Written Answers Nos. 423-430
423. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if permission will be provided by IPAS in relation to a case (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23903/23]
View answerIreland has responded to the largest displacement of people on the European continent since the Second World War. Since February 2022, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has worked extensively to accommodate over 82,000 arrivals fleeing the war in Ukraine, of which 60,000 have sought accommodation from this Department.
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, the Department has contracted in excess of 47,000 beds to accommodate Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) in more than 770 settings including hotels, guesthouses, B&Bs, hostels, commercial self-catering accommodation and certain other repurposed settings.
The priority is to place people fleeing the war in safe and secure accommodation.
Given arrival numbers, sourcing suitable accommodation continues to be a challenge. The accommodation provided to people fleeing the conflict in Ukraine by my Department is temporary in its nature and given the number of people that are being accommodated it is not possible to develop tailored solutions for individuals or families. In seeking to address immediate accommodation needs, safety and security are the paramount considerations.
I am advised by my officials that in certain instances such requests are assessed on a case by case basis taking into consideration particular circumstances. I am further advised that officials from the relevant division within the Department have communicated directly to the party referred to on this matter previously.
The cross-Government response is being supported by the Community Response Forum, a Local Authority led programme providing assistance to those fleeing the war in Ukraine. I would advise you to contact the relevant Local Authority this regard – who may be able to provide additional information.
Beneficiaries of temporary protection are entitled to make their own private arrangements including potentially availing of pledged accommodation if they wish, and can avail of some supports to do so. To date, over 7,300 Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection have been accommodated in over 3,100 pledged properties. Those wishing to avail of pledged accommodation in any given area should contact the Local Authority in that area or the Irish Red Cross pledge process. The Irish Red Cross can be contacted by email at registerofpledges@redcross.ie or by phoning 1800 50 70 70.
I also wish to draw attention to the Government announcement of November 2022 regarding the new call for unoccupied houses. The campaign to assist those fleeing the war in Ukraine may be of interest in the context of this request and further information can be found at offerahome.ie/ . Again, in the context of the above request, it is advisable to contact the relevant Local Authority (relevant County Council in the area persons wish to reside in). As of May 2023, 2,677 beneficiaries of temporary protection have been accommodated under the Offer a Home Scheme.
More information on support available to Ukrainian people while they are in Ireland and information on how people and community groups can help can be found at the Government website: www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/bc537-irelands-response-to-the-situation-in-ukraine/
424. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to correspondence (details supplied); the action he is taking; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23968/23]
View answerIreland has responded to the largest displacement of people on the European continent since the Second World War. Since February 2022, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has worked extensively to accommodate over 82,000 arrivals fleeing the war in Ukraine, of which 60,000 have sought accommodation from this Department.
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, the Department has contracted in excess of 47,000 beds to accommodate Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) in more than 770 settings including hotels, guesthouses, B&Bs, hostels, commercial self-catering accommodation and certain other repurposed settings.
The priority is to place people fleeing the war in safe and secure accommodation.
Regarding the matter raised, I am advised by my officials that this Department is implementing this policy at the request of the Department of Health. I am further advised that the Department of Health is currently undertaking a review of the policy which is to conclude shortly. I would advise contacting the Department of Health for any further information in respect of the current review.
425. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is aware of extensive site alterations in the grounds of Ryevale House, Leixlip, County Kildare which would appear to facilitate development unconnected with any authorised use of the house and the grounds; if the developer has been authorised to proceed with proposals other than those relating to the house itself; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24006/23]
View answerMy officials have had limited engagement with Kildare County Council on the matter in question. The planning matters at hand are being addressed between the Council and the accommodation provider directly and the Department will await the outcome of those proceedings.
426. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of occupational health reviews which have taken place in relation to long-Covid or similar indication, in tabular form; the number of workers who sought leave on the basis of long-Covid; the number of workers asked to return despite claims of long-Covid; the number of workers granted leave, by length of leave in timebands; the number of workers who sought additional leave beyond initially sanctioned leave; and the number of workers granted long-term leave. [23638/23]
View answerThe Department of Public Expenditure and Reform provide for Special Leave with Pay (SLWP) for the recommended public health guidance duration, for civil and public servants nationally who contract COVID-19. At present the guidance on testing positive is to remain at home for 5 days. Those remaining unwell beyond the public health guidance timeframe may utilise the provisions of the Public Service Sick Leave Scheme.
For certain public health sector employees suffering from long-Covid, a temporary scheme, specific to the public health service was introduced in July 2022 to provide for Paid Leave for Public Health Service Employees unfit for work post COVID-19 infection. This scheme is due to conclude on 30th June this year. At present, when the Scheme concludes, those remaining unwell may utilise the provisions of the Public Service Sick Leave Scheme, however I have asked officials from my Department to look at options to continue to provide support to this cohort.
In respect of occupational health team reviews, absence numbers and timelines etc, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to you.
427. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an outline of the mechanism to access diagnosis and support for long-Covid cases in each of the CHO areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23678/23]
View answerAs the matter raised is a service delivery matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.
428. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will engage with the property section of the HSE with a view to forming a plan on the protection and enhancement of the old Famine Workhouse, a significant, historical building located at Old Longford Road, Mullingar. [23680/23]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
429. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if it is considered satisfactory to wait ten hours to be assessed for a head injury in the case of a person (details supplied), who attended an accident and emergency department recently but who is also a returning patient to the hospital in the neurology department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23682/23]
View answerI wish to acknowledge the distress overcrowded Emergency Departments (EDs) cause to patients, their families, and frontline staff working in very challenging conditions in hospitals throughout the country.
This Government is doing a huge amount to increase capacity in our health service by funding an unprecedented increase in staff and beds. We are delivering on this although more needs to be done.
We experienced a very challenging winter and our EDs continue to see prolonged levels of high daily presentations and congestion. Overcrowding is now a year-round challenge and consequently, I have asked the HSE to develop a year-round urgent care plan. The HSE is currently developing a three-year urgent and emergency care programme to deliver sustainable improvements to unscheduled care. A key priority for my Department is the improvement of Patient Experience Time (PET) and reform of service delivery across the entire health system is a key part in achieving this.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
430. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the total amount of temporary assistance payment funding that has been provided to nursing homes to date, by nursing home name or company name, address and county, since it commenced up until the scheme closed in April, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23684/23]
View answerAs these are operational matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
