Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 23 Nov 2000

Vol. 526 No. 5

Written Answers. - Accommodation for Asylum Seekers.

Brendan Howlin

Question:

101 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the exact terms of the agreement between his Department and residents regarding the use of the Devereux Hotel in Rosslare Harbour, County Wexford; if asylum seekers are to be accommodated in this facility; the number of rooms to be used for such accommodation; the number of staff that will be working in this facility; the proposed duration of stay of any resident; the costs incurred by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform to date in acquiring and maintaining this facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27105/00]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue)

The directorate for asylum support services will use the facility in question as an assessment centre for receiving asylum seekers arriving at Rosslare Port and the south eastern region generally and for facilitating the initial processing of their applications for asylum by Garda Immigration Officers under the provisions of the Refugee Act, 1996, as amended, which was commenced in full on 20 November 2000.

The assessment centre will be staffed by members of the Garda Síochána and officers of the South Eastern Health Board when necessary. As such it will be in replacement for the existing unsuitable facilities for receiving asylum seekers in the arrivals area of the port. So far this year, close to 1,500 asylum seekers have made their applications at Rosslare Harbour. The detailed allocation of staff to work in the centre is a matter for the agencies concerned. After asylum seekers have had the initial stages of their applications dealt with by the gardaí and have been assessed by health board personnel, they will be provided with accommodation in Wexford or in Dublin as appropriate.

As the Deputy will be aware, the statutory provisions relating to the fingerprinting of asylum applicants became operable on the full commencement of the Refugee Act, 1996, as amended. The facility at Rosslare Harbour, as well as being used as an assessment centre arising from the full commencement of the Act, will also be used in this connection. As such it will not be used as an accommodation centre.

A monitoring committee, which will include representatives of local residents, the gardaí, the South Eastern Health Board and the directorate for asylum support services will be established to monitor the operation of the centre and the committee will be consulted in relation to the directorate's future plans for the area. The assessment centre will operate in the facility until 1 May 2002, at which time it will be sold – subject to market value being realised – on the open market. In the interim, the provision of a designed custom built assessment centre in the area is being addressed.

No costs have been incurred by my Department in relation to this facility which was purchased by the Office of Public Works in April for £1.9 million. Since then £52,000 has been expended by that office on rates and security.