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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 15 Feb 2000

Vol. 514 No. 3

Written Answers. - Asylum Seekers.

Jim O'Keeffe

Ceist:

302 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if support for English language tuition will be provided for asy lum seekers; and if transport costs will be covered for those based in rural areas travelling to obtain such tuition. [4064/00]

Jim O'Keeffe

Ceist:

304 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if costs, such as those of playschools, will be covered for the children of asylum seekers where community facilities are not available. [4066/00]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 302 and 304 together.

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.

A primary function of the directorate will be to ensure that facilities and support services are available to asylum seekers who are dispersed throughout the country and that the proper structures and procedures will be in place to allow for its smooth operation.

In relation to the issue of English language tuition, education for asylum seeking children in the normal school going age range is provided in the nearest convenient schools, primary or post-primary as appropriate. The education provided includes the teaching of English.

Where the numbers of these children having significant deficits in the English language would warrant it, the Department of Education and Science is prepared to sanction additional teaching resources in the schools concerned for the purpose of remedying such deficits. Asylum seeking students may avail of the normal school transport provided.

While the Department of Education and Science does provide support for the provision of English language tuition for adults granted refugee status, such provision is not made for adult asylum seekers.

Health boards provide financial supports to certain pre-school services which cater for children who are regarded as being at risk or disadvantaged. In individual cases, the boards also fund places in privately run facilities to cater for such children.

Jim O'Keeffe

Ceist:

303 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if groups of asylum seekers dispersed throughout the country will be visited by officials in regard to the processing of their applications; and, if not, if it is proposed to incur the additional expense of bringing them to Dublin for that purpose. [4065/00]

Between November 1999 and 14 February 2000 over 1,000 asylum seekers have been dispersed to 21 locations in the following counties: Clare, Cork, Donegal, Galway, Kerry, Kilkenny, Longford, Mayo, Monaghan, Offaly, Sligo, Tipperary, Waterford and Wicklow.

Interviewing of applicants takes place at the Refugee Applications Centre. The question of the payment of expenses incurred by applicants for this purpose is a matter for the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs and the relevant health boards and my understanding is that, in most cases, the expenses incurred are paid in full. The location of further processing centres is a policy decision to be considered in due course in the context of experience of dispersal and direct provision.

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