Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 206: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if permission can or will be given to persons (details supplied) in County Cork to transfer to a self catering unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9612/07]

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 Government policy of direct provision and dispersal. Through direct provision, asylum seekers are provided with full board accommodation and ancillary services. The accommodation centre at Kinsale Road also facilitates Community Welfare Services, medical supports and VEC training on-site for residents.

In addition to direct provision accommodation, the Agency operates a very limited number of self-catering accommodation centres in certain parts of the country. There are no centres of this type in Cork City. This accommodation is reserved for special needs and extreme medical cases in the main.

As outlined in my answer to a previous Dáil question on this matter on 27 February 2007, the Reception and Integration Agency received a request from the persons referred to in the details supplied for a move to self-catering accommodation dated 18th December, 2006. As the request was made on medical grounds, the Agency referred the details of the request to a Medical Referee for recommendation. The view of the Medical Referee in this case was that there was no clear indication to support a change to self catering accommodation.