Written Answers Nos. 1261-1280
1261. Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of an appeal by a person (details supplied) for redress through the mother and baby institutions payment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1593/25]
View answer1262. Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of an appeal by a person (details supplied) for redress through the mother and baby institutions payment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1594/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1261 and 1262 together.
While I try to be helpful at all times in the parliamentary process, the Deputy will be aware that I cannot be involved in individual cases and cannot comment on same.
The legislation underpinning the Payment Scheme - the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Act 2023 - specifically provides for the explicit independence of the Chief Deciding Officer in administering the application process and making decisions on applications. Therefore, it would be inappropriate for me to engage in the process in relation to the status of individual applications.
In addition to a range of applicant supports such as a help-line, public representatives can contact the Payment Scheme Office via a dedicated email address paymentschemereps@equality.gov.ie if they are assisting constituents in relation to the Scheme.
It is ultimately the aim of the Payment Scheme Office to ensure the correct benefits are made available to the correct applicants in as timely a manner as possible.
In these cases, I suggest that the applicants in question contact the helpline directly - 01 522 9992 - and I am sure they will be assisted appropriately.
1263. Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of people in total still awaiting a decision on their application to the mother and baby home's institutions payment scheme; the number of people waiting for an appeal decision; the number of decisions pending; the number of people that have applied to the scheme since its inception; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1595/25]
View answer1264. Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the amount of money in total paid out to date on successful applications to the mother and baby institutions payment scheme; the reasons for declining applications; the length of time on average appeals are taking, including the longest appeal time to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1596/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1263 and 1264 together.
The Deputy has sought some statistics pertaining to the operation of the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme which I provide here up to 31 December 2024.
|
Applications received |
Decisions |
Awaiting decision |
Reviews |
Review decision pending |
Average review time |
Total Payments made or in process of being made |
|
5,997* |
5,031
|
341 |
433 |
357 |
105 days |
€55 million |
Note:
* A number of these applications were ineligible or were withdrawn and 420 are incomplete applications. In those 420 cases, applicants are being supported by the Payment Scheme Office in order to provide the outstanding information required so that their application can move forward. This could be, for example, a supporting document such as certified photo ID.
The Deputy has asked about appeals, of which there have been just 9 to date. In the Scheme, if an applicant is dissatisfied with a decision on their application, they first may request a review - and only after a review, they may request an appeal. As such, I have provided the data pertaining to reviews on the basis that I believe this is the information essentially sought by the Deputy.
Requesting a review (or indeed an appeal) is a very straightforward process for the applicant but it rightly triggers a very comprehensive assessment of all aspects of the application within the Payment Scheme Office. Ultimately a detailed report is prepared, followed by a thorough quality-check process before it is provided, together with the decision, to the applicant. The timeline for reviews is slower than I would like but is now decreasing as improvements in processes in the Payment Scheme Office take hold. Staff there are constantly working to improve the applicant experience and reduce processing times for each stage of an application, taking on board feedback from survivors and other stakeholders, while upholding the integrity of the Scheme through proper and robust validation processes. It is ultimately the aim of the Payment Scheme Office to ensure the correct award amount is paid to the correct applicant in as timely a manner as possible.
1265. Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth whether he has had discussions with the survivor's advocate (details supplied) on the possible expansion of the mother and baby institutions payment scheme to other institutions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1597/25]
View answerMy appointment of Patricia Carey as Special Advocate for Survivors took effect on 25 March 2024.
The role of the Special Advocate is to promote the collective interests of survivors, as expressed by them, and to amplify their voices as a central, essential input to Government deliberations on matters which affect them. Patricia's remit encompasses Mother and Baby Institutions, County Home Institutions, Magdalen Laundries, Industrial and Reformatory Schools, and related institutions, and those adopted, boarded out or the subject of an illegal birth registration.
In this important role, Patricia has already embarked on a substantive engagement process, meeting and engaging with individual survivors and people affected, with survivor groups, as well as with partner and support organisations in Ireland and overseas. Patricia also regularly engages with my department's officials on the Mother and Baby Institution Payment Scheme and other initiatives within the Government's Plan for Survivors and Former Residents of Mother and Baby and County Home Institutions. As I would expect, Patricia advocates compellingly on behalf of survivors and she has raised a variety of issues, including consideration of institutions not included in the Payment Scheme.
The Payment Scheme is designed to provide payments and other benefits to people who spent time in one or more of the Mother and Baby or County Home Institutions, that were identified by the Commission of Investigation as having a main function of providing sheltered and supervised ante and post-natal facilities to single mothers and their children. The institutions covered by the Payment Scheme are set out in Schedule 1 to the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Act 2023.
The Government recognises that there are people who suffered stigma, trauma and abuse in other institutions. If it were to come to light that an institution, in which the State had a regulatory or inspection function, fulfilled a similar function with regard to single women and their children as those included in the Payment Scheme, section 49 of the Act provides that the Minister, with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, may insert an additional institution into the Schedule.
It is important to emphasise that the Payment Scheme is just one element of the Government’s response to the country’s complex legacy of Mother and Baby Institutions. Of the seven major commitments set out in the Government Action Plan for Survivors, six are now delivered and in place, while the seventh is well underway. Key actions include access to birth information, the services of the Special Advocate and counselling support, all already in place, as well as the ongoing development of a National Centre for Research and Remembrance.
1266. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of foster parents and the number of children in foster care in the State in each of the years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024, in tabular form. [1599/25]
View answerAs this relates to data collated by Tusla, the question has been forwarded to Tusla for direct reply to the Deputy.
1267. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of Tusla foster link workers employed in each of the years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024; the average number of foster families and children assigned to each foster link worker; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1600/25]
View answerAs this relates to data collated by Tusla, the question has been forwarded to Tusla for direct reply to the Deputy.
1268. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the measures taken to address cybersecurity by section 38 and section 39 organisations funded by his Department; the types of funding provided by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1601/25]
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.
1269. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to a letter to the editor of a national newspaper regarding assessment of need applications (details supplied); if so, his views on same; if he will engage with the HSE in relation to this short timeframe for response; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1623/25]
View answerThe Assessment of Need process, as set out in the Disability Act, aims to identify whether a person has a disability, the nature and extent of the disability, any health and education needs arising from that disability, as well as what services are required to meet those needs.
It is important to note that a diagnosis is not required to access Children’s Disability Network Team (CDNT) services.
Following a High Court judgement of 11th March 2022, a number of Preliminary Team Assessments (PTAs) that had been previously completed were found not to fulfil the requirement of the Disability Act 2005. The HSE’s National Clinical Programme for People with Disability (NCPPD) led the process of developing clinical guidance to replace the PTA. The HSE are continuing to review the files of all children who received a PTA and are engaging directly with families to establish what additional assessments are required, if any, to meet the requirements of the Act. The HSE liaises with families directly where issues are raised.
1270. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for an update on the intended launch of a capital fund for childcare providers [1644/25]
View answerCapital funding has been allocated to the early learning and childcare sector under the revised National Development Plan (NDP). This will enable significant investment in early learning and childcare. Some €89 million has been allocated to my Department between 2023 and 2026.
The Building Blocks Extension Grant Scheme was launched on the 4th November and opened for applications last month. The closing date for applications is 27th January.
The scheme has four strands:
1. Extensions to existing premises for private services
2. Extensions to existing premises for community services
3. Purchase of new premises for community services
4. Construction of new premises for community services
The primary focus of the Extension Grant Scheme is to increase capacity in the 1–3-year-old, pre-ECCE, age range for full day care. Appraisal of applications for this scheme will consider the supply and demand in the area around the proposed projects and seeks to prioritise funding for areas with the biggest supply/demand mismatch.
€25m will be made available this year to deliver additional capacity under the Scheme. I expect to announce the outcome of the application process in March.
1271. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will reconsider the decision to move the women and children currently staying at a location (details supplied) to a new location; if not, whether he will outline the specific measures that will be put in place to ensure they obtain accommodation as close as possible to their current location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1645/25]
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 request it, in line with Government policy. This supports Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) to make longer term independent arrangements if they decide to remain in Ireland for the duration of the Temporary Protection Directive.
As the demand for accommodation for BOTPs decreases, and they make their own independent arrangements for accommodation, my Department is carrying vacancies in commercial contracts. As a result, my Department ends contracts on a regular basis in order to ensure value for money and greater oversight of the portfolio. In 2024, over 400 contracts ended for emergency accommodation, in some cases initiated by the providers in order to return to the private sector, or to offer their accommodation for other uses.
At the same time, the need for accommodation for International Protection applicants is increasing and experiencing significant shortages, with over 3,000 people left without an offer of accommodation in 2024. The provider to which the Deputy refers has expressed an interest in providing accommodation for international protection following the end of the BOTP contract. A temporary pause to these relocations has been put in place to facilitate further consideration and my officials will be in contact with the BOTPs currently resident in this location in due course.
Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection are entitled to make their own private arrangements including potentially availing of pledged accommodation if they wish, subject to availability, 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. Details regarding the Offer a Home scheme can be found under www.offerahome.ie.
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 gov.ie (Intreo centres and local branch offices).
1272. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if an issue (details supplied) will be addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1647/25]
View answerThank you for your question, Deputy.
In relation to the specific locations of IPAS accommodation and details of those in residence, this information is not published in the manner requested, due to the need to protect the privacy and security of people applying, or who have applied, for international protection.
Currently, the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) is providing accommodation to nearly 33,000 people. Of these 5,292 had been granted permission to remain in Ireland as of 31 December 2024 and, as such, are no longer in the international protection (IP) process.
Where a person progresses through the application and review process and receives a grant of status or permission to remain in Ireland, their status in terms of access to housing becomes the same as other people living in Ireland and Irish citizens.
All those with IP/Permission to Remain are written to once status has been granted and are advised that given their progress through the IP process, they will need to seek alternative accommodation. They are supported to register with a Local Authority and, if required, avail of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) to secure alternative accommodation.
A specific Transition team works in collaboration with Depaul Ireland, the Peter McVerry Trust, and Local Authorities to support residents with status to move on from IPAS accommodation.
Please see below the number of people granted status, the numbers of people with status exiting IPAS accommodation and the number of people with permission to remain (PTR) remaining in IPAS accommodation by month in 2024:
|
Month |
Grants Issued |
Progressions |
Persons with PTR Remaining in Accommodation (end of month totals) |
|
January |
217 |
477 |
5,778 |
|
February |
286 |
357 |
5,707 |
|
March |
418 |
363 |
5,762 |
|
April |
357 |
475 |
5,644 |
|
May |
414 |
463 |
5,595 |
|
June |
255 |
475 |
5,375 |
|
July |
469 |
580 |
5,264 |
|
August |
363 |
393 |
5,234 |
|
September |
356 |
294 |
5,296 |
|
October |
323 |
312 |
5,307 |
|
November |
400 |
347 |
5,360 |
|
December |
409 |
477 |
5,292 |
|
Total |
4267 |
5013 |
|
1273. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reasons for the large gender pay gap in services and sales employment identified in the latest Eurostat structure of earnings survey; and the measures that will be taken to address same. [1650/25]
View answerIt is noted that the Deputy is quoting an EU wide survey, which relates to specific categories of workers across the EU rather than specifically in Ireland.
According to the latest Structure of Earnings Survey, which refers to the year 2022, the gender pay gap in Ireland was 9.6%. However, the gender pay gap may be larger in some sectors.
The Government have taken a range of actions to reduce the gender pay gap. Notably, the Gender Pay Gap Information Act 2021 introduced the legislative basis for gender pay gap reporting in Ireland. The Act requires organisations to report on their hourly gender pay gap across a range of metrics.
Organisations must also publish a statement outlining the reasons for their gender pay gap (if any) and any measures that they are taking to reduce or eliminate the gap.
In 2024, organisations with over 150 employees were required to report on their gender pay gap. In 2025, the Regulations will be revised to extend this obligation to organisations with over 50 employees.
An online reporting system is in development and will consist of a central portal where all employer reports must be uploaded. The portal will provide and allow for the comparison of data on how the gender pay gap varies across different sectors, industries, and levels of seniority.
1274. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the funding or grants available for the establishment of an after-school programme for primary school children in county Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1653/25]
View answerMy Department provides a range of supports for anybody that wishes to set up an early learning and childcare or after school childcare service. Any provider interested in establishing an after-school service can get support from their local County Childcare Committee (CCC) for information and support on establishing or hosting an after-school service. Details of the CCCs can be found on gov.ie - City and County Childcare Committees (www.gov.ie)
The introduction of Core Funding in 2022 brought a significant increase in investment for the sector, with €259 million of funding paid directly to services in year 1 of the scheme, of which €210.8 million was entirely new funding. Core Funding is a supply-side grant to early learning and childcare providers towards their operating costs. It is designed to deliver sustainability for providers through increased funding to the sector, paid on a consistent and equitable basis.
This funding, which increased by 11% (to €287 million) in year 2, has increased again by a further 15% in year 3 (to €331 million). It will rise again in year 4 of the scheme - September 2025 - August 2024 - to approximately €390 million.
In order to increase provision, the Department of Education has also published Procedures on the use of School Buildings outside of School Hours. This document assists schools in considering applications for use of their facilities. To encourage the greater use of such facilities, the Department of Education has committed to provide schools with a guarantee that any income from after-school use of their facilities will not affect their State grants, capitation fees or any other form of departmental funding. Schools may establish such a service themselves, or may provide premises to a Tusla registered provider to deliver after-school care on the school premises. It is important to note that schools are run by their Board of Management and so the decision on whether or not to facilitate school aged childcare on the premises ultimately lies with the Board of Management.
Another important project that I have initiated this year is the development of a forward planning model to develop a better understanding of the nature of supply and how it relates to demand and in order to support the delivery of more early learning and childcare places in the parts of the country where they are needed. The model will identify the quantum and volume of different types of early learning and childcare places across the country, whether or not those places are occupied and how that aligns with the numbers of children in the corresponding age cohorts at local area level.
Capital funding has been allocated to the early learning and childcare sector under the revised National Development Plan (NDP). This will enable significant investment in early learning and childcare. Some €89 million has been allocated to my Department between 2023 and 2026. The Building Blocks Extension Grant Scheme is being operated in 2025. Under the scheme, applicants must deliver additional full-time capacity for 1-3 year olds. My Department does not have capital funding available this year for the establishment of after-school services.
1275. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the beneficiaries of temporary protection contract his Department has with a hotel (details supplied) will be extended to allow the Ukrainian residents to remain living there; if not, the steps his Department is taking to source accommodation in the locality for these persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1655/25]
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 request it, in line with Government policy. This supports Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) to make longer term independent arrangements if they decide to remain in Ireland for the duration of the Temporary Protection Directive.
As the demand for accommodation for BOTPs decreases, and they make their own independent arrangements for accommodation, my Department is carrying vacancies in commercial contracts. As a result, my Department ends contracts on a regular basis in order to ensure value for money and greater oversight of the portfolio. In 2024, over 400 contracts ended for emergency accommodation, in some cases initiated by the providers in order to return to the private sector, or to offer their accommodation for other uses.
At the same time, the need for accommodation for International Protection applicants is increasing and experiencing significant shortages, with over 3,000 people left without an offer of accommodation in 2024. The provider to which the Deputy refers has expressed an interest in providing accommodation for international protection following the end of the BOTP contract. A temporary pause to these relocations has been put in place to facilitate further consideration and my officials will be in contact with the BOTPs currently resident in this location in due course.
Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection are entitled to make their own private arrangements including potentially availing of pledged accommodation if they wish, subject to availability, 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. Details regarding the Offer a Home scheme can be found under www.offerahome.ie.
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 gov.ie (Intreo centres and local branch offices).
1276. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will commit to expanding statutory leave entitlements to those who experience pregnancy loss under 24 weeks; the steps his Department has taken to progress policy in this area since the publication of ‘PLACES | Pregnancy Loss (under 24 weeks) in Workplaces: Informing Policymakers on Support Mechanisms’ in January 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1661/25]
View answerThe Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth commissioned a qualitative research study to examine the workplace experiences of parents coping with pregnancy loss. The study, ‘PLACES | Pregnancy Loss (under 24 weeks) in Workplaces: Informing Policymakers on Support Mechanisms’, examines whether policy interventions are required at a national level to better to support these bereaved parents in the workplace.
The study focuses on people who experience pregnancy loss prior to 24 weeks’ gestation, as people who have a pregnancy loss after 24 weeks’ gestation can avail of full maternity leave and paternity leave entitlements.
The research report was published on the 26th January 2024, with the recommendations arising from this study helping to inform Government policy in respect of this issue. Officials in the Department are currently in the process of developing the next National Strategy for Women and Girls, and the research will inform this work.
1277. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 11 of 24 October 2024, when reporting will return; and when the information will be made public (details supplied). [1688/25]
View answerMy Department began the procurement exercise for the next iteration of court reporting on 25 October 2024. An Expression of Interest was sent to organisations eligible under the relevant sections of the Child Care Act 1991 and S.I. No. 467 of 2012, inviting them to submit proposals for a two-year reporting and research Project focused on child care proceedings.
By 8 November, three expressions of interest had been received. Subsequently, a Call for Proposals document was issued by the Department on 15 November 2024, with a submission deadline of 6 December.
The next phase of the project was expected to commence in January 2025, with a maximum of €400,000 in funding available over the two-year period of the Project. However, no proposal documents were submitted in advance of the 6 December deadline.
Subsequently, the Expression of Interest and Call for Proposal documents were revised and streamlined in order to attract interest in the Project. This also included an increase to the Project’s budget increasing. The budget of the project has been increased to a maximum budget of €416,000 over the two-year period, for a total increase of €16,000 across that period compared to the previous budget.
A revised timeline has been put in place, with the deadline for return of Expressions of Interest set to 24 January 2025. The deadline for completed proposals has been set for 28 February 2025, with a final decision on the awarding of the project to be made by 13 March 2025. Following a completion of the assessment project, it is planned that the new Project will resume by April 2025.
1278. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth in the context of the draft Programme for Government commitment to review and increase core funding for childcare services, if he can detail the actions that will be taken to entice childcare providers who have exited core funding back into core funding thereby ensuring the fee cap is maintained for the benefit of all parents; if he will provide a forum for engagement with childcare providers who have exited core funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1754/25]
View answerI cannot comment on what steps the new Government will take to achieve the measures highlighted in the draft Programme for Government as I am not a party to that agreement. However, in my time as Minister I have taken measures to ensure that Core Funding is as attractive as possible for providers to ensure children and families can benefit from the conditions of the scheme including the fee management measures.
The introduction of Core Funding in 2022 brought a significant increase in investment for the sector. This increased year on year and is now worth €331 million in the current year (September 2024-August 2025).
This allowed for the Base Rates for all age groups to increase for the third programme year for all services, meaning all services have seen an increased level of funding for the same level of provision.
Targeted measures which were introduced in the second programme were increased again in year. This means smaller and sessional only services have seen greater increase in funding.
In light of concerns raised about the fee freeze by some providers charging low fees, in addition to the increase in Core Funding in year 3, a new Fee Increase Assessment and process was introduced. This process allowed for services charging fees below the average in their county to apply to increase their fees up to an approved level by my Department.
In addition, officials in my Department engage with members and nominees of the Early Learning Childcare Stakeholder Forum and have committed to continued engagement with the sector on the future development to the Core Funding scheme.
In line with Budget 2025, Core Funding will be worth approximately €390 million in year 4 of the scheme, contingent on updated Employment Regulation Orders.
I do not want any service to be faced with financial sustainability issues and officials in my Department are committed to working with any such service to support them in delivering early learning and childcare for the public good. As such, in addition to the increased level of Core Funding for year 3 of the scheme and fee management developments, there are wider financial supports available from my Department where a service is experiencing financial difficulty or has concerns about their viability, which can be accessed while remaining within Core Funding.
I encourage services to avail of these supports as an alternative to withdrawing from Core Funding and removing the benefits of this Scheme to parents.
However, Core Funding will remain open to these providers should they subsequently commit to offering services under the conditions and investment levels on offer through Core Funding.
I anticipate that these measures to support providers, will secure the highest level of participation in the scheme possible when the fee caps are introduced from September this year, so that the majority of children and families can benefit from the affordability and fee management measures brought about by the scheme.
As the Deputy will appreciate, it is to my successor as Minister and the new Government to continue this work.
1279. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the full address and Eircode of each property that is directly occupied by his Department where that address is located in Dublin, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1758/25]
View answerI can inform the Deputy that my Department operates from the following building locations in Dublin:
|
Block 1 Miesian Plaza, 50 – 58 Lower Baggot Street, Dublin. D02 XW14. (Floors 2 and 3) |
|
|
Montague Court, 7 – 11 Montague Street, Dublin. D02 FT96. (Floors 2 and 3) |
|
|
Citywest, Garter Lane, Saggart, Co. Dublin, D24 KF8A |
1280. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide a schedule of all foreign travel undertaken by him and his accompanying officials in 2023 and 2024, including flight, hotel, transfers and other miscellaneous costs. [1855/25]
View answerOutlined below is a breakdown of total costs associated with foreign travel from 2023 - 2024, paid for by my Department:
|
Destination |
Date |
Flights Total Cost |
Hotels Total Cost |
Purpose of Trip |
|
Geneva |
23/01/2023 – 25/01/2023 |
€422.40 |
- |
UNCRC |
|
New York |
04/03/2023 – 07/03/2023 |
€1702.02 |
- |
UNCSW |
|
India |
14/03/2023 – 19/03/2023 |
€5164.39 |
- |
SPD |
|
Brussels |
14/05/2023 – 15/05/2023 |
€694.5 |
€311.8 |
Youth Council |
|
Luxembourg |
11/06/2023 – 13/06/2023 |
€2977.53 |
- |
EPSCO |
|
London |
26/10/2023 – 27/10/2023 |
€831.36 |
- |
British-Irish Council |
|
Spain |
22/11/2023 – 24/11/2023 |
€1791.68 |
€582.89 |
EYCS |
|
Japan |
12/03/2024 – 19/03/2024 |
€7,642.41 |
- |
SPD Travel |
|
Brussels |
16/05/2024 – 18/05/2024 |
€1081.41 |
- |
LGBT Conference |
To note, where blank, hotel and other miscellaneous costs have been paid for by a third party, such as the DFA - information on these costs should be sought from them directly.
