Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 November 2016
61. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of the implementation of the recommendations in the 2015 McMahon report on direct provision that come under the remit of his Department, in tabular form; the estimated cost of implementing each relevant recommendation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35825/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince its publication in June 2015, the Report of the Working Group on the Protection Process has been under proactive consideration; in the first instance by the Cabinet Committee on Social Policy and Public Service Reform and thereafter by the Department of Justice and Equality and other relevant Government Departments and Agencies, including my Department.
The report contains 173 recommendations of which 3 specific recommendations come under the remit of my Department. These recommendations refer to the administration of the exceptional needs payment (ENP) scheme, in terms of consistency throughout the country and of discretion when supporting LGBT people, and to the provision of on-site services by the Community Welfare Service (CWS) to residents in direct provision.
I have provided the Deputy with a tabular statement containing further details of these recommendations and the status of their implementation.
The Department continues to keep the ENP scheme under review to ensure consistency in the administration of the scheme generally and has issued specific guidance to assist staff administering payments to persons in the direct provision system.
My Department also keeps the operation of all its services, including the CWS, under review in the context of available resources. I can assure the Deputy that the necessary ongoing financial supports are being provided to persons in the Direct Provision system, including the payment of Direct Provision Allowance, ENPs and the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance.
Arrangements are in place for persons seeking support from the CWS and on-site visits to Direct Provision centres can be arranged as necessary, for example, in the case of illness. The cost of operating this service is included in the general staffing costs of my Department.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Tabular Statement
|
Working Group Recommendation and Current Status |
|
The Department of Social Protection should reinstate on-site Community Welfare Service to residents in Direct Provision accommodation centres. Current Position: The Department of Social Protection (DSP) is providing the necessary ongoing income supports to persons in the asylum process and continues to examine the operation of all its services, including the Community Welfare Service (CWS) in the context of customer needs and available resources. Arrangements are in place for persons seeking support from the CWS, generally available in Intreo centres, and on-site visits to Direct Provision centres can be arranged as necessary, for example, in the case of illness. |
|
The Department of Social Protection should continue to make every effort to ensure that Designated Persons in the Community Welfare Service strive towards consistency when administering the Exceptional Needs Payment Scheme in relation to persons in the system throughout the country. Recommends that Designated Persons in the Community Welfare Service should exercise discretion in administering the Exceptional Needs Payment scheme to support LGBT people in the system to access appropriate supports and services. Current Position: DSP keeps the exceptional needs payment scheme under continuous review to ensure consistency in the administration of the scheme generally. Guidance issued to staff in the Community Welfare Service in October 2015 around supports for all persons in Direct Provision centres. |
