Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for coming before us. Article 20 of the reception conditions directive provides that a member state may reduce or withdraw reception conditions but requires that under no circumstances may a person be left in a state of destitution. The witnesses say that if somebody loses their place, there should be a right of appeal but that there is none at the moment. I am familiar with an asylum seeker who was in a direct provision centre in Waterford. He is going to school at Coláiste Dhúlaigh in Dublin. He was getting the bus up at the beginning of the week and going back down as the weekend approached. He arrived in December - just before Christmas -and when he returned to the centre after being in school for the week, he was told that his place was gone. He asked why and was told that he had been missing too many nights per week even though they knew he was going to school in Dublin. He asked where he could stay and was told "Not here." He told them he had nowhere to go but was informed that he could not stay at the centre and that his bed was being given to someone else. Is there no way of holding these people to account?