This mini documentary explores the harsh reality of direct provision

Direct provision is one of the most divisive human rights issues that Ireland faces as a western nation.

Established as a temporary measure to house asylum seekers in 1999, the system remains in place 17 years later and has been widely criticised for eroding the freedom of those within it.

Some asylum seekers can spend many years living in centres around the country as they wait for their applications to be processed.

While waiting, they are not allowed to work for a wage and receive just €19.10 a week.

While food is provided, it often does not cater to individual needs and residents have no facilities to prepare meals themselves.

Private companies run the centres on behalf of the Government and receive State funding.

According to 2014 statistics, there were over 4,000 people, including whole families, living in accommodation. Over 3,000 of these individuals had been in the system for two years or more.

Over 1,600 children currently reside in direct provision centres, with over half having spent five or more years in Ireland.

This video by Rabble magazine puts the statistics surrounding direct provision to one side and focuses on the human element.