Written Answers Nos. 581-596
581. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total number of children in care with an allocated social worker; and the total number with no allocated social worker, broken down by each Tusla local area office. [23017/23]
View answerAs this relates to Tusla operational matters, the question has been forwarded to Tusla for direct reply to the Deputy.
582. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total number of under 12-year-olds in residential care, broken down by each Tusla local area office. [23018/23]
View answerAs this relates to Tusla operational matters, the question has been forwarded to Tusla for direct reply to the Deputy.
583. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total number of children under 12 years in care, broken down by each Tusla local area office. [23019/23]
View answerAs this relates to Tusla operational matters, the question has been forwarded to Tusla for direct reply to the Deputy.
584. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total number of children who have aged out of care in each of the past three years, broken down by each Tusla local area office. [23020/23]
View answerAs this relates to Tusla operational matters, the question has been forwarded to Tusla for direct reply to the Deputy.
585. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total number of young people in aftercare receiving an aftercare allowance, broken down by each Tusla local area office. [23021/23]
View answerAs this relates to Tusla operational matters, the question has been forwarded to Tusla for direct reply to the Deputy.
586. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children on their third or subsequent placement in the past 12 months, broken down by each Tusla local area office. [23022/23]
View answerAs this relates to Tusla operational matters, the question has been forwarded to Tusla for direct reply to the Deputy.
587. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the percentage of social media posts made on each of his departmental social media accounts or the social media accounts of public bodies and agencies that operate under his remit that were exclusively in Irish between 1 May 2022 and 30 April 2023, inclusive; the percentage of same that feature bilingual translations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23024/23]
View answerThe information requested is not routinely collated. However, my Department endeavours to provide information in both English and Irish, not only through social media, but through other communication channels and materials. We are committed to complying with requirements under the Official Languages Act, including providing all static content on the Department's website in both Irish and English, and this is kept under regular review. With regard to bodies under the remit of this Department, that is a matter for those organisations as my Department does not have a role in the social media activity of those organisations.
588. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth how his Department and public bodies and agencies that operate under his remit meet their obligations for reasonable accommodation under the Employment Equality Acts 1998 to 2015. [23042/23]
View answerSection 47(1)(a) of the Disability Act 2005 requires public bodies to take all reasonable measures to promote and support the employment of persons with disabilities.
The Department has a dedicated Disability Liaison Officer (DLO), whose role is to provide advice, support and assistance to staff with disabilities. The DLO consults with staff who have declared a disability on an individual basis to provide the necessary supports, equipment, assistive technology and/or other requirements to enable each member of staff to carry out their roles and become a fully included member of staff within the Department.
The agencies under the remit of this Department have been asked to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.
589. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an update on an individual seeking information under the Birth Information and Tracing Act 2022 from a State agency (details supplied). [23116/23]
View answerAs the subject matter of the Deputy’s question relates to an operational matter for the Child and Family Agency, Tusla, I have referred the matter to Tusla for a direct reply to the Deputy.
590. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of eligibility assessments for childcare services under the Childcare Act carried out in 2022 and to date in 2023 with respect to those who state an intention to apply for international protection, broken down by year, decision, gender and nationality, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23157/23]
View answerStatutory and operational responsibility for the delivery of child protection and welfare services is a matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. The Deputy is seeking information in relation to an operational matter for Tusla. Consequently, I have referred the matter to Tusla, and requested that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.
591. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the current waiting time between an International Protection Office referral for a second eligibility assessment for childcare services under the Childcare Act being received by Tusla and that assessment being carried out; the number of international protection applicants currently awaiting such a reassessment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23159/23]
View answerStatutory and operational responsibility for the delivery of child protection and welfare services is a matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. The Deputy is seeking information in relation to an operational matter for Tusla. Consequently, I have referred the matter to Tusla, and requested that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.
592. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there are plans for accommodation centres for age-disputed minors who are in the international protection process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23160/23]
View answerStatutory and operational responsibility for the delivery of child protection and welfare services is a matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. The Deputy is seeking information in relation to an operational matter for Tusla. Consequently, I have referred the matter to Tusla, and requested that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.
593. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there are any plans to extend eligibility for the daily expenses allowance or an equivalent payment to international protection applicants living outside of designated IPAS centres, including those in the private rental market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23161/23]
View answerA payment equivalent to the Daily Expenses Allowance is currently being given to international protection applicants whom IPAS is unable to accommodate temporarily. My Department is currently examining whether or not the Daily Expenses Allowance could be given to applicants living outside of designated IPAS centres.
594. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the attempts made to contact applicants for international protection who were not offered accommodation by IPAS between 24 January and 28 March 2023 to notify them of their entitlement to the daily expenses allowance equivalent payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23162/23]
View answerAs of 12th May there were 507 International Protection applicants (IPAs) that the Department has been temporarily unable to offer accommodation to. Since January 24th, a total of 628 people who were previously unaccommodated have subsequently been offered accommodation.
IPAS is now issuing unaccommodated people with weekly €50 euro vouchers. They are also entitled to a Daily Expenses Allowance (DEA) of €38.80 per week and this has been backdated to the point at which they applied for international protection. The Department of Social Protection (DSP) administer the DEA payment on behalf of DCEDIY to IPAs and are responsible for contacting those recipients in relation to their payment. IPAs can also apply for an exceptional needs payment from the DSP if required on a case by case basis.
All communications regarding the above issues are made through the communications channel provided on the day of presentation. In the main this will be either mobile phone and/or e-mail. Additionally, information is provided in hard copy on the day of presentation.
Information has also been shared with Crosscare, Mendicity, the Irish Refugee Council and the Capuchin Day Centre with regard to the entitlements available to unaccommodated persons. They are sharing this information with those who present to their services.
595. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of vacant beds currently in all IPAS accommodation centres, including direct provision and emergency accommodation centres, broken down by county and type of centre, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23163/23]
View answerPlease find below, in tabular format, the number of vacant beds in IPAS centres across the country.
|
County |
Centre Type |
Bed Availability |
|
Cavan |
Apartments |
4 |
|
Cork |
Guest House |
8 |
|
Donegal |
Apartments |
7 |
|
Dublin |
Hotel |
9 |
|
Dublin |
Guest House |
12 |
|
Galway |
Guest House |
34 |
|
Roscommon |
Hotel |
20 |
|
Sligo |
Apartments |
6 |
|
Tipperary |
Guest House |
6 |
|
Waterford |
Hotel |
2 |
|
Wicklow |
Apartments |
6 |
When new accommodation is procured , IPAS receives details of the configurations based on the number of rooms and room types available. That accommodation is then allocated based on the configurations of those who require it. As IPAS accommodation is demand led, it can be the case that where the latest arrivals are all single males, and there is family only accommodation available , the family only accommodation may not be filled at the outset.
It could also be the case that the available accommodation is suitable for smaller families and only larger families have recently arrived.
IPAS works continuously to match residents to the available accommodation to ensure accommodation is utilised in the most effective manner.
Once an accommodation location is in use, they are required to provide weekly returns outlining any vacancies that have arisen, which IPAS then used to accommodate IP applicants.
596. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total number of people who have not been offered accommodation by IPAS since 24 January 2023, broken down by age bracket, gender and relationship status, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23164/23]
View answerAs of 12 May 2023, a total of 507 international protection applicants (IPAs) are awaiting accommodation. A total of 628 IPAs have received a retrospective offer of accommodation. Please see in tabular format, the number of IPAs awaiting accommodation, broken down by age, gender and relationship status as at close of business on 12 May.
|
Age |
Number |
|
18-24 |
135 |
|
25-30 |
137 |
|
31-40 |
172 |
|
40-45 |
52 |
|
45+ |
63 |
|
Gender |
Number |
|
Male |
554 |
|
Female |
5 |
|
Relationship Status |
Number |
|
Single Males |
552 |
|
Single Females |
3 |
|
Couples |
4 |
