Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 147: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if accommodation or medical assistance will be offered in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36763/08]

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 person referred to in the details supplied made an application for asylum on 5 January 2004. Since then to date the person in question has been provided with accommodation by the Reception and Integration Agency.

This person is currently accommodated at Mount Trenchard accommodation centre in Limerick. The accommodation remains available to him and has never been withdrawn from him. In relation to any medical assistance, the provision of such assistance is a matter for the relevant medical services within the HSE. The Deputy may wish to note that asylum seekers can access public health services in the same way as an Irish citizen.