Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 July 2017
281. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if the place finders service that was promised to assist programme refugees find private rented accommodation has been established; and if so, if he will allow the 399 persons with a form of status that reside in State provided accommodation to access the place finders service in order to find private rented accommodation. [31050/17]
View answerPersons who have been invited to the State either as programme refugees under the resettlement programme or as relocated persons under the EU burden sharing programme, do not avail of a place finders service. Instead the Irish Refugee Protection Programme (IRPP) liaises with local authorities and the Irish Red Cross, which organisations identify appropriate dwellings for those in the resettlement and relocated cohorts.
In relation to the 399 persons who arrived in Ireland of their own accord and claimed asylum here, who have been granted leave to remain and who continue to reside in State provided accommodation, there is no dedicated place finder service but a number of measures have been put in place to have the same intention and result.
Following on from the McMahon report, the Department of Justice and Equality developed a guide to independent living for persons with status to provide practical assistance for them. The guide is available in all centres and on the RIA website (www.ria.gov.ie) in a number of different languages. This was published in parallel with information sessions coordinated by the Citizens Information Bureau in accommodation centres which gave an opportunity for such persons to seek assistance and clarification on the services provided. The Reception & Integration Agency (RIA), its centre managers, the Community Welfare Service (by way of provision of Rent Allowance), Citizens Information and those City and County Councils operating the Housing Assistance Payments link with such persons in accessing the appropriate supports and services, including in respect of sourcing and securing private accommodation.
Following a call for proposals under the Asylum Migration and Integration Fund, a number of charities and NGOs have been successful in applying for funding for projects with the specific aim of providing assistance to those transiting from state provided accommodation to permanent homes in the community. I am confident that it will prove of great assistance and benefit to all concerned.
Once some form of status is granted, residents cease to be ordinarily entitled to the accommodation supports provided through RIA. Notwithstanding this fact, we have always continued to provide such persons with continued accommodation until they secure their own private accommodation. We are particularly mindful of the reality of the housing situation in the State and the pressures on the Community Welfare Service in respect of Rent Supplement or the City and County Councils in respect of Housing Assistance Payments and Housing Lists. That said, the provision of housing for persons coming out of the protection process has been incorporated in the Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness.
