Tuesday, 23 May 2023

Written Answers Nos. 660-675

Departmental Funding

Questions (660)

Michael Lowry

Question:

660. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will investigate the case of a company (details supplied) regarding delayed payments from his Department's Ukrainian accommodation section; the reasons for these delays; if he can confirm whether his Department has contracted with a third party to manage such payments, or if these payments are managed in-house by Departmental staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24167/23]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

My Department is prioritising making more timely payments of valid invoices, including providing more resources to address any issues, and outsourcing of elements of the process to speed up processing and to respond to supplier calls. While certain administrative functions are carried out by third parties to accelerate processing and improve response times, this is always under the management of departmental staff and the actual authorisation and execution of payments are carried out in-house.

With regard to the service provider referred to, I am advised by my officials that the outstanding invoices referred to in the Details Supplied, including the current period invoices, are being processed for payment.

My Department will continue to press on to eliminate the payments backlog while ensuring appropriate governance is in place to safeguard the proper spending of Exchequer funding.

Disabilities Assessments

Questions (661)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

661. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated full-year cost of ensuring that the timelines for assessment of needs, outlined in the Disability Act 2005, are adhered to for every child that is in need of such an assessment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24189/23]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

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

Departmental Funding

Questions (662)

Niall Collins

Question:

662. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when a service provider (details supplied) will receive payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24191/23]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

My Department is prioritising making more timely payments of valid invoices, including providing more resources to address any issues, and outsourcing of elements of the process to speed up processing and to respond to supplier calls.

With regard to the service provider referred to, I am advised by my officials that the outstanding purchase order numbers referred to in the Details Supplied have issued. With regard to the current period invoices queried, my officials have advised that they are in process and would expect them to be paid in the coming weeks after all queries have been resolved and final checks completed.

My Department will continue to press on to eliminate the payments backlog while ensuring appropriate governance is in place to safeguard the proper spending of Exchequer funding.

Wildlife Conservation

Questions (663)

Holly Cairns

Question:

663. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department and public bodies/agencies that operate under his remit have policies in place to install artificial structures that provide shelter and habitat space for wild species, such as, but not limited to, insect hotels, bat boxes, nesting towers, and beehives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24256/23]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

I wish to inform the Deputy that my Department does not have policies in place to install artificial structures that provide shelter and habitat space for wild species such as, but not limited to, insect hotels, bat boxes, nesting towers and beehives.

The below bodies fall under my Department's remit and I have asked that they reply directly to the Deputy on this matter.

Body
National Disability Authority
Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission
Child and Family Agency (TUSLA)
Adoption Authority of Ireland
Oberstown Children Detention Campus
Gaisce – The President’s Award.
Ombudsman for Children’s Office

Health Services

Questions (664)

Cormac Devlin

Question:

664. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is aware of the case (details supplied); if it could be reviewed as a matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24275/23]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (Deputy Anne Rabbitte)

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

International Protection

Questions (665, 666, 667)

Michael McNamara

Question:

665. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth which agency or body approved the use of Magowna House to accommodate applicants for international protection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24304/23]

Michael McNamara

Question:

666. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when Clare County Council was informed of the proposed change of use of Magowna House to accommodate applicants for international protection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24305/23]

Michael McNamara

Question:

667. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if Magowna House had been deemed unsuitable for recipients of temporary protection in the past two years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24306/23]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

I propose to take Questions Nos. 665, 666 and 667 together.

In seeking to address the issues of unaccommodated international protection applicants currently and to prevent homelessness, the Department has been using Magowna House to accommodate adult male international protection applicants since Monday 15 May 2023. Magowna House has been procured to provide accommodation and shelter to the applicants while their claim for international protection is being assessed.

The property in question was offered through the portal for Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTP’s) and was triaged and passed on to the procurement team.

However, no negotiations took place with the Ukraine procurement team as by that stage, the International Protection Procurement Section (IPPS) and their team took over discussions with a new provider that leased the property from the owner.

Clare County Council were contacted by IPAS on 16 March 2023 regarding this property. IPPS advised the provider to engage directly with Clare County Council on matters such as fire certification and regulatory compliance.

Properties such as Magowna House and others throughout the country are fundamental to the accommodation of vulnerable people and to prevent homelessness. Magowna House is accommodating 34 adult males presently in three external holiday homes to the main building which is awaiting sign off on the fire certificate from the Clare Fire Officer.

The external holiday homes currently accommodating asylum seekers do not require a fire cert and have bio tanks, smoke alarms, fire blankets and fire extinguishers in place.

The International Protection Accommodation Service has contracted Midwest Simon to provide additional supports to the international protection applicants living there to enable them to access education and training. This supplements the work being done by Clare County Council to link them with public services.

Question No. 666 answered with Question No. 665.

Question No. 667 answered with Question No. 665.

Departmental Staff

Questions (668, 669)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

668. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of officials by grade in his Department that are assigned to assisting persons seeking international protection here in the context of integration and related supports. [24319/23]

Catherine Murphy

Question:

669. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of officials by grade in his Department that are assigned to assisting persons seeking international protection seeking accommodation and related supports; and the number of officials assigned to sourcing accommodation. [24320/23]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

I propose to take Questions Nos. 668 and 669 together.

Please see below in tabular format, the number of officials by grade in the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth that are assigned to assisting persons seeking international protection and also who are assigned to sourcing accommodation for international protection applicants (IPAs).

It should be noted that not all staff listed are directly engaged in front line service delivery. Some staff support the administrative/corporate functions of the units.

The International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) employ a social work team to support IPAs and identify needs of those seeking refuge. There is one principal social worker and one social work team leader currently assigned to IPAS. They are not included in the total figures below.

Section	Total	Management Board	Principal Officer	Assistant Principal Officer	Higher Executive Officer	Admin. Officer	Executive Officer	Clerical Officer
Divisional Head	1	1
International Protection Procurement Services	16		1	3	4	0	5	3
International Protection Accommodation Service	62		2	6*	10	0	24	18
International Protection Support Service (IPSS) - Transition Team	8		1	3	2	1	1	0
Total	87

*1 Secondee from Dublin Regional Homeless Executive (AP equivalent)

Question No. 669 answered with Question No. 668.

Community Development Projects

Questions (670)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

Question:

670. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the progress that has been made to date regarding the provision of a community centre for young people at Tullow Road in Carlow; the engagement his Department has had with Carlow local authority on this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24340/23]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

I was pleased to have the opportunity to meet with the Deputy earlier this year to discuss this matter.

As the Deputy will be aware, the organisation which is due to be the main tenant of this facility is Carlow Regional Youth Services, which receives €128,726 in annual funding from Tusla to provide a range of services to children and young people in Carlow and its environs. They also receive funding from my Department to various youth projects under UBU Your Place Your Space, a single youth funding scheme that targets disadvantaged young people with evidence informed interventions and services that will secure good outcomes.

I understand that the proposed facility would not be part of Tusla's Family Resource Centre programme. Organisations that wish to join the Family Resource Centre Programme are advised to contact Tusla in the first instance, with regard to the potential next steps. I understand that currently, there are currently no plans to expand the Family Resource Centre Programme or to establish new funding schemes for the Programme.

Tusla does not provide capital funding for projects such as this. In light of the good work already done by the hub and Carlow County Council, further capital funding may be available through the Capital Assistance Scheme administered through local authorities on behalf of the Department of Housing.

Children in Care

Questions (671)

Holly Cairns

Question:

671. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will increase the foster care allowance payment rates to meet the rising cost of living; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24355/23]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

Firstly, I would like to acknowledge the important role of foster carers in Ireland. Foster care is the preferred option for children who cannot live with their birth family. Foster carers play a vital role in enabling our most vulnerable children to live in a safe, secure and stable home environment. Approximately 90% of children in care in Ireland are being cared for by foster carers.

I am aware of the fact that the rate of the foster care allowance has not been increased since 2009 and in this context, I am very conscious of the disappointment among foster carers that no increase to the foster care allowance was secured in Budget 2023. However, I can assure the Deputy that it will be a priority of mine to seek to secure an increase to the foster care allowance in the upcoming budget.

I will continue to work closely with Tusla and with my Government colleagues and any other relevant stakeholders seeking to review and improve supports available to foster carers.

Children in Care

Questions (672)

Mattie McGrath

Question:

672. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will outline the budget for children's residential services for CHO5 for the past five years; if he will outline the new children's residential units provided over the past five years; the budget available to CHO5 for new residential services; if the opening of new residential services will impact on the respite services budget for CHO5; the number of new residential services required to meet current demand in CHO5, in Tipperary in particular; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24365/23]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (Deputy Anne Rabbitte)

As this relates to service matters , I am referring it to the HSE for direct response to the Deputy.

Education Schemes

Questions (673)

Mattie McGrath

Question:

673. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide details of the new ASD diagnostic team being developed in south Tipperary; the details of the team; if the team is operational; the referral path; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24372/23]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (Deputy Anne Rabbitte)

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

Child and Family Agency

Questions (674)

Paul Murphy

Question:

674. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 483 of 25 April 2023, to outline how many children are in Tusla's care, broken down by CHO; and how many of them have allocated social workers, broken down by CHO. [24412/23]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

As this relates to Tusla operational matters, the question has been forwarded to Tusla for direct reply to the Deputy.

Child and Family Agency

Questions (675)

Paul Murphy

Question:

675. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 483 of 25 April 2023, how many social workers are employed by Tusla broken down by CHO; how many social care workers are employed by Tusla broken down by CHO; and how many unfilled positions for social workers there are, broken down by CHO; and how many unfilled positions for social care workers there are, broken down by CHO. [24413/23]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

I wish to inform the Deputy that my officials have asked Tusla to respond directly to you on this matter.