Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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I have not had a chance to go through that report in detail. It was sent to me yesterday and I received it this morning. I welcome the report and I welcome the engagement of academics and NGOs in continuing to highlight what we all know is the absolute unsuitability of direct provision and the need to move to a new system. I look forward to engaging with them further. The fact that they are putting a spotlight on the specific issue of children is really important. This follows on from work that was done by the special rapporteur for children in his report this year, and the very detailed report by the Ombudsman for Children on the impact of direct provision on children.

The report sets out a number of issues, some of which are related to the particular problems of emergency accommodation, which the Deputy highlighted in her questions. We absolutely, in the short term, need to move away from the use of emergency accommodation. Nobody thinks that is acceptable even as a medium-term solution.

The reason the Department increased the use of emergency accommodation over the past year was due to the significant increase in the number of people seeking international protection in 2018 and especially in 2019. Obviously, the circumstances this year are different.

The Department has changed the way in which it now seeks to tender for non-emergency direct provision accommodation, which are the longer-term direct provision centres. We are hoping to see the benefits of that. The committee may be aware that we have identified a new direct provision centre, opened in Galway some months ago, which is based on own-door accommodation that we now see as the standard for direct provision in the medium term.

One of the issues highlighted by the academics in the NUIG report is Tusla's involvement with children in direct provision. I am currently undertaking the strategy for Tusla for next year. The Department and I prepare jointly a strategy for Tusla's priorities for each year. I specifically asked that they look at the particular issue of Tusla's engagement with children in direct provision. Tusla would already have significant engagement with children who have gone through the Irish refugee protection programme or those children who have arrived at our ports as unaccompanied minors. I have asked that Tusla look at its responsibilities with regard to children in direct provision.

The education issue is absolutely fundamental and we are working on it in the context of the White Paper. I was at a senior EU officials group meeting today about the White Paper, including the issue of education, and especially primary and second level education and ensuring that children have access to schools.

The Dr. Catherine Day report said that schools need to be resourced for the specific needs of children who are in direct provision. One of the Deputies in this committee has experience, in a former profession, of teaching children who were in direct provision. Schools need to be assisted because additional supports are needed. We have identified that.

I will commit to engaging further in my Department on the quality of food in emergency accommodation. With regard to the differences in the regulations between direct provision and emergency accommodation, the regulations that come into effect in January 2021 and which we will be asking HIQA to monitor do not apply to emergency accommodation. It is another indiction of why we need to move away from the use of emergency accommodation. As far as I understand, my officials can still inspect emergency accommodation locations. If there are issues, our officials can also undertake unannounced inspections as well as the programme of announced inspections. I hope this addresses the Deputy's questions.