The Government is committed to ensuring that the needs of asylum seekers are addressed in an appropriate manner. It has decided, therefore, that the accommodation needs of such people will be met exclusively through the system of direct provision operated by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. The system has been in place for three years and the Department's reception and integration agency has built up considerable experience and expertise in that time. The backlog of claims for asylum that had built up has been reduced to much more manageable levels and a person claiming asylum in this country can expect to have his or her case dealt with within a few months. Given that the Department has a full range of suitable accommodation available to it to meet the needs of asylum seekers, as well as the fact that individuals are spending much less time in the asylum process before their claims are finalised, it is no longer necessary for asylum seekers to have access to rent supplement.