Written answers

Tuesday, 18 June 2019

Department of Justice and Equality

Direct Provision Data

Photo of Fiona O'LoughlinFiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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255. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of refugees staying in a hotel (details supplied); the number of persons there for six, 12 and 18 months, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25261/19]

Photo of Fiona O'LoughlinFiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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257. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons living in direct provision in the Newbridge centre in County Kildare in each of the years 2011 to 2018 and to date in 2019, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25263/19]

Photo of Fiona O'LoughlinFiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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258. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons under 18 years of age living in direct provision in the Newbridge centre in County Kildare in each of the years 2012 to 2018 and to date in 2019, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25264/19]

Photo of Fiona O'LoughlinFiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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259. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of children, women and men resident in a direct provision centre (details supplied). [25265/19]

Photo of Fiona O'LoughlinFiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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260. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of children, women and men resident in a direct provision centre (details supplied). [25266/19]

Photo of David StantonDavid Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 255 and 257 to 260, inclusive, together.

The information the Deputy has requested refers to persons residing in accommodation provided by the Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) in the Kildare area. Although there are a certain number of people residing in accommodation centres that have some sort of status or permission to remain, for the most part people residing in accommodation centres have current applications or appeals pending for international protection.

The statistical data the Deputy requires is contained in the following tabular statements.

Duration of Stay - Hazel Hotel

By Month 0 less than 33 less than 66 less than 99 less than 1212 less than 1818 less than 24Total
Hazel Hotel6669215116

As of 1st June 2019 there are 116 people residing in the Hazel accommodation centre. 21 of those residents are under 18.

There are 30 Female (8 children and 22 adults) and 86 males (13 children and 73 adults).

Eyre Powell Centre - Adults and less than age 18 2011 to date

At Year End2011 20122013201420152016201720182019 to 1st June
No. of Applicants7981687971668394131
No. of Adult Applicants6260476058627785100
No. of Under 18 Applicants172121191346931

As of 1st June 2019 there are 131 people residing in the Eyre Powell accommodation centre. 31 of those residents are under age 18.There are 60 Female (14 children and 46 adults) and 71 males (17 children and 54 adults).

Photo of Fiona O'LoughlinFiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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256. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons admitted to each direct provision centre in each of the years 2016 to 2018 and to date in 2019; and the length of time these persons have remained within the system. [25262/19]

Photo of David StantonDavid Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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The statistical data requested by the Deputy is contained in the following tabular statement:

Photo of Fiona O'LoughlinFiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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261. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number, location, capacity and occupancy of all temporary direct provision centres; the details of the contracts in place; if he is satisfied that adequate facilities are provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25268/19]

Photo of David StantonDavid Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Since September 2018, due to insufficient capacity within the Reception and Integration Agency's (RIA) accommodation portfolio, RIA has contracted for the use of emergency accommodation in hotels and guest houses.

Due to commercial sensitivities with suppliers, many of which are operating as hotels and guest houses concurrently with accommodating applicants for international protection, and also to protect the identity of applicants in emergency accommodation, the name and exact location of the premises being used are not made public.

The following table includes a breakdown by county of premises being used as emergency accommodation and the numbers accommodated there as at the 9th June 2019.

County
No. of Hotels/Guest houses
Number of Applicants Accommodated
Cavan141
Clare119
Dublin7297
Meath247
Monaghan5133
Laois263
Offaly117
Louth223
Tipperary117
Wicklow278
Wexford142
Total25777

Emergency accommodation is contracted on a short-term basis for up to 6 months. In the interim, RIA is seeking to find additional capacity within its portfolio by providing supports through DePaul Ireland, The Peter McVerry Trust, The Jesuit Refugee Service and South Dublin County Partnership to assist those residents who have status or permission to remain to secure accommodation in the community, In addition, RIA is engaged in a regional public procurement process to identify additional accommodation centres.

It should be noted that the emergency accommodation being utilised are not accommodation centres under the Direct Provision system. The Department is using commercial hotels and guest houses as a temporary measure while seeking to acquire sufficient capacity within RIA's accommodation portfolio in order to meet the State's obligations to persons seeking international protection.

RIA staff carry out information clinics at the temporary accommodation with residents and meetings between both the Office of the Ombudsman and the Office of the Ombudsman for Children and residents have been facilitated.

In addition, RIA is seeking to contract in a Visiting Support and Cultural Liaison Service from the NGO community by the end of this month to assist those residents during their time in the emergency accommodation.

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