I propose to take Questions Nos. 65, 377, 378, 388, 389 and 408 together.
I am aware of a report in the Irish Examiner on 29 June 2021 which provides the details of four persons alleged to have been accommodated by the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) of my Department.
Firstly, it is important to point out that it is an offence under Section 26 of the International Protection Act, 2015 to publish any information that may be lead to the identification of a person as a protection applicant without their consent. This provision does not exclude former applicants including applicants who pass away while their application is under consideration. This is particularly important to note given that a deceased applicant’s family could potentially be in danger in their home country were such information to be published.
Accordingly I am unable to comment on any individual cases named in the report other than to note that such commentary on individual deaths may be in breach of the provisions of the International Protection Act 2015.
In the event of the death of a resident at an IPAS accommodation centre, a critical incident policy is in place, to provide guidelines for staff in the IPAS and accommodation centre managers and staff. IPAS officials work closely with the centre manager to assist the person’s next of kin, if known, in accessing the supports provided by the State, and to offer supports, including counselling, to any residents or centre staff affected by the death. Where children are involved, the family is linked with Tusla to provide relevant supports. Assistance with funeral costs is also available through the Department for Social Protection subject to a means test.
Under the Critical Incident Policy, any death or very serious incident that occurs within IPAS accommodation centres provided by the Department is referred to the Gardaí as a matter of course and, where appropriate, the Gardaí will in turn refer those deaths to the local Coroner’s office. Where cause of death has not already been certified by a qualified medical practitioner, investigations and inquests into the cause of a death are matters for those authorities.? Responsibility for the formal registration and recording of all deaths in the State, including information on cause of death where known, rests with the General Register Office in the Department of Social Protection.
I can also advise that my Department has developed a new policy on the collation and provision of statistics on our accommodation centres. The policy, which came into effect on 1 June 2021, will be published on a new IPAS website due to launch in coming days. The policy covers procedures to be followed with regard to notification of a death to IPAS and other relevant authorities, collation of statistics, and publication of information. Alongside the policy, the Department will also be publishing statistical information on resident deaths going back to the earliest recorded death of a resident. These statistics, which will include a breakdown by cause of death where known, has been collated with the assistance of the General Register Office.