Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 98: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he has met with the Department of Children and Youth Affairs to discuss the matter of expanding the remit of the Ombudsman for Children to investigate direct provision hostels. [22667/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) of my Department is responsible for the accommodation of asylum seekers in accordance with the Government policy of direct provision and dispersal. Section 11(1) (e) of the Ombudsman for Children's Act, 2002 provides that the Ombudsman shall not investigate any action taken by a public body where the action was taken in the administration of the law relating to, inter alia, asylum. I should say that, while the Office currently does not have the power to investigate asylum related matters, the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS), including RIA, has administrative arrangements in place with the Office to assist and provide information and help resolve any matters brought to its attention.

The question of extending the remit of the Ombudsman for Children is a matter for the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs in the first instance. I am not aware of any proposal by it to expand the remit of the Ombudsman along the lines suggested by the Deputy. This response should note that RIA takes its child protection role seriously. Responsibility for Child and Family Services is assigned to a specific unit in RIA called the Child and Family Services Unit, whose role is to manage, deliver, coordinate, monitor and plan all matters relating to child and family services for all asylum seekers residing in the direct provision system and to act as a conduit between RIA and the HSE. In the discharge of its role, that unit is in regular contact with the HSE which of course has statutory functions in this area.