Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 June 2020
348. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the details of asylum seekers who were sent to a direct provision centre (details supplied), in tabular form; the centres they moved from; the date they were moved to the centre; when they were tested for Covid-19; the result of the test; when they were isolated; and the location they were moved to from the centre. [12572/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraFor reasons of confidentiality, I am not in a position to provide all of the information that has been requested. Both my Department and the HSE are committed to respecting the medical confidentiality and right to privacy of all international protection applicants including those relocated to the centre referred to by the Deputy. The protection of the identity of all international protection applicants is required under Section 26 of the International Protection Act 2015.
I can say, that the transfers of residents to that centre commenced on 18 March 2020 and concluded on 27 March. A total of 100 people were transferred in total, all of whom were transferred from temporary accommodation in Dublin and Leitrim. The vast majority of the transfers took place on 18 and 19 March, when 85 people were transferred to the centre.
In terms of the logistics, all transport was provided by a coach company under contract to the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) of my Department. All transfers were made using vehicles much larger than would normally be required given the numbers moving in each journey. This was to facilitate social distancing while travelling.
In line with our agreed policy with the HSE, any resident with a positive COVID-19 result was transferred to an offsite self-isolation facility where they are cared for until such time as the HSE considers that they can safely return to their centre or another location.
There are currently 63 residents onsite in the centre including nine children.
