Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

I point out to the Tánaiste that last year the UN Human Rights Committee described it as a severe violation of human rights. That committee is very hard on the system of children living in what has been called "state-sanctioned poverty".

The Tánaiste will be aware that there is an allowance of €19.10 a week for each adult in direct provision. That was set in 1999 and has not changed. According to my calculation of indexation for inflation, that allowance should be a meagre €27.50. Instead of looking after those in direct provision, the Government is paying out millions of euro to the companies which make vast profits in providing the accommodation. All of the evidence shows, as the Tánaiste must agree, that there are severe mental issues with thousands of adults and children living in an environment where they have no control, where adults are not allowed work or study and where children are not even allowed bring their classmates home to play with them. Could the Tánaiste please comment on those humane issues that are outstanding in dealing with this issue?

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