Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 219: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if a transfer to more appropriate accommodation will be made in the case of persons (details supplied) in Dublin 22; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26528/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, 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.

By way of background, the Deputy may wish to note that the mother and four of the children referred to in the details supplied made applications for asylum at the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner (ORAC) on 23 May, 2007 and were initially accommodated at Kilmacud Reception Centre. The husband referred to in the details supplied made a separate application for asylum on 30 May, 2007 and was accommodated at Balseskin Reception Centre before being transferred to join his wife and family at Kilmacud Reception Centre on 8 May, 2007. As RIA's reception centres are mainly used for reception purposes and in accordance with the Government policy of dispersal, the family were transferred to Clondalkin Towers accommodation centre on 15 June, 2008. The youngest child was born on 4 April, 2008 and registered with the ORAC on 3 June, 2008.

Due to the size of the family and the demand on direct provision accommodation across its portfolio, the RIA has had some difficulty sourcing suitable accommodation in this case. However, I can inform the Deputy that suitable accommodation, consisting of a three room suite with en suite facilities has now been identified and the family is currently moving to this accommodation.