Sinn Fein has launched a Bill which would give the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) the power to inspect all emergency homeless accommodation funded by the Department of Housing, Planning and Community and Local Government.

Sinn Féin Housing spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin launched the Emergency Homeless Accommodation and Direct Provision Independent Inspection Bill 2017.

The Bill will also grant HIQA the power to inspect direct provision centres funded by the Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) of the Department of Justice and Equality.

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Mr Ó Broin said: "It is not only the quality of the facilities that is concerning. It is the length of time people, including families with children, are accommodated here and the long term impact living in this sort of accommodation has on the welfare of children.

"I acknowledge that both the Reception and Integration Agency and the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive conduct their own inspections of these facilities. However, crucially these inspections are not independent.

"I met with HIQA to discuss these concerns and to ask about the feasibility of conducting a review of the child protection and welfare services provided to children living in all government funded emergency accommodation including Section 10 and local authority funded emergency homeless accommodation. This is a limited review which HIQA is currently permitted to do under legislation. I also wrote to Ministers Murphy and Zappone asking them to make a similar request."

(CD/MH)