Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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209. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons moved out of direct provision in each of the past ten years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20819/17]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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It is not obligatory for protection applicants to accept accommodation provided by the State and it is not obligatory for them to remain in such accommodation.

The database where information on accommodation is held is a dynamic one and provides a snapshot of total numbers in accommodation at any one time. It provides information in relation to the level of available accommodation across the portfolio rather than in relation to the movement of persons in or out of accommodation. It does not retain general historical information in respect of persons leaving accommodation. Each year the Reception and Integration Agency produces an Annual Report and these can be found on the RIA website at .

As provided in Parliamentary Question No. 22 of 2 March 2017, in 2016 1,960 persons left State provided accommodation and 1,685 persons took up the offer of State provided accommodation. However, this information is not available for any other year under question. For the information of the Deputy, the following table shows the number of persons in State provided accommodation at the end of each of the last ten years: