Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 June 2020
393. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the details of the way in which local communities are consulted as part of the process of establishing a direct provision centre including the timelines involved and the types of consultation activities deployed. [9391/20]
View answerI can inform the Deputy that the sourcing of new accommodation centres for international protection applicants is done by way of either an Expression of Interest published in the national press and EU Journal by the International Protection Procurement Service (IPPS) of my Department, or a public procurement process, which is advertised on E-Tenders and the Official Journal of the European Union and is managed by the Office of Government Procurement on behalf of IPPS.
All proposed premises must be inspected and assessed as to their suitability. The criteria for assessment is based on quality of premises, general conformity with the recommendations of the 2015 McMahon Report, and the availability of services such as schools, general practitioners, post office etc. Once a premises is deemed suitable by the IPPPS, negotiations will begin with the proposed service provider.
During the assessment and prior to the conclusion of the negotiations, the relevant Local Authority is consulted to see if there are any legal or compliance issues in relation to the property.
Following the conclusion of negotiations and the signing of the contract between the service provider and my Department, engagement begins with local representatives and other key stakeholders. This includes the other Government Departments and organisations that provide key services and supports to residents, like the Departments of Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Education and Skills, Health, the HSE and Tusla.
While I can fully appreciate that community engagement as early as possible in the process is preferable, the Deputy will appreciate that this type of engagement is not possible prior to the commercially sensitive negotiations being concluded and the contract being signed with my Department. Until then, there is no guarantee that the negotiations will be successful or that a centre will actually open.
With recent new centres that we have opened like Ennis, Tullamore and Rosslare Harbour, my Department has prepared and circulated information to the local community, which includes information on the capacity of the centre, its facilities, the composition of residents (single, couples, small families etc.) and contact information for the centre. Where possible, prior to the arrival of residents, local representatives and members of the community are invited to visit so that they can see the centre's facilities for themselves. We also encourage the establishment of a Friends of the Centre group to promote integration opportunities between centre residents, the local community and voluntary groups.
The issue of how we can best engage with local communities prior to centres opening is also being examined by the Expert Group, led by Dr. Catherine Day, former Secretary General of the European Commission. This Expert Group was established by Minister Flanagan and I to examine best practice in other European States in the provision of services, including accommodation to international protection applicants. It is looking at longer term trends and solutions for the system. This work is advancing at pace and I look forward to its outcomes.
