Written Answers Nos. 278-285
278. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 477 of 22 November 2022, when a payment (details supplied) will issue in respect of accommodation provided, in view of the substantial amount of money that it is owed and given that he had previously stated that the payment was in hand and would issue shortly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61549/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraOverseeing provision of accommodation on this scale during this timeframe for all those who require it remains immensely challenging. Due to the urgent need to source accommodation, my Department has contracted in excess of 37,000 beds to accommodate Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) in more than 650 settings including hotels, guesthouses, B&Bs, hostels, commercial self-catering accommodation and certain other repurposed settings.
The Government is resolute in its solidarity and support for Ukraine, and huge efforts are being made to source facilities that will provide those arriving in Ireland with safety and shelter.
I am advised by my officials that a payment to the person referred to by the Deputy has been authorised and is set to be paid out by my Department this week.
I trust this information is of assistance.
279. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the new National Strategy for Women and Girls for 2022 to 2025 will be published; and if the study commissioned by his Department to evaluate the processes for implementation of three equality strategies, which includes the National Strategy for Women and Girls, as well as the Migrant Integration Strategy and the National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy, will be published in early 2023 as committed to earlier this year. [61550/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government includes specific commitments that the Government will develop and implement a new Migrant Integration Strategy and a new National Strategy for Women and Girls, in addition to reviewing the National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy and ensuring that the successor strategy has a stronger outcomes focused approach. While initially due to conclude in 2020, and 2021 in the case of the National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy, these strategies were extended in recognition of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their implementation.My Department has commissioned a study to evaluate the processes for implementation of three equality strategies, the National Strategy for Women and Girls as well as the Migrant Integration Strategy and the National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy. The study is expected to be published in early 2023, with work to build the new Strategies taking place thereafter. I will make this study available once it has been completed.Consultations in regard to the successor strategy to the National Strategy for Women and Girls will then commence. In the interim, the principles and priorities of the National Strategy for Women and Girls will continue to guide my Department's work to advance equality in this area.
280. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of an application to provide housing for Ukrainian refugees to the Red Cross in the name of a person (details supplied) considering that this application was made a number of months ago and no reply has been received to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61561/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra281. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of an application to provide housing for Ukrainian refugees to the Red Cross in the name of a person (details supplied) considering that this application was made a number of months ago and no reply has been received to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61562/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra282. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the Red Cross has a query email relating to applications for Ukrainian housing for Members of the Houses of the Oireachtas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61563/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 280, 281 and 282 together.
Since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine on 24 February, and the invoking of the Temporary Protection Directive by the European Union shortly afterwards, my Department has worked intensively as part of the cross-governmental response to the Ukraine crisis. The operational challenges brought about by responding to the conflict are significant. Our country has never experienced an influx of displaced persons like the one that we have seen over the past months.
My Department’s role is focused on the immediate, short-term accommodation needs of those who have fled here. To date, more than 66,000 people have arrived in Ireland and in excess of 48,000 of those have been referred to this Department seeking accommodation from the State.
Overseeing provision of accommodation on this scale during this timeframe for all those who require it remains immensely challenging. Due to the urgent need to source accommodation, my Department has contracted in excess of 37,000 beds to accommodate Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) in more than 650 settings including hotels, guesthouses, B&Bs, hostels, commercial self-catering accommodation and certain other repurposed settings.
The priority is to place people fleeing the conflict in safe and secure accommodation.
Every effort is being made to provide beneficiaries of temporary protection with pledged accommodation that is suitable for their needs. Once a pledge has passed through the inspection process and Garda vetting (where applicable), NGO Implementing Partners and Local Authorities will match BOTPs to suitable pledges. Since the beginning of the pledge programme in April this year, approximately 11,000 pledged properties have been notified to Local Authorities and other NGO Implementing Partners, with a view to assessing their viability and to match beneficiaries to those properties where possible.
As of 1 December, it has been reported to the Department that 5,857 beneficiaries have been matched to approximately 2200 pledged properties with over €8.5million paid out to over 4,400 applicants as part of the Accommodation Recognition Payment.
I am advised by my officials that the Irish Red Cross has made efforts to contact all pledgers who have offered accommodation through the Irish Red Cross register of Pledges. Some pledges have remained uncontactable, despite numerous attempts made by the Red Cross and other Implementing Partners including the Local Authorities. Should a pledger wish to enquire about the current status of their pledge they can contact the Irish Red Cross or their Local Authority for further information. The Irish Red Cross can be contacted by email at registerofpledges@redcross.ie or by phoning 1800 50 70 70.
The Government Decision of 28 October has reiterated Ireland’s firm commitment to assisting those fleeing from Ukraine.
283. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the funding that was provided to Limerick from his Department in 2022, broken down by project in tabular form. [61572/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information being sought by the Deputy is currently being collated and the response will issue as soon as possible.
284. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the grant supports that are available to those carrying out apprenticeships for various trades required for the building of houses; the supports that he intends to introduce to make the training in these trades more attractive and financially viable to prospective apprentices; his targets for the training of apprentices in the coming five years in each profession in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61433/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraTrade or profession-specific grant supports are not available to those carrying out apprenticeships for various trades required for the building of houses. There are no supports intended to be introduced to make the training in these trades more attractive to prospective apprentices. Under the Action plan for Apprenticeship2021-25, the overall ambition is to reach 10,000 apprentice registrations per annum by 2025. There are no targets for the training of apprentices in the coming five years in each profession.
Apprenticeships are employer led demand-driven educational and training programmes based on a contract of employment between an apprentice and their employer.
The apprenticeship model enables people to gain an internationally recognised qualification, while getting valuable on-the-job experience which enables people to earn a wage while they learn and build valuable work-ready skills in a chosen occupation.
Housing for All provides certainty in terms of the Government’s commitment to advancing this area of construction up to 2030. This can help to counter some of the perceptions of jobs in the industry experiencing a boom-to-bust cycle and provide more stability in terms of solid career choices.
To encourage greater gender balance across all apprenticeships, employers of apprentices on which there is greater than 80% of a particular gender can receive a gender bursary of €2,666 when they take on an apprentice of the minority gender. This is important in terms of attracting women into the area; employers are being actively encouraged to take them on.
For apprentices themselves, the minimum rates of pay applying under the employment contract are either agreed within the relevant sector, or are set out in legally binding Sectoral Employment Orders recommended by the Labour Court. These minimum rates vary between occupations and sectors but in all cases craft apprenticeship rates are expressed as a proportion of the qualified rate, increasing yearly from 33% in year one to 90% in year four.
Periods of off-the-job training for craft apprentices are funded from the National Training Fund with payments of the agreed rate made directly to craft apprentices by the 16 education and training boards (ETBs) during this time.
In addition to training allowances, craft apprentices on off-the-job training phases in an ETB training centre, Institute of Technology, or a Technological University can apply for either travel or accommodation allowances for the training phase.
Recognising that there are cost of living pressures across society at the moment, as part of Budget 2023 I announced a reduction of 33% in the contribution fee for apprentices as well as additional funding for social inclusion measures in apprenticeship, such as a bursary for apprentices from under-represented groups. These measures have begun implementation and more will be delivered in 2023.
285. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department will examine the issue of the reduction of third-level fees for a student (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61439/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs part of Budget 2023, I secured a significant cost of living package for third level students, including a once-off €1,000 state financial support towards the undergraduate student contribution fee for higher education students eligible for my Department’s free fees schemes.
Students attending part time courses are not eligible for the free fees schemes and therefore the once-off student contribution support of €1,000 in 22/23 cannot apply to students undertaking part time study.
While this is the current position, one of the working groups established to support implementation of the Funding the Future reform framework is examining issues relating to part-time study and will make recommendations to me in 2023.
Students in publicly funded third-level institutions experiencing exceptional financial difficulty can apply for support under the Student Assistance Fund. As part of the cost-of-living measures announced in Budget 2023 an additional €8 million has been invested in the Student Assistance Fund for the current academic year 2022/23. This Fund assists students in a sensitive and compassionate manner, who might otherwise be unable to continue their third level studies due to their financial circumstances. It is open to both full and part-time registered students on courses of not less than one year's duration leading to an undergraduate or postgraduate qualification. Information on the fund is available through the Access Officer in the third level institution attended. This fund is administered on a confidential, discretionary basis. More information on the SAF is available at www.studentfinance.ie.
Tax relief on tuition fees may be available for students attending part-time courses. Details in relation to this relief are available from the Revenue Commissioners.
