Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of asylum seekers residing in direct provision accommodation broken down by location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39328/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The Reception & Integration Agency of my Department is responsible for the accommodation of asylum seekers while their application for protection in the State is being processed. Since end 2010, the number of persons availing of direct provision services has reduced from 6,107 person to 4,996 persons at 9 September 2012, a drop of 1,111 persons or 18%. There has been an 8% drop in the number of persons in direct provision in 2012 alone. In line with this decline in demand for direct provision accommodation, RIA has reduced the number of bed spaces in its portfolio. Since the beginning of 2009, RIA has reduced the number of direct provision accommodation centres from 60 to 36.

In response to the Deputy's question, I am providing a separate table with the information requested. The Deputy may also wish to know that, on its website: www.ria.gov.ie, RIA publishes monthly statistical information similar to that requested in this PQ. The information contained on the website includes statistics on new applications, country of origin, age profile, family status, duration of stay, dispersal details of asylum seekers, charts and table showing occupancy trends among other information.

RIA Accommodation as at 9th September 2012