Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 165: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if it is possible to arrange for the transfer of a person (details supplied) in County Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34507/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The Reception and Integration Agency is responsible for the accommodation of asylum seekers in accordance with the Government policy of direct provision. The first person referred to in the details supplied applied for asylum on 19 April 2006. She was initially accommodated at Watergate House and was subsequently accommodated at the Ursuline accommodation centre, Waterford. This person gave birth to a child on 11 October 2006.

The second person referred to in the details supplied applied for asylum on 6 June 2006. He was initially accommodated at Kilmacud House reception centre and has been accommodated at Kinsale Road accommodation centre since 19 June 2006. The RIA understands that the persons referred to were married in December, 2007. The first contact from either party requesting that they be accommodated together was received on 3 January 2008. Both parties refused to be accommodated anywhere other than at Kinsale Road accommodation centre. Kinsale Road accommodation centre has high occupancy levels and no accommodation suitable for this family has become available at the centre in this time.

The RIA has offered alternative accommodation in its portfolio to this family on a number of occasions but these offers have been refused every time. If the family still wish to be accommodated together, they should apply again to the RIA but should understand that the situation in respect of their demand to be accommodated at Kinsale Road remains unchanged.