Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 January 2024
469. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to outline the purpose of inspections of accommodation centres provided pursuant to the European Communities (Reception Conditions) Regulations 2018 and centres accommodating beneficiaries of temporary protection, respectively. [3862/24]
View answerBeneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs)
I am advised by my officials that as part of the contractual arrangements with providers of accommodation for BOTPs, my Department sets out a number of requirements which providers must meet in terms of service provision, including delivery of key services, and compliance with all obligations in terms of health and safety, child protection, and other matters.
The purpose of inspections is to ensure that the accommodation provider is providing an accommodation service as contracted. This can include, for example, verifying that the property is commercial; it has the number of bedrooms agreed in the contract; meals are provided in full board accommodation; and kitchen and laundry facilities are available in self-catering accommodation. Inspections can be either ad hoc, following a complaint or query, or scheduled as part of a planned approach to reviewing contracted accommodation. Where appropriate, the inspection is unannounced.
The inspector will provide a report and any confirmed breaches of requirements are followed up with the accommodation providers. Failure to address contractual breaches may impact on payments to a provider or, in severe cases, could lead to the termination of contracts and relocation of BOTPs.
My Department has recently gone out to the market to procure inspection services under two lots, one for BOTP accommodation and the other for IP accommodation. It is anticipated that the contracts will be in place shortly.
International Protection (IP)
International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) has taken steps to support adherence to the National Standards through its contract arrangements with permanent accommodation centres.
These National Standards were developed to meet minimum standards set out in the EASO Guidance on Reception Conditions, the Recast Reception Conditions Directive and the European Communities (Reception Conditions) Regulations. The National Standards address a range of issues relating to accommodation; food and catering; individual, community and family life; health and wellbeing; governance; and meeting the special reception needs of applicants seeking international protection. Compliance with the National Standards is measured through on-site assessment.
I am advised by my officials that as part of our contractual arrangements with accommodation providers we set out a number of requirements which providers must meet in terms of service provision. This includes the delivery of key services such as laundry, meals (including cultural/dietary requirements) in serviced accommodation and cooking facilities in self-catering accommodation, and compliance with all obligations in terms of health and safety and child protection. Any alleged breaches of the foregoing are investigated by my Department.
It is the Government's intention that the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) will monitor accommodation offered to people in the protection process for adherence to the National Standards, which were adopted by Government and published in 2019, and came into effect in 2021.
This agreement is time limited to the end of 2024, though it may be extended by agreement of my Department and the Minister for Health.
HIQA's role will apply to all ‘permanent’ centres contracted by the IPAS. ‘Emergency’ centres are subject to separate contractual arrangements. All IPAS accommodation centres are already subject to regular unannounced inspections, both by my officials in IPAS and by an independent inspectorate company.
