Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 October 2023
523. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth why a person (details supplied) who has been availing of temporary accommodation in Waterford, has been refused permission to stay with her daughter in Athlone to help her with her newborn child. [42302/23]
View answer524. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth why person (details supplied) who was heavily pregnant at the time was accommodated on the 3rd floor of a converted convent. [42303/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 523 and 524 together.
I am advised by my officials that the BOTP to which the Deputy refers was allocated accommodation with her mother in Waterford on arrival into Ireland. She chose to leave that accommodation and moved to accommodation in another part of the country for employment reasons. When that fell through, my officials allocated another accommodation to her.
In line with services available to others living in Ireland, the HSE engaged with the BOTP to arrange local access to healthcare services near her accommodation.
Where medical issues are raised, my Department works with the HSE on the basis of a protocol which sets out the priority cases for medical moves. Unless a case is deemed eligible for a move to our very limited accommodation near hospitals and treatment centres, BOTPs can access supports for treatment and transport through the Community Response Forum.
All requests to relocate on medical grounds must be sent to my Department at -UkraineTempAccom@equality.gov.ie
