Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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372. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the date on which he will publish legislation to extend the remit of the Office of the Ombudsman for Children to include cases concerning children residing in direct provision. [32061/16]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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The direct provision system is under the remit of my colleague, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald, Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality. I understand that earlier this year Minister Fitzgerald committed, in principle, to amending legislation to allow the Ombudsman and the Ombudsman for Children to deal with issues relating to direct provision.

It is not yet clear what legislative change, if any, would be required to give effect to this expansion of remit. Discussions of such expansion will involve a number of Government Departments, including the Department of Justice and Equality, the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and my own Department.

I understand that the Department of Justice and Equality is in contact with the Attorney General's Office as to the required legislative mechanism to give effect to the change to which the Deputy refers. I await the outcome of these deliberations.