Direct Provision Data

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 May 2017

Tuesday, 2 May 2017

Ceisteanna (152)

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

152. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons currently living in each direct provision centre, in tabular form; the number of persons who have been granted leave to remain but are still residing in each direct provision centre; the process for housing former residents of direct provision once their applications are approved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19835/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality

The statistics sought by the Deputy are provided in the table.

The figures indicate that just over 9% of the total population of accommodation centres has some type of leave to remain but are still accommodated in the centres. A more detailed analysis shows that this is a more acute problem in the Dublin area with over 36% of all occupants with some form of permission to stay and even more critical in self catering centres with over 44% of all residents in that category remaining the accommodation. The figures in the Dublin area reflect the general issues with housing that are being experienced in the capital.

Notwithstanding this fact, the Reception and Integration Agency (RIA), which administers the system of accommodation for protection applicants, has always continued to provide such persons with continued accommodation until they secure their own private accommodation. RIA is particularly mindful of the reality of the housing situation in the State and the pressures on the Community Welfare Service in respect of Rent Supplement or the City and County Councils in respect of Housing Assistance Payments and Housing Lists. That said, the provision of housing for persons coming out of the protection process has been incorporated in the recently published Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness.

Following on from the McMahon report, my Department developed a guide to independent living for persons with status to provide practical assistance for them. The guide is available in all centres and has been published on the RIA website (www.ria.gov.ie) in a number of different languages. This was published in parallel with information sessions coordinated by the Citizens Information Bureau in accommodation centres which gave an opportunity for such persons to seek assistance and clarification on the services provided. The Reception and Integration Agency (RIA), its centre managers, the Community Welfare Service (by way of provision of Rent Allowance), Citizens Information and those City and County Councils operating the Housing Assistance Payments link with such persons in accessing the appropriate supports and services, including in respect of sourcing and securing private accommodation.

Some families in centres who have sourced their own accommodation in the community may defer their move until breaks in the school year to minimise disruption to their children's education. As the annual major school break approaches, it is anticipated that a number of families will move during that period.

Following a recent call for proposals under the Asylum Migration and Integration Fund, a number of charities and NGOs have been successful in applying for funding for projects with the specific aim of providing assistance to those transiting from state provided accommodation to permanent homes in the community. While this work has only just begun I am confident that it will prove of great assistance and benefit to all concerned.

County	Centre	Address	Occupancy	Number with Status
Clare	Knockalisheen	Meelick	235	5
Cork	Ashbourne Hse	Glounthaune	90	0
	Kinsale Road	Cork City	234	17
	Glenvera	Wellington Road	98	7
	Millstreet	Millstreet	169	5
	Clonakilty Lodge	Clonakilty, Co. Cork	90	3
Dublin	The Towers	The Ninth Lock, Clondalkin, D.22	209	110
	Georgian Court	77-79 Lower Gardiner St. Dublin 1	65	12
	Hatch Hall	28 Lower Hatch Street, Dublin 2	130	25
Galway	Eglinton	The Proms, Salthill	170	22
	Great Western House	Eyre Square	142	13
Kerry	Atlas House (Killarney)	Killarney	71	0
	Atlas House (Tralee)	Tralee	95	5
	Johnston Marina	Tralee	79	2
	Park Lodge	Killarney	39	2
Kildare	Eyrepowell	Newbridge	78	7
Laois	Montague	Emo, Portlaoise	190	14
Limerick	Hanratty's	Glentworth Street, Limerick	112	2
	Mount Trenchard	Foynes, Co. Limerick	78	0
Longford	Richmond Court	Richmond Street, Longford	73	1
Mayo	The Old Convent	Ballyhaunis	198	1
Meath	Mosney	Mosney	732	62
Monaghan	St. Patricks	Monaghan	157	13
Sligo	Globe House	Chapel Hill	177	13
Waterford	Atlantic House	Tramore, Co. Waterford	71	4
	Ocean View	Tramore, Co. Waterford	65	1
	Birchwood	Ballytruckle Road	118	3
	Viking House	Coffee House Lane	69	4
Westmeath	Athlone	Athlone	186	4
		Total	4220	357
Dublin	Watergate House	11-14 Usher's Quay, Dublin 8	58	32
Louth	Carroll Village	Dundalk	59	20
		Total - Self Catering	117	52
Dublin	Balseskin	St. Margarets, Finglas, Dublin 11	205	6
		Total - Reception Centre	205	6
		Grand total	4542	415