Written Answers. - Services for Asylum Seekers.
Michael Creed
Ceist:
160
Mr. Creed
asked the
Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform
if he will review his decision regarding the entitlement of asylum seekers and refugees to direct payments from social welfare or supplementary welfare allowance; and his views regarding possible discrimination on the basis of vouchers and direct provision.
[2041/00]
The policy context of the decision of the Government to plan for a system of providing directly for the needs of asylum seekers is the range of measures taken in other EU countries to control illegal immigration and to manage the processing of cases of those who seek asylum and refugee status and in particular the decision of the UK to move to a system of direct provision by April 2000. Given that we maintain a common travel area with the UK which is of enormous value and relevance to the island of Ireland and Irish people generally, a decision of this character by the UK has to be taken into consideration very seriously by any Irish Government.
The introduction of direct provision in this State will simply bring us in line with other member states. It is widely accepted that a harmonised approach to asylum matters is by far the best approach and in introducing this system I am satisfied that it will represent a fair and effective means of meeting the basic needs of our asylum population. There is a widespread assumption that direct provision automatically represents a lesser standard of service to asylum seekers but I can assure the House that the introduction of this system will follow careful planning and investigation.
The Government decided on 9 November to establish a central directorate to arrange for the dispersal of asylum seekers to locations throughout the country and to plan for a system of direct provision for their basic needs. A system of vouchers is only one option to be considered by the directorate which will be consulting widely with relevant Departments, agencies and non-governmental organisations before making recommendations on the most appropriate system of providing directly for asylum seeker needs.
A system of direct provision will for the most part represent a cashless system with the State assuming responsibility for funding suitable accommodation, for providing health and education services and other essential needs. Genuine asylum seekers who are actually fleeing persecution, will, I am satisfied, welcome this service and are unlikely to view it as a diminution in the quality of the services provided by the State, given that one of its purposes is to prevent fraud.
An overall policy, in this regard, is being developed and my Department is consulting with the relevant agencies and NGOs. Meetings have been held with project managers of health boards and county managers and a day long seminar was held on Friday 21 January with relevant interest groups and NGOs.
I will shortly bring before the Government proposals outlining the strategy for the dispersal of asylum seekers and for meeting their needs through direct provision.
Michael Creed
Ceist:
161
Mr. Creed
asked the
Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform
if he will ensure that each proposed relocation centre for refugees and asylum seekers will have adequate availability of interpreters, that persons of the same country or origin will be grouped together, that adequate services will be available locally and that the local host communities will be adequately assisted.
[2042/00]
I have referred to the establishment of the central directorate for the dispersal of asylum seekers and direct provision on a number of occasions in this House.
While the immediate task of the directorate is to ensure that the housing needs of asylum seekers are met as I and the Government are conscious that the essential requirement of shelter must be the first priority, the directorate is currently consulting with Departments, state agencies and non-governmental organisations with a view to devising a planned and orderly system of dispersal which will be sensitive to the needs of not alone the family unit but to the cultures and ethnic background of the applicants. It will be a primary function of the directorate to ensure that the facilities available to those in the greater Dublin area will be also available to those dispersed and proper structures and procedures will be put in place to allow for its smooth operation. Dispersal will not in any way disadvantage those who are located in areas outside of Dublin. Such locations will be chosen where the support services for the asylum seeker are in place or can be put in place without delay.
