Written answers

Wednesday, 29 January 2014

Department of Justice and Equality

Direct Provision System

Photo of Patrick NultyPatrick Nulty (Dublin West, Independent)
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144. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if his attention has been drawn to the fact that concerns have been raised regarding child protection issues in direct provision centres; the steps he proposes to take regarding same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4488/14]

Photo of Alan ShatterAlan 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. Direct provision accommodation ensures that all persons awaiting a determination on their asylum or related applications are provided with the basic needs of food and shelter as well as other State services such as health, education and community welfare supports.

In the absence of specific detail about what child protection concerns are referred to in the question, I will set out below the suite of supports and services applying within the structures of the direct provision policy and show the level of protection and services available across the relevant State agencies.

The accommodation itself provided by RIA in the direct provision system complies with relevant legislative standards. In addition to the accommodation services, both RIA and other State service providers, particularly the HSE, link in with the direct provision centres and provide on-site services and monitoring of children and families through Public Health Nurse and GP services, social work teams, mental health specialists and through the positive engagement of accommodation centre management teams. Residents of direct provision qualify for a medical card, entitling them to a range of medical services without charge. Also, the Community Welfare Service holds clinics in many of our centres to assist families with needs which may fall to be assisted under the Exceptional Needs Payments structures. These State services link closely with RIA in terms of needs assessments, case conferences and follow-up services.

As regards education, children of asylum seekers are linked to local mainstream primary and post-primary schools as well as ECCE pre-school placements in a like manner to the general population and the role of the accommodation centre manager is central to this process.

Children of asylum seekers can also access recreational facilities available in the locality in which they are living. Some Direct Provision Centres have on-site playgrounds. Many individual centres will provide other facilities and will also facilitate NGO’s who organise outings and other activities. Homework clubs are also provided at certain family centres. Details of the on-site and local services available to children and families across the direct provision system are set out in the RIA's Annual Report for 2012 which can be found on the agency's website at www.rie.gov.ie.

RIA also has a Child Protection Policy based on the HSE's "Children First - National Guidelines for the protection and welfare of children". A Child and Family Services unit in RIA is well established and its role is to manage, deliver, coordinate, monitor and plan all matters relating to child and family services for all persons residing in RIA accommodation centres and to act as a conduit between RIA and the HSE. In conjunction with the HSE, RIA is currently updating its existing Child Protection Policy, in line with the recent revisions to "Children First". RIA is currently liaising with the HSE regarding the re-training of the Designated Liaison Officers. The HSE hopes to be in a position to facilitate this training shortly.

All staff of centres under contract to RIA are Garda vetted. It is an important aspect of RIA's Child Protection policy which has, as its principal aim, the minimisation of risk to children and vulnerable adults residing in Direct Provision centres. In keeping with this policy, children must be supervised by adults at all times. They are not permitted to be left alone overnight. In addition, children cannot be accommodated in a room separate from their parents save through interconnecting rooms.

Management of accommodation centres are obliged to ensure that all staff working in the centre are aware of, and adhere to, RIA's Child Protection Policy. In addition, the HSE have provided 'Keeping Safe' child protection training to designated officers, and other staff members, in accommodation centres.

RIA is also currently finalising, in consultation with Cosc and NGOs, a policy on "Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence and Harassment" to provide guidance and contact information for staff and residents at Direct Provision centres.

The system of Direct Provision allows for a level of non-intrusive supervision of residents which would not be found in general alternative living arrangements in the community. Centre staff, designated liaison officers and management are always available to assist. Public Health Nurses, General Practitioners, Community and Ethnic Liaison Gardaí and others linked in with an accommodation centre are alert to child welfare issues. They also provide support for families within the Direct Provision System.

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