Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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182. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps being taken by his Department to end the system of direct provision; and his views on whether health and safety risks at such facilities have increased during the course of the pandemic. [7478/21]

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, which will set out options, together with the recommended direction, for the new model of accommodation and services for International Protection applicants and the transitional processes needed to implement the model. Options for developing a not-for-profit approach are currently being examined in this regard.

Good progress has been made on drafting the White Paper and I now expect it will be submitted to Government later this month.

The onset of the Covid-19 pandemic presented challenges to maintaining the health and safety of residents living within International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) as it did for many aspects of Irish society at the time and still does to the present day.

In order to safeguard our residents many measures have been put in place by IPAS in conjunction with the HSE. These measures were first implemented from the time that country-wide restrictions were imposed in March and April 2020 and they continue to be implemented and added to for all our accommodation centres.

- Provision for self-isolation facilities Centres and offsite self-isolation?

- Provision of a free, confidential and independent support line for residents operated by the Jesuit Refugee Service?

- Increased capacity to support physical and social distancing ensuring no more than 3 non-related persons share a bedroom?

- Enhanced cleaning regimes and provision of PPE to all accommodation centres?

- Regular communications and information on public health advice to residents and centre managers?

- Cocooning of all medically vulnerable and over 65 residents?

- Accommodation scheme for healthcare workers?

- IPAS Living with COVID Plan which clearly explains how each of the five levels of restrictions in the Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021 affects residents and visitors to centres?

My officials in IPAS have at all times cooperated fully with the HSE in respect of any testing that Public Health may decide to undertake. Any resident who tests positive is moved offsite for self-isolation, along with their close contacts in the centre, until such time as the HSE considers that they can safely return to their centre. The HSE operates two off-site facilities and IPAS has also provided one isolation centre.

The second quarantine facility is used to accommodate people who had been residing in IPAS accommodation and left their accommodation of their own volition. Where such persons seek to return to IPAS accommodation, they are requested to quarantine for 14 days in the quarantine facility as an additional precaution before being re-accommodated.

PPE also continues to be distributed to the centres.

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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183. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the action taken to date to resolve the issues at the Mosney direct provision centre; the status of plans to change the direct provision system; and the timeframe for the implementation of a new scheme. [7673/21]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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I am aware of the incident in the accommodation centre referred to by the Deputy which I understand has now ended.

The International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) of my Department worked closely with the accommodation centre staff, relevant state agencies and other service providers with regard to the resident’s needs and situation for the duration of the incident. Such engagement will continue to ensure that the required health needs are met through the onsite medical services at the centre which includes a full primary care service and nursing staff.

I can assure the Deputies that the health and wellbeing of all people who avail of accommodation provided by my Department is of the highest priority to my Department.

Where a protection applicant chooses to accept an offer of accommodation from my Department, they will, in normal circumstances, be first brought to the National Reception Centre in Balseskin, Dublin. At Balseskin, they will be offered a health assessment by the on-site HSE team, which comprises a nurse, nurse specialist, area medical officer, general practitioners, social worker and psychologist. This ensures that applicants can be assessed for any special reception needs that they may have before they are designated an accommodation centre. The IPAS work closely with the HSE screening team to ensure that Protection applicants are moved to locations where their medical needs can be met.

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). They 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.

The Deputy will be aware that 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, which will set out options, together with the recommended direction, for the new model of accommodation and services for International Protection applicants and the transitional processes needed to implement the model. Options for developing a not-for-profit approach are currently being examined in this regard.

Good progress has been made on drafting the White Paper and and I expect that it will be submitted to Government later this month.