Results 3,801-3,820 of 14,127 for speaker:David Stanton

Provision of Accommodation and Ancillary Services to Applicants for International Protection: Statements (13 Nov 2019)

David Stanton: I thank all the Deputies who contributed to the debate. I am somewhat disappointed that more people did not arrive in here. It is the issue of our age. We also had time set aside for this tomorrow so there was plenty of time for more people. The debate has been very useful. Some interesting ideas have come about here. We are very open to suggestions and ideas that are practical and...

Provision of Accommodation and Ancillary Services to Applicants for International Protection: Statements (13 Nov 2019)

David Stanton: Not at all. There are no curfews.

Provision of Accommodation and Ancillary Services to Applicants for International Protection: Statements (13 Nov 2019)

David Stanton: That is not true.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Disabled Drivers and Passengers Scheme (13 Nov 2019)

David Stanton: I thank the Senator for raising the matter. I wish to recognise my constituency colleague, Councillor James O'Connor, and welcome him to the House. I apologise on behalf of the Minister for Finance, who cannot be here this morning. The disabled drivers and disabled passengers tax concession scheme provides relief from VAT and VRT up to certain limits, an exemption on motor tax and a grant...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Disabled Drivers and Passengers Scheme (13 Nov 2019)

David Stanton: I thank the Senator. I appreciate his passion in respect of this matter. As stated, I understand and fully sympathise with any person who suffers from a serious disability and who cannot access the scheme. However the scheme and qualifying criteria were designed specifically for those with severe physical disabilities and are therefore necessarily precise. As the Senator, who is also a...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Disabled Drivers and Passengers Scheme (13 Nov 2019)

David Stanton: -----rather than the current scheme, which is for people with severe physical disabilities. The Minister has no plans to change the medical criteria for accessing the disabled drivers and disabled passengers tax concession scheme. However, the Department of Health is working on revised proposals for a transport support payments scheme, which will make individual payments as a contribution...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Fire Stations Upgrade (13 Nov 2019)

David Stanton: Again, I apologise on behalf of the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, and the Minister of State at the Department, Deputy English, who are unavailable this morning. They and I know the Senator has had a long-standing interest in the matter of a new fire station for Crossmolina and I thank her for raising the issue at this time. The provision of a...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Fire Stations Upgrade (13 Nov 2019)

David Stanton: As the Senator said, this is a project that needs to be done as urgently as possible. As I said, the Department is awaiting the design and cost plan from the county council, which should be ready and is expected to be with the Department by the end of this year. The Department tells us it will then work closely with the county council to progress the project as quickly as is possible. I...

Inquiry into the death of Shane O’Farrell: Motion [Private Members] (12 Nov 2019)

David Stanton: As colleagues have said, this is a very sensitive and very important matter. I have listened very carefully to the comments Deputies have made on the motion. As the Minister, Deputy Flanagan, said earlier this evening, we are all working towards achieving the same goal, namely, responding appropriately to the acute pain of the O'Farrell family arising from the terrible loss they have...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Funding (12 Nov 2019)

David Stanton: The National Collective of Community based Women's Networks (NCCWN) consists of 17 women's groups located in various parts of the country, and is involved broadly in activation and outreach for disadvantaged women. In 2019, my Department provided funding of €1,439,000 to the NCCWN. This funding is towards salaries, administration and overhead costs incurred in the implementation of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision Expenditure (12 Nov 2019)

David Stanton: All accommodation centres for people seeking international protection, whether State-owned or privately owned, are operated by commercial companies. There are currently 39 accommodation centres being operated under the direct provision system. My Department contracts for an all-inclusive service, which includes catering services, as well as cleaning,maintenance and laundry services....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision Data (12 Nov 2019)

David Stanton: I can advise the Deputy that 25 private companies have a contract for services with my Department to provide premises that meet required standards and support services for protection applicants. Two of these companies are contracted to provide management, catering, housekeeping and general maintenance services in state owned accommodation centres. It is important to note that the Direct...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision Data (7 Nov 2019)

David Stanton: My Department has two separate approaches to securing accommodation centres for persons seeking international protection. In order to meet the long term needs of the Department, a regional procurement process on a national basis is ongoing. As the Deputy can appreciate, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on any individual bids before these processes are complete. To meet the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Applications Data (5 Nov 2019)

David Stanton: My Department is responsible for offering accommodation and related services to international protection applicants while their claim for protection is being examined. Due to an unexpected rise in applications (figures are up 53% in the first nine months of this year), existing Direct Provision Centres, which offer accommodation, food, utilities and a suite of State services, have reached...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Youth Services Expenditure (5 Nov 2019)

David Stanton: The statutory framework relating to young offenders and the Garda Diversion Programme is set out in the Children Act 2001. The nationwide network of Garda Youth Diversion Projects (GYDPs) is supported by my Department. GYDPs are community based, multi-agency, crime prevention initiatives which primarily seek to divert young people who have become involved in criminal or anti-social...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision Expenditure (5 Nov 2019)

David Stanton: The International Protection Accommodation Service of my Department (IPAS) is provided with an annual budget under the vote of the Department of Justice to provide applicants for protection with accommodation for the duration of the application process. IPAS seeks to have accommodation and ancillary services provided under contract at centres located throughout the state. As of 27 October...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Refugee Resettlement Programme (5 Nov 2019)

David Stanton: Refugee and asylum seekers arriving in Ireland under the resettlement and relocation strands of the Irish Refugee Protection Programme (IRPP) are initially accommodated in Emergency Reception and Accommodation Centres (EROCs). Two EROCs are currently in operation: - The Abbeyfield Hotel, Ballaghaderreen, Co. Roscommon - The Clonea Strand Hotel, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford In addition, there are...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision Data (5 Nov 2019)

David Stanton: I can inform the Deputy that there were, as of 31 October 2019, 778 people with status residing in Direct Provision. 'Status' means either those with an International Protection status, a Subsidiary Protection Status or Permission to Remain. These people are no longer applicants and are no longer in the international protection process. They have the same right to housing assistance and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision Data (5 Nov 2019)

David Stanton: The following table details the lengths of stay of persons who have availed of accommodation provided by the Immigration Service of my Department (as of 1 November 2019) Number of Months Total 0<3 1,053 3<6 833 6<9 625 9<12 802 ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision Data (5 Nov 2019)

David Stanton: I am advised by the International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) of my Department that as of 29 October 2019, there are 39 accommodation centres in the State, the locations of which are set out in the following table. As these centres are currently operating at full capacity, there are 36 emergency accommodation premises currently being used to accommodate international protection...