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Direct Provision System

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 October 2020

Tuesday, 13 October 2020

Questions (396)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

396. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice her plans to phase out the reliance on direct provision centres as a method of housing asylum seekers especially in view of the overcrowded conditions of centres increasing the likelihood of Covid-19 transmission; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29927/20]

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Written answers

The Programme for Government commits to ending the current system of Direct Provision within the lifetime of the Government and replacing it with a new international protection accommodation policy centred on a not-for-profit approach.

Dr Catherine Day has chaired an expert group with representation from asylum seekers and NGOs to examine best practice in the provision of services to international protection applicants, to examine likely longer term trends, and to set out recommendations and solutions. Any new system for the provision of accommodation and additional supports to international protection applicants will be informed by the Report of this Expert Group, which was recently presented to me and to Minister O'Gorman. The Report will be presented to Government shortly and published thereafter.

The intention is to publish a White Paper by the end of this year, informed by the recommendations of the Expert Group, which will set out how a replacement to the Direct Provision system will be structured and the steps to achieving it. Minister O'Gorman will progress the matter following the transfer of the responsibility for providing accommodation to international protection applicants to his Department.

Measures implemented my Department and the HSE nationally in response to COVID-19 include:

- Provision for self-isolation facilities in Centres and offsite self-isolation;

- Increased capacity to support physical and social distancing;

- Enhanced cleaning regimes and provision of PPE;

- Regular communications and information on public health advice to residents and centre managers;

- Provision of a free confidential support line for residents operated by the Jesuit Refugee Service;

- Provision of a national clinical telephone service operated by SafetyNet to provide public health advice to support centre staff;

- Cocooning of all medically vulnerable and over 65 residents;

- Temporary Accommodation Scheme for healthcare workers; and a

- Comprehensive COVID-19 testing programme, as recommended by NPHET.

All centres are following the Health Protection Surveillance Centre’s published COVID-19 guidance for vulnerable group settings including Homeless, Traveller, Roma and Direct Provision settings.

75% of residents have their own room, are a couple, are a family unit or, have own-door accommodation. In addition, more than 65% of all residents now have access to independent living arrangements where residents can cook for themselves and their families and have more autonomy over their daily lives.

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