Gay Mitchell
Ceist:539 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will consider the views of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 10; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11212/02]
Written Answers. - Asylum Support Services.
Ceist:
570 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position in relation to the renewal of a contract (details supplied). [11655/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 539 and 570 together.
The Reception and Integration Agency is responsible,inter alia, for meeting asylum seekers' accommodation needs under the system of dispersal and direct provision introduced in April 2000. On 28 March 2000 the Directorate for Asylum Support Services, which was subsumed into the RIA with effect from 2 April 2001, entered into a two year memorandum of understanding commencing on 6 April 2000, with the proprietor of the premises in question for the provision of full board accommodation for asylum seekers. The two year term of the memorandum of understanding expired on 5 April 2002. In the intervening period, the RIA, in accordance with Government policy, has brought on stream a number of system-built accommodation centres, including one in the Dublin area with a capacity of up to 400 asylum seekers and a full range of services on site including health, welfare and extensive recreational facilities. In these circumstances, the RIA does not have a requirement for a number of commercial premises in proximity to the system-built centres and, as a consequence, is not in a position to enter into new memoranda with a number of proprietors including the proprietor of the premises in question.