Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 17 November 2022
102. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will outline the requirements for Garda vetting and other training or qualifications for staff in IPAS-contracted properties. [56574/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraDeputy, firstly I would like to take this opportunity to reaffirm that every official in my Department is subject to Garda vetting and training on an ongoing basis. I would also like to reiterate that IPAS are fully compliant with vetting of staff working in IPAS accommodation centres.
The following training was delivered to Centre Managers in the past two years and will be scheduled again in the coming months:
- ‘Understanding Child Development through a Trauma Informed Lens’ by Barnardos
This was delivered to 292 Centre staff and was completed April 2021.
- ‘Refugee Mental Wellbeing Awareness Training’ by the IOM (International Organisation of Migration) was delivered to 82 Centre Managers from November 2021 to February 2022.
Both of the above training pieces will be delivered again in quarter 1 of 2023 and any centre managers who did not attend will be encouraged to do so.
Added to the above, the following training courses are currently ongoing.
1. The Suicide Prevention by Living in conjunction with the HSE, who deliver the training. Training was offered to staff in 65 Accommodation Centres of which 88 people have completed the training, 11 centres have yet to participate. Each centre is required to have at least one person trained in this subject.
2. Child Protection and Safeguarding training is ongoing. All IPAS accommodation centres are up to date in this training. All Emergency Centres were informed in writing 7 November 22 that all staff should complete Children First Tusla e-learning Programme. It is the Centre Manager’s responsibility to ensure all staff complete this module.
In addition to the above courses, further training for Accommodation Centre managers is being developed. This will training will be focused on an Overview of IPAS procedures. It will include the complaints procedures, Child Protection safeguarding, vulnerability referrals and an overview of the regulations governing the International Protection process.
I trust that this information can give you the necessary reassurance in regard to staff vetting and training in IPAS accommodation centres.
