Watchdogs welcome plan for asylum centre probes

The Ombudsman and Children’s Ombudsman have welcomed recommendations that they both be allowed to investigate complaints by asylum seekers living in direct provision centres.

However, residents are still no clearer on how much longer they will have to stay in the centres, which have come under heavy criticism for the internment-type of regimes they run.

A report by the Oireachtas Committee on Public Service, Oversight, and Petitions has said the 4,364 adults and children living in the country’s 34 direct provision centres should have access to both Ombudsmen.