Changes to direct provision ‘would create pull factor for asylum seekers’

Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald has claimed changing the controversial direct provision system to allow long-term users access to rent supports could cost twice as much, and create “a major pull factor” for asylum seekers to Ireland.

Ms Fitzgerald made the remarks last week in a written parliamentary response, less than a month after a detailed Government report called for a series of humanitarian reforms to the service.

Responding to a number of questions from party colleague, Fine Gael TD John Deasy, about costs in the sector, Ms Fitzgerald said despite the need for reforms there are “no cheaper alternatives” and that if changes go too far they may not be in Ireland’s interest.

“The [2010 value for money] report found there are no cheaper alternatives to the direct provision system and that any other system which by necessity would entail payment of rent supplement, rent benefits and so forth, would be twice the cost.

“Moreover, such a system would amount to a major pull factor which in turn would give rise to further costs, which based on patterns would likely to be very significant,” she said.

In May, the Oireachtas committee on public oversight and petitions said the system — introduced 15 years ago to house asylum seekers on a short-term basis — should be radically altered or scrapped as it is no longer fit for purpose.

The cross-party body said the current number of more than 4,300 direct provision users — many of whom have been forced to survive on allowances of €19.10 a week — should be allowed to work and potentially access State help for housing.

Two months later, at the start of this month, a long-awaited Government report announced a series of measures to overhaul the same system, with Equality Minister and Labour TD Aodhán Ó Ríordáin saying that the system is not fit for purpose.

He said reforms including fast tracking applications for people in the system more than five years, increasing allowances to €38.74 a week for adults and €29.80 for children and allowing private living space for families should take place.

The latter report was backed by Ms Fitzgerald who said forcing through and legislating for the streamlining of applications changes is a Government priority.

She said it was also her firm intention to bring forward reforms at improving conditions for children and adults living in the system for a number of years, and that the latter document has provided “much food for thought”.

Ms Fitzgerald’s written parliamentary response emerged as she prepared to travel to Luxembourg today for an EU members justice ministers’ meeting to agree new migrant distribution plans across the European bloc. The issue has come to prominence since a number of Mediterranean tragedies involving illegal migrants attempting to reach Italy and Greece, with Ireland expected to confirm it will take in 600 more mainly Syrian and Eritrean people a year under reform plans.