Written answers
Tuesday, 16 June 2020
Department of Justice and Equality
Direct Provision System
Johnny Mythen (Wexford, Sinn Fein)
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352. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the breakdown of the 7,700 persons in direct provision by nationality, gender, age and length of calendar year each resident has spent in direct provision in tabular form; and the number of children born in direct provision since its inception. [11065/20]
David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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As of 7 June 2020, a total of 7,387 persons are recorded as being resident in accommodation provided by the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) of my Department. This includes people who are resident in Direct Provision centres, in emergency accommodation in hotels and guesthouses and in the Balseskin Reception Centre.
It should be borne in mind that a number of residents voluntarily opted to move out of their accommodation on a temporary basis during the onset of COVID-19. It was agreed that residents could choose at this time to live outside the centre with family or friends and my Department has confirmed that they will be able to return to their centre after following Public Health advice, when the crisis ends.
The table below shows the number of persons residing in accommodation as of 7 June 2020, by nationality. At that date, there were people from a total of 103 different nationalities residing in our accommodation. The figures include both international protection applicants and 916 people who are no longer in the process, having already been granted an international protection status (refugee status or subsidiary protection) or a permission to remain in the State. We are assisting these residents to transition to permanent mainstream accommodation, working closely with the City and County Managers Association, the Local Authorities and organisations like Depaul Ireland, the Peter McVerry Trust and the Jesuit Refugee Service. People with status or permission to remain in the State have the same entitlement to housing supports and State services as everyone else.
No breakdown is provided for nationalities with less than 10 people due to the increased risk of their identification, which is prohibited under Section 26 of the International Protection Act 2015.
Nationality | Total |
---|---|
Afghanistan | 181 |
Albania | 576 |
Algeria | 199 |
Angola | 31 |
Bahrain | 11 |
Bangladesh | 194 |
Benin | 11 |
Bolivia | 35 |
Botswana | 41 |
Brazil | 21 |
Burundi | 13 |
Cameroon | 80 |
China (including Hong Kong) | 13 |
Congo, The Democratic Republic of | 320 |
Cote D’Ivoire | 13 |
Egypt | 28 |
El Salvador | 23 |
Eritrea | 16 |
Ethiopia | 28 |
Georgia | 664 |
Ghana | 92 |
Guatemala | 19 |
India | 71 |
Iran (Islam Republic of) | 39 |
Iraq | 84 |
Israel | 10 |
Jordan | 14 |
Kenya | 36 |
Kosovo/UNSCR 1244 | 35 |
Kuwait | 16 |
Lesotho | 11 |
Libyan Arab Jamahiriya | 21 |
Malawi | 230 |
Malaysia | 16 |
Mauritius | 39 |
Morocco | 50 |
Nepal | 14 |
Nigeria | 1016 |
Pakistan | 532 |
Palestinian Territory, Occupied | 57 |
Russian Federation | 34 |
Sierra Leone | 68 |
Somalia | 205 |
South Africa | 632 |
Sri Lanka | 16 |
Sudan | 52 |
Swaziland | 30 |
Syrian Arab Republic | 89 |
Tanzania, United Republic of | 11 |
Togo | 27 |
Uganda | 43 |
Ukraine | 27 |
Venezuela | 14 |
Yemen | 10 |
Zambia | 16 |
Zimbabwe | 1,064 |
Others (49 countries) | 149 |
Total | 7,387 |
Gender Breakdown of residents
Male | 56.53% | 4,176 |
---|---|---|
Female | 43.47% | 3,211 |
Total | 100.00% | 7,387 |
Age Breakdown
Age (Years) | Percentage of DP Residents | Number of DP Residents |
---|---|---|
0 to 10 | 20.29% | 1,499 |
10 to 20 | 11.16% | 824 |
20 to 30 | 21.88% | 1,616 |
30 to 40 | 28.39% | 2,098 |
40 to 50 | 13.50% | 997 |
50 to 60 | 3.57% | 264 |
60+ | 1.21% | 89 |
Total | 100.00% | 7,387 |
Duration of Stay
Years | Percentage of Residents | Number of Residents |
---|---|---|
0 < 1 | 34.57% | 2,554 |
1 < 2 | 24.81% | 1,833 |
2 < 3 | 16.21% | 1,198 |
3 < 4 | 8.44% | 623 |
4 < 5 | 8.18% | 604 |
5 < 6 | 3.84% | 284 |
6 < 7 | 1.27% | 94 |
7+ | 2.68% | 197 |
Total | 100.00% | 7,387 |
Regarding your query on children born in centres, my Department does not have any official role in the collation of statistics on the births of children whose parents are residents of our accommodation centres. The recording of births is the responsibility of the General Registration Office (GRO).
Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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356. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of deaths associated with Covid-19 in direct provision and emergency accommodation centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11115/20]
Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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366. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of deaths associated with Covid-19 in direct provision and emergency accommodation centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11171/20]
David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 356 and 366 together.
The COVID-19 pandemic is first and foremost a public health issue. It is a matter for the health authorities to comment on the numbers of deaths related to the virus and the settings in which such deaths have occurred. On 26 May 2020, at a session of the Oireachtas Special Committee on Covid-19 Response, HSE officials confirmed that there were no admissions to intensive care nor any deaths of either residents or staff at any of our accommodation centres. I can also confirm that my Department has not been notified of any COVID-19-related death of a resident by the HSE since that date.
The Deputy may wish to be aware of the general policy that applies when a person dies while they are being provided with accommodation by my Department’s International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS). Department officials work closely with the centre manager to assist the person’s next of kin, if known, in accessing the supports provided by the State, and to ensure that any residents affected by the death are assisted in accessing services that can support them.
All deaths and serious incidents that occur within accommodation centres provided by my Department are referred to the Gardaí as a matter of course and the Gardaí in turn refer all deaths to the local Coroner’s office. It is primarily a matter for An Garda Síochána to notify the next of kin of the death of a person if required. As is the case with all Gardaí/Coroner matters, IPAS is not privy to information pertaining to individual investigations carried out under their remit. IPAS provides information to An Garda Síochána and the Coroner’s Office as and when requested.
The IPAS has developed a critical incident policy. The policy includes guidelines for IPAS Staff and accommodation centre managers and staff in the event of the death of a resident. The policy includes a protocol for record keeping whereby IPAS will maintain a record of all critical incidents. The policy was issued on 23 November 2019.
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