Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 251: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if permission can or will be given to relocate to self catering accommodation in the case a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2960/08]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) is responsible for the accommodation of asylum seekers in accordance with the Government policy of direct provision and dispersal. The RIA is currently accommodating almost 7,000 people in 60 centres in 22 counties.

In addition to direct provision accommodation, the Agency operates a very limited number of self-catering accommodation centres in certain parts of the country. This accommodation is reserved for special needs and extreme medical cases in the main. It is important to understand that in no circumstance are persons resident within the RIA system entitled as of right to self catering accommodation irrespective of the length of time they are in the asylum system and the special needs involved. No new self catering centres are planned and the value of retaining the existing centres is under review. The RIA is satisfied that all of the material needs of asylum seekers can be met within the direct provision system.

I am informed that the person referred to in the question is currently accommodated at Glenvera Accommodation Centre in Cork City. This person applied for asylum on 20 May, 2003. The RIA received an application for transfer to self-catering accommodation (as per details supplied with this question by the Deputy) on 29 September, 2007. This request was given due consideration and was referred to the RIA's Medical Referee for a recommendation. There was no recommendation to grant and the request for a transfer was refused.

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. 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. At the centre at which the person referred to above is accommodated, breakfast consists of eggs, a choice of 4 cereals, a choice of 2 juices, a selection of fruit, milk, tea, coffee, toast, brown and white bread and a selection of spreads, jams and preserves. Lunch consists of a choice of 3 light main course (varied daily) together with vegetables, pasta, rice, potatoes, juice, tea and coffee. Dinner includes a choice of 2 starters (1 hot and 1 cold) or desert or yogurt and a choice of 3 main courses (varied daily) to include a meat dish, a fish dish and a vegetarian dish. Tea, coffee, toast, are made available outside of normal meal times.

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 and where there are residents who have special dietary requirements. Menus are kept under review and are revised from time to time with a view to meeting the ethnic and special 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, residents are provided with a copy of the House Rules and Procedures, which incorporates a complaints procedure. Management organises regular meeting 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 problems with quantity, variety or quality of the food.

The RIA is committed to facilitating the needs of asylum seekers in direct provision, including their dietary needs. The person referred to in the question should discuss their requirements with the manager and chef at Glenvera accommodation centre so that they can facilitate her dietary needs.