Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I want to impress on the committee that the Reception and Integration Agency continues to work to expand capacity, both in existing centres and through the identification of new premises throughout the country. The appropriate agencies will seek a resolution of the issues related to Hatch Hall.

There was a similar challenge in Clondalkin that was met by means of dialogue and people sitting around a table, ensuring sensitive issues could be dealt with by compassionate means, rather than inducing fear or panic.

There have been improvements in processing times and we will continue to strive for greater effectiveness. Four months is now the processing time for priority cases and eight to ten months for non-priority cases. Decisions issue within a period of eight weeks from the date of interview. Clearly there are some complex individual cases that from time to time take longer, but I am very conscious of the need to have a streamlined system in order that people can have an element of certainty on the timeframe involved.

On the forensic science matter, I acknowledge the progress made on site and the urgent need to move from the Phoenix Park to Backweston. Funding has been provided for it and there is no impact on the current building programme caused by any issue pertaining to the national children's hospital project. The sum of €10 million involved in the re-profiling was not funding that could have been spent this year under the capital programme.