Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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591. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality when the expert group on direct provision will be publishing its recommendations; if there is a timeline in place for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23715/20]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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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 Expert Group, which is expected shortly. The Report will be submitted to Government and published 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.