Tuesday, 28 Nov 2023

International Protection

Questions (542)

Alan Dillon

Question:

542. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number and location of each accommodation property for international protection applicants in County Mayo; the occupancy and contracted capacity of each centre and location in each of the approved accommodation categories, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52501/23]

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Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

I thank the Deputy for his question. This information will be forwarded directly to the Deputy in the coming days.

Ukraine War

Questions (543)

Alan Dillon

Question:

543. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of persons from Ukraine who are being provided with accommodation by the State per county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52502/23]

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Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

Ireland has responded to the largest displacement of people on the European continent since the Second World War. Since February 2022, as part of the Whole of Government response my Department has worked extensively to support over 100,500 people who have sought temporary protection in Ireland in fleeing the war in Ukraine, over 80% of whom have sought State supported accommodation.???

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, my Department has contracted in excess of 59,000 beds to accommodate Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) in more than 980 mainly commercial settings including hotels, guesthouses, B&Bs, hostels, commercial self-catering accommodation and certain other repurposed settings.

The below table provides a snapshot of the number of BOTPs in accommodation classified by County to the extent that our records can provide at this time. Please note that the below table refers to BOTPs in DCEDIY-provided accommodation only. It should also be noted that the information below provides an overview at a given point in time and is contingent on a number of factors that are subject to change including accommodation availability, providers in contract at any given time, configurations, transfers resulting from contracts ceasing, etc.

County	No of BOTPs in Accommodation *
Carlow	899
Cavan	1284
Clare	3688
Cork	5799
Donegal	5529
Dublin	7052
Galway	?3812
Kerry	7445
Kildare	?571
Kilkenny	?898
Laois	?382
Leitrim	?1068
Limerick	?2048
Longford	?386
Louth	937
Mayo	?3066
Meath	?1877
Monaghan	425
Offaly	1140
Roscommon	710
Sligo	1773
Tipperary	1623
Waterford	1242
Westmeath	?1741
Wexford	1913
Wicklow	1478
Total	58,786

*As at 26th November 2023.

This information is also published by my Department regularly and is available at gov.ie - Accommodation of Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) (www.gov.ie).

International Protection

Questions (544)

Alan Dillon

Question:

544. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of international protection applicants who are being provided with accommodation by the State per county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52503/23]

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Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

As at 19th November 2023, the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) is providing accommodation to 25,742 people seeking refuge in Ireland, and since January 2022 have brought over 190 properties into use to ensure that all those who arrive in Ireland seeking International Protection (IP) who require shelter can be accommodated.

The State has a legal obligation to assess the claims of those who seek IP, and in that time, to provide accommodation and supports in line with the Recast Reception Conditions Directive (SI 230 of 2018), to those that require it.

The International Protection Procurement Service (IPPS) continues to explore all offers of accommodation for international protection applicants IPAs in as far as it can. There remains an acute shortfall with respect to accommodation, and IPPS is working to bring further properties into use to ensure that all those who arrive in Ireland seeking shelter can be accommodated.

Please see, in tabular format, the number of international protection applicants (IPAs), accommodated in each county in Ireland.

County	Occupancy
Carlow	178
Cavan	184
Clare	719
Cork City	705
Cork County	790
Donegal	1533
Dublin City	3186
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown	275
Fingal County	2412
Galway City Council	968
Galway County Council	209
Kerry	725
Kildare	792
Kilkenny	156
Laois	636
Leitrim	88
Limerick City and County	401
Longford	143
Louth	841
Mayo	1282
Meath	928
Monaghan	573
Offaly	235
Roscommon	181
Sligo	393
South County Dublin	3326
Tipperary	631
Waterford	569
Westmeath	871
Wexford	594
Wicklow	1236
Total	25742

Early Childhood Care and Education

Questions (545)

Cian O'Callaghan

Question:

545. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is aware of small, independent pre-schools that are struggling to meet the chart of accounts requirement in their core funding application due to high accountancy costs and limited time to complete their application by February 2024; the reason these accounts are needed; if late submissions will be accepted; if additional funding will be provided to assist small preschools with these additional costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52522/23]

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Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

Core Funding, which commenced in September 2022, is a grant to Early Learning and Care (ELC) and/or School Age Childcare (SAC) providers towards their operating costs. Its primary purpose is to improve pay and conditions in the sector as a whole and improve affordability for parents as well as ensuring a stable income to providers.

All Partner Services that had an active Core Funding Contract during the 2022/2023 Programme Year must provide validated Financial Returns as per their Core Funding Partner Service Funding Agreement.

Core Funding payments to providers must run on a programme year, September-August, in line with the school year, the operation of the ELC and SAC sector, and the payments made to providers under the other DCEDIY schemes. Therefore, the financial returns cover the period from 1st September 2022 to 31st August 2023 and must be submitted by an accountant from a registered practice or a registered professional body (ACA, ACAA, CPA, and CIMA), on behalf of each Partner Service.

My Department is not requesting audited accounts, Partner Services are instead being asked to provide financial information mapped to the Core Funding Chart of Accounts, which has been reviewed, signed off and submitted by an accountant.

Services that already use accountancy packages should be able map to the Core Funding nominal codes from the Chart of Accounts. However, if a service does not use an accountancy package, a series of resources have been designed to assist services with meeting this requirement.

My officials have, in recent weeks, engaged with the Early Learning and Childcare Stakeholder Forum (ELCSF) on issues raised by providers on the financial reporting requirements under Core Funding.

To date, three meetings have taken place on 7th , 20th November and on 27th November involving members and nominees from Childhood Services Ireland (CSI), Childminding Ireland, Early Childhood Ireland (ECI), the Association of Childhood Professionals Ireland (ACPI), the Federation of Early Childhood Providers (FECP), the National Childhood Network (NCN), the National Community Childcare Forum and Seas Suas as well as representatives from City/County Childcare Committees (CCC) and Pobal.

Arising from these meetings, officials from my Department have developed and discussed proposals to significantly simplify and streamline the reporting requirements under Core Funding and to support providers in preparing and submitting these returns. They are now in the process of finalising updated financial reporting requirements and templates, which will be shared with members and nominees of the ELCSF in advance of publication. Once finalised, updated financial reporting requirements will be shared with providers and all communications, including templates and training material will be updated.

My Department acknowledges that there is additional administration for providers with the introduction of new schemes such as the NCS and Core Funding, and has allocated €32.13 million for administration under Core Funding in year two, and €35.34m for the third year of the scheme. In addition, a number of targeted supports are being considered by my Department to enable Core Funding Partner Services to comply with the financial reporting requirement.

In any instances where a service is experiencing financial difficulty, they can reach out to their local City/County Childcare Committee and avail of Case Management Supports. This can include operational supports as well as financial supports through Sustainability Funding if deemed appropriate.

Departmental Funding

Questions (546)

Holly Cairns

Question:

546. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth whether his Department can provide a pathway for organisations such as (details supplied) to access funding for assistive technology and augmentative and alternative communication, as currently all applications for funding need to be submitted by the public team (details supplied). [52566/23]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

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.

As the Deputy may be aware, the industrial action that commenced on Friday 6th October, by management and administrative grades in Fórsa Trade Union in the HSE, will impact on the response times to Parliamentary Questions and Representations.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (547)

Holly Cairns

Question:

547. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health if he would extend the pandemic payment eligibility criteria to cover all categories of Enable Ireland staff which were initially identified by the organisation as eligible for the pandemic payment. [52336/23]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

Firstly, I want to express my sincere gratitude to all healthcare workers for their diligent efforts during the Covid 19 Pandemic.

Last year the Government announced a once-off, ex-gratia COVID-19 pandemic recognition payment for certain frontline public sector healthcare workers, to recognise their unique role during the pandemic.

Eligibility criteria for the payment were set following significant consideration and consultation. I can confirm that in order to receive the recognition payment, staff must have:

• Been in COVID vaccination cohorts 1 or 2, and

• Worked ordinarily onsite in a COVID-19 exposed healthcare environment, and

• Worked for at least 4 weeks in the 1/3/2020 – 30/6/2021 period, and

• Worked in a HSE/Section 38 organisation, or one of the following:

Private Sector Nursing Homes and Hospices (e.g. Private,Voluntary,Section 39 etc.);

Section 39 long-term residential care facilities for people with disabilities,working on-site;

Agency roles working in the HSE;

Health Care Support Assistants (also known as home help / home care / home support) contracted to the HSE;

Members of the Defence Forces redeployed to work in frontline Covid-19 exposed environments in the HSE;

Paramedic staff employed by Dublin Fire Brigade to deliver services on behalf of the HSE.

Only those staff who met all of the above eligibility criteria were covered for this payment.

The Government appreciates that those organisations and staff who were not encompassed for this particular payment may feel disappointed. It was a hard task to set out the eligibility criteria for this payment but the Government based its decision on certain aspects of all the different roles within the Healthcare sector and certain risks which eligible frontline workers faced.

The Department of Health has no mandate to include other groups or employers other than those who qualify based on the set eligibility criteria above. Undoubtedly Immense efforts were made by all healthcare staff since the onset of the pandemic which has not gone unrecognised.

Mental Health Services

Questions (548)

Claire Kerrane

Question:

548. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health if he will advise on the proposed closure of mental health services, Ard Mhuire, Ballinasloe, County Galway and relocation to admissions unit attached to St. Brigid’s Campus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52458/23]

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Awaiting reply from Department.

Departmental Staff

Questions (549)

John Brady

Question:

549. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health if there are personnel in his Department who could be classified as having a significant or exclusive focus of their role dedicated to dealing with integration; if so, to detail the title of the post; the grade level of that post; the core functions of that role; to provide details of the exact nature of their responsibilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51827/23]

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Awaiting reply from Department.

Hospital Staff

Questions (550)

Maurice Quinlivan

Question:

550. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health the number of posts removed from profile as a result of memorandums (details supplied) by grade, for University Hospital Limerick, in tabular form; the number of headcount posts and the WTE to which these relate; the number which were new posts; the number which were replacement posts or vacant posts; and the number which were related to absence/leave cover.. [51836/23]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

As this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational issue, it is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently not in a position to answer PQs due to industrial action. It is hoped that normal services will resume soon.

In the meantime, this Department will continue to refer PQs to HSE for their direct reply as soon as possible

Health Services Staff

Questions (551)

Maurice Quinlivan

Question:

551. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health the number of posts removed from profile as a result of memorandums (details supplied) by grade, for CHO3, in tabular form; the number of headcount posts and the WTE to which these relate; the number which were new posts; the number which were replacement posts or vacant posts; and the number which were related to absence/leave cover. [51837/23]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

As this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational issue, it is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently not in a position to answer PQs due to industrial action. It is hoped that normal services will resume soon. In the meantime, this Department will continue to refer PQs to HSE for their direct reply as soon as possible

As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday 6th October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, there may be a delay in the Deputy receiving a reply from the HSE.

Health Services

Questions (555)

Niamh Smyth

Question:

555. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the provision of menopause services, specifically the number of clinics available through the public health service; the contact details for each menopause clinic; the waiting times for a first appointment at a menopause clinic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51850/23]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

There is a total of six specialist menopause clinics nationwide, one in each maternity network, for women who require complex, specialist care.

The first of the dedicated specialist menopause clinics opened in the National Maternity Hospital in December 2021. Five additional specialist clinics have since opened, based in the Rotunda, the Coombe, Cork University Maternity Hospital, University Hospital Galway, and Nenagh General Hospital (under the governance of University Maternity Hospital Limerick).

As the remaining part of the question is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday 6th October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.

Hospital Staff

Disability Services

Questions (562)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

562. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if financial assistance is available to help with the purchase of braille devices; if so, the source and application process for such funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51860/23]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Medicinal Products

Questions (563)

Neasa Hourigan

Question:

563. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health when the harm/benefit analysis of proposed animal experimentation projects are conducted, whether his Department considers the utility of the product to be tested on animals, or the utility of the product a component substance of which is to be tested on animals, as a factor in that harm/benefit analysis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51870/23]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

The Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) is the competent authority in respect of the use of animals for scientific purposes within Ireland. Any project on animals conducted in Ireland must be evaluated by the HPRA in accordance with Directive 2010/63/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes. This legislation is transposed into Irish law by the European Union (Protection of Animals used for Scientific Purposes) Regulations 2012 (S.I. No. 543 of 2012).

The Regulations specify that a project can only be authorised:

• When justified from a scientific or educational point of view or required by law;

• When non-animal studies are unsuitable and cannot deliver the scientific objectives being sought;

• When the project ensures that any required animal procedures are conducted in the most humane and environmentally sensitive manner possible; and

• When the expected project outcome is justified by the harm/benefit analysis.

In accordance with Directive 2010/63/EU the HPRA conducts a harm/benefit analysis on each project application within 40 working days of receipt. The HPRA publishes the results of its analysis of project applications on the European Commission ALURES (Animal Use Reporting - EU System) Non-Technical Summary (NTS) database which has been developed for this purpose.