Results 10,501-10,520 of 14,127 for speaker:David Stanton

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Covid-19 Pandemic (3 Jun 2020)

David Stanton: As the Deputy will appreciate, the COVID-19 pandemic is a public health crisis, the response to which is being led by HSE Public Health, as is appropriate. My Department and centre management across our network of accommodation centres (both permanent and temporary) are working closely with the HSE to implement their public health advice. With regard to medical information such as...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (3 Jun 2020)

David Stanton: As the Deputy will appreciate, the COVID-19 pandemic is a public health crisis, the response to which is being led by HSE Public Health, as is appropriate. My Department and management across our network of accommodation centres (both permanent and temporary) are working closely with the HSE to implement their public health advice. With regard to medical information such as testing, test...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (3 Jun 2020)

David Stanton: I can inform the Deputy that we are taking the issues raised in this correspondence extremely seriously. The welfare of residents is, at all times, our key concern. We are examining all the issues raised in the correspondence and an official from my Department has made direct contact with the Group to discuss their concerns. My officials will hold a virtual clinic with residents later...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Refugee Resettlement Programme (3 Jun 2020)

David Stanton: I wish to advise the Deputy that to date, eight refugee families (30 individuals) have arrived in Ireland under community sponsorship and have been warmly received by their host communities. A further nine communities have been approved as community sponsorship groups and are now actively undergoing the required training through their respective Regional Support Organisation. Of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (3 Jun 2020)

David Stanton: I can inform the Deputy that all accommodation centres for people seeking international protection, whether State-owned or privately owned, are operated by commercial companies under contract. There are currently 44 accommodation centres being operated under the Direct Provision reception system.  My Department contracts for an all-inclusive service, which...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (3 Jun 2020)

David Stanton: There are currently 234 persons seeking international protection staying in five emergency locations in County Monaghan. Additionally,  St. Patrick's Accommodation Centre, outside Monaghan Town, currently accommodates 264 persons. My Department does not generally disclose the location of emergency accommodation centres in order to protect the identity of international...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Seekers (3 Jun 2020)

David Stanton: I can inform the Deputy that my Department currently has no plans to increase the capacity of emergency accommodation for international protection applicants in County Monaghan.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (3 Jun 2020)

David Stanton: As the Deputy will appreciate, at the present time, the accommodation requirements in any centre can vary on a daily basis due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the requirements to meet HSE guidelines for residents who need to self-isolate or to cocoon. However, I can confirm to the Deputy that a maximum of three single people are now sharing a room in any of our centres. While no...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (3 Jun 2020)

David Stanton: As the Deputy will be aware, the State is obliged under domestic and international law to examine the application of anyone who arrives at the State to claim international protection. While we are examining their application, all applicants are offered accommodation and other supports such as healthcare, education for children and a weekly payment for personal expenditure. The...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (3 Jun 2020)

David Stanton: I can inform the Deputy that all accommodation centres under contract to my Department are subject to three unannounced inspections per annum: twice by officials of the Immigration Service of my Department and once by an independent company (QTS Limited). Inspections cover a wide range of issues such as fire safety issues, food hygiene, food quality, information...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (3 Jun 2020)

David Stanton: I am advised by the International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) of my Department that as of 24 May 2020, there are 45 dedicated accommodation centres in the State, the names and locations of which are set out in the following table. As these centres are currently operating at full capacity, there are a further 36 emergency accommodation premises currently being...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (3 Jun 2020)

David Stanton: As the Deputy will be aware, the State is obliged under domestic and international law to examine the application of anyone who arrives at the State to claim international protection. While we are examining their application, all applicants are offered accommodation and other supports such as healthcare, education for children and a weekly payment for personal expenditure. My...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (3 Jun 2020)

David Stanton: I can inform the Deputy that the sourcing of new accommodation centres for international protection applicants is done by way of either an Expression of Interest published in the national press and EU Journal by the International Protection Procurement Service (IPPS) of my Department, or a public procurement process, which is advertised on E-Tenders and the Official...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (3 Jun 2020)

David Stanton: I can inform the Deputy that my Department has an accommodation centre for international protection applicants in Clonakilty in West Cork. There are currently no plans to open another centre within the Cork South-West constituency area. Should my Department require additional accommodation in the future and if suitable premises were offered in the area, such premises...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Maternity Leave (9 Jun 2020)

David Stanton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 209 to 211, inclusive, 217 and 227 together. As the law now stands, a mother is entitled to this leave irrespective of the duration of her current employment. The mother can take maternity leave from casual or part-time employment. She can take up to 26 weeks of paid maternity leave, and up to a further 16 weeks of unpaid leave. Two weeks must be taken before...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Covid-19 Pandemic (9 Jun 2020)

David Stanton: The figures requested by the Deputy are currently being collated by my officials in the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS). They will be forwarded to the Deputy in the coming days as soon as this process is completed.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (9 Jun 2020)

David Stanton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 223, 247 and 254 together. I can inform the Deputy that we are taking the issues raised in relation to this emergency accommodation premises extremely seriously. The welfare of residents is, at all times, our key concern. Last week (4 June 2020), officials from the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) of my Department held a clinic...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Covid-19 Pandemic (9 Jun 2020)

David Stanton: The person referred to by the Deputy is, as of 30 May 2020, being accommodated in our dedicated self-isolation facility in Dublin. This is a temporary arrangement to enable precautionary isolation under COVID-19 protocols until the person can be transferred to an accommodation centre at a future date. The HSE has issued new protocols to the international protection accommodation...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (9 Jun 2020)

David Stanton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 228 and 262 together. I can inform the Deputy that the total expenditure for the provision of PPE for International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) accommodation centres for the period from March to end May 2020, was €521,488.27. During this time, centre managers have been advised to increase the standard and frequency of cleaning throughout...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (9 Jun 2020)

David Stanton: It is a contractual obligation on all service providers of accommodation centres that culturally appropriate food options should be provided to residents. Service providers must also prepare menus that meet the reasonable dietary needs of the different ethnic groups accommodated at the accommodation centre and the reasonable prescribed dietary needs of any person accommodated at the centre. ...