Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 5 July 2018
166. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the extent to which he remains satisfied with the quality and standard of accommodation available to refugees and asylum seekers through the direct provision system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30002/18]
View answerMy Department, through the Reception & Integration Agency (RIA), is responsible for the provision of accommodation and related services to protection applicants while they await a decision on their claim for international protection. The standard of accommodation provided to residents is regularly reviewed. The Government has invested in improving the standard of accommodation provided to residents in a number of key ways.
The McMahon report was published in June of 2015. This report forms the basis for ongoing improvements across the entirety of the system involving all Government Departments and Agencies.
The Department is implementing a large number of these commitments within two broad themes. The first of these was by way of reforming legislation with the commencement of the International Protection Act 2015 on 31 December 2016.
A key feature of this new legislation was the introduction of a new single application procedure which will significantly accelerate the protection determination process and by extension will reduce the length of time which applicants spend in State-provided accommodation.
Improvements to Accommodation
The second major theme of improvements is in the area of the delivery of services.
Following from the McMahon report and, in particular, since the publication of the Programme for a Partnership Government, a number of recommendations in relation to physical improvements to accommodation are being rolled out. The following are some examples:
- The introduction of full independent living at the Mosney Accommodation centre - each family is now able to acquire fresh food to their liking so they may prepare meals themselves. The new home cooking arrangements in Mosney went live on 23 January 2017.
- The full independent living model was subsequently rolled out in Ballyhaunis and Clonakilty in 2017 and in Athlone and Millstreet to date in 2018. The independent living model is scheduled to commence in Bridgewater House in Carrick-On-Suir, Montague Hotel in Emo and the Birchwood Accommodation Centre in Waterford City by the end of Q3 2018.
- Communal cooking facilities are being rolled out to other centres including the State-owned centres (Killarney, Tralee, Knocklisheen in Limerick and Kinsale Road in Cork) and St Patrick’s in Monaghan, Ocean View in Tramore and any other centres in which families are resident.
- A complete refurbishment consisting of triple glazed windows and doors and refurbished interiors in each accommodation unit at the Athlone Accommodation Centre.
- Improvements to a number of outdoor playgrounds and football pitches to provide for ‘all-weather’ facilities.
- Teenagers' rooms in centres to provide social areas for this age group.
Recommendations of the McMahon report that involve structural changes or improvements continue be implemented as quickly as possible, with due consideration of possible fire safety, building regulation and planning issues.
Development of Standards for Accommodation Centres
A Working Group comprising of members of the NGO sector and officials from the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and my Department has been developing a standards document which will see a high quality of accommodation services being available for persons in the protection process. A public consultation process on these standards will commence shortly.
Remit of Ombudsmen
Another key recommendation of the McMahon report was that the remit of the Ombudsman and the Ombudsman for Children should be extended to cover those who are living in State-provided accommodation. This has now been implemented and the remit for both offices was extended with effect from Monday 3 April 2017.
Inspections of Accommodation Centres
All centres are scheduled for inspection at least 3 times a year, twice by staff from the RIA and once by an independent inspection service. The inspections examine all rooms in the centre and assess the cleanliness and physical appearance of centres, the quality and variety of food options and health and safety issues and provide residents with the opportunity to report any issues directly to the inspector. These inspection reports are published on the RIA website.
As can be seen from the foregoing, significant improvements have either been implemented or are being implemented across all aspects of the system of supports for those in the protection process.
