In October, Minister O'Gorman and I brought the report of the Advisory Group on the Provision of Support including Accommodation to Persons in the International Protection Process to Government and published it thereafter.
The report outlines recommendations to replace the Direct Provision system and proposals for process improvements in the International Protection system. A White Paper is due to be published by Minister O’Gorman shortly, informed by the report of the Advisory Group, setting out options, together with the recommended direction, for a new model of accommodation and services for International Protection applicants, including proposals for streamlining the processing of applications. The White Paper proposal will involve actions by multiple government departments, including my own, and set out the approach to addressing recommendations such as that raised by the Deputy which are still under consideration.
My Department is already progressing actions to deliver on many of the recommendations. A high level Programme Board, chaired by the Deputy Secretary General, has been established in my Department to oversee and drive forward the implementation of recommendations that relate to my Department and the agencies under its aegis, as appropriate. In addition, an Implementation Working Group of senior officials from the responsible areas is tasked with working together to support the implementation of actions and to plan for their delivery. Detailed consideration of each of the recommendations is still ongoing. This includes considering actions to achieve more efficient timelines in processing and deciding applications, and legislation that may be required to support such changes.
I can advise that the work processes of the Ministerial Decision Unit (MDU) have already been streamlined and the MDU has been relocated to the International Protection Office in line with the Advisory Group recommendations.