Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees
Thursday, 2 June 2022
Public Accounts Committee
2020 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
9:30 am
Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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What I am hearing on the ground is concerning. I am curious about the process that the Department went through in assessing not only value for money, but also the range of food that was going to be provided to people who had come here in traumatic circumstances. In this regard, what consideration was given to issues of diet, culture, religion, how long a person might be in the accommodation, whether the food was fresh or frozen and whether microwaves would need to be purchased to reheat frozen food? These are sensitive places and there is an obligation to look after people particularly well. I am curious about the process the Department used to assess how this or any company was going to provide that care.