Written Answers Nos. 527-548
527. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which satisfactory provision has been made for those retiring at 65 years of age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24896/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI introduced the Benefit Payment for 65 Year olds last year under the Jobseeker's Benefit and Jobseeker's Benefit Self Employed social insurance schemes to bridge the gap for people who retire at 65 but do not qualify for State Pension until they are aged 66. There are currently approximately 4,700 people receiving this support.
A key feature of the payment is that recipients do not have to sign on or partake in activation measures or be available for and genuinely seeking work to avail of it. Unlike other Jobseeker's Benefit customers who are paid at a graduated rate according to their previous earnings, recipients of this payment are paid at the maximum personal rate of Jobseeker's Benefit. This rate has increased from €203 to €208 under Budget 2022 and increases are also paid for qualifying adult and child dependents.
Where a person does not meet the PRSI contribution requirements for receipt of Benefit Payment for 65 year olds, they may be eligible for the means tested Jobseeker's Allowance.
I trust that this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
528. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which the number of applications for various social welfare payments has fluctuated in the past 12 months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24897/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe table below shows the number of claims registered for various social welfare schemes over the 12 month period from April 2021 to March 2022.
|
Scheme |
Apr-21 |
May-21 |
Jun-21 |
Jul-21 |
Aug-21 |
Sep-21 |
Oct-21 |
Nov-21 |
Dec-21 |
Jan-22 |
Feb-22 |
Mar-22 |
|
State Pension (Contributory) |
3,283 |
3,360 |
3,246 |
3,118 |
2,909 |
2,463 |
3,430 |
3,310 |
2,135 |
2,809 |
3,724 |
3,890 |
|
Widow(er)'s Contributory Pension |
645 |
626 |
702 |
623 |
536 |
620 |
634 |
819 |
551 |
800 |
743 |
757 |
|
State Pension (Non-Contributory) |
823 |
699 |
768 |
759 |
562 |
630 |
738 |
782 |
451 |
722 |
754 |
726 |
|
Jobseekers Allowance |
6,682 |
6,938 |
9,347 |
9,691 |
8,204 |
9,556 |
8,371 |
9,076 |
7,437 |
8,471 |
7,919 |
8,075 |
|
Jobseekers Benefit |
8,156 |
6,982 |
11,944 |
13,228 |
9,382 |
10,775 |
9,587 |
10,323 |
9,137 |
10,600 |
8,692 |
9,529 |
|
One-Parent Family Payment |
770 |
798 |
797 |
819 |
826 |
994 |
929 |
989 |
663 |
752 |
855 |
981 |
|
Supplementary Welfare Allowance Basic |
2,185 |
2,393 |
2,863 |
3,421 |
3,480 |
3,814 |
3,553 |
3,930 |
3,412 |
3,143 |
3,637 |
5,009 |
|
Maternity Benefit |
3,515 |
3,610 |
4,606 |
3,478 |
3,665 |
4,987 |
3,680 |
3,914 |
3,547 |
3,465 |
3,100 |
3,702 |
|
Paternity Benefit |
2,162 |
3,610 |
2,557 |
2,157 |
2,324 |
3,160 |
2,327 |
2,411 |
2,416 |
2,531 |
2,344 |
2,447 |
|
Parent's Benefit |
6,769 |
4,709 |
4,713 |
4,979 |
4,243 |
5,157 |
4,614 |
4,800 |
4,013 |
5,838 |
5,290 |
5,636 |
|
Carer's Allowance |
1,744 |
1,984 |
1,735 |
1,558 |
1,456 |
1,762 |
1,741 |
1,913 |
1,252 |
905 |
1,103 |
1,396 |
|
Carer's Benefit |
311 |
426 |
429 |
363 |
311 |
393 |
368 |
264 |
251 |
313 |
396 |
468 |
|
Disability Allowance |
1,650 |
1,794 |
1,909 |
1,822 |
1,646 |
1,928 |
1,900 |
1,954 |
1,465 |
1,596 |
1,888 |
2,260 |
|
Invalidity Pension |
655 |
790 |
727 |
649 |
638 |
723 |
858 |
820 |
641 |
694 |
865 |
778 |
|
Illness Benefit |
21,349 |
22,233 |
24,522 |
32,953 |
38,116 |
33,918 |
30,633 |
62,355 |
73,368 |
187,091 |
88,717 |
103,155 |
|
Occupational Injury Benefit |
586 |
747 |
886 |
904 |
932 |
1,100 |
1,009 |
1,165 |
858 |
844 |
839 |
830 |
|
Child Benefit |
2,435 |
2,106 |
1,499 |
2,694 |
2,506 |
2,528 |
2,736 |
3,670 |
2,737 |
1,526 |
3,239 |
2,838 |
|
Domiciliary Care Allowance |
809 |
1072 |
849 |
700 |
668 |
837 |
766 |
785 |
577 |
585 |
801 |
855 |
|
Household Benefits |
3,318 |
4,746 |
4,721 |
4,777 |
4,707 |
6,259 |
6,510 |
8,286 |
3,318 |
944 |
1,082 |
7,022 |
529. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number of recipients of the State pension non-contributory in the past two years; the extent to which this number has fluctuated or is likely to so do; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24898/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe table below shows the numbers of recipients of state pension non-contributory at the end of December 2020 and December 2021.
As the scheme is demand led and means tested, it is not possible to predict the extent to which this number is likely to fluctuate in future years.
|
Year |
Number of recipients |
|
2021 |
95,010 |
|
2020 |
95,465 |
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
530. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number of recipients of child benefit payments; the extent to which this has fluctuated in the past two years and is likely to so do in the future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24899/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe attached tabular statement outlines the monthly recipients of Child Benefit in April 2020, April 2021 and April 2022. There was a fall in recipients of approximately 0.2% between 2020 and 2021, followed by an increase of approximately 0.4% between 2021 and 2022.
By close of business on 1st May 2022, there were 6,104 awarded child benefit claims awarded to people fleeing the conflict in Ukraine.
My Department has taken note of the latest CSO Regional Projections which forecasts a fall in the birth rate for all migration and fertility scenarios between 2017 and 2036.
|
Monthly Recipients of Child Benefit |
|
|
April 2020 |
638,409 |
|
April 2021 |
637,260 |
|
April 2022 |
640,093 |
531. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number of exceptional needs payments made in each of the past two years to date; the most common reasons for which the payment was sought; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24900/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) scheme, my Department can make a single Exceptional Needs Payment (ENP) to help meet essential, once-off expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. An urgent needs payment (UNP) may be made to persons who may not normally qualify for supplementary welfare allowance but who have an urgent need which they cannot meet from their own resources or where an alternative is not available at that time. Government has provided €45.75 million for the exceptional and urgent needs schemes in 2022.
There were approximately 67,600 payments in 2020 and 55,500 payments in 2021. To date in 2022, 18,900 payments have been made. The categories with the largest number of payments within the ENP scheme are the housing category, which includes payments for necessary items including bedding, flooring, furniture, household appliances and rent deposits; and the general category, which includes support for travel costs, heating costs and the clothing category.
Any person who considers they may have an entitlement to an exceptional or urgent needs payment are encouraged to contact their local Intreo Centre. There is a National Intreo Contact Centre in place - 0818-405060 - which will direct callers to the appropriate office.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
532. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of a PPS number for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24903/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that my Department has allocated a Personal Public Service Number (PPSN) to the person referred to by the Deputy.
A letter issued to her on 12th May 2022 providing her with her PPSN.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
533. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of funding a national advocacy service for people with disabilities in 2023 indicating the cost of a youth advocacy programme and adults including the inclusion of psychosocial disabilities in the advocacy services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24908/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis question relates to Action no. 60 of the National Disability Inclusion Strategy (Health and Wellbeing section). which is assigned to the Department of Health under the Strategy.
534. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the assurances she can give persons working in local employment services and job clubs across the country that their jobs will be protected by the Government in the context of the tendering process she is pursuing. [24940/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is currently undertaking a significant expansion of public employment services, through an open and competitive public procurement process. In particular, specialised employment services for those farthest from the labour market - previously available in just twelve counties - will soon be available State-wide for the first time.
In the first phase of this procurement, contracts for Intreo Partners - Local Area Employment Services (LAES) were agreed in late 2021 across four lots in seven counties in the Midlands and North-East. These new services are now operational and accepting referrals. In two of the three lots where community and voluntary groups submitted tenders, they were successful which is evidence that this sector can compete successfully as part of the procurement process.
Phase two of this process is currently ongoing. The procurement of Phase 2 of the Intreo Partners Local Area Employment Services commenced with the publication of the request for tender on 21 December last with a deadline of the 25th of April. Phase 2 included a proportionate increase over Phase 1 in guaranteed referral numbers, calculated on the basis of ensuring the financial viability of the new employment services with due regard to the cost structures of existing Job Clubs and Local Employment Services in the Phase 2 lot areas.
In the context of a live competitive procurement process, I am not and cannot be directly involved in or briefed on the identity of bidders or the status of the evaluation process.
535. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection if she can account for a 15% increase in calls to an organisation (details supplied) given that an extra 62,000 persons are seeking its help; and her views on whether the payments from her Department are sufficient to meet the cost of living. [24941/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Social Protection I regularly meet with stakeholders in the community and voluntary sector, such as St. Vincent de Paul, through events such as the annual pre-budget forum. I value the informed views and opinions of these organisations.
I am very aware of the challenges facing low-income households as a result of the recent increases in consumer prices. These increases, which are mainly due to external factors, have exceeded even the highest forecasts.
The Government acted early and did not await a further budget cycle to address these challenges. To help mitigate the effects of these rising costs, the Government announced a package of measures in February, which will have a positive impact on the incomes of all households in our country. This package will cost in excess of half a billion euro.
This package included a lump sum of €125 to all households in receipt of the Fuel Allowance payment, which was paid to social welfare recipients in March. This week, a further lump sum payment of €100 will be paid to these households.
Taken together with the €5 increase in Fuel Allowance announced as part of Budget 2022, this means that low-income households will see an increase of 55% in Fuel Allowance support provided during this Fuel season when compared to last season.
A recipient household which would have received €735 in fuel season 2020/2021 will see an increase of €404 to €1,139 in Fuel Allowance payments in fuel season 2021/2022. When taken in conjunction with the electricity costs emergency benefit payment, such households will have received over €600 in additional targeted Government supports over the course of this fuel season. €600 is the equivalent of over 18 weeks' additional fuel allowance at current rates.
The increase of €10 to the weekly income threshold of the Working Family Payment was also brought forward, taking effect from early April 2022 rather than from June.
These measures are in addition to those introduced as part of Budget 2022, which included the largest social welfare Budget package in 14 years. In January, around 1.4 million people received a €5 increase in weekly payments, and more if they have dependents. Targeted, evidence-based measures such as increases to Fuel Allowance, the Living Alone Allowance and Qualified Child payments have ensured the largest increases are aimed at the most vulnerable. This approach is in line with the recent recommendations of the Committee on Budgetary Oversight's Report on Inflation.
The Government will continue to monitor this situation closely.
537. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on the CSO report survey on income and living conditions. [24943/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Survey on Income and Living Conditions contains the official poverty data for Ireland. The most recent survey results (SILC 2021) were published by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) on 6 May 2022.
The Roadmap for Social Inclusion 2020–2025 is the national strategy for poverty reduction and social inclusion. The ambitious headline target is to reduce the percentage of the population in consistent poverty to 2% or less by 2025.
SILC 2021 shows that there have been improvements across the key national poverty indicators. The rate of consistent poverty decreased by a 0.7 percentage points to 4%. Government welcomes this steady progress towards meeting the national social target for poverty reduction. In addition, child poverty decreased significantly – from 7.2% in SILC 2020 to 5.2% in SILC 2021.
Data from SILC 2021 highlights the protective effect that social transfers have on poverty. Without social transfers, the at risk of poverty rate would have been 38.6%. Social transfers reduced this rate to 11.6%. This represents a 70% reduction on the at risk of poverty rate in 2021. Ireland is consistently one of the best performing EU countries in reducing poverty through social transfers.
The survey results also show that social welfare and COVID-19 income supports were key in sustaining incomes. Without COVID-19 income supports, average household incomes would have fallen by 6.2%. As a result of COVID-19 income supports, average household incomes actually increased by 5.2%. It is particularly welcome that household disposable incomes increased across all income deciles.
The SILC 2021 report also calculated the Gini coefficient, which is a measure of income inequality out of 100 and where a smaller number represents greater income equality. It found income equality had improved in Ireland, from 28.5 in SILC 2020 to 27 in SILC 2021, and that social transfers played a key role in this. Without social transfers, the Gini coefficient would have been 43.4.
Combined with the other SILC 2021 findings, the reduction in income inequality displays the effectiveness of Ireland’s social welfare system at both redistributing income and reducing poverty.
The survey results will be incorporated into our annual reporting on progress against targets set out in the Roadmap for Social Inclusion. It is very positive to see the improvements across key poverty indicators, but I am aware of the higher levels of poverty for certain groups, such as people with disabilities and lone parents. The continued implementation of Roadmap commitments is key to ensuring a reduction in poverty for all segments in society. I will continue to work with my Government colleagues as we strive for further improvements across the key national poverty indicators, ensuring continued support for those most at risk of poverty.
538. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons who applied for a public services card in 2021 and to date in 2022. [24944/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraPublic Services Cards (PSC) are produced following the authentication of a person's identity via the SAFE registration process. Accordingly, there are no direct applications for PSCs.
The records of my Department show that a total of 3.6 million persons have been SAFE registered and had a PSC issued to them.
In 2021, my Department issued 442,000 PSCs of which 150,000 were issued to customers for the first time. The remainder are renewed and re-issued cards. From January to April 2022, some 212,000 PSCs issued of which some 84,000 were issued to customers for the first time and the remainder are renewed and re-issued cards.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
539. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the plans in place to increase the rate of allowance for foster carers, considering that it has not been increased since 2009 and is clearly no longer in line with escalating living costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24117/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Child Care (Placement of Children in Foster Care) Regulations, 1995 and the Child Care (Placement of Children with Relatives) Regulations, 1995, stipulates that the allowance payable to foster carers and relatives shall not be less than an amount specified by the Minister.
The foster care allowance was last increased on January 1st 2009. Foster carers are paid a weekly allowance, which is a payment to meet the needs of the child in their care. The foster care allowance is currently €325 per week for a child under 12 years of age and €352 per week for a child aged 12 years and over. It is paid in respect of the child and provided in order to allow foster carers to meet all of the child's daily living needs, including food, clothing, basic travel, education costs and hobbies and sports activities. The allowance is not considered as means for social welfare purposes, and is not subject to tax.
If required, Tusla can also provide additional financial supports to foster carers through either additional or enhanced payments. Additional payments refers to any payment made to a foster carer that exceeds the standard rate of the fostering allowance. Such additional payments may be made in respect of children or young people who have additional needs that are not covered by the standardised fostering allowance. Additional payments can only be made where a child has additional medical or educational needs and when authorisation has been received from the Tusla Area Manager. Each application for an additional payment will be accompanied by supporting documentation evidencing the need.
Enhanced allowances for foster carers can be made when a longer term financial need is identified for additional supports for the child. A maximum of twice the weekly allowance may be paid in respect of children aged between 0-18 years if they require significant care over and above the needs of other children in foster care. This includes children who have been diagnosed with significant special needs and require a high level of personal care and supervision. The purpose of considering an enhanced allowance in these cases is to support foster carers in providing care to these children who have additional needs.
The foster care allowance is in respect of and for the benefit of the foster child and therefore must be used to meet the day to day costs associated with looking after the foster child. In considering any enhanced allowance the assessing social worker is required to evidence that the standard fostering allowance does not adequately provide for the cost of caring for the child.
A request for enhanced supports must certified by the Principal Social Worker and approved by the Area Manager following submission of an assessment of the child’s needs and supporting documentation. A review arrangement for the enhanced allowance must be part of the submission for approval.
In addition to the foster care allowance, foster carers receive a number of targeted supports to ensure they continue to function as a recognised and valued part of the alternative care system. Key elements of this support include a link social worker, access to training and support group meetings and the allocation of a social worker for each child in care. Respite care for children may be arranged if it is part of their care plan.
Pre-assessment and ongoing training are compulsory for foster carers in order to equip them with the skills and knowledge to provide high quality care. Recognising the specific dynamics and the personal nature of relative care, Tusla addresses the training needs of relatives who are foster carers separately. In addition, Tusla provides funding for the Irish Foster Care Association which offers a range of supports to carers, including advocacy, mediation, training and a telephone advice service.
The foster care allowance is one element of the support that Tusla provides to carers when they offer a home and care to children some of whom may have additional, and sometimes significant, needs. Tusla have advised that they have recently engaged with foster carers in a consultation. Through this consultation, foster carers highlighted the need for the foster care allowance to be reviewed in light of inflation and increases in social welfare allowances. Tusla is currently preparing a paper on this matter, which will then be considered by my Department.
The rate of the foster care allowance is kept under review by officials within the Department and at present there are no plans to change the rate. However, the Department is undertaking an extensive review of the Child Care Act 1991 and the provisions in relation foster care will form part of this review.
540. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will respond to matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); if he will meet with this organisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24118/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Area Based Childhood (ABC) Programme is an area-based prevention and early intervention initiative which is delivered in 12 areas of significant socioeconomic disadvantage across the country through Tusla’s Prevention Partnership and Family Support (PPFS) services.
The ABC Programme aims to work in partnership with families, practitioners, communities and national stakeholders to deliver better outcomes for children and families living in areas where poverty is deeply entrenched.
The ABC Programme was previously funded jointly by Atlantic Philanthropies and the Department of Children and Youth Affairs from 2013 to 2018. My Department tasked Pobal and the Centre for Effective Services to manage the programme, with Pobal being responsible for governance and financial accountability.
Between 2013 and 2018, ABC organisations operated on three-year contracts with multi-annual budgets. During this time, Pobal gave approval for individual ABC organisations to carry over a certain amount of unspent funds, resulting in an increased yearly spend. In 2018, the ABC Programme transitioned to Tusla and since October of that year, it has operated as part of the wider Tusla PPFS programme.
Since transitioning to Tusla, the practice of the retention of unspent funds has been changed in line with public financial guidance. However, this long standing practice amongst some ABCs has resulted in a shortfall between annual spending and funding received from Tusla. This is due to timing issues and established practices that had existed in ABCs prior to the transition.
To address this shortfall, Tusla adjusted its PPFS budgets in 2021 to avoid the need for a reduction in funding. As a result, the 4% budget increase for community organisations in 2022, will not be extended to ABCs directly. Instead, this funding will go towards the overall ABC Programme budget to ensure the future viability of the programme going forward.
As an independent state agency, Tusla is responsible for the management and oversight of exchequer funding allocated to it, including funding provided to the ABC Programme. Tusla's annual accounts are audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General independently of my Department’s annual Appropriation Account. Accordingly, my Department does not direct Tusla on its day-to-day adherence to public financial procedures, nor would it be appropriate for it to do so. My officials regularly engage with Tusla regarding overall financial matters.
I greatly appreciate the value that the ABC Programme provides for children and families and will respond to the correspondence directly. I look forward to continued engagement with Tusla on prevention and early intervention issues in our local communities, including the 12 ABC areas.
541. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of and annual budget for family resource centres nationally; the location of each in tabular form; the future plans for the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24180/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy is referring to an operational matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. I have therefore referred the matter to Tusla, and asked that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.
542. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of hours that Ukrainian refugees are permitted to work and also maintain their accommodation that is provided by the international protection accommodation services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24210/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine on February 24, and the invoking of the Temporary Protection Directive shortly thereafter, my Department has been working intensively as part of the cross-Government response to the Ukraine crisis.
My Department is focused on providing short term accommodation to people fleeing the conflict in Ukraine. Approximately 20 000 people have been placed in International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) accommodation to date.
My Department has contracted approximately 16,500 beds in hotels, guesthouses and B&Bs, hostels, commercial self-catering accommodation and certain other repurposed settings with additional capacity also being pursued through Airbnb, accommodation pledged by the general public, state-owned or private properties which may be suitable for short-term accommodation, accommodation belonging to voluntary bodies, large adapted centres such as the Millstreet Green Glens Arena, religious properties and Local Authority facilities. The Department is also investigating other options such as student accommodation for the summer period and holiday homes. Given the number of people arriving, sourcing suitable accommodation continues to be a challenge.
In seeking to address immediate accommodation needs, safety and security are the paramount considerations.
My Department is presently providing short-term accommodation without charge to beneficiaries of temporary protection who request assistance.
543. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the way that his Department and public bodies and agencies that operate under his remit meet their obligations for reasonable accommodation under the Employment Equality Acts 1998-2015. [24301/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraSection 47(1)(a) of the Disability Act 2005 requires public bodies to take all reasonable measures to promote and support the employment by it of persons with disabilities.
The Department has a dedicated Disability Liaison Officer (DLO), part of whose role is to provide advice, support and assistance to staff with disabilities. The DLO consults with staff with disabilities on an individual basis and, where appropriate, the relevant consultants, to provide the necessary supports, equipment, assistive technology and/or other requirements to enable each member of staff to carry out their roles and become a fully included member of staff within the Department.
The agencies under the remit of this Department have been asked to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.
544. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of his Department’s efforts to ban conversion therapy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24331/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government contains a commitment to legislate to end the practice of conversion therapy, an objective I strongly support.
In addition, the LGBTI+ National Youth Strategy 2018 – 2021 contains a commitment to prohibit the promotion or practice of conversion therapy by health professionals in Ireland, and the National LGBTI+ Inclusion Strategy 2019 - 2022 commits to ensuring that the practice is investigated and followed up with appropriate counter measures.
My Department developed a scoping paper on research into conversion therapy in February 2021. This paper comprised a literature overview and a high level examination of the banning of conversion therapy internationally, along with any evidence in Ireland of conversion therapy practices.
In May 2021, a sub-committee of the LGBTI+ National Inclusion Strategy Steering Committee was established to examine the scoping paper, and to consider the next steps in progressing commitments relating to researching, and prohibiting the practice of conversion therapy.
My Department recently commissioned research aimed at capturing the views and experiences of people who have been subjected to the practice of conversion therapy in Ireland. A Request for Quotation issued on 16 November 2021 and the research commenced in February 2022. This qualitative research will be completed by summer 2022, and will assist the Government in developing legislation to ban the practice of conversion therapy. My Department will also look at international good practice in this regard.
545. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of the implementation and outcomes of the national LGBTI+ inclusion strategy and to detail the next steps that are being considered by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24332/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is committed to achieving its vision of a safe, fair and inclusive Ireland where people are supported to flourish and to live inclusive, healthy and fulfilling lives, whatever their sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or sex characteristics. Ireland’s first National LGBTI+ Inclusion Strategy 2019-2022, published in November 2019, is the primary policy vehicle to achieve this vision.
The Strategy pursues objectives under four thematic pillars providing a vision of an Ireland where LGBTI+ people are visible and included, treated equally, healthy and feel safe and supported. With a view to making progress towards these high-level objectives, it contains over 100 actions.
To offset delays in the strategies implementation due to the public health emergency caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, I extended its lifetime into 2022. Work is continuing this year on the implementation of the strategy. The strategy will be reviewed next year as part of the process of developing a successor.
546. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 153 of 23 March 2022, the status of the specialist tracing team to identify further cases of illegal birth registrations; the resources allocated thereto; the membership, working methods and objectives of the team; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24377/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn March 2021, following publication of the Independent Review into Illegal Birth Registration, I asked Professor Conor O’Mahony, the Special Rapporteur on Child Protection, to consider the significant complexities and challenges which arise in relation to the issue of illegal birth registrations, and to provide a report proposing an appropriate course of action. On 14th March 2022 I published the report which sets out 17 numbered recommendations.
Recommendations 8 to 12 of the report by the Special Rapporteur on Child Protection relate to the establishment of a Specialist Tracing Team. The Government response to these recommendations, which I published on 14th March 2022 alongside the Special Rapporteur's report, stated that Government fully accepts the right of a person to be informed of the fact of a confirmed illegal birth registration and committed to the creation of a specialist tracing service.
In April, I introduced amendments to the Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2022 at Dáil Report Stage to provide for this specialist tracing service. These measures will ensure that any person who suspects that they may have been the subject of an illegal birth registration (“relevant person”) will have a right to request an expedited review of their case. They will also provide the legislative basis for the Minister to request that Tusla or the AAI undertake a review of files to establish if any further cases of illegal birth registration can be confirmed.
The Birth Information and Tracing Bill was passed by Dáil Éireann on 27 April 2022. It completed Second Stage in Seanad Éireann on 10 April 2022 and must now progress through Committee, Report and Final Stages. The legislation remains a priority for me, and I am committed to progressing it swiftly with a view to timely enactment this year. This, in turn, will provide the lawful basis for me to issue a formal request to Tusla to undertake a review of files in line with the relevant recommendations of the Special Rapporteur.
547. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of the inquiry into illegal birth registrations as recommended by a report (details supplied) by the special rapporteur on child protection into illegal adoption practices in the State; the membership of the inquiry; if, as recommended, it will adopt the truth commission model and be informed by principles of transitional justice; the scope and working methods of the inquiry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24378/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn March 2021, following publication of the Independent Review into Illegal Birth Registration, I asked Professor Conor O’Mahony, the Special Rapporteur on Child Protection, to consider the significant complexities and challenges which arise in relation to the issue of illegal birth registrations, and to provide a report proposing an appropriate course of action. On 14th March 2022 I published the report which sets out 17 numbered recommendations.
Recommendation 17 of the report by the Special Rapporteur on Child Protection was that a State inquiry into illegal adoptions (broadly defined) should be established on a non-statutory basis.
The question of creating an effective non-statutory inquiry is a sensitive, complex and challenging one. The Special Rapporteur acknowledges this and, in particular, notes the challenges associated with access to records for a non-statutory inquiry.
The Government remains committed to delivering on the comprehensive suite of actions set out in the Government Action Plan for Survivors and Former Residents of Mother and Baby and County Home Institutions. These actions respond to the priority needs and wishes of survivors, their families and advocates, and many of the actions achieve the objectives of a Truth Commission as proposed by the Special Rapporteur. In March of this year, Government approved high-level proposals for a National Centre for Research and Remembrance. The National Centre will stand as a site of conscience and will be designed to be an enduring and educational memorial to honour all those who were resident in Industrial Schools, Mother and Baby Homes, Magdalen Laundries and related institutions. The National Centre will be located on the site of the former Magdalen Laundry in Sean MacDermott Street in Dublin city centre and will have an inclusive, national and global reach.
The Centre will comprise a number of distinct, yet interrelated, areas, including a museum and exhibition space, the development of which will be led by the National Museum of Ireland; and a place for reflection and remembrance. In addition, it will contain a research centre and central repository of records related to institutional trauma in the 20th century, which will form part of the National Archives. It is anticipated that the central repository will sit at the heart of the Centre and will ultimately be underpinned by legislation. One unique aspect of the central repository will be the intended inclusion of the personal testimonies of survivors; allowing the lived experiences of survivors to be formally accepted as part of the official record. Inclusion of the personal testimonies of survivors will ensure that the lived experiences of survivors will be captured in their own words, for publication and archiving for posterity in the National Centre.
The Government Action Plan also contains important measures which are focused on access to records.
In setting out this comprehensive suite of commitments, the Government recognises the potential for a future centralised archive of institutional records and personal testimony to support further analysis and research on these important matters.
As a consequence of all of this ongoing work, the Government will need to give further consideration to the specific recommendation on the Truth Commission. In the coming months, my priority will be to implement the Action Plan and deliver the Birth Information and Tracing Bill, which will provide full, unredacted access to birth and early life information for people affected by illegal birth registration, adopted people, and anyone with questions as to their origins.
548. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of young persons who are currently on remand at Oberstown Children Detention Campus for more than four months as of 6 May 2022. [24385/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are two young people on remand over four months.
