Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
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290. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality in relation to the direct provision of care for asylum seekers and refugees, her views that it is appropriate that the companies who have benefited in the tendering process have decided to register outside the State; and her plans for same. [42844/14]

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 asylum seekers in accordance with the Government policy of direct provision and dispersal. Currently, there are over 4,330 residents in 34 centres across the State under contract to RIA. Details of all of these centres and the companies or persons RIA has contracted to provide accommodation services are published in RIA's Annual Reports avialable on its website - www.ria.gov.ie.

In fulfilling its general accommodation responsibilities, RIA does not own, lease or rent premises from commercial contractors. Rather, it contracts in a comprehensive range of services and facilities, including accommodation, housekeeping and so on, for a fixed sum over the period of a contract. It is a condition of contract with the RIA that the contractor has good title to the centre, but this does not specify either owning, renting or leasing the building concerned.

From RIA's perspective, the critical criteria is that the contractors can fulfil the terms of their contracts with RIA and are in good standing with the Revenue Commissioners. There is no contractual requirement for companies providing services to RIA that they be registered in Ireland, although RIA understands that all contracting companies are so registered. In certain cases, it may well be that the company concerned is unlimited or that the beneficial owners or part-owners include companies registered in off-shore jurisdictions but those are business decisions for the contractors concerned. It is a condition of the contract that a valid Tax Clearance Certificate from the Revenue Commissioners is provided every year.