Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 December 2018
261. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the supports offered to residents of direct provision that have been granted refugee status or subsidiary protection to vacate the direct provision system; the follow-up support offered to these former residents; the cost of these supports per year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53867/18]
View answer262. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of residents in direct provision centres at the end of 2018; the number of these that are children; the number that have been granted refugee status or subsidiary protection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53868/18]
View answer263. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the time that current residents have been in direct provision, that is zero to three, three to six months and so on in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53869/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 261 to 263, inclusive, together.
Some 12% of the people currently residing in the accommodation centres provided by RIA, over 700 people, have permission to remain in Ireland. The fact that people are staying in the centres for some time after they receive permission to remain is a situation that is putting increased pressure on the system as new arrivals have to be accommodated.
Where an individual or family has permission to remain in Ireland they can access the mainstream housing supports and services on the same basis as nationals/European Economic Area nationals.
Considerable work continues to be done to support residents with status to move out of accommodation centres and to secure permanent accommodation in the community.
A number of NGOs have been awarded monies under the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) specifically to assist and support residents with international protection status move out of accommodation centres into longer term accommodation.
In particular, funding was granted to the Jesuit Refugee Service and the Peter McVerry Trust under the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund Ireland 2017 - 2019 for the PATHS project (Providing Asylum-seekers in Transition with Housing and Support).
Further information on funding provided by AMIF can be found on the Department's website.
My Department has also provided funding to South Dublin County Partnership for a two year housing and integration programme, a key part of which is to assist residents, who have received permission to remain, to access housing supports. The amount of funding provided in 2018 was €100,000.
Additionally, under a pilot project, the Department of Justice and Equality has provided funding and is working with DePaul Ireland who provide supports in a number of accommodation centres to residents with permission to remain. Part of their role is to assist residents to access accommodation in the wider community and offer resettlement support to ensure there is a decrease in tenancy breakdown. The amount of funding provided in 2018 was €45,034.
The statistical data the Deputy has requested is compiled on an annual basis and has not yet been finalised for 2018. However, as of 9th December 2018, there were a total of 5997 persons staying in accommodation provided by the Reception and Integration Agency (RIA), Department of Justice and Equality. My Department has attached a document which details the duration of stay per centre for end of December 2017.
Historical information is available from the Annual Reports of the Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) of my Department which are available on their website.
