Written Answers Nos. 421-438
421. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason for the four-month delay in paying invoices submitted by a person (details supplied) in respect of accommodation provided for Ukrainians. [6513/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has engaged over 700 properties to provide accommodation for Ukrainian Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection. In line with the Department’s commitment to substantially clear the backlog at the end of 2022, my Department temporarily re-assigned staff from other parts of the Department to the payments team in December, doubling the size of the payments unit. The enlarged team approved more than 100 million euros worth of payments.
My Department is prioritising maintaining a practice of more timely payments, including providing more resources to address any issues. Any delays in processing payments are deeply regretted and my Department is according this issue very high priority.
I am advised by my officials that they have engaged directly with the party referred to with a view to expediting processing and prioritising payment of these invoices.
422. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of applications received by IPAS from each county from property owners offering accommodation for Ukrainians which have yet to be processed; if all applicants have been notified of the status of their application and the likely timeframe for a decision; if the funding for the programme is being met solely by the Exchequer; and if EU funding is being provided. [6514/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is now accommodating in excess of 74,000 people, including both those fleeing the war in Ukraine and those seeking International Protection. We have contracted in excess of 43,500 beds to accommodate Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) in more than 700 settings nationwide including in hotels, guesthouses, B&Bs, hostels, commercial self-catering accommodation and certain other repurposed settings.
As part of process improvement my Department introduced a new accommodation offer management process on 23 January. The purpose of the new portal is to streamline the processing of valid offers of accommodation and deliver efficiencies in advancing such offers.
All offers of qualifying commercial accommodation must now only be made by completing this updated form: forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=1kz3hc5GbkiOn5I9PDFbr_Cz53O-RQRNm66T3C8QKQVUMjhOMEVRN1BVWFgxNDVKVUVSTEE2MzlBNy4u.
Please submit any offer using this process. Offers will no longer be accepted through any other channel. Further information on the updated offer management process can be found here: www.gov.ie/en/publication/d3422-offers-of-commercial-accommodation-for-beneficiaries-of-temporary-protection-botps-from-ukraine/ .
The new form is part of the whole of Government humanitarian accommodation response and the Department's ongoing commitment to process improvement to respond to the unprecedented humanitarian emergency in Ukraine. If one has a query as to whether or not they have a valid commercial offer of accommodation for my Department to consider, please refer to these offer submission guidelines www.gov.ie/en/publication/615c2-offers-of-commercial-accommodation-for-beneficiaries-of-temporary-protection-botps-from-ukraine-guidelines/.
The offer submission guidelines provide clear information on the following:
1. The offer categories which the Department will accept for review
2. The essential criteria a valid offer must meet
3. Signposted information on other accommodation offer channels to explore elsewhere across government (vacant homes, pledged properties, refurbished properties), where an offer does not fall within DCEDIY’s accommodation categories’ scope.
Please note, as BOTPs continue to arrive daily my Department are currently prioritising larger capacity offers and those with upcoming availability. While every effort is made to review offers as quickly as possible, the levels of current engagement mean that it may take between 3 and 5 days for a response to issue.
It should be noted that all offers are considered by my Department subject to being offered through the above channel.
As of 9 February 2023, I am advised that 371 offers have been received. I can confirm that my Department has directly replied to 294 offers with the remaining 77 currently being processed with the relevant team endeavouring to respond to all offers within 3 to 5 days of receipt. Of the 77 being processed, the information requested regarding County breakdown has been extracted from our systems and outlined in tabular form below.
|
County |
Number |
|
Carlow |
1 |
|
Cavan |
3 |
|
Cork |
2 |
|
Donegal |
13 |
|
Dublin |
9 |
|
Galway |
2 |
|
Kerry |
15 |
|
Kildare |
1 |
|
Kilkenny |
1 |
|
Laois |
1 |
|
Leitrim |
3 |
|
Limerick |
2 |
|
Longford |
1 |
|
Louth |
3 |
|
Mayo |
2 |
|
Meath |
3 |
|
Monaghan |
3 |
|
Offaly |
3 |
|
Roscommon |
2 |
|
Sligo |
2 |
|
Tipperary |
1 |
|
Westmeath |
2 |
|
Wexford |
1 |
|
Wicklow |
1 |
I can advise the Deputy that funding for accommodation for Ukraine Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection provided by my Department is solely from the Exchequer and does not contain an EU funded element.
As agreed by Government, a Senior Officials accommodation management working group, chaired by Conn Murray, former CEO Limerick County Council, has been established to support my Department, the Department of Housing, Heritage and Local Government and the Local Authorities in the agile delivery of accommodation required for BOTPs, including the programme for overseeing delivery of accommodation from those properties which require refurbishment.
423. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if birth information requested from Tusla since October 2022 will be released and acknowledgments made to applicants for the distress caused by the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6518/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraInformation and tracing services under the Birth Information and Tracing Act 2022 opened to applications on 03 October 2022. As of Tuesday 07 February 3,971 applications for information have been received by Tusla, and 936 cases have been completed, with more people receiving their information every day.
Tusla are actively engaging with those affected by delays and expects to clear the backlog of applications received by July 2023. However, many applicants will receive their information sooner.
As Minister, I am deeply conscious of both the disappointment and frustration caused to applicants receiving a notification indicating that there will be a delay in the compilation and release of their information. I have been assured that Tusla are doing their utmost to respond to all the applications received within the shortest possible timeframe, and are re-assigning additional staff members to work exclusively on processing applications. They will continue to keep every person who is waiting for information informed about their application.
424. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on a matter (details supplied) as part of Ireland’s Ukrainian response. [6589/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland has responded to the largest displacement of people on the European continent since the Second World War. Since 24 February 2022, my Department has worked to accommodate an unprecedented volume of persons seeking refuge from the invasion of Ukraine, coming to over 74,000 people, of which over 54,000 have sought accommodation.
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 43,500 beds to accommodate Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) in more than 700 settings including hotels, guesthouses, B&Bs, hostels, commercial self-catering accommodation and certain other repurposed settings.
The priority is to place people fleeing the war in safe and secure accommodation.
The suggested accommodation site is greatly appreciated. My Department continues to assess and review all accommodation offers received on an ongoing basis as to their suitability to meet the needs of beneficiaries of Temporary Protection. I am advised that from a review of Departmental records that the suggested premises has not been offered to my Department for accommodation purposes.
As agreed by Government, an Accommodation Working Group, chaired by Conn Murray, former CEO of LImerick County Council, has been established to support DCEDIY, DHLGH and Local Authorities in the agile delivery of accommodation required, including the refurbishment programme.
In the context of the above suggestion, I would advise that the information and details be submitted to the Department of Housing who lead in regard to the Emergency Refurbishment Programme.
425. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when an accommodation provider for Ukrainian refugees (details supplied) who is experiencing financial difficulties will receive payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6595/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has engaged over 700 properties to provide accommodation for Ukrainian Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection. In line with the Department’s commitment to substantially clear the backlog at the end of 2022, my Department temporarily re-assigned staff from other parts of the Department to the payments team in December, doubling the size of the payments unit. The enlarged team approved more than 100 million euros worth of payments.
My Department is prioritising maintaining a practice of more timely payments, including assigning more resources to address any issues. Any delays in processing payments are deeply regretted and my Department is according this issue very high priority.
I am advised by my officials that a payment to the party referred to is set to issue in the coming week, pending final checks.
426. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when he might be in a position to establish new family resource centres in areas with a high need. [6603/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThank you deputy for asking this question.
You may be aware, the commissioning of Family Resource Centres is an operational matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. Tusla’s Area Managers engage in the commissioning process and participate in meetings and discussions with community and voluntary bodies regularly. Tusla aims to utilise the total resources available in the most efficient, equitable, proportionate and sustainable way in order to improve outcomes for children, young people, and families.
Local Tusla area managers and the Tusla commissioning team can be contacted in relation to Family Resource Centres' planned service delivery and any potential to develop services.
Currently there is no expansion plan to increase the number of Family Resource Centres. The Tusla National Commissioning Office have received several requests to become members of the FRC Programme from organisations in various parts of the country. In the event the FRC Programme is expanded, a transparent process will be established to ensure all applications are treated equitably. The Tusla Area Commissioning Plan will be a critical contribution to the decision-making process. If a new process is established, it will be published, and local Tusla Managers will be made aware of the process.
In addition, my Department in conjunction with the Irish Government Economic and Evaluation Service has recently concluded and published a spending review of Tusla-funded Family Support Services. The Review is a comprehensive analysis, focusing on the Family Support Services policy landscape, commissioning and governance, and trends in Family Support Services expenditure in recent years. The Review will be key to next steps in the area of Family Support Services including the FRC programme.
427. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the Government has considered housing asylum seekers or Ukrainian refugees in Áras an Uachtaráin or on its grounds; and if such a decision would ultimately be a matter for the Government or for the President.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6743/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is now accommodating in excess of 74,000 people, including both those fleeing the war in Ukraine and those seeking International Protection. We have contracted in excess of 43,500 beds to accommodate Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) in more than 700 settings nationwide including in hotels, guesthouses, B&Bs, hostels, commercial self-catering accommodation and certain other repurposed settings.
As part of process improvement my Department introduced a new accommodation offer management process on 23 January. The purpose of the new portal is to streamline the processing of valid offers of accommodation and deliver efficiencies in advancing such offers.
All offers of qualifying commercial accommodation must now only be made by completing this updated form. Please submit any offer using this process. Offers will no longer be accepted through any other channel. Further information on the updated offer management process can be found here .
The new form is part of the whole of Government humanitarian accommodation response and the Department's ongoing commitment to process improvement to respond to the unprecedented humanitarian emergency in Ukraine. If one has a query as to whether or not they have a valid commercial offer of accommodation for my Department to consider, please refer to these offer submission guidelines .
The offer submission guidelines provide clear information on the following:
1. The offer categories which the Department will accept for review
2. The essential criteria a valid offer must meet
3. Signposted information on other accommodation offer channels to explore elsewhere across government (vacant homes, pledged properties, refurbished properties), where an offer does not fall within DCEDIY’s accommodation categories’ scope.
Please note, as BOTPs continue to arrive daily, my Department are currently prioritising larger capacity offers and those with upcoming availability. While every effort is made to review offers as quickly as possible, the levels of current engagement mean that it may take between 3 and 5 days for a response to issue.
It should be noted that all offers are considered by my Department subject to being offered through the above channel.
As for the matter raised, such a decision would be a matter for the President and the OPW.
My Department and its staff will continue in their efforts to assist those arriving as best they can throughout 2023, working with colleagues across Government, agencies and those in communities on a coordinated response.
428. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to develop a national strategy for supporting children affected by parental imprisonment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6745/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is not considering the development of a national strategy for supporting children affected by parental imprisonment at this time. Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, provides family support services to children and families in a range of different circumstances. These services offer advice and support to families. This includes family support workers, social workers, youth workers, family resource centres, support groups and counselling services.
429. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth how he intends to address the shortage of childcare places currently available to parents in rural and urban areas; the specific supports and incentives he will put in place to ensure that experienced childminders do not leave the sector; and how new childminders will be encouraged to join the sector. [6789/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraEnsuring high quality early learning and childcare is accessible and affordable is a key priority for me and there are a number of funding programmes available through my Department that seek to improve capacity.
Since 2015, significant increases in State investment in early learning and childcare have given rise to a substantial growth in the numbers of children participating in these services. Every year, more than 100,000 children participate in the universal pre-school programme (ECCE) and more than 105,000 children are now benefitting from the National Childcare Scheme (NCS).
In addition to this, a range of other steps are being taken by my Department to address issues of under-supply.
Some €70m has been allocated to my Department through the revised National Development Plan (NDP) – with the majority of this funding earmarked for new places.
In addition, the new Core Funding scheme, introduced on 15 September last year, has given rise to a significant growth in capacity - with initial analysis showing a significant capacity growth for certain cohorts (such as babies and toddlers) and in areas where there has been significant pressure on places.
To meet the cost of this capacity growth, I recently announced that the original allocation for Core Funding will be increased to €259 million for Year 1 of the Scheme. In addition, the full year value of Core Funding will increase by €28 million to €287 million in Year 2 of the Scheme.
Funding earmarked for the Scheme in Year 2 will be informed by the emerging data from Year 1 and may focus on promoting further capacity expansion.
In April of last year, City/County Childcare Committees (CCCs) undertook a nationwide survey of capacity in early learning and childcare services. This survey was followed in May by the Annual Early Years Sector Profile Survey that is undertaken by Pobal.
Preliminary analysis of the latest data captured by CCCs and Pobal reveal a drop in vacancy rates across the country – with the national vacancy rate now averaging at 13.3%.
The network of 30 CCCs across the country are in a position to match children and families to services operating with vacant places. In addition, the CCCs has been mobilised to engage proactively with services to identify vacant places and to explore possibilities for expansion among services, particularly where there is unmet need. Parents experiencing difficulty in relation to their early learning and childcare needs should contact their CCC for assistance. Contact details for CCCs may be found on www.myccc.ie.
In relation to supports and incentives for childminders, the National Action Plan for Childminding 2021-2028 sets out a plan for extending regulation and State supports, including access to the National Childcare Scheme, to childminders, on a phased basis. A specific objective of the National Action Plan is to support the recruitment and retention of childminders.
The National Action Plan for Childminding commits to a supportive, phased transition process, to facilitate the largest possible number of childminders to enter the regulated sector, the sphere of quality assurance, and access to Government subsidies, while recognising the time and supports required for this reform. It is important that an incremental approach is taken to ensure that childminders are supported to engage with regulation and quality development, and are not driven out of the sector. I would like to stress the commitment in the Action Plan to respecting what is different about childminding, by developing new regulations and a new inspection model that are proportionate and appropriate to the home setting in which childminders work, and by ensuring that training and other supports are tailored to childminders’ needs and working hours.
Communication activities outlined in the Action Plan include the promotion of childminding as a career, to support recruitment of new childminders into the sector, particularly in the context of the increasing support for childminding as a profession during the course of the Action Plan. The promotion of childminding as a career will form part of the wider effort to raise the profile of careers in early learning and care and in school-age childcare, which is a First 5 commitment and forms part of Nurturing Skills, the Workforce Plan for Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare 2022-2028.
430. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he accepts that the number of childminders in the State is far in excess of the 15,000 quoted by his Department based on CSO data; and the methods his Department is taking to identify additional childminders who, for a particular reason, did not identify themselves on the CSO census. [6790/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere is considerable uncertainty about the number of children cared for by childminders and the total number of childminders working in Ireland today. The National Action Plan for Childminding 2021-2028 brought together data from a range of data sources, including the Central Statistics Office (CSO), the Growing Up in Ireland survey, and a 2020 IPSOS-MRBI survey of parents conducted on behalf of my Department. On the basis of these data sources, the National Action Plan for Childminding estimated that approximately 82,000 children are cared for by a childminder, nanny or au pair, with 70-75% of these children (i.e. approximately 60,000) cared for in the childminder’s home. Surveys of Childminding Ireland members indicated that on average childminders care for 4 children, when both pre-school and school-age children are counted. On this basis, it was estimated in the National Action Plan for Childminding that there are approximately 15,000 childminders caring for children in the childminder’s home.
As part of Phase 1 of the National Action Plan for Childminding, my Department is committed to carrying out further research and analysis to help inform estimates of the number of childminders likely to come within the scope of future regulation. Consultation processes being planned for 2023 will support this analysis.
Also as part of the National Action Plan for Childminding, my Department is now providing for employment by the City/County Childcare Committees (CCCs) of a team of 22 Childminding Development Officers to work at local level providing supports to childminders. As part of their work, the Childminding Development Officers work to offer supports to childminders who have not yet engaged with the supports available through the CCCs or Childminding Ireland. The National Action Plan commits to further strengthening local supports over the coming years through the development and introduction of staffed local childminding networks.
431. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps he is taking to support the national childminding representative body (details supplied); the amount of funding that will be allocated in 2023; and if equal supports will be provided, similar to other childcare representative bodies, in order to support childminders into the future. [6791/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe organisation referred to in the Deputy's question is a national associative body for childminders and is primarily funded, as one of the National Voluntary Childcare Organisations, by my Department. This organisation provides information, advice, guidance and training to childminders, both members and non-members. It supports research into childminding, and helps childminders to inform policy development that relates to them. Its work continues to be a significant part of the range of supports available to childminders.
The organisation was allocated €340,000 for 2023 to fund the work that it undertakes on behalf of my Department as outlined in its Implementation Plan for 2023. The amounts allocated to funded voluntary organisations vary depending on the work that they undertake on behalf of the Department.
In relation to future funding, my Department has committed to transitioning to the introduction of new funding arrangements for the work undertaken by National Voluntary Childcare Organisations. My Department is currently considering the mechanism for allocating funding going forward.
Childminders are also supported by the City and County Childcare Committees. As a result of additional funding secured in Budget 2023, my Department is now providing for employment by the City/County Childcare Committees of a team of 22 Childminding Development Officers to work at local level providing supports to childminders while also supporting actions under the National Action Plan for Childminding 2022-2028.
432. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will confirm if his Department has had any discussions with any person, business or organisation in Cahir, County Tipperary, in relation to the use of a building (details supplied) in Cahir town as a Direct Provision centre or to use as emergency accommodation for persons seeking international protection; if he will outline any engagements his Department may have had in relation to said building; if he will commit to engaging with the local community in advance of any possible discussion and proposals or plans that may arise to use any property in Cahir town as emergency accommodation for persons seeking international protection or as a Direct Provision centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6798/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is now accommodating approximately 74,000 people between those fleeing the war in Ukraine and those seeking international protection.
Deputy, I can confirm that my department has no record of any discussions with the mentioned property in regard to IP and/or BOTP accommodation.
The State has a legal and moral obligation to assess the claims of those who seek refuge, and in that time to provide accommodation and supports. Intensive efforts are undertaken daily by staff in DCEDIY and the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) to source emergency accommodation. However, procuring enough bed space to keep pace with incoming arrivals remains extremely challenging, leading to very significant shortages. All of the limited accommodation capacity within the IPAS system is currently being used.Given the significantly increased numbers of arrivals in the context of accommodation shortages, the Department is considering all offers of accommodation to address the shortfall.While efforts are made to notify public representatives and State agencies in advance of utilising a building for accommodation of IPAs, the emergency nature of the response required means that advance communications are not as comprehensive or as early as my Department would like.Due to the sheer scale of the present crisis this inevitably means that emergency accommodation of those seeking refuge must be occupied on a faster timeline than would otherwise be the case.Before the opening of any facility my Department engages with local representatives to provide information as soon as possible following the agreement of terms with contractors.Over the past year, communities across Ireland have demonstrated great solidarity and welcome for those who come here seeking refuge.
I trust this information clarifies the matter Deputy.
433. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of a long-standing offer of accommodation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6799/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by my officials that the relevant division within my Department has responded directly to the party referred to by the Deputy and the matter is under discussion.
434. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of an offer of accommodation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6800/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe policy position of my Department is that nursing homes that were active since 1 September 2022 will not be considered for conversion to temporary accommodation for Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection, regardless of the amount of time that has passed since closure. Throughout the winter and spring season, it is essential that capacity in the nursing home sector is preserved in order to ensure that there are no impacts that will increase delayed discharges from the hospital system.
More broadly, the nursing home sector has seen a high number of closures over recent months. I am advised that, due to the severity of the impact on the residents and staff, the Department of Health has put a number of measures in place to reduce incentives for providers to close, including supports with cost increases due to inflation.
Both Departments are engaging to keep the policy under review with regard to specific locations.
435. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department will assist and make contact with a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6807/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department’s role is focused on the immediate, short-term accommodation needs of those who have fled to Ireland from the war in Ukraine. To date, more than 73,000 people have arrived in Ireland and in excess of 54,000 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 42,000 beds to accommodate Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) in more than 700 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.
I am advised that my officials are in discussions with the party referred to by the Deputy.
436. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will address matters raised in correspondence by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6823/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraDeputy, The correspondence under reference raises matters which are the policy responsibility of a range of Departments. I will focus on the issue of accommodation. The International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) within the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth is currently providing accommodation to 19,741persons (as of 05 February 2023). The pace of arrivals of international protection applicants continues to be high, 1,232 persons arriving in January 2023.
While 60 new accommodation centres have been opened since 1 January 2022 and while IPAS has brought accommodation onstream in a range of repurposed buildings and facilities, arrivals have consistently run ahead of available capacity.
While IPAS is currently encountering significant challenges in providing accommodation to anumber of international protection applicants, it also faces a looming accommodation shortfall for applicants it currently accommodates due to the impending loss of contracts with large hotels.
Admission of adult international protection applicants to the Citywest Transit Hub has been paused since 24 January 2023 as the Transit Hub is currently at capacity. It is accepting only international protection applicant children and their families. As of 9 February, IPAS is currently unable to offer accommodation to 180 single adult male applicants. It is anticipated that this number will increase significantly over the coming weeks as IPAS does not have accommodation for single adult males for the next weeks.
IPAS takes contact details for those whom it is unable to accommodate and offers accommodation to them, when available, including in the Kilbride Army Camp, which was made available for this purpose by the Department of Defence. 119 persons who were initially not offered accommodation have been subsequently offered accommodation since the Citywest Transit Hub pause was initiated on 24 January.
IPAS continues to rely on hotels for much of its existing accommodation capacity. However, a number of large hotels have informed IPAS that they are ending their contracts with IPAS either in full or partially. IPAS will lose 2010 beds between now and end April 2023. Families as well as single persons will be affected.
Intensive efforts are being undertaken daily by staff in DCEDIY to source emergency accommodation.
An initial paper with some options and recommendations was brought to the White Paper Programme Board for their input and feedback. A sub-group of the Programme Board was established, to focus on developing further the set of recommendations and proposals. An interim report from this sub-group has now been received by the Department. As indicated the External Advisory Group has also provided a paper with observations and recommendations for consideration. Work will continue over the coming weeks to complete the review. It is planned a new set of proposals on the White paper with new timelines will brought to government by the end of quarter one 2023.
437. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a location (details supplied) has been prepared to facilitate IP applicants or Ukrainians fleeing war. [7028/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraTo date in excess of 73,000 people fleeing the war in Ukraine have arrived in Ireland. Of those, my Department is accommodating approximately 54,000 who have requested shelter.
My Department is focused on providing immediate, temporary accommodation to people fleeing the conflict in Ukraine. This has involved entering into arrangements with over 700 providers and securing 42,000 beds including hotels, guest houses and B&Bs, religious properties, with additional capacity operated by voluntary bodies and local authority emergency facilities.
I am advised that my Department has not examined nor considered the property referred to at this time.
438. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will outline the situation regarding the process by which funding can be applied for and be made available (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7030/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI understand that the Question relates to potential funding towards youth related services to the Traveller community in a rural county.
My Department manages the UBU Your Place Your Space scheme, which provides funding to a range of targeted youth services that address the specific needs of marginalised, disadvantaged or vulnerable young people aged between 10 and 24 years to enable them to overcome adverse circumstances and achieve their full potential in their communities. Young people experiencing marginalisation or who are disadvantaged or vulnerable are the primary target group for youth services funded by UBU Your Place Your Space. This includes Traveller and Roma young people.
Funding is provided under the scheme to youth service organisations through the 16 Education and Training Boards (ETB) around the country to support the provision of targeted youth services in their area. Each ETB provides an important role in the co-ordination, oversight and administration of youth services within their functional area. Further information is available on www.ubu.gov.ie.
I would suggest that the local body in question could make contact with the ETB that has responsibility for their county for further information on UBU Your Place Your Space.
Depending on the nature of the youth service that is being considered, support may also potentially be available from a number of other sources, such as the Garda Youth Diversion Programme of the Irish Youth Justice Service; programmes offered by Foróige, the voluntary national youth organisation; Involve (the National Association of Travellers’ Centres), which works from a community development perspective to provide youth services to young Travellers in Ireland; and the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) of the Department of Rural and Community Development, which includes as a target group disadvantaged young people aged 15 – 24. Regarding the latter programme, the body in question should make contact with the Local Development Company which delivers SICAP in their area.
My Department also provides core and limited project funding to a number of national and local Traveller and Roma representative organisations, including a Dormant Accounts Fund project to support the employment of dedicated Education Community Development Workers to address the challenges surrounding the participation, retention and progression of Traveller and Roma children through the education system.
