Dr. Carmel Corrigan:

I think that where it puts us on direct provision is in a very uncomfortable place as a State, which is where we should always be regarding direct provision anyway. However, we now know that since the arrival of the Ukrainian children, are a lot more children are living in direct provision accommodation and in emergency accommodation as well, and then perhaps transferring to direct provision accommodation as an alternative to any other form of housing. We know for instance that at the moment, there are about 1,700 children living in direct provision who have all of their immigration papers and status, but have no way of moving out. We know that there are between 7,000 and 8,000 children still living in direct provision. That includes asylum seekers and Ukrainian children who are here under the temporary protection directive. It is obviously a very difficult situation for everybody and is not something that we would want to see.

On the White Paper, our understanding is that the Government is currently reviewing the White Paper and progress made on it to date in light of the Ukrainian crisis. Instead of direct provision falling, it is increasing. We know that the number of direct provision centres are increasing. I believe that between 75 and 77 new centres were opened in the past six to eight months. Some 27 new ones opened at the end of last year. My understanding is that the Department and the Government are looking at priority areas for action under the White Paper but it is unclear as to what they might be in the context of the rapidly-changing situation.

One thing that we would like to see is a move to more rapid reception, proper reception facilities for when people arrive and more rapid progress through that reception into accommodation. It is also unclear at the moment as to how the vulnerability of children is being assessed when they arrive.