Special report concerning safety of children in Direct Provision submitted to Oireachtas

The Ombudsman for Children has submitted a special report to the Oireachtas following concerns for the safety and welfare of children in Direct Provision, making it the first time the office has used its power in this manner since it was established 20 years ago.

The submission of the report was due to inaction by the Government to implement recommendations previously proposed by the Ombudsman concerning accommodation, which was raised in a report in 2021.

In this special report the concerns are three fold; vulnerability assessments of children, inspections and monitoring of centres where children are living and the use of temporary accommodation.

The report highlights the "potential adverse effect on the rights and welfare of children" residing in State provided accommodation while also acknowledging the "unprecedented challenges" for the Government brought on by the war in Ukraine.

Commercial hotels had previously been described by the Ombudsman as unprotected and inappropriate settings for children to live in, despite nearly 17,000 child beneficiaries of temporary protection have been living in hotels by June this year, with an average length of stay up to eight months.

Ombudsman Dr Niall Muldoon said that according to the Department of Children, Equality, Integration and Youth, its request for tender for accommodation centres has so far only secured approximately 740 beds, adding that he was not satisfied that IPAS's (International Protection Accommodation Services) commitment to cease the use of commercial hotels will be met in the short to medium term.

Concerns also lie around protection and safeguarding, with the Ombudsman concerned these children will not be protected in designated accommodation centres.

HIQA (Health Information and Quality Authority) are awaiting a commencement order from the minister to begin inspections, as currently emergency accommodation centres do not fall under their remit.

Complaints are received by the Ombudsman on a regular basis concerning the impact of living conditions, food quality and children's health and wellbeing.

The special report also contains responses from Tusla and the Department of Children, which said that although ending Direct Provision remained a "key priority", this had been significantly impacted by the war in Ukraine and the "substantial increase" in international protection applicants.

A Cabinet memo is expected to go to Government "in the coming week" setting out a revised implementation approach, according to the Department of Children.