Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 June 2020
347. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason deaths in direct provision centres stopped being notified in 2017; if his Department is notified of such deaths; if so, if deaths have occurred since then; if so, the number and location of each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10931/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra355. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of deaths in direct provision and emergency accommodation centres in each of the years 2015 to 2019 and to date in 2020, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11114/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra365. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of deaths in direct provision and emergency accommodation centres in each of the years 2015 to 2019 and to date in 2020, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11170/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra381. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons who live in direct provision centres that have died each year over the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11301/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra382. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will resume annual reporting on the number of asylum seekers who die while their applications are being processed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11302/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 347, 355, 365, 381 and 382 together.
The International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) of my Department developed a Critical Incident Policy last year. The Policy includes guidelines for IPAS staff and accommodation centre managers and staff in the event of the death of a resident. The Policy includes a protocol for record keeping whereby IPAS maintain a record of all critical incidents. The Policy was issued on 23 November 2019.
I can inform the Deputy that, sadly, four deaths have been notified to IPAS since the introduction of its Critical Incident Policy in November 2019. One death occurred in 2019 and a further three have occurred in 2020.
Where a person dies while they are being provided with accommodation by my Department, we 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 ensure that any other residents affected by the death are assisted in accessing services that can support them.
All records of deaths in Ireland are held in the General Register Office, which is the central civil repository for records relating to Births, Marriages and Deaths in Ireland and my Department does not have an official role in the collation of statistics on deaths of International Protection applicants. In particular, it should be noted that the IPAS, and the Reception and Integration Agency before it, may have not always be informed of a death, for example if the death occurs in a hospital or other setting.
All deaths and serious incidents that occur within accommodation centres provided by my Department are referred to the Gardaí as a matter of course and the Gardaí in turn refer all deaths to the local Coroner’s office. As is the case with all Gardaí/Coroner matters, IPAS is not privy to information pertaining to individual investigations carried out under their remit. IPAS provides information to An Garda Síochána and the Coroner’s Office as and when requested.
