Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 November 2022
489. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of HIQA inspections that have taken place at emergency accommodation facilities, family hubs, centres, hotels and guesthouses accommodating persons seeking international protection in the years 2020 and 2021, and to date in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57862/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is currently working with the Health Information Quality Authority (HIQA) to implement the commitment for HIQA to monitor International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) centres against national standards adopted in 2019 and in effect since the beginning of 2021.
Planning is well advanced on this process. Detailed work is being undertaken by my Department, in consultation with the Office of the Attorney General, to provide the necessary legal basis for HIQA's monitoring role. As part of the development of the inspection process, HIQA established an advisory group comprising members from my Department and other stakeholder organisations. My Department holds monthly meetings with HIQA to advance this project.
Ahead of commencing inspections of all permanent centres, HIQA will conduct a series of pilot inspections. It is envisaged that these pilot inspections will take place before the end of the year.
IPAS accommodation centres are currently subject to regular unannounced inspections both by Department officials and by an independent inspectorate company. In 2020, 92 inspections of IPAS centres were carried out. In 2021, 139 inspections were carried out of IPAS centres. In 2022 to date, 86 inspections have been carried out. It is not possible to separate these out by centre type.
