Michael Harty (Clare, Independent)
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53. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her views on whether the lives of children in direct provision have improved since April 2017 when the children's Ombudsman began accepting complaints from children or on behalf of children living in these centres; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50190/17]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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I can inform the Deputy that, in my opinion, the lives of children living in Direct Provision improved significantly when it was confirmed that the Ombudsman for Children had remit to receive complaints from them and on their behalf. Even if no complaint is ever made, the ability to make a complaint to the Ombudsman or Ombudsman for Children is a key right of a child or a parent in respect of a service being received by the State. The previous exclusion of people in Direct Provision from making such a complaint was wrong in my view and I am glad that such an exclusion no longer exists.

The Ombudsman for Children has statutory independence in the exercise of his functions under the Ombudsman for Children Act 2002. I am aware that significant work has been done by the Ombudsman for Children's Office, the OCO, as part of this expanded remit. I understand that since April 2017 the OCO has visited every Direct Provision centre and Emergency Reception and Orientation Centre in the country where children and young people under 18 reside. This was primarily to raise awareness and understanding of the OCO's role to examine and investigate complaints. It is important that both residents and service providers are aware of the role of the Ombudsman for Children.

I am also aware that, in the context of its complementary statutory function to promote children's rights and welfare, the OCO is delivering workshops on children's rights for children living in Direct Provision. These workshops have been delivered in 9 Direct Provision centres since September 2017 and I understand that the OCO is planning to deliver further such workshops during 2018.

My Department was represented on the Working Group on the Protection Process that was chaired by Judge Bryan McMahon that published its report in June 2015. One of that Group's recommendations was that the remit of the Ombudsman and the Ombudsman for Children should be extended to complaints relating to services to residents of direct provision accommodation centres and to transfer decisions following breach of rules.

Officials in my Department also assisted the Department of Justice and Equality in consulting with children in Direct Provision centres on what they thought about their lives in these places. The Deputy will be aware of my strong belief in the value of seeking the views of children and young people on matters that affect them. I recently launched the Hub na nÓg to serve as a resource to assist government departments and other bodies with such consultations.

At present, officials in my Department are working with the Department of Justice and Equality to develop standards for the governance and management of Direct Provision centres.

I believe all of these measures have and will improve the lives of children in these centres. However, I believe the real improvement will come in improvements to the processing of applications that will minimise the time spent by children and families in Direct Provision.