Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Finally, all of this difficulty could have been anticipated. The numbers are not overwhelming. More than 700 people with status are in direct provision. If the system was working efficiently, they would be out in the community and there would be 700 spaces, which would immediately halve the number in emergency accommodation.

On every level, this is not value for money. This was foreseeable. It should have been reviewed on a regular basis. We knew the numbers, which are not overwhelming. I want that message to go out from me. I ask people to read the detail in those letters.

On the restricted remit that we have in respect of value for money, this is not value for money.