Public Service Oversight Committee to visit Clondalkin Direct Provision Centre

A delegation from the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions will visit the Direct Provision Centre in Clondalkin tomorrow afternoon, Thursday 26 February.

25 February 2015

The delegation is expected to arrive at The Towers Centre at The Ninth Lock in Clondalkin at 1:00 pm and will spend approximately two hours meeting management, staff and residents of the centre (see programme below)

The visit follows similar site visits to similar centres in Galway,  Limerick and Mosney in recent weeks.  

Chairman of the Committee Pádraig Mac Lochlainn TD says: “The Committee has been examining Ireland's direct provision system and the site visit to Clondalkin Direct Provision Centre tomorrow will afford us another first-hand insight into the operation and functions of an important Direct Provision Centre. Following useful engagement in similar centres in Galway, Limerick and Mosney the Committee will liaise directly with management and residents at The Towers, The Ninth Lock tomorrow afternoon. The visits will add to the Committee’s knowledge on issues such as the direct provision allowance, the quality of accommodation at the centres, the complaints process and the lengthy time spans in processing applications.

“As part of the process, we are intent on examining how the jurisdiction of the Ombudsman can be fully inclusive of the Direct Provision System, including the Appeals System and the Irish Naturalisation & Immigration Service as it relates to the Direct Provision System. As a Committee with responsibility for public service oversight, we are also keen that Freedom of Information Acts be made fully applicable, in all respects, to the administration of the Direct Provision Centres.”

While the visit is closed to the media, Deputy Mac Lochlainn and other members of the delegation will be available for media interviews before and after the visits.

Visit to Direct Provision Centre in Clondalkin

Thursday, 26 February, 2015

13:00 Arrival at The Towers
13.15 Meeting with Management  
13.30 Tour of the facilities
14.30 Meet with staff/Residents
15.00 Depart

Ends/

For media enquiries contact:

Paul Hand,
Communications Unit,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 4484
M: +353 87 694 9926

Committee Membership

Deputies:
Richard Boyd-Barrett, Independent
Noel Harrington, Fine Gael
Michael Healy-Rae, Independent
Seamus Kirk, Fianna Fáil
Michael P. Kitt, Fianna Fáil
Pádraig MacLochlainn (Chairman), Sinn Féin
Helen McEntee, Fine Gael
Michelle Mulherin, Fine Gael
Derek Nolan (Vice-Chair), Labour
Patrick O'Donovan, Fine Gael
Aengus Ó Snodaigh, Sinn Féin
Sean Kenny, Labour
John Halligan, Independent
Jack Wall, Labour

Senators:
Trevor Ó Clochartaigh, Sinn Féin
Jimmy Harte, Labour
Tony Mulcahy, Fine Gael
Susan O’Keeffe, Labour
Ned O'Sullivan, Fianna Fáil