Written answers
Tuesday, 16 May 2006
Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform
Asylum Support Services
9:00 pm
Damien English (Meath, Fine Gael)
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Question 396: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of people, as far as practicable, receiving financial support from the Reception and Integration Agency in the Dublin 15 area in the past three years. [17991/06]
Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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The Reception and Integration Agency is responsible for the accommodation of asylum seekers through the policy of direct provision. Direct Provision is the means by which the State discharges its obligations under international law and the Constitution to provide for the basis requirements of asylum seekers. For the most part, it represents a cashless system with the State assuming responsibility for providing suitable accommodation on a full board basis. RIA also has a number of self-catering centres within the accommodation portfolio. Asylum seekers residing in these centres receive full social welfare benefits. These allowances are paid by Community Welfare Officers (operating under the aegis of the Department of Social and Family Affairs). The RIA has no role in providing direct financial support to asylum seekers.
RIA operated one accommodation centre for asylum seekers in the Dublin 15 area — Ard Erdrad Apartments — from March 2004 to March 2006. Ard Erdrad was a self-catering centre with a maximum capacity of 100 persons. Those residing there would have been in receipt of full social welfare benefits from the Department of Social and Family Affairs. The Integration Unit of the RIA administers a small grants scheme and has provided grants to two projects within the Dublin 15 area.
| Year | Organisation | Project Description and Amount |
| 2005 | Blakestown CDP | To part fund a new African/Irish Intercultural Women's Group. Amount awarded: €2,719. |
| 2005 | Blanchardstown Area Partnership | Integration events in primary schools and Community Development Projects; Additional materials for primary school children in the Accelerated Language Learning Project. Amount awarded: €5,000. |
RIA is the responsible authority for the European Refugee Fund in Ireland. Following a recent call for proposals, an independent selection committee has allocated a grant of €320,000 to the Blanchardstown Area Partnership for the period April 2006-December 2007. The project is aimed at facilitating the integration of refugees in the Dublin 15 area.
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