Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 27 March 2013
255. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of women in direct provision who have reported incidents of domestic violence on a yearly basis between 2005 and 2012. [15722/13]
View answerThe Reception and Integration Agency (RIA), a functional unit of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department, is responsible for the accommodation of persons under the Government system of Direct Provision. While accommodation services are provided by RIA, other State supports are provided by the appropriate Government Department or agency, i.e., health services are provided through the HSE, social welfare supports through the Department of Social Protection and Education through the Department of Education & Skills, etc.
Residents in direct provision accommodation may, from time to time, present to centre management reporting incidents of domestic violence. Such reports would, as a matter of course be referred to RIA and onwards to the HSE social work team or An Garda Síochána if appropriate. Under the RIA's Child Protection policy, a referral to HSE social work would also be made where children are involved. While such information would be held on a resident's file within RIA, statistics on this basis are not compiled.
RIA is currently working with Cosc (the National Organisation for the prevention of domestic, sexual and gender based violence) and a number of non - governmental organisations including Akidwa and the Rape Crisis Centre, to develop a policy around incidences of domestic, sexual and gender based violence and harassment within its centres. In advance of the completion of that policy, RIA has created an information poster which will shortly be distributed to its centres. These posters will provide information on accessing professional help if they have suffered or are suffering from domestic, sexual or gender based violence or harassment. This poster will be available in five languages including English.
