Written Answers Nos. 571-580
571. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to outline the plans for use of modular homes built for Ukrainians should there no longer be a requirement for such homes by Ukrainians; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18024/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs part of the State’s humanitarian response to the Ukrainian crisis, the Government has developed a Rapid Build Housing Programme to provide accommodation for families fleeing the war in Ukraine who request it. The programme aims to provide short-term accommodation for up to 2,800 Ukrainians at several sites across Ireland. The Office of Public Works (OPW) is leading the development of this accommodation in conjunction with my Department.
The rapid build units are being delivered under the European Union (Planning and Development) (Displaced Persons From Ukraine Temporary Protection) Regulations 2022, which limits their use to Ukrainian Beneficaries of Temporary Protection initially. The Government is obliged under EU law to provide access to suitable accommodation for people fleeing the war in Ukraine under the Temporary Protective Directive (European Council Directive 2001/55EC). In the future the units have the potential to be utilised to address other accommodation challenges, including social housing and student accommodation.
572. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he has approached the Department of Justice to acquire Thornton Hall in north County Dublin to house international protection applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18043/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn the 27th March 2024 Government agreed a new Comprehensive Accommodation Strategy (CAS) for International Protection applicants. The strategy seeks to address the current accommodation shortfall, while reforming the system over the longer term to ensure the State will always be able to meet its international commitments.
Accommodation in the new strategy will be delivered through the following multi-strand approach:
1. Use of State land for prefabricated and modular units
2. Conversion of commercial buildings
3. Targeted purchase of medium and larger turnkey properties
4. Design and build of new Reception and Integration Centres
5. Upgrading of IPAS Centres
Work has begun to deliver on the new strategy including engaging with the Irish Prison Service on the possibility of developing some of the Thorthon Hall site for IP accommodation. A process to investigate the viability of the site is currently ongoing. Once this process is completed DCEDIY will discuss further with the Irish Prison Service any next steps.
573. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will examine the introduction of public provision of childcare, as recommended by the expert group report entitled Partnership for the Public Good; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18120/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government contains a number of commitments for early learning and childcare, including reforming the system to create one that brings together the best of community and private provision and the development of a new funding model for affordable, accessible, sustainable and high quality early learning and childcare.
An Expert Group was established in September 2019 to develop a new funding model for the early learning and childcare sector. Under their terms of reference, the Expert Group was not asked to propose changes to the current model of delivery (i.e. privately-operated provision), rather that the Group should seek to further achieve policy objectives of quality, affordability, accessibility and contributing to addressing disadvantage in a privately-operated system through increased public funding and public management.
In December 2021, Government approved the 25 recommendations contained in the Expert Group report, Partnership for the Public Good: A New Funding Model for Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare. The recommendations were accepted in full by Government and implementation of this new funding model is well underway.
Of the 25 recommendations, three are grouped under the title 'Role of the State'. In particular, the final recommendation states that, “[I]n the medium term, the Minister should mandate the Department to examine whether some element of public provision should be introduced alongside private provision.”
Taken together, these recommendations reflect a key theme of the report, which is the importance of strengthened State involvement and enhanced public management in the sector, in conjunction with increased State funding. This is underpinned by a cultural shift to a partnership relationship between providers and the State that reflects the public good dimension of early learning and childcare, with new responsibilities on both sides.
In September 2022, I launched Together for Better, the new funding model for early learning and childcare that supports the delivery of early learning and childcare for the public good. This new funding model supports the delivery of early learning and childcare for the public good, for quality and affordability for children, parents and families as well as stability and sustainability for providers. Its primary purpose is to improve pay and conditions in the sector as a whole and improve affordability for parents as well as ensuring a stable income to providers.
Together for Better brings together three major programmes, the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme, including the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM), the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) and the new Core Funding scheme. A fourth programme – the Equal Participation Model is under development.
This new funding model being implemented aims to transform the sector to one that is increasingly publicly funded and publicly managed. This is the start of a multi-annual investment plan – with investment this year exceeding €1.1 billion this year – achieving the First 5 investment target five years ahead of time. Full implementation of all recommendations, including recommendation 25, which would likely involve an estimate of cost and timeline for delivery of a portion of public provision, will be progressed in the coming years as additional funding is secured through the annual Estimates process.
574. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of accommodation centres for international protection applicants that were subject to inspection by officials from the International Protection Accommodation Service or a company (details supplied) and which failed the inspection process in each month of 2023 and to date in 2024, expressed as a figure and as an overall proportion of registered centres at the time of inspection. [18125/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAll centres are subject to inspection by department officials or contracted representatives of the department.
There was a Request for Tender in relation to inspections of centres in late 2023. The successful bidder was EOBA Ltd. The previous contract holder of such inspections was QTS Ltd.
There have been no failed inspections in 2023/2024. In 2024 to date, there were two centres notified that following inspection, improvements were required to maintain the agreed terms of the contract.
In relation to the centres inspected in 2023; 55 were inspected by IPPS and 50 by QTS Ltd - a total of 105 inspections. As of 22 April 2024, 35 inspections have been conducted by IPPS and a batch of 20 have been allocated to EOBA Ltd; we are awaiting the first round of reports.
The Department carefully appraises each property before contracts are issued and properties are also subject to pre-occupancy inspections.
The Department is conscious of the need to ensure quality in all accommodation contracted, while also providing shelter and safety urgently to those who need it. Once an offer is received with respect to accommodation for international protection (IP) applicants, it is assessed for suitability. This includes a range of factors such as accommodation suitability, rates, room sizes, capacity and amenities, information on the building's safety and fitness for occupancy, and various other criteria such as Wi-Fi, security provision and staffing.
Resident clinics also provide IPAS officials with an opportunity to review and examine centres and their general operation and pass any findings on for follow up through the formal inspection process.
Details of IPAS Inspection Reports are published by the Department and can be found at:
www.gov.ie/en/publication/534c2-ipas-inspection-reports/
575. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Health the reason a building (details supplied) is not currently open and operating; when he expects the service to resume; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17303/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
576. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 586 of 21 November 2023, if an update will be provided. [17310/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
Requests for meetings with the Minister should be directed to his private office. The contact details are Ministersoffice@health.gov.ie.
577. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the number that applied for the position of ambulance base supervisors with the National Ambulance Service; the number of applicants that had a formal interview; the number of successful candidates; the number of vacant paramedic positions throughout the organisation; the plan to fill each vacancy; the budget for the service for each of the past five years; the response time for ambulances from time of call to time of arrival at the patient's location; the status of the plan to modernise and transform the service; the number of advanced paramedics currently employed in the organisation; the base to which they are attached; and the number of qualified paramedics that are currently undertaking training courses to qualify as an advanced paramedic (details supplied). [17312/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible on this matter.
578. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health when the amyloidosis model of care, which was approved by the HSE in 2022, will be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17325/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the matter raised is a service delivery matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.
579. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite an appointment for surgery (details supplied). [17333/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra“As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible
580. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the current ambulance response times across west Cork; the number of ambulances available in the area; and the number of paramedics assigned to the area. [17350/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
