Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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129. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the progress that has been made implementing the Report of the Advisory Group on the Provision of Support including Accommodation to Persons in the International Protection Process. [47520/21]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Earlier this year, I published A White Paper to End Direct Provision and to Establish a New International Protection Support Service.As outlined in the Programme for Government, the recommendations of the Advisory Group on the Provision of Support including Accommodation to Persons in the International Protection Process, which was chaired by Dr Catherine Day, fed directly into the development of this White Paper.

I will now describe the steps we have taken to date to implement these reforms.

A staff team has been established in my Department to lead the transition to the new model and has developed a detailed implementation plan.

I have appointed a Programme Board, including independent members, to oversee the transition.

Working with the Housing Agency, my Department has begun to acquire the accommodation needed for Phase Two - that is, after people have completed their initial four-months in a Reception and Integration Centre and move into the community.

An allocation key to determine the spread of this accommodation across all counties has been agreed by Local Authorities.

Working with the housing experts on the Programme Board, my Department is preparing advice on the optimal ownership model for the accommodation, as well as on the funding model to enable Approved Housing Bodies and other not-for-profit organisations to act as our delivery partners for the accommodation and support elements of the new system.

Policy on the International Protection Support Payments is being developed in consultation with the Department of Social Protection.

My Department has also begun to develop the integration policy for the new model, based on the principle of 'integration from day one' set out in the White Paper.