Health services for protection applicants residing in RIA accommodation are mainstreamed. As such, protection applicants are linked with primary care, are entitled to a medical card while residing in RIA accommodation and have a waiver of prescription charges. Applicants access health services through the same referral pathways as Irish citizens including referral to disability services.
RIA work closely with the HSE to ensure that protection applicants are accommodated in locations where their medical needs can be met. RIA and the HSE work collaboratively to ensure that any special accommodation arrangements (i.e. ground floor accommodation, wheelchair accessible facilities etc.) are in place prior to dispersal where necessary.
While the HSE will collaborate with RIA regarding specific accommodation needs, the individual retains their right to medical confidentiality. As such the information provided to RIA will be related to the person's needs and not their medical condition.
For this reason RIA does not maintain statistics on the number of persons with a disability residing in direct provision accommodation.