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Asylum Support Services

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 February 2014

Thursday, 13 February 2014

Questions (198)

Terence Flanagan

Question:

198. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of asylum seekers in State centres for the past five years; the cost of housing for the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7410/14]

View answer

Written answers

The direct provision system is managed by the Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) of my Department. For the most part, this represents a cashless system with the State assuming responsibility for providing suitable accommodation for asylum seekers on a full board basis. Currently, there are 4,355 residents in 34 centres across the State under contract to RIA.

The numbers of asylum seekers residing in direct provision has reduced significantly over the last five years. At the end of December 2013 there were 4,360 residents in direct provision compared with 6,424 at the end of December 2009. This represents a reduction of 2,064, or 32%, in the number of residents in direct provision in that period. There was also a corresponding reduction in the cost of providing accommodation in the direct provision system. The budget outturn for 2009 was €86.5 million compared to €55.2 million in 2013. That represents a drop of €31.3 million, or 36%, in the cost of providing direct provision accommodation over that period.

The table sets out the total number of residents in direct provision at the end of December from 2009 to 2013 and the corresponding budget outturn for those years.

Year

Number of residents in Direct Provision at 31 December

Budget Outturn (€ million)

2009

6,424

86.5

2010

6,107

79

2011

5,423

69.5

2012

4,841

62.3

2013

4,360

55.2

2014

4,355 (as of 02/02/14)

51.9 (Estimate Provision)

More detailed statistics are available on the RIA website - www.ria.gov.ie.

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