Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 February 2014
199. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the amount of outsourcing carried out by the State for asylum seekers for the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7411/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI presume that the Deputy is referring to the outsourcing of work to external service providers which is ordinarily undertaken by civil servants. Since 2009 there have been two occasions where work has been outsourced in the asylum area, the details of which are below:
- Establishment of a Presenting Panel of legally qualified persons in 2009 to represent the Refugee Applications Commissioner in some 1200 cases at appeals hearings before the Refugee Appeals Tribunal;
- Establishment of a panel of legally qualified persons in 2013 to assist the Refugee Applications Commissioner with the processing of subsidiary protection applications.
The Deputy will also be aware of course that accommodation facilities and other ancillary services are provided by external service providers for the asylum community.
