Robert Dowds (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

157. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding conditions in the Clondalkin Towers Refugee Centre, Ninth Lock Road, Dublin 22; her plans to improve conditions in this centre; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21688/14]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Clondalkin Towers asylum accommodation centre is one of five centres located within the Dublin area currently under contract to the Reception & Integration Agency (RIA), a functional unit of the Irish Naturalisation & Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department. That centre currently accommodates 222 persons. Overall, almost 4,300 asylum seekers are accommodated in 34 centres under contract to RIA located in 16 counties within the State.

It is not clear from the Deputy's question as to whether there are specific issues of concern. If so, he is welcome to communicate them directly to RIA for investigation. In general, it is the policy of RIA to conduct at least three comprehensive unannounced inspections each year on each of the centres under contract to it. Two of these inspections are carried out by RIA staff and one is carried out by an independent assessor contracted by RIA. All completed inspection reports on RIA centres, including Clondalkin, carried out since 1 October 2013, have been published on RIA's website - www.ria.gov.ie. This website also provides a range of information and statistics that the Deputy may find useful. Further, all centres are also open to inspection by Environmental Health Officers of the HSE and by other statutory bodies.

The Direct Provision system has been in place for 14 years and no system can remain static. RIA keeps the services provided at Clondalkin Towers and elsewhere under continuous review and will seek to adapt and improve conditions in centres for the benefit of residents.