Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 11 September 2017
567. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons who have been processed through direct provision since its inception; and the number who have been refused the right to remain since its inception. [36937/17]
View answerThe system of Direct Provision was established in 2000 when the then health boards, which were responsible for homeless people, found themselves unable to cope with a large number of individuals who were claiming asylum in Ireland.
The Direct Provision system is a whole of Government system which delivers a wide range of services to those seeking international protection in Ireland. Accommodation and related services are organised by my Department through a series of 32 accommodation centres across the country, which are under contract to the Department.
A key aspect of the Direct Provision system is that State services are provided to those in the protection process in the same manner as they are provided to Irish citizens and those legally entitled to reside here. There is no separate education system, no separate health service, no separate social protection service.
From 2000 to the end of 2016, 76,839 people applied for asylum in Ireland. It should be noted that a significant number of applicants choose not to accept the offer of full-board accommodation and choose to self support themselves or live with colleagues, family members or friends in communities across the country, as they are entitled to do. Since its inception in 2000 to the end of July 2017, 58,680 people had availed of the State accommodation system for those seeking international protection in Ireland.
Overall, from 2001 to the end of this June, the Ministerial Decisions Unit of my Department issued 50,563 asylum refusal decisions. During the same period, 10,197 asylum grant decisions were issued. In addition, a number of those applicants who were not granted asylum may have been granted subsidiary protection or leave to remain subsequent to their initial application. A breakdown of decisions between those residing in Direct Provision and outside of the system is not available.
