Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

A commitment was made in the programme for Government to replace the current system of accommodation for international protection applicants with a new model based on a not-for-profit approach. As the Deputy knows, I published a White Paper on Ending Direct Provision in February last year. This White Paper outlines the new model of accommodation, particularly the supports that will be offered to applicants for international protection. It was the result of an extensive engagement process across Government and State agencies and also with former residents of direct provision centres and NGOs active in that sector.

The Government intends for HIQA to monitor international protection accommodation service, IPAS, centres against national standards as part of transitional arrangements for moving to the new model. It is important that compliance with the national standards should be measured through on-site assessment. Independent monitoring is a vital tool for the adequate provision of accommodation supports. This will enable the Government to evaluate the current state of play critically and make informed improvements as needed. HIQA's experience and expertise in the area of inspections is extensive, which is why we chose it.

Ahead of commencing inspections of all permanent centres, HIQA will conduct a series of pilot inspections. It is envisaged that the first of these pilot inspections will take place before the end of this year. That will begin the process of HIQA building up its own expertise regarding how the inspection of international protection accommodation centres will begin. The full roll-out of the programme will start early next year.

We have engaged extensively with HIQA over the last years. It wants an additional budget and additional staff to undertake this additional role. That has been secured. We have also worked with the Office of the Attorney General to ensure that there is a clear legal basis for these inspections to take place. In the meantime, as the Deputy knows, centres continue to be inspected three times each year, twice by officials from my Department and at least once by QTS, an independent inspection company.

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