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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 30 Sep 2003

Vol. 571 No. 1

Written Answers. - Asylum Support Services.

Finian McGrath

Ceist:

1107 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will consider abolishing direct provision for asylum seekers; and his views on whether it is an inhumane policy. [19694/03]

Asylum seekers have their needs met by the Reception and Integration Agency which operates under the aegis of my Department in the system of direct provision which was introduced in the State on 10 April 2000.

All accommodation providers and companies managing State owned accommodation centres are required under contract, generically approved by the Office of the Attorney General, to ensure that all accommodation centres comply and operate in accordance with all statutory requirements of local authorities and state agencies in relation to bedroom capacity, food, food hygiene, water supply, fire safety and general safety.

In addition, all operators are required to offer menus which reflect the reasonable ethnic needs of asylum seekers. There are approximately 100 nationalities with hugely divergent food and ethnic needs accommodated by the agency and in all the large centres 56 day menu cycles are in place. Other centres, depending on their size, operate 28 day and 14 day menu cycles. The agency also requires the chef in each centre to meet on a regular basis with a representative group of asylum seekers to discuss their food requirements and asylum seekers are encouraged to give demonstrations to chefs on the preparation and serving of ethnic dishes. In addition, particular emphasis is laid on meeting to the greatest extent possible the religious needs of asylum seekers. For example, special arrangements are made to cater for the needs of Muslims observing Ramadan.

Staff from the agency, including senior management, regularly eat in accommodation centres in order to assess the food on offer and in the vast majority of cases, they have expressed themselves satisfied. In centres where it is felt that the food on offer is not of a satisfactory standard the matter is pursued vigorously with centre management.
In circumstances where asylum seeker parents and their children are accommodated in centres operating under the aegis of the agency, particular emphasis is placed on meeting their needs.
It is the policy of the agency that cots are provided in all centres where infants are accommodated and that toilet and bathroom facilities are provided in accordance with relevant statutory requirements. In this regard, the contracts with accommodation providers and operators stipulate that, at a minimum, in addition to cots, the following should be available: infant formula; infant food; access to fresh water, for the preparation of infant formula; sterilisers, sufficient for the number of infant children; kettles for boiling water; fridges, for infant formula bottles; microwave-bottle warmers.
The agency engages independent external assessors to conduct comprehensive inspections of all centres on at least an annual basis. These inspections are always unannounced and the inspectors look at all aspects of the accommodation centre in relation to the proprietors' obligations under the contract which cover such areas as reception, management and staff cover, menus and facilities being provided, maintenance of the property and fire and safety issues. In addition the agency has an in house inspections unit which also conducts inspections of each of the properties used to accommodate asylum seekers at least on a twice yearly basis. Further unannounced visits are made on a regular basis by senior management to accommodation centres throughout the State to ensure that standards are being maintained. Staff from the agency hold clinics on a regular basis in the larger accommodation centres which affords asylum seekers an opportunity to comment on accommodation and operating standards.
Any diminution in standards which comes to the attention of the inspection teams is immediately followed up and proprietors are requested to make any changes and improvements deemed necessary. Where necessary, follow up inspections are also arranged. Diminution in standards are treated very seriously by the agency and in cases where they have not been remedied, contracts have been terminated in the past.
The introduction of direct provision on 10 April 2000 brought Ireland into line with other member states of the European Union, including the United Kingdom, and followed thorough investigation and planning. It is widely accepted that a harmonised approach to asylum seekers is by far the best approach and I believe the system of direct provision is a humane, fair and effective means of meeting the basic needs of our asylum seeker population. In fact, I would strongly contend that the treatment of asylum seekers in this State is, at a minimum, on a par with the best on offer anywhere in the world.
While the operation of the scheme is being monitored on an ongoing basis, I have no plans, at present, to introduce alternative arrangements.
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