Wednesday, 22 Jan 2025

Written Answers Nos. 1201-1220

Departmental Data

Questions (1201)

Emer Currie

Question:

1201. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of childcare providers in Dublin West that are eligible for core funding; the number signed up for core funding in 2024 and 2025; the number that have applied for a fee adjustment for 2024 and 2025; the number of those successful, rejected or pending a decision; the number of creches that have appealed the decision, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46916/24]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

Core Funding represents a significant increase in investment for the sector, with €259 million of funding paid directly to services in year 1 of the scheme (September 2022-August 2023) rising to €287 million in year 2 (September 2023-August 2024) and €331 million in year 3 (September 2024-August 2025).

Data on Core Funding uptake and the Fee Increase Assessment Process is available by City/County Childcare Committee level.  Dublin City, Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown , Fingal and South Dublin.

The table below outlines the Core Funding uptake in Dublin City, Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown , Fingal and South Dublin for the 2024/2025 programme year.

AREA	SERVICES SIGNED UP TO CORE FUNDING	SERVICES ELIGIBLE FOR CORE FUNDING	UPTAKE
Dublin City	384	437	88%
Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown	155	189	82%
Fingal	262	306	86%
South Dublin	203	229	89%
TOTAL	1004	1161	86% (Average)

The Fee Increase Assessment (FIA) process commenced on 1 August 2024. The process closed for applications on the 29 November 2024 and in the interest of fairness, providers are also given the right to a review or appeal. My Department is still working through applications and appeals, therefore it is not possible to give the final number of applications approved for an increase.

The table below outlined the number of providers, as of the 13 January 2025,  that have applied for FIA 2024/2025; the number of those successful, rejected or pending a decision and the number that have appealed the decision.

Areas	Applications	Decisions sent	Successful	Rejected	Pending	Appealed
Fingal	97	63	45	18	34	13
South Dublin	80	65	44	21	15	3
Dublin City	103	91	64	27	12	14
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown	66	54	32	22	12	1

 *Please Note: The applications number is the amount of services who fully completed their application and does not include services who only declared an interest, or self-declaration form.

Appointments to State Boards

Questions (1202)

Alan Kelly

Question:

1202. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a list will be provided of all persons appointed to State or semi-State boards under his remit since 1 November 2024. [46922/24]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

The President appointed Mr. Liam Herrick as Chief Commissioner to the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission on 25 November 2025. 

No other appointments were made to boards of bodies under the aegis of this Department since 1 November 2024.

Departmental Regulations

Questions (1203)

Alan Kelly

Question:

1203. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there is any regulation around crèches asking for deposits or holding fees from parents who require their services; and if so, if it is being considered. [46939/24]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

The return of deposits is usually governed by local agreement which occurred between the parent/guardian  and the service in question.

In most instances where a parent/guardian provided a deposit to a Core Funding Partner Service after 1 September 2024, the Partner Service must return this to the parent/ guardian once the child’s registration is approved on the Hive or within four weeks of the child taking up the place, whichever is sooner.

Any parent/guardian with concerns surrounding deposits in a Core Funding Partner Service is advised to discuss this with the service directly through the Partner Services Complaints Policy in the first instance.

If either party is unsatisfied with the outcome of this engagement between parent/guardian and Partner Service, they are advised to contact the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) should they wish to do so. The CCPC can inform both parties of their rights and responsibilities regarding deposits for services in specific scenarios.

 With regard to Early Learning and Care services providing the ECCE programme, providers may charge a refundable booking deposit to hold an ECCE place for a child. The maximum deposit a provider may charge is equivalent to four weeks ECCE payment, which amounts to €258.  This must appear on the service provider’s fees list. 

The deposit must be returned to the parent or guardian once the child is registered and approved on the ECCE programme.  Services may not charge any non-refundable deposit for ECCE.

Parents/guardians can also contact their local CCC for guidance regarding deposits. The local CCC can escalate this issue to the Department only if it meets the specific criteria of a deposit collected and not returned within the current Core Funding agreement programme year. This can be escalated then through the Fee Review process.  Contact details for the local CCC can be found at gov.ie - City and County Childcare Committees.

Health Services

Questions (1204)

Maurice Quinlivan

Question:

1204. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if an assessment for a person (details supplied) will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1072/25]

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.

Departmental Projects

Questions (1205, 1206)

Carol Nolan

Question:

1205. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 533 of 15 October 2024 (details supplied), to provide an update on the working group established to look at institutional and organisational abuse, including its examination of the UCD SERP report; if any recommendations have been made by the group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1080/25]

Carol Nolan

Question:

1206. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 533 of 15 October 2024 (details supplied), to provide details and costs of the external research contracted by his Department to provide the working group with definitional clarification of abuse categories; if the researcher has reported back to this group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1081/25]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1205 and 1206 together.

As the Deputy is aware, on 22 June 2023, the UCD Sexual Exploitation Research Programme (SERP) published a report, “Protecting Against Predators: A Scoping Study on the Sexual Exploitation of Children and Young People in Ireland.’ The report sought to establish the level of awareness of child sexual abuse amongst key stakeholders from across a variety of sectors.

Prior to the publication of the report, my Department established a Working Group looking at institutional and organisational abuse. This Group is currently considering the UCD SERP report and making recommendations as required, after which my Department will consider any further steps as may be necessary.

Tusla and my Department have jointly commissioned a literature review which will aid the deliberations and decision making about how Tusla responds to and intervenes in the institutional, organisational, and organised abuse of children and young people. The work of this project is confined to the examination of institutional, organisational, and organised abuse.

The joint working group awaits the completed literature review to inform its continued work in this area throughout 2025. It is expected that the research company will submit its report for consideration in late Q1 2025.

Question No. 1206 answered with Question No. 1205.

Departmental Data

Questions (1207)

Carol Nolan

Question:

1207. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for a breakdown of the staff numbers and grade in each of the Children's Disability Network Teams, CDNTs, in County Offaly in 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1085/25]

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.

Disabilities Assessments

Questions (1208)

Carol Nolan

Question:

1208. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for a breakdown of the number of children awaiting an assessment of needs in County Offaly in 2024 and to date in 2025, by age, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1086/25]

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.

Departmental Programmes

Questions (1209)

Marie Sherlock

Question:

1209. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the current status of the targets set out in Work streams 8, 9 and 10 within the Action Plan for Disability Services 2024 – 2026; the further measures that have been taken to address the issues highlighted in the Ombudsman's Wasted Lives report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1091/25]

Written answers

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

This Government is committed to the expansion of specialist services for people with disabilities. The Action Plan for Disability Services 2024-2026 represents a national strategy for capacity increases and service and policy reform in disability services. It was informed by findings from the Disability Capacity Review, published in 2021, in addition to cross-Governmental input and an extensive public consultation. 

Implementation of the Action Plan was supported by new development funding of €74 million in 2024, which provided for new residential services places, day services places, personal assistant hours, as well as funding to support growth of respite services, and development of the community neuro-rehabilitation strategy.

In 2025, a record amount of €336 million has been allocated to disability services. This funding will support the realization of the Action Plan though more new residential services, day service places, personal assistance and home support hours, developments in children’s services, respite and community neuro-rehabilitation, as well funding to further progress decongregation. The specific quantities of service to be provided through this additional allocation will be set out in more detail in the HSE’s National Service Plan.

At national level, a Monitoring Group has been set up to review progress with the Action Plan twice-yearly. The Minister of State for Disabilities chairs the Monitoring Group and membership includes representatives from relevant stakeholders such as Disabled Persons’ Organisations, provider umbrella bodies, and the National Disability Authority. The focus of its work is to review progress including identifying any emerging risks or difficulties, in particular those affecting major items in the Action Plan, or where delivery is well off course. Where appropriate and relevant, the Group may make recommendations on how risks or difficulties can be addressed.

Progress on actions, including those under Workstreams 8, 9 and 10 during the first half of 2024 was presented to the Action Plan Monitoring Group in September 2024. A report on this progress and the views of the Monitoring Group has been compiled and can be accessed here:  gov.ie - Action Plan for Disability Services 2024-2026: Publications The Monitoring Group will meet again in early 2025 to review how actions progressed in the second half of 2024.

The need for increased services is acknowledged and the HSE continues to work with agencies to explore various ways of responding to this need in line with the budget available.

The Ombudsman's Wasted Lives report, published in 2021, identified a nursing home can be an appropriate care option where the person concerned has a clinically assessed complex medical and social care requirement that cannot be supported in the person’s home, however, for some people under the age of 65 nursing homes are not an appropriate placement and alternative supported living solutions are needed to give them greater independence and choice in their daily lives.

The latest data from the HSE indicates that as of July 2024, there are 1,242 people under 65s in Nursing Homes. 15% of these residents are under the age of 50.

The HSE is engaging with a cohort of 575 individuals for review and assessment for transition into the community or continued nursing home placements. As of May 2024 (the latest available data), A total of 81 people have transitioned to homes of their choosing in the community since 2021 (the start of the programme). A further 55 individuals are in active planning for potential discharge.

Additionally, 44 individuals have received additional enhanced quality of life supports, while they are currently continuing their placement in a Nursing Home. As of May 2024, the overall number of individuals continuing their nursing home placement is 340. This is mainly due an individual’s current personal will and preference, or a necessity to stay due to an assessment of need. 

Due to the work of the U65 Integrated Steering Committee, the Health Region/CHO disability teams and the U65 project team, there is a greater awareness across Acutes, Older Persons and Disability services of the need to prevent U65s being placed in NHs.

The HSE indicate that disability teams have developed a greater level of experience in dealing with the needs of the cohort of people under the age of 65 in nursing homes, and there is an on the ground momentum in planning transitions and working with Nursing Homes.  Those individuals who have transitioned have experienced significant improvements in their quality of life.  The wasted lives programme is expected to continue to make good progress.

Departmental Data

Questions (1210)

Eoghan Kenny

Question:

1210. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of home support staff and personal assistants; the number of recipients of home support services and personal assistance services; the number of organisations that provide home support services or personal assistance services for people with disabilities that have exited the service in each CHO and composite LHO area for each month in 2023 and to date in 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1118/25]

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.

Departmental Data

Questions (1211)

Eoghan Kenny

Question:

1211. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of home support staff and personal assistants; the number of recipients of home support services and personal assistance services; the number of organisations that provide home support services or personal assistance services for people with disabilities that have joined the service in each CHO and composite LHO area for each month in 2023 and to date in 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1119/25]

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.

Departmental Projects

Questions (1212)

Sorca Clarke

Question:

1212. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will act to excavate the site at Sean Ross Abbey and fully investigate the burial grounds. [1142/25]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

The Institutional Burials Act 2022 provides a legislative basis for an intervention whereby the remains of those who died in residential institutions, and who were buried in a manifestly inappropriate manner, may be recovered and re-interred in a respectful and appropriate way. Section 7 of the 2022 Act requires that Government must be satisfied that burials have taken place and must have evidence that those burials are manifestly inappropriate in order to establish an Office of Director of Authorised Intervention to undertake an excavation and recovery of remains at a site associated with a particular institution.

The investigation of burial arrangements in Mother and Baby institutions, including the former institution at Sean Ross Abbey, was an important part of the work of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes. The Commission’s final report included a Report of Forensic Archaeological Investigations at Sean Ross Abbey Mother and Baby Home Children’s Burial Ground. The report, which was commissioned on foot of concerns about the burial ground in Sean Ross Abbey, found that infant human burials were located across the Children’s Burial ground and these had not been impacted by any utilities or drainage works. The report notes that coffins, or evidence of coffins, were located with the majority of remains (84%).

As set out in its final report, the Commission was satisfied that the forensic report provided clear evidence that the coffined remains of children under the age of one are buried in the designated burial ground. It noted that, without complete excavation, it was not possible to say conclusively that all of the children who died in Sean Ross were buried in the designated burial ground and that it did not consider that further investigation was warranted.

Following publication of the Commission’s final report I engaged with a local group in relation to their concerns that an area beyond the acknowledged burial ground at Sean Ross Abbey may also contain graves. In 2023, I provided funding to the group to support them in undertaking a survey of the land in question, which was not subject to investigation by the Commission.

The group submitted a copy of the report of the survey to my Department, and, as there is no expertise in the Department to assess it, the Chief Archaeologist in the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage was asked to review it. The Chief Archaeologist’s review, which has been shared with the group concerned, concludes that the survey report is inconclusive, with no clear evidence of burials. I understand, however, that the group continues to have concerns in this regard.

Given that the designated burial ground has been forensically investigated and there is no evidence of manifestly inappropriate burials, and there is also no evidence of manifestly inappropriate burials in the area outside the designated burial ground, it is not possible to bring forward a proposal to establish an Office of Director of Authorised Intervention to excavate the site at Sean Ross Abbey.

Early Childhood Care and Education

Questions (1213)

Ivana Bacik

Question:

1213. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 91 of 15 May 2024 and 372 and 374 of 24 September 2024, when the Pobal early learning and childcare data website will be updated to include data gathered in relation to the 2023-2024 programme year; if he will provide details of what fee levels were charged by each individual service provider receiving core funding in programme years 2021-2022 and 2022-2023, rather than overall median fee levels; and when these historical fee tables for programme years 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 will be made available for each service provider on the national childcare scheme website. [1162/25]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

Each year Pobal compiles data on behalf of my Department from Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) providers as part of the Early Years Sector Profile Survey (EYSP).

The most recently published data from the 2022/23 programme year is available at www.pobal.ie/childcare/earlylearningandchildcaredata/. Data collection for the 2023/24 survey took place between 07 May and 07 June 2024. In total, 4,022 services completed the survey during the data collection window, with a response rate of 87%. It is expected that publication of the data from the 2023/24 survey on the Early Learning and Childcare Data website will begin before the end of February, each dashboard in the series will be updated as results become available.

Historical fees lists for programme years 22/23 and current year are now available on the Childcare Search section of the NCS Website for each individual childcare service. The addition of these fees lists will give parents the ability to check previous years fees where there is a concern.  The fees list tables include which schemes the service has contracted to and whether the service is a partner service under Core Funding. They also include details of session costs, full or part time costs where applicable and any fee extras such as after-school clubs, deposits and any relevant discounts for multiple children dependent on the service offerings. The fees lists are downloadable to pdf format.

Parents can also contact the Parent Support Centre by phone by completing a contact form on the website to ask about year-on-year comparison of fees lists for their individual service. Local city or County Childcare Committee can also provide information and support regarding fees – the CCCs have access to all fees lists for their region.

Childcare Services

Questions (1214)

Ivana Bacik

Question:

1214. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when all available parent statements dating back to programme year 2022-2023 will be made available online, in respect of each service provider signed up to core funding. [1163/25]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

I would like to thank the Deputy for raising the question regarding the publishing of the Parent Statements for Partner Services.

Parents can access Parent Statements for the current programme year through the Childcare Search on the NCS website.  Early Learning and Childcare providers provide parents with a copy of their Parents Statement as part of the child registration process.  Parents can request copies of Parent Statements for previous years from their provider.

Also available on the Childcare Search on the NCS Website are Early Learning and Childcare provider fees lists tables for current and previous programme years, which give parents the ability to track and compare fees year on year.  The fees list tables include which schemes the service has contracted to and whether the service is a partner service under Core Funding.  They also include details of session costs, full or part time costs where applicable and any fee extras such as after-school clubs, deposits and any relevant discounts for multiple children dependent on the service offerings. The fees lists are downloadable to pdf format.

Childcare Services

Questions (1215)

Ivana Bacik

Question:

1215. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of active fee reviews initiated by parents that are underway in each County Childcare Committee, in tabular form; and the number of fee reviews initiated by parents in respect of the 2024-2025 programme year which have concluded. [1164/25]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

Core Funding is a payment to Partner Services designed to support quality, sustainability, and enhanced public management, with associated conditions in relation to fee control and cost transparency, incorporating funding for administration and to support the employment of graduate staff.

Partner Services must uphold their contractual obligations regarding their fees charged to parents/guardians as laid out in the Core Funding Partner Service Funding Agreement.

Where an individual identifies a case of a potential breach of Core Funding fee rules by a Partner Service, they may seek to have this examined and a conclusion reached through the Core Funding Fee Review process.

Core Funding Fee Reviews may be progressed through three stages. In order for the fee review process to commence, the initiator will need to reach out to their local City/County Childcare Committee (CCC).

If the local CCC receives a query where a potential fee increase is raised, they can escalate it for examination through the Core Funding Fee Review Process.

The first stage of the process is with the National Fee Review Team (NFRT). The NFRT is composed of members of Sligo and Donegal County Childcare Committees (CCC) as well as members of my Department.

The primary purpose of the NFRT is to collate information on fee review queries at a national level. Once information has been collated, it will be reviewed in full by a separate function within my Department (Stage 2).

This function will make a decision on whether a breach of fee rules has occurred. This decision will be communicated to the relevant Partner Service who will be in turn provided with an opportunity to appeal this decision should they choose to do so.

In the event that a Partner Service requests an appeal of the Stage 2 decision, this appeal will occur at Stage 3 with another independent function within my Department, who will review the case independently.

Final decisions and appropriate remedial actions (if required) will be subsequently communicated following the conclusion of Stage 3. If the Partner Service does not seek an appeal of the Stage 2 decision within the required time, the Stage 2 decision automatically stands as the final decision (including any appropriate remedial actions if required).

The outcome of the Core Funding Fee Review Stage will also be shared with the CCC, who will inform the individual that initiated the process.

Currently, there are 16 active Core Funding Fee Reviews. All reviews in respect of the 2024-2025 programme year are currently still being reviewed.

Please see table below showing Fee Reviews per County Childcare Committees.  

County Childcare Committee	Number of Fee reviews per CCC
Fingal CCC	5
Galway  CCC	2
Kilkenny  CCC	1
Louth  CCC	1
Cork  City CCC	1
Dublin City CCC	4
Cavan  CCC	1
Dublin South County	1

Home Care Packages

Questions (1216)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

1216. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is aware of any instances where home care agencies outsourced from the HSE are requesting that persons with a disability who have a live-in carer to provide food and cover other living expenses for their carer; if so, if any such policy is decided by the HSE or by the agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1167/25]

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.

Emergency Accommodation

Questions (1217, 1225, 1231, 1232, 1233, 1234)

Rory Hearne

Question:

1217. Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what steps are being taken to ensure that people (including asylum seekers) are not forced out of temporary accommodation once periods of cold weather end; whether action is being taken to end the situation in which asylum seekers have to be rough sleeping in order to avail of or re-enter emergency accommodation; what progress is being made on moving towards a system of permanent accommodation for all asylum seekers while their asylum applications are being processed; the measures he is taking to ensure a move away from a system which involves asylum seekers being placed in tented accommodation without adequate heating; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1169/25]

Cian O'Callaghan

Question:

1225. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what steps are being taken to ensure that people (including asylum seekers) are not forced out of temporary accommodation once periods of cold weather end; the measures being taken to end the system whereby asylum seekers have to be sleeping rough in order to avail of or re-enter emergency accommodation; what progress is being made towards a system of permanent, safe accommodation for all asylum seekers while their asylum applications are being processed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1264/25]

Jennifer Whitmore

Question:

1231. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the plans being made to ensure that people, including asylum seekers, are not forced out of temporary accommodation once periods of cold weather end; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1293/25]

Jennifer Whitmore

Question:

1232. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the measures that are being put in place to end the situation in which asylum seekers must be rough sleeping in order to avail of or re-enter emergency accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1295/25]

Jennifer Whitmore

Question:

1233. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for an update and timeline on the progress being made for the provision of a system of permanent accommodation being provided for all asylum seekers while their asylum applications are being processed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1297/25]

Jennifer Whitmore

Question:

1234. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the measures that have been put in place to source alternative accommodation options and stop the housing of asylum seekers in tented accommodation without adequate heating; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1299/25]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

I propose to answer Questions Nos. 1217, 1225, 1231, 1232, 1233 and 1234 together.

Due to the cold weather warnings earlier in the month, as the Deputies are aware, the Department activated its cold weather response plan to enhance safety measures for people seeking international protection.

The Department’s cold weather response plan focuses on international protection (IP) applicants who are in our tented accommodation sites, and applicants who are unaccommodated. Measures that operate during period of severe weather include providing extra bedding, ensuring that heating in our robust, weather proof tents is operating properly, ongoing outreach to people who are rough-sleeping and taking steps to ensure that new applicants are offered temporary shelter on arrival to Ireland. At some tented sites, options to move to indoor accommodation are also made and taken up by residents. Our teams keep the needs of applicants and residents under ongoing review during these periods.

My Department also continues to develop and source accommodation for international protection applicants in locations all over the country, as part of implementing the Comprehensive Accommodation Strategy for international protection.

The Comprehensive Accommodation Strategy aims to address the current serious shortfall in accommodation for people seeking international protection and to build a more sustainable system for the longer term.

Intensive efforts are underway to source and bring into use suitable accommodation facilities, and to move over time toward a greater provision of State-owned beds, in line with the strategy.

Accommodation in the new strategy is being delivered through the use of State land for prefabricated and modular units, conversion of commercial buildings, and targeted purchasing of turnkey properties. It will also involve design and build of new Reception and Integration Centres and upgrading of IPAS Centres. This is supplemented, as required, by high standard commercial providers on an ongoing basis.

I hope the foregoing is helpful.

Departmental Data

Questions (1218)

Carol Nolan

Question:

1218. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of times gardaí have been called to the City West accommodation facility in 2023 and 2024 in response to threatening or abusive behaviour from international protection applicants towards staff members; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1191/25]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

My Department initially commenced use of the Citywest Conference Centre in March 2022.

The Citywest Transit Hub (CWTH) has two separate functions: it acts as a cross-Governmental, single administrative processing point for those fleeing the war in Ukraine; and it provides emergency accommodation international protection applicants on arrival into the State.

At no time during the years 2023 and 2024, was An Garda Síochána (AGS) called to CWTH in relation to threatening or abusive behaviour by international protection applicants to any Departmental staff members. On a single occasion during the years 2023 and 2024, the assistance of AGS was requested in relation to an issue of that nature toward a contracted service employee.

The support of AGS at CWTH is very much appreciated by the Department.  AGS regularly visit CWTH as part of the community policing programme.  They have also attended CWTH to assist security officers and to investigate minor crimes.

I trust the above is helpful.

Disability Services

Questions (1219)

Grace Boland

Question:

1219. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children currently waiting for their initial appointment assigned to the Balbriggan Children's Disability Network Team, CDNT; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1215/25]

Written answers

Minister for 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.

Disability Services

Questions (1220)

Grace Boland

Question:

1220. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of families assigned to Balbriggan Children's Disability Network Team, CDNT, for their initial appointment that have been redirected to alternative teams in CH09; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1216/25]

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.