Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 4 Nov 2003

Vol. 573 No. 3

Written Answers. - Asylum Support Services.

Jack Wall

Ceist:

570 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if a person (details supplied) in County Kildare and their two children have permission from the direct provision section of his Department to stay with their spouse who is residing in private accommodation in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24944/03]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

The Reception and Integration Agency, RIA, is responsible, among other things, for meeting the accommodation needs of asylum seekers under the system of dispersal and direct provision.

The wife of the person named in the question made an application for asylum on 7 November 2002 and was accommodated in Balseskin reception centre, County Dublin until February 2003. She then moved to private rented accommodation in Francis Street, Dublin 8 and was granted supplementary welfare allowance and a rent supplement by the South-Western Area Health Board. On 9 April 2003 she gave birth to a daughter.

On 14 July 2003 the person named in the question and two children made an application for asylum. The family were reunited and accommodated in Balseskin reception centre, County Dublin. On 13 August 2003 they left the reception centre of their own accord and moved to their present address. In the circumstances, the question of the RIA granting permission to reside in private accommodation does not arise. The ques tion of whether a rent supplement is payable in respect of their current accommodation is a matter for the local health board.