Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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208. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the progress being made on the implementation of the recommendations of the working group on the protection process, including direct provision and supports to asylum seekers; and his plans to bring an end to direct provision. [40255/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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The Report of the Working Group to Report to Government on Improvements to the Protection Process, including Direct Provision and Supports to Asylum Seekers, also known as the Justice McMahon report, was published in June 2015. Its recommendations have implications for a number of Government Departments and services.

My Department has since published three progress reports on the implementation of its 173 recommendations; the first in June 2016, the second in February of this year and a third and final report in July of this year. All three reports are available to view on my Department's website www.justice.ie.  

The final progress report shows that 133 recommendations have been reported as fully implemented and a further 36 are in progress or partially implemented. This represents a 98% full or partial implementation.

The Direct Provision system was established in 2000 when the then health boards, which were responsible for homeless people, found themselves unable to cope with a large number of individuals who were claiming asylum in Ireland.  Direct Provision is the system whereby State services are delivered directly to protection applicants through the relevant Government Department or Agency. In the case of my Department, full board accommodation is offered to applicants while their application for international protection is being processed. Not every person who seeks international protection in Ireland chooses to accept the offer of full board accommodation and of course many chose to live with colleagues, family or friends in communities across the country, as they are entitled to do.

If the system was simply disbanded, already vulnerable people who we are responsible for protecting would join the lengthy waiting lists for social housing or enter the private rental market with little hope of finding affordable and secure accommodation in the context of the current housing crisis. The Direct Provision system is a guarantee that every person who presents to the International Protection Office will have immediate access to a bed, food, a shower and medical care. They will not have to spend the night on the streets or to look for emergency housing. While I have heard many calls to end the system I have yet to hear a credible alternative being proposed in its place. 

Of course no system is without room for improvement and Minister Stanton and I are working with the Department officials to continually enhance and develop the entire system so that the best possible set of facilities and services can be provided to those in our care. This includes the ongoing implementation of the relevant recommendations in the Justice McMahon Report and the commitment in the Programme for a Partnership Government to reforming the system, with particular focus on families and children.