Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)

The Reception and Integration Agency, RIA, of my Department is responsible for the accommodation of asylum seekers in accordance with the Government policy of direct provision and dispersal. RIA currently provides accommodation to approximately 5,300 persons throughout 38 accommodation centres.

When asylum seekers make their initial asylum applications, they are referred to RIA for accommodation within the direct provision system. First, they are temporarily accommodated in a reception centre in Dublin where they are offered medical screening and linked in with community welfare services. Access is also provided to GPs, public health nurses and psychological services. After two weeks, these asylum seekers are scheduled for dispersal to accommodation centres throughout the country, subject to clearance by the HSE health centre in the reception centre. If there are particular health concerns, a person may be retained for a period at the reception centre or may be dispersed to specified accommodation centres with access to particular health services. Even after dispersal further health needs may present and RIA's internal administrative health unit and the local health services will review any particular health need. The RIA has access to an independent medical referee to assist in the assessment of particular health needs in such cases.

The RIA will always consult management in accommodation centres who have knowledge of local services and their resident profile in respect of religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds. This feeds in to decisions on where an individual asylum seeker will be sent. Generally, persons of similar ethnic background are accommodated together within a centre. Centres also provide facilities such as places of worship and will assist residents in linking with religious, cultural and ethnic groups and communities near their accommodation centre.

Accommodation placement is a logistical operation for RIA and each case is considered individually. The RIA works to match asylum seekers to suitable accommodation in respect of family profile and aspects such as access to school places, health, social and community services and accommodation availability. Nevertheless, the system must operate within the inevitable constraint that RIA can only accommodate persons in centres where suitable vacancies exist. Where an asylum seeker wishes to transfer from one centre to another, they can write to RIA stating the grounds for requesting a transfer. RIA must manage the accommodation portfolio as a whole, taking into account the needs of those already in accommodation, the needs of newly arrived persons and the needs arising from changes of circumstance, such as newborn babies, health issues, etc.

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