Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

647. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the position regarding the independent monitoring of direct provision centres that was due to commence in January 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10517/21]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My Department is currently engaged with HIQA with regard to undertaking the role of monitoring the services provided to those accommodated in our centres against National Standards that were published in 2019. The National Standards meet the requirements of the EU (recast) Reception Conditions Directive (Directive 2013/33/EU) which we voluntarily opted into in June 2018.

It is hoped that HIQA will begin this role shortly. A strong and transparent monitoring capacity is crucial to ensure that quality of service is maintained during the significant transformation process that will occur over the coming years.