Pa Daly
Question:111. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps taken to implement the expert advisory group report on direct provision. [40186/20]
View answerThursday, 3 December 2020
Questions (111)
Written answers
The Programme for Government contains a commitment to ending the Direct Provision system and replacing it with a new International Protection accommodation policy, centred on a not-for-profit approach. The Government has also committed to the development of a White Paper which will set out how this new system will be structured and the steps to achieving it.
My Department is currently developing the White Paper. The recommendations of the Advisory Group will inform the White Paper and these are being carefully examined at the moment. Consultations have also taken place with the Ombudsman, the Ombudsman for Children, the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, and the City and County Managers' Association.
In addition, representatives of accommodation centre residents and civil society organisations with refugee policy/practice expertise and housing policy/practice expertise (including Approved Housing Bodies) have been consulted.
In tandem with developing the White Paper my Department is in discussions with the HSE to enable formal vulnerability assessments for international protection applicants by the end of the year. This will ensure that a coherent process is in place for both the health and non-health aspects required in formalised assessments. My Department is also engaged with HIQA with regard to monitoring the implementation of national standards for IPAS Accommodation Centres that were published in 2019. These standards will come into effect in January 2021.
The Deputy will be aware that the Minister for Justice has responsibility of the processing of international protection applications and has established a programme board to oversee the process of implementing recommendations from the Advisory Group Report.