Written answers

Tuesday, 28 June 2011

Department of Justice, Equality and Defence

Asylum Support Services

8:00 pm

Photo of Seán FlemingSeán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Question 372: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the reasons for a reduction of €2.5 million in the cost of the direct provision system in the first two months of 2011 referred to at page 11 of the First Progress Report of the Public Service Agreement 2010-2014; if this is a one off or recurrent saving; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17429/11]

Photo of Alan ShatterAlan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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It is the function of the Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) to carry out Government policy in accommodating asylum seekers under the Direct Provision system. As of today, RIA has 46 centres across 19 counties, accommodating 5,800 residents. The system is constantly evolving, taking account of the ebb and flow of residents and the financial resources available to RIA. At the end of February 2011, the numbers needing to be accommodated by RIA (i.e. occupancy) had declined by almost 7% over the previous 12 months and this trend is continuing downwards. Taking the period specified in the question, the reduction in the cost of the direct provision system achieved in the first two months of 2011, as compared to the same period in 2010, arises from two principal factors: first, a reduction in bed spaces and second, direct cost cutting measures involving, in some cases, a reduction in the per diem rates arising from new contract negotiations and savings on utility costs in the State owned centres. To illustrate the former factor, the number of bed spaces being provided in the direct provision system (i.e. capacity) at the end of February 2010 was 7,689 and this was reduced to 7,015 a year later - a difference of 674, or almost 9%. If one assumes there is a continuing reduction in the number needing to be accommodated and the efforts to drive down costs proceed apace, there is every reason for one to conclude the cost of the system will continue to decline and the savings achieved so far this year will not be one-off. This will be part of a continuing decline in cost of the direct provision system in recent years, as illustrated by the following table:

YearCost (Outturn)
2008â'¬91 million
2009â'¬86 million
2010â'¬79 million
2011â'¬67.5 million (estimate)

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