Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 180: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if matters raised by a residents committee (details supplied) in County Waterford with the Reception and Integration Agency have been looked into; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8652/08]

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 through the Government policy of direct provision. The accommodation centre in question currently has 142 residents.

The RIA's House Rules and Procedures, applicable to all centres, set out general obligations on both management and staff and provides for a complaints procedure to be used by both management and residents where it is believed that a breach of these obligations has occurred. RIA treats all complaints, whether from management, residents or third parties equally. A key element of these Procedures is that issues are best resolved locally and informally. (I might add that the ongoing review of these House Rules and Procedures involving, inter alia, several asylum seeker support groups is at an advanced stage.)

I am informed by RIA that a faxed version of the correspondence referred to in the question was first received on 25 February 2008 and this outlines a number of issues raised by the residents committee at the accommodation centre. These matters are currently being examined by RIA and a considered response will issue in due course.