Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 September 2014
130. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality to set out the number of persons currently residing in all direct provision centres; if she will provide a breakdown on the number of males and females and also the number of children in this figure; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34885/14]
View answer131. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide in tabular form the duration of stay of persons residing in direct provision centres; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34886/14]
View answer132. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide in tabular form the family size of those residing in direct provision centres; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34887/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 130 to 132, inclusive.
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. RIA currently provides full board accommodation and ancillary services to just over 4,300 persons in 34 centres across the State.
In relation to statistical queries such as these, it is important to state that RIA is keen to provide as much detail as is practicable on the system which it is charged with operating. Extensive statistical information is on its website - www.ria.gov.ie including Annual Reports covering the years from 2007 to 2013 inclusive. These Annual Reports provide a variety of information, including a breakdown of the numbers of adults and children in each direct provision centre and the length of time persons, overall, have been residing in the direct provision system. This is also provided on a centre by centre basis, and the counties in which these centres are located are identified in these reports. The latest 2013 Report has all of the latest available information sought in these questions.
More generally, I acknowledge that the length of time that residents spend in Direct Provision is an issue to be addressed. The Statement of Government Priorities 2014-2016 includes a commitment to reduce the length of time the applicant spends in the system through the establishment of a single applications procedure, to be introduced by way of a Protection Bill as a matter of priority. Moreover, there is a further commitment to establish an Independent Working Group to report to Government on improvements with the protection process, including direct provision and supports for asylum seekers. My intention is to proceed with the establishment of that Working Group in the near future whose mandate will include reporting back to Government on improvements to direct provision. I am, in advance of establishing the Working Group, holding a round table on 19 September to provide non-governmental organisations active in the field of asylum the opportunity to outline the key issues for them in relation to the State's current arrangements for asylum seekers. I also intend to use the outcome of that meeting to inform the terms of reference of the Working Group.
