Direct Provision

Nasc is a founder member of the NGO Forum on Direct Provision, a network of organisations committed to campaigning for changes to protect the health and welfare of asylum-seekers housed in residential institutions here.

John’s Story: A Childhood Stolen “John” grew up in Mogadishu, Somalia. He arrived in Ireland alone at the age of 16 as a separated child. He was placed with a foster family in Cork but found it difficult to integrate with another family when all he could think about was his own mother and... Read more

Peter’s Story: Nine Years in Direct Provision “Peter”[1] and his family have been in Ireland for nine years. Since then, they have lived in one of the residential institutions designated as accommodation for those who come to this country in search of protection. These institutions, called... Read more

Adam’s Story: Perseverance Adam is originally from a country in Africa. He first arrived in the country seeking protection when he was 17 as a separated child, the term for children who arrive in a country without a parent or guardian. The immigration authorities did not accept that he was only... Read more

Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his views on the very small numbers of persons who are awarded subsidiary protection compared to the large numbers that apply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. Minister for Justice and Equality (Deputy Alan Shatter): The... Read more

Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide a breakdown of the costs in 2009, 2010, 2011 and to date in 2012 of repatriating unsuccessful asylum and visa applicants; if he will provide a table of the individual incidents of repatriation including the cost,... Read more

Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to reform the direct provision system, if so, the way; if he has any intention of granting leave to remain to those in the asylum process for five or more years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. Minister for Justice... Read more

Deputy Derek Nolan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of direct provision centres here; the number of asylum seekers in each centre in the years 2010, 2011 and to date in 2012; the cost of running each individual centre in each of these years; if his attention has been drawn to any... Read more

Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the average length of time which an asylum seeker waits for a decision on whether or not they will be granted asylum. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons granted asylum here in the years... Read more

Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will report on the Clondalkin Towers Refugee Centre, on the Ninth Lock Road, Clondalkin, Dublin 22, with information provided on the following, the total number of persons currently residing there; the number of families residing there;... Read more

Type Explanation Spend Commercial* 37 Centres commercially owned €57.784m State Owned 7 centres owned by the State €8.258m Self Catering 2 non direct provision commercially owned centres €1.687m Additional costs (including Gas, Electricity, Oil, Phone, Water, Waste, Sewerage,... Read more

Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of and location of State owned centres for the provision of services to asylum seekers; and if he will make a statement on the matter.  Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the weekly cost to... Read more

Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding the asylum process (details supplied). [27686/12] Minister for Justice and Equality (Deputy Alan Shatter): As previously outlined to the House, I intend to re-introduce the Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill... Read more

Government asked to reform the system known as Direct provision A recent parliamentary question, asked by Aengus Ó Snodaigh at Nasc’s request, revealed that a startling number of applicants for international protection in Ireland, approximately a third of whom are children, continue to live in... Read more

Ireland’s human rights record will be examined by our peers in the UN, in a process called the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), in October. Human rights organisations have already made extensive submissions to the UN in advance of the process – you can read more about some of those here. The State... Read more

Speaking in Dáil Éireann, Labour TD Derek Nolan calls for a comprehensive review of the direct provision system in Dail Eireann. Read his speech below: Speaking on the adjournment on the need for the Government to perform a comprehensive review of the system of direct provision, including the need... Read more

How you can become an activist in a nationwide campaign to protect the health and welfare of asylum-seekers housed in residential institutions in Ireland The Irish Times reported in May 2011 that “[s]everal hundred residents at an asylum seekers’ hostel in Galway have called on the Department of... Read more

The Irish Times reported on Wednesday 18 May 2011 last that “[s]everal hundred residents at an asylum seekers’ hostel in Galway have called on the Department of Justice to improve their living conditions”. The health and welfare of asylum-seekers housed in residential institutions all over Ireland... Read more

The Social and Health Education Project, a not-for-profit, community-based training and development organisation based in Ballincollig, Co. Cork, has recently concluded an extremely successful ten week Personal Development and Stress Management course with a group of asylum-seeking women resident in... Read more

Nasc staff were in Dublin on Wednesday to attend a demonstration against inhumane and degrading deportation practices. Nasc CEO, Fiona Finn, said: We are asking the government to ensure that an investigation is carried out into events that occurred on a deportation flight last month. When the flight... Read more