Written Answers Nos. 657-671
658. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated capital cost of transferring 50, 100 and 200 people with disabilities, under the age of 65 years, out of a nursing home and into an assisted community home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54540/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
As the Deputy may be aware, the industrial action that commenced on Friday 6th October, by management and administrative grades in Fórsa Trade Union in the HSE, will impact on the response times to Parliamentary Questions and Representations.
659. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the first and full year current cost of transferring 50, 100 and 200 people with disabilities, under the age of 65 years, out of a nursing home and into an assisted community home, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54541/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
As the Deputy may be aware, the industrial action that commenced on Friday 6th October, by management and administrative grades in Fórsa Trade Union in the HSE, will impact on the response times to Parliamentary Questions and Representations.
660. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated first and full year current cost of transferring 100, 200 and 300 people with disabilities out of congregated settings and into an assisted community home, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54542/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
As the Deputy may be aware, the industrial action that commenced on Friday 6th October, by management and administrative grades in Fórsa Trade Union in the HSE, will impact on the response times to Parliamentary Questions and Representations.
661. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated capital cost of providing 24, 36 and 48 additional planned residential places, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54544/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra662. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the first and full year current cost of providing 24, 36 and 48 additional planned residential places, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54545/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra663. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the effect demographic pressures are likely to have on demand for planned residential places over the next five and ten years respectively, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54546/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 661 to 663, inclusive, together.
As this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
As the Deputy may be aware, the industrial action that commenced on Friday 6th October, by management and administrative grades in Fórsa Trade Union in the HSE, will impact on the response times to Parliamentary Questions and Representations.
666. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of staffing posts required to fully staff children’s disability network teams; the number of these posts that have not yet been funded; the staffing costs involved in filling all posts that have not yet been funded; the effect demographic pressures are likely to have on the staffing needs of CDNTs over the next five and ten years, respectively, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54549/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible. As the Deputy may be aware, the industrial action that commenced on Friday 6th October, by management and administrative grades in Fórsa Trade Union in the HSE, will impact on the response times to Parliamentary Questions and Representations.
667. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will outline the programmes of supported work experience or training which his Department or its agencies run for adult persons with a disability, and particularly those on the autism spectrum, who find it difficult to manage in conventional workplaces, in order that they can progress to regular work roles.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54605/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE provides day services and rehabilitative training for people with intellectual disabilities, autism, or complex physical disabilities. The focus is on supporting people to participate in the mainstream activities and in the life of their community, in line with their wishes and needs.
Day services provided in line with New Directions policy enable people with disabilities to access to a range of supports and activities on a one-to-one basis and in group settings. The level of support will depend on the particular needs and abilities of each individual. Activities vary from centre to centre and depending on the interests of the people who attend each service.
Support to access training and employment is dependent on each individual’s support needs. Programmes and modules may include:
• Social skills
• Independent living
• Work experience
• Work related social skills
• Work related money management
• Time management
• IT skills
• Community information
• Travel training
People with disabilities who participate in rehabilitative training or day services have the opportunity as part of their person-centred plan to develop the social and work-related skills that may assist in their progression to mainstream services. Day services support people to identify future goals and aspirations and will help to identify pathways to mainstream services, such as further education or training provided via ETBs or colleges. They can also assist with job sampling or finding short-term work experience for people who wish to find employment, or support in accessing mainstream employment services.
In the wider context, my Department is leading discussions at whole of government level to re-examine the scale of ambition and programme of work to be pursued in relation to removing the barriers to employment for persons with disabilities during the ongoing process to develop the next National Disability Inclusion Strategy.
668. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth how many people are currently residing in Columb Barracks, Mullingar. [54646/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra669. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what supports, facilities and access to State agencies or NGOs are available for people residing in Columb Barracks, Mullingar. [54647/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra670. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to ensure that the residents of Columb Barracks are provided with safe and habitable living conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54648/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra671. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what plans he has in place to encourage integration between the residents in Columb Barracks and the wider community of Mullingar. [54649/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 668 to 671, inclusive, together.
Ireland is currently accommodating approximately 100,000 people between those fleeing Ukraine and International Protection (IP) applicants. This includes nearly 74,000 Ukrainian people who have sought accommodation from the State and 26,000 IP applicants currently in International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) accommodation.
Due to the unprecedented numbers of International Protection (IP) applicants and Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) seeking accommodation assistance, there is an acute shortfall of available accommodation.
The State has witnessed a near fourfold increase in those seeking international protection when comparing current numbers against 2017-2018 norms. The number of people seeking international protection in recent months has shown a further increase and September has seen the highest number of monthly applications in 2023, with October seeing a similarly large trend.
As such, there has been a need for Ireland, and for many Member States across Europe, to turn to movable structures such as tents and modular solutions to provide shelter and to prevent homelessness.
While the priority must remain on providing shelter in as far as possible and the use of tents is required as part of that response, the Department is endeavouring to ensure that the use of the tents is kept as short term as possible. Only 1.5% of those currently in IPAS accommodation are currently residing in tented accommodation.
As of 3rd December 2023, there are currently 60 IP applicants and 23 BOTPs accommodated in tented solutions in Columb Barracks.
On foot of the Government’s proof of concept modular accommodation project, the Department has also constructed 50 modular accommodation units on site in Columb Barracks, with a further 12 units due to be completed by February 2024. The first 20 units were occupied by Ukrainian families this week, with further families moving into the remaining units in January and February 2024.
The IPAS Customer Service and Resident Welfare Teams attended the centre in July to conduct a joint in-person clinic and spoke to many residents about their concerns. Residents were reminded of the existing complaints procedure as outlined in the IPAS House Rules and encouraged to report any and all concerns to IPAS. IPAS continually engage with Centre Managers when alerted to issues by residents at clinics or through the IPAS Helpdesk.
IP applicants and BOTPs have access to mainstream services, including public health and education. Specific supports and signposting for IP applicants are generally provided through the IPAS Vulnerability Assessment process, which identifies vulnerable persons who have special reception conditions as defined under S.I. No. 230/2018 - European Communities (Reception Conditions) Regulations 2018.
The IPAS Customer Service team has been engaging with residents on a regular basis in relation to issues raised and to continuously communicate with them in relation to the ongoing accommodation crisis. A Customer Service clinic was held on November 9th and the customer service team attended a transfer from the centre on 27th November.
The Customer Service team will continue to attend the centre as often as practicable. Furthermore, the Jesuit Refugee Service attend the centre with visits on 2nd November and 15th November. The Jesuit Refugee Service provide information, advice, signposting, and advocacy services to residents and engage with IPAS on a regular basis. The Department is aware of positive integration work undertaken by a number of volunteer organisations and community groups in the Co. Westmeath area. This promotes integration and links residents of Columb Barracks to their wider community.
A new local integration model has been developed in collaboration with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH), the City and County Management Authority (CCMA) and the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA). The model centres on a new national network of Local Authority Integration Teams (LAITs), funded by DCEDIY, to be located in each local authority, to better help International Protection applicants engage with existing local services. Recruitment for the LAITs is underway by individual Local Authorities. It is anticipated that the majority of LAITS will be in place by the end of quarter one 2024.
