Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 November 2023
421. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the current position on the requirement on services providing accommodation to beneficiaries of temporary protection for their staff to be Garda vetted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49488/23]
View answerIreland has responded well to the largest displacement of people on the European continent since the Second World War. Since February 2022, as part of the Whole of Government response the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has worked extensively to support approximately 100,000 people who have sought temporary protection in Ireland in fleeing the war in Ukraine, over 80% of whom have sought State supported accommodation.
Overseeing provision of accommodation on this scale during this timeframe for all those who require it remains immensely challenging. Due to the urgent need to source accommodation, the Department has contracted in excess of 59,000 beds to accommodate Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) in more than 980 mainly commercial settings including hotels, guesthouses, B&Bs, hostels, commercial self-catering accommodation and certain other repurposed settings.
Garda Vetting of employees is a matter for employers in these commercial settings to manage for their direct employees. The Department does not itself employ staff in accommodation settings for Ukraine. It is incumbent on accommodation providers who are providing accommodation under contract to the Department to inform themselves of their legal obligations in this regard, and take appropriate steps. Each contractor is responsible for their Child Safeguarding policy and for assessing whether they have an obligation under the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012 to vet their staff.
My Department makes specific reference to legal, industry requirements and best practices in contracts agreed with providers, and it is incumbent on providers to adhere to them. Under their contracts, service providers are obliged to provide services in accordance with good industry practice and comply with all applicable laws including but not limited to all obligations in the field of health and safety, environmental, social, child protection, and labour law. The vast majority of children seeking shelter in Ireland remain in the care of their parents / guardians while in State-funded and private accommodation. Any unaccompanied children are assisted by Tusla in this regard.
