Nasc welcomes the launch and publication of the National Standards for Direct Provision
Nasc welcomes the launch and publication of the National Standards for Direct Provision
Nasc welcomes the publication of the National Standards for Direct Provision by the Minister for Minister of State for Equality, Immigration and Integration.The introduction of National Standards was a key recommendation in the Working Group Report on Direct Provision and the Protection System (McMahon Report).
The widely criticized system of direct provision for people seeking asylum in Ireland has for many years failed to provide safe, secure and appropriate accommodation for often vulnerable individuals. Today's publication of the standards marks an important milestone in the provision of a reception system that respects the human dignity of people seeking asylum in Ireland. These new standards set down a clear benchmark for provision of accommodation and services across all Direct Provision Centres in the country.
Fiona Finn CEO of Nasc said today “Nasc welcomes the publication of the National Standards for Direct Provision and would like to thank the Department and colleagues in other NGOs who participated in the development of the Standards. These standards contain very important requirements such as the provision of living quarters and cooking facilities for all families. For the first time accommodation providers will be required to take a person centred approach to the delivery of reception for people seeking asylum in Ireland”
“This is a very positive step that will ensure that a better quality of care and ensure consistency across accommodation centres. The standards also contain a roadmap for the implementation of the vulnerability assessment across all centres and we would now urge the Department of Justice to implement this assessment without delay. We would also call upon the Government to introduce a robust independent monitoring system with full oversight of the implementation of the standards nationally. Unless an independent monitoring body, such as HIQA, has full oversight and powers of inspection the standards will not achieve a meaningful change” Finn continues.
The Standards Advisory Group, of which Nasc was a member, was convened in February 2017. The group comprised of members of the Department of Justice and Equality, UNHCR and other civil society bodies and were charged with the development of a robust set of standards and clear indicators across ten themes. Collectively, they describe how a service provider should provide high-quality and dignified services to residents, which are human rights and equality based. The standards will now form part of any new contracts issued to accommodation providers and current providers will be granted a two-year window in which to bring accommodation in line with the National Standards.
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Media Contact:
Fiona Finn CEO Nasc
0860501507
Fiona Hurley
Communications and Advocacy Manager
087104 3284