Written Answers Nos. 465-474
465. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if and when required supports including assessment of need can be provided in the case of the son of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3841/24]
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 FÓRSA 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 Fórsa through the auspices of the WRC in an effort to resolve the dispute but a resolution has not been reached as of yet.
466. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for a breakdown by county and, in Dublin, by post code of the total number of people in International Protection Accommodation Services or direct provision. [3845/24]
View answerIreland and many other European countries are experiencing a significant increase of people seeking international protection (IP).
As at 21 January 2024, there were over 26,700 people accommodated in the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) system as a whole (of whom over 5,800 are children).
IPAS releases weekly statistics in relation to international protection (IP) applicants. This includes a per county breakdown of where IP applicants are residing. These statistics are located on the Gov.ie website: gov.ie - IPAS Statistics (www.gov.ie)
Please see, in tabular format, the breakdown per county. Information related to the number of applicants by Eircode in Dublin is not routinely collated. The information sought is now being collated and will issue directly to the Deputy shortly.
|
County |
Total Occupancy |
|
Carlow |
211 |
|
Cavan |
160 |
|
Clare |
715 |
|
Cork City |
626 |
|
Cork County |
974 |
|
Donegal |
1669 |
|
Dublin City |
3118 |
|
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown |
793 |
|
Fingal County |
2384 |
|
Galway City Council |
1123 |
|
Galway County Council |
167 |
|
Kerry |
804 |
|
Kildare |
774 |
|
Kilkenny |
147 |
|
Laois |
616 |
|
Leitrim |
87 |
|
Limerick City and County |
407 |
|
Longford |
143 |
|
Louth |
886 |
|
Mayo |
1344 |
|
Meath |
905 |
|
Monaghan |
577 |
|
Offaly |
249 |
|
Roscommon |
194 |
|
Sligo |
435 |
|
South County Dublin |
3370 |
|
Tipperary |
580 |
|
Waterford |
655 |
|
Westmeath |
779 |
|
Wexford |
594 |
|
Wicklow |
1259 |
|
Total |
26754 |
467. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he has been furnished with the protected disclosure to Tusla, referenced in a media article (details supplied); and if he will instruct Tusla to release the protected disclosure, with appropriate redactions, to this Deputy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3846/24]
View answerI can confirm that my Department does not hold any records in relation to any stated protected disclosure. This therefore is an operational matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency to respond to.
468. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth how many inspections of accommodation centres provided pursuant to the European Communities (Reception Conditions) Regulations 2018 and centres accommodating beneficiaries of temporary protection, respectively, were carried out in each month of 2023, excluding inspections of prospective centres prior to occupation; and how many instances of a discrepancy between occupancy found and registers provided to the Department were found in each month. [3861/24]
View answerIn relation to inspections of accommodation centres provided pursuant to the European Communities (Reception Conditions) Regulations 2018 and centres accommodating Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection, figures for 2023 were not collated in the manner which the Deputy has requested.
There were over 200 inspections carried out in 2023 for International Protection (IP) and BOTP accommodation.
469. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to outline the purpose of inspections of accommodation centres provided pursuant to the European Communities (Reception Conditions) Regulations 2018 and centres accommodating beneficiaries of temporary protection, respectively. [3862/24]
View answerBeneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs)
I am advised by my officials that as part of the contractual arrangements with providers of accommodation for BOTPs, my Department sets out a number of requirements which providers must meet in terms of service provision, including delivery of key services, and compliance with all obligations in terms of health and safety, child protection, and other matters.
The purpose of inspections is to ensure that the accommodation provider is providing an accommodation service as contracted. This can include, for example, verifying that the property is commercial; it has the number of bedrooms agreed in the contract; meals are provided in full board accommodation; and kitchen and laundry facilities are available in self-catering accommodation. Inspections can be either ad hoc, following a complaint or query, or scheduled as part of a planned approach to reviewing contracted accommodation. Where appropriate, the inspection is unannounced.
The inspector will provide a report and any confirmed breaches of requirements are followed up with the accommodation providers. Failure to address contractual breaches may impact on payments to a provider or, in severe cases, could lead to the termination of contracts and relocation of BOTPs.
My Department has recently gone out to the market to procure inspection services under two lots, one for BOTP accommodation and the other for IP accommodation. It is anticipated that the contracts will be in place shortly.
International Protection (IP)
International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) has taken steps to support adherence to the National Standards through its contract arrangements with permanent accommodation centres.
These National Standards were developed to meet minimum standards set out in the EASO Guidance on Reception Conditions, the Recast Reception Conditions Directive and the European Communities (Reception Conditions) Regulations. The National Standards address a range of issues relating to accommodation; food and catering; individual, community and family life; health and wellbeing; governance; and meeting the special reception needs of applicants seeking international protection. Compliance with the National Standards is measured through on-site assessment.
I am advised by my officials that as part of our contractual arrangements with accommodation providers we set out a number of requirements which providers must meet in terms of service provision. This includes the delivery of key services such as laundry, meals (including cultural/dietary requirements) in serviced accommodation and cooking facilities in self-catering accommodation, and compliance with all obligations in terms of health and safety and child protection. Any alleged breaches of the foregoing are investigated by my Department.
It is the Government's intention that the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) will monitor accommodation offered to people in the protection process for adherence to the National Standards, which were adopted by Government and published in 2019, and came into effect in 2021.
This agreement is time limited to the end of 2024, though it may be extended by agreement of my Department and the Minister for Health.
HIQA's role will apply to all ‘permanent’ centres contracted by the IPAS. ‘Emergency’ centres are subject to separate contractual arrangements. All IPAS accommodation centres are already subject to regular unannounced inspections, both by my officials in IPAS and by an independent inspectorate company.
470. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to outline how the inspectors of accommodation centres provided pursuant to the European Communities (Reception Conditions) Regulations 2018 and centres accommodating beneficiaries of temporary protection, respectively, verify the occupancy levels provided to his Department in respect of the said centre. [3863/24]
View answerInternational Protection (IP)
International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) works at all times to ensure accommodation is utilised in the most effective manner possible. All IPAS centres are subject to regular unannounced inspections, both by my officials in IPAS and by an independent inspectorate company.
Every IPAS centre is contractually obliged to record the name and Temporary Residence Certificate reference number of each resident in the official register of those seeking international protection on their arrival at the Centre and thereafter on a daily basis. Residents are recorded as ‘Present’, ‘Absent’ or ‘Bed held while in hospital.’
An updated copy of the register, including arrivals, departures, vacancies and reconciliation sheets are to be submitted to my Department on a weekly basis – as contractually obliged.
On the day of an inspection, a copy of the centre’s official register is requested. Inspectors check every contracted bedroom against the official register to determine if there are any discrepancies between occupancy on the day of inspection and the official register.
If an inspector determines that there are any such discrepancies, the relevant IPAS team responsible for bed management is immediately notified. For example, a resident may have vacated their accommodation just prior to the day of inspection. In this scenario, IPAS will arrange for the accommodation to be assigned to another international protection applicant.
Although any such discrepancies between actual occupancy and the official register may be noted in individual inspection reports, this information is not collated in the manner requested.
Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTP)
I am advised by my officials that as part of our contractual arrangements with accommodation providers for Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) we set out a number of requirements which providers must meet in terms of service provision, including delivery of key services, laundry, meals (including cultural/dietary requirements) in serviced accommodation, and cooking facilities in self-catering accommodation, and compliance with all obligations in terms of health and safety, child protection etc.
Where my Department becomes aware of potential issues with a provider or where a specific concern is raised by residents, officials will request an inspection by an independent inspections company. Where appropriate, inspections are unannounced. The inspector will provide a report and any confirmed breaches of requirements are followed up with the accommodation providers. Failure to address contractual breaches may impact on payments to a provider or, in severe cases, could lead to the termination of contracts.
During these inspections that are solely for the purpose of verifying the safety and suitability of contracted properties, occupancy levels are not specifically checked, but may form part of the report if relevant due to overcrowding for example. During inspections where DCEDIY officials attend, however, occupancy levels are checked.
A new contract for Inspection Services for BOTP accommodation will be in place shortly.
471. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth how many withdrawals or reductions of material reception conditions, respectively, were made in 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023, respectively where the fact that a first instance decision in respect of the applicant's protection application has not been made can be attributed, or attributed in part, to the applicant or he or she, without reasonable excuse, is failing, or has failed to comply with an obligation under an enactment relating to the application, respectively. [3864/24]
View answerFor DCEDIY to withdraw or reduce material reception conditions as outlined, the International Protection Office would be required to inform this Department of an applicants failure to comply with an obligation as part of the first instance process.
To the best of our records there has not been such a communication from the International Protection Office in respect of an applicant in the first instance process who has failed to comply with any obligation.
As such, this Department did not reduce or withdraw material reception conditions from any applicant in the years queried.
472. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an update on the review of transport services for residents of a centre (details supplied). [3873/24]
View answerTemple Spa Accommodation Centre is located 9km east of Moate, located on a small local road so a bus stop for Bus Eireann services would not be an option as there would be no passing buses on this type of road.
To facilitate international applicants resident at the Temple Spa Accommodation Centre, there is a shuttle service contracted seven days a week for trips to and from Moate and Athlone. The service provides a twice-daily pickup and drop off from the centre, Monday to Thursday and Saturday, and once on Friday and Sunday.
Residents who require emergency or incidental transportation can avail of reimbursement of their taxi fares through their local Community Welfare Officer (CWO), once relevant documentation is supplied.
Where non-emergency transportation is required, the shuttle bus service allows residents to access recreational, educational, medical facilities and other services.
473. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the amount of equipment issued under AIMS in 2023; and the type of equipment issued and the time it took for the equipment to be issued to educational providers, in tabular form. [3881/24]
View answerLevel 5 of the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) is a targeted support and recognises that some children require specialised equipment, appliances and assistive technology, depending on their individual needs. Supports include grants for early learning and care settings who may require equipment or minor structural alterations to ensure that children with a disability can participate in the ECCE programme.
Information is provided for the calendar year 2023 in the table below, including the number of items of equipment supplied, and the type and the average processing time. Equipment is delivered to a service by third parties under contract to Pobal.
Much of the equipment provided needs to be tailored and built to an individual child's needs and may therefore take longer to build and deliver. This can mean a lead-in time is necessary to build and/or adjust such equipment in consultation with key specialists. As a result, providers may occasionally experience delays in equipment supply.
|
Year |
Number of pieces of equipment |
Type of Equipment |
Average Processing Time |
|
2023 |
274 |
- Acoustic Treatments - Assistive Technology/Equipment - Free-standing changing units - Gait trainers/walking frames - Hoists and slings - Portable ramps - Positioning Supports - Specialised Play Equipment - Specialised seating - Standers/Standing Frames - Toileting Supports - Wall-mounted changing units |
42 working days |
474. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the amount TUSLA spent on youth counselling services in 2023. [3882/24]
View answerStatutory and operational responsibility for the delivery of child protection and welfare services is a matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. The Deputy is seeking information in relation to an operational matter for Tusla. Consequently, I have referred the matter to Tusla, and requested that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.
