Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

There has been a very significant increase in the number of asylum seekers in Europe from various crises, wars, etc., and we will likely become accustomed to it continuing to grow, albeit work is being done in parts of the world where asylum seekers originate. In terms of the remit of the Committee on Public Accounts, however, does Mr. Waters believe in the long term that continuing to invest in private service providers gives value for taxpayers’ money or should we provide such facilities directly, given that there was a 130% increase in the number of asylum seekers in 2015? Over a long period, would that net a reduction in the overall expenditure?