Written Answers Nos. 415-436
415. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 624 of 19 October 2021, the number of properties sourced to date for international protection applicants, broken down by whether these properties are within the private rental sector or not, in tabular form. [60527/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraOver the last number of months the Transition Team has been working closely with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the Housing Agency and the Local Authorities on developing the new accommodation model. This has included putting in place a policy to source and acquire properties. As part of this policy there is an emphasis on not competing with other groups including the private rental sector and the following has been put in place to mitigate against this:
- A focus has been placed on acquiring accommodation across the country and not focusing on one area. A Local Authority allocation key has been developed to help in this regard.
- A focus on larger properties, reflecting an interest in acquiring units where up to 10 people can be accommodated.
- Before proceeding with a property the profile of the current occupier is confirmed. If the property has sitting tenants, my Department does not proceed with purchasing the property.
As the project develops there will also be a focus on repurposing buildings through an urban renewal scheme which will aid in the rejuvenation of some of our towns across the country.
416. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 624 of 19 October 2021, the engagements that have occurred with approved housing bodies in relation to sourcing accommodation for international protection applicants. [60528/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Transition Team established in my Department to drive the implementation of the White Paper is currently working on establishing the foundation for the new accommodation model for International Protection applicants. This includes devising an ownership model for the accommodation that will be acquired and a funding scheme to enable Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) and other not-for-profit organisations to act as our delivery partners.
Engagement has been with the Housing Agency with regard to the purchasing of accommodation for International Protection applicants. Work is being undertaken to develop a funding scheme for which AHBs will be able to bid to source accommodation for International Protection applicants. Once the scheme has been developed, there will be engagement with AHBs in early 2022 to promote the scheme to them so that they can begin to use it from 2022 onward to source accommodation.
417. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the timescale for the introduction of online safe pass renewal; and the reason for the delay. [60351/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations 2013, craft and general construction workers, persons undertaking on-site security work and persons or classes of persons as may be prescribed by the relevant Minister are required to hold a safety awareness registration card (Safe Pass card).
SOLAS is actively pursuing the activation of an online assessment option for the renewal of Safe Pass cards. In keeping with procurement procedures and government guidelines SOLAS went to tender for this service in June 2021. Following the completion of the tender process and in keeping with tender timelines the appointment of a successful candidate/organisation is expected to be completed in January 2022.
418. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the measures his Department is considering in order to incentivise the hiring of first-year apprentice construction workers, such as block layers, plasterers and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60531/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraHousing for All, published on 2 September 2021, sets out an unprecedented level of collaboration across government and with key stakeholders backed up by historic levels of funding. Working with and enabling the private sector to deliver on housing is central to this plan.
An overarching governance framework has been established in the Department of An Taoiseach to oversee implementation with political oversight provided by the Cabinet Committee on Housing. The Housing for All Delivery Group, comprised of relevant Secretaries General, and chaired by the D/Taoiseach, is responsible for delivery of all aspects of the Plan and ensuring genuine whole-of-government engagement. Three work streams are being led at Secretary General level with specific focus on (i) Investment; (ii) Industry capability; and (iii) Public service delivery.
My Department has taken on chairmanship of the Industry Capability group comprising the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, Department of Social Protection, Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications and other relevant Departments and agencies will as required/requested. The group is responsible for progressing actions and targets on:-
- Initiatives associated with innovation and productivity, skills and capacity,
- Enterprise support, standards and compliance and sectoral engagement, including the CTC and CSG, to facilitate delivery of the objectives of Housing for All.
- Ensuring that residential construction sector has suitable capacity in terms of skilled labour to meet the objectives of Housing for All
- Engaging with industry and initiatives to attract skilled labour and industry capacity from abroad.
Any skill requirement and response to meet the needs of the sector will be determined by the group’s responsibility to facilitate the objectives of Housing for All.
In supporting the Housing for All plan and other skills responses of the wider economy, the Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025 sets out a clear objective where there will be a single apprenticeship system which will deliver a structure which supports innovation combined with strong national level supports and coordination of the apprenticeship sector.
Prior to the Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025, the Apprenticeship Incentivisation Scheme was established to ensure that apprenticeship plays a key part in supporting economic recovery following COVID-19. It was introduced in March 2020 and has supported a significant recovery of apprentice registrations in throughout the COVID-19 period. There have been 7,484 registrations so far in 2021 – an increase which not only exceeds expectations of a recovery of 2020 registrations which were badly impacted COVID-19, but also shows a 22% increase on 2019 figures for the same period.
With the increased demand for Craft Apprenticeships, there has been additional pressures to the capacity of the Education and Training System. As a result, there has been a growing number of apprentices who are on waiting lists to access there off the job training. The following actions have been taken to address the growing demand and to clear the waiting lists in an timely and equitable manner:-
- €20m capital funding has been allocated to SOLAS and the HEA (€10m to each sector) to provide additional structural capacity within Training Centres and IoTs/Technological Universities. These places began to come on-stream in September 2021 with a 20% growth on pre-COVID phase 4 and 6 spaces. Availability of training places will continue to grow in the 2022 January, April and September intakes.
- As from September 2021 classes have returned to full capacity of 14-16 apprentices per class, rather than the 50% capacity which had been in place during 2020 and until Q3, 2021 under COVID-19 distancing requirements.
- The structure of Phase 2 delivery in the three most impacted apprenticeships is being reformed, with the institutions and partners working together to deliver an innovative teaching response to reduce waiting lists. On-site teaching will be reduced to 18 weeks of practical work, with theory elements of the Phase delivered around the off-the-job training. This will allow for a third intake of Phase 2 apprentices providing up to a 50% increase in availability of Phase 2 places annually.
- €17m targeted funding has been provided for additional craft apprenticeship classes in 2022 across the further and higher education sectors. €12m has been allocated to higher education provision.
- A significant recruitment campaign is under way to deliver the additional staffing to support the above measures.
- Waiting lists are continually monitored and additional targeted measures will be introduced to ensure that craft apprentices impacted by these delays are enabled to qualify from their apprenticeship as quickly as possible.
Subject to continued access to workshops and training facilities in addition to the rollout of additional places, it is expected that the majority of craft apprentices waiting for off-the-job training for phases 4 and 6 will be cleared by Easter 2022, with phase 2 waiting lists cleared by year-end 2022.
419. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department will issue Covid-19 safety guidelines to third-level institutions in relation to in-person Christmas exams; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59879/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra425. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if all third-level students will be given the option to take scheduled exams online in circumstances in which students are concerned regarding ongoing public heath guidelines; if he will advise in the case of a specific institution (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60366/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 419 and 425 together.
Education is an essential service and the Government has agreed that it can continue on-site, in line with Safe Return Plan published in June. The Safe Return Plan and the most recent guidance on the current approach advocate and support contingency planning to ensure that institutions remain flexible and adaptable in response to changes in the public health environment.
My Department does not determine sector specific matters at this level and there is no intention to introduce a specific regulation in relation to the holding of in-person examinations in response to COVID 19. However, in order to address concerns I recently met with management, staff and student representatives and the issue was discussed.
Due to the diversity of our higher education institutions, and the broad range of activities they undertake and the different contexts and requirements applicable to examinations, it was agreed that a uniform or one size fits all approach would not be appropriate across the whole of higher education or indeed the tertiary sector more generally. Management bodies confirmed that they are actively looking at a range of approaches to ensure that end of term examinations will be safe, and that the requirements of students who may have Covid-19 or underlying health conditions can be addressed. It was also pointed out that there are some examinations – such as those related to external accreditation - which are challenging to change to an online format at short notice.
The outcome of the meeting was that individual higher education institutions will assess the appropriate approach to examinations consistent with the outcome of their risk assessments of appropriate approach taking into account the significant contextual factors that arise in different instances.
In all instances public health must remain a priority and I know that there will be a continuing focus on the evolving and often quickly changing public health situation overall. The Deputy may wish to know I have recently announced a €9 million fund to allow institutions provide free antigen tests to students.
420. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of protected disclosures made to him concerning his Department and bodies under its aegis in 2018, 2019 and 2020. [59913/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn accordance with Section 22 of the Protected Disclosure Act 2014, my Department has published information on protected disclosures received during 2018, 2019 and 2020 on its website:
www.gov.ie/en/collection/department-of-education-and-skills-protected-disclosures-reports/.
The reports for these years are joint reports with the Department of Education as the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS) did not come into existence until 2020.
To summarise, in 2018, 1 protected disclosure was received from workers in sectors under the remit of DFHERIS. In 2019, 3 protected disclosures were received from workers in these sectors. In 2020, no protected disclosures were received from workers in these sectors.
There were no protected disclosures received from Department staff since the legislation was introduced.
421. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the level of funding to be provided by his Department in 2022 for the promotion and support of the social enterprise sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59938/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science funds and creates policy for the higher and further education and research sectors. We also oversee the work of the state agencies and public institutions operating in these areas. Information on the promotion and support of the social enterprise sector in 2022, within the scope of the Deputy’s question, is not held by Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.
I refer the Deputy to the DFHERIS Statement of Strategy for further details on the work of the Department: www.gov.ie/en/organisation-information/3f066-statement-of-strategy-2021-2023/.
The published Estimates for my Department’s Vote provides information regarding expenditure and may be of assistance to the Deputy.
422. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the efforts being made to encourage more persons to undertake apprenticeships in logistics and to qualify as drivers to alleviate the shortage of heavy goods vehicle drivers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60093/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAt the end of November 2021, there were 230 apprentices registered across the five existing logistics apprenticeships. (Lean Sigma Manager, Logistics Associate, Supply Chain Associate, Supply Chain Manager and Supply Chain Specialist). Development funding for the purposes of progressing the proposed Level 6 apprenticeship in Transport Operations and Commercial Driving was released in late October 2021 and progress on programme validation is ongoing.
Existing education and training relevant to HGV drivers is centred on the delivery of the 29 week traineeship which incorporates both C Rigid and CE Artic licensing in one programme along with other relevant qualifications. This is available through a number of ETBs. Upskilling programmes for HGV drivers includes a three-day SMART driving course leading to a QQI Level 5 Certificate in Digital Assisted Eco Driving (HGV).
The Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025 sets out a number of measures in relation to widening access to apprenticeship. Recent activity in relation to these measures includes increased advertising of roles on www.apprenticeshipjobs.ie, widening visibility of apprenticeship through adding a link to the CAO home screen as well as providing a dedicated apprenticeship guidance counsellor phone line to support the new links.
The Logistics and Supply Chain Skills Group, under the Minister of State for Transport, Hildegarde Naughton T.D., have been requested to examine the Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) driver shortage and to make recommendations, with specific regard to actions that can be taken by Government and the industry. I understand that these recommendations are being drafted and are aimed at ameliorating the supply issue, without undermining the working conditions and health and safety of drivers or other road users.
423. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the efforts being made to encourage more students to undertake a foreign language as part of their higher education course; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60094/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraLanguages Connect – Ireland’s Foreign Languages Strategy 2017-2026 sets out an ambitious programme of action to improve the national level of competence in foreign languages and to diversify the range of languages in regular use in Ireland and by Irish people abroad.
The study of foreign languages is important to economic success and increases economic efficiency. Higher Education Institutions are aware of the importance of foreign languages and the Foreign Languages Strategy. This will help to encourage students to participate in language classes and to ensure the supply of graduates with foreign language competences for the business and educations sectors.
Additionally, with the development of the working group on teacher supply and its provision in Higher Education, various stakeholders will be working together to portray the benefits of language learning to students and its importance in an Irish and European context.
Ultimately, however, Higher Education Institutions (HEI) are autonomous, and determine themselves which language courses will be encouraged and offered. While my Department will continue to be committed to the implementation of Languages Connect, it is not within my remit to direct a HEI as to the courses they encourage or offer.
This Department is awaiting further information from both of our National Agencies, Leargas and the Higher Education Authority (HEA). This information will be forwarded in due course.
424. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science when he last met with a union (details supplied) to discuss its concerns regarding the ending of the current craft apprenticeship model; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60324/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI launched the Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025 in April 2021 following an extensive consultation exercise.
The Plan sets out the rationale for, and structure of, an apprenticeship system which will provide clarity for learners, employers and education and training providers in terms of access to and engagement with apprenticeship. Both the existing craft and consortia-led apprenticeship models will migrate to the single apprenticeship model, with all apprenticeships due to be managed under the new model by 2025.
CONNECT provided a detailed submission to inform the development of the Action Plan. In total, over 60 written submissions, some informed by additional internal consultations, were received from across the apprenticeship eco-system. In addition, 3,750 registered apprentices responded to an online survey (representing 20% of the apprentice population), as well as 340 SMEs who provided feedback through the Regional Skills Fora Managers.
In addition to the general consultation, a programme of specific engagement with ICTU and CONNECT was held prior to finalisation and launch of the Plan.
Senior officials from the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science met and communicated with CONNECT on a number of occasions between December and March. I subsequently met with ICTU on the 24th March and CONNECT was also present at that meeting. I followed up on that meeting in writing on the 30th March. The Action Plan was subsequently published on the 19th April.
CONNECT has an ongoing voice in apprenticeship through its membership of the National Apprenticeship Advisory Committee. This sub-committee of the SOLAS Board will play an ongoing role in the migration of craft apprenticeship to the single apprenticeship system. This process will take place over the period of the Action Plan.
426. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his attention has been drawn to the funding disparity between counselling doctorate programmes and clinical psychology doctorate programmes in third-level institutions; and if he will allocate emergency funding to the counselling doctorate programme in Trinity College Dublin for the 2022-2023 academic year to address that disparity. [60390/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is strongly committed to supporting the mental health of the population through the provision of graduates with the key competencies and skills to be effective in the health workforce, and support a range of clinical teams in our health services.My Department understands there is a longstanding arrangement in place under which the HSE, and indeed former Health Boards, recruit Trainee Clinical Psychologists and sponsor their training in order to encourage employment with the HSE of suitably qualified professionals. This arrangement is made by the HSE and is not the responsibility of my Department. The question of whether similar arrangements should be put in place in relation to other psychological specialties in order to meet their workforce needs is a matter for consideration by the appropriate recruiting bodies.
My Department also understands that on the basis of the recommendations of the 2017 Report of Psychology Review Implementation Group the HSE introduced revised eligibility criteria for recruitment to HSE psychologist positions involving a combination of the consideration of qualification and placements or supervised work experience when determining a person's eligibility for employment. Furthermore, my Department has been led to understand by the National Health and Social Care Professions Office in the HSE that the Psychology Project Team developed a report which recommended the development of a workforce plan for psychology and the creation of a National Psychology Placement Office which has yet to be established. Implementation of the recommendations in this report is being considered by the HSE in the context of resource requirements and the ongoing estimates process. The implementation of the report’s recommendations and the creation of a National Psychology Placement Office are matters for the HSE. My Department does not have a role in relation to placement arrangements in organisations such as the National Educational Psychological Service or the HSE for students enrolled on these programmes. In conclusion, issues arising from sponsorships and employment eligibility in relation to psychologists, and indeed more generally, are matters for relevant employers rather than the responsibility of my Department.
427. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Justice if a visa application for a person (details supplied) is being processed as a medical emergency; if further supporting documents are required; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59862/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing full consideration by a Visa Officer, the visa application referred to was refused. The letter issued to the applicant outlines the reasons for this refusal. To date, no appeal of this decision has been received by the Visa Office. It is open to the applicant to appeal this decision, in writing, within two months of the date of the refusal. Appeals must be in written form and sent to the Visa Appeals Officer in the relevant Visa Office.
All visa applicants are advised that the onus is on them to provide as much information in support of their application as they feel is necessary. Guidelines in this regard are posted on my Department's Irish Immigration website (www.irishimmigration.ie). Applicants that strictly follow these guidelines have an improved prospect of receiving a positive decision at first instance.
When making an appeal, the applicant should take into account the reasons for refusal listed in the refusal letter. The appeal should include any further information or additional documentation they wish to have considered, and should be sent for the attention of the Visa Appeals Officer, in the relevant Visa Office, where the matter will be considered afresh.
Full consideration will be given to any appeal received on behalf of the applicant, however the onus is on the applicant to satisfy the Visa Officer that a visa should be granted.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility (inisoireachtasmail@justice.ie), which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.
428. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the progress to date in the determination of an application for citizenship in the case of a person (details supplied); if their current permission enables them to work in the interim; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59849/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application for a certificate of naturalisation was received from the person referred to by the Deputy on 26 February 2021. This application is currently being processed with a view to establishing whether the applicant meets the statutory conditions for the granting of naturalisation and will be submitted to me for decision as expeditiously as possible.
The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege and an honour which confers certain rights and entitlements not only within the State but also at European Union level and it is important that appropriate procedures are in place to preserve the integrity of the process.
It is recognised that all applicants for citizenship would wish to have a decision on their application without delay. However, the nature of the naturalisation process is such that, for a broad range of reasons, some cases will take longer than others to process. In some instances, completing the necessary checks can take a considerable period of time.
In addition, the combined impact of the 2019 High Court judgment in the Jones case and the necessary health restrictions arising from the pandemic, has resulted in the processing time for standard applications increasing.
However, my Department is taking a number of steps to speed up the processing of applications and a number of digitisation measures have also been introduced to increase efficiency in the process, including eTax clearance, eVetting and online payments. The end result of the digitisation process will be to free up more staff to focus on processing applications in a timely and efficient manner, to improve service to our customers and reduce waiting times.
This year, we are on track to deliver approximately 11,000 decisions, significantly exceeding the levels achieved in the last two years. Additional staff have also been assigned to the citizenship team. Based on these measures, my Department's objective is to achieve an improved timeframe of 6-9 months for decisions on a majority of applications during 2022.
Regarding their current immigration permission, a letter has recently issued to them from my Department granting them a temporary stamp 4 permission, which is valid until 5 July 2022. This permission allows the person concerned to work in the State.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility at: INISOireachtasMail@justice.ie, which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Question process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in the cases where the response is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.
429. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Justice the number of protected disclosures made to her concerning her Department and bodies under its aegis in 2018, 2019 and 2020. [59916/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, the Protected Disclosures Act was enacted in 2014 to allow employees to bring alleged wrongdoing to the attention of the appropriate authorities.
Section 22 of the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 requires public bodies to prepare and publish a report each year in relation to the previous year, on the disclosures received and dealt with under its policy, in an anonymised form.
My Department publishes annual reports in respect of protected disclosures received in the Department of Justice.
With regard to the Deputy’s question on the number of protected disclosures made to me concerning my Department and bodies under its aegis in 2018, 2019 and 2020, it is important to note that a number of agencies under the remit of my Department, including the Irish Prison Service, the Legal Aid Board, the Courts Service, An Garda Síochána and the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, have their own protected disclosures policies in place and report separately on disclosures received in line with the requirements of the Act.
It is also important to note that officials working in these organisations may make a protected disclosure to that agency directly, as well as to my Department.
The table below sets out the number and details of protected disclosures made to my Department for the years requested.
|
Year |
Allegations of Wrongdoing |
Assessed as not a Protected Disclosure and/or transferred to the appropriate aegis body/area |
Closed following investigation |
Ongoing |
|
2018 |
13 |
8 |
3 |
2 |
|
2019 |
15 |
10 |
4 |
1 |
|
2020 |
23 |
17 |
2 |
4 |
|
Total |
51 |
35 |
9 |
7 |
Information about protected disclosures received by my Department is available on our website at: www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Pages/Publications-annual-reports?opendocument&start=0&year=2019.
430. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Justice the level of funding to be provided by her Department in 2022 for the promotion and support of the social enterprise sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59941/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn late 2020, my Department launched an innovative employment-focused strategy designed to increase the work options for people with a criminal past. The Working to Change social enterprise and employment strategy 2021-2023 is aligned with several national and international policies and is a sister strategy to the current National Social Enterprise Policy 2019 – 2022. It sets out my Department’s direction for supporting employment options for people with convictions by simultaneously working to remove the systemic barriers so that people can make sustainable changes.
Working to Change builds upon a solid foundation of employment supports already in place across the criminal justice sector and is a collaboration between the Prison Service, the Probation Service and my Department. It focuses on three strategic areas to increase employment options for people with lived experience of the criminal justice:
- Employment in the social economy/social enterprise sector
- Mainstream employment in the public & private sectors
- Entrepreneurship
Investment in the social economy in recent years has been key to increasing the number of meaningful jobs for people with a criminal past. This investment has predominately come in two forms:
1. Incentivised recruitment through investment in social enterprises:
The Probation Service’s KickStart Fund is administered in partnership with Pobal and is funded through the Dormant Accounts Disbursement Scheme.
2. Socially responsible public procurement:
Purchasing power of the Department and criminal justice agencies indirectly support the employment of people with a criminal past by allowing social enterprises to become part of their supply chain.
My Department fully supports the implementation of the Working to Change strategy, which includes a pledge that 10% of all procurement contracts signed by the Department, the Irish Prison Service and the Probation Service will include social considerations by the end of the Working to Change strategy (2023).
In addition, as was the case in 2021, the Department will support awareness raising campaigns to highlight the significant role the social enterprise sector plays in recruiting those furthest from the labour market, particularly people with criminal records.
My Department relies on its executive agencies, the Probation Service and Irish Prison Service, to lead on the implementation of the Working to Change strategy and both agencies take on various related elements and expenditure.
The Probation Service and the Irish Prison Service co-finance the role of the Criminal Justice Social Enterprise Project Manager on a 50/50 basis. This is provided by way of payment to Pobal for total salary costs of €114,800 for 2022. A further €29,740 is being provided for ICT and other support costs.
The Probation Service, supported by the Prison Service and administered by Pobal, invests in the social enterprise sector through their KickStart fund.
Dormant Accounts Funding of €1.150m was approved under the Dormant Accounts 2020 Programme for the second round of KickStart Funding. The original timeframe for the programme was intended to be from September 2020 to December 2021. However, due to delays as a result of COVID restrictions, an extension of time has been granted until the end of June 2022.
In November 2021, additional funding of €1.150m was approved under the Dormant Accounts 2021 Programme to support the third round of KickStart Funding.
431. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice the number of children seeking international protection in Ireland at present. [60031/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra432. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice the number of children seeking international protection in Ireland at present who are in the State unaccompanied; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60032/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra433. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice the number of children who sought or applied for international protection in Ireland in each of the past five years and to date in 2021; and the number who were granted asylum here in each of the past five years. [60033/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra434. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice the number of persons that sought or applied for international protection in Ireland in each of the past five years and to date in 2021; and the number that were granted asylum here in each of the past five years. [60034/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 431 to 434, inclusive, together.
The International Protection Office (IPO) of my Department is responsible for examining all international protection applications received.
Tusla, the Child and Family Agency has statutory responsibility for the care of any unaccompanied minors in the State. If an unaccompanied minor indicates that they wish to apply for international protection, they are referred to Tusla, either by the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) at the airport/port of entry, or by staff at the IPO of my Department. The IPO refers all persons who present at the IPO indicating that they wish to apply for international protection and who state that they are unaccompanied minors to Tusla.
Section 15(4) of the International Protection Act 2015, provides that where it appears to the Child and Family Agency, on the basis of information, including legal advice, available to it, that an application for international protection should be made on behalf of a child under 18 in respect of whom it is providing care and protection, it shall arrange for an employee of the Agency to make an application on behalf of the child and to represent and assist the child with respect to the examination of the application.
All applications for international protection made by Tusla on behalf of unaccompanied minors are prioritised by the IPO for processing, and the IPO has specially trained caseworkers to process these applications. Specific arrangements will be made by the IPO in conjunction with Tusla for the processing of the application. Tusla will support the minor throughout the process, including attending at their interview.
For a variety of reasons, not all unaccompanied minors referred to Tusla will make an application for international protection. Some may be inappropriate referrals, others may not be brought into the care of Tusla, and a number will be reunited with their families, who then have responsibility for submitting a protection application or other immigration application.
Where an applicant for international protection is deemed to have also made an application on behalf of a dependent child, the applicant is asked at his or her personal interview about any fears that he or she has regarding his or her child. Any issues relating to the child are individually examined and dealt with in the report prepared under Section 39 of the International Protection Act 2015. A recommendation is made in the report in respect of each dependent child being processed with the application of their parent or guardian.
At the end of October 2021, there were 1,278 international protection applications in respect of children (under 18 years) pending at the IPO, of which 51 applications were in respect of unaccompanied minors.
The statistics sought by the Deputy are set out in the attached tables.
Table 1
|
Year |
Total number of applications for international protection made in respect of children (including those who arrived with a parent/care provider and those who arrived unaccompanied) |
- of which unaccompanied minors |
|
2017 |
838 |
32 |
|
2018 |
857 |
19 |
|
2019 |
1089 |
51 |
|
2020 |
359 |
29 |
|
2021 (to end October) |
488 |
40 |
Table 2
|
Year |
No. of Decisions to Grant International Protection in respect of children (those with a parent/care provided and those unaccompanied |
|
2017 |
294 |
|
2018 |
392 |
|
2019 |
319 |
|
2020 |
356 |
|
2021 (to end October) |
229 |
Table 3
|
Year of Application |
Total number of Applications for International Protection 2017- 2021 |
|
2017 |
2,920 |
|
2018 |
3,674 |
|
2019 |
4,781 |
|
2020 |
1,566 |
|
2021 (end Oct) |
1,808 |
Table 4
|
Year of Decision |
Number of Ministerial Decisions to Grant International Protection |
|
2017 |
788 |
|
2018 |
1036 |
|
2019 |
1119 |
|
2020 |
1196 |
|
2021 (to end October) |
779 |
435. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Justice the details of domestic violence recorded in 2021 to date; the way it compares to previous years; the additional training that has been provided to An Garda Síochána in dealing with domestic violence incidents; and the additional resources that have been allocated by An Garda Síochána to deal with this issue. [60044/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra440. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Justice the number of domestic violence incidents reported to gardaí in each of the years 2017 to 2020 and to date in 2021, respectively; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60134/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 435 and 440 together.
The Government is committed to tackling domestic, sexual and gender based violence in all its forms, and to supporting victims of this heinous crime.
The Government's commitment to combatting domestic, sexual and gender based violence and to supporting victims is reflected in the funding allocated under Budget 2022, with a total of €13m allocated to my Department for its work in this area. This represents an increased allocation of €5.35m and will enable us to roll out specific awareness raising and training programmes to combat domestic, sexual and gender based violence. It will also allow us to provide additional supports to NGOs and specific domestic violence intervention programmes and it will support a number of front line activities.
As part of this, an additional €1.1m will be used to put in place a legal advice and legal aid service in court for victims of sexual violence and €1 million is being provided to the Garda vote to refurbish and upgrade the Divisional Protective Service Units. This will allow us to better support and protect vulnerable victims.
The Deputy will be aware that my Department is leading the development across government of the Third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence. This plan will outline how the government will radically improve services and supports for victims and will be the most ambitious plan to date.
My Department is also currently implementing Supporting a Victim’s Journey , our plan to help victims and vulnerable witnesses in sexual violence cases which I published last year. Its implementation will reform the criminal justice system at every point a victim comes into contact with it, while our work on public awareness campaigns will further strengthen work to prevent these crimes.
The additional funding secured under Budget 2022 will allow us to continue to build on the work undertaken this year. We will continue to work to improve the system for victims, to better support them so they have confidence to reach out for help and report what has happened.
On foot of the Deputy's question, I contacted our colleagues in An Garda Síochána to seek the specific information sought by the Deputy and that is presented below:
To determine the number of Domestic Abuse incidents reported in a given timeframe a number of criteria are applied. The counts in the table below are a combination of the following:
The incident type is one of:
- Breach of Interim Barring Order
- Breach of Protection Order
- Breach of Barring Order
- Breach of Safety Order
- Domestic Dispute - No Offence Disclosed
- Breach of Emergency Barring Order
or is of any incident type, but with a recorded motive of ‘Domestic Abuse’.
The table below shows incidents reported in the years 2017 – 2021. The figure for 2021 includes incidents reported up to and including 01st December 2021.
|
Year Reported |
Domestic Abuse Incidents |
|
2017 |
21,993 |
|
2018 |
24,286 |
|
2019 |
30,247 |
|
2020 |
35,008 |
|
2021 |
34,410 |
Operation Faoiseamh commenced on 01 April 2020 and is an initiative undertaken by An Garda Síochána for the purpose of providing enhanced proactive support to victims of domestic abuse during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Garda National Protective Service Bureau (GNPSB) oversees the implementation of this proactive initiative, which was launched with the aim of ensuring that victims of domestic abuse are supported and protected.
436. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Justice the current status of a family reunification application for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60071/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI share the Deputy’s concerns for the Afghan people and the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.
The person referred to by the Deputy was granted family reunification in respect of two brothers and a grandmother in 2016. They subsequently applied for their mother to join them in 2020 and were advised by letter dated 28 July 2020 that this application was deemed ineligible under the terms of the International Protection Act 2015. They were advised of other application types available.
My officials have checked the applications on hand in my Department and are not aware of any current application having being received.
As the Deputy is aware, the Government has approved my Department's proposal for an additional initiative: the special Afghan Admission Programme, which will provide places for up to 500 Afghan family members to travel to Ireland. Each applicant will have an opportunity to nominate up to four family members who are currently residing in Afghanistan or who have fled to neighbouring territories and whom they consider would be especially at risk in terms of their freedom and safety. My Department intends to open the Programme for applications during mid-December and it may be open to the person concerned to make an application to that Programme, subject to meeting its criteria.
A key focus of the Programme will be on establishing the identity of those intending to come to Ireland. Therefore, in advance of the Programme’s launch date, applicants and beneficiaries should focus on ensuring they have as many identity documents as possible available to support their application.
