SYSTEM OF DISPERSAL AND DIRECT PROVISION

After asylum seekers make their application for asylum in the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner they are offered accommodation in a reception centre in Dublin  for a period of approximately ten to fourteen days. During this period asylum seekers are given access to health, legal and welfare services. Asylum seekers are then relocated to an accommodation centre outside the Dublin area. 

REQUIREMENT TO RESIDE OR REMAIN IN AN ACCOMMODATION CENTRE

Asylum seekers are required to reside or remain at their accommodation centre while their application for asylum is being considered in the State. Asylum seekers can only move from their accommodation centre with the permission of the Reception and Integration Agency and only in circumstances where the Reception and Integration Agency is in a position to offer them alternative accommodation. Failure to comply with the requirement to reside or remain at the accommodation centre allocated to them has serious consequences for their application for refugee status and

1. Shall be an offence with a penalty as specified in section 9(7) of the Refugee Act, 1996 (as amended) and

2. May result in their application for asylum being deemed to be withdrawn and refused.

REQUIREMENT TO REPORT

Asylum seekers from the following countries: Bulgaria, Nigeria, and Romania, South Africa and Croatia are required under section 9(5)(a)(ii) of the Refugee Act, 1996 (as amended) to report at specified intervals to an immigration officer or person or persons authorised by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform or a member of the Garda Síochána. Failure of an asylum seeker to comply with this requirement will have serious consequences for their application for refugee status and

1. Shall be an offence with a penalty as specified in section 9(7) of the Refugee Act, 1996 (as amended) and

2. May result in their application for asylum being deemed to be withdrawn and refused. 

ACCOMMODATION

Accommodation in reception and accommodation centres is provided on a full board basis which includes the provision of a bed and three meals per day. Residents are not allowed to cook their own food while living in an accommodation centre. They may be required to share their bedroom and bathroom facilities with other residents. There is a set of house rules which all residents must comply with. A formal complaints procedure is available for residents in the event of a dispute or grievance.

A key determinant in providing accommodation for asylum seekers is maintaining in as much as possible a sensitive, balanced and proportional approach nationwide. The distribution of asylum seekers in direct provision across Health Board areas indicate that in no case do the numbers exceed one third of 1% of the population of a Board's area.

The Agency has a total of seventy-one centres consisting of the following:

• Three Reception Centres: All located in Dublin. One is State-owned.
• Sixty four Direct Provision Accommodation Centres: Located throughout twenty four counties. Eight of the centres are State-owned.
• Eight Self-catering Accommodation Centres: Six are located in Dublin, one in Mallow and one in Ballaghadereen. None are State-owned.

The seventy five centres consist of a mixture of State-owned and commercial and consist of hotels, guesthouses, hostels, former Convents/Nursing Homes, mobile home sites, system-built facilities and apartments.

All accommodation for asylum seekers is required to comply and operate in accordance with the statutory requirements of local authorities and State agencies in relation to bedroom capacity, food hygiene, water supply, etc. 

ACCOMMODATION FOR UNACCOMPANIED MINORS

Asylum seekers who are unaccompanied minors are referred by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner to a dedicated Social Work Team of the East Coast Area Health Board (ECAHB) who assess and provide for the needs of the young people. A majority of the referrals from Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner are reunited with parents/relatives or other suitable adults.

Of the children not subject to family reunification the majority are placed in hostel accommodation - all located in Dublin - suitable to the individual child's needs. Hostel accommodation for children under 16 years is normally on a full board basis. Placements of 16/17 year old children are currently, in the main, to self catering hostels, where the children receive full supplementary welfare allowance (€124.80 per week) and prepare their own meals.

Having regard to the clear statutory functions of the Health Boards, the Reception and Integration Agency has no involvement in relation to accommodation procurement, staffing, monitoring standards, the confirmation of statutory compliance etc., in respect of accommodation for unaccompanied minors. The sole responsibility of the Reception and Integration Agency is the recoupment of payments in respect of emergency accommodation for unaccompanied minors.     

The Social Work Team undertake an assessment and identification of the needs of young people placed in hostel accommodation and prioritise service delivery to the most vulnerable clients. In partnership with the hostel staff, the Social Work Team introduce the young person to the daily living arrangements of their accommodation and to local facilities. The Team work directly with young people facilitating access to a range of relevant medical and social services. They also identify immediate language and educational needs and, in partnership with the educational agencies, arrange for appropriate enrolment. In partnership with other services the Team identify appropriate cultural, religious, social and recreational services for the young people. Individual social workers and project workers have regular contact with  young people in hostel placements to maintain a supportive relationship with them to monitor their progress and to contribute to safeguarding their welfare. The Team also supports and facilitates the young person in appointments with the Refugee Legal Service, Office of the Refugee Application Commissioner and Refugee Appeals Tribunal.  

TRANSFERS

In certain exceptional circumstances an asylum seeker may be allowed to transfer from one accommodation centre to another accommodation centre.

SOCIAL WELFARE PAYMENTS

Asylum seekers may be paid a weekly supplementary welfare payment by the Community Welfare Officer based in the area in which they are residing. The current rates are €19.10 per week for an adult and €9.50 per week for a child. Asylum seekers are precluded by law from receiving rent supplements towards the cost of accommodation in the private rented sector. Asylum seekers are expected to remain in the accommodation provided to them by the Reception and Integration Agency while their application for asylum is being considered. 

WORK

Asylum seekers are not entitled to work. It is an offence under the Refugee Act, 1996 (as amended) for an asylum seeker to work.  

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