Written answers

Tuesday, 20 March 2018

Department of Justice and Equality

Asylum Seeker Accommodation

Photo of Donnchadh Ó LaoghaireDonnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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297. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if RIA has a fit and proper persons' test for organisations or persons that run direct provision centres on behalf of RIA. [11803/18]

Photo of David StantonDavid Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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All accommodation service providers are obliged to provide the services outlined in the relevant contract for services.

To ensure this is happening, my Department oversees a system of inspection of centres. These inspections are carried out at random and usually happen three times a year.

All payments based on the contract are made though the existing payments facilities which include checks with the Revenue Commissioners for ongoing tax compliance.

In addition to the foregoing, all staff in centres must undergo Garda Vetting before they can work in the centre and equally must abide by the Code of Practice for staff.  

Training on Children First legislation is provided by qualified staff from my Department to all local staff.

RIA staff hold regular clinics in each accommodation centre to hear and address any concerns raised by residents. Complaints in relation to any issue that may arise should in the first instance be raised with local management or directly with RIA or directly with either the Ombudsman or Ombudsman for Children as appropriate.

Photo of Donnchadh Ó LaoghaireDonnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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298. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the consultation process provided for local communities as a general policy regarding the development of direct provision centres. [11804/18]

Photo of David StantonDavid Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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The sourcing of new accommodation centres for those persons seeking international protection is done by way of either an expression of interest published in the national press and EU Journal by the Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) of my Department, or a public procurement process which is advertised on E-Tenders and the Official Journal of the European Union and managed by the Office of Government Procurement on behalf of RIA.

All proposed premises must be inspected and assessed as to their suitability. The criteria for assessment is based on quality of premises, general conformity with the recommendations of the McMahon Report, and the availability of services such as schools, general practitioners, post office etc. Once a premises is offered to RIA and has been deemed suitable following an inspection, negotiations with the proposed service provider are carried out.

During the assessment and prior to the conclusion of the negotiations, the local authority is consulted to see if there are any legal or compliance issues in relation to the property. Following the conclusion of negotiations, all local councillors and local members of the Oireachtas are contacted. It is not appropriate to commence this consultation process prior to this as it is not guaranteed that a centre will open until these negotiations are complete.

Once a premises is established, the Reception and Integration Agency establishes a local liaison group (as recommended in the McMahon Report) called the Friends of the Centre Group. RIA also work with the local State service providers to address any issues as they arise.

Photo of Donnchadh Ó LaoghaireDonnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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299. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he has satisfied himself that the local community in Lisdoonvarna, County Clare was adequately consulted regarding the proposed direct provision centre to be located there. [11805/18]

Photo of David StantonDavid Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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On 8 January 2018, the Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) of my Department published a call for expressions of interest in the national press and EC Journal.

This call sought expressions of interest from parties who would be interested in providing accommodation and related services on a urgent and emergency basis. This was issued in response to the urgent and unforeseen demand for accommodation and related services from such persons arriving in the State seeking international protection. The closing date for receipt of expressions of interest was the 28 January 2018.

In total, just under 20 premises were offered to the Department of which 11 were made available for inspection. The criteria against which the Department assessed the offers of accommodation were availability, standard of property, ability to provide communal social spaces for residents, ability to cater at mealtimes and proximity to required services such as schools, shops, post office etc.

It should be noted that these premises were offered to the Department by individual contractors across the country. The Department did not randomly choose any one location over another location.

Following on-site assessments carried out by staff in the Department, the offer of the King Thomond Hotel in Lisdoonvarna was deemed to the most suitable premises offered to the Department. The premises was available, decorated to a high standard, capable of delivering the required services, has scope to provide the required communal social areas required by residents and is located close to a town with both primary and secondary schools, shops and a post office.

As with every other accommodation centre in the country, my Department works closely with the HSE and Departments of Education and Skills and Employment Affairs and Social Protection and all other relevant Government Departments and Agencies to coordinate the delivery of State services to residents.

Contractual discussions with the contractor concluded on Friday 16 February. On Tuesday 20 February, local politicians and members of the Oireachtas were advised of the development and invited to a meet with RIA staff on the following Friday. That meeting became a public meeting from which the community in Lisdoonvarna submitted two lists of additional queries addressing medical, educational, community and social issues. A full response to those queries has been issued.

I understand that there has been significant interest from the local community in getting involved with the residents of the centre through the 'Friends of the Centre' model and my Department will continue to engage with the Friends of the Centre to provide support and address any issues that may arise.

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