Oireachtas committee to inspect Direct Provision centres

Direct Provision centres are under scrutiny again today as delegation of TDs and Senators visit two complexes in Galway and Limerick.

It follows complaints about the living conditions of asylum seekers who are waiting for a decision on their applications.

Direct Provision Centres are funded by the taxpayer, and the Oireachtas Public Service Oversight Committee will today see firsthand how the centres operate.

"There's been much controversy around these centres and the system in recent times," said Chairman of the Committee, Sinn Féin's Padraig MacLochlainn.

"Our committee has had some of the asylum seekers and advocacy groups before us - and we were very concerned about the testimony they gave.

"We're going to see it first-hand today … we're going to ask questions of the asylum seekers themselves and those who operate the centres."