Results 3,621-3,640 of 14,127 for speaker:David Stanton

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 (27 May 2020)

David Stanton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 303 to 307, inclusive, 309 to 311, inclusive, 314 to 316, inclusive, 332 and 357 together. I am conscious of demands on parents at this time and hope that the additional measures to support working parents that I have introduced in recent years, including the new parent’s leave scheme and an extension of parental leave, are helping to ease some of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Licence Applications (27 May 2020)

David Stanton: The Gaming and Lotteries Act 1956 provides for the regulation of gaming and lottery activity either under permit from An Garda Síochána or under licence from the District Court. The occasions of gaming and lottery activities which require a permit from An Garda Síochána are set out in sections 6, 7 and 27. Licences to operate lotteries are granted by the District Court....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (27 May 2020)

David Stanton: I want to assure the Deputy that I, Minister Flanagan and our officials take the safety and wellbeing of all international protection applicants and the community in which they reside extremely seriously. That has always been our priority. I do appreciate that the circumstances in which the Skellig Accommodation Centre was opened did not allow for full engagement with local...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (27 May 2020)

David Stanton: As the Deputy will appreciate, medical information such as testing, test results and the release of data relating to same, are matters for the HSE in a public health context. However, I can confirm that testing of residents and staff has already been completed in Cahersiveen by HSE Public Health. An Outbreak Control Team, convened and led by the HSE with representatives of my Department...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (27 May 2020)

David Stanton: I want to assure the Deputy that I, Minister Flanagan and our officials take the safety and wellbeing of all international protection applicants and the community in which they reside extremely seriously. That has always been our priority. I do appreciate that the circumstances in which the Skellig Accommodation Centre was opened did not allow for full engagement with local...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (27 May 2020)

David Stanton: As the Deputy will be aware, Minister Flanagan and I launched Ireland’s National LGBTI+ Inclusion Strategy 2019 – 2021 on 28 November last. The Strategy contains over 100 actions that are aimed at promoting inclusion, protecting rights and improving the quality of life and wellbeing of LGBTI+ people. It reflects the commitment in the Programme for Government to create an...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (27 May 2020)

David Stanton: I can inform the Deputy that the Community Response Forums are administered by the Local Authorities which are under the remit of the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government. Therefore, it is not possible for my Department to provide the information requested. The Community Call initiative is a coming together of national government, local government and the community and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Maternity Leave (20 May 2020)

David Stanton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 408 to 413, inclusive, 415 to 418, inclusive, 421, 423, 425, 426 and 445 together. I am conscious of demands on parents at this time and hope that the additional measures to support working parents that I have introduced in recent years, including the new parent’s leave scheme and an extension of parental leave, are helping to ease some of these...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (20 May 2020)

David Stanton: I want to assure the Deputy that my Department is doing everything it can to protect the health and welfare of residents and staff in our accommodation centres, as well as that of the wider community. My Department is working closely with the HSE in doing so, and while the HSE advice has evolved over time, we have been assured by both it and the Office of the Chief Medical Officer that our...