Written answers

Tuesday, 1 December 2020

Department of Children and Youth Affairs

Asylum Seekers

Photo of Peadar TóibínPeadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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528. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if his attention has been drawn to an instance in which an asylum seeker is reportedly sleeping at the gates of a centre (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39819/20]

Photo of Roderic O'GormanRoderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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I am aware of the incident referred to by the Deputy. The person concerned had been accommodated at the National Reception Centre in Balseskin which is the initial phase of reception where medical screening and an orientation process is provided over a period of 4 to 6 weeks. If a person wishes to remain in accommodation provided by the International Protection Accommodation Service, he or she is allocated a place in a suitable longer-term centre at the end of the 6 weeks period.

On completion of this person's health screening and orientation period the individual concerned was allocated accommodation in the border counties area and was due to leave for the centre on Wednesday 18 November along with other residents.

On the date he was due to travel to new accommodation, he instead opted to remain on the grounds of the centre he was due to leave. The person could not go back to his room in Balseskin as he had completed the screening and orientation process and the room he had been staying in had already been allocated to new arrivals. It should be noted that at all times accommodation and transport to the new centre were available to the person, though it is unfortunate that no option could be found for the man in the short time available and I understand he ultimately spent one night in a car belonging another Balseskin resident.

IPAS officials worked to try and resolve the situation and the following day the applicant accepted another offer of accommodation in a quarantine centre in the East of the country while IPAS attempted to find an alternative accommodation solution. A new offer of accommodation, this time in the West of the country, was made to the applicant last weekend which was accepted and the transfer was completed the following Monday. Arrangements have been made with relevant service providers to link the person in with other non-accommodation related services close their new centre. The team at his new accommodation centre were prepared in advance to ensure he was settled and received appropriate care. The local HSE Social Inclusion office were contacted to provide help with any medical referrals necessary, and additionally there is a good migrant support group in the area to whom he can look for help in terms of settling into the larger community.

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