Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 7 February 2024
432. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth how many audits of IPAS accommodation facilities have taken place during the period 1 January 2022 to 1 January 2024; to confirm the level of occupancy, and what measures are in place to safeguard public funds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5059/24]
View answerInternational Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) accommodation centres are currently subject to regular unannounced inspections both IPAS officials and by an independent inspectorate company. These inspections are generally undertaken, twice yearly by officials in IPAS and once yearly by the independent inspectorate company.
In 2022, a total of 152 inspections were carried out in each centre by both an independent inspections company and by officials of the IPAS. The third round of inspections were delayed due to the Department’s response to the Ukraine crisis. In 2023, a total of 105 inspections were conducted.
Inspections cover a wide range of issues including fire safety, appropriate signage and information for residents, the condition of communal areas and sleeping quarters, the quality of food provided and adherence to hygiene and other health and safety requirements. Any issues identified are notified to the contractor to be addressed immediately.
IPAS providers are contractually obliged to record the name and Temporary Residence Certificate reference number of each resident in the official register upon their arrival at the centre and thereafter, on a daily basis. Residents are recorded as ‘Present’, ‘Absent’ or ‘Bed held while in hospital’.
A copy of the register is submitted to the Department on a weekly basis which includes arrivals, departures, and available vacancies.
On the day of an inspection, a copy of the centre’s official register is requested. Inspectors check every contracted bedroom against the official register to determine if there are any discrepancies between occupancy and the official register. If an inspector determines that there are any discrepancies, the IPAS team responsible for bed management are immediately notified.
The payment of IPAS accommodation is based on contracted capacity rather than individual occupancy. The number of people who are resident in IPAS accommodation will vary day to day throughout the year as the number of daily arrivals increase on a cumulative basis.
The Department is conscious of the need to ensure quality in all accommodation contracted, while also providing shelter and safety urgently to those who need it. In considering offers, the Department takes into account a range of factors such as accommodation suitability, rates, capacity and amenities. Every effort is being made to activate suitable accommodation offers.
Providers issue an invoice to the Department at the beginning of each month for payment at the agreed rate as per contract.
All invoices must have a suitable breakdown of charges by rate(s), capacity and number of nights. The payment authorisation process is subject to several stages of review to ensure the correct totals are invoiced and subsequently paid by the Department’s Finance Unit.
