Michael Mullins (Fine Gael)
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I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Fergus O'Dowd. Our two visitors from County Galway are also very welcome.

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein)
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Ba mhaith liom fáilte a chur roimh an Aire Stáit arís. Is breá an rud é go bhfuilimid in ann bheith ag Gaeilgeoireacht linn féin arís. Is mian liom fáilte a chur roimh an bheirt atá sa Ghailearaí romham. Tá siad ina gcónaí in ionad dídine Lisbrook i nGaillimh - ionad cóiríochta díreach, mar a deirtear. I welcome my guests from the Lisbrook direct provision centre.

I have raised the question of direct provision because I know that when the Labour Party and Fine Gael were in opposition, they were strongly opposed to the direct provision model, which is very inhumane. Some of these centres have been described as being like open prisons. Those seeking asylum in Ireland are brought to these centres and kept in difficult circumstances. In some cases, there are six people sleeping in one room. It is unsatisfactory that people can be moved with one or two days notice. The residents of these centres do not have access to their native foods and have to eat when they are told to eat. They face difficulties if they wish to go away for a day or two to visit another part of the country. It is very difficult for them to do this. Those in direct provision centres are not satisfied with the length of time it takes to process their applications for citizenship or naturalisation in Ireland.

Members of the Oireachtas were given a presentation today on behalf of those in the Lisbrook centre in Galway. They have been told that the centre is to close down and were given a few days notice. Up to 100 children are staying in the centre and they have just started the new school year. They have new bags and books and gone back to meet their friends. They have integrated into the local community, but they no longer know where they will be next week or the week after. It is a very difficult situation for them and they are not alone in this regard. People in all of the other centres are in a similar position.

I recognise that the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Alan Shatter, is moving through the processing of applications more quickly then previous Ministers. Although I appreciate this, we still need to do more because the direct provision model is an awful one. We should be ashamed of ourselves for putting it in place. It has involved the privatisation of a system that should never have been privatised. If our citizens were looking for asylum or citizenship in another country and placed in a similar system, there would be a national outcry.

I am very concerned about this issue. When it was proposed to close the direct provision centre at Mosney, the Minister, who was then an Opposition Deputy, actively engaged in the case and fought to keep the centre open and improve standards. Many Labour Party members were also highly critical of the system while in opposition. Having been in power for 18 months, I hope the Government will provide a positive response in which it will agree to change or, I hope, abolish the system of direct provision in order that people who come to Ireland and have a genuine case for asylum are dealt with speedily and fairly. They must be given permission to work and access education and social services while they await adjudication of their cases. Many asylum seekers are fantastic people with a good education who have come here having experienced very difficult circumstances. We should not make life more difficult for them.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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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.

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein)
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Caithfidh mé a rá go bhfuil an-díomá orm leis an bhfreagra. Is dóigh liom go bhfuil U-turn iomlán déanta ag an Aire ar an seasamh a bhí aige sular toghadh é an bhliain seo caite. Bhí sé an-cháinteach faoin gcóras ag an am sin - bhí sé ag rá a mhalairt de rudaí agus atá á rá anois.

While in opposition, the Minister, Deputy Alan Shatter, expressed views diametrically opposed to the statement made by the Minister of State. We have had a complete U-turn and whitewash. Serious problems arise in the direct provision system. From the limited access I have been able to secure to direct provision centres, I have noted that specific serious issues arise in them. I ask the Minister of State to refer to the Minister my request for a full debate on this matter, either in the Seanad or one of the committees. I also ask that Oireachtas Members be granted access to some of the direct provision centres, not by means of prearranged appointments but to pay lightning visits in order that we can determine what is taking place in them. We need a full, frank and open debate on the flawed and inhumane system of direct provision which needs to be dismantled.

Jillian van Turnhout (Independent)
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As someone who stands over the report of the Irish Refugee Council, I find the statement issued by the Minister objectionable. I invite him to accompany Members on a visit to some of the direct provision centres to see the appalling treatment in them.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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I take note of the comments of the Senators. In case they missed it in my statement, I will repeat the following commitment given by the Minister:

... 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 child to welfare be dealt with without delay.

As regards holding a debate in the Oireachtas, that is a matter for the Whips. I do not see any reason such a debate would not take place. I will be happy to pass on to the Minister the Senators' views on visits to direct provision centres. While this is clearly not a matter for which I have responsibility, it would be good if people visited the centres, although the hours of visitation are a different matter. It is clear from the Minister's response that unannounced visits take place. I presume the reports on such visits are available and should help to inform debate on this issue.