Written Answers Nos. 1421-1440
1421. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if consideration is being given to a site (details supplied) in the greater Castleisland area for a residential home for people with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1549/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, 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 2023, by management and administrative grades in Fórsa Trade Union in the HSE, will impact on the response times to Parliamentary Questions and Representations
1422. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will state that he will not entertain the housing of refugees in a property (details supplied) whilst an enforcement action detailing significant issues with the development has been issued against the property by the local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1558/24]
View answerSince the outset of the war in Ukraine in early 2022, Ireland has provided accommodation to over 100,000 people between those fleeing Ukraine and International Protection applicants. This includes approximately 75,000 Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) from Ukraine who required State supported accommodation and over 26,000 International Protection applicants currently in IPAS accommodation. Prior to the war in Ukraine, there were 8,300 applicants for international protection in State supported accommodation.
I am advised that my Department has no current offer for accommodation for BOTPs or IPs at the property to which the Deputy refers at this time.
All accommodation offered to the Department undergo an assessment process.
Offers of accommodation to BOTPs where properties are in need of significant conversion and refurbishment works are passed on to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage for assessment under the Emergency Refurbishment (Ukraine) Programme (ERUP). As with all offers of accommodation to accommodate BOTPs, but most particularly with regard to those requiring conversion/refurbishment, a detailed assessment must be carried out to ensure the property being offered is being prepared to the required standard and complies with building, fire and other statutory requirements. Accommodation providers are responsible for engaging with the relevant local authority when carrying out the refurbishment works. Before a property in the ERUP programme is contracted for accommodating BOTPs, the relevant local authority confirms to my Department that the property is in compliance with key requirements, including planning, fire and other regulatory requirements.
1423. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if children attending ASD preschools are not eligible for an overage ECCE exemption; if ASD preschools are funded separately to the ECCE Programme; the reason a student attending an ASD preschool may be ineligible for an overage exemption despite fulfilling the medical criteria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1591/24]
View answerASD preschools are funded by the Department of Education.
The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme funded by my Department provides universal, free pre-school to children in the eligible age range of 2 years and 8 months to 5 years and 6 months. The upper age limit of 5 years and 6 months for ECCE was set in consultation with the Department of Education and ensures that children transition into primary school with their peers.
In a limited number of circumstances, it is possible to apply for an exemption to the upper age limit of 5 years 6 months for finishing ECCE.
Current policy requires that any request for an overage exemption from ECCE eligibility must be supported by a letter from a medical specialist/social worker, not a GP/Public Health Nurse, specifically recommending why an ECCE service would meet the child’s specific needs in a more appropriate way than a primary school.
It is not possible to comment on eligibility/ineligibility in the absence of specific details.
In deciding on applications for exemptions to the ECCE age requirements, my Department is guided by a review of the over-age exemption process which was carried out in 2018 by the National Disability Authority (NDA) for this Department and the Department of Education.
In their published report, the NDA concluded that it is in the best interest of children with additional needs to transition to primary school with their age cohort.
Parents requiring additional supports for their child in a primary school setting should seek the assistance of the Department of Education and the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) in this regard.
1424. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when funding will be provided for support staff to enable an adult with special needs to live independently (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1625/24]
View answerAs 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 2023, by management and administrative grades in Fórsa Trade Union in the HSE, will impact on the response times to Parliamentary Questions and Representations.
1425. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of assessment of needs application carried out in-house by the HSE and which were not outsourced in CHO8 in 2023. [1634/24]
View answerAs 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 6 October, by management and administrative grades in Fórsa Trade Union in the HSE, will impact on the response times to Parliamentary Questions and Representations.
1426. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if an assessment of need can be urgently facilitated in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1738/24]
View answerAs 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 6 October, by management and administrative grades in Fórsa Trade Union in the HSE, will impact on the response times to Parliamentary Questions and Representations.
1427. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of afterschool places that have ceased operations, by county in 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [1767/24]
View answerIn line with the requirements of the Child Care Act, 1991 (Early Years Services) (Registration of School Age Services) Regulations, 2018, all providers wishing to operate a school age service are required to register with Tusla. The latest data on new service registrations and service closures provided to my Department by the Tusla Early Years Inspectorate in 2023 as of November 2023 shows a net increase of 158 standalone school age care services.
Each year a number school age services also decide to close of their own volition. Where they close, they are also required, in line with the statutory provisions outlined above, to notify Tusla of their planned closure. It must be noted however that Tusla does not systematically record or collate information in relation to the numbers of individual places available or closed per registered service. The number of verified reported cessations of School Age Services in 2023 to the end of November 2023 is presented below. Please note all data collected by Tusla is collated and verified on a rolling monthly basis in arrears, as such figures for December 2023 and January 2024 are not yet available.
|
County |
No. of cessations of School Age Services Jan-November 2023 |
|
Carlow |
0 |
|
Cavan |
1 |
|
Clare |
2 |
|
Cork |
13 |
|
Donegal |
6 |
|
Dublin |
31 |
|
Galway |
5 |
|
Kerry |
7 |
|
Kildare |
7 |
|
Kilkenny |
2 |
|
Laois |
3 |
|
Leitrim |
1 |
|
Limerick |
2 |
|
Longford |
1 |
|
Louth |
0 |
|
Mayo |
4 |
|
Meath |
2 |
|
Monaghan |
0 |
|
Offaly |
1 |
|
Roscommon |
1 |
|
Sligo |
0 |
|
Tipperary |
1 |
|
Waterford |
4 |
|
Westmeath |
0 |
|
Wexford |
4 |
|
Wicklow |
3 |
|
Total |
101 |
To be of further assistance to the Deputy, Pobal have provided the number of School-Aged Childcare (SAC) registered children linked to services, funded by my Department, prior to their closure (in the period 2023 and 2024), with a total of 364 SAC registered children identified. Please note that unlike Tusla figures, Pobal’s figures relate only to those providers funded by my Department, and cover a longer period than those provided by Tusla i.e. 1/1/23 – 12/1/24
|
County division |
SAC children registered |
|
Cork City |
46 |
|
Cork County |
87 |
|
Dublin - Dublin City |
44 |
|
Dublin - Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown |
28 |
|
Dublin - Fingal |
26 |
|
Dublin - South Dublin |
5 |
|
Galway |
7 |
|
Kildare |
25 |
|
Kilkenny |
15 |
|
Louth |
9 |
|
Mayo |
1 |
|
Roscommon |
9 |
|
Tipperary |
10 |
|
Waterford |
22 |
|
Wexford |
21 |
|
Wicklow |
9 |
|
Total |
364 |
1428. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what restrictions are currently in place in respect of employees of the Child and Family Agency running in local elections; and the rationale for any such restrictions. [1776/24]
View answerI wish to inform the Deputy that my officials have asked Tusla to respond directly to you on this matter.
1429. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of Ukrainians who sought refuge in Ireland in 2022 and 2023; the number that have returned home or left the country; the number living at present in centres provided by the Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1808/24]
View answerSince the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine in February 2022, my Department continues to work as part of the whole-of-Government response with a focus on providing access to emergency temporary accommodation to those fleeing the conflict who need it. To date, over 100,000 beneficiaries of temporary protection (BOTPs) have arrived in Ireland and approximately 75,000 of those have been referred to this Department seeking accommodation from the State.
Of those 75,000 BOTPs, approximately 59,000 are currently in short term accommodation, including serviced accommodation, emergency accommodation, tented accommodation and emergency rest centre accommodation. The remainder BOTPs, over 16,000 , are in pledged accommodation or Offer a Home Scheme 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, a broad range of accommodation types have been contracted, including hotels, guest houses and B&Bs, religious properties, accommodation operated by voluntary bodies and emergency accommodation. All accommodation contracted by my Department is temporary in nature, and BOTPs are advised of this when requesting emergency accommodation.
While DCEDIY assists with the Government’s response to the Ukraine crisis, to ensure that Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection have access to suitable accommodation or, if necessary, receive the means to access accommodation, other Departments and Agencies are also involved in the whole-of-Government response to this crisis. The Deputy might wish to refer questions regarding the number of Ukrainians who sought refuge in Ireland in 2022 and 2023; and the number that have returned home or left the country to my colleague the Minister for Justice.
1430. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of persons that have been placed in direct provision centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1809/24]
View answerMy Department is taking all necessary steps to manage the international protection process fairly, efficiently and effectively, as part of the broader Government response, while ensuring the integrity of Ireland's rules-based immigration system is maintained.
Where an international protection application, encompassing the three component elements of refugee status, subsidiary protection and permission to remain, is refused, the relevant applicant is notified of this decision. At this point, the individual is given the option of engaging with a voluntary returns process with the assistance of the Department and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM). Many people choose to leave at this point and do not inform the authorities of their departure.
If they choose not to opt for voluntary return, the Minister will issue a deportation order under the International Protection Act. It is the case that many hundreds of individuals who were subject to Deportation Orders have left the State without notifying the relevant authorities. While it is not possible to provide definitive figures for the number of such persons, the Garda National Immigration Bureau has reviewed a large sample of the cases subject to deportation orders and their inquiries suggest a very significant number of these individuals have left the State.
Please see below tables showing the number of persons who applied for international protection in Ireland in 2022 and 2023 broken down, by country of origin.
|
Nationality |
Total IP Applications 2023 |
|
Nigeria |
2084 |
|
Algeria |
1462 |
|
Afghanistan |
1106 |
|
Somalia |
1098 |
|
Georgia |
1065 |
|
Zimbabwe |
774 |
|
Pakistan |
624 |
|
South Africa |
492 |
|
Bangladesh |
445 |
|
Botswana |
343 |
|
Egypt |
283 |
|
Ukraine |
216 |
|
Syrian Arab Republic |
194 |
|
Congo, The Democratic Republic Of The |
177 |
|
Morocco |
177 |
|
Brazil |
170 |
|
Albania |
168 |
|
Sudan |
167 |
|
El Salvador |
159 |
|
India |
143 |
|
Bolivia |
119 |
|
Iraq |
119 |
|
Palestinian Territory, Occupied |
115 |
|
Swaziland |
105 |
|
Ghana |
86 |
|
Malawi |
82 |
|
China (Including Hong Kong) |
81 |
|
Jordan |
78 |
|
Nicaragua |
71 |
|
Iran (Islamic Republic Of) |
69 |
|
Tunisia |
60 |
|
Ethiopia |
43 |
|
Kosovo / UNSCR 1244 |
41 |
|
Mauritius |
39 |
|
Kenya |
37 |
|
Angola |
37 |
|
Viet Nam |
36 |
|
Cameroon |
35 |
|
Uganda |
34 |
|
Yemen |
34 |
|
Guatemala |
34 |
|
Eritrea |
31 |
|
Nepal |
29 |
|
Stateless |
29 |
|
Russian Federation |
29 |
|
Turkey |
29 |
|
Mexico |
28 |
|
Kuwait |
27 |
|
Sierra Leone |
26 |
|
United States Of America |
18 |
|
Venezuela |
18 |
|
Libyan Arab Jamahiriya |
16 |
|
Namibia |
13 |
|
Colombia |
12 |
|
United Kingdom |
12 |
|
Zambia |
12 |
|
Honduras |
11 |
|
Sri Lanka |
11 |
|
Chile |
10 |
|
Gambia |
10 |
|
Lesotho |
9 |
|
Israel |
9 |
|
Mongolia |
9 |
|
Argentina |
9 |
|
Panama |
8 |
|
Tanzania, United Republic Of |
8 |
|
Korea, Democratic People's Republic Of (North Korea) |
8 |
|
Congo, The Republic Of The |
8 |
|
Guyana |
7 |
|
Uzbekistan |
7 |
|
Togo |
7 |
|
Azerbaijan |
7 |
|
Belarus |
7 |
|
Lebanon |
6 |
|
Moldova, Republic Of |
6 |
|
Saudi Arabia |
6 |
|
Myanmar |
6 |
|
Burundi |
6 |
|
Malaysia |
6 |
|
Other* |
66 |
|
Total |
13277 |
|
Nationality |
Total IP Applications 2022 |
|
Georgia |
2710 |
|
Algeria |
1766 |
|
Somalia |
1566 |
|
Nigeria |
1108 |
|
Zimbabwe |
973 |
|
Afghanistan |
846 |
|
South Africa |
450 |
|
Ukraine |
422 |
|
Botswana |
370 |
|
Egypt |
339 |
|
Pakistan |
243 |
|
Albania |
219 |
|
Congo, The Democratic Republic Of The |
187 |
|
Morocco |
178 |
|
El Salvador |
177 |
|
Bangladesh |
159 |
|
Syrian Arab Republic |
98 |
|
Sudan |
97 |
|
Malawi |
94 |
|
Brazil |
91 |
|
Sierra Leone |
78 |
|
Iraq |
77 |
|
Ethiopia |
74 |
|
India |
70 |
|
Iran (Islamic Republic Of) |
69 |
|
Russian Federation |
69 |
|
Ghana |
67 |
|
Nicaragua |
61 |
|
Swaziland |
59 |
|
Tunisia |
51 |
|
Bolivia |
45 |
|
Kenya |
44 |
|
Türkiye |
43 |
|
Uganda |
42 |
|
Yemen |
40 |
|
Palestinian Territory, Occupied |
35 |
|
Eritrea |
34 |
|
Togo |
33 |
|
Cameroon |
27 |
|
Jordan |
27 |
|
Malaysia |
27 |
|
Nepal |
27 |
|
Angola |
26 |
|
Venezuela |
26 |
|
Mauritius |
25 |
|
Kosovo / UNSCR 1244 |
23 |
|
Belarus |
21 |
|
Viet Nam |
20 |
|
Libyan Arab Jamahiriya |
19 |
|
Kuwait |
18 |
|
Guatemala |
17 |
|
Lebanon |
15 |
|
Stateless |
14 |
|
Saudi Arabia |
13 |
|
Burundi |
12 |
|
China (Including Hong Kong) |
12 |
|
United States Of America |
12 |
|
Honduras |
10 |
|
Sri Lanka |
10 |
|
Myanmar |
9 |
|
United Kingdom |
9 |
|
Azerbaijan |
7 |
|
Panama |
7 |
|
Israel |
6 |
|
Kazakhstan |
6 |
|
Tanzania, United Republic Of |
6 |
|
Other* |
113 |
|
Total |
13649 |
Notes
- Figures are correct at time of issue and may be subject to data cleansing.
- It is the policy of the Department not to release numbers where there are less than 5 in respect of any nationality, as there is a possibility that a person may be identifiable by releasing such information.
1431. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of persons at present who have applied for international protection and sought accommodation under the direct provision scheme who were refused accommodation; whether these are all exclusively male; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1810/24]
View answerIreland is now accommodating over 101,000 people between those fleeing Ukraine and International Protection (IP) applicants. This includes almost 75,000 Ukrainian people who have sought accommodation from the State and over 26,000 IPAs currently in International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) accommodation.
Despite intensive efforts to source emergency accommodation, the Department is currently not in a position to provide accommodation to all International Protection (IP) applicants due to the severe shortage.
All IP applicants who present to the International Protection Office (IPO) during this period are assessed by IPAS and HSE staff for significant vulnerabilities and health issues, and prioritised for accommodation as necessary.
IP applicants who are not provided with accommodation receive a temporary increase of €75 to their Daily Expense Allowance (DEA). This increases the allowance from the current rate of €38.80 per week to €113.80 a week for all eligible applicants.
As at 11th January 2024, 569 single adult males are awaiting an offer of accommodation. While demand continues to outstrip supply, particularly for single male adults, the Department is ensuring that all single adult women, families and children have been accommodated.
The Department is continuing to work intensively to source further accommodation and to follow up with those IP applicants awaiting an offer of accommodation. The Department publishes figures relating to IP applicant’s awaiting an offer of accommodation twice weekly, on the Gov.ie website:
gov.ie - Statistics on International Protection Applicants not offered accommodation (www.gov.ie).
Drop-in day services are provided to all non-accommodated persons who wish to avail of them. In such centres, IP applicants can access facilities including hot showers, meals and laundry services seven days a week.
All unaccommodated IP applicants are provided with the contact details for IPAS and with information on accessing health and other public services in Ireland.
1432. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he can provide an update on a review (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1852/24]
View answerThe issue of transport and mobility supports for people with disabilities is a key priority that has implications for several departments and agencies across Government, including my own.
Under the National Disability Inclusion Strategy 2017-2022, a Transport Working Group was established under Action 104 to make progress on an important cross-Government initiative to review transport and mobility supports for people with disabilities and to advance proposals for the enhancement of these supports going forward. The Transport Working Group's work has now concluded and its final report was published in February 2023 ("Proposals for the Development and Coordination of Enhanced Transport and Mobility Support Options for People with Disabilities"). The report conveys the contributions and proposals made by members of the Group for the enhancement of transport and mobility supports for people with disabilities.
Transport and mobility supports are critical in supporting inclusion and independent living. For that reason, it is incumbent on colleagues across Government with responsibility for transport and mobility supports to carefully consider how the recommendations of the Transport Working Group ought to be advanced with their respective responsibilities and in light of the schemes and supports that they administer and operate.
Within my own Department, I am giving full and due consideration to the recommendations of the Transport Working Group in relation to my own responsibilities in the delivery of specialist disability services, and my officials are engaging at a senior level with colleagues across government to map out next steps in a complex policy environment. To this end, a Senior Officials Group has been convened by the Department of the Taoiseach to consider recommendations on foot of the final report of the Transport Working Group. My Department is actively engaged with.
Both the work of the Senior Officials Group and the Transport Working Group's final report will feed significantly into the development of the next National Disability Strategy, which will take ambitious action to ensure that persons with disabilities have access to the necessary transport supports that allow them to live lives of their own choosing within their communities.
1433. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a property is being considered as an IPAS accommodation centre (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1880/24]
View answerI thank the Deputy for his question. A response will be provided directly to the Deputy in the coming days.
1434. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when a child (details supplied) will receive an appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1882/24]
View answerAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible. The Deputy will be aware that due to the ongoing industrial action by FORSA administrative and management grade staff in the HSE (which commenced on 6 October, 2023), delays remain in receiving answers to parliamentary questions and ministerial representations.
1435. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what progress has been made on a child’s case (details supplied), a previous Parliamentary Question having been submitted almost a year ago and no progress made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1888/24]
View answerAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible. The Deputy will be aware that due to the ongoing industrial action by FORSA administrative and management grade staff in the HSE (which commenced on 6 October, 2023), delays remain in receiving answers to parliamentary questions and ministerial representations.
1436. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children on disability service waiting lists for children’s disability networks teams, by CHO/CDNT at the end of each month of each year 2019-2023, inclusive, in tabular form; the average length of wait; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1889/24]
View answerAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible. The Deputy will be aware that due to the ongoing industrial action by FORSA administrative and management grade staff in the HSE (which commenced on 6 October, 2023), delays remain in receiving answers to parliamentary questions and ministerial representations.
1437. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of people on disability service waiting lists for each service type, excluding children’s disability network teams, at the end of each month of each year 2019-2023, inclusive, in tabular form;; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1890/24]
View answerAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible. The Deputy will be aware that due to the ongoing industrial action by FORSA administrative and management grade staff in the HSE (which commenced on 6 October, 2023), delays remain in receiving answers to parliamentary questions and ministerial representations. The HSE has been engaged with Forsa on the dispute through the auspices of the WRC and in that regard the WRC has invited the HSE and Forsa to a further hearing next Wednesday, 17 January, to seek to find a resolution to the dispute.
1438. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children on waiting lists for an assessment of need at the end of each month of each year 2019-2023, inclusive; the number overdue for completion; and the average length of wait, in tabular form. [1891/24]
View answerAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible. The Deputy will be aware that due to the ongoing industrial action by FORSA administrative and management grade staff in the HSE (which commenced on 6 October, 2023), delays remain in receiving answers to parliamentary questions and ministerial representations.
1439. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department is examining a property (details supplied) as a location for the accommodation of refugees or asylum seekers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1892/24]
View answerI thank the Deputy for his question. A response will be provided directly to the Deputy in the coming days.
1440. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason the hydrotherapy pool in Cavan is still without clinical staff trained to deliver hydrotherapy in a service (details supplied) to users in need of the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1898/24]
View answerAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible. The Deputy will be aware that due to the ongoing industrial action by FORSA administrative and management grade staff in the HSE (which commenced on 6 October, 2023), delays remain in receiving answers to parliamentary questions and ministerial representations.
