Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 July 2022
1361. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of independent inspections that have been undertaken by the Health Information and Quality Authority of direct provision centres in 2021 and to date in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40608/22]
View answerMy Department is currently working with the Health Information Quality Authority (HIQA) to implement the commitment for HIQA to monitor International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) centres against National Standards adopted in 2019 and in effect since the beginning of 2021.
Planning is well advanced on this process. My Department is currently engaging with HIQA on resources and staffing required by HIQA to undertake its monitoring role. In parallel with this process, detailed work is being undertaken by my Department, in consultation with Office of the Attorney General, to provide the necessary legal basis for HIQA's monitoring role. The Reception Conditions Directive 2013/33/EU is being considered in this process. The aim is that this will be done by means of regulation and that it would be published in the next Dail session.
HIQA's role will apply to all of IPAS's permanent centres. It will not apply to emergency centres as they are subject to separate contractual arrangements.
HIQA is progressing with preparations for commencement of this function. Part of the preparations include the development of the monitoring and inspection methodology. An Expert Advisory Group (EAG) has been established to inform this process and provide expert advice and feedback. This group comprises members from a range of different stakeholder organisations, service providers and service use, including the Head of IPAS and the Head of International Protection Accommodation Policy in the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. The first meeting of the EAG was 25 May 2022 and the second meeting was 29 June 2022, the next one is 27 July 2022.
IPAS accommodation centres are currently subject to regular unannounced inspections both by my officials in the International Protection Accommodation Service and by an independent inspectorate company (QTS Limited).
