Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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547. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of alleged or known victims of trafficking or slavery who were placed in direct provision between 1 January 2015 and 31 December 2020; his views on whether the direct provision system is an appropriate setting for victims of these crimes; the supports offered to these victims; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3737/21]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The following table gives a breakdown of the numbers of suspected victims of trafficking who were accommodated by the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) of my Department in the period from 1 January 2015 to 31 December 2019.

Unfortunately, the finalised figure for 2020 is not immediately available to my officials as they are not always informed of this information when a person is first offered accommodation. Often, my officials may be notified at a later date through the HSE Anti-Human Trafficking team of an additional support requirement. I will forward this figure to the Deputy as soon as the relevant information is forwarded from the HSE Anti-Human Trafficking Unit for checking against the IPAS records. Not all International Protection applicants identified by An Garda Síochána as possible victims of trafficking and who are referred to the HSE team seek accommodation through the IPAS, as some do not need it and some wish to return to their country of origin as soon as possible.

Where requested by the HSE or An Garda Síochána, IPAS also provides accommodation to suspected victims of trafficking who are not in the protection process for a period of reflection and rest while considering whether to cooperate with Garda investigations into trafficking.

It is important to note that services for all International Protection applicants (including health services) are mainstreamed. Protection applicants are linked with primary care services (GPs), are entitled to a medical card while residing in International Protection accommodation and have a waiver of prescription charges. Applicants access health services through the same referral pathways as Irish citizens including referral to disability and mental health services. Every effort is made to ensure that residents' specific needs are met.

Where an applicant is a suspected victim of human trafficking and more intensive or specialist care needs are required, such cases are referred directly to the HSE. In addition, all applicants, including residents of accommodation provided by the State, can be linked into various services for appropriate counselling or other support. The HSE Anti Human Trafficking team work in conjunction with the IPAS to provide additional support services, linking them in with medical and counselling services, assisting them through the legal process and accompanying them to court appearances, enrolling them to education and employment training and assisting them return home to their countries of origin if they so choose.

I might also mention that the Department of Justice provides financial grants to a range of NGOs working with victims of human trafficking. The work undertaken by NGOs funded by that Department includes provision of practical support and advice and includes counselling services. The Department of Justice has a specific funding agreement in place with an NGO to provide support and assistance to victims of human trafficking that are identified within the International Protection process.

My colleague the Minster for Justice is also finalising proposals for a new National Referral Mechanism (NRM) for the identification and support for human trafficking victims. Once in place, the NRM will ensure a multi-agency, interdepartmental approach to the identification of victims and the provision of supports, including access to information and advice, counselling, income maintenance, health services and accommodation as may be required.