Results 3,581-3,600 of 14,127 for speaker:David Stanton

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (16 Jun 2020)

David Stanton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 324, 375, 387 and 390 together. Any complaints or concerns regarding the health and safety of international protection applicants are taken extremely seriously by me, Minister Flanagan and our officials.  Following a number of issues raised in relation to this emergency accommodation premises, officials from the International Protection...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (16 Jun 2020)

David Stanton: A number of measures were introduced in the Skellig Accommodation Centre in Cahersiveen in recent weeks to make life more comfortable for the residents and in particular the children who are living there. Families with children were provided with arts and crafts materials, toys, books and tablets, to use as they wished.  This was coordinated by the local Family Resource Centre with...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Maternity Leave (16 Jun 2020)

David Stanton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 339 and 388 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 the baby is due, and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (16 Jun 2020)

David Stanton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 347, 355, 365, 381 and 382 together. The International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) of my Department developed a Critical Incident Policy last year. The Policy includes guidelines for IPAS staff and accommodation centre managers and staff in the event of the death of a resident. The Policy includes a protocol for record keeping whereby IPAS...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (16 Jun 2020)

David Stanton: As of 7 June 2020, a total of 7,387 persons are recorded as being resident in accommodation provided by the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) of my Department. This includes people who are resident in Direct Provision centres, in emergency accommodation in hotels and guesthouses and in the Balseskin Reception Centre. It should be borne in mind that a number of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (16 Jun 2020)

David Stanton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 356 and 366 together. The COVID-19 pandemic is first and foremost a public health issue. It is a matter for the health authorities to comment on the numbers of deaths related to the virus and the settings in which such deaths have occurred.  On 26 May 2020, at a session of the Oireachtas Special Committee on Covid-19...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (16 Jun 2020)

David Stanton: There are currently 44 dedicated accommodation centres being operated under the Direct Provision reception system, in addition to Balseskin Reception Centre, which allows for the delivery of necessary supports and services to persons newly arrived in the State. Due to continuing increases in the numbers applying for international protection in recent years, these...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (16 Jun 2020)

David Stanton: A total of 916 people living in Direct Provision accommodation have an international protection status (refugee status or subsidiary protection) or a permission to remain in the State, as of the end of May 2020. These residents have the same entitlement to access housing supports and services as citizens and EEA nationals. Considerable work is being undertaken to support these...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (16 Jun 2020)

David Stanton: The State has a legal obligation to offer accommodation, food and a range of other services (including utilities and healthcare etc.) to any person who claims a right to international protection in Ireland while their claim for protection is being examined. As of 7 June 2020, a total of 7,387 people are being provided with accommodation in permanent and temporary locations...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (16 Jun 2020)

David Stanton: I am not aware of any international protection applicants living in our accommodation centres being recruited through the “Be on call for Ireland” initiative established by the HSE. As the Deputy will appreciate, recruitment to the health service is solely a matter for the HSE. However, I can say that there are approximately 160 persons living in our accommodation...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (16 Jun 2020)

David Stanton: The Deputy will appreciate that any investigations into alleged assaults are a matter for An Garda Síochána and it would not be appropriate for me to make any further comment on the matter. More generally, following a number of issues raised in relation to this emergency accommodation premises, officials from the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (16 Jun 2020)

David Stanton: The location mentioned is an emergency accommodation centre rather than one of our dedicated accommodation centres (also known as Direct Provision centres). It was initially inspected by procurement staff of my Department before being contracted as temporary accommodation for international protection applicants in May 2019. Two staff from the International Protection...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Anti-Racism Measures (16 Jun 2020)

David Stanton: I announced my intention to establish an Anti-Racism Committee with a mandate to review and make recommendations on strengthening the Government’s approach to combating racism, building on the actions currently included in the Migrant Integration Strategy and the National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy last year. Professor Caroline Fennell, UCC Professor of Law and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Anti-Racism Measures (16 Jun 2020)

David Stanton: The Government has made a clear commitment to tackle incidents of racial abuse through a number of targeted actions contained in the Migrant Integration Strategy. The Migrant Integration Strategy commits public bodies to take action on employment, education, access to public services, political participation and immigration. It requires all public bodies to mainstream integration issues...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (16 Jun 2020)

David Stanton: Last year Minister Flanagan and I asked Dr. Catherine Day to bring together an expert group with representation from asylum seekers and NGOs to examine best practice in other European States in the provision of services to international protection applicants, to examine likely longer term trends and to set out recommendations and solutions. The Group is examining both the reception system for...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: National LGBTI+ Strategy (16 Jun 2020)

David Stanton: The Strategy Committee that will oversee implementation of the National LGBTI+ Inclusion Strategy 2019-2021 held its first meeting on 16 June 2020, chaired by Deputy Secretary General Oonagh Buckley of the Department of Justice and Equality.  The schedule of meetings was discussed and will be published, along with the Terms of Reference, once finally agreed by the Committee. While...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (16 Jun 2020)

David Stanton: All deaths and serious incidents that occur within accommodation centres provided by my Department are referred to the Gardaí as a matter of course and the Gardaí in turn refer all deaths to the local Coroner’s office. It is primarily a matter for An Garda Síochána to notify the next of kin of the death of a person if required. As is the case with all...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (16 Jun 2020)

David Stanton: The number of residents in each Direct Provision accommodation centre by age and gender is set out in the following table. These figures represent those who are ordinarily resident in each centre. Some residents are temporarily off-site, however their beds are reserved for when they return and they are still considered occupants. When analysing these figures, it should also be noted that a...

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.