I propose to take Questions Nos. 263 and 264 together.
My Department is engaged with HIQA about undertaking the role of monitoring the services provided to those accommodated in our centres against National Standards that were published in 2019. The National Standards meet the requirements of the EU (recast) Reception Conditions Directive (Directive 2013/33/EU) which we voluntarily opted into in June 2018.
We hope to begin this monitoring by HIQA in the coming months. A strong and transparent monitoring capacity is crucial to ensure that quality of service is maintained during the significant transformation process that will occur over the coming years.
Accommodation centres are currently subject to regular unannounced inspections by both my officials in the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) and an independent inspectorate company (QTS Limited).
The implementation of the National Standards, combined with ongoing improvements such as the roll-out of cooking facilities and independent living through the most recent procurement process, demonstrate the continual improvements being made to the accommodation provided to persons seeking international protection in Ireland. All properties selected under the recent tender process were required to be able to implement the National Standards for accommodation centres. This requirement applies to the provision of new centres and to any renewal of a contract with a current provider.
The requirement for inspection of dedicated accommodation centres is also a contractual obligation for the contractors. These inspections are generally undertaken, twice yearly by my officials in IPAS and once yearly by QTS Limited. Inspections cover a wide range of issues including the quality of the food quality, fire safety, appropriate signage and information for residents, the condition of communal areas and sleeping quarters and adherence to hygiene and other health and safety measures. Completed inspections are published on www.ria.gov.ie.
The current inspection programme was severely compromised by the COVID -19 pandemic. All inspections were suspended temporarily during the first phase of COVID-19 restrictions but they recommenced on 14 September 2020 with all necessary safeguards in place. My Department was able to ensure that all centres, with the exception of the new centre in Dominick Street in Galway which was not fully occupied until late 2020, were inspected at least once by IPAS officials with 21 centres being inspected twice by IPAS officials. Furthermore QTS carried out an additional 29 inspections in 2020. This gives a combined total of 94 inspections carried out in 2020.
There are currently 45 designated accommodation centres that come under the inspections programme including the National Reception Centre in Balseskin, Co. Dublin.
The following revised reply was received on 13 May 2021.
The current inspection programme was severely compromised by the COVID -19 pandemic. All inspections were suspended temporarily during the first phase of COVID-19 restrictions but they recommenced on 14 September 2020 with all necessary safeguards in place. My Department was able to ensure that all centres, with the exception of the new centre in Dominick Street in Galway which was not fully occupied until late 2020, were inspected at least once by IPAS officials with 21 centres being inspected twice by IPAS officials. Furthermore QTS carried out an additional 27 inspections in 2020. This gives a combined total of 92 inspections carried out in 2020.
