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  • "Powerless" Experiences of Direct Provision During the Covid-19 Pandemic

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  2. Direct Provision

Direct Provision

At the Irish Refugee Council, we advocate for improved conditions that recognise and safeguard the dignity of those seeking international protection in Ireland. Through our advocacy and policy work, we call for improvements, and ultimately, and an end to the Direct Provision system in Ireland while presenting constructive solutions, based on sound research, that would positively impact the lives of those awaiting international protection applications. 

 

Direct Provision is Ireland’s system of accommodating those seeking international protection while in the asylum process, managed by the the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) an administrative division of the Department of Justice. Direct Provision was initially conceived as a short-term solution to accommodate people seeking asylum providing them with food, board and basic necessities for no longer than six months. However, due to significant delays in the asylum process, most people spend an average of three years in Direct Provision and in some cases more than seven years.

As of April 2020 there are around 7,400 people in Direct Provision and emergency accommodation. 

Challenges

The problems with Direct Provision are well-documented;

  • long processing times leading to lengthy and indefinite delays
  • inappropriate and substandard accommodation
  • lack of sufficient care services and supports 

We work every day with people living in the system who experience significant challenges. The time spent waiting, the indefinite nature of that wait, the overcrowding, the lack of privacy, the inability to cook or live a normal family life, the idleness, the isolation, the difficulty accessing services – all combine to make Direct Provision a very difficult, and in many cases, very painful experience.

Those in the Direct Provision system also have limited access to higher education and employment. The system has a particularly negative impact on vulnerable people with special needs as well as children, young people and LGBT people.

We analysed the experience of children in Direct Provision in our report ‘State Sanctioned Child Poverty and Exclusion, The case of children in state accommodation for asylum seeker’. 

Push for change

The system has raised major human rights concerns and the toll that it takes on its residents has been well documented by NGOs, legal practitioners, experts and international bodies with the Ombudsman and the special rapporteur on child protection both calling on Ireland to abolish Direct Provision. 

While some improvements have been made to improve the Direction Provision system since the publication of the McMahon Report in 2015 such as the increase in Direct Provision allowance, the introduction of the limited right to work and modest expansion of self-catering facilities, in our view changes to the system be more radical and look toward an alternative way to accommodation people who seek protection in Ireland. 

We continue to push for positive change for people seeking international protection in Ireland through our advocacy and policy work.
Read more about Direct Provision:

 

Call for urgent implementation of vulnerability assessment, two years after it became mandatory

Call for urgent implementation of vulnerability assessment, two years after it became mandatory

Read more

Published: 5th November, 2020

Updated: 16th November, 2020

Author: Nick Henderson

Related topics:
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  • Direct Provision
  • Asylum Process Reform
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"Powerless" Experiences of Direct Provision During the Covid-19 Pandemic

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Published: 5th August, 2020

Updated: 10th August, 2020

Author: Nick Henderson

Related topics:
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Budget 2021 submission

Budget 2021 submission

Read more

Published: 27th July, 2020

Updated: 28th July, 2020

Author: Nick Henderson

Related topics:
  • Direct Provision
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Submission to the Oireachtas Covid-19 response committee

Submission to the Oireachtas Covid-19 response committee

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Published: 26th May, 2020

Author: Nick Henderson

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Legal advice and Chief Medical Officer statement highlight need for appropriate accommodation

Legal advice and Chief Medical Officer statement highlight need for appropriate accommodation

Read more

Published: 4th May, 2020

Updated: 5th May, 2020

Author: Nick Henderson

Related topics:
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  • Direct Provision
Healthcare workers seek to move out of Direct Provision

Healthcare workers seek to move out of Direct Provision

We spoke to RTÉ about the issue of people doing essential in healthcare but living in Direct Provision Read more

Published: 14th April, 2020

Updated: 24th April, 2020

Author: Nick Henderson

Related topics:
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Move Most Vulnerable Out of Direct Provision Centres Now

Move Most Vulnerable Out of Direct Provision Centres Now

Infectious Disease Specialist urges Government to remove most at risk in Direct Provision centres immediately and labels the facilities ‘Powder Kegs’. Read more

Published: 22nd March, 2020

Updated: 14th April, 2020

Author: Vikki Walshe

Related topics:
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Submission to Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice and Equality

Submission to Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice and Equality

We call on the Government to begin a process of review with the goal of designing an alternative reception system for international protection applicants so that Direct Provision can end Read more

Published: 5th April, 2019

Updated: 24th April, 2020

Author: Vikki Walshe

Related topics:
  • Direct Provision
  • Publications
What are the alternatives to our broken Direct Provision System?

What are the alternatives to our broken Direct Provision System?

Our position paper outlining alternative solutions to our broken Direct Provision system. Read more

Published: 28th February, 2019

Updated: 24th April, 2020

Author: Vikki Walshe

Related topics:
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Irish Refugee Council submission on national standards

Irish Refugee Council submission on national standards

Our report on national standards for Direct Provision Centres Read more

Published: 1st March, 2018

Updated: 24th April, 2020

Author: Vikki Walshe

Related topics:
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Transition from Direct Provision to life in the community

Transition from Direct Provision to life in the community

The experiences of those who have been granted refugee status, subsidiary protection or leave to remain in Ireland Read more

Published: 10th June, 2016

Updated: 25th September, 2020

Author: Vikki Walshe

Related topics:
  • Direct Provision
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Counting the Cost: Barriers to employment after Direct Provision

Counting the Cost: Barriers to employment after Direct Provision

An analysis of peoples experience trying to access employment after the Direct Provision system Read more

Published: 24th May, 2014

Updated: 28th April, 2020

Author: Vikki Walshe

Related topics:
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Direct Provision: Framing an alternative reception system for people seeking international protection

Direct Provision: Framing an alternative reception system for people seeking international protection

Proposal presenting an alternative reception system for people seeking international protection in Ireland Read more

Published: 24th April, 2013

Updated: 24th April, 2020

Author: Vikki Walshe

Related topics:
  • Direct Provision
  • Asylum Policy
State Sanctioned Child Poverty and Exclusion

State Sanctioned Child Poverty and Exclusion

The case of children in State accommodation for asylum seekers Read more

Published: 12th September, 2012

Author: Vikki Walshe

Related topics:
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Mosney: Without Rights or Recognition

Mosney: Without Rights or Recognition

Our report on the compulsory transfer of residents from Mosney Accommodation Centre by the RIA to Hatch Hall in Dublin Read more

Published: 1st December, 2010

Author: Vikki Walshe

Related topics:
  • Direct Provision
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