Families

March 2022

Hotel

82

Couples/Single Persons/Families

Guest House/ Apartments

89

Couples/Single Persons/Families

Hotel

165

Couples/Single Persons/Families

April 2022

Hotel

91

Couples/Single Persons/Families

Guest House/ Apartments

91

Couples/Single Persons/Families

Hotel

179

Couples/Single Persons/Families

May 2022

Hotel

92

Couples/Single Persons/Families

Guest House/ Apartments

104

Couples/Single Persons/Families

Hotel

16

Couples/Single Persons/Families

Hotel

187

Couples/Single Persons/Families

June 2022

Hotel

238

Couples/Single Persons/Families

Apartments

63

Couples/Single Persons/Families

Guest House/ Apartments

103

Couples/Single Persons/Families

Hotel

19

Couples/Single Persons/Families

Hotel

191

Couples/Single Persons/Families

July 2022

Hotel

238

Couples/Single Persons/Families

Apartments

63

Couples/Single Persons/Families

Guest House/ Apartments

103

Couples/Single Persons/Families

Hotel

19

Couples/Single Persons/Families

Hotel

191

Couples/Single Persons/Families

August 2022

Hotel

238

Couples/Single Persons/Families

Apartments

63

Couples/Single Persons/Families

Guest House/ Apartments

103

Couples/Single Persons/Families

Hotel

19

Couples/Single Persons/Families

Hotel

191

Couples/Single Persons/Families

September 2022

Hotel

255

Couples/Single Persons/Families

Apartments

68

Couples/Single Persons/Families

Guest House/ Apartments

103

Couples/Single Persons/Families

Hotel

19

Couples/Single Persons/Families

Hotel

193

Couples/Single Persons/Families

October 2022

Hotel

272

Couples/Single Persons/Families

Apartments

68

Couples/Single Persons/Families

Guest House

36

Couples/Single Persons/Families

Guest House/ Apartments

103

Couples/Single Persons/Families

Hotel

18

Couples/Single Persons/Families

Hotel

191

Couples/Single Persons/Families

November 2022

Hotel

276

Couples/Single Persons/Families

Apartments

69

Couples/Single Persons/Families

Guest House

42

Single Males

Guest House

36

Couples/Single Persons/Families

Guest House/ Apartments

147

Couples/Single Persons/Families

Guest House/ Apartments

103

Couples/Single Persons/Families

Hotel

18

Couples/Single Persons/Families

Hotel

191

Couples/Single Persons/Families

December 2022

Hotel

278

Couples/Single Persons/Families

Apartments

69

Couples/Single Persons/Families

Guest House

43

Single Males

Guest House

36

Couples/Single Persons/Families

Guest House/ Apartments

172

Couples/Single Persons/Families

Guest House/ Apartments

100

Couples/Single Persons/Families

Hotel

17

Couples/Single Persons/Families

Hotel

195

Couples/Single Persons/Families

January 2023

Hotel

281

Couples/Single Persons/Families

Apartments

69

Couples/Single Persons/Families

Guest House

44

Single Males

Guest House

36

Couples/Single Persons/Families

Guest House

47

Single Males

Guest House/ Apartments

180

Couples/Single Persons/Families

Guest House/ Apartments

105

Couples/Single Persons/Families

Hotel

17

Couples/Single Persons/Families

Hotel

200

Couples/Single Persons/Families

February 2023

Hotel

281

Couples/Single Persons/Families

Apartments

63

Couples/Single Persons/Families

Guest House

44

Single Males

Guest House

36

Couples/Single Persons/Families

Guest House

124

Single Males

Guest House/ Apartments

180

Couples/Single Persons/Families

Guest House/ Apartments

105

Couples/Single Persons/Families

Hotel

17

Couples/Single Persons/Families

Hotel

203

Couples/Single Persons/Families

I trust this information clarifies the matter.

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