Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 5 May 2021
441. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason the International Protection Accommodation Service pre-Covid-19, failed to meet its own benchmark of three inspections per direct provision centre per year and did not inspect emergency accommodation centres in which children were residing at all; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23049/21]
View answerMy Department aims to inspect all accommodation centres (including the National Reception Centre at Balseskin) three times each year, with two of the inspections being carried out by officials of the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) and the third being undertaken by an independent inspection company (QTS Limited). Regrettably, it has not always been possible to meet this target, due to capacity issues and, most recently, due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
A total of 96 inspections were carried out in 2018, with 23 centres being inspected three times and 14 being inspected less than three times. 103 inspections were carried out in 2019, with 25 of the 39 centres that were open during the course of that year being inspected at least three times. With the exception of a new centre that opened in Dominick Street in Galway, which was not fully occupied until late 2020, all accommodation centres were inspected at least once in 2020; 24 were inspected twice; and twelve were inspected three times. This gives a total of 92 inspections carried out in 2020. In a written answer to Deputy Catherine Connolly on 21 January 2021, this figure was incorrectly given as 94.
While emergency accommodation is not subject to formal inspections, IPAS officials are in regular contact with residents through clinics, which are now conducted online. Residents can make use of the IPAS complaints mechanism and can also raise issues through the confidential telephone support service which the Jesuit Refugee Service provides on behalf of the Department. In addition, all residents can raise matters of concern with both the Office of the Ombudsman and the Office of the Ombudsman for Children. Where issues are raised by or on behalf of residents, IPAS will address the matter with the accommodation provider and will visit the premises as required to ensure that any issues are satisfactorily resolved.
