Fiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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305. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons residing in direct accommodation who have been granted an international protection status or a permission to remain; the efforts his Department is taking to find alternative accommodation for these persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44488/19]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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I can inform the Deputy that there were, as of 31 October 2019, 778 people with status residing in Direct Provision. 'Status' means either those with an International Protection status, a Subsidiary Protection Status or Permission to Remain.

These people are no longer applicants and are no longer in the international protection process. They have the same right to housing assistance and supports as Irish nationals and EEA citizens.

People with status or permission to remain seeking accommodation in the wider community may apply for Housing Assistance Payments (HAP) from their local authority or they may wish to use other means to pay for their accommodation. My Department has engaged DePaul Ireland, the Jesuit Refugee Service and the Peter McVerry Trust to provide assistance to them to find accommodation. Information supplied to us by these organisations indicates that most people who find accommodation are availing of the HAP. In addition, my Department is working with other Government Departments, local authorities and the City and County Managers’ Association to help these people transition to longer-term accommodation in the community.