Ms Oonagh Buckley:

We paid €78 million in direct provision costs last year. The costs will be higher this year for a number of reasons. The emergency accommodation costs are very expensive. Our numbers are up. The drive to improve standards has led to an increase in the costs that people are suggesting to us as part of the procurement process. I do not want to go into the commercial details. All of this is a substantial cost pressure within the budget of the Department of Justice and Equality.