Children in direct provision appeal for ‘normal life’

Children trapped in the country’s direct provision centres have appealed to the Minister for Justice to let them lead more normal lives.

Around 1,200 children are living in centres while their families await the determination of asylum applications — a process that can take years.

A working group set up byJustice Minister Frances Fitzgerald to review the direct provision system recently invited people living under direct provision to make their views known. In total, 112 submissions were received, including 28 from individual children and one joint response from a group of children.