Seán Ryan (Dublin North, Labour)
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Question 47: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if, in view of the group of single young men under the direct provision scheme who have recently been relocated to Bridgewater House, Carrick-on-Suir, County Tipperary, the resources which are available to integrate these single men, who cannot work, into a very small town; the research which has been done into the feasibility of this relocation; the person who was consulted; the person who was informed; the contact which was made with the local community into facilities available in the town; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9686/06]

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 there was a total of 8,080 asylum seekers being accommodated by the RIA. Approximately 3,500 residents applied for leave to remain in the State under the Irish born children measures announced on 17 December 2004. Almost all of these residents have now left the RIA accommodation and as of 24 February 2006 there were 4,892 asylum seekers resident in accommodation centres. Within a relatively short space of time the numbers requiring accommodation has reduced and it is incumbent on the RIA to use the accommodation at its disposal in the most effective way and provide the best value for money for the Department and the taxpayer.

In addition to the exodus of families with Irish born children from RIA accommodation, the numbers and profile of persons seeking asylum has changed. The number of families seeking asylum in the State has dropped and the RIA, as a demand-driven organisation, is obliged to reflect this reality in the accommodation portfolio.

Due to the rapid fall in the numbers of persons requiring accommodation and the change in profile of asylum seekers, the RIA embarked on a programme of downsizing of its accommodation portfolio. This is intended to bring supply and demand into balance and includes the reclassification of some of the accommodation centres in order to optimise usage and obtain value for money. This downsizing has seen a number of centre closures during 2005, 15 centres with a combined capacity of 833 beds. To date in 2006, four centres with a combined capacity of approximately 270 beds have been closed and further closures-reclassifications are planned.

The only accommodation centre for asylum seekers in the entire county of Tipperary is the centre in Carrick-on-Suir and the RIA has reclassified this centre as suitable for single persons. This centre has housed asylum seekers since 2001 without any significant matters arising in the intervening period. The change of profile of a centre from family to single persons does not generally entail a requirement for access to any additional State services. Asylum seekers of any gender are entitled to access medical and social services in exactly the same way. However, the RIA has found that reclassification to single persons will generally mean that any pressures that may have existed in local schools, maternity wards and in pre and post-natal clinics, arising from the requirement to deliver a service to asylum seekers, are relieved.

It is incumbent on the RIA to utilise its property portfolio to provide the best value for money. Memoranda of agreement require contractors to accept any person whom the RIA refers to the centre. Since its establishment the RIA and its predecessor — directorate of asylum seeker services, DASS — have reclassified numerous centres throughout the State from family to single persons and vice versa without any difficulties. The RIA informs all relevant service providers of a reclassification and, in the case of Carrick-on-Suir, will meet with the local asylum seeker support group shortly.

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, over time, such feelings dissipate as the local population come to know the individuals concerned and as their practical experience of the centre operation allays their initial concerns. The RIA 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 Sligo, Meath and Monaghan.