Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 21 October 2015
84. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the implications of the 173 recommendations contained in the report of the working group on the protection process for Departments; the services they affect; and the proposed time frames for their implementation. [36791/15]
View answer85. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice and Equality given the reply to a Parliamentary Question on the Report of the Working Group on the Protection Process, published on 22 September 2015, in which she confirmed that her Department will be working with other Government Departments on an overall response to the recommendations contained in this report over the coming weeks, when this response will be published; and the time frame for the implementation of its regulations [36793/15]
View answer86. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if the Accommodation Centre at Lissywoollen in Athlone will be considered as one of the areas for the Pilot Information Programme, as proposed in the Report of the Working Group on the Protection Process. [36794/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 84 to 86, inclusive, together.
The Report of the Working Group on the Protection Process contains 173 recommendations many of which have implications for a number of Government Departments and services.
The Government recommended that the report should in the first instance be the subject of a detailed discussion at the Cabinet Committee on Social Policy and Public Service Reform. The Committee held its first discussion on the Report on 13 July 2015. At this meeting the Committee agreed that my Department should prepare a report for the Cabinet Committee, in conjunction with relevant Departments, on the legal, financial and practical implications of the Report's recommendations. I wrote to all relevant Ministers seeking their views on the Report's recommendations, asking them to identify any impacts and issues that may arise and timescales for implementation. My Department is currently analysing the responses, received and will prepare a report for the Cabinet Committee. This will be submitted in the coming weeks.
The Government has decided to bring forward as a major priority the International Protection Bill which will provide for the introduction of a single applications procedure for international protection. This reform will simplify and streamline the existing arrangements and provide applicants with a final decision on their protection application in a more straightforward and timely fashion. This is aimed at addressing one of the key issues identified in the report, that is, the length of time persons remain in the direct provision system.
In addition, the Minister for Health has already signed an order exempting persons in receipt of a Direct Provision allowance from prescription charges and the Minister for Education and Skills has initiated a grants scheme to support certain categories of students in the protection process to access third level studies this year.
When referring to a pilot information programme, I assume the Deputy is referring to one of the outcomes of a Task Force, arising from the Working Group Report, set-up to assist people granted status to transition out of Direct Provision, six information sessions covering eight centres were piloted by the Task Force who will be reporting back to the Cabinet Committee. Based on the success of the pilot, I expect that this programme will be rolled out to all people granted status. My Department is working closely with the Citizens Information Service, Intreo, MABS and local authorities on the Task Force to advance this proposal.
