Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 609: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the cost to the State, per person, per day, of the provision of both supported lodgings and hostel accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40997/11]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 634: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he has had any discussions with the Department of Children and Youth Affairs on the transition for young persons seeking refuge here between the provisions of the Child Care Act up to the age of 18 and then the provisions of the Refugee Act from the age of 18; if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties posed to young persons seeking refuge here who are in full-time third level education and then upon turning 18 are taken from their supported lodgings and placed in hostel accommodation; the cost of this hostel accommodation in comparison to the cost of supported lodgings; if any transition plan can be put in place in these situations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1079/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 609 and 634 together.

I need firstly to explain that asylum seekers deemed to be unaccompanied minors by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner (ORAC) are referred to the HSE which has responsibility for their care under the Child Care Act, 1991 until they reach 18 years of age. Upon reaching that age, such 'aged out minors' are referred by the HSE to the Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) of my Department for transfer to adult accommodation and service provision under the direct provision system. In very exceptional circumstances, the HSE can deem that such persons should remain in HSE care beyond 18 years of age. In the education area, such circumstances would include where persons are undertaking their Leaving Certificate, in which case the HSE will deem the end of a school year following their 18th birthday to be the effective date for transfer to RIA.

It is RIA's general policy to disperse aged-out minors to family oriented accommodation centres outside Dublin which have established links to HSE services and NGO supports. The rationale behind this policy, which was agreed between RIA and the HSE, is straightforward. Firstly, it relieves the pressure in the Dublin area on bed spaces and, more importantly, on health, education, social, therapeutic and welfare services. Secondly, it reduces the perceived negative influences - crime, drug abuse and so on - that the 'big city' environment in Dublin can have on aged out minors who have limited financial means and who have no family support. Thirdly, it provides a standardised and equitable approach to all asylum seekers over the age of 18 availing of RIA accommodation, thus ensuring fairness. A copy of the more detailed understanding between RIA and the HSE is on the RIA website - www.ria.gov.ie. However, in the context of transition discussions, explained further below, it is open to the HSE to recommend, taking into account the totality of the circumstances involved, that certain aged out minors be accommodated by RIA in specific locations, including in the Dublin area.

There are regular contacts between my Department and the HSE on a wide range of matters of common interest, including those relating to the transfer of 'aged out' minor asylum seekers from HSE to RIA accommodation systems. RIA and the HSE jointly plans for this transition. A template has been drawn up to identify the particular circumstances of each of these adults. This template includes information on their preferred geographical location within the group of designated suitable locations in the RIA portfolio, whether they are currently in education, whether they wish to be accommodated with friends, and so on. Aftercare supports are put in place for this cohort by the HSE before they transfer to RIA and are offered during and after the transition as well. For example, social workers link with these adults while in RIA accommodation and RIA gives regular feedback to the HSE on any issues that arise following their transfer e.g. health issues etc.

In relation to RIA costs, per diem rates differ from one contract to another depending on the facilities available in the centres, the differing functions of some of the centres, the location of the centres, the length of the contracts, and so on. As I have said in response to previous Dáil Questions, details of current individual contract rates are not provided as it is not in the interests of the taxpayer that these are known to the public or to other parties who are, or may be in the future, engaged in negotiations with RIA. Published on RIA's website are its Annual Reports for the years 2007 to 2010 inclusive. These reports include details of total payments for contracts in respect of State owned, commercial and self catering centres; for transport costs; for utility costs in State owned centres; and for miscellaneous payments. Also on this website is a copy of the Value For Money (VFM) review in respect of spending by RIA on asylum seeker accommodation which was completed in May 2010.

In relation to the comparative cost between the system of child care provided by the HSE to unaccompanied minors and accommodation provided to adult and child dependant asylum seekers by RIA under the Direct Provision system, this is not comparing like with like. Different cohorts of persons are accommodated by RIA and the HSE using different models. In fulfilling its general accommodation responsibilities, RIA does not lease or rent premises from commercial contractors. Rather, it 'contracts-in' a comprehensive range of services and facilities, which include accommodation, housekeeping etc., for a fixed sum over the period of the contract. By contrast, the general policy of the HSE is to accommodate unaccompanied minor asylum seekers through children's residential homes and the foster care system and information on those costs is a matter for the HSE.