Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will report on the progress that has been made in reducing the waiting times of persons in the direct provision system as overseen by the Reception and Integration Agency of his Department. [43428/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The accommodation of asylum seekers through the direct provision system is the responsibility of RIA) who assumes this responsibility and for certain other services on a full board basis. All accommodation costs, together with the costs of meals, heat, light, laundry and maintenance are paid directly by the State. Asylum seekers in direct provision accommodation also receive a weekly cash allowance which takes account of board and lodgings and other ancillary benefits provided through the direct provision system. Asylum seekers can also apply to Community Welfare Officers for assistance to meet a particular once-off need by way of an exceptional needs payment under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme. Payments under this category cover once-off costs such as back-to-school clothing and footwear.

Overall demand for RIA services is declining. At the beginning of 2009, RIA was accommodating an overall number of 7,002 asylum seekers. Currently, it is accommodating just under 5,000 persons, a reduction of almost 29% during this period.

In essence, RIA accommodates all those who make a claim for protection and seek accommodation until such time as they:

(i) leave voluntarily; (ii) are removed – either by way of deportation or Dublin II transfer; (iii) are granted refugee status or subsidiary protection; or (iv) are granted leave to remain, either through the process set out in the Immigration Act, 1999 or by way of a special scheme such as the 2005 IBC scheme. It is not possible to specify exactly how long each person has resided in RIA accommodation. Protection applicants i.e. asylum seekers or other applicants under the immigration acts are not required to live in RIA accommodation and in many cases, may move in and out of the direct provision system as their circumstances change.

On the matter of application processing times and consequent length of time spent in the direct provision system, some cases can take significantly longer to complete owing to, for example, delays arising from medical issues or because of judicial review proceedings. All asylum applications and appeals are processed in accordance with the Refugee Act 1996 and high quality and fair decision-making in all cases continues to be a key priority at all stages of the asylum process.

For the sake of completeness, it is necessary to point out that persons who are refused a declaration under section 17 of the Refugee Act 1996, as amended, enter what is commonly referred to as the “leave to remain” process which generally has two elements to it: an application for subsidiary protection and further consideration to be given under section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999, as amended. This is separate from the asylum or refugee status determination process. The processing of cases at this point is also complex and extremely resource intensive and there are no quick or easy decisions to make. Given the life changing consequences for the persons involved, these are decisions which must be taken with the most scrupulous care and attention.

I have taken steps to speed up the processing of applications, primarily by redeploying staff from the refugee determination bodies. The Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill 2010 which I intend to republish in the near future provides for the introduction of a single procedure to determine applications for protection and other reasons to remain in the State. This should substantially simplify and streamline the existing arrangements. This reorganisation of the protection application processing framework will remove the current multi-layered processes and provide applicants with a final decision on their applications in a more straightforward and timely fashion.