Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
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608. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality in view of the 30 June 2015 publication of the working group report on the protection process, which made a key recommendation for immediate implementation that persons in the system for five years or more would be granted status within six months subject to certain minimal conditions, the reason there has been no development of this critical solution to address the issue of length of time; when implementation will take place, given the absence of any legal or operational barriers and the fact that it was agreed by consensus by the working group, which contained representatives from all relevant Government Departments. [30715/15]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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647. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality in view of the fact the working group report on direct provision has been published and is before Cabinet, her plans to implement the recommendations of this working group; and if she plans to do so, when. [31514/15]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 608 and 647 together.

The Report of the Working Group on the Protection Process, which was published on 30 June 2015, contains 173 recommendations many which have implications for a number of Government Departments and services.

The Government in its decision of the 30 June 2015 recommended that the Report of the Working Group on the Protection Process should in the first instance be the subject of a detailed discussion at the Cabinet Committee on Social Policy and Public Service Reform. The Committee agreed that my Department should prepare a report for the Cabinet Committee, in conjunction with relevant Departments, on the legal financial and practical implications of the Report's recommendations.

Each Department is currently examining the recommendations to determine timescales for implementation and any impacts and issues that may arise. My Department will be working with Departments on an overall response in the coming weeks.

The Cabinet Committee also decided that the Minister of State for New Communities, Culture and Equality convene a Taskforce, as recommended in the Report, to examine the mechanisms and supports for the transitioning of persons granted status from the Direct Provision system. The Taskforce has met on a number of occasions and has progressed a number of matters including, requesting the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government to indicate what accommodation is available. It is also finalising an information pack on the range of services and supports that are available for those in the system with status to assist them in the transition from Direct Provision accommodation and plans to run a Pilot Information Programme for persons granted status in a number of areas of the country.

The work of the Taskforce is key as it is essential that persons who are granted status are supported in transitioning out of the Direct Provision system and thus do not spend any longer than is necessary in the system once a positive decision on their case has been made.