John Perry (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 230: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if any community or self-help groups have been formed by and around asylum seekers since 1990; the Government support available to such groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19568/07]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy may be aware, the Government adopts a mainstream approach to the provision of services to asylum seekers. In that context, various Government Departments including the Departments of Social and Family Affairs, Education and Science, Community Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Environment and Local Government and Health and Children provide funding for local community groups. In addition funding is also provided through the various philanthropic bodies, statutory and non-statutory organisations e.g. the Health Service Executive (HSE), Pobal, the National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism , NCCRI, and the Combat Poverty Agency among others. Though the funds available are not specifically targeted at supporting asylum seekers, they do constitute part of the beneficiary groups.

My Department has established a small grants funding scheme administered by the Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) which is part of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service. The RIA actively promotes the establishment and development of community based groups specifically designed to support asylum seekers living in the portfolio of accommodation provided by the Agency. These support groups aim to encourage and facilitate the active participation of asylum seekers in local community life and the activities developed by this network promote a self help approach.

In 2006, 59 intercultural projects/initiatives around the country, designed to support asylum seekers, were funded under the Small Grants Scheme at an approximate cost of €140,000.

The European Refugee Fund was established in 2000 by the European Union to provide financial support to organisations in respect of services for refugees and asylum seekers. Ireland currently receives €1.2m approx. per annum from the Fund which is administered in Ireland by the Reception and Integration Agency. Twenty groups in Ireland have received support under the current phase of the Fund. The next phase of the Fund will operate from 1 January, 2008 and projects will be selected following a public call for proposals.

John Perry (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 231: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the input asylum seekers have into the way their accommodation centres are run, for example food and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19569/07]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) is currently accommodating over 6,000 residents representing multiple nationalities in 58 centres throughout 25 counties.

In relation to food, the RIA places particular emphasis on meeting, to the greatest extent possible, the dietary needs of residents and, in this regard, 28-day menu cycles are in place in all large centres. In small centres menus are cycled on a 7-day or 14-day basis. The menus offered reflect the reasonable needs of the different ethnic groups and the reasonable prescribed dietary needs of any person accommodated in centres.

All contractors are required to serve, breakfast, lunch and dinner each day. Breakfast must include eggs, a choice of a minimum of 6 cereals, a choice of 3 or 4 juices, a selection of fruit and cheese, milk, tea, coffee, toast, brown and white bread, rolls and a selection of spreads, jams and preserves. Lunch must consist of a choice of 3 light main courses (to vary daily) together with salads, rice, potatoes, juices, tea and coffee. In the case of dinner, it must include a choice of 2 starters (1 hot and 1 cold) or desert or yoghurt and a choice of 3 main courses (to vary daily) to include a meat dish, a fish dish and a vegetarian dish. Dishes on offer for dinner include Chicken, Lamb, Lasagne, Nigerian Style Egg Fried Rice with Chicken, Chicken Egusi, Romanian Chicken stew, Ogbuno Soup and Pounded Yam, Lamb Kleftico, Lemon Pepper Haddock, Pork Paprika and Roast Joints. Dinner also includes rice, potatoes, chips and tea, coffee, milk, soft drinks and water. Tea, coffee, biscuits, crackers, cheeses and fruit are made available, at the discretion of contractors, outside of normal meal times.

Where there are children in centres, a selection of baby foods and yoghurts must be on display and available. In the case of infants, infant formula, infant food and fresh water for the preparation of infant formula must be available. As regards school-going children, a packed lunch to include at least a sandwich, fruit and a beverage are provided.

All contractors are required to consult regularly with residents to ascertain what foods they prefer and how such foods should be cooked. These meetings are particularly important where many ethnic groups may be accommodated in the same centre. Every effort is made to ensure that the ethnic and dietary needs of residents are met. However, maintaining this on a daily basis for all the different ethnic groups can sometimes prove difficult. Menus are kept under review and are revised from time to time with a view to meeting the ethnic dietary needs of residents to the greatest extent possible.

Regular inspections of centres by RIA staff and by an Independent Inspectorate are carried out and appropriate measures are taken where the requirements of residents are not being met. In addition, RIA staff, including senior management, regularly eat in centres to ensure that the fare on offer is of the standard required.

In relation to the running of centres generally, residents are provided with a copy of the House Rules and Procedures, which incorporate a complaints procedure, on arrival and speak to centre management on a one to one basis. Management organise regular meetings with residents, where issues can be addressed. Moreover, RIA staff regularly hold 'clinics' in centres where residents can raise issues in relation, inter alia, the running of the centre, the provision of services at the centre and any additional supports which they would like to have provided at the centre.

Residents can also make representations to the Reception and Integration Agency through third parties, including local support groups, other NGOs, State service providers, health professionals, political representatives and so on.