Vol. 531 No. 5
60 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the Government's policy on making direct provision for asylum seekers; the legislation under which it is administered; and the communications between his Department, the Department of Health and Children and health boards concerning administering the direct provision scheme. [6260/01]
Direct provision is the means by which the State discharges its obligations under international law and the Constitution to provide for the basic requirements of asylum seekers. For the most part, it represents a cashless system with the State assuming responsibility for providing suitable accommodation on a full board basis. Asylum seekers in direct provision are generally paid reduced allowances under the supplementary welfare allowances scheme, which is administered by the health boards on behalf of the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs. The relevant legislation is the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act, 1993, and regulations made pursuant to the primary legislation, that is, the Social Welfare (Consolidated Supplementary Welfare Allowances) Regulations, 1995. Every applicant for supplementary welfare allowance is subject to a means test. The means test includes provision for the assessment of any benefit and privilege, including board and lodgings, enjoyed by the applicant.
The introduction of direct provision on 10 April 2000 brought Ireland into line with other member states of the European Union, including the United Kingdom, which introduced direct provision on 1 April last, and followed thorough investigation and planning.
Direct provision for asylum seekers is the subject of ongoing liaison, discussion and consultation between the Directorate for Asylum Support Services, the Department of Health and Children and the health boards. DASS is a cross department/agency which was established in November, 1999 under the aegis of my Department to deal with matters relating to the dispersal of asylum seekers throughout the country and preparation of plans for a system of direct provision of housing, welfare needs, etc. More recently, the functions of DASS are being discharged by the new Reception and Integration Agency.
The practice of cross-Department-agency representation has been continued in the new agency and in that regard, senior staff from the Department of Health and Children as well as the Eastern Region Health Authority have been seconded to it. Moreover, liaison arrangements are in place between the agency and the Department of Health and Children in relation to the provision of health services to asylum seekers.
In addition, DASS meets with local service providers in advance of opening new accommodation centres around the country and is in daily contact with the health boards on a wide range of issues related to direct provision, for example, the provision of health and welfare services including health screening, and the provision of advice and assistance to local voluntary support groups.
61 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the training that is given to staff in his Department who process asylum applications; the information they are given in regard to the current political situation in countries of origin of asylum seekers, including the likelihood of certain minority groups being targeted for ill-treatment; if this information is updated on a regular basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6132/01]
The Refugee Act, 1996, as amended by the Immigration Act, 1999, and the Illegal Immigrants (Trafficking) Act, 2000, was commenced in full on 20 November 2000. Under the Act, two independent statutory offices were established to consider applications-appeals for refugee status and to make recommendations to the Minister on whether such status should be granted.
These two offices are the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner, which considers applications for a declaration as a refugee at first instance and the Refugee Appeals Tribunal which considers applications for a declaration at appeal stage. The Government is committed to processing applications for refugee status in accordance with our international obligations and domestic rules and procedures with a view to providing the best possible service to all applicants. Applicants for asylum are treated with courtesy and professionalism by all members of staff from reception to the final stage of the process.
I have been advised by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner that all staff working in that office, including reception and interviewing personnel, have completed appropriate training courses and have received and continue to receive on an ongoing basis on the job experience and training in respect of customer service, interviews, assessment, decision making and asylum procedures. The training programmes have been agreed with the UNHCR and are delivered by a combination of this office's own experienced personnel, UNHCR training specialists, the UNHCR's full time official here, asylum experts from other countries and other agencies with the specialist skills required. The training provided includes procedures to be followed when dealing with sensitive matters such as gender issues and victims of trauma and violence. Training on cultural awareness and in dealing with unaccompanied minors has been provided in conjunction with the UNHCR. The office of the RAC has also recently organised refresher training for all staff involved in interviewing and assessment in conjunction with the UNHCR and staff from that office have also attended training in agencies abroad such as the refugees studies programme in Oxford.
The Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner considers all cases for asylum on the merits of the case having regard to the relevant background situation in the country of origin. Claims for refugee status span a broad range of diverse circumstances and relevant country of origin information plays a significant part when making a recommendation on an application for a declaration for refugee status. Research covers numerous areas such as factual data, human rights situations, geographical information, and other socio-economic data.
A range of research sources, electronic and printed material, are available to authorised officers involved in interviewing and assessing applications for a declaration as a refugee. This information is updated regularly. The principal sources are set out in a tabular statement annexed.
