Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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458. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an update on HIQA inspections of direct provision centres; the number of inspections that have been undertaken to date; if he will provide a schedule for inspections over the coming months, and if the mandate of HIQA will be broadened to cover emergency accommodation centres. [44842/23]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration, and Youth (DCEDIY) is currently working with the Health Information Quality Authority (HIQA) to implement the commitment for HIQA to monitor International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) centres against National Standards adopted in 2019 and in effect since the beginning of 2021.

The National Standards address a range of issues relating to accommodation; food and catering; individual, community and family life; health and wellbeing; governance; and meeting the special reception needs of applicants seeking international protection. Compliance with the National Standards can only be adequately measured through on-site assessment.

Planning is near completion on this process. HIQA have conducted pilot inspections in a small number of IPAS centres. HIQA have also met with accommodation providers and centre managers to explain the inspection and monitoring process. In parallel with this, detailed work is being undertaken by the Department, in consultation with Office of the Attorney General, to underpin monitoring role of HIQA.

The aim is that this will be done by means of regulation, and HIQA will commence regular inspections once these regulations are in place. Generally, inspections will be unannounced.

In advance of the introduction of independent monitoring, IPAS has taken steps to support adherence to the National Standards through its contract arrangements with accommodation centres. All properties selected under IPAS’ most recent tender process are required to be able to implement the National Standards.

There are no plans to broaden the mandate of HIQA at present.