Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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507. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will explain the thinking behind his decision in February 2021, to write tweets in 47 different languages publicising the report recommending the end of direct provision and proposals to provide "own-door" accommodation to asylum seekers; and if he will outline the contribution this made to the number seeking asylum in Ireland in the intervening two years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8451/23]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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As the Deputy will be aware, my Department is responsible for the provision of accommodation to persons in the International Protection process. All other matters relating to the asylum process including statistics on the number of applicants applying, should be directed to Department of Justice.

The Government made a commitment in the Programme for Government to end the current system of accommodation for International Protection applicants and replace it with a new model that is based on a not for profit approach. As part of this process I published A White Paper to end Direct Provision and to Establish a new International Protection Support Serviceon 26 February 2021. This paper sets out a new approach for accommodating applicants that seek International Protection in Ireland.

"Own-door" in the context of the White Paper does not mean an applicant is given possession of a property, it means the property provided by the state for temporary habitation to a person while their application for international protection is being assessed has its own door into a family unit, and is not a congregated accommodation setting.

As part of the process to publish the White Paper tweets were issued from my department in 8 languages, not 47 as stated in your question. These were English, Irish, Albanian, Arabic, French, Georgian, Somali and Urdu. These are the most common languages spoken by those who were residing in Direct Provision accommodation at that time. Communications with residents are regularly made available in relevant languages.

I hope this clarifies the matter for you.