Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party)
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453. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to the withdrawal of access for volunteers at a location (details supplied); the actions he will take to address these concerns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39964/24]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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In order to ensure the safety of International Protection (IP) applicants, the management of site security and access at accommodation centres for those seeking IP is the responsibility of the providers contracted to run the centre. Visits to centres, including by volunteer organisations, are facilitated between 10:00 – 22:00.

As part of established policy and procedure, visitors and volunteers are requested to notify accommodation centre management who they wish to visit and fill in the appropriate visitor log with personal details for health and safety purposes. Visitors and volunteers are required to adhere to the directions of accommodation centre management. The accommodation centre manager may restrict the number of visitors or volunteers at any one time on the basis there might be a health and safety risk or security risk.

I am informed by my officials that the providers of the accommodation centre in question are engaging with local volunteers to ensure adherence to the aforementioned procedure, and that English classes are to be relocated to another nearby location while this is ongoing.