Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 23 Oct 2001

Vol. 542 No. 5

Written Answers. - Asylum Seekers.

Billy Kelleher

Question:

424 Mr. Kelleher asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of people in each county that are seeking asylum; if he has satisfied himself that all the various State agencies have adequate resources to cope with the increased demands on them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25332/01]

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

I have been advised by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner that the information sought by the Deputy, in the manner requested by him, is not available. In addition to the accommodation provided to asylum seekers by the reception and integration agency of my Department – currently 5,000 places in 77 centres in 24 counties – health boards throughout the country are also involved through the supplementary welfare allowance scheme in providing accommodation to asylum seekers who they deem are not suitable to have their needs met under the system of direct provision.

When procuring accommodation facilities, the reception and integration agency, has regard to the requirement to achieve to the greatest extent possible a balanced distribution of asylum seekers throughout the State commensurate with,inter alia, availability and capacity of services such as health, welfare and education as well as local population and infrastructure. The provision and resourcing of statutory services to asylum seekers are matters, in the first instance, for the appropriate Government Departments and the agencies operating under their aegis. Moreover, officers have been seconded to the reception and integration Agency from the Departments of Health and Children, Education and Science and Environment and Local Government and from the Eastern Regional Health Authority and Dublin Corporation so as to co-ordinate service delivery to asylum seekers at local level and to liaise with local statutory service providers and the appropriate Government Departments.