Results 18,341-18,360 of 21,145 for speaker:Alan Kelly

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Ukraine War (26 Oct 2022)

Alan Kelly: 143. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will consider placing modular homes in the Germantown military camp to help with the Ukrainian refugee crisis. [53806/22]

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (27 Oct 2022)

Alan Kelly: All energy customers across the country are conditioned to receive higher bills, but how do we know they are not being additionally ripped off during this crisis? The reason I raise this with the Tánaiste is because a number of people have been on to me concerned that their bills are even more inflated. One customer had to engage in quite a number of emails and phone calls with Energia...

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Chapter 13 - Guardian Ad Litem Follow-up Report (27 Oct 2022)

Alan Kelly: I have four questions to get through. I thank the witnesses for their attendance. I think it is fair to say that Mr. McCarthy, Ms Baxter and their team at this moment in time have almost the toughest job in Ireland. I would like to frame my questions with that conditioning on it because they are in a perfect storm at the moment. I will get back to that because I believe in a way, the...

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Chapter 13 - Guardian Ad Litem Follow-up Report (27 Oct 2022)

Alan Kelly: That is fine.

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Chapter 13 - Guardian Ad Litem Follow-up Report (27 Oct 2022)

Alan Kelly: I will just dip into one example regarding accommodation. The Department will be moving to look at alternative large-scale accommodation and modular or rapid-build housing, whichever description Mr. McCarthy wants to use. A contract has been signed with Sisk to deliver this, and I understand five companies are subcontracting. Has a contract been signed with them? Why did it take from...

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Chapter 13 - Guardian Ad Litem Follow-up Report (27 Oct 2022)

Alan Kelly: But no contracts have been signed since with the companies.

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Chapter 13 - Guardian Ad Litem Follow-up Report (27 Oct 2022)

Alan Kelly: Are any modular homes being built today?

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Chapter 13 - Guardian Ad Litem Follow-up Report (27 Oct 2022)

Alan Kelly: I do not think so. I must move on. As regards the process by which sites are selected for either strand, what pre-qualification filtration mechanism is used to ensure that all the ancillary education and health requirements are in place? I recently asked a parliamentary question about the smallest communities that have taken in those seeking protection under the temporary protection...

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Chapter 13 - Guardian Ad Litem Follow-up Report (27 Oct 2022)

Alan Kelly: This is not about modular housing. I am talking about-----

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Chapter 13 - Guardian Ad Litem Follow-up Report (27 Oct 2022)

Alan Kelly: Yes. I know about the modular housing.

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Chapter 13 - Guardian Ad Litem Follow-up Report (27 Oct 2022)

Alan Kelly: That is no problem.

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Chapter 13 - Guardian Ad Litem Follow-up Report (27 Oct 2022)

Alan Kelly: That is very honest of Mr. McCarthy. I appreciate his honesty. Is it the case that those who are offering services find accommodation and say, "This is an option", and as we cannot be fussy, by and large, we have to try and go with it? Are no criteria set for them?

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Chapter 13 - Guardian Ad Litem Follow-up Report (27 Oct 2022)

Alan Kelly: This is not a trick question, but all I am asking is whether criteria are set out, which accepts that we need to find accommodation and that, by and large, we cannot be picky but we need to know that there is access to healthcare and education. Are criteria given to the companies that are contracted, who make significant profits?

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Chapter 13 - Guardian Ad Litem Follow-up Report (27 Oct 2022)

Alan Kelly: No, but companies make offers to the Department.

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Chapter 13 - Guardian Ad Litem Follow-up Report (27 Oct 2022)

Alan Kelly: I appreciate that.

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Chapter 13 - Guardian Ad Litem Follow-up Report (27 Oct 2022)

Alan Kelly: I appreciate that.

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Chapter 13 - Guardian Ad Litem Follow-up Report (27 Oct 2022)

Alan Kelly: I started off my comments by saying Mr. McCarthy has the most difficult job in Ireland at the moment. I appreciate that. What I am getting from him is that there are some sort of criteria. This may not be the Department's fault, as it happened so quickly, but there has been some secrecy about the system or perhaps not enough communication. It is probably a resource issue. I want to be...

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Chapter 13 - Guardian Ad Litem Follow-up Report (27 Oct 2022)

Alan Kelly: Is that before the Department would sign a contract?

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Chapter 13 - Guardian Ad Litem Follow-up Report (27 Oct 2022)

Alan Kelly: Like in Cahersiveen.

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Chapter 13 - Guardian Ad Litem Follow-up Report (27 Oct 2022)

Alan Kelly: Yes, it was Cahersiveen. That is a good example. I have one final question. Are the criteria listed on a single page, and is it available? Could Mr. McCarthy provide us with a copy? I want to be supportive of him.