Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

195. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons that have died while in the direct provision system since 1 January 2007; the ages of the persons that died; the reason for the death; the number that were the result of suicide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40223/17]

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

The wellbeing of residents in direct provision is an absolute priority for the Reception and Integration Agency, which is the agency of my Department tasked with overseeing the provision of full board accommodation and certain ancillary services to persons in the protection process. Since the direct provision system was established in 2000 some 60,000 persons have benefited from these services, and some deaths of residents have occurred in this period.

While overseeing the delivery of different services, my Department has no direct role in the provision of health or health related services to protection applicants. Such services are provided through the Department of Health by the Health Service Executive (HSE) via hospital, primary care and the GP services. Protection applicants receive these health services on exactly the same basis as Irish or EU citizens who have medical cards. All health matters are private between a patient and his or her medical advisor and records in relation to any illness, including mental illness are, properly, not available to Departmental staff. Similarly, when persons in the protection process die, their deaths are treated by medical personnel and/or the coroner in exactly the same way as any other person who passes away within the jurisdiction of the State. The same procedures apply to protection applicants as to other persons who are not protection applicants.

While my Department collates some statistics on deaths of persons in the protection process, this is usually by way of a general knowledge of the cause of death, such as by way of information arising from the specified medical needs of the resident concerned. In most cases, the deaths would have occurred outside of State-provided accommodation e.g. in hospitals or hospices. Official records in relation to deaths are maintained by the Register of Births Marriages and Deaths (HSE). The Department has no access to death certificates, nor would it be appropriate under data protection safeguards for it to seek such access, and it is therefore not possible to provide the information sought by the Deputy.

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

196. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of complaints that have been made to An Garda Síochána by residents of direct provision centres regarding staff or management at these centres; the number of prosecutions that have been taken against staff or management of these centres since 1 January 2007; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40224/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I have requested a report from the Garda authorities in relation to this matter, and I will contact the Deputy again when this report is to hand.

As the Deputy is aware, accommodation centres are subject to regular and frequent inspections by staff of the Reception and Integration Agency and by independent external contractors. The reports of these inspections are published on the RIA website. Centres are also subject to inspection by various other State agencies including for example Environmental Health Officers. The Reception and Integration Agency has implemented a number of policies in all centres dealing with such issues as child protection, sexual and gender based violence and a code of practice for persons working in accommodation centres.

The issue of Garda vetting and child protection in RIA centres is taken 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 asylum seekers residing in the direct provision system. 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 family centres around the country for centre staff members and all other relevant personnel. The policy is available on www.ria.gov.ie  

I am advised that all staff of centres under contract to RIA are Garda vetted and the remit of the Ombudsman, and the Ombudsman for Children, has been extended to cover those who are living in State provided accommodation since April 2017.