Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)

The first question deals with the value for money review on expenditure. There are approximately 39 accommodation centres State-wide and we are dealing with close to 5,500 people. It is my understanding that the Reception and Integration Agency does not actually lease the premises but instead leases services, such as accommodation, housekeeping and facilities. The Minister has said in the past that it is not the interests of the taxpayer that details of individual contracts are made known to the public because individuals may be in future negotiations with the RIA in regard to provision centres. Nonetheless, we need to know whether we are getting value for money and we do not know that.

We need to examine this issue given the whole system has come in for a lot of criticism. The Minister himself said it is not the ideal system to deal with asylum seekers and that it would be considered in the context of the upcoming immigration Bill, which I welcome.

On the other issue concerning the centres, the Minister referred to the UNHCR, which has expressed concern around the effects of long stays within these centres. The figures available suggest that 40% of current residents have lived in such centres for three or more years. The effect this has on the individual was summed up in a paper produced by the European Anti-Poverty Network Ireland, which states:

This system directly creates poverty and social exclusion as well as isolation and widespread depression and mental illness. The explicit exclusion of asylum seekers from integration policies stores up social problems for the future. Many people who receive refugee status or leave to remain in Ireland have been de-skilled and have become socially isolated, wasting a potential resource of new skills, ideas and energy which could be available to the Irish economy and society.

It is clear that the whole system of direct provision must be examined and we must address it.

See this speech in context