Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 184: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if permission will be given to a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39133/08]

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. As stated in the Reply to the Deputy's Parliamentary Question of 14 October, 2008 in this matter, the RIA understands that the first contact from either party referred to in the details supplied 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. As stated in the previous response in this matter, if the family still wish to be accommodated together, they should apply again in writing to the RIA but should understand that the situation in respect of their demand to be accommodated at Kinsale Road remains unchanged. No such request has been received by the RIA to date.