Written Answers Nos. 1819-1838
1824. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated cost of implementing a 12% increase across the board for youth funding schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32231/24]
View answer1825. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated cost to implement a 13.5% increase in both UBU-Your Place Your Space and the youth services grant scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32232/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1824 and 1825 together.
The estimated total cost to implement a 12% increase in funding for Youth Organisations and Services, B06 in my Department's budget, would be €9,353,760, as outlined in the following table.
B06 Funding (Current) for Youth Organisations and Services (Part funded by the National Lottery)
|
Grant Scheme Funding provided under B06 Funding (Current) for Youth Organisations and Services (Part funded by the National Lottery. |
2024 Funding Provision per Scheme |
Cost of a 12% Increase on 2024 funding provision |
Funding provision required incorporating 12% increase |
|
UBU Your Place Your Space Scheme |
€48,042,698 |
€5,765,124 |
€53,807,822 |
|
Youth Services Grant Scheme |
€14,572,169 |
€1,748,660 |
€16,320,829 |
|
Local Youth Club Grant Scheme |
€2,500,000 |
€300,000 |
€2,800,000 |
|
Youth Information Centres |
€1,534,006 |
€184,081 |
€1,718,087 |
|
Targeted Youth Employability Support Initiative |
€1,000,000 |
€120,000 |
€1,120,000 |
|
Total Cost of B06 Grant Schemes |
€67,648,873 |
€8,117,865 |
€75,766,738 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non- Grant Scheme Funding provided under B06 Funding (Current) for Youth Organisations and Services (Part funded by the National Lottery. |
2024 Funding Provision per Scheme |
Cost of a 12% Increase on 2024 funding provision |
Funding provision required incorporating 12% increase
|
|
ETB Youth Grant |
€5,208,196 |
€624,984 |
€5,833,180 |
|
New Initiatives and other funding streams |
€1,260,000 |
€151,200 |
€1,411,200 |
|
Other National Youth Organisations and Youth Initiatives |
€2,071,034 |
€248,524 |
€2,319,558 |
|
Policy and Support Programmes (inc. contingency) |
€1,759,897 |
€211,188 |
€1,971,085 |
|
Total Cost of B06 Non Grant |
€10,299,127 |
€1,235,895 |
€11,535,022 |
|
Overall B06 Total |
€77,948,000 |
€9,353,760 |
€87,301,760 |
The estimated cost to implement a 13.5% increase in both UBU Your Place Your Space and the Youth Services Grant Scheme is outlined in the table below.
|
Grant Scheme Funding provided under B06 Funding (Current) for Youth Organisations and Services (Part funded by the National Lottery. |
2024 Funding Provision per Scheme |
Cost of a 13.5% Increase on 2024 funding provision |
Funding provision required incorporating 13.5% increase |
|
UBU Your Place Your Space Scheme |
€48,042,698 |
€6,485,764 |
€54,528,462 |
|
Youth Services Grant Scheme |
€14,572,169 |
€1,967,243 |
€16,539,412 |
|
Total |
€62,614,867 |
€8,453,007 |
€71,067,874 |
1826. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will permit a person (details supplied) to leave a direct provision centre and receive the weekly unhoused international protection applicant payment; if not, if they will be transferred to more suitable direct provision centre; and if he will instruct his Department to take urgent action to provide the support needed, given the details of this case. [32253/24]
View answerThe International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) cannot comment on individual cases. However, I can confirm that the details supplied have been shared with the IPAS Resident Welfare Team.
IPAS is always available to deal with any complaints from residents and residents are encouraged to engage with IPAS if they are unhappy with any aspect of their accommodation. Where a complaint is significant in nature or a resident is not comfortable raising a complaint with a centre manager, they may make the complaint directly, or through a representative authorised to act on their behalf, to the IPAS Customer Service Team.
If they wish to request IPAS accommodation they may contact the IPAS helpdesk to seek advice. The IPAS helpdesk can be contacted by email ipasinbox@equality.gov.ie.
In the event of a resident not feeling comfortable with contacting the Department directly or the centre management, the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) operate a confidential support helpline for all residents being accommodated by IPAS. The Freephone helpline is operated by the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS). If a resident wishes, a complaint made through this service may be passed, in confidence, to IPAS for investigation and resolution. All residents have access to this independent support helpline. IPAS is working to facilitate clinics at centres, in line with public health restrictions. The Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) helpline contact number is 1800 929 00 or email: info@jrs.ie.
All people seeking international protection (IP) have access to the services of the Ombudsman, should they consider that their complaint has not been managed appropriately.
1827. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a response will issue to correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32270/24]
View answerAccording to my Department’s records, a reply to the correspondence cited by the Deputy issued on June 12th this year.
My officials have begun work on a review of the UBU Your Place Your Space scheme, which will inform policy on how best to allocate funding to support young people who are disadvantaged, marginalised or vulnerable.
In respect of the queries regarding the UBU Your Place Your Space panel, this refers to a process to manage the allocation of additional funding that may become available over the course of the scheme's 3 year funding cycle.
The panel set up during Cycle 1 of the scheme, due to expire at the end of 2023, was extended to the end of 2024. Any further expansion of UBU funded services from 2025 will be subject to a call for applications from ETBs. However, my officials are currently examining how best to support youth provision in ETB areas which have historically received lower funding allocations.
1828. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he intends to allow parents whose children are on long waiting lists for essential therapies to be reimbursed the cost of going private where they cannot get the support needed publicly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32276/24]
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.
1829. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 596 of 9 July 2024, if an issue with a referral for a person (details supplied) will be examined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32283/24]
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.
1830. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a relocation order for a family (details supplied) will be re-examined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32286/24]
View answerI am advised by my officials that compliance issues had been identified in the property where the family to which the Deputy refers is accommodated. These have now been resolved and the relocation of this family is no longer required.
While I cannot go into detail on specific compliance cases, compliance issues include but are not limited to:
• The health, safety and wellbeing of Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection in state-supported emergency accommodation.
• Overcharging by providers for the provision of their accommodation.
• Unregulated secondary properties that were being utilised by providers.
• Private and residential properties that were being utilised and retained by the Department when further commercial properties were available.
Since 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 request it, in line with Government policy. This supports them to make longer term independent arrangements if they decide to remain in Ireland.
My Department aims to ensure that our portfolio of accommodation meets the evolving needs of the State’s response to the Ukraine Crisis.
In recent months we have seen decreases in arrivals from Ukraine to Ireland, decreases in those arriving who request accommodation from the State and greater numbers of Ukrainians who choose to move on from State accommodation.
As a result, my Department is currently seeking to consolidate and rationalise its BOTP accommodation portfolio to ensure greater compliance with standards and better value for money.
Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection are entitled to make their own private arrangements including potentially availing of pledged accommodation if they wish, and can avail of some supports to do so. Those wishing to avail of pledged accommodation in any given area should contact the Local Authority in that area or the Irish Red Cross pledge process. The Irish Red Cross can be contacted by email at registerofpledges@redcross.ie or by phoning 1800 50 70 70.
BOTPS may also explore private rented accommodation either through their own means or with the assistance of Rent Supplement, if eligible. Rent Supplement is a means-tested payment administered by the Department of Social Protection to help meet the cost of private rented accommodation. Their local Department of Social Protection office may be able to provide further information relating to Rent Supplement. Contact details for the local offices can be found on www.gov.ie/en/directory/category/e1f4b5-intreo-offices/?referrer=http://www.gov.ie/en/service/40cf48-find-your-local-intreo-office/.
1831. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children waiting for an assessment of need in each of the CHO areas of Cork city and county for 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024; the average waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32315/24]
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.
1832. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of times staff from his Department, or any other Government Department, have consulted in person with community groups regarding the location of IPAS applicants in each of the past five years. [32345/24]
View answer1833. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of times staff from his Department, or any other Government Department, have consulted in writing with community groups regarding the location of IPAS applicants in each of the past five years. [32346/24]
View answer1834. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of times staff from his Department, or any other Government Department, have consulted on any teleconferencing systems (details supplied), with community groups regarding the location of IPAS applicants in each of the past five years. [32347/24]
View answer1835. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of times he has consulted in person with community groups regarding the location of IPAS applicants in each of the past five years. [32348/24]
View answer1836. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of times has he personally consulted in writing with community groups regarding the location of IPAS applicants in each of the past five years. [32349/24]
View answer1837. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of times has he personally consulted on any teleconferencing system (details supplied) with community groups regarding the location of IPAS applicants in each of the past five years. [32350/24]
View answer1838. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the form of any consultations he had with community groups regarding the locating of IPAS applicants in each of the past five years. [32351/24]
View answer1839. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of IPAS centres located in higher socio-economic areas in each of the past five years. [32352/24]
View answer1840. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of IPAS centres located in middle socio-economic areas in each of the past five years. [32353/24]
View answer1841. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of IPAS centres located in lower socio-economic areas in each of the past five years. [32354/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1832 to 1841, inclusive, together.
A Community Engagement Team (CET) has been established within the Department of Integration to engage directly with elected representatives, relevant Local Authorities, Local Development Companies, and other entities and individuals. The purpose of the team is to improve the flow of information regarding arrivals into areas and to help equip local communities with the accurate information required to help them understand the current situation and to assist with the welcome and integration process for new arrivals.
The CET has been operating since October 2023. It consists of a National Lead on Civic Engagement, two additional team members to support the on-the-ground engagement (part-time basis) and an administrative team. The CET is activated for openings which need additional support and are agreed with IPAS Team, Ukrainian Team and Ministers offices. The openings which the CET support can also be selected if requested by a public representative or a local community leader and it is deemed appropriate.
As of 22 July, the Community Engagement Team issued 92 detailed briefing notes setting out all the details of an accommodation centre including the capacity, contracted service provision and resident profile. The briefing documents are issued to local elected representatives to assist them with in their work at community level, the Local Authority, the Local Development Company and relevant interdepartmental colleagues. Since its establishment, the CET was requested to actively engage on 50 open or proposed accommodation centres. As part of that work, the CET engaged with community members and or community representative groups on approximately 58 occasions about 26 accommodation centres.
Listings of IPAS accommodation centre locations sorted by lower, middle or higher socio-economic are not held by this Department at this time. Weekly and monthly statistics are published on the gov.ie at the link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/07027-ipas-statistics/.
This includes a by county breakdown of where people seeking international protection are resident.
