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

Every effort is made on a continuous basis to provide a high level of service to persons in the direct provision system. The direct provision system comprises not just full board accommodation but a range of services including health, education and welfare supports. The principal issue identified in the McMahon report was the length of time people live in the system. Many of the applicants living in direct provision have multiple appeals under way at present which has contributed to the length of time.

We are committed to reforming the direct provision system, with particular focus on families and children. The previous Government established the working group chaired by Judge McMahon. Last week I held a meeting with all of the relevant stakeholders and discussed with them the implementation of that report and our progress on it. The McMahon report said we have to improve the application process and the quality of life in the accommodation through improvements in services. Of the 173 recommendations that were made, a total of 91 of them have been taken forward; 49 are partially implemented and in progress and the balance remain under consideration. When I met the various stakeholders working in this area we identified a number of areas where further improvements can be made.

I am meeting a group again in September to continue that work. I meet them on a regular basis so that we can progress the reforms.

The International Protection Act, which was enacted last year, takes forward 29 of the recommendations because we need a speedier and more effective system that ensures applications are dealt with quickly and appropriately and that people are not in the system. Many thousands of cases have been heard in the past year and the number of people who are in direct provision over five years has decreased significantly. In fact, the vast majority have now moved to being there for under three years. There has been a substantial change, particularly in terms of the main recommendation the McMahon report highlighted.

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