Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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533. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality her views on the Health Information and Quality Authority report on the provision of child welfare services for children in direct provision centres; the steps she will take following the report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21442/15]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The recently published Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) report on the provision of child welfare services for children in direct provision centres is not an examination of the direct provision system, but rather concerns itself with the handling by the Child and Family Agency - Tusla - of child referral cases in respect of children in that system. The Report was carried out under the National Standards for the Protection and Welfare of Childrenand section 8(1)(c) of the Health Act 2007.

The Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) of my Department is responsible for the operation of the direct provision system of accommodation for protection seekers. The issue of child protection is one that RIA take very seriously. It has a dedicated Child and Family Services Unit which is headed up by an official seconded from the HSE / Tusla. This Unit acts as a conduit between RIA and Tusla, the latter having statutory functions in this area. RIA has a well established Child Protection Policy which is based on the Tusla's 'Children First - National Guidelines for the protection and welfare of children' and this policy was agreed in cooperation with Tusla. All centres have designated Child Protection Liaison Officers and all staff of centres under contract to RIA are Garda vetted.

Notwithstanding that the recommendations in the Report are directed to Tusla, both that body and RIA are engaging in relation to its findings and both are committed to working together to improve services for children and families in direct provision. An action plan has been prepared by Tusla in response to the recommendations set out in the report.

This HIQA report will also inform the Government's consideration of the recommendations of the Independent Working Group set up late last year to report to Government on what improvements should be made to the protection process, including Direct Provision and supports for asylum seekers. I understand that the Group, which is chaired by former High Court Judge, Dr. Bryan McMahon, will submit its report to me in the next few weeks.