Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 October 2022
153. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the actions that he is undertaking to reduce the death rate among asylum seekers within the Internal Protection Accommodation Service. [52209/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can assure the Deputy that the health and wellbeing of all who avail of accommodation provided by my Department remains the highest priority to both myself and my officials.
I wish to inform the Deputy that the death rates for people living in International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) accommodation are not in any way abnormal and are rather in line with those of the general population. I would note that, very thankfully, no IPAS resident died of Covid during the Covid-19 pandemic to date, which is down to the vigilance and care taken by residents and the extraordinary measures taken by IPAS to protect residents during the pandemic. Statistics in relation to deaths, including cause of death where this is known, are published on a biannual basis in line with the IPAS policy on reporting of deaths, and are available to view at www.gov.ie/en/publication/8224f-statistics-on-deaths-of-international-protection-accommodation-service-residents.
The health needs of an International Protection applicant are a matter for the HSE in the first instance. Healthcare is mainstreamed for those in IPAS accommodation, with International Protection applicants entitled to a medical card and Primary Care, GP care and emergency services in the same manner of an Irish national.
I trust this information clarifies the matter Deputy.
