100 signatures reached
To: Minister Roderic O'Gorman and Minister Stephen Donnelly
Full Access to basic hygiene/ care products in Direct Provision
This petition is urging Minister O'Gorman, the Irish Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, and Minister Stephen Donnelly, the Irish Minister for Health, to ensure there is full access to the basic and necessary hygiene/ care products for those living in Direct Provision.
Why is this important?
The name Direct Provision describes the accommodation, food, money and medical services provided for those seeking asylum in Ireland and are waiting for their international protection application to be processed (Irish Refugee Council, n.d.). As of 2020, this group makes up 7,400 of the Irish population (Irish Refugee Council, n.d.).
There are many health inequities faces by asylum seekers in Direct Provision in relation to mental health, physical health, education and more. I would like to focus on issues related to physical health, specifically the access to basic care and hygiene products within this system. Products such as shampoo/ conditioner, toothbrushes, toothpaste, suncream, baby formula, nappies, deodorant, toilet paper, home cleaning products, female sanitary products. Not to mention the needs caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, such as face masks, hand sanitisers, effective hand soap, etc. It is hard for people living within the Direct Provision system as while they are provided with some very basic hygiene products, their allowance does not leave them with a lot of room to purchase all the products needed. People in Direct Provision are given 38.80 euro per adult and 29.80 per child as a daily expense allowance (Citizens Information, 2021). This does not provide open access to necessary hygiene and care products, and when paired with other health inequities seen within this system, leads to a lower quality of life. There are organisations and charities set-up gathering collections and drops of these products but this is only a provisional resolution and I believe there needs to now be an immediate, all-inclusive and permanent change made by those running our country.
In 2021, the government published a white paper on the ending of Direct Provision and the transition into a new non-profit reception system. This is an undoubtedly significant and important step for the government, in relation to Direction Provision, but is aimed to be done by 2024. This issue concerning access to care and hygiene products is still relevant currently, if not increasingly relevant due to the Covid-19 outbreak. This issue can not be forgotten in the time taken to completely end the Direct Provision system.
I am calling on both minister O'Gorman and Minister Donnelly to address this issue immediately and provide for the basic needs of this marginalised group.
References:
Citizens Information, 2021. Direct provision system [WWW Document]. URL https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/moving_country/asylum_seekers_and_refugees/services_for_asylum_seekers_in_ireland/direct_provision.html# (accessed 2.6.21).
There are many health inequities faces by asylum seekers in Direct Provision in relation to mental health, physical health, education and more. I would like to focus on issues related to physical health, specifically the access to basic care and hygiene products within this system. Products such as shampoo/ conditioner, toothbrushes, toothpaste, suncream, baby formula, nappies, deodorant, toilet paper, home cleaning products, female sanitary products. Not to mention the needs caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, such as face masks, hand sanitisers, effective hand soap, etc. It is hard for people living within the Direct Provision system as while they are provided with some very basic hygiene products, their allowance does not leave them with a lot of room to purchase all the products needed. People in Direct Provision are given 38.80 euro per adult and 29.80 per child as a daily expense allowance (Citizens Information, 2021). This does not provide open access to necessary hygiene and care products, and when paired with other health inequities seen within this system, leads to a lower quality of life. There are organisations and charities set-up gathering collections and drops of these products but this is only a provisional resolution and I believe there needs to now be an immediate, all-inclusive and permanent change made by those running our country.
In 2021, the government published a white paper on the ending of Direct Provision and the transition into a new non-profit reception system. This is an undoubtedly significant and important step for the government, in relation to Direction Provision, but is aimed to be done by 2024. This issue concerning access to care and hygiene products is still relevant currently, if not increasingly relevant due to the Covid-19 outbreak. This issue can not be forgotten in the time taken to completely end the Direct Provision system.
I am calling on both minister O'Gorman and Minister Donnelly to address this issue immediately and provide for the basic needs of this marginalised group.
References:
Citizens Information, 2021. Direct provision system [WWW Document]. URL https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/moving_country/asylum_seekers_and_refugees/services_for_asylum_seekers_in_ireland/direct_provision.html# (accessed 2.6.21).