Direct Provision to be replaced by new not-for profit system by 2024

Homeless charity Depaul have welcomed the government's White Paper on ending Direct Provision and its ambitious plans to take a rights-based approach to supporting people seeking international protection in Ireland.

Under the plans, it is anticipated that all existing Direct Provision centres will close by the end of 2024 including one based in Mosney.

Over the last two years the organisation has supported 720 people to exit the Direct Provision system.

In this time the charity has worked with 847 adults and 667 children in total and supported people from 55 different nationalities some of which included people from DRC Congo, Yemen, Somalia, Israel, Cuba and Afghanistan. The charity works with individuals and families who have been granted legal status to remain in Ireland and currently work across nine counties.

Depaul CEO David Carroll says: "We very much welcome the White Paper and the details and ambition it holds. Depaul has been working with those residing in Direct Provision for a number of years now and we have seen first hand the difficulties of Direct Provision living and its impact on families and individuals."

"We also welcome that the targets in terms of housing delivery will go above and beyond housing targets already set out by government.

"The plan is ambitious but we feel it is the right step in ensuring we are providing a rights-based approach to supporting people and families seeking international protection in Ireland."