Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I have been asking the Business Committee for this debate and thank it for accommodating the debate today because it is important we discuss this issue. The White Paper publication happened to coincide with the opening of a new direct provision facility in County Donegal. I would like to say a céad míle fáilte to our new Letterkenny neighbours. Last month, the first of 60 families started moving into the new own-door accommodation in Port Road, Letterkenny. This self-catering, own-door accommodation is being hailed as the new style of direct provision, which is expected to be run by not-for-profits in the future. Unfortunately, this centre is still being run by a private company with limited choices as to where residents can shop and no real independent complaints mechanism. I have serious concerns around the need for an independent complaints mechanism for all accommodation centres because it is not satisfactory that residents should first complain to a centre manager and then to IPAS.

As always, the key to the success of the White Paper to end direct provision will lie in the implementation. Unfortunately, the White Paper is not being backed by a legal route and so it will only be implemented at the will of the Minister, which means the next Minister can change it again. Unless the huge backlog of people waiting for decisions on their applications is addressed, there is absolutely no way that the 2024 deadline to end direct provision will be met. Would the Minister agree that the Department of Justice is a large cog in the wheel of progress here? There needs to be a significant increase in staffing and resources at the Department of Justice, the International Protection Office, the International Protection Appeals Tribunal and the Legal Aid Board. The plans in the White Paper just do not have any teeth without buy-in from the Department of Justice. Reports in January 2021 showed that “Of the 7,494 people...seeking asylum, 5,259 are awaiting a first-instance decision...” That is shocking. People are reportedly left in limbo waiting for a decision for 18 months, then they are further trapped in direct provision because of the unavailability of housing options.

I echo calls from the Irish Council for Civil Liberties on the need for independent, human rights-focused inspections of direct provision accommodation centres to be implemented. As the Minister knows, the inspections are currently carried out by a private contractor, QTS Ltd, and officials from IPAS. The Minister has said that HIQA should hopefully be taking over the role of inspections shortly. However, while discussions have taken place, the required legislative changes and allocation of resources are the responsibility of the Department. When will these legislative changes take place?

Finally, if Members have not already read This Hostel Life, written by Ms Melatu Uche Okorie and published by Skein Press, then I highly recommend they do so. The beautifully written short essays tell the stories of migrant women in a hidden Ireland. Unfortunately, that hidden Ireland may continue under this system.

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