Michael Harty (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I wish to raise the issue of direct provision, specifically in the context of the recent issuing of letters to single male asylum seekers who are on deportation orders telling them that they must vacate their direct provision centres within four weeks. Many are from countries, such as, for example, Somalia and Palestine, to which Ireland cannot deport people. Will this new policy extend to families and children on deportation orders?

The direct provision system was established 17 years ago and was only meant to be an interim solution in respect of the high number of asylum seekers entering Ireland seeking the protection of the State. It was intended to provide asylum seekers with temporary accommodation while their applications were being processed. Now, more than 4,000 asylum seekers, of whom 1,600 are children, are in direct provision.

The issuing of these letters by the Reception and Integration Agency, RIA, of the Department of Justice and Equality has been condemned by the Irish Immigrant Support Centre, Nasc, which claims that this is actively seeking to make asylum seekers homeless and destitute. These deportees have no entitlement to social welfare and will be unable to access homeless services. Thus, they will have no money, homes, residency or right to work. Invariably, they will become homeless and add to the crisis of street homelessness.

The McMahon report of 2015 brought about some improvements, but more than 25% of asylum seekers are still waiting for longer than three years to have their applications for asylum processed. There is no statutory time limit on processing applications. This leads to a loss of autonomy and self-worth. As the Supreme Court ruled this year, not being able to work in these circumstances goes against the constitutional.

The State has a duty of care to these asylum seekers to look after them in a more humane way until they are granted asylum, subsidiary protection or leave to remain or exit Ireland voluntarily or are deported. They should not be turned out onto the streets without support. Why has this shift in policy occurred? The Minister of State, Deputy Stanton, has stated that no asylum seeker will be made homeless as a result of these letters. What does that mean? Are these letters to be ignored? Has the RIA changed its mind and withdrawn them? What exactly is going on? I would be grateful for the Minister's reply.

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