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NWCI cautiously welcomes recommendations from the Direct Provision Working Group but expresses concern at impact of International Protection Bill

Published: Tuesday, June 30, 2015

In response to the publication of the recommendations of the Working Group on Improvements to the Protection Process, including Direct Provision and Supports to Asylum Seekers, NWCI reaffirmed its call on the Government to end the direct provision system.

Pending this, NWCI cautiously welcomes a number of recommendations in the report, which, if implemented in a timely manner, could improve the living standards of people currently in the Direct Provision system.

In particular, NWCI notes that the following recommendations may have a positive impact:

  • The granting of leave to remain for all those currently in the system for five years or more;
  • The extension of the right to work, although this recommendation is reliant on its inclusion in the forthcoming International Protection Bill;
  • Increasing weekly allowances to €38.74 for an adult and €29.80 for a child;
  • Improving the conditions in accommodation centres to include, access to cooking facilities for both families and single people, access to single bedrooms for single people;
  • The extension of access to third level education for people who have been in the system for five years or more;
  • The establishment of a new independent inspectorate to ensure the newly approved standards are being met;
  • The extension of the remit of the Ombudsman and Ombudsman for Children to include complaints relating to services.

NWCI is concerned about the failure to remove the habitual residency condition from the child benefit payment, and call for universality to be reinstated to the payment, so that all children living in Ireland benefit, regardless of residency.

NWCI, through the Women’s Human Right’s Alliance have previously called for a separate women’s only accommodation centre for women seeking asylum who have experienced gender based violence,  including women who have been trafficked. It is disappointing that this is not a recommendation of the report..

NWCI is also concerned about the forthcoming International Protection Bill, both in terms of its timing and content. Many of the recommendations in the report of the Working Group are reliant on the passing and implementation of the single procedure system under the Bill which at present remains at draft stage. NWCI calls on the Minister  with special responsibility for Equality, New Communities and Culture and Drugs Strategy, Aodhán Ó’Ríordáin TD, to move forward the Bill and ensure that those recommendations which are not dependant on the Bill are implemented without delay. The proposed increases in weekly allowance must, for example, be included within Budget 2016.

NWCI regrets the fact that the Working Group did not have adequate time to determine an appropriate set of supports for those leaving the Direct Provision, as this will be crucial in terms of the successful transition from Direct Provision and integration into the community.

NWCI reiterates its call for an end to Direct Provision and its replacement with a fair and equal system that fully respects the rights of asylum seekers in Ireland.