Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Some very disturbing photographs of a gentlemen in direct provision in St. Patrick's Accommodation Centre in Monaghan were recently circulated on social media. The phenomenon they show is not new. I would like to quote that gentleman:

I am living in St. Patrick's Direct Provision centre in County Monaghan for a long time and sharing a room with 3 persons even during Covid-19 outbreak in this centre. Last week I got this infection all over my skin, I don't know if it is mould in room or the numerous cockroaches and mice.

In the programme for Government we are committed to ensuring that Ireland provides protection to those seeking refuge from conflict, torture and persecution and, in doing so, we agree that direct provision needs to be changed. We have committed to ending direct provision and ensuring that communities are intrinsically involved with and consulted in the provision of accommodation for those who are fleeing their countries, usually due to war.

As of 15 November, 228 people were being accommodated at St. Patrick's Accommodation Centre in Monaghan. Four other premises, hotels and guest houses are used to provide accommodation while a further 183 people are accommodated in temporary accommodation throughout County Monaghan. A significant number of people are in direct provision in County Monaghan alone. I have received numerous calls to my office from people questioning the Government's plans for a further direct provision centre in Ballybay. The Minister's office has said that his Department has no plans for such a development, but it would be most helpful if he could confirm that today.

The Government has committed to the ultimate phasing out of direct provision, which I welcome. As we know, there is nothing humane about the conditions for those living in these facilities. In their current state, the facilities do not provide the proper opportunities to integrate with the communities in which residents are living. Moreover, the local communities are not afforded the proper opportunities to engage with the process, which creates division, suspicion, ill-feeling and separation. I know the scenario I have outlined is not unique to County Monaghan. It is replicated in many centres throughout the country. I would like the Minister to commit to checking on the well-being of the people in St. Patrick's Accommodation Centre. I would like to hear his plans and those of the Government to phase out direct provision in this country.

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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I thank the Deputy for raising this matter - I know she raised it a number of days ago as well - and for giving me the opportunity to come back and speak directly to the House on the matter. I am happy to do so. I am aware of social media reports circulating on this matter, and some Deputies, including Deputy Niamh Smyth, have contacted me directly about these reports.

To set the broader context, all accommodation centres are subject to regular unannounced inspections by both my officials in the International Protection Accommodation Service, IPAS, and an independent inspectorate company, QTS Limited. These inspections are generally undertaken twice yearly by my officials and once yearly by QTS. Inspections cover a wide range of issues, including the quality of the food, fire safety and other health and safety issues. Regular visits are also made to all emergency accommodation centres by IPAS. Any issues that are brought to the attention of IPAS are raised with the accommodation provider for resolution.

St. Patrick's accommodation centre was inspected by an IPAS official on 24 September and again by QTS on 11 November. These inspections did not reveal any major issues at the centre. However, during the second inspection QTS noted that there had been a cockroach infestation in an annexe to one of the buildings used for accommodation. QTS also noted that the provider had taken the appropriate remedial action and had engaged an exterminator and that the matter was at an end.

In recent days my attention has been drawn to reports that a resident in St. Patrick's was suffering from a medical condition for which he could not access appropriate medical care. I assure Deputies that, as a rule, access to mainstream medical services through the primary healthcare system is available to all direct provision residents, who have access to medical cards. I am informed that in this case the gentleman in question had a phone consultation with a doctor, resulting in a treatment option being provided, and that further in-person medical care, located very close to the accommodation centre, is at all stages available to the gentleman to avail of. I assure the Deputy that I continue to make inquiries to ensure that whatever additional steps are necessary to provide this gentleman with medical care are taken urgently. I intend to review the inspection reports on this centre and will continue to engage with IPAS on its findings and any recommendations that are specific to the centre.

IPAS has a complaints policy which is widely disseminated in centres. Complaints are made initially to the centre manager with a view to informal resolution. If a person is not satisfied with the outcome of his or her complaint, he or she may make a complaint to IPAS, which will investigate the matter and take appropriate action. As of last year, in the event that the resident is not satisfied with how his or her complaint is dealt with, he or she has full access to the services of both the Ombudsman and the Ombudsman for Children. Both bodies have been undertaking both individual and collective reports on direct provision. There is also a confidential freephone support service run by the Jesuit Refugee Service. It was introduced in May of this year in the context of Covid.

Finally, to address the Deputy's specific question, I confirm that my Department has no plans to utilise any other properties in Monaghan or Cavan not already in use as accommodation for international protection applicants.

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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That will come as good news to those of us who are concerned for people who are living in inhumane conditions, as the Minister said. We know from information provided by his Department and the inspections that were carried out that the man in question was not exaggerating. There was no intent on his part to put out any false information or anything like that. The Minister has addressed that to some extent. As for people who find themselves in these situations, where there is a cockroach infestation in a centre, the Minister talked briefly about the health provisions in place. My understanding is that this gentleman looked to go to Cavan General Hospital but that support was not available to him. Could the Minister talk to us a little more about the health provisions in place - he has briefly summarised them - for people who find themselves in these situations?

I have checked the number of direct provision centres around the country. Monaghan seems to have a very high number of direct provision settings and centres, whether temporary or permanent. Monaghan Integrated Development does terrific work under Gabriel O'Connell in providing support to people. I think 183 was the figure I gave the Minister for one of the centres; 228 is the figure for St. Patrick's. Could the Minister talk to us a little about the type of provision the Government is putting in place in terms of resources for the likes of Monaghan Integrated Development to try to help these people to stand on their own two feet and to integrate into the community, with language and education? What is the Government doing to help these people?

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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It is important to say that all residents of direct provision centres are entitled to use the primary healthcare system and attend their local GPs. My Department makes provision for that. I do not wish to stray into the specific circumstances of the treatment of one individual - that would not be appropriate - but my Department and my office have been in contact, through IPAS, with the management of the centre in question to ensure that this gentleman gets the appropriate level of medical assistance. Every person in direct provision should get the appropriate level of medical assistance.

I am concerned about the statement that there were four people living in the room. My understanding is that only 7.5% of residents of direct provision accommodation now live in a room with more than two other unrelated people. I will double-check that point because what the Deputy says is not the information I have received. Those measures to reduce the number of people unrelated living together were brought in specifically as a result of Covid. That involved getting extra centres around the country, and that was the right thing to do during Covid because we wanted to thin the numbers in the existing direct provision centres as we know congregation is a definite Covid risk. My Department has received a substantial additional allocation for 2021 to support direct provision. One of the things we will do is to support these "friends of the centre" networks that have built up around the country. The Deputy referred to some of the local voluntary activity taking place in Monaghan. These centres are established in direct provision centres around the country, and I really want to support them because that gets the voluntary sector and the NGOs in to provide those additional supports. I have mentioned the Jesuit Refugee Service, which does huge work around the country in providing additional supports, particularly to those who are perhaps our most vulnerable.

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Will the Minister confirm whether inspections have continued during the Covid period?

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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I will allow the Minister a further brief response but there is no provision for him to come back in.

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Yes, inspections have continued during Covid.