'Like a holding pen': Ipas residents complain of conditions in tents
James Cox
Ipas residents in a Co Clare centre complained that it was "like a holding pen" and that tented accommodation was cold.
Knockalisheen centre in Clare, operated by Aramark, is home to 208 asylum seekers.
It was one of seven Ipas centres, formerly known as direct provision centres, inspected recently by the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa).Ipa
Residents who were accommodated in the tents told the inspectors that they were not satisfied with their accommodation. One resident said “it’s not safe here, sleeping beside the heater and bed is too low to sit up”, while a second resident said “bunk beds are not good”.
Another resident who had lived in the tents for two years described their experience as “extremely difficult” and while they had been searching for accommodation they were “losing hope”.
A resident spoke with the inspectors about the accommodation limiting their life choices and development and described the accommodation as a “holding pen”. Residents also told the inspectors that it was cold in the tents, there were not enough electrical sockets, and some personal items had gone missing.
Benbulben Court in Co Sligo, where 350 people are living, received very positive feedback from residents.
Residents were provided with prepaid vouchers for a variety of local supermarkets by the service provider. This arrangement "provided residents with choice and promoted their independence, as residents could purchase food in line with their own families’ needs, dietary or cultural requirements".
Residents were very positive about their experience of living in Benbulben Court and their interactions with the staff team. Residents said they felt safe and were happy living in the centre. One resident told the inspectors that the centre was a ‘‘perfect place…very safe’’.
Residents were supported to bring visitors to their own accommodation which "allowed them to live their lives independently".
The inspected centres were: Bridgwater House, Co Tipperary, Atlas House Killarney, Co Kerry, Dublin Central Inn, Co Dublin, Millstreet Accommodation Centre, Co Cork, Cúirt Uisce Accommodation Centre, Co Galway, Great Western House, Co Galway Milligan Court, Co Sligo.
Hiqa found that the seven centres had varying levels of compliance against the standards.
Across the inspections conducted, inspectors found examples of good practice, including access to health and social services; the provision of education supports and staff members supporting residents to access relevant community-based services and activities.
Areas for improvement were identified across centres in areas such as food preparation and dining facilities; accommodation; safeguarding and protection; and the identification, assessment and response to special needs. For example, in two centres, a number of resident safeguarding issues had not been identified, appropriately assessed or reported to the relevant authorities by the service provider.
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.
Read the reports at www.hiqa.ie.
