Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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101. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the capacity of Mosney direct provision centre in each of the years 2011 to 2017 and to date in 2018; the number of residents living in Mosney direct provision centre as of 1 September in each of the years 2011 to 2018; the details of expansion to the centre since 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39247/18]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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As a demand led organisation, the Reception & Integration Agency (RIA) of my Department of Justice & Equality manages its accommodation portfolio by reference to the accommodation requirements and needs at any time. Thus, capacity at centres can increase or decrease from contract to contract as needed.

In the case of Mosney, the total available capacity at the centre is 800, however, the Minister has only availed of such peak capacity under periods of particular pressures of need.

The contracted capacity at Mosney on 31st December each year between 2011 and 2017 was 600. During this period, when numbers exceeded 600, additional spaces were incorporated into the contract for services when it was certain that the requirement remained.

In 2016, the Irish Refugee Protection Policy (IRPP) was established and utilised the additional available capacity of 200 places in Mosney as an EROC (Emergency Reception & Orientation Centre). Following the completion of a public procurement process, long term contracts for EROCs are being put in place.

While the total contracted capacity including the EROC is now at 800, additional spaces remain available where an exceptional need arises.

The following table outlines the information requested and indicates the capacity usage of the centre.

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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102. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality when the contract values for direct provision centres for 2016 and 2017 will be released; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39248/18]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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All accommodation centres for those persons seeking protection, whether State-owned or privately owned, are operated by commercial companies. There are currently 36 accommodation centres being operated (including the Reception Centre at Balseskin, Co. Dublin) under the direct provision system.

Extensive and detailed information on the amount paid by my Department to each company contracted to provide direct provision accommodation every year up to and including 2015 can be found on the Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) website www.ria.gov.ie under the 'Contract Values' section of the website - .

This is in accordance with the RIA's policy on disclosure of financial information which was agreed with the Office of the Information Commissioner. Under this policy, a table of Contract Values is published on the RIA website, excluding the most recent previous two years. Therefore, in 2018, contract values up to 2015 were published on the website. Contract values for 2016 will be published in 2019 and contract values for 2017 will be published in 2020. The Deputy will appreciate that it is not appropriate to provide values for current contracts entered into by my Department. Negotiations take place with a number of commercial entities on an on-going basis with a clear focus on achieving the best value for money in respect of each contract.  It is not in the interests of yielding best value for the taxpayer that details of current individual contracts are made available to other commercial bodies who are, or may be in the future, engaged in these negotiations.

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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103. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the integration services provided within direct provision services; the cost of these services in each of the years 2011 to 2017 and to date in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39250/18]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Funding for integration services provided within accommodation centres contracted as part of the direct provision system is not recorded as a separate item.

However, under the European Union’s Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) 2014-2020, the EU Funds Unit of the Department of Justice and Equality is currently funding eight projects under the Asylum Specific Objective, with the total AMIF grant allocations amounting to €2.28 million. Most of the projects were formally approved (following an Open Call for Proposals) in April/May 2017 and will be delivered over three years, ending in 2020.

The objectives of the eight projects relate to supporting the needs of persons in the international protection process through a range of means, typically around information, advice, advocacy and service referral. Again, in the main, these supports are provided at a local level and are not made within accommodation services or directly to centres.

The projects are:

Since the publication of the McMahon Report (Working Group on Improvements to the Protection Process, including Direct Provision and Supports to Asylum Seekers), integration efforts have also been focused on the voluntary work of the Friends of the Centre groups, as recommended in the report.

Friends of the Centre groups are made up of residents, centre managers, local people and representatives from non-governmental groups. The emphasis of Friends groups is on fostering active engagement between centre residents and the local community as one of the simplest and most meaningful form of integration. As the Report stated "Work to develop community linkages should focus on developing reciprocal linkages with residents participating in activities in the local community and vice versa.  The centre management should consider making facilities in the centre, e.g., meeting rooms and grounds, available for meetings and other activities to create and strengthen two-way links between residents and the local community." These groups aim to encourage and facilitate the active participation of asylum seekers in local community life and the activities developed by this network promote a self-help approach.

During 2017 and 2018, in particular, many events have been organised through the Friends of the Centre groups.  Open Days were held in all family centres, helping to break down barriers, both real and perceived, between the centres and the local community.