Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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239. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons in direct provision that have been given permission to remain under a stamp 4 visa; the reason these persons are not afforded housing in the community; the steps being taken to provide them with housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10222/20]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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I can inform the Deputy that a total of 916 people living in Direct Provision have a permission to remain in the State, as of the end of May 2020. These residents have the same entitlement to access housing supports and services as citizens and EEA nationals.

Considerable work is being undertaken to support these residents to move out of accommodation centres and into secure permanent accommodation. My Department has a specific team who work in collaboration with DePaul Ireland, the Jesuit Refugee Service, the Peter McVerry Trust, officials in the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, and the City and County Managers Association to collectively support residents with status or permission to remain to access their housing options.

Since the beginning of the year and up to the end of May 2020, a total of 433 persons have moved from Direct Provision accommodation into the community. This compares with a figure of 203 people the previous year (2019), when the project commenced. We will continue to work with the remaining residents to assist them to do the same.