Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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120. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the extent to which she remains satisfied regarding the quality and standard of accommodation available to refugee-asylum seekers through the direct provision system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36075/14]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) of my Department is responsible for the accommodation of protection applicants in accordance with the Government policy of direct provision and dispersal. Direct provision provides for full board accommodation supports while a final decision is awaited by a person on their protection or any related leave to remain application. Currently, 4,330 persons are residing in 34 asylum accommodation centres under contract to RIA.

The Deputy will be aware from my answer to Question 35740/14 today as to how the Government intends to give effect to the commitment in the Statement of Government Priorities 2014 – 2016 in relation to the protection process, including direct provision.

I believe that we can make improvements which will have a direct bearing on the quality of life which those in direct provision enjoy. That is what lies behind the decision to establish the Working Group to report to Government on improvements with the protection process, including direct provision and supports for asylum seekers.

More generally, we should not lose sight of the fact that the direct provision and dispersal system means that the State has been able to fulfil its obligations to meet the needs of persons arriving in the stage seeking protection who cannot provide their basic needs for themselves. Direct provision has ensured that the housing needs of more that 51,000 protection seekers have been met since the system was introduced in 1999 and that no protection seeker has been left homeless in that time.