Dr. Liam Thornton:

I am not a housing specialist. I do not have any expertise in housing policy. However, how do we engage with others within the State who are not within the international protection system and who need support? Welfare needs will be catered for by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection. Housing needs may be catered for either through - not that there is much - local authority housing or rent allowance, now the housing assistance payment. I have issues with supports provided to asylum applicants not being mainstreamed. A significant number of Departments are engaged with various issues, from the Department of Health to the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection to the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government to, obviously, the Department of Justice and Equality in the determination of claims. Is there a need for absolutely and wholly separated systems while acknowledging there may be a much greater need for engagement and holistic supports for a small number of applicants? From my limited lens from which I can offer advice to the committee on law, how in law we deal with those who may not have enough income? We provide payment from social protection. How do we deal with those who have homelessness imposed upon them or who have to access housing payment supports? We have housing social protection. For healthcare, there is the Department of Health. For child needs, there is the Department of Children and Youth Affairs. My approach is that we have systems in place. Let us utilise those systems, regardless of the legal status of international protection applicants, while acknowledging there will be a small number who will need a more interventionist approach.