When an accommodation centre is opened, a designated member of IPAS is responsible for informing centre management of its mandatory obligation to ensure that all staff who are working with children must complete the Children First e-learning module. The designated member ensures that centre managers are categorised as designated liaison persons under Children First and notifies them that they are required to make mandatory reports of concerns relating to children resident in the centre.
A designated team in IPAS is responsible for notifying the centre manager that it is mandatory for anyone who is undertaking relevant work in an accommodation centre to be Garda vetted, regardless of whether this is on a permanent, temporary, full-time or part-time basis. Garda vetting is a requirement for any staff who undertake work that is a necessary and regular part of consists of having access to or contact with children.
The designated member monitors the centre’s adherence with requirements of the Tusla child safeguarding statement compliance unit. Where centres have not submitted their child safeguarding statement to the compliance unit, they are requested by IPAS to submit the statement letter as soon as practicable. IPAS continues to engage with Tusla in respect of its report Child Safeguarding Statement Sector Compliance Review: International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS), and to promote and improve child safeguarding practices in all accommodation settings.
With respect to BOTPs, my Department does not always contract entire facilities for use for temporary accommodation in the same manner as is undertaken accommodation for international protection applicants. Many still operate as commercial hospitality settings. My Department refers to industry requirements and best practices in contracts agreed with providers, and it is intended that they adhere to them.
My Department does not employ staff in accommodation settings for Ukrainians and each contractor is responsible for their child safeguarding policy and consequently their Garda vetting policy.