Marc Ó Cathasaigh (Waterford, Green Party)
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110. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his plans to bring forward a white paper on the future of accommodation for persons in the international protection system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40774/20]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The Programme for Government contains a commitment to end the Direct Provision system and replace it with a new International Protection accommodation policy, centred on a not-for-profit approach. The Government has also committed to the development of a White Paper which will set out how this new system will be structured and the steps to achieving it.

My Department is currently developing the White Paper and examining options for moving to an not-for-profit approach. Consultations have taken place in this regard with relevant Government Departments, with the Ombudsman, the Ombudsman for Children, the HSE, the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, and with the City and County Managers' Association.

In addition, accommodation centre residents and civil society organisations with refugee policy/practice and housing policy/practice expertise (including Approved Housing Bodies) have been consulted.

I can assure the Deputy that the Government is committed to the replacement of the Direct Provision system of accommodation provision with a system which responds more appropriately to the needs of those seeking international protection.

Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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111. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the steps taken to implement the expert advisory group report on direct provision. [40186/20]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The Programme for Government contains a commitment to ending the Direct Provision system and replacing it with a new International Protection accommodation policy, centred on a not-for-profit approach. The Government has also committed to the development of a White Paper which will set out how this new system will be structured and the steps to achieving it.

My Department is currently developing the White Paper. The recommendations of the Advisory Group will inform the White Paper and these are being carefully examined at the moment. Consultations have also taken place with the Ombudsman, the Ombudsman for Children, the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, and the City and County Managers' Association.

In addition, representatives of accommodation centre residents and civil society organisations with refugee policy/practice expertise and housing policy/practice expertise (including Approved Housing Bodies) have been consulted.

In tandem with developing the White Paper my Department is in discussions with the HSE to enable formal vulnerability assessments for international protection applicants by the end of the year. This will ensure that a coherent process is in place for both the health and non-health aspects required in formalised assessments. My Department is also engaged with HIQA with regard to monitoring the implementation of national standards for IPAS Accommodation Centres that were published in 2019. These standards will come into effect in January 2021.

The Deputy will be aware that the Minister for Justice has responsibility of the processing of international protection applications and has established a programme board to oversee the process of implementing recommendations from the Advisory Group Report.