Vol. 519 No. 2
292 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of applicants for refugee status who have been accommodated in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Waterford; the number in other towns; the basis for allocation to different areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13514/00]
The Government decided last September that asylum seekers should be resettled around the country and have their needs met by direct provision. The directorate for asylum support services was established in November 1999 under the aegis of my Department and is responsible, inter alia, for meeting the accommodation needs of asylum seekers or applicants for refugee status. The directorate has been accommodating asylum seekers under these new arrangements since 10 April last.
Prior to 10 April 2000, the provision of accommodation for asylum seekers was handled, in the main, by the Eastern Health Board in whose administrative area the majority of asylum seekers are located. Since last November, however, the Eastern Health Board has had to accommodate asylum seekers in accommodation sourced by the directorate.
Due to the acute shortage of accommodation in Dublin it was necessary to advertise in the media for offers of suitable accommodation. Arising from these advertisements, the directorate has entered into contractual agreements for the provision of accommodation in various hotels, guest houses and hostels around the country. The assessment of the suitability of offers of this type of accommodation is ongoing and other options with regard to the provision of accommodation are being pursued. At present, because of the severe shortage of accommodation and asylum seekers cannot be left homeless, the availability of suitable accommodation is the key criterion in the allocation of asylum seekers around the country. In the longer term, as more accommodation comes on stream, my aim is to achieve a fair and balanced distribution of asylum seekers throughout the country and to have particular regard, among other relevant factors, to the size of local communities when deciding on the number of asylum seekers to be placed in them.
Under the arrangements in place since 10 April asylum seekers are being accommodated by the directorate at initial reception centres in Dublin for a period of one-two weeks for the purposes of needs assessment, the provision of information and processing of the initial stages of their asylum applications before being resettled at other locations around the country. The directorate has five reception centres in the Dublin city centre area with a total capacity of 400, approximately.
The table below provides details of the locations to which asylum seekers have been dispersed to date. Details of capacity are also provided.
Cork (Cork City, Ballylickey, Kinsale, Clonakilty and Glengariff) – 372 persons
Galway (3 centres in Salthill, Clifden and Glenamaddy) – 165 persons
Waterford – 20 persons
Ennis, County Clare – 80 persons
Falcarragh, County Donegal – 10 persons
Bunbeg, Letterkenny, County Donegal – 31 persons
Donegal Town – 69 persons
Tralee, County Kerry (3 centres) – 190 persons
Listowel, County Kerry – 23 persons
Killarney, County Kerry (3 centres) – 116 persons
Kenmare, County Kerry – 60 persons
Kilkenny – 80 persons
Longford – 20 persons
