David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The issue of direct provision has taken up a significant amount of my time, that of the Minister and that of the Department in recent years. Many improvements have been made. A significant number of people are now in own-door or self-catering accommodation. We have been moving in that direction but it is very difficult, as colleagues are aware.

There are 69 residents, including nine children, in the premises in Cahersiveen. The accommodation has 56 bedrooms and capacity for 150 residents. The residents are a mix of single people and small-sized families. All single residents have been offered their own bedroom. All bedrooms in the centre are en suite. Some of the residents have declined this offer and indicated they wish to self-isolate with their room-mate as a family unit. We continue to encourage those residents to accept the offer of their own room. No one is being detained at the centre. The centre management has confirmed that the main entrance door is on a thumb lock and residents may leave freely if they so wish. However, the current guidance from the HSE is that residents should self-isolate. The centre staff remind the residents of that public health advice. The whole issue of isolation and staying in our homes and within a certain distance is very difficult for us all.

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