Annie Hoey (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I will speak about direct provision and some serious concerns raised by residents of direct provision centres about how they are treated. These are based on recent correspondence residents received from the international protection accommodation service, IPAS, regarding those who leave direct provision overnight and similar matters. The correspondence states that in line with previous public health advice, any resident who is absent from the centre for one night or more without notifying the manager will not be permitted to return to the centre and will have to formally reapply to IPAS to be re-accommodated. It goes on to state this will include a required 14-day quarantine period in an appropriate isolation location. Huge concerns have been raised about this. I ask the Leader to appeal to the Minister for Justice and Equality for common sense to prevail. People in direct provision are grown adults. This decision is not in line with any public health advice to any other resident in the State. There are deep concerns about this and the infantilisation and treatment of those in direct provision.

On that note, Dundalk Institute of Technology, DkIT, has announced a sanctuary scholarship. Many other institutions have such scholarships and these need to be much more widespread. I encourage Senators to share information on sanctuary scholarships that may be available in their local areas.

The Movement of Asylum Seekers in Ireland, MASI, is taking a survey of educational attainment and aspirations of those in direct provision and the asylum process. This research is valuable given our new razor-sharp focus on post-second level education. I encourage the new Ministers, one of whom was in the Chamber yesterday, to engage with MASI and other such groups on the issue of educational attainment and opportunities for those living in direct provision or the asylum process.

As I will not be in the House to say this next week, Eid celebrations will take place in Croke Park this day next week and I wish all the participants and organisers well.