Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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88. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the action being taken by her Department to ensure that recommendations of the 2015 report on improvements to the direct provision system are implemented; the reason the progress report at part 5.100 lists the recommendation as being implemented by the HSE despite the absence of new protocols and enhanced services; the engagement her Department has had with the HSE on this; if there has been a follow-up on this; the action that will be taken to ensure new protocols and enhanced services are actually developed; the timeframe for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26455/16]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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Since its publication in June, 2015 the Report of the Working Group on Improvements to the Protection Process, including Direct Provision and Supports to Asylum Seekers, has been under proactive consideration; in the first instance by the Cabinet Committee on Social Policy and Public Service Reform and thereafter on an ongoing basis in my Department and other relevant Government Departments and Agencies. The Report contains a total of 173 recommendations, many of which have implications for a number of Government Departments and services. In the most recent review of progress in June, 91 recommendations were found to have been implemented; a further 49 recommendations were found to have been partially implemented orwerein progress; and the balance remained under consideration. This represents significant progress in taking forward the Working Group recommendations, with 80% now implemented, partially implemented or in progress. I have committed to advancing the remaining 20%, taking into account the necessary resources that some of these will require.

The current position with regard to detailed progress on the Working Group recommendations is set out in my response today to Parliamentary Question No. 126.

With regard to the Deputy's specific query under recommendation code 5.100, it is presumed that the Deputy is referring to the recommendation which 'strongly urges that a review by the relevant organisations of services for persons in the system experiencing a crisis pregnancy be undertaken immediately with a view to a protocol being agreed to guide State agencies and NGOs supporting such persons....'.

The lead organisation in the provision of services to those experiencing a crisis pregnancy is the Health Service Executive. The HSE has reported that the review completed by them had the following components: all 16 crisis pregnancy counselling services have been asked to develop a protocol within their own organisation on supporting asylum seeking women through a crisis pregnancy; the Reception and Integration Agency which manages the Direct Provision system in my Department has partaken in discussion with the HSE with regards to elements of the protocol which require liaison with my Department; the HSE Sexual Health and Crisis Pregnancy Programme held a workshop for its funded Crisis Pregnancy Counselling services on the issue of ‘Asylum seeking women and a crisis pregnancy’ in June last; the workshop addressed the issue of crisis pregnancy in the context of a woman who is seeking asylum and living within the Direct Provision system; and issues such as documentation requirements and the process around travelling outside of the country have been explored.

I further understand from the HSE that funded Crisis Pregnancy Counselling is available free of charge in over 40 locations nationwide.

The Reception and Integration Agency continues to facilitate service providers in engaging with those in Direct Provision accommodation affected by this issue and in reviewing and managing accommodation supports on a case by case basis where required.