Fiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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56. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the latest data on the numbers of persons currently in direct provision for one year or less, one year to two years, two years to three years, three years to four years, four years to five years and more than five years; and the equivalent data for the same date in 2015, in tabular form. [33923/16]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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When a person makes an application for international protection, they are offered accommodation in State provided accommodation. Whilst there is no obligation on them to accept this offer, approximately 50% of applicants avail of the accommodation offered. They are not obliged to remain in this accommodation and can leave and indeed return as they so require. In addition, those who refuse the initial accommodation offer can choose to avail of it at a later date.

The following two tables set out the number of persons in State provided accommodation as of the end of October 2015 and October 2016 respectively. The duration of stay based on the last entry into State provided accommodation is shown in the left hand column. This may not directly correspond to the date of their initial application for international protection.

The total for 2016 includes approximately 400 persons who have permission to remain in the State and are in transit to independent living.

Fiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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57. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of asylum seekers in direct provision awaiting a decision on their right to refugee status; the number of persons who have been granted refugee status but are still living in direction provision centres; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33924/16]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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At the end of October 2016 there were approximately 4,300 persons availing of State provided accommodation. Approximately 400 of those persons have some form of permission (not exclusively refugee status) to remain in the State. The information requested by the Deputy in relation to the number of those resident in State provided accommodation that are awaiting a decision on their right to refugee status is not currently to hand but I will follow up directly with the Deputy on this matter in due course.

While residents who have received some form of permission to remain in the State 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.