Written Answers Nos. 46-68
57. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps he has taken to progress a thorough investigation of the grounds at the former Bessboro Mother and Baby Home, Cork. [36263/21]
View answerThe grounds of the former mother and baby institution at Bessborough extended originally to around 200 acres. In its Fifth Interim Report, the Commission of Investigation noted that 'About 100 acres were sold in 1973 for the building of the N25 and for social housing. The Commission understands that there are about 60 acres of ground around the building now.'
It is my understanding that the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary retains part of the site; some land has been transferred to the HSE; and other land is owned by private parties who intend to develop the site for housing, subject to the appropriate permissions.
The Commission concluded that it is likely that burials did take place in the grounds of Bessborough but that the location of burials at Bessborough could not be ascertained, that the site was too large to feasibly excavate and that there was insufficient evidence to support a finding of the likely location of burials.
A particular part of the site, not in public ownership, is identified on a 1950s ordnance survey map as a burial ground. Campaigners consider it the most likely location of burials. It is notable that An Bord Pleanála has refused permission to develop the land because it 'is not satisfied that the site was not previously used as, and does not contain, a children's burial ground and considers that there are reasonable concerns in relation to the potential for a children's burial ground within the site [...]'.
As the Deputy may be aware, I made submissions to An Bord Pleanála and Cork City Council as part of the normal planning process in respect of two planning applications made on the Bessborough lands requesting that due consideration be given to the sensitivity of the site and the conclusions of the commission’s report. Like himself, I attended and made an oral submission to the Oral Hearing on the SHD application.
As the land in question is in private ownership, it is not open to Government to procure or carry out investigations there.
I have recently written to the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage asking him for support in encouraging local authorities to provide specific protections within their Development Plan processes for any burial sites that may be linked to former Mother and Baby Homes or County Homes. I know that Cork City Council has committed to undertaking its development plan process and I would urge the councillors to take account of the Commissions conclusions in the zoning of the land.
I continue maintain a close interest in the Bessborough site, and I will continue to engage with survivors and the local authorities in terms of protecting this site.
59. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of the plans for a women’s refuge in counties Cavan and Monaghan. [30190/21]
View answerI thank the Deputy for raising this issue and am aware she has engaged with my office on this issue on many occasions.
I know the Deputy is deeply committed to establishing an emergency domestic violence refuge in the Cavan-Monaghan area. Some supports for victims are available through the services of Tearmann including outreach services in Counties Cavan and Monaghan. However, women seeking emergency domestic violence accommodation will typically seek refuge in Counties Louth and Meath, where there are three refuges supported by Tusla.
The Deputy will be aware that Tusla is currently finalising a review of emergency accommodation nationwide, which assesses the current and requisite distribution of safe emergency accommodation. The review has examined the current level of refuge provision, evidence of demand for services and unmet need, and analysis of proximity to refuge by local communities.
It presents recommendations on future configuration of accommodation and services that may be required to meet holistically the needs of victims of Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence. I understand that Tusla has also had some ongoing engagement with various local stakeholders about refuge developments, including a recent meeting in May with a local group exploring development of domestic violence refuge.
As capital funding for domestic violence refuges is provided by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the development of future refuge requires the strong engagement of both Departments. I have spoken to Minister O'Brien on this issue and we are committed to engaging further on this matter.
I am also aware that as a signatory of the Istanbul Convention, we have made commitments in law to improve services to victims in this area. We have some ground to make up in this respect. I am committed to doing all that I can, as Minister with responsibility for Tusla and equality matters, to bring this about.
The response to Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence is a cross Departmental and multi-agency issue, with policy coordinated by the Department of Justice. Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has statutory responsibility for the care and protection of victims of DSGBV.
The Programme for Government also sets out a number of commitments in this area, including an audit on segmentation of DSGBV responsibilities across government departments and agencies, and a Third National Strategy on DSGBV, led by the Department of Justice. The Minister for Justice and I intend to bring an Information Memo to Government next week, providing an update on progress across these strategic actions.
I can assure the Deputy that the findings of Tusla's Accommodation Review will inform actions to address shortfalls in emergency accommodation for victims of domestic violence in the Third National Strategy on DSGBV. I would intend that it would be published in the near future.
It is of the utmost importance that the needs of those who experience domestic violence are met in the most appropriate way possible. I am committed to ensuring future service provision is evidence based and designed to meet the needs of individuals who experience domestic violence.
60. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of the commitments of the White Paper published in February 2021 in relation to ending direct provision; and the action that has been taken by his Department since then to progress this objective. [36230/21]
View answerThe Programme for Government commits to ending the system of Direct Provision. We have pledged to replace it with a new International Protection Support Service (IPSS), which will be centred 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. We have begun the process of implementing this White Paper which will see Direct Provision ended between now and December 2024.
This White Paper outlines the proposed system of accommodation and supports that will be offered to applicants for International Protection. It is the result of an extensive consultation process with Civil Society Organisations, residents of Direct Provision centres, and other Government Departments and Bodies.
We will ensure that protection applicants are helped to integrate into Ireland from day one, with health, housing, education, and employment supports at the core of the new system. As stated in the White Paper, it is the Government’s intention to have this new system fully operational by December 2024.
The implementation of the White Paper is in the early stages, with a first draft of a detailed implementation plan currently being drawn up. An Implementation Team is currently being assembled, and engagement and discussions have begun with key implementation partners.
Much of the progress to date has focused on development of the new accommodation model, and discussions have been held with the Housing Agency on available funding schemes for accommodation in the community and on the role that Approved Housing Bodies will play.
In addition, the County and City Managers’ Association (CCMA) are developing an allocation key on behalf of the Local Authorities, in co-operation with my Department. The allocation key will serve as a guide to how many applicants for International Protection are to be accommodated in each Local Authority area. I understand that the CCMA will shortly review and discuss a draft of this key with a view to finalising it very soon.
Work is also underway to establish both a Programme Board and an external Advisory Group, which will form the governance structure for the project as outlined in the White Paper. The membership of the Programme Board will comprise representatives of relevant Departments, Agencies and NGOs. At least one former resident of the Direct Provision system will be represented on the Board, which will also include experts in areas such as housing and change management who will support the delivery of these key areas. I have written to NGOs seeking their nomination of reps and we are in the final stages of putting together the Programme Board’s membership.
The external Advisory Group will consist of three independent experts who will help to monitor the implementation of the IPSS model and provide independent feedback to Government. I will be announcing details of the individual members of both entities in the coming weeks, and a first meeting of the Programme Board will take place shortly.
61. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children in after-school care that are supported by schemes operated by his Department; and the distribution of these children between community facilities, private facilities, and public facilities such as schools. [36204/21]
View answerAdministrative data on schemes is collected by Pobal, on behalf of my Department. Owing to the nature of the system, scheme-level data on school-age childcare is not captured as a discrete category. However, scheme-level data is available by the age of children. The data I am giving today relates to children aged six years and over. However, since children under the age of six may be in school, the available data is likely to underestimate the actual figures.
Available data from June this year indicates that 14,304 children aged six years and over are being supported to participate in school-age childcare through schemes offered by my Department. Of these children, 6,461 are in private services, while 7,845 are in community services.
A breakdown is also available by scheme. There is a very small difference between total figures and scheme-level data because a small number of children are registered to attend more than one service. Of children aged six years and over:
- 7,345 children are supported through the Community Childcare Scheme. Of these, 3,240 are in private services, while 4,105 are in community services.
- 6,873 children are supported through the National Childcare Scheme. Of these, 4,552 are in private services, while 2,322 are in community services.
- A further 17 children are supported through other schemes.
According to data from the Annual Early Years Sector Profile, 14% of services (including both early learning and care and school-age childcare services) are located on school premises, with a slightly higher proportion among community providers (16%) than private (13%).
62. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which the number of reports received affecting the safety and well-being of children of all ages received during the lockdown period or since the beginning of the pandemic have been fully investigated to the satisfaction of the complainants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36213/21]
View answerI thank the Deputy for his question as it affords me the opportunity to comment on how Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has carried out its essential work throughout this unprecedented period in our history.
Tusla has continued to provide essential services to children and families throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. Tusla's focus has been on ensuring continuity of critical supports to vulnerable children and families.
Managers and staff have managed to balance their work in line with public health advice to keep children, families and front-line staff as safe as possible. Referrals continued to be screened and assessed, and staff have continued to work with children and families throughout.
Referrals to Tusla dropped by 36% over the four weeks of the first lock-down in March 2020. Following a local and national media campaign, referrals increased to over 1,300 a week for the 19 weeks from the mid April 2020 to the end of August 2020. The following 17 weeks since schools re-opened on 24 August 2020 saw a slight further increase in the weekly referrals. It is of note, that despite the restrictions, Tusla received a larger number of referrals in 2020 than in 2019 and assessments and open cases are in line with numbers from the previous year.
The Deputy also asks whether referrals have been investigated to the satisfaction of the complainants.
Due to increasing demand Tusla carries some waiting times in its cases The duty team review these cases regularly and where new information arises, the case may be allocated. A large number of referrals do not meet the threshold for a child protection response but may be referred to family support. Of course, all urgent cases get an immediate response.
Tusla has developed a robust appeal and complaints facility called 'Tell Us'. For those individuals who are dissatisfied with the service they receive from the option is open to them to make a complaint.
Details of how to make a complaint, and how complaints are managed can be found on the Tusla website. Information is also available on the escalation pathways available within the Tell Us process.
I want to take this opportunity to commend the staff of Tusla during this period, especially those staff in residential settings, out of hours emergency services and child protection teams. I know that the House will join me in acknowledging the commitment and care of foster carers to children in their care over the past year.
63. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the progress made in developing the concept of a childcare development agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36205/21]
View answerThe Programme for Government commits to establishing a dedicated agency, Childcare Ireland, “to assist in expanding high quality early learning and childcare, best practice and innovation, and professional development in community and private settings, along with developing career paths for early learning and childcare staff, and for expansion of the early years curriculum, Síolta”.
As a precursor to establishing Childcare Ireland, my Department is carrying out a comprehensive review of the operating model for early learning and childcare. This is line with a commitment in First 5, the Whole of Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families (2019-2028).
The early learning and childcare sector has grown substantially in the past decade. The objective of this Review is to ensure that the operating model is fit for purpose to implement early learning and childcare policy relating to quality, affordability and access, to the scale and standards required in an evolving and expanding sector.
I am pleased to report that this work is well underway.
An Oversight Group, chaired by my Department, has been established and is meeting regularly.
An independent external contractor – Indecon - has been engaged by my Department to undertake an analysis of the current operating model and to consider options for reform. This analysis by Indecon, which involved significant stakeholder engagement, is due to conclude in the coming months.
It is envisaged that the analysis carried out for this Review will provide a robust evidence base to inform a decision concerning the establishment of Childcare Ireland and the range of functions it may provide. I look forward to bringing a report to Government on the matter later in 2021.
64. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 266 of 27 May 2020, if his Department has developed a United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities implementation plan to co-ordinate the delivery of Ireland’s commitments to implementing the UNCRPD; if the plan has been published and is publicly accessible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30069/21]
View answerThe Programme for Government, along with the Mid-Term Review of the NDIS, commits to establishing a UNCRPD Implementation Plan. This Plan will coordinate and monitor progress on implementing the UNCRPD across Government departments. DCEDIY will play a lead role in coordinating the Implementation Plan with individual Departments also having responsibility for drafting their own individual plans to feed into the National Plan.
Priority to-date has been given to preparing for the submission of Ireland’s Initial State Report to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities . The Initial State Report is at an advanced stage following a public consultation process and will be submitted later this year.
Design of the UNCRPD Implementation Plan has now begun. As a first step a concept note was discussed by the National Disability Inclusion Strategy Steering Group, which is chaired by my colleague the Minister of State with Responsibility for Disability Anne Rabbitte T.D., in its June 2021 meeting. Design of the Plan will involve significant cross-government working and involvement and consultation with stakeholders. It is intended that the design of the Plan will conclude this year with the final Plan being submitted to Government in early 2022.
When finalised, the Plan will be launched and published, including in accessible formats.
65. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he has read the recent report on deaths in direct provision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36225/21]
View answer377. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on the reporting system in place since 2017 to record the deaths in direct provision settings; his further views on whether the omission of the cause of death on the records is cause for concern; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36512/21]
View answer378. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will adopt the United Nations recommendation that transparency must be ensured with reference to the current fatality rate in direct provision centres and the concerns over the recording of these deaths; and if he will consider releasing the details again as per the previous recording system. [36513/21]
View answer388. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he plans to change the way in which data on deaths in direct provision are collected by State agencies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36250/21]
View answer389. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on the lack of transparency around the number of persons who have died in direct provision; and if he will consider the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racism recommendation that the recording system is amended as at present the cause of death is not recorded and official records since the inception of the system in 1999 are incomplete. [36257/21]
View answer408. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to implement a system to record the number of deaths in all direct provision centres in keeping with the request by the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. [36557/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 65, 377, 378, 388, 389 and 408 together.
I am aware of a report in the Irish Examiner on 29 June 2021 which provides the details of four persons alleged to have been accommodated by the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) of my Department.
Firstly, it is important to point out that it is an offence under Section 26 of the International Protection Act, 2015 to publish any information that may be lead to the identification of a person as a protection applicant without their consent. This provision does not exclude former applicants including applicants who pass away while their application is under consideration. This is particularly important to note given that a deceased applicant’s family could potentially be in danger in their home country were such information to be published.
Accordingly I am unable to comment on any individual cases named in the report other than to note that such commentary on individual deaths may be in breach of the provisions of the International Protection Act 2015.
In the event of the death of a resident at an IPAS accommodation centre, a critical incident policy is in place, to provide guidelines for staff in the IPAS and accommodation centre managers and staff. IPAS officials work closely with the centre manager to assist the person’s next of kin, if known, in accessing the supports provided by the State, and to offer supports, including counselling, to any residents or centre staff affected by the death. Where children are involved, the family is linked with Tusla to provide relevant supports. Assistance with funeral costs is also available through the Department for Social Protection subject to a means test.
Under the Critical Incident Policy, any death or very serious incident that occurs within IPAS accommodation centres provided by the Department is referred to the Gardaí as a matter of course and, where appropriate, the Gardaí will in turn refer those deaths to the local Coroner’s office. Where cause of death has not already been certified by a qualified medical practitioner, investigations and inquests into the cause of a death are matters for those authorities.? Responsibility for the formal registration and recording of all deaths in the State, including information on cause of death where known, rests with the General Register Office in the Department of Social Protection.
I can also advise that my Department has developed a new policy on the collation and provision of statistics on our accommodation centres. The policy, which came into effect on 1 June 2021, will be published on a new IPAS website due to launch in coming days. The policy covers procedures to be followed with regard to notification of a death to IPAS and other relevant authorities, collation of statistics, and publication of information. Alongside the policy, the Department will also be publishing statistical information on resident deaths going back to the earliest recorded death of a resident. These statistics, which will include a breakdown by cause of death where known, has been collated with the assistance of the General Register Office.
66. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will report on engagement with Travellers and their organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36289/21]
View answerMy Department has ongoing engagement with Travellers and their representative organisations.
The Traveller and Roma Policy Unit of my Department engage with Traveller and Roma groups on a continuous basis with regard to projects funded and developments under the National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy (NTRIS).
The NTRIS Steering Committee which I Chair, meets every quarter and brings government departments and agencies together along with representatives of both Traveller and Roma communities to bring a focus to the issues which affect them most in a structured way. Progress on actions under NTRIS are monitored and updates are shared with the representative groups in advance of each Steering Group meeting.
In addition, over the last few months I have held meetings with a number of Traveller representative groups including the Irish Traveller Movement, the National Traveller Partnership, the National Travellers Women’s Forum and with Pavee Point.
Furthermore, the Traveller and Roma representative groups engage in consultations held by my Department on a range of issues, for example, on the State's 3rd report under the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) a unique process which involves a review of the human rights records of all UN Member States. Traveller and Roma representative groups also participate on the Anti-Racism Committee which is independently chaired and is working towards the development of a National Action Plan against Racism.
67. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department has developed a data strategy that will support the collection and use of data to identify outcomes for persons with disabilities when accessing services and programmes in line with action 3D of the Mid-Term Review of the National Disability Inclusion Strategy; if not, the timeframe for when this will be developed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30070/21]
View answerPreparatory work has commenced for the delivery of Action 3D. My Department is developing an internal equality data group with a view to assessing and improving the data collected across all the current equality strategies. In addition, the National Disability Authority (NDA) has begun a disability data audit. The data audit is intended to cover all available disability data resources covering national statistics, research databases and administrative data resources. Both of these processes will feed into the delivery of Action 3D.
