Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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568. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality when the White Paper on direction provision will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23626/20]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Programme for Government contains a commitment to end the current system of Direct Provision within the lifetime of the Government and to replace it with a new international protection accommodation policy, centred on a not-for-profit approach. 

Last year, Dr Catherine Day was asked to bring together an expert group with representation from asylum seekers and NGOs to examine best practice in other European States in the provision of services to international protection applicants, to examine likely longer term trends and to set out recommendations and solutions.  Any new system for the provision of accommodation and additional supports to international protection applicants will be informed by the Report of this Expert Group, which is expected to be delivered shortly and will be submitted to Government thereafter.

The intention is to publish a White Paper by the end of this year, informed by the recommendations of the Expert Group, which will set out how a replacement to the Direct Provision system will be structured and the steps to achieving it. It will be a matter for the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration to progress the matter and to make any decisions around future accommodation provision following the transfer of this function to his Department.

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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569. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality when the direct provision portfolio will be moved to the Department with responsibility for children, disability, equality and integration; if the International Protection Accommodation Service and other relevant agencies will be moved to the Department; her views on the impact the move will have on the day-to-day administration of the service and relevant agencies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23264/20]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The transfer of functions between Departments is governed by the Ministers and Secretaries Acts 1924-2017, and will be determined by a Government decision and resulting Transfer of Functions Order.

The implementation of the transfer of functions is also guided by the Transfer of Functions Guidelines and Best Practice Handbook developed by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. This is available online at

In line with the Guidelines, a working group has been established within my Department to arrange the transfer of functions on foot of the new allocation of responsibilities. This group is working with officials in the Department of Children and Youth Affairs to make appropriate arrangements for the transfer.  In addition, my Department is also working with the Office of the Attorney General and the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel in respect of the drafting of the Transfers of Functions Order.

I expect that final arrangements will be agreed, subject to Government approval, within the timelines set out under the Guidelines. In line with the guidelines, staff working on the functions to be transferred will move with the functions.  Therefore, the staff of the International Protection Accommodation Service and the International Protection Procurement Service will transfer to the restructured Department of Children and Youth Affairs.

The intention is to publish a White Paper by the end of this year, informed by the recommendations of the Expert Group led by Dr Catherine Day, which will set out how a replacement to the Direct Provision system will be structured and the steps to achieving it. This will be a matter for Minister O'Gorman to progress following the transfer of this function to his Department.

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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570. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the options available to public representatives to address urgent matters regarding direct provision centres; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23265/20]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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There are a number of avenues available to public representatives to raise matters with me or directly with officials of my Department in respect of direct provision accommodation centres.

Public representatives can make representations on behalf of a person or a group by writing to my office by post or by e-mail or by telephone.

Contact details are available on my Department's website -

For your convenience I list them below -

Address: Department of Justice and Equality, 51 St Stephen's Green, Dublin 2, D02 HK52

Email: info@justice.ie

Telephone: (01) 602 8202

Lo-call: 1890 221 227

Public representatives may also raise queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases directly to my Department using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically established for this purpose - INISOireachtasMail@justice.ie.

Deputies can, of course, also raise matters through the Parliamentary Questions process.

It is also possible for any resident of an accommodation centre, public representative or member of the wider public to directly contact the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) of my Department by telephone, e-mail, in writing or through an on-line contact page.  Full details of the contact numbers and addresses are at:

My Department endeavours to respond to all queries within the shortest possible time-frame. 

Responsibility for the provision of accommodation to international protection applicants will transfer to the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration following the completion of the necessary legislation.