Written Answers. - Asylum Applications.
Proinsias De Rossa
Question:
46
Proinsias De Rossa
asked the
Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform
his views on the recent report, Beyond the Pale: Asylum Seeking Children and Social Exclusion in Ireland, commissioned by the Irish Refugee Council and funded by the Combat Poverty Agency; his plans to review the arrangements for direct provision for asylum seekers having regard to the findings of the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[32078/01]
The stated aim of the report was to compare the experiences of children in direct provision with asylum seeker households living in the private rented sector and in receipt of the full rate of supplementary welfare allowance, SWA. I consider this report to be seriously deficient in a number of key respects and I will let the facts speak for themselves.
First, the basis on which the report was compiled is open to serious questions in terms of the small size of the sample. Its findings were based on research comprising interviews, questionnaires and workshops with 43 households. Thirty per cent of these households or 13 families, with a total of 23 children, were in direct provision. The authors of the report acknowledge that the study used a small sample and that "respondents were to a considerable extent, self-selecting". Neither the Reception and Integration Agency, RIA, nor any other area of my Department was consulted about any aspect of this report. Moreover, there was no consultation with accommodation providers, centre management or staff.
The report's key findings about extreme deprivation and extreme poverty are based primarily on assertions by the respondents that they use their inadequate resources to either provide their own food – because of the alleged inadequacy of the food provided – or to meet the medical requirements of their children. In reporting these findings, the report does not document the true level of income supports for asylum seeker families in direct provision. Asylum seekers in direct provision are paid £15 per adult and £7.50 per child per week. These payments are in the nature of a basic SWA payment, which is means tested to take into account the benefit of full board and lodging provided in direct provision. All accommodation costs together with the cost of meals – three main meals and snacks outside mealtimes – heat, light, laundry and maintenance are paid directly by the State. Where appropriate, asylum seekers are also entitled to child benefit, once-off "exceptional needs payments" under the SWA scheme towards the cost of necessary travel, clothes, prams, baby baths, etc., weekly-monthly SWA supplements to cover the costs of nappies and other toiletry needs and allowances under the back to school clothing and footwear scheme. Where asylum seekers meet the relevant criteria, they can claim one parent family payment, disability allowance and non-contributory old age pension.
As regards the report's findings in relation to food, I would point out that each of the 86 accommodation centres housing asylum seekers is obliged under contract to offer menus which reflect the reasonable ethnic needs of asylum seekers accommodated at the centre. There are approximately 120 nationalities with hugely divergent food and ethnic needs accommodated by the RIA and menus are cycled on at least a seven day basis to ensure variety. In the case of State owned properties and the larger accommodation centres, 28 day menu cycles are in place. The RIA also requires the chef of each accommodation centre to meet on a regular basis with a representative group of asylum seekers to discuss their food requirements and asylum seekers are encouraged to give demonstrations to chefs on the preparation and serving of ethnic dishes. In addition, particular emphasis is laid on meeting to the greatest extent possible the religious needs of asylum seekers. For example, special arrangements are made to cater for the needs of Muslims observing Ramadan.
The RIA recently organised a series of regional food fora presided over by an executive chef with expertise in ethnic food. All chefs and centre managers were invited to attend these fora where advice was provided on a wide range of issues including the sourcing and traceability of ethnic ingredients, the development of multi-ethnic menu cycles, food preparation and serving of ethnic dishes and dietary and nutritional issues. Cookery demonstrations were also given.
Staff from the RIA, including senior management, regularly eat in accommodation centres in order to assess the food on offer and in the vast majority of cases they have expressed themselves satisfied. In centres where it is felt that the food on offer is not of a satisfactory standard the matter is pursued vigorously with the owner-manager of the centre.
All the 37 family accommodation centres operated by the Reception and Integration Agency were surveyed by the agency subsequent to the publication of the report to ascertain whether they were meeting the needs of children as required by contract. Many of these had either been recently inspected or were scheduled for inspection as part of the normal inspection programme. The survey confirmed that infant formula, infant food, jars of baby food, kettles, fridges, fresh water, school lunches and snacks on return from school are provided as required in all centres. Sterilizers are provided in 16 of the centres with the remainder of the centres reporting that the asylum seekers resident there did not require them as they had purchased their own with the assistance of an exceptional needs payment or are breast feeding. Cots are provided in all centres but a number reported that, for cultural reasons, many African mothers prefer to have babies and toddlers sleeping in bed with them. The survey also established that approximately 90% of mothers had their own baby baths, again purchased with the assistance of exceptional needs payments, while the remainder used the facilities provided at the centre. Microwave ovens are provided in 35 of the 37 centres surveyed and liquidisers are provided in 24 centres although this is not required by contract.
In relation to the report's findings of chronic overcrowding, I would point out that all accommodation in use by the RIA is subject to compliance with the various statutory provisions, including the Housing Act, 1996, governing accommodation of the type provided to asylum seekers. All accommodation providers and other companies engaged by the State are required under contract (generically approved by the Office of the Attorney General) to ensure that all accommodation centres comply and operate in accordance with all of the statutory requirements of local authorities and State agencies in relation to bedroom capacity, food, food hygiene, water supply, fire safety, general safety and so forth. So far as the needs of babies, children and expectant mothers are concerned, rigorous contractual requirements are imposed on accommodation providers.
The RIA has an inspectorate with seven personnel who undertake regular inspections of all centres accommodating asylum seekers. Scheduled, but unannounced, comprehensive all day inspections take place at least twice a year and other unscheduled inspections take place on a random basis. In addition, the agency also has three visiting teams who have been focusing on the larger centres in Cork, Limerick and Galway cities. Any diminution of standards discovered of foot of such inspections and visits is treated very seriously by the RIA and will, if necessary, result in the termination of contracts.
To ensure the comfort and well being of all asylum seekers resident in accommodation centres house rules are drawn up by local management and cleared by the RIA. Copies are given to asylum seekers on arrival. Proprietors and operators are encouraged to foster a positive atmosphere in centres and to develop lines of communications with residents with a view to defusing potential tensions before they arise and to engender a sense of "home" within the centre. This system has operated well and, in general, there have been few serious instances of disturbances in centres. In the event that an asylum seeker continuously causes disruption in a centre, a system of verbal and written warnings is in place. In serious cases – assaults and threats of violence against staff and other asylum seekers – the RIA may, in the interests of the safety of staff and residents, transfer the asylum seeker to another centre. In cases where a written warning is issued, the asylum seeker is afforded the opportunity to respond to the agency on the allegations made against him-her.
In addition, the agency conducts regular clinics throughout the country where asylum seekers are given the opportunity to discuss any issues of concern on a confidential basis. The RIA is engaged in providing comprehensive training for proprietors, operators and their staff, including anti-racism and inter-culturalism training. In this regard, emphasis is laid on the importance of dealing with asylum seekers in a respectful manner and the need for awareness of cultural differences.
I have no plans at present to review the system of direct provision. I am satisfied that direct provision is a humane, fair and effective means of meeting the basic needs of our asylum seeker population. In fact, I would strongly contend that the treatment of asylum seekers in this State is, at a minimum, on a par with the best on offer anywhere in the world.
