Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 238: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will examine the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 8 with a view to ensuring that adequate provision is being made to meet their special requirements arising from their health status; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19235/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I refer the Deputy to Parliamentary Question No. 211 of Thursday 6 March 2008 and the written Reply to that Question.

The person concerned arrived in the State on 20 August 2003 and applied for asylum. His asylum application was refused following consideration of his case by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner and, on appeal, by the Refugee Appeals Tribunal.

Subsequently, in accordance with Section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended), the person concerned was informed, by letter dated 14 January 2005, that the Minister proposed to make a deportation order in respect of him. He was given the options, to be exercised within 15 working days, of leaving the State voluntarily, of consenting to the making of a deportation order or of making representations to the Minister setting out the reasons why he should be allowed to remain temporarily in the State. Representations have been submitted on behalf of the person concerned.

The Deputy may be assured that all representations submitted by or on behalf of the person concerned will be fully considered, under Section 3 (6) of the Immigration Act, 1999 (as amended) and Section 5 of the Refugee Act, 1996 (as amended) before the file is passed to me for decision.

In relation to the Deputy's enquiry regarding provision being made to meet the special requirements of the person concerned, I would like to advise the Deputy that the person concerned has been residing in a Self-Catering Accommodation Centre since 29 November 2007 and has been facilitated with a single room at that Centre. The Deputy might also wish to note that persons in self-catering accommodation receive a higher rate of Supplementary Welfare Allowance and, as such, the person concerned is in a position to provide for his own dietary requirements. The Deputy should also note that the accommodation provided for the person concerned is rent free and free of utility costs. As a result, I am satisfied that every effort has been made to meet any special requirements the person concerned may have.