Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

There are a little over 400 people in direct provision for a period of five years or more. That figure is down. The longest-serving person that I have met is a woman who indicated that she was in direct provision for nine years. That is merely anecdotal, however. I am assured that if that is the case, she is one of a very small number of persons. We need to ensure that applications are dealt with expeditiously and efficiently. The numbers in direct provision accommodation for a period of five years or more at the end of December last year are significantly lower than those in a similar position at the end of December 2016. The numbers are down from just under 600 to 430.

However, it is important that we ensure the applications are dealt with. There are considerable changes under the 2015 Act that will lead towards that. Within our democracy it is open to any applicant, who may not have succeeded in their initial application, to appeal. That is their entitlement under our law and one that I very much respect. However, having regard to the various stages of an appeal, it gives rise to people being in the system for what might be regarded as a very considerable period. It is partly due to initiatives and appeals that are going through our legal process.