Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 March 2017
115. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the methodology used for awarding points to persons in a location (details supplied) to purchase food on the new on-site supermarket; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13075/17]
View answer116. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the amount a point used at the new on-site supermarket in a location (details supplied) equates to in euro; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13076/17]
View answer117. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the person who sets the price for the items available at the new on-site supermarket at a location (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13077/17]
View answer118. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the independent review mechanisms and oversight in operation to monitor the prices set by the new on-site supermarket at a location (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13078/17]
View answer119. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the reason persons cannot be given a food allowance to buy their items in a supermarket of their choice instead of using a points system which only allows them to purchase items from the on-site supermarket at a location (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13079/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 115 to 119, inclusive, together.
Following publication of the Programme for a Partnership Government, which outlined the Government's commitment to improving the accommodation environment for protection applicants, in particular for children and families, the Reception and Integration Agency of my Department began the process of examining ways in which this commitment could be delivered upon.
The McMahon Report 'Working Group on Improvements to the Protection Process, including Direct Provision and Supports to Asylum Seekers' also recognised the value of home cooking for families in the protection process.
The system currently in place in Mosney is the culmination of a lengthy analysis process by staff in the Reception & Integration Agency (RIA) and by the management team at the centre. This involved a number of residents volunteering to participate in live shopping expeditions, an examination of the household shopping basket for families and single persons, an examination of responses to questionnaires completed by all residents on the range and type of foodstuffs they would like to be made available and an analysis of the findings of the Safe Food Report 'What is the cost of a healthy food basket in the Republic of Ireland in 2016?'.
This analysis led to the allocation of a weekly number of points to each adult and child resident in the centre. These points are then used to obtain fresh food in the Food Hall. As a result, parents and single persons are now able to cook food in their own accommodation for their own families. The Food Hall is open six days a week and stock is replenished as required. Ethnically appropriate foods and spices are also available. Non-standard items can be ordered in and made available the following day provided such items can be sourced from traceable suppliers.
The successful introduction and implementation of this new system has been welcomed by residents and staff alike and has had a very positive impact on the atmosphere right through the centre. Residents are free to cook what they want and when they want. The introduction of the system addresses one of the key recommendations of the McMahon report in that children will now see their parents cook a meal for their family. This pilot project has been a great success and it is intended that variations of the scheme will be rolled out to other centres throughout the country.
The system is kept under constant review by both the management in the accommodation centre and by RIA staff. The points system in use does not have any monetary equivalent and the points cannot be used in any other commercial outlet. The Deputy may be aware that a recent EU decision indicated that protection applicants throughout the Union should have their needs provided for under a benefit in kind system such as this points system, and this pilot project has more than fulfilled the expectations of the McMahon report recommendations in respect of home cooking for residents. The Government has no plans to introduce a change in the weekly allowance paid to protection applicants living in accommodation centres provided by the State.
