Direct Provision System
Seanad Éireann — 2021-06-14
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Anne Rabbitte (FF), Galway East

I apologise on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Roderic O'Gorman, who cannot be here. This response has been drafted by departmental officials and perhaps we can get further into the more human side of what the Senator has raised afterwards.
In arranging the moves, the international protection accommodation service, or IPAS, of the Department has sought to take account of families' individual needs. For example, families with children sitting State exams will not be moved until after the exams have been completed. I hope that brings clarity for the families mentioned by the Senator. All of the families that are moving will be accommodated in centres that provide for independent living where they can choose and prepare their own meals. Some are moving to own-door accommodation and all families and single people will be accommodated in centres with staff who are trained to assist their residents to find the supports they need in their locality.
All dedicated accommodation centres also have a "friends of the centre" group, comprising residents, staff and local volunteers to assist with the integration of residents into the community and to promote relationships with local groups, such as Tidy Towns committees, sports clubs, Men's Sheds and mother and baby clubs.
IPAS officials visited Courtown on 12 March and subsequently held an online clinic with residents on 25 March. They also attended the centre on Tuesday and Friday last to assist residents with their move. IPAS has engaged fully with local services, including Tusla, Wexford Local Development and an NGO, Places of Sanctuary, in dealing with the centre and its residents. It is great that we are talking to all these organisations but the most important group to speak with are the families. Listening to the Senator's contribution, it seems that was missing. The officials will continue to assist families to settle into their new accommodation and ensure they are linked with all of the services they need in their new locations, such as school places and access to health services.
The Minister, Deputy Roderic O'Gorman, met residents of a number of centres, including several residents of the Courtown emergency centre, at an online meeting with Places of Sanctuary on Thursday, 10 June. That meeting involved a wide-ranging discussion about all aspects of direct provision and the international protection process with people who are at different stages. This included people living in direct provision whose applications have still to be determined; people who have been granted international protection and have moved out of direct provision accommodation; and people who have been granted status but are still living in direct provision accommodation.

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Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:49:22+00:00
Sitting date: 2021-06-14