"Counsellor assistance must be provided to residents of Mosney Direct Provision Centre" - Tóibín
Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín TD has expressed his sympathy to the family and friends of the lady who sadly passed away in a Direct Provision Centre in Meath yesterday.
Deputy Tóibín said:
"Today staff at the Mosney Direct Provision Centre have confirmed to me that one of their residents has passed away. I understand that she had spent the last eight years of her life in the direct provision system. My thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends at this time. I have contacted the International Protection Accommodation Service - IPAS - seeking to ensure that counsellor assistance is offered to the residents of the centre, and the family and friends of the deceased".
Deputy Tóibín continued; "I have also written to Minister O'Gorman on the matter. Direct provision is a cruel system, and nobody should spend nearly a decade of their lives in this system, that is not what is was designed to be. We know that in previous months, the centre in question did experience an outbreak of Covid-19. The Department of Justice and the Department of Children and Equality have told me that they do not have any statistics or information relating to the number of deaths in direct provision centres. We need these statistics, it is important that each of us have an understanding of the system and what is happening within it".
"My thoughts and prayers remain with the family of the deceased, and with the residents and staff of the centre. A death this close to Christmas is always difficult, all the more so with the added burden of Covid-19 restrictions around funeral services. It is imperative that counsellor assistance is provided to the family of Elaiki, and the residents of Mosney. May her soul Rest in Peace", concluded Deputy Tóibín.
