Written Answers Nos. 498-517
498. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of unaccompanied minors in the State; the number of which are under the care of Tusla; and if a breakdown will be provided on nationality of each. [8155/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraStatutory and operational responsibility for the delivery of child protection and welfare services is a matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. The Deputy is seeking information in relation to an operational matter for Tusla. Consequently, I have referred the matter to Tusla, and requested that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.
499. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 88 of 9 February 2023, if he will provide a definition or more detail on what is meant by special emergency accommodation. [8156/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraStatutory and operational responsibility for the delivery of child protection and welfare services is a matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. The Deputy is seeking information in relation to an operational matter for Tusla. Consequently, I have referred the matter to Tusla, and requested that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.
500. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to the presence in the State of unaccompanied minors who are not under the care of Tusla, (details supplied); if there is a figure for the number of minors in that category; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8157/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraStatutory and operational responsibility for the delivery of child protection and welfare services is a matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. All unaccompanied minors who arrive in Ireland via ports of entry are referred to Tusla by immigration authorities.
With reference to the article in the ‘details supplied’ section of this question, on 10th May 2022, Tusla became aware of the arrival of an organisation (Candle of Grace Charity) at Dublin Airport with a number of children travelling without their parents, but with other adults. As is Tusla's policy in responding to all children arriving in Ireland without a parent or guardian, Tusla social workers conducted screening assessments with the children after their arrival. The appropriate follow-up actions were taken, including contacting the children’s parent(s) where possible.
All of these children entered the country with the full knowledge and consent of their parents. Those that remain from that cohort are in host families and are in regular contact with their parents. Where young people may become unaccompanied following entry to Ireland, local Tusla areas carry out assessments to ensure a care arrangement is put in place to keep them safe and promote their welfare as per Tusla's statutory responsibilities.
With regards to the figure for the number of minors in that category, there were 59 minors out of the original group of 113. These 59 were not with a blood relative but were under the care and supervision of an adult within this group, and this arrangement was put in place by Candle of Grace and the Department of Education in Ukraine, and with the agreement of parents.
There are nine children that remain in Ireland from the original group of fifty-nine. Fifty children have returned home to Ukraine on request of their parents.
In May 2022, and given the issues arising from the Ukraine crisis, it was noted that the EU changed definitions in relation to separated children and unaccompanied minors to differentiate between children travelling completely alone and children travelling with adults other than their parent or guardian.
A separated child is a child who arrives on the territory of the Member States unaccompanied by an adult responsible for him or her whether by law or by the practice of the Member State concerned (thus separated from an adult responsible), but who arrive accompanied by other relatives or known (non-related) adults, including when those relatives or known (non-related) adults have been provided by the parent(s) an authorization to travel with /care for the child (e.g. Ukrainian mother traveling with her own children and those of another family, children who cross the EU border alone but are taken in charge by known adult inside the EU).
Unaccompanied Minor means third-country nationals or stateless persons below the age of eighteen, who arrive on the territory of the Member States unaccompanied by an adult responsible for them whether by law or custom.
501. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 84 of 9 February 2023, the transport supports that are in place to enable young adults with intellectual disabilities to attend further education, employment or training facilities which are located at a distance from their homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8176/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhile I recognise the critical importance of adequate transport and mobility supports, my Department has no responsibility for the administration of any specific transport or mobility scheme.
Government is committed to addressing the barriers and challenges faced by people with disabilities across Ireland, and the issue of transport and mobility supports has been given important recent consideration in that regard. Action 104 of the National Disability Inclusion Strategy, which concluded at the end of 2022, contained an important cross-Government action to review transport and mobility supports for people with disabilities and to advance proposals for the enhancement of these supports going forward. The Action 104 Transport Working Group was established in 2020 to make progress in this regard.
While the original emphasis in Action 104 was on transport for the purposes of employment - as the action itself was derived from a Make Work Pay Report recommendation - the Working Group extended the scope of its work in January 2022 to include all transport and mobility supports, recognising the important role that transport and mobility plays in supporting people with disabilities to live independent lives.
The discussions at the Transport Working Group were particularly enriched by the contributions of Disability Stakeholder Group representatives, and other disability organisations, who ensured that the lived experience of people with disabilities remained at the centre of considerations.
The Group's work has now concluded, and the final report which sets out the contributions made by members of the Transport Working Group for the enhancement of transport and mobility supports for people with disabilities is presently being finalised, and subsequently will be published on the website of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration, and Youth.
While the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration, and Youth has a policy coordination role in relation to disability matters, it does not hold responsibility for the administration of any transport or mobility supports for people with disabilities. It is therefore incumbent on colleagues across Government, with responsibility for the delivery of transport and mobility supports, to carefully consider how the recommendations of the Transport Working Group ought to be advanced.
Should the Deputy require further details on specific transport schemes or mobility supports, my colleagues across Government with responsibility for such schemes or supports may be able to comment specifically on the extent to which they enable young adults with intellectual disabilities to attend further education, employment and training facilities.
502. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will report on the implementation of the Irish Sign Language Act 2017 by his Department and by agencies which operate under the remit of his Department. [8234/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Irish Sign Language Act 2017 (ISL Act 2017) recognises the right of ISL users to use ISL as their native language, and to develop and preserve it. In addition to specific obligations on named Ministers, the Act places a statutory duty on all public bodies to provide ISL users with free ISL interpretation when availing of or seeking to access statutory entitlements and services provided by or under statute. Implementing the Act requires a whole of government approach and as such all public bodies have obligations to fulfil.
Section 10 of the Act requires that a report on the operation of the Act be prepared three years after enactment and every five years thereafter. These reports must be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas.
In line with these requirements, the National Disability Authority (NDA) was commissioned to produce the first report on the operation of the Act. A draft Report was submitted to me in mid-2021, and subsequently circulated to departments and agencies for observations and to ensure accuracy in the preparation of a final version. The Report was finalised in late 2021.
There was a delay in publishing the first report on the operation of the ISL Act to avoid prejudicing an ongoing legal matter. However, publication of the report was kept under review throughout 2022 and following engagement between my Department and other relevant departments, the report was laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas and published on the website of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration, and Youth in January 2023.
The first report on the operation of the ISL Act contains recommendations to strengthen the implementation of the ISL Act, and it will be incumbent on all Government departments and agencies, as well as named Ministries, to consider the recommendations and formulate appropriate next steps in this regard.
My Department will continue to address its own obligations under the Act, and those of its agencies, as part of robust oversight and governance processes.
503. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he has plans for the State to recognise and adopt the European Union disability card once this has been introduced by the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8316/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe European Commission has announced its intention to introduce a legislative proposal to create an EU Disability Card that will be recognised in all Member States. Development of the proposal is currently in its early stages at EU level. The Commission conducted a call for evidence to inform an impact assessment in late 2022. A public consultation also recently opened.
The Commission hopes to present its proposal by Q4 2023. The proposal will then be subject to negotiations between Member States in the Council and the European Parliament.
Given that development of the EU Disability Card is still in its initial stages, it is not yet clear what services will be included within the scope of the card, and as a result the specific roles of lead Departments is presently uncertain.
A pilot programme carried out in some Member States to inform the proposal focused on the areas of culture, leisure, sport and transport.
Ireland is broadly supportive of the objective of the proposal and looks forward to participating actively in negotiations at EU level on the EU Disability Card going forward.
504. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of young persons that are currently on remand at Oberstown children's detention campus for more than three months as of 13 February 2023. [8350/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are 2 young people currently on remand at Oberstown Children Detention Campus for more than 3 months.
505. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of staff seconded to his Department by grade in 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023. [8436/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra506. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of staff seconded to his Department by grade in 2022 and to date in 2023. [8437/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 505 and 506 together.
The table below reflects people who commenced their secondment to the Department in the years 2020, 2021 and 2022 and by 31 January 2023.
|
Year |
Assistant Secretary |
Principal Officer |
Assistant Principal |
Administrative Officer |
Higher Executive Officer |
Executive Officer |
Clerical Officer |
|
2020 |
1 |
3 |
|||||
|
2021 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|||
|
2022 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
5 |
5 |
3 |
|
|
2023 |
1 |
In addition to the above standard civil service grades, my Department also had a number of staff commence secondment in the following specialist/technical posts:
|
Year |
Research Fellow |
Community co-ordinater |
Special Adviser |
Social Worker |
Childminding Coordinator |
|
2020 |
1 |
1 |
|||
|
2021 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
||
|
2022 |
3 |
1 |
507. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will explain the thinking behind his decision in February 2021, to write tweets in 47 different languages publicising the report recommending the end of direct provision and proposals to provide "own-door" accommodation to asylum seekers; and if he will outline the contribution this made to the number seeking asylum in Ireland in the intervening two years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8451/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, my Department is responsible for the provision of accommodation to persons in the International Protection process. All other matters relating to the asylum process including statistics on the number of applicants applying, should be directed to Department of Justice.
The Government made a commitment in the Programme for Government to end the current system of accommodation for International Protection applicants and replace it with a new model that is based on a not for profit approach. As part of this process I published A White Paper to end Direct Provision and to Establish a new International Protection Support Service on 26 February 2021. This paper sets out a new approach for accommodating applicants that seek International Protection in Ireland.
"Own-door" in the context of the White Paper does not mean an applicant is given possession of a property, it means the property provided by the state for temporary habitation to a person while their application for international protection is being assessed has its own door into a family unit, and is not a congregated accommodation setting.
As part of the process to publish the White Paper tweets were issued from my department in 8 languages, not 47 as stated in your question. These were English, Irish, Albanian, Arabic, French, Georgian, Somali and Urdu. These are the most common languages spoken by those who were residing in Direct Provision accommodation at that time. Communications with residents are regularly made available in relevant languages.
I hope this clarifies the matter for you.
508. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department intends to initiate a review of the Disability Act 2005, in view of the concluding observations on the combined fifth and sixth periodic reports of Ireland of the Committee on the Rights of the Child (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8493/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland remains firmly committed to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), a major international human rights treaty that sets out the specific rights of children. The UNCRC was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1989 and Ireland ratified it in 1992. Ireland is required to submit regular state reports on measures it has taken to progress the implementation of rights under the Convention, with the most recent report submitted in February 2022.
In January this year, as Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, integration and Youth, I led the State delegation for an oral examination before the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child on Ireland's combined 5th and 6th State Report and the Committee's observations/recommendations have since been received and shared across Government Departments for consideration. In that regard, the recommendations of the UN Committee in relation to the Disability Act 2005 have been well noted.
The Disability Act 2005 is a key part of the legislative architecture that has developed in Ireland. The Disability Act 2005 provides for the assessment of need of people with disabilities, amongst other important matters, such as the broader promotion of equality and social inclusion encompassing accessibility issues and public employment.
While my Department keeps all legislation under its remit under review, there are no immediate plans to review the Disability Act. This is because my Department is already involved in an extensive review of significant aspects of its legislative programme, with current priority being given to a review of the Equal Status Acts 2000-2018 and the Employment Equality Acts 2000-2015 (the ‘Equality Acts). This work includes consideration of the disability ground.
My Department is also progressing work to commence the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Act 2015 in the earliest possible course, which is a significant and landmark reform and will implement a number of key measures for closer compliance with the UNCRPD.
The Disability Act 2005 already provides for Codes of Practice to be adopted in relation to access to public buildings, heritage sites, the information and services of public bodies, as well as in relation to employment in the public service. These Codes of Practice can be reviewed and updated without amending primary legislation. To that end, updated Codes of Practice in relation to accessible information and services and accessible public buildings are currently being reviewed by the National Disability Authority.
I will be in a position to consider further review and potential reform of legislation, including a review of the Disability Act 2005, after the current legislative reform programme has been progressed.
509. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide details of the tendering for research that has been commissioned on behalf of his Department and the Department of Social Protection in relation to permitting the under-16 age group, to self-declare their gender identities and apply for a gender recognition certificate; if any organisation has been awarded the research commission; the total costs provided to carry out this research; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8596/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government contains a commitment, in terms of gender recognition, to examine arrangements for those aged under 16.
DCEDIY has jointly commissioned research, with the Department of Social Protection, to identify the mechanisms used in other countries which govern legal gender recognition of children aged under 16 and to provide practical advice on establishing mechanisms to recognise the preferred gender of children aged under 16 in Ireland.
The aim of the research is to examine and learn from other countries that have enacted legislation, supported and engaged with the issue of gender recognition for under 16s. The research will provide practical advice to inform consideration of how the issue may be approached in Ireland.
A Request for Tenders document was issued on eTenders on 24th June with a closing date of 22nd September 2022. The research was awarded to Cambridge University Technical Services Limited in September 2022 and is ongoing at present. The total cost of the research is €35,000, ex VAT.
510. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will ensure that five facilities (details supplied) are added to the schedule of the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Bill 2022. [8611/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme is designed to provide financial payments and a form of enhanced medical card to people who spent time in a Mother and Baby or County Home Institution.
The Government recognises that there are people who suffered stigma, trauma and abuse in other institutions, and outside of institutions, who will not qualify for this Scheme. The decision not to include other institutions or care settings in the Scheme is not intended to disregard or diminish any person’s experience.
The institutions scheduled for inclusion in the Scheme were identified by the Commission of Investigation as having a main function of providing sheltered and supervised ante and post-natal facilities to unmarried mothers and their children.
The Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Bill provides for the Minister to include additional institutions in certain circumstances. If it were to come to light that an institution fulfilled a similar function with regard to unmarried mothers and their children as the Mother and Baby Home Institutions, and that the State had a regulatory or inspection function, then there will be a mechanism to add such an institution to the Schedule of eligible institutions for the Scheme.
511. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide details of the number of Ukrainian refugees currently being accommodated in an area (details supplied). [8612/23]
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 75,000 people, of which over 55,000 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 43,000 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 by my officials that, as of 15 February 2023, the Ukraine Crisis Temporary Accommodation Team (UCTAT) have accommodated 64 beneficiaries of temporary protection in Bandon.
I also wish to draw attention to the below link containing various datasets published by the Central Statistics Office: Arrivals from Ukraine in Ireland Series 8 - CSO - Central Statistics Office
512. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide a schedule of NGOs that he and bodies under the aegis of his Department suspended funding and or grant aid to due to their failure to file accounts and or concerns in respect of their governance in the years 2019 to 2022 and to date in 2023; and the amount of funding per NGO that was suspended. [8659/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have not suspended funding or grant aid to any NGOs under the aegis of my Department due to failure on their part to file accounts or any other concerns regarding governance from 2019 yearly to date.
513. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the amount expended on advertising and promotion in his Department and all agencies under the remit of his Department in 2022 and in January 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8680/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department is collating the information and will respond to the Deputy directly. The Department does not collate information an agency advertising and the Deputy may choose to contact the agency communications units directly.
514. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of communications staff currently employed in his Department; the cost of these staff for 2022; the expected cost for 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8698/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs of December 31 2022, 11 staff were employed in the Communications Unit. The cost of staffing in the Communications Unit for 2022 was approximately €630,872. The forecasted cost for the unit for 2023 is €693,270.
515. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an update on the use of a property (details supplied) to provide emergency accommodation for people seeking emergency protection; the number of persons currently residing at that location; when it is expected that they will be relocated; and whether IPAS intends to reapply for a fire safety certificate on foot of additional work being carried out at the building. [8757/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraDeputy, in response to your request for an update on the use of Dolcain House for the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) emergency accommodation centre, I can provide the following information:
Although the building has a valid fire certificate for office use and significant remedial works were carried out to mitigate fire safety issues for emergency residential use, the building did not secure a valid fire safety certificate for residential use from South Dublin County Council.
IPAS vacated the premises to allow remedial works to be carried out for future use by IPAS.
All international protection applicants (IPAs) that were residing in Dolcain have been accommodated elsewhere in the IPAS accommodation portfolio.
Remedial works are currently being carried out. Once complete, the property owners will apply for a residential fire certificate for the building and this application will be assessed by SDCC and Dublin Fire Brigade.
Should a valid fire certificate for residential use be obtained, IPAs will be accommodated in the building.
The Government is obliged to provide accommodation to IPAs under the EU Recast Reception Conditions Directive. IPAS is currently providing accommodation to 19,818 persons (as of 12 February 2023). Over 90 new accommodation centres have been opened since 1 January 2022 and while IPAS has brought accommodation on stream in a range of repurposed buildings and facilities, arrivals have consistently run ahead of available capacity.
In the first six weeks of 2023, over 1,500 people arrived seeking international protection (IP) in Ireland.
The overflow facility at the Citywest Transit Hub has reached capacity and it became necessary to pause arrival of newly arrived IPAs into the overflow facility at Citywest from 24 January. Since the paused entry a total of 219 IPAs remain unaccommodated by IPAS as of 20 February.
Intensive efforts are being undertaken daily by staff in DCEDIY to source emergency accommodation. However, procuring enough bed space to keep pace with incoming arrivals remains extremely challenging, leading to very significant shortages.
516. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide details of any correspondence he has with the Catholic Church regarding the making available of buildings owned by the Church for the accommodation of refugees and asylum seekers, including the provision of former school buildings owned by the Catholic Church that are now vacant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8795/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraWith regard to your question of buildings owned by the Church for the accommodation of refugees and asylum seekers, including the provision of former school buildings owned by the Catholic Church, the Department has utilised offers that have come through the Association of Missionaries and Religious of Ireland (AMRI) for religious buildings such as seminaries and convents for IPAS accommodation.
There are also a number of such buildings which are currently in use for the accommodation of Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) and these types of buildings include former convents and former religious order schools.
517. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to reports detailing serious structural concerns and required upgrades to a school (details supplied); the way that management of the facility can seek funding to carry out this work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8799/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department successfully secured €69 million under the revised National Development Plan (NDP) allocation for the Building Blocks Capital Programme, designed to meet current and long-term Early Learning and Childcare infrastructure needs.
The Building Blocks Capital Programme includes three Pillars:
- €9m Building Blocks - Improvement Grant
- €45m Building Blocks - Capacity Grant
- €15m Building Blocks - Innovation Grant
My Department has allocated €9m for The Building Blocks - Improvement Grant for Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) facilities. Grants will range from €35,000 to €75,000 across two separate strands: Green Energy and Retrofit. The Green Energy Strand will support the Climate Action Agenda and the Programme for Government, which aim to transition to a carbon neutral economy by the end of 2050 and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 51% by 2030.
Services that sign up for the Core Funding Scheme are eligible for funding under for the Building Blocks – Improvement Grant.
The closing date for this capital grant scheme was 16th December last. Pobal is now in the process of finalising the appraisal of applications received. There was a very significant number of applications received and my Department has been advised that applicants should be notified of the outcome in late March.
The Building Blocks - Improvement Grant is part of a wider Building Blocks Capital Programme for Early Learning and Childcare under the National Development Plan. Details of the Building Blocks - Capacity Grant and Building Blocks - Innovation Grant will be announced in the coming months. I would encourage the service mentioned by the Deputy to contact its local County Childcare Committee, which will be in a position to advise them of any funding available.
