HIQA report reveals four children went missing from IPAS centre for 15 days

Today, the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has published nine inspection reports on International Protection Accommodation Service centres.

International Protection Accommodation Service centres, formerly known as direct provision centres, provide accommodation for people seeking international protection in Ireland.

HIQA inspects the quality and safety of these services against the National Standards for accommodation offered to people in the protection process(2019).

Today's report has revealed that four children went missing for a total of 15 days while their parents were hospitalised.

During this time, staff members at the centre had no idea of the children's whereabouts and the incident has been described by HIQA as "poorly managed".

HIQA also said the service providers "failed to take reasonable and proportionate interim measures to protect the children", despite making required reports to Tusla and An Garda Síochána.

According to the report, the safeguarding incident, which was discovered by a HIQA inspector in July, was not properly escalated internally and as a result, no actions were taken by senior management when the incident came to light.

The report outlined there were no risk assessments done for pre-existing safeguarding issues and improvement was required.

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Reports have been published on:

• Ashbourne House, Co. Cork
• Atlas Tralee, Co. Kerry
• Cúirt Uisce Accommodation Centre, Co. Galway
• Davis Lane, Co. Cork
• Griffin House, Co. Limerick
• Hibernian Hotel, Co. Laois
• Marian Hostel, Co. Offaly
• Port Road Apartments, Co. Donegal
• The Towers, Co. Dublin

Across the inspections conducted in other centres, inspectors found examples of good practice, including: facilities for cooking and preparing meals and residents working or volunteering in the community.

There were also examples of space for children to play and activities and day trips being arranged for children and their families.

Non-compliance across some centres was identified in areas including: identification, assessment and response to special needs; contingency planning and emergency preparedness; accommodation; food, catering and cooking facilities; governance, accountability and leadership; responsive workforce; and safeguarding and protection.

Where non-compliance with the national standards was identified, providers were required to submit compliance plans to demonstrate how they will make improvements and come into compliance with the national standards.

You can access the full report here.