Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 253: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of asylum seekers or people awaiting decisions from his Department on leave to remain or subsidiary protection cases who have been expelled from direct provision accommodation in each of the past 18 months; the reason for the Reception and Integration Agency withdrawing accommodation from an asylum seeker; the avenues for appeal available to asylum seekers expelled from direct provision; and the process and criteria for re-entering direct provision accommodation after being expelled. [33998/08]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 254: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the provision made for asylum seekers with possible or diagnosed mental health problems who are expelled from direct provision accommodation; the average length of time spent by asylum seekers in direct provision who subsequently become homeless; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33999/08]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 255: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the procedures in place for asylum seekers who are denied access to direct provision; the person under whose remit and responsibility this comes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34000/08]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 256: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will make a statement on the impact of the system of direct provision on the mental health of asylum seekers; and if he will provide information on studies carried out for or on behalf of his Department on this issue and to provide information on mental health care available to asylum seekers. [34001/08]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 257: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the procedures the Reception and Integration Agency has in place to deal with asylum seekers whose behaviour is in conflict with house rules possibly due to their mental ill health; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34002/08]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 258: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the policy and protocols with regard to caring for and accommodating asylum seekers with special needs who may also require special accommodation conditions and rehabilitation. [34003/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 253 to 258, inclusive, together.

The Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) is responsible for the accommodation of asylum seekers in accordance with the Government policy of direct provision. Direct provision allows asylum seekers to be provided with full board accommodation and certain ancillary services while their applications for asylum are being processed. Today, there are 62 accommodation centres around the country accommodating just over 6,900 persons.

Given the general thrust of the questions being asked here, I need to make two points clear. Firstly, no asylum seeker is denied access to direct provision, because of mental ill health issues or otherwise. Secondly, RIA does not expel — nor has it ever expelled — any person from direct provision due to their mental health.

All asylum seekers can access direct provision from the date of their application for asylum. It needs to be understood that there is no obligation placed upon asylum seekers to avail of the accommodation offered by RIA. Some choose to live with relatives or friends, or make use of their own resources to source accommodation.

All asylum seekers are offered free medical screening on arrival in the State which, inter alia, allows them to link with appropriate health supports, including mental health supports. The State provides access to health services for asylum seekers on the same basis as for Irish citizens. Asylum seekers in direct provision accommodation will generally qualify for a medical card whereby they are eligible to receive a wide range of health services free-of-charge including GP services and prescribed medicines. Other HSE-provided supports include Public Health Nurse and Community Welfare Supports as well as a dedicated asylum seeker psychological service. My Department has not carried out any study in relation to the mental health of asylum seekers in direct provision accommodation.

Asylum seekers presenting to RIA accommodation with special needs are dealt with on a case-by-case basis. Persons with special medical needs can discuss their requirements at medical screening or with other HSE service providers during their time in the State. Families who have children with special educational needs can link in to supports through the schools. Where appropriate and feasible, the RIA will make special arrangements at its accommodation centres to address the needs of such clients.

Ireland honours its international obligations in allowing asylum seekers entry into the State so that their international protection claims can be assessed in accordance with the law. In doing so, the State allows to asylum seekers generous access to services, including the direct provision system. The system delivers a high, consistent standard of service and value for money to the taxpayer, through coordinated service delivery to asylum seekers. The treatment of asylum seekers in this country is, at a minimum, on a par with the best on offer in this context anywhere in the EU. No alternative model would deliver the same level and consistency of service to asylum seekers. No other State body is obliged to provide accommodation to asylum seekers, even when — through their own actions — they effectively lead to their own departure from a centre.

The rights and obligations of an asylum seeker in a RIA accommodation centre are clearly spelt out in a document entitled 'Direct Provision Reception and Accommodation Centre Services, Rules and Procedures', a copy of which is provided upon arrival in the centre. Specific reference is made to the right of RIA to expel a resident in extreme circumstances. It is a matter for an individual asylum seeker to decide, and made manifest through his own behaviour, whether he wishes to continue to avail of the benefits of the direct provision system.

In this respect, while every effort is made by the RIA and other State service providers in each centre to facilitate its smooth running, a very small number of residents have chosen — through their own actions — to exclude themselves from such accommodation. Expulsion arises as a result of, inter alia, persistent violent and aggressive behaviour, threats to persons and property, assault, violence, vandalism and damage to property. The RIA has a duty of care towards the 6,900 residents in its care, to centre staff under contract to it, to staff providing services on-site and to visitors, and cannot turn a blind eye to such behaviour.

The RIA has had to withdraw accommodation from 22 asylum seekers in the past 18 months. Of these, 14 were at the 'Leave to Remain' or Subsidiary Protection phase of the process. The other eight were either at the primary stages of the asylum process or were involved in a judicial review process. The mean average length of time spent in direct provision in all of these cases prior to expulsion was 30 months. Note that at all points in the asylum process, it is open to an applicant to withdraw from the process and seek a voluntary return to his or her country of origin.

A decision to expel an asylum seeker from a direct provision centre is usually one of last resort. That said, asylum seekers who have caused themselves to be expelled from RIA accommodation may make an appeal to RIA clearly stating why they feel that they should be re-accommodated. It is a matter for the appeals officer to decide whether the person could be safely readmitted to RIA accommodation, taking into account the person's history and the rights to health and safety of other residents in the system, centre staff providing services on-site and to visitors.