Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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602. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his views on a matter regarding direct provision (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36482/20]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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As the Deputy may be aware, the Direct Provision system encompasses the range of State services including accommodation, food, health and education directly provided to international protection applicants through all the relevant Government Departments and Agencies. It is a whole-of-government support system for those seeking international protection in Ireland.  Notwithstanding the criticisms levelled at the system, it has proven effective in ensuring that those who come to our country seeking international protection receive food and shelter and have immediate access to our state services. Over 65,000 people have been provided with shelter since its inception.

The Direct Provision system ensures that all applicants can be offered immediate shelter, full board accommodation and a range of services, such as health and education while their applications are being processed. Not every person who seeks international protection chooses to accept this offer, and some choose to live independently or with friends in communities across the country, as they are entirely free to do.  Persons accommodated are free to leave the accommodation provided at any time.

The improvements to living conditions for applicants for international protection have been significant over recent years. These include the implementation of self-catering arrangements in a number of accommodation centres.  In excess of 75% of residents have their own room, are a couple, are a family unit or, have own-door accommodation.  In addition, more than 65% of all residents now have access to independent living arrangements where residents can cook for themselves and their families and have more autonomy over their daily lives.

All new accommodation centres coming on stream will provide for independent living. This allows for access to laundry, food-storage and cooking facilities for the use of residents. It also allows for the provision of a food-hall where residents may obtain food and other essentials free of charge on a points system based on family composition. Own-door accommodation is prioritised for families and is the preferred option for new accommodation offered to the IPAS under the regional tender competitions which were held in the past year.

Information on centres opened in the past year can be found on the following website: www.accommodationcentres.ie.

The Deputy will be aware that the Programme for Government contains a committment to ending the Direct Provision system and replacing it with a new International Protection accommodation policy, centred on a not-for-profit approach.  The Government has also committed to the development of a White Paper which will set out how this new system will be structured and the steps to achieving it.

The Advisory Group on the Provision of Support, including Accommodation, to Persons in the International Protection Process was established last year.  It was tasked 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.  The chairperson, Dr Catherine Day, submitted the group's report to the Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee T.D., and myself in late September and, following consideration of the report, Minister McEntee and I submitted the report to Government on 20 October. The Government accepted the Advisory Group’s conclusion that the current system of Direct Provision is not fit for purpose and must be replaced.  I published the report on 21 October.

My Department is currently developing the White Paper which I expect to publish by the end of the year.  The recommendations of the  Advisory Group will inform the White Paper.  We will also consider a number of other relevant reports including the Inter-Departmental Working Group Report on Direct Provision (November 2019) and the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice & Equality, Report on Direct Provision (December 2019). 

Consultations are currently underway and include discussions with the relevant Government Departments and agencies, the Offices of the Ombudsman and the Ombudsman for Children, the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, relevant NGOs and housing bodies and representatives of residents of Direct Provision centres.

The replacement of the Direct Provision system is complex.  It is recognised by all involved that it will take some time. However, the Advisory Group has recommended that we work to have a new system in place by mid-2023.

In order to meet our legal obligations to provide accommodation and other support services for protection applicants, existing accommodation centres will continue to operate in the short to medium term. ? However, in doing so we will be focusing on the provision of own-door accommodation and facilities to allow for independent living (access to cooking and laundry facilities and communal family areas outside bedrooms) and greatly reducing any need for the use of hotels and guest-houses as an emergency measure. 

I can assure the Deputy that the Government is committed to the replacement of the Direct Provision system of accommodation provision and other aspects of our international protection system that may be required so that we will have a system in Ireland that exceeds the standards required by the Reception Conditions Directive and will compare favourably with the best systems of our EU partners.