Parliamentary Questions

421. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of parents and children in direct provision centres nationally in each of the years 2016 to 2018; the number of parents and children ready to move out of the direct provision centres but awaiting appropriate or affordable housing in each of the years 2016 to 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54240/18]

Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality (Deputy David Stanton): The statistical information requested by the Deputy is as follows:

Year	Parents	Children	Total
2016	899	1219	2118
2017	1007	1312	2319
2018	1179	1613	2792

It is important to note that not all of those who apply for international protection choose to reside in accommodation provided by the Reception and Integration Agency. There are also people residing in RIA accommodation who are no longer in the protection process (such as those who have received international protection status, or have Deportation Orders issued against them and are obliged to remove themselves from the State).
Some 12% of the people currently residing in the accommodation centres provided by RIA, over 700 people, have permission to remain in Ireland.
The Reception and Integration Agency does not have details of those awaiting appropriate or affordable housing as matters of housing comes under the remit for each local authority.
Where an individual or family has permission to remain in Ireland they can access the mainstream housing supports and services on the same basis as nationals/European Economic Area nationals.
Considerable work continues to be done to support residents with status to move out of accommodation centres and to secure permanent accommodation in the community. A number of NGOs have been awarded funding specifically to assist and support residents with international protection status move out of accommodation centres into longer term accommodation.