John Perry (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 529: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if there is a level of female staff which must be met by each accommodation centre dealing with asylum seekers under the direct provision system; if staff in centres must be trained to deal with children; if staff have to undergo gender relations training before they can work within accommodation centres dealing with asylum seekers under the direct provision system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18965/07]

John Perry (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 531: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the guidelines in place for dealing with those subjected to gender specific violence or torture who are in the direct provision system; if counselling and interpreters are available to all asylum seekers, both adults and children, within the direct provision system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18967/07]

John Perry (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 532: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if female asylum seekers searched on their arrival to Ireland; if female asylum seekers can be searched while they are in the direct provision system; if such searches are limited to being conducted by female staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18968/07]

John Perry (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 533: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if female asylum seekers within the direct provision system are allowed to wear religious clothing; the regulations that govern this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18969/07]

John Perry (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 534: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the research that was conducted prior to the introduction of the direct provision system for housing asylum seekers; if policies in other countries were examined; if research was done as to the effect of direct provision on women and children specifically; if research has been done on direct provision since its introduction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18970/07]

John Perry (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 535: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of people currently in the direct provision system; the centres involved in the direct provision system; the breakdown of this figure according to centre and according to age and gender; the annual figures on asylum seekers within direct provision since its introduction according to age and gender; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18971/07]

John Perry (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 538: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of accommodation centres which deal with asylum seekers under the direct provision system that have stopped dealing with the system since its introduction; if he has ever had to stop dealing with an accommodation centre; if so, the reason for same; the guidelines in place to deal with such accommodation centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18974/07]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 529, 531 to 535, inclusive, and 538 together.

The Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) is responsible, inter alia, for the provision of accommodation and ancillary services to asylum seekers through the policy of direct provision. The RIA is a cross-departmental Agency which coordinates service provision in areas including health, education and welfare. The RIA, through contracts with commercial sector providers, currently provides accommodation for 6,107 persons in 58 centres across 25 counties.

In relation to the level of female staff, the staffing of such centres is a matter for the contractor. Contracts between the provider and RIA refer to appropriate staffing levels and compliance with relevant employment and equality legislation. The issue of child protection is taken very seriously. Indeed, in my former role as Minister for Children, l launched the RIA's Child Protection Policy in December, 2005. This policy was drafted with the assistance of the HSE and in consultation with RIA and accommodation centre staff. The policy includes protocols for addressing child welfare concerns appropriately and effectively. All centres which accommodate children have at least one Designated Liaison Person on child protection issues.

A needs assessment was also undertaken by the RIA regarding the needs of children and families in RIA managed accommodation. This assessment incorporated consultation with a wide range of agencies, and this has enabled the improvement of inter-agency links and coordinated service delivery, as well as promoting a more pro-active response from organisations such as youth services, County/City Child Care Committees, Vocational Education Committees, HSE, libraries, statutory and voluntary agencies, and so on. Preschool services are now established in a number of centres with supports and monitoring systems in place.

Visual "storyboard" tools have also been developed to facilitate the raising of awareness amongst residents of the RIA's child protection policy. These tools are now available to direct provision centre staff and other service providers. A programme for non-Irish national parents has been developed by the RIA, and an inter-departmental / inter-agency steering group established to drive this.

Funding is also received through the EQUAL programme, aimed at supporting separated children seeking asylum as they "age out". Such supports include outreach services, mentoring, parent education and other responses to identified need.

The RIA is in the process of rolling out a series of training programmes and seminars dealing with issues such as child protection training (in conjunction with the HSE), conflict resolution and anger management and improving service delivery at accommodation centres. Some of these programmes arise from conclusions reached after a series of three two-day seminars hosted by RIA, held in Tullamore in the past seven months, on 'Information and Good Practice' which were attended by accommodation centre staff and managers, relevant Government bodies and NGOs.

In relation to the issue of gender specific violence and torture, asylum seekers residing in the State have access to health services on the same basis as the indigenous population. In addition, there is a dedicated counselling service provided by the HSE in Dublin which specialises in issues related to victims of violence and torture among the asylum seeking population. Newly arrived asylum seekers have access to health screening, general practitioner and public health nursing services as appropriate. Those who are victims of such torture or violence can be referred directly to the counselling service by any of these health service professionals. In addition to the service provided by the HSE, an NGO called SPIRASI provides a comprehensive counselling and medical follow-up service specifically aimed at victims and survivors of torture. The SPIRASI service is funded by the HSE. In all cases, interpretation services can be accessed by relevant service providers in this area.

There is no policy or practice to search asylum seekers on arrival or during their stay in accommodation centres under the Direct Provision system. Searches may only be carried out by the Garda authorities under the powers vested in them under relevant legislation.

No regulations are in existence in relation to the type of clothing that may be worn by asylum seekers residing in the Direct Provision system. Every asylum seeker accommodated by the RIA is provided with a copy of the "Direct Provision Reception & Accommodation Centre Services, Rules and Procedures". This booklet is available in 6 languages, including English. The booklet includes information on services provided at centres, House Rules, complaints procedures, child protection and fire safety. There is an implied obligation on residents to wear clothes which do not offend accepted standards of decency or seek to deliberately conceal identity. I might add that the RIA is unaware of any issues having arisen in this area. A committee is being set up, involving interested parties such as the Irish Refugee Council, to review the above mentioned Rules and if the issue of clothing standards arises, it will be dealt with.

The decision of the Government to introduce direct provision was made against the background of a range of measures taken in other EU countries to control illegal immigration and manage the processing of large numbers of asylum applicants. Whilst no research has been commissioned by the RIA on the direct provision system in this country, the RIA is made aware of reports by NGOs and other interested bodies on various aspects of the system and account is taken of such reports.

In this context, it is widely accepted that a harmonised approach to asylum matters is by far the best approach. The introduction of direct provision in this country simply brought us in line with other EU Member States, and more particularly with our nearest neighbour, the UK, who introduced a direct provision system in April, 2000. I am satisfied that direct provision is a humane, fair and effective means of meeting the basic needs of our asylum seeker population. I would strongly contend that the treatment of asylum seekers in this country is, at a minimum, on a par with the best on offer anywhere in the world.

The statistics sought by the Deputy in relation to the overall number of residents in RIA accommodation as of 2 July, 2007 are as follows:

Gender Profile

Female 2,685

Male 3,347

Total 6,032

In the time available, it is not possible to provide retrospective data or to provide the breakdown above according to individual centres. This is being compiled at present and the data will be provided directly to the Deputy later this week.

In relation to the issue of closures, the RIA has terminated contracts with 68 centres since its inception. Of these, 21 were effected as part of a downsizing programme when numbers in RIA accommodation were reducing. The remainder of closures (47) were effected due to non-compliance with standards (e.g. fire certification) and contract terms or where the contractor did not wish to renew the contract.

The Guidelines for a contractor are, in essence, the contract itself. The contract places obligations on the contractor in relation to reception, management and staff issues, menus and food for infants and school-going children, maintenance of the property and fire and safety standards. It is the policy of the RIA to conduct regular comprehensive inspections on properties used to house asylum seekers. These inspections are carried out internally by RIA staff and externally by an independent company with specific expertise in Hazard and Critical Control Point (HACCP) analysis (food and food hygiene) and fire safety standards. In addition, all premises are subject to inspection by the Environmental Health Officer and Fire Officer.

The contracts entered into by the RIA place obligations on the contractor to ensure that there is a standard of accommodation and service in place. All contractors are obliged to ensure that their premises complies with and operates in accordance with, all relevant statutory requirements of local authorities in relation to planning, building, bye-laws, bedroom capacity, food, food hygiene, water supply, sewage disposal, fire precautions and general safety.

John Perry (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 530: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if female interpreters are employed to deal with asylum seekers during the process of applying for asylum; if counsellors are on hand to deal with asylum seekers who have gone through traumatic events during the asylum application process; if interpreters have been given training in dealing with asylum seekers who may have been subject to gender specific violence or torture; the guidelines in place for dealing with those subjected to gender specific violence or torture during the asylum process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18966/07]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I am confident that asylum applications from people who may have suffered gender specific violence, torture or other traumas are dealt with appropriately and sensitively by properly trained and resourced staff. As the Deputy is aware, there is a statutory framework governing the asylum determination process in Ireland set out in the Refugee Act, 1996. The 1996 Act established two independent statutory offices to consider applications and appeals in respect of refugee status and to make recommendations to the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform on whether such status should be granted. These offices are the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner (ORAC) and the Refugee Appeals Tribunal (RAT).

The asylum process now in place in the State is comprehensive and compares well with other EU countries. Indeed this fact was acknowledged by a former UNHCR Representative to Ireland who is quoted as stating that Ireland is now a model for the new Member States of the European Union and that "we now have a system which, in many respects, is one of the best in Europe". The processing of asylum applications is done within the framework of the Refugee Act 1996, under which every asylum applicant, regardless of gender, is guaranteed an investigation and determination of his or her claim at first instance by the Refugee Applications Commissioner. Each application is assessed comprehensively on the basis of the circumstances of the individual case and having regard to both the subjective elements (the applicant's own account or personal history) and objective elements (up-to-date information on the applicant's country or place of origin).

Our system also guarantees every asylum applicant a right of appeal to a statutorily independent and separate body — the Refugee Appeals Tribunal — as well as guaranteed access to legal assistance provided by the Refugee Legal Service. Interpretation facilities are also provided where necessary and applicants are generally facilitated if they request caseworkers and interpreters of a particular gender because of the often sensitive nature of the matters arising at interview.

I am advised that while counsellors are not engaged by the ORAC to deal with asylum applicants who claim to have gone through traumatic events in their country of origin prior to their arrival in the State and/or for applicants who claim to be the survivors of torture, the interviewers in ORAC have received comprehensive and specialised training (as developed in consultation with UNHCR, and in line with international best practice) in relation to interviewing all types of asylum claimants, including survivors of torture, vulnerable groups such as women and children who have been traumatised by gender specific violence and unaccompanied minors and separated children. In addition, the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre has provided training and guidance and psychological support to interviewers in ORAC who are dealing with applicants who are the victims of sexual abuse and rape.

In addition, ORAC's approach to processing asylum applications relating to gender specific violence is in line with international best practice. I am also aware of certain NGO groups who provide services and assistance, including counselling to victims of torture. The State training programmes are delivered by a combination of experienced personnel, UNHCR training specialists, asylum experts from other countries, psychologists and other agencies with the specialist skills required.

In relation to interpretation, I am advised that asylum applicants are asked when they present at the Office of Refugee Applications Commissioner (ORAC) to make applications for refugee status to outline if they have any special needs with these being noted and female interpreters are provided if they are requested.

It is not possible to comment on the internal training provided by the interpretation service provider to their staff. However, I am advised that UNHCR has provided training to interpreters in the past in relation to interpreting with regard to the asylum process. ORAC also regularly monitors the standard and quality of service provided by its interpretation suppliers through its internal quality assurance systems and by having regular meetings with the manager of the relevant company to ensure that the interpreters are professional in the course of their duty. The ORAC has developed guidelines relating to the use of interpretation in the ORAC in consultation with UNHCR.

John Perry (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 536: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of asylum seekers who are living outside of the direct provision system; the assistance that has been made available to said asylum seekers; the number of children asylum seekers living outside of direct provision; the way these children are being aided by the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18972/07]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The provision of statistics relating to the number of asylum seekers who have been entitled to a rent supplement since the introduction of direct provision is a matter for the Minister for Social and Family Affairs.

Statistics in relation to the number of asylum seekers living outside the direct provision system are not readily available. The provision of services to asylum seekers such as in the areas of health and education are matters for the appropriate Government Departments. In relation to my own Department, I can advise the Deputy that all asylum seekers are entitled to confidential and independent legal advice provided by the Refugee Legal Service and access to interpreters at all stages in the asylum process. In addition, they are provided with direct provision services including full board and accommodation.

In relation to unaccompanied minors, under the provisions of the Refugee Act, 1996, where it appears that a person is under the age of 18 years and unaccompanied, the minor must be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) which will then decide whether or not to make an application for asylum on their behalf. In the event that an application is made, the HSE will then assist the minor throughout the asylum process, including accompanying them to any interview or hearing that may be scheduled.

The processing of applications for refugee status from unaccompanied minors has a number of child-specific features and has regard to a number of distinct factors including the UNHCR's Guidelines on Policies and Procedures in dealing with Unaccompanied Children seeking Asylum.