Jerry Cowley (Mayo, Independent)
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Question 162: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his plans for the town of Kiltimagh, County Mayo with regard to accommodation for asylum seekers; if the accommodation arrangements will be changed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9846/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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The reception and integration agency, RIA, of my Department is responsible for the accommodation of asylum seekers and currently has a portfolio of 65 centres across the State for this purpose.

In March 2005, a total of 8,080 asylum seekers were accommodated by the RIA. Approximately 3,500 residents applied for leave to remain in the State under the Irish born children, IBC, measures announced on 17 December 2004. Almost all of these residents have now left the RIA accommodation and, as of 24 February 2006, 4,892 asylum seekers were resident in accommodation centres. Within a relatively short space of time, the numbers requiring accommodation have reduced and it is incumbent on the RIA to use the accommodation at its disposal in the most effective way and to provide the best value for money for the Department and the taxpayer. In addition to the exodus of families with IBC from RIA accommodation, the numbers and profile of persons seeking asylum have changed. The number of families seeking asylum in the State has dropped and RIA accommodation must reflect this reality. In order to address the reduction in numbers and the change in profile, the RIA embarked on a programme of downsizing of its accommodation portfolio. This is intended to bring supply and demand into balance and will include the re-classification of some of the accommodation centres in order to optimise usage and obtain value for money. This downsizing has included the closure of 15 centres with a combined capacity of 833 beds during 2005. To date in 2006, four centres with a combined capacity of approximately 270 beds have been closed and further closures and re-classifications are planned. Overall, the current downsizing has led to the closure of two accommodation centres in County Mayo. There are now only two centres remaining in County Mayo, one of which is in Kiltimagh.

In the case of the centre in Kiltimagh, the RIA considered it to be suitable for possible re-classification from family to single person accommodation. As part of the reclassification of this centre, the RIA intended to relocate its families to other centres where they could benefit from special facilities for children and young people including pre-school facilities. For a number of reasons, the RIA has agreed that the families with school-going children who currently reside at the centre will be allowed to remain there at least until the end of the current school year.

The centre consists of two buildings, the Railway Hotel and the annex, which is located across the road. The RIA has recently allocated nine single males to this building and a number of further placements will be made this week. Discussions have taken place with various groups such as Irish Rural Development, Le Chéile Support Group, Intercultural Ireland, Castlebar, and St. Aidan's National School and we understand that there is now a greater understanding of the proposed new arrangements and the reasons for these changes.

The RIA understands the degree of anxiety or unease that a local population may feel if a centre profile is changed from women, children and small babies to single persons. It is the RIA's experience that such feelings dissipate as the local population comes to know the individuals concerned and their practical experience of the centre operation allays their initial concerns. The RIA currently has in its accommodation portfolio 16 male only centres and no significant issues have arisen at these locations. In addition, the RIA has embarked on the re-classification of a portion of some of its larger family centres in order to accommodate single persons alongside families in counties Sligo, Meath and Monaghan.