Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 May 2021
597. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to the fact that persons are exiting direct provision without any supports in place to assist with accessing housing; if information will be provided in relation to the supports that are in place for persons as they exit from direct provision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25914/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to clarify for the Deputy that supports to assist in accessing housing in the community are provided to residents leaving accommodation centres provided by my Department.
International Protection applicants who have been granted an International Protection status (refugee status or subsidiary protection status) or a permission to remain have the same access to housing supports and services as Irish and EEA nationals.
Considerable work is being undertaken to support these residents to move out of accommodation centres and into secure accommodation in the community. My Department has a specific team in the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) who work in collaboration with Depaul Ireland, the Peter McVerry Trust, officials in the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the City and County Managers Association to collectively support residents with status, or a permission to remain, to access housing options.
All residents who are successful with their application to the Minister for Justice for a protection status or a permission to remain are notified by letter by the International Protection Accommodation Service of the supports available to them and of the contact details of their support workers, whose services are funded by my Department. Contact details for housing support workers are also posted in each accommodation centre and are readily available from the centre managers.
In addition, during the past year a number of clinics were held for persons with a form of status. The clinics were held in accommodation centres with both IPAS staff and Depaul/PMVT support workers attending and providing information of housing options. However, under national Level 5 Covid-19 restrictions it was not possible to continue the clinics. It is expected that these clinics will resume in the near future as restrictions continue to be eased.
While such supports are made available to all residents who have been granted a status it is always open to them and any other residents to make their own arrangements for accommodation at any time, if they so wish, and many do so.
I am happy to inform the Deputy that this year, in the period up to the end of April, 367 people have moved to housing in the community from our accommodation centres and over 90% (332) received assistance from the support services outlined.
The percentage of residents availing of the supports is currently in excess of the proportion for 2020, when a total of 1,136 people moved to accommodation in the community, of whom 799 or just over 70% received assistance from these support services.
