Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have to say I do not accept the Deputy's characterisation of these facilities as open prisons. The children attend local primary and secondary schools, are entitled to medical services and are supported within the centres. I have some concerns. My primary concern and main effort right now is to make sure people are not in the system for lengthy periods. As the report recognises, many of these difficulties come about because people are in the system for so long. It can begin to feel very difficult for families in the system that have not had their cases heard. It is clear that the uncertainty is extremely difficult for people who have been in the system for lengthy periods of time. We have to deal with that. There are approximately 4,500 people in the system. At present, there is no accommodation for approximately 600 families that have been deemed to be asylum seekers. Clearly, the Government's broader investment in social housing will be part of the answer to the situation we are currently facing. I would say that this is a very big issue across Europe. Sweden is currently taking 80,000 people a year. Germany is taking 300,000 migrants. There is a need for a much broader programme of action at EU level, along the lines of that outlined in the EU action programme on migration, to begin to deal with this issue.

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