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

I thank all the Deputies for their considered input into this discussion. I know all the Deputies who have spoken tonight have engaged with me on individual issues relating to international protection nationally and in their own constituencies as well and I always appreciate their engagement and support, particularly the support they give to international protection families within their own areas. I will revert to Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan about the issue he raised. He raised that issue with me earlier today, so I will come back to him on that.

On the wider issue of child protection in IPAS centres, IPAS requires all centres, be they permanent or emergency centres, to comply with the requirements of Children First legislation. IPAS provides child protection briefings to all centres. The current round of briefings is focused on the emergency centres. The briefings are being delivered by the IPAS child safeguarding lead and IPAS tracks the completion of child safeguarding statements and provides guidance to centres in terms of completing these safeguarding statements. IPAS has engaged with the child safeguarding statement compliance unit in Tusla and is mindful of the findings of the report we are discussing today and the learnings of that report are being reflected by IPAS in terms of the briefings it is giving to centre management across the country.

As I stated at the beginning of the discussion, I acknowledge the publication of the Ombudsman for Children's special report and remain committed to providing appropriate reception conditions for all international protection applicants in Ireland in this unprecedented situation. The

Paper to end direct provision sets out an ambitious programme of reform to give effect to the programme for Government commitment to develop a new system of international protection centred on a not-for-profit approach. As we recall, the White Paper has three elements - accommodation, integration and supports. While significant progress has been made on integration and supports, undoubtedly the very significant challenge of responding to the humanitarian crisis caused by the war in Ukraine while also dealing with the significant increase in international protection applications since early 2022 has significantly impeded the delivery of the accommodation element set out in the proposed White Paper.

I understand that about 36 buildings were purchased to provide phase two accommodation. Those buildings are being used or will be used in conjunction with approved housing bodies or NGOs and will be used particularly for those more vulnerable families where living in a centre is a greater challenge. One of those units of accommodation is being used to provide accommodation with wraparound services for women who were trafficked into this country for the sex industry, were found and subsequently claimed international protection. We are using these buildings to provide additional supports to people in international protection who need additional supports often in conjunction with an NGO service provider.

It is in that vastly changed context of the significant number of arrivals that we are looking to continue with the implementation of the White Paper. We are undertaking a review of the implementation approach and as part of that, a full economic review of the estimated costs of the White Paper is being undertaken. That is important. It also helps me make my argument that it is better that we invest in State-owned accommodation or significant amounts of State-owned accommodation rather than placing all our spending into current spending on privately owned accommodation. To be able to manage ebbs and flows, there will probably always be some element of non-State accommodation needed but the very core of our accommodation has to be State-owned and State-provided.

In terms of the two other key elements of the White Paper, namely, integration and supports, the principle of integration from day one remains the key cornerstone of the White Paper. Notwithstanding those accommodation challenges we face, significant progress has been in terms of the White Paper commitment to improving integration. New local authority integration teams have been set up around the country. These are four staff funded by my Department in every local authority to support the integration of those in international protection, Ukrainians seeking temporary protection and those in the Irish refugee protection programme. This is a really important step forward in terms of making it clear that there is an ongoing role for local authorities. They often have the best local knowledge in terms of the links that need to be made. I recognise the support of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the County and City Management Association and the Local Government Management Agency in terms of that. The recruitment of these local authority integration teams is taking place across the country and I know some have already made their appointments. An international protection integration fund was launched in 2022 that aims to enable community-based organisations across Ireland to play a greater role in supporting the integration of international protection applicants at national and local level. Over €2.8 million in funding has been awarded to 137 organisations since the fund was launched in 2022.

In terms of supports, a key focus of the White Paper is on child well-being and supporting families. A new funding stream was introduced this year for the children and young people's services committees. This is to support them in further developing, enhancing and expanding the provision of their support services to families in IPAS accommodation. In 2023, over €1.3 million was awarded for a range of initiatives, including projects aimed at community integration, supports for parents, emergency accommodation and mental health. This has enabled families and children in international protection to engage with their local communities through music and sports programmes, well-being programmes and cultural and community exchange events. Following the success of this year, an increased amount of €1.5 million has been allocated to provide this service in 2024.

As part of budget 2024, I secured an additional €4.7 million to address the risk of child poverty among international protection children and over the course of the year, I will set out how my Department intends to invest that significant additional investment.

IPAS continues to prioritise children and address their vulnerabilities in accordance with the requirements of the EU reception conditions directive. Child protection is a multi-agency and multidisciplinary activity and agencies and professionals must work together in the interests of children.

I and my Department are fully cognisant that the best interests of the child are paramount. We are cognisant that the children in international protection are some of the most vulnerable. We recognise we need to do more. The report from the Ombudsman for Children gives us strong guidance in terms of what are the key elements that the Department needs to focus on in this emergency time but also in terms of building long-term structures that ensure that, as we pass through this emergency time but recognise that we will continue to see significant levels of migration, including significant numbers of people seeking international protection, we have to design a system that is built to cater for that and for the most vulnerable people coming here, children and young people.

See this speech in context