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Asylum seekers living in direct provision for more than two years by the end of 2020 should be able to stay in Ireland for five years, according to a report by former European Commission Secretary-General Dr Catherine Day.
An Advisory Group, chaired by Dr. Day, has made a number of general recommendations in its report, to be released today, including a one-time grant for people who have lived in the current system for more than two years. It also recommends increasing access to the labor market.
Direct Provision was created in 1999 in response to a sharp increase in the number of asylum seekers in Ireland.
The system has been repeatedly criticized by migrant rights groups due to the length of time people spend in the centers while their asylum applications or appeals are processed, the conditions of the centers and the psychological effects on those who live in these centers.
More than € 1 billion has been paid to companies and private contractors since the system was established.
It is understood that the report recommends that anyone who has lived in Direct Provision for more than two years be granted permission to stay for a period of five years, pending security verification.
There should be an option to renew this under a single case processing approach that should be launched in January to eliminate the current backlog of asylum applications.
Permit to stay is granted to people who have been denied refugee or subsidiary protection, but who are not deported for humanitarian or other reasons.
Day’s report was commissioned by former Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan. The Advisory Group met for the first time in November 2019 and presented its findings to the Government in recent days.
The current reception system for asylum seekers should be terminated and replaced by a three-stage system of accommodation managed by the state by mid-2023, the report recommends.
According to the report, the new reception system described in the Advisory Group’s report would offer accommodation to people in state centers for three months.
On-site services should also be available at this stage to help applicants access services such as health and social welfare.
After three months in a reception center, applicants should be assisted to move to own-door accommodation through a housing allocation model.
A payment similar to the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) would also be available, as well as a weekly allowance under this new system. Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien is understood to have been briefed on the report, which calls for a combination of solutions to accommodate applicants for protection.
If a person receives international protection or permission to stay in Ireland, support must be provided for up to 18 months later, according to the report.
Application process
Dr Day’s report was produced in consultation with a number of NGOs, including Nasc, the Refugee Council of Ireland and the Movement of Asylum Seekers in Ireland (MASI), as well as current and retired senior civil servants.
The report calls for a “whole of government” response to replace Direct Provision.
Dr. Day previously described the current direct delivery system as “unsatisfactory” and “largely reactive.”
Dr. Catherine Day photographed earlier this year.
Source: Leah Farrell
In addition, “binding targets” should be introduced for the different stages of the protection process, which will come into force from 2023, including a period of six months for the Office of International Protection to make a decision in the first instance and a period of six months for the Court of International Protection Appeals to make a decision on an appeal.
This should be backed up by increased resources from the Legal Aid Board to ensure protection applicants have access to legal advice and support from the time they arrive in Ireland, it is understood.
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The report also provides for greater access to the labor market by allowing the work permit to be available within 3 months of submitting an application for protection.
The report calls for the new system to be operational by mid-2023.
The report, which is not legally binding, will now inform the Government’s White Paper to replace the controversial system of reception of asylum seekers in Ireland, to be published in January.
Responsibility for managing Direct Provision housing was transferred last week from the Department of Justice and Equality to the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, as part of an agreement under the Program for Government.
The report and its recommendations will now be considered by a committee that will oversee the writing of the White Paper.
The Advisory Group’s report also makes a series of short-term recommendations while maintaining the current Direct Provision system.
Vulnerability assessments must be introduced as soon as possible and offered to asylum seekers within 30 days of arrival by 2023.
In addition, it is recommended that the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) carry out inspections of the Direct Provision centers throughout the country.
The inspections have been previously conducted by the Department of Justice and Equality and the private contractor QTS.
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