Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

An issue at the core of the system - I wonder whether the Ombudsman has thought about or is able to examine it - is the privatised nature of delivering the system. Several companies make millions out of running direct provision centres. As far as I am aware, only seven centres are run by statutory bodies; the rest have all been privatised and are run by private companies which include Aramack, Barlow, East Coast Catering and Mosney. To say the least, they make a fortune out of them, which makes it in their interests to have cutbacks such as closing kitchens and turning off services at certain times in order that they can maximise profits. It would also be in their interests not to overspend on staffing and in having high standards. Perhaps if the system was run instead by the local authorities, the HSE, the Department of Education and Skills or the Department of Justice and Equality, it would mitigate the drive to make a profit and deliver a better system. Does Mr. Tyndall have a role in commenting on this issue or bringing it forward? It is a massive problem.