Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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114. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality her plans for self catering facilities in other direct provision centres in view of the fact that a self catering system at the Mosney direct provision centre has been provided; and the date before which the extension of these facilities will be completed. [19328/17]

Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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172. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will increase the number of self catering facilities for families in direct provision facilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20316/17]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 114 and 172 together.

Following publication of the Programme for a Partnership Government, which set out the Government's commitment to improving the accommodation environment for protection applicants, in particular for children and families, the Reception and Integration Agency of my Department began the process of examining ways in which this commitment could be delivered upon. The McMahon Report of the 'Working Group on Improvements to the Protection Process, including Direct Provision and Supports to Asylum Seekers'also recognised the value of home cooking for families in the protection process.

The system currently in place in Mosney is the culmination of a lengthy analysis process by staff in the Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) and by the management team at the centre which involved full consultation with a representative group of residents in Mosney.

It is important to note that the system is under constant review and is a work in progress.

It is being monitored by RIA and feedback from this project along with other similar projects due to commence soon will continue to inform the operation of the entire system - practical issues arising from its roll-out in Mosney will inform the system elsewhere.

It is expected that this particular system will be rolled out in Ballyhaunis and Athlone in the coming weeks and months and thereafter in other family centres such as Millstreet. In addition to this, shared kitchen facilities to allow residents to cook for themselves are being provided in other centres such as St Patrick's in Mosney, Kinsale Road in Cork and Clonakilty Lodge in Clonakilty.

This project is in the vanguard of a system which will be rolled out to every centre in which families are resident so that self cooking can be provided for these residents and simultaneously addressing concerns previously raised in this House.

I am sure that the Deputies will appreciate that implementing a programme where residents can cook for themselves can involve structural changes or improvements. Notwithstanding this, it will be implemented as quickly as possible, with due consideration of possible fire safety, building regulation and planning issues.

Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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115. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the details of the point allocation system used for awarding points to persons in the Mosney direct provision centre to purchase items in the on-site supermarket (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19329/17]

Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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116. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of points awarded to persons or groups of persons (details supplied) in the Mosney direct provision centre to purchase items in the on-site supermarket per week. [19330/17]

Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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117. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the body that sets the prices for supermarket items in the Mosney direct provision centre (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19331/17]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 115, to 117, inclusive, together.

Following publication of the Programme for a Partnership Government, which outlined the Government's commitment to improving the accommodation environment for protection applicants, in particular for children and families, the Reception and Integration Agency of my Department began the process of examining ways in which this commitment could be delivered upon.

The McMahon Report on the 'Working Group on Improvements to the Protection Process, including Direct Provision and Supports to Asylum Seekers'also recognised the value of home cooking for families in the protection process.

The system currently in place in Mosney is the culmination of a lengthy analysis process by staff in the Reception & Integration Agency (RIA) and by the management team at the centre. This involved consultation with a representative group of residents, a number of residents volunteering to participate in live shopping expeditions, an examination of the household shopping basket for families and single persons, an examination of responses to questionnaires completed by all residents on the range and type of foodstuffs they would like to be made available and an analysis of the findings of the Safe Food Report 'What is the cost of a healthy food basket in the Republic of Ireland in 2016?'. This analysis led to the allocation of a weekly number of points to each adult and child resident in the centre. These points are then used to obtain fresh food and other products in the Food Hall. As a result, parents are now able to cook food in their own accommodation for their own families. The Food Hall is open six days a week and stock is replenished as required. Ethnically appropriate foods and spices are also available. Non-standard items can be ordered in and made available the following day provided such items can be sourced from traceable suppliers.

The number of points awarded to family members and groups are set by RIA and are as follows:

The points applied to each item are also determined by RIA in full consultation with management at the centre in question. It is my intention that the same level of points will be applied to comparable items in all centres in which this system will be implemented across the country.

There are a number of important issues that need to be stated in relation to the points. There is no monetary equivalent for a point and points cannot be purchased for cash. These points are only used for the acquisition of food and essential supplies. All utility bills such as light and heat, laundry costs, organised transport etc are provided from within the existing contract and residents are not charged for these services. It is also important to note that the system is under continuous review and is still a work in progress.

The system is being monitored by RIA and feedback from this project along with other similar projects due to commence soon will continue to inform the operation of the points system. Practical issues arising from its roll-out elsewhere will continue to apprise and advise its operation.

Deputies in this house have, in the past, raised concerns about protection applicants not being able to cook for themselves. It is for this reason, and on foot of the McMahon Report, that the Government sought to address this issue in the Programme for Government. This project is in the vanguard of the roll-out a system of home cooking for residents in all family centres and addressing Deputies' concerns. I am satisfied that this system will continue to meet the reasonable needs of residents and allow them to provide for their families.

Let us not forget that the introduction and implementation of this new system has been welcomed by residents and has already had a very positive impact on the atmosphere right through the centre. Residents are free to cook what they want and when they want. The introduction of the system addresses one of the key recommendations of the McMahon report in that children will now see their parents cook a meal for their family. This pilot project has been a great success and it is intended that this system or variations thereof will be rolled out to other family centres throughout the country.