Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 342: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will provide this Deputy with the details of the current usage of a centre (details supplied) in County Dublin; the number compared with recent years; the number of nationalities who are residing there in 2009; the category of applicant residing there; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28750/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

In replying to the Deputy's Question, it is firstly necessary to give the following general background to the asylum seeker accommodation system.

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. The RIA is currently accommodating almost 6,900 persons representing 94 nationalities across 59 centres in 23 counties.

Persons entering the State seeking asylum make their initial asylum application with the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner (ORAC). Once an asylum application is made, the asylum seeker is offered accommodation by RIA. All such asylum seekers are provided with initial accommodation for a reception period usually of 10 to 15 days at a reception centre prior to being re-accommodated on dispersal to longer-term accommodation centres.

Balseskin Reception Centre in St. Margaret's, North Dublin, is the main reception centre for newly arrived asylum seekers in the State: there is another smaller reception centre in Kilmacud, Dublin. While at Balseskin, asylum seekers are offered medical screening and associated health supports at the on-site Health Centre operated by the Health Services Executive (HSE). Also, they are registered on-site by the Community Welfare Services for certain welfare supports such as direct provision allowance. Initial substantive interviews by ORAC are also conducted in Balseskin. Residents at Balseskin avail of full board accommodation and avail of other on-site facilities, including child and family supports. Once the initial reception period is completed, the RIA 'disperses' asylum seekers from Balseskin to longer-term asylum accommodation centres throughout the country.

In relation to the specific details sought, the number of residents being accommodated changes on a daily basis. This is due to Balseskin being a reception centre with, as explained above, a high turnover of residents. Because of its particular reception function, occupancy would generally remain high. As at 3 July 2009, there were in the order of 250 residents on-site representing 42 nationalities. On average, to date in 2009, the occupancy level at Balseskin Reception Centre has been in the order of 264 persons. This compares with an occupancy for the centre at end-July 2008 of 216 persons and at end-July 2007 of 260 persons.