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Direct Provision System

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 2 June 2021

Wednesday, 2 June 2021

Questions (183)

Violet-Anne Wynne

Question:

183. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the residents of a centre (details supplied) have been moved to hotels to self-isolate after a widespread Covid-19 outbreak there; the measures that will be taken to prevent a similar outbreak in the future considering the communal living and the lack of social distancing possible in congregated settings such as direct provision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30182/21]

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Written answers

My Department is guided by the advice of Public Health officials in each Community Health Organisation area as regards how cases of COVID-19 at our accommodation centres in each region are to be managed, including decisions on when and where testing and off-site isolation is deemed necessary. Where off-site isolation is deemed necessary, a resident is moved to the off-site facility and supported while there.

All centres are following the guidelines that were published by the HSE’s Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC). These are publicly available at its website - www.hpsc.ie.

That guidance exists precisely because it is recognised that congregated settings such as IPAS (International Protection Accommodation Service) accommodation centres present specific challenges in this pandemic.

A wide range of measures have been put in place across the accommodation network to address any COVID-19 related issues should they arise.? These measures were implemented in collaboration with the HSE and are informed by regional public health officials and infection control teams from the HSE. ?  

The measures, which are kept under regular review by a joint HSE/DCEDIY monitoring group, include:

- Provision for self-isolation facilities in centres and offsite self-isolation at HSE and IPAS isolation facilities

- Increased capacity to support physical and  social distancing

- Enhanced cleaning regimes and provision of PPE

- Regular communications and information, translated into several languages, on public health advice to residents and centre managers

- Provision of a free, confidential and independent support line for residents operated by the Jesuit Refugee Service

- Cocooning of all medically vulnerable and over 65 residents  

The most recent Covid-19 related guidelines for IPAS Accommodation Centres were communicated to all residents on 18 May 2021. This document replaces the previous IPAS 'Living with COVID' plan. The new guidelines explain the restrictions placed on certain accommodation centres where an outbreak may have ben identified by the public health authorities.

My officials in IPAS will continue to work closely with the HSE and public health authorities to ensure that guidance and measures in place at all centres are sufficient in light of changing conditions.

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