125. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons currently residing in each of the direct provision centres that have been granted refugee status, subsidiary protection status or leave to remain, in tabular form; the supports in place to assist these persons to move out of direct provision; if she has […]

142. Deputy Jonathan O’Brien asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if the consultation process on the national Traveller and Roma inclusion strategy has concluded; if she has submitted the draft strategy to Government; and the date on which the new strategy will be published. Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality (Deputy David […]

Nasc will be hosting a meeting for anyone interested in volunteering for our Safe Passage Campaign. The event will be held in Nasc’s event room, Ferry Lane, Cork on Tuesday 22nd November from 6-8 PM. The meeting will discuss ways you can help raise awareness about the campaign and support families fleeing conflict. We will take […]

49. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his plans to conduct a review of the social inclusion and community activation programme in advance of the second round of tenders in 2017. [35447/16] Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government (Deputy Catherine Byrne): My Department has responsibility for the […]

329. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government following the publication of his action plan for housing and homelessness four months ago, the status of the progress made to date on action 2.24 to establish an operational sub-group to support and co-ordinate the process of housing refugees; and if he will make a […]

148. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if the general requirement of not having received State support in the three years prior to a naturalisation application does not apply to social insurance benefits, such as jobseeker’s benefit, claimed as a right on the basis of PRSI contributions or their British or EU […]

138. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the reason Ireland frequently insists that families seeking reunification under the Dublin III regulation undergo DNA testing to prove the familial relationship in cases where substantial documentary evidence of the familial relationship exists and has been provided (details supplied). [34512/16] Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality […]

117. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she has raised with the Italian authorities the delays being experienced by Irish officials in Italy in the processing of Syrian refugees for relocation here; and if she will make a statement on the matter.  [34751/16] Minister of State at the Department of Justice and […]

115. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will publish the precise criteria on which she will grant or refuse naturalisation in the context of civil proceedings, arrests or spent convictions for minor offences; if persons are denied naturalisation on the grounds of spent convictions, particularly those that do not involve violence […]

94. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality her plans for changing the system of direct provision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34853/16] Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality (Deputy Frances Fitzgerald): The Report of the Working Group on Improvements to the protection process including Direct Provision and […]

72. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the details of all companies involved in contracts for direct provision, including moneys paid to these companies each year over the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34854/16] Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality (Deputy […]

59. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the progress she has made in changing the direct provision system for asylum seekers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34738/16] Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality (Deputy Frances Fitzgerald): The Report of the Working Group on Improvements to the protection process […]

 60. Deputy Jan O’Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the action being taken by her Department in response to the call by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child in March 2016 for the Government to provide clear, accessible and formal procedures to regularise undocumented children and their families; and if she will […]

58. Deputy Fiona O’Loughlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Syrian nationals refused access or leave to land here in each year since the start of the war in Syria in 2011. Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality (Deputy Frances Fitzgerald): I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of […]

 57. Deputy Fiona O’Loughlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of asylum seekers in direct provision awaiting a decision on their right to refugee status; the number of persons who have been granted refugee status but are still living in direction provision centres; and if she will make a statement on the matter. Minister […]

56. Deputy Fiona O’Loughlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the latest data on the numbers of persons currently in direct provision for one year or less, one year to two years, two years to three years, three years to four years, four years to five years and more than five years; and the equivalent data […]

45. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to recent statements by Tusla that it is not adequately equipped to deal with the transfer of unaccompanied minors from the Calais “Jungle” camp, the steps currently being taken to ensure that her Department and child services agencies here such as Tusla will be readily equipped […]

43. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the provisions her Department is putting in place to deal with unaccompanied refugee minors coming here; the preparations her Department is making for additional unaccompanied minors; and the services available to these children who are coming here with significant levels of trauma. Minister for Children and […]

42. Deputy Maureen O’Sullivan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if, in view of the unfortunate record of treatment of some unaccompanied minors and young asylum seekers, she has satisfied herself that the care system for these most vulnerable young persons is appropriate and up to international best practice. Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (Deputy Katherine […]

25. Deputy Jan O’Sullivan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her department has been engaged in consideration of offering care to some of the unaccompanied minors who were removed from the camp at Calais recently; the arrangements that are under consideration for these children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. Deputy Joan […]