Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin
Question:369. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of child protection teams in direct provision centres; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28293/14]
View answerTuesday, 1 July 2014
Questions (369, 408, 436)
Róisín Shortall
Question:408. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if her attention has been drawn to the serious child protection concerns which have arisen in direct provision centres; and the steps that are being taken to address these concerns. [28113/14]
View answer
Maureen O'Sullivan
Question:436. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the supports that will be made available to the 1,791 children currently in direct provision in view of the Children First Bill 2014 being implemented in the foreseeable future; if she will ensure that the current health and welfare concerns in direct provision do not escalate to the level experienced in previous institutions such as the mother and baby homes or Magdalen laundries; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27895/14]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 369, 408 and 436 together.
The Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) of my Department is responsible for the accommodation and protection of applicants in accordance with the Government policy of direct provision and dispersal.
As at 8 June 2014, there were 4,353 persons availing of direct provision accommodation in 34 centres under contract to the Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) of my Department. Approximately 38% of these residents are children under the age of 18.
Parents who live in direct provision centres have the primary responsibility for the care and welfare of their children who reside with them. The safety of all residents – especially children – is at the forefront of RIA’s objectives. RIA affords the highest priority to the safeguarding and protection of children. RIA is, and will always be, compliant with all legislative requirements in this area. RIA has a fully staffed child and family service unit, the head of which is seconded from the HSE and whose role is to manage, deliver, coordinate, monitor and plan all matters relating to child and family services for all residents in the direct provision system. The unit also acts as a conduit between RIA and Child and Family Agency (Tusla), the latter having statutory functions in this area.
RIA's Child Protection and Welfare Policy is based on the Department of Children and Youth Affairs' “Children First- National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children”. This guidance document was developed to assist people in identifying and reporting child abuse and welfare concerns. The protection and welfare policy emphasises that the needs of children and families must be central to child care and child protection and welfare. RIA's policy has been reviewed and updated and now contains a practice document to make it more user friendly. That draft document is now with Tusla for final feedback and it is anticipated that it will be published by the end of August, 2014 on RIA’s website www.ria.gov.ie.
In relation to the question of "child protection teams" it is important to understand that the existing and draft policy requires, inter alia, that each accommodation centre has a designated Child Protection Liaison Person who has undertaken Children First – Keeping Safe Training. When a child protection or welfare incident arises in a RIA centre it is the function of that Liaison Person to contact the local Social Work Team to inform it of his or her concern and to liaise with the RIA Child and Family Services Unit. RIA's Child Protection and Welfare Policy complements other policies and procedures in place, viz:
- Garda Vetting Policy. All staff in centres under contract to RIA are Garda vetted.
- Complaints Policy. Complaints by centre residents are dealt with in accordance with the procedures outlined in RIA's Accommodation Centre Services, Rules and Procedures (House Rules). A copy of which is provided to all residents and sets out, inter alia, the obligations placed both on the centre manager and the resident.
- RIA Policy and Practice Document on safeguarding RIA residents against Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence & Harassment
- RIA Code of Practice for Persons Working in Accommodation Centres and RIA Staff
- National Policy agreed between HSE and RIA in relation to reuniting children with adults
- Policy on Accommodation of Aged Out Minors in RIA Accommodation Centres.