Written answers
Thursday, 3 November 2016
Department of Justice and Equality
Immigration Data
Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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42. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of adults and children who remain in direct provision after receiving their stamp four leave to remain; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the Reception and Integration Agency is now threatening these persons with eviction with the potential of them becoming homeless; if her attention has further been drawn to the very real difficulties these persons are having in accessing private rented accommodation; the supports she plans to put in place to assist these persons in making the transition from direct provision; and if she has discussed this matter with the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government in order to coordinate the efforts of both departments to prevent these persons from becoming homeless. [33134/16]
David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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The Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) has never threatened to evict any persons from its accommodation centres who have been granted leave to remain or any other form of status.
In terms of the number of persons in RIA accommodation who have been granted some form of status, there are in the region of 500 such persons among the 4,200 residents across the system. This number fluctuates based on the numbers of status grants and the movement of such persons into private accommodation over time. RIA, its centre managers, the Community Welfare Service (including Rent Supplement), Citizens Information and those City and County Councils operating the Housing Assistance Payments link with such persons in accessing the appropriate supports and services, including in respect of sourcing and securing private accommodation.
Following on from the McMahon Working Group Report, the Department of Justice & Equality developed a Guide to Independent Living for persons with status to provide practical assistance for them. The Guide is available in all centres and has been published on the RIA website (www.ria.gov.ie) in a number of different languages. This was published in parallel with information sessions coordinated by the Citizens Information Bureau in accommodation centres which gave an opportunity for such persons to seek assistance and clarification on the services provided.
Once some form of status is granted, residents cease to be ordinarily entitled to the accommodation supports provided through the Reception and Integration Agency. Notwithstanding this fact, RIA have always continued to provide such persons with continued accommodation until they secure their own private accommodation. RIA are particularly mindful of the reality of the housing situation in the State and the pressures on the Community Welfare Service in respect of Rent Supplement or the City and County Councils in respect of Housing Assistance Payments and Housing Lists. That said, the State has been criticised for the length of time persons spend in Direct Provision and accordingly, we must all work together to transition persons granted status out of the system as quickly as possible.
Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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43. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons currently in direct provision per county, per age group under 18 years of age, 18 to 35, 36 to 50, 51 to 65, 65 and over; the number of persons per country and per age group, who have moved out of direct provision in 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33165/16]
Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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44. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons still living in direct provision per county and per age group under 18 years of age, 18 to 35, 36 to 50, 51 to 65, 65 and over despite having being granted official status; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33166/16]
David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 43 and 44 together.
The Deputy will be aware that the State has a solemn obligation to protect the identity of those in the protection process as set out in Section 19(1) of the Refugee Act 1996 (as amended). Providing the level of detail that has been requested by the Deputy could lead to individuals in the protection process being inadvertently identified which would result in the State being in breach of their obligations in this regard.
The Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) publish monthly statistics and the latest available statistics (as of the end of September 2016) are shown below.
Approximately 1,900 persons have left State provided accommodation in the year to date. Some have done so because they have been granted permission to remain in the State and some may have done so for personal reasons - there is no obligation on any person to remain in State provided accommodation.
There are in the region of 500 persons resident in State provided accommodation with some form of permission to remain in the State. While such residents cease to be ordinarily entitled to accommodation supports provided by RIA, RIA have always continued to provide such persons with continued accommodation until they secure their own private accommodation. RIA are particularly mindful of the reality of the housing situation in the State and the pressures on the Community Welfare Service in respect of Rent Supplement or the City and County Councils in respect of Housing Assistance Payments and Housing Lists. That said, the State has been criticised for the length of time persons spend in Direct Provision and accordingly, the various relevant State bodies must all work together to transition persons granted status out of the system as quickly as possible.
RIA Accommodation numbers as at 25 September 2016
Accomodation Centres COUNTY CENTRE NAME ADDRESS OCCUPANCY Clare Knockalisheen Meelick 185 Cork Ashbourne Hse Glounthaune 60 Kinsale Road* Cork City 181 Glenvera Wellington Road 100 Millstreet Millstreet 206 Clonakilty Lodge Clonakilty, Co. Cork 72 Dublin The Towers The Ninth Lock, Clondalkin, D.22 201 Georgian Court 77-79 Lr Gardiner St. Dublin 1 57 Staircase 21 Aungier Street, Dublin 2 21 Hatch Hall 28 Lower Hatch Street, Dublin 2 119 Galway Eglinton The Proms, Salthill 166 Great Western House Eyre Square 129 Kerry Atlas House (Killarney) Killarney 58 Atlas House (Tralee) Tralee 104 Johnston Marina Tralee 53 Park Lodge Killarney 39 Kildare Eyrepowell Newbridge 60 Laois Montague Emo, Portlaoise 181 Limerick Hanratty's Glentworth Street, Limerick 91 Westbourne Dock Road 80 Mount Trenchard Foynes, Co. Limerick 64 Longford Richmond Court Richmond Street, Longford 64 Mayo The Old Convent Ballyhaunis 148 Meath Mosney Mosney 579 Monaghan St. Patricks Monaghan 164 Sligo Globe House Chapel Hill 147 Tipperary Bridgewater House Carrick-On-Suir 27 Waterford Atlantic House Tramore, Co. Waterford 68 Ocean View Tramore, Co. Waterford 61 Birchwood Ballytruckle Road 108 Viking House Coffee House Lane 64 Westmeath Athlone Athlone 207 Total 3864 Self Catering Accommodation COUNTY CENTRE NAME ADDRESS OCCUPANCY Dublin Watergate House 11-14 Usher's Quay, Dublin 8 50 Louth Carroll Village Dundalk 43 Total 93 Reception Centre COUNTY CENTRE NAME ADDRESS OCCUPANCY Dublin Balseskin St. Margarets, Finglas, Dublin 11 252 Total 252 Overall Total 4209
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