Limerick international protection centre falls short in HIQA report

A LIMERICK City International Protection Accommodation Centre was deemed to be a safe and supportive place by HIQA, but there were “inadequate measures in place to protect vulnerable adult residents from the risks of abuse and harm.”

Hanratty’s Hotel has 48 bedrooms and accommodates 95 residents - all single males from 26 different countries. 

The HIQA report, which was a result of an announced visit in January, found the centre to be non-compliant in eight out of 24 standards. 

The report found that “while there was a complaints procedure in place, there was no formal documentary evidence of complaints made or how they were investigated or managed by the service provider.”

Recruitment practices were also found not to be “safe or effective”. The report said; “Four staff members who had periods of residence outside Ireland did not have police checks carried out. 

“Some files reviewed had no job descriptions, contracts, and photographic identification” and there were no references available for staff members. However, it was noted that a staff appraisal system had recently been put in place. 

None of the staff members had been trained in the safeguarding and protection of vulnerable adults and HIQA found a “significant gap” in training needs. 

Safeguarding, mental health and fire risks were also identified by the inspectors, but the report noted an “absence of a risk management framework.”

The report also found that “The service provider did not have a policy in place to identify, address and respond to existing and emerging special reception needs.”

The centre was managed by a centre manager who reported to members of the executive team, and was staffed by a deputy manager, kitchen manager, general support staff, cleaning staff and shop assistant.

The Limerick City centre was one of four around the country inspected for the first time. 

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The Knockalisheen centre in Clare was also inspected. Located just 5km from Limerick City, in County Clare, at the time of the inspection in January, the centre provided accommodation to 278 residents spread across six accommodation blocks and 13 tents. 

HIQA found it to be non-compliant in 20 out of 27 standards. 

There were 12 single rooms and 52 single males accommodated in military-style tents at the time of the inspection. 

It was found the tents didn’t “uphold the basic human rights of the individuals.”

The report said; “One resident who met with inspectors, for example, was not aware that they could access the nearby canteen to obtain meals, snacks and drinks, despite living there for the previous nine days.”

Recruitment was one area of non-compliance with no garda vetting for a number of staff and employment references were not available for a sample of staff files reviewed by inspectors. 

HIQA found that the Knockalisheen centre needed significant and sustained improvements across a number of areas. 

The report said; “This inspection found that despite the well-intended efforts of staff members employed in the centre, the needs of residents were generally not fully met and their human rights were not consistently respected, promoted or upheld. This was due, in the main, to the provision of inadequate accommodation, institutionalised practices, inadequate governance arrangements and the absence of a person-centred and rights-based approach to the provision of services.”