Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Tá má ag tógáil an rúin seo thar cheann an Aire, an Teachta Shatter, atá as láthair inniu. Cuirim fáilte roimh mo chairde atá anseo ó Chontae na Gaillimhe.

The Reception and Integration Agency of the Department of Justice and Equality is responsible for the accommodation of asylum seekers in accordance with the Government policy of direct provision. The State provides levels of support, in addition to full board accommodation, for asylum seekers, with all costs covered and no costs charged to the asylum seekers. Asylum seekers avail of free primary and post-primary education on the same basis as any other child in the State. They qualify for medical cards and avail of a wide range of supports such as public health nurse, adult English language supports and assistance from community welfare services to allow children to engage in activities and events within schools and through extracurricular activities and sports clubs. Taking this broad range of supports and services into consideration, it cannot be said asylum seekers and their children are not very well supported by the State.

Attention has, once again, been drawn to the direct provision system following on from the recently published report of the Irish Refugee Council entitled, State Sanctioned Child Poverty and Exclusion. I reiterate the point made in the Dáil debate on the report yesterday in response to the suggestion therein that there is widespread State sponsored neglect of the needs of asylum seekers' children. That this is the case seems unlikely. Any suggestion children are malnourished or that there is inadequate provision of food would be regarded with the utmost gravity and, potentially, lead to contract terminations with immediate effect.

The Minister is satisfied that the treatment of asylum seekers in this country is at least on a par with that in any other country and that the direct provision system delivers a high standard of service and value for money to the taxpayer through co-ordinated service delivery to asylum seekers. Notwithstanding this and in the light of the seriousness of the suggestion in the Irish Refugee Council's report, the Minister has directed that it be comprehensively examined and any issues arising addressed. In particular, he has directed that issues relating to child welfare be dealt with without delay.

The Reception and Integration Agency sets out standards of service in its contracts, including legislative standards, and engages internal and expert external inspectors to review its accommodation standards. It also engages independent external assessors with expertise in fire safety and food preparation to conduct comprehensive unannounced inspections of all centres at least once a year. The inspectors examine all aspects of the accommodation centre in relation to the proprietor's obligations under the contract. Combined inspections, information clinics and other visits ensure the regular monitoring of all centres throughout the year. Accordingly, it is difficult to see how the types of issues highlighted in the Irish Refugee Council's report could not have come to the attention of the Reception and Integration Agency and its external assessors.

The safety of all asylum seekers, especially children, is of critical importance. All complaints concerning the safety of residents are taken very seriously by the Reception and Integration Agency and centre managers. The Reception and Integration Agency's child protection policy ensures child welfare concerns are referred to the Health Service Executive and the Garda.

A full review of direct provision was conducted and published in 2010 in the form of a value for money report. The review examined the effectiveness and efficiency of the system. There are no cheaper alternatives to the direct provision system. If we were operating a system which facilitated asylum seekers in living independent lives in individual housing with social welfare support and payments, the cost to the Exchequer would be double what is currently paid under the direct provision system, even if one were to discount the additional "pull factor" this would entail. This was a key finding in the value for money report on the direct provision system, a copy of which is in the Oireachtas Library.

While the operation of the direct provision system is constantly monitored and kept under continuous review in the Department, the Minister has no plans to change the direct provision policy at this time. The policy of direct provision and dispersal is one of the central features of the State's asylum system and the need for the system remains.