21 October 2020
Minister McEntee and Minister O’Gorman publish the report by the Advisory Group on Direct Provision and announce a reduction in the waiting period for international protection applicants to access work.
The recommendations of the Advisory Group will now be assessed by the relevant Ministers and their Departments. The Group’s report will inform the development of a White Paper to be published by the end of the year, outlining options for a replacement to the Direct Provision system.
The Government has also approved revised arrangements for international protection applicants to access work including the reduction in the waiting period from 9 months to 6 months from the date of first application for international protection.
The Advisory Group was established in October 2019 and chaired by Dr Catherine Day, former Secretary General of the European Commission, and had the following role:
- To advise on the development of a long-term approach to the provision of supports including accommodation to persons in the international protection process;
- To identify good practice in European countries in the provision of supports to persons within the international protection process, particularly dealing with variations in demand; and
- To set out a process for achieving the long-term approach to support persons in the international protection process.
The full Advisory Group report is available through the link below:
The Inter-Departmental Group report on Direct Provision is available through the link below:
Update: 26th February 2021
A White Paper on Ending Direct Provision has been published and is available here: White Paper on Ending Direct Provision
The Executive Summary from the White Paper in various languages is available here: White Paper on Ending Direct Provision (Executive Summary in various languages)
Submissions made to the Advisory Group
Government Departments and Agencies
Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection
Department of Education and Skills
Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government Observations
Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government costings
International Organisations
European Asylum Support Office
Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
Department of Justice Bodies
International Protection Appeals Tribunal
International Protection Office
Non Government Organisations
MASI (Movement of Asylum Seekers in Ireland)
Spirasi (Spiritan Asylum Services Initiative)
SVP (Society of Saint Vincent de Paul)
Other Groups