Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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101. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide in tabular form the length of time broken down by six month periods of the number of persons in direct provision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36014/14]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The Direct Provision system is managed by the Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) of my Department. For the most part, this represents a cashless system with the State assuming responsibility for providing suitable accommodation for asylum seekers on a full board basis. RIA currently provides full board accommodation and ancillary services to just over 4,300 persons in 34 centres across the State.

With regard to the statistical information sought by the Deputy, RIA seeks to provide as much detail as is practicable on the system which it is charged with operating. Extensive statistical information is available on its website - www.ria.gov.ie including Annual Reports covering the years from 2007 to 2013 inclusive. These Annual Reports provide a variety of information, including a breakdown of the numbers of adults and children in each direct provision centre and the length of time persons, overall, have been residing in the direct provision system. This is also provided on a centre by centre basis, and the counties in which these centres are located are identified in these reports. In relation to the specific information requested, the position at the end of 2013 is as set out in the 2013 Annual Report. Up to date information in this respect will be furnished to the Deputy directly. Information is not collated in the exact format requested by the Deputy but is sufficiently detailed to enable a full picture of the length of time spent in Direct Provision to be provided.