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.

84. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of asylum seekers and others in direct provision; the number in direct provision for more than two years; her policy in relation to this matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. Minister for Justice and Equality... Read more

72. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will end the system of direct provision for asylum seekers; and her views on the number of children in the system, the length of time spent by asylum seekers in direct provision centres, the living conditions and standards, and... Read more

Nasc, the Irish Immigrant Support Centre are hosting a conference in conjunction with University College Dublin’s Sutherland School of Law to mark World Refugee Day.  The conference, titled ‘Beyond the Single Procedure – Reforming Ireland’s Protection System’ will be held from 10 AM – 3PM... Read more

148. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to reduce significantly the fee for a certificate of naturalisation. Minister for Justice and Equality (Deputy Frances Fitzgerald): The Irish Nationality and Citizenship Regulations 2011 set out the prescribed fees... Read more

Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: The issue of direct provision centres has been troubling many people for quite a while. During the recent controversy about mother and baby homes, I came to the conclusion that there has always been a view in Ireland that some children are somehow lesser children. This cannot... Read more

164. Deputy Regina Doherty asked the Minister for Justice and Equality in view of the extremely slow pace of processing applications of those residing in direct provision here if she has ever considered an amnesty approach; and if she will make a statement on the matter. Minister for Justice and Equality... Read more

163. Deputy Regina Doherty asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of new entrants that have entered the direct provision system in 2012, 2013 and 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. Minister for Justice and Equality (Deputy Frances Fitzgerald): The direct provision system... Read more

162. Deputy Regina Doherty asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the exact number and cost of judicial review of applicants resident in direct provision facilities broken down by year over the past nine years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. 165. Deputy Regina Doherty asked the... Read more

161. Deputy Regina Doherty asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the exact cost of direct provision by year over the past nine years broken down by year, county and facility; and if she will make a statement on the matter. Minister for Justice and Equality (Deputy Frances Fitzgerald): The direct... Read more

160. Deputy Regina Doherty asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the exact number of persons who are in the direct provision system; the way it is broken down by reception centre or facility and length of stay here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. Minister for Justice and Equality... Read more

606. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a yearly breakdown of the number of persons that have been admitted from Direct Provision accommodation to psychiatric units in the past five years. Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Kathleen Lynch):... Read more

597. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons, broken down into men, women and children, in direct provision accommodation in County Meath on 09 June 2014. Minister for Justice and Equality (Deputy Frances Fitzgerald): The direct provision system is... Read more

588. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of applications received by her Department under the Syrian refugee initiative; and if she will make a statement on the matter. Minister for Justice and Equality (Deputy Frances Fitzgerald): As the Deputy will be aware,... Read more

546. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to end the current system of direct provision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. 549. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will initiate a review of the direct provision scheme... Read more

281. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide details of the nature and cost of maintenance and renovation work carried out at the Athlone direct provision centre in County Westmeath in the past five years. Minister for Public Expenditure and... Read more

Nasc and  UCD’s Sutherland School of Law invite you to a one day conference to mark World Refugee Day on the 20th June 2014 in UCD’s William Fry Theatre from 10 Am – 3Pm.  Beyond the Single Procedure: Reforming Ireland’s Protection System This conference is an opportunity to bring together... Read more

 159. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason election canvassers are prohibited from canvassing at direct provision centres around the country; if she will outline any domestic legal provisions and any international legal obligations in that regard; and if she... Read more

To mark World Refugee Day, Nasc in conjunction with UCD’s Sutherland School of Law are hosting a groundbreaking conference looking at the protection system in Ireland. The conference will take place on 20 June in UCD’s William Fry Theatre from 10 AM – 3 PM. The conference is an opportunity to... Read more

Nasc cautiously welcomes the slight reversal in the Reception and Integration Agency’s (RIA) policy which permits candidates to drop off election material to the Direct Provision Centres. The new policy circular issued by RIA is outlined in detail on Human Rights in Ireland Blog here. RIA have... Read more

Last evening, Nasc launched the report ‘What’s Food Got To Do With It? Food Experiences of Asylum Seekers in Direct Provision’, written by Keelin Barry. The report was launched by John McKenna, food critic and author of the well-known McKenna’s Guides.  John recently wrote an... Read more