Written answers

Tuesday, 31 May 2016

Department of Social Protection

Direct Provision System

Photo of Catherine ConnollyCatherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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464. To ask the Minister for Social Protection to clarify the position in relation to persons living in direct provision centres and who have residency, whereby a person is unable to access his Department without an address outside of a direct provision centre, but without the assistance of Social Protection and rent allowance, a person is unable to source an address; the number of persons in this position in each of the direct provision centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12867/16]

Photo of Catherine ConnollyCatherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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515. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position in relation to residents of direct provision centres who have residency, whereby a claimant is unable to access his Department without an address outside of a direct provision centre, but without the assistance of Social Protection and rent allowance a claimant is unable to source an address; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13530/16]

Photo of Leo VaradkarLeo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 464 and 515 together.

Protection seekers are offered accommodation under the system of direct provision operated by the Reception & Integration Agency (RIA) of the Department of Justice and Equality. Those who accept direct provision are provided with accommodation, food and health services together with other facilities and services designed to ensure their needs are met while seeking the protection of the State.

Once a person has been granted status, they may apply for Department of Social Protection payments appropriate to their circumstances on the same basis as Irish citizens such as basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA), Jobseekers Allowance or One-Parent Family Payment and Child Benefit, subject to meeting the rules of the particular scheme. Payment under these schemes can be made to a person while they continue to remain resident in a Direct Provision centre prior to moving into the community. Details of the number of persons who have been granted protection and are currently residing in Direct Provision centres would be a matter for the Reception & Integration Agency (RIA) of the Department of Justice and Equality.

It continues to be open to any person residing in a direct provision centre to seek assistance for a particular once-off need by way of an exceptional needs payment (ENP) under the SWA scheme. Applications for assistance with cost of a rent deposit for persons moving from direct provision to private rented accommodation (in both Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) and Rent Supplement areas) can be considered. Each application is considered on the circumstances presented.

The Department was represented on the Taskforce for Transitional Support for Persons granted status in Direct Provision, which was established on foot of recommendation 5.169 of the Working Group on Improvements to the Protection Process (McMahon report). This Taskforce developed an information programme for persons granted status which is being rolled out by the Citizens Information Board and also an information booklet to support the transition from direct provision.

Persons who have been granted protection and are seeking to establish eligibility for a social welfare payment should contact their local Department of Social Protection Intreo Centre for information. Further information is also available on the Department’s website.

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