Update: Children in Direct Provision, 4th August 2015

QUESTION NO:  115

DÁIL QUESTION addressed to the Minister for Justice and Equality (Deputy Frances Fitzgerald)
by Deputy Bernard J. Durkan
for WRITTEN on Wednesday, 8th July, 2015.  

 
 *  To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the extent to which her Department remains in a position to address the issues of children in Direct Provision; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

                                            – Bernard J. Durkan

 
REPLY.

The Reception & Integration Agency (RIA) of my Department is responsible for the accommodation of asylum seekers in the Direct Provision system.  At end May 2015 there were 4,484 persons being accommodated in 34 accommodation centres, approximately a third of whom are children.

As the deputy will be aware, last week the Working Group set up last year to report to Government on improvements in the protection process, including direct provision and supports for asylum seekers, published its report. This report is comprehensive and includes 173 recommendations covering almost every aspect of the protection system and related parts of the process.  The recommendations and their implications will be carefully considered by Government over the coming weeks.  Many of the recommendations are of a cross cutting nature and will require further consultation with other Government Departments and Offices in the context of planning for their implementation.  My clear intention is to go back to Government as soon as possible with proposals regarding implementation of the report’s recommendations, including those specifically relating to families and children.