Fiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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505. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the checks and oversight exercised to ensure that direct provision centres are maintaining appropriate standards of health and safety and fire safety; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15046/18]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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All persons seeking international protection are offered accommodation and ancillary services by my Department. From a contractual perspective, each accommodation centre under contract to the Department is inspected three times per annum: twice by officials from the Department of Justice & Equality, and once by an independent inspection company with expertise in food and fire safety. All aspects of the accommodation are checked, including fire safety and housekeeping. The fire safety checks include examining the fire register and checking that all equipment is properly maintained. Where the inspection reveals any adverse findings, the operator of the centre is informed immediately and a further inspection arranged if required.

In addition to this all accommodation centres must comply with statutory requirements in relation to fire safety, hygiene and safety etc. Accommodation centres are subject to inspection by the relevant statutory services including EHOs, the relevant Fire Officer and the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner.

The Department of Justice & Equality actively monitors the status of the fire certification on each of its contracts for accommodation and requires each contractor to forward an annual Certificate and Opinion of Compliance with the Fire Services Acts 1981 and 2003. The Certificate and Opinion of Compliance with the Fire Services Acts document must be signed by a competent person.

Since early 2017 residents in accommodation centres under contract to the Department have access to the Ombudsman and Ombudsman for Children and complaints that are not resolved locally or through the Reception and Integration Agency may be dealt with by either office as appropriate.