Nicky McFadden (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if companies who operate asylum accommodation here are subject to central guidelines or rules in terms of day-to-day running of those centres; if individual companies operate their own management rules; if conditions vary in accommodation centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42731/12]

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 through the Government policy of Direct Provision while their applications for asylum are being processed. The Direct Provision system provides asylum seekers with full board accommodation, free of utility or other costs. Currently, there are 36 asylum accommodation centres in the State accommodating just under 5,000 persons. Seven of the centres are State owned and the remainder are owned by private companies. All centres are managed, under contract to RIA, by private companies employing their own staff. All companies are contractually required to comply with legal requirements in relation to health and safety, food safety and so on. As is normal, companies have their own management rules and practices and once these do not conflict with RIA requirements, RIA does not seek to interfere.

Plainly, how a centre is managed is determined by a number of factors, not least the profile of persons being accommodated and the physical layout of the centre. Of the current 36 asylum centres in RIA's portfolio, only 3 were specifically built for the sole purpose of accommodating asylum seekers i.e. were 'system built'. All other centres must operate within the physical limitations of the premises' original use e.g. hotel, college dormitory, hostel, etc. While all conform, at the very least, to minimum contractual and legislative standards, there are necessarily a range of facilities available in centres in the overall RIA portfolio, deriving from this original use. This being the case, a number of centres have developed their own rules which complement and act in tandem with the RIA requirements, as explained below, and these are generally geared towards providing information on the routine in the specific centre concerned.

The following RIA-produced documents - all available on its website www.ria.gov.ie - set out the basic requirements which must be satisfied by a contractor:

(i) The contract itself. The basic standard provisions of a RIA contract are set out in a sample contained in RIA's 2011 Annual Report which is available on its website.

(ii) RIA's House Rules and Procedures. These set out the entitlements and obligations placed on centre management and on residents and, in the event that these are not being met, a complaints procedures to be invoked by either party.

(iii) RIA Code of Practice. This describes the standards of professional practice required of persons working in accommodation centres as they go about their daily work. The Code ensures that workers know what standards of practice employers, colleagues, service users and the public expect of them.

(iv) Child Protection Policy / Garda Vetting. RIA takes the issue of child protection very seriously and all staff in centres must be Garda vetted and comply with RIA's Children First policy.