Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

171. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will commission a nutritional audit of direct provision centres. [20315/17]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Recommendation 4.102 of the McMahon Report recommends that "RIA[Reception & Integration Agency]should engage a suitably qualified person to conduct a nutrition audit to ensure that the food served meets the required standards...". The McMahon Report lists some 173 recommendations, some of which required legislative changes or physical, constructional changes to be implemented. My Department is tracking and publishing progress on the recommendations.

In relation to this specific recommendation, RIA has been in contact with the HSE to progress this matter across all centres. If the HSE are not available to provide such a service, options will be explored to source this from commercial providers.

Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

173. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will develop and implement a dedicated child protection strategy for direct provision accommodation. [20317/17]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

RIA takes and has always taken the issue of Garda vetting and child protection very seriously. RIA has a dedicated Child and Family Services Unit, whose role is to manage, deliver, coordinate, monitor and plan all matters relating to child and family services for all persons resident in State provided accommodation. It also acts as a conduit between RIA and Tusla, the latter having statutory functions in this area. The Unit is headed up by an official seconded from Tusla who has clinical expertise in the area of child welfare and protection.

RIA's Child Protection and Welfare Policy and Practice Document is based on the HSE's Children First - National Guidelines for the protection and welfare of children. In relation to training of staff in centres, the HSE/Tusla has provided 'Keeping Safe' child protection training and Designate Liaison Person Training [DLP] to each centre's Designated Liaison Persons and other staff members. RIA has recently updated its Child Protection Policy to include a Practice Document. To communicate this policy, briefing sessions were held in every centre around the country for centre staff members and all other relevant personnel. The policy is available on www.ria.gov.ie/en/RIA/Pages/Policy_Documents.

Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

174. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to develop and introduce national standards for direct provision centres. [20318/17]

Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

175. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will develop an independent oversight mechanism for the inspection regime in direct provision. [20319/17]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 174 and 175 together.

Recommendation 4.226 of the McMahon Report recommends that "The Minister for Justice and Equality should establish a standard-setting committee to reflect fully government policy across all areas of service in Direct Provision...". The McMahon Report lists some 173 recommendations, some of which required legislative changes or physical, constructional changes to be implemented. My Department is tracking and publishing progress on the recommendations.

In relation to the specific recommendation on standards, a committee has been established which includes representatives of the NGO community and support from state agencies and has met on a number of occasions. It continues to sit and has sought advice from external sources including HIQA (Health Information & Quality Authority) on the drafting of new standards.

The output of this group is expected to continue to inform the level of services and facilities available in State provided accommodation centres. This in turn will then be subject to rigorous inspection by the Department itself in addition to any external inspectorate which is contracted by the Department for this purpose. Quite separate from these standards and subsequent inspections, all State provided accommodation centres are already subject to inspection by a number of State agencies such as EHOs, Local Authority Fire Officers, the Health and Safety Authority etc.

Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

176. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the outstanding recommendations of the McMahon report yet to be implemented. [20320/17]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

On 23 February last, Minister of State Stanton and I published a report showing the significant progress in implementing the recommendations of the Report of the Working Group on Improvements to the Protection Process including Direct Provision and other supports for asylum seekers.

A total of 121 of the recommendations are now implemented, with a further 38 partially implemented or in progress. This means that 92% of the Report's 173 recommendations are now implemented, partially implemented or are in progress. This is a significant increase on the 80% reported in the first audit of progress published last June.

Details of progress on all of the 173 recommendations are available in the audit report, which has been posted on my Department's website and on the website of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service.