Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

On staffing at the INIS, the challenges arose from the successful recovery of our economic fortunes. It was a challenge to recruit staff, but I am pleased to say the backlogs are being addressed by dint of the recruitment of new staff, notwithstanding the challenges encountered. At the end of 2017 we were at a figure of 793 applications, which number had increased to 818 at the end of 2018. It is not so much a resources problem as a recruitment problem, but I am conscious of the issues involved and we are working to ensure applications will be processed as speedily and as effectively as possible.

Members of this committee are more aware than most of the challenges encountered in the direct provision system. I do not have a significant menu of options, but it appears that the long-term future of Hatch Hall is in question, having regard to a likely change of use. That will present a challenge, but the authorities and my Department are open to accepting offers of appropriate accommodation. To that end, we recently commenced a public procurement exercise in seeking public tenders for the provision of accommodation, not only in Dublin but also throughout the country. There has been a series of regional engagements. I am open to suggestions if an individual member or the committee wishes to offer a view on how best we might manage the direct provision system, but there is a significant number of people living in emergency accommodation. We have national and international obligations, of which I am conscious. In recent times a request has been received from EU colleagues in the context of emergency engagements in the Mediterranean which will continue to present challenges to us in the provision of appropriate and suitable accommodation.