Results 3,781-3,800 of 14,127 for speaker:David Stanton

Seanad: Provision of Accommodation and Ancillary Services to Applicants for International Protection: Statements (27 Nov 2019)

David Stanton: It is good that communities get involved because it assists integration. If people get a positive statement that they can stay in Ireland, that is fantastic. If they learn new skills, they can bring them back if they leave Ireland. We are working towards independent living. It has been a success where it has been implemented. I do not want any child to miss out on schooling. We want to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision Data (26 Nov 2019)

David Stanton: As stated in my reply to your previous question of 14 November, 2019, the weekly allowance payment for international protection applicants living in an accommodation centre stands at €38.80 per week for adults and €29.80 per week for children since 25 March 2019. Our opt-in to the (recast) Receptions Conditions Directive, for the first time, places the provision of material...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Seeker Accommodation (26 Nov 2019)

David Stanton: Persons running for or in public office should ensure that they are familiar with the policy issues in relation to immigration and integration. To that end my Department is happy, subject to the constraints specified below, to facilitate visits to accommodation centres for asylum seekers and refugees. Such visits are organised on regular occasions, for example, for members of the Joint...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (26 Nov 2019)

David Stanton: On 15 August, Minister Flanagan and I published the National Standards for accommodation offered to people in the international protection process. The Standards were prepared by a Standards Advisory Group, established in 2017 and comprising officials from my Department, the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and the HSE National Office for Social Inclusion as well as representatives...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Asylum Seeker Employment (20 Nov 2019)

David Stanton: We have made huge improvements to the system. I invite the Deputy to look at those improvements. More than half of the people in centres can now cook for their families and are doing so. They are living in much-improved conditions as a result of the findings in the McMahon report. I invite the Deputy to look at what has been done and to start using positive language in respect of asylum...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Asylum Seeker Employment (20 Nov 2019)

David Stanton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 and 18 together. I thank the Deputy for his questions. Article 15(2) of the EU recast reception conditions directive allows member states to decide the conditions for granting access to the labour market for applicants for international protection, in accordance with national law. The European Communities (Reception Conditions) Regulations 2018, which...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Asylum Seeker Employment (20 Nov 2019)

David Stanton: The Deputy thrives on misery. Some 3,438 labour market permissions have been granted to date. That is a huge number. I reject totally out of hand the Deputy's assertions that people are forced to live anywhere or that conditions are inhumane. That is terrible language to use for people who are coming here looking for international protection. That is not true and the Deputy should...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Asylum Seeker Accommodation (20 Nov 2019)

David Stanton: Every option is being pursued to try to identify and locate accommodation for people who come here looking for international protection. As I said, so far this year, of the people who have received status, 675 have got help to transit into permanent accommodation in the community. Officials from the Department meet regularly with colleagues from the Department of Housing, Planning and Local...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Asylum Seeker Accommodation (20 Nov 2019)

David Stanton: I thank the Deputy for his comments. Last week, we launched Community Sponsorship Ireland, to which I bring the attention of colleagues. Through this initiative, local communities can welcome a refugee family into their community, and there have been a number of examples during the pilot scheme, which has worked very well. The mean length of stay in accommodation is now 21 months, which...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Asylum Seeker Accommodation (20 Nov 2019)

David Stanton: I thank the Deputy for his question. International protection is a complex legal process driven by both national and international law, which works to protect the rights of those genuinely seeking protection by ensuring that all applications are examined in a consistently rigorous and fair manner. My Department has introduced a number of measures aimed at reducing the time taken to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (20 Nov 2019)

David Stanton: As the Deputy will be aware, 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 legal claim is being examined. These services are demand led and generally it is difficult to predict demand far in advance. I am advised...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (20 Nov 2019)

David Stanton: As the Deputy will be aware, the State has a legal obligation to offer accommodation, food and a range of other services (including utilities, healthcare etc.) and allowances to any person who claims a right to international protection in Ireland while their legal claim is being examined. The number of applications has been steadily increasing (up 60% since the start of the year)....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigrant Investor Programme Data (20 Nov 2019)

David Stanton: The European Communities (Reception Conditions) Regulations 2018 came into effect from 30 June 2018. The Regulations included access to the labour market for eligible international protection applicants. The Regulations provide access to both employment and to self-employment. I can inform the Deputy that as of the 14November 2019,a total of 5,027 applications for access to the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Programme (20 Nov 2019)

David Stanton: Addressing the gender pay gap is an important element in the Programme for a Partnership Government and is included as a key commitment in the Government's National Strategy for Women and Girls 2017-2020.  The Gender Pay Gap Information Bill 2019 was published on 8 April  2019 and the Bill completed Dáil Committee Stage in June. Report...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Refugee Resettlement Programme (20 Nov 2019)

David Stanton: The Irish Refugee Protection Programme (IRPP) was established by Government Decision of September 2015 as a key part of Ireland’s response to the global humanitarian migration crisis. It committed Ireland to accept 4,000 persons under various strands, including the EU Relocation Mechanism and UNHCR Resettlement Programme. As of 19 November 2019, progress across the various strands of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: National Traveller-Roma Integration Strategy (20 Nov 2019)

David Stanton: The Government is committed to improving the quality of life of members of the Travelling community. As the Deputy will be aware, in June 2017, I published the National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy 2017 - 2021 (NTRIS). The Strategy represents a whole of Government approach to bring about meaningful change and progress for the Traveller and Roma community in Ireland. It brings...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Seeker Accommodation (19 Nov 2019)

David Stanton: As the Deputy will be aware, the State has a legal obligation to offer accommodation, food and a range of other services including utilities, healthcare and allowances to any person who claims a right to international protection in Ireland while their legal claim is being examined. The number of applications for international protection has been steadily increasing (up 60% to date this...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision Data (19 Nov 2019)

David Stanton: I can inform the Deputy that as of 13 November 2019, there were 847 people who have been granted a protection status residing in accommodation centres provided by my Department. My Department, through the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) which administers the system of accommodation for protection applicants, provides such persons with accommodation while they...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (19 Nov 2019)

David Stanton: I can inform the Deputy that my Department advertised a tender competition in September 2018 for suitable premises within 40km of Newbridge, Co. Kildare for accommodation and ancillary services for international protection applicants. Successful bidders were required to undertake mobilisation works to provide for cooking facilities for residents, a foodhall (where residents can procure...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision Data (14 Nov 2019)

David Stanton: When an international protection applicant is issued with a labour market access permission under the European Communities (Reception Conditions) Regulations 2018 and takes up employment, the employer (or the applicant in cases of self-employment) is obliged to inform my Department within 21 days.  A standard form for this purpose is available on the website of the...