Lissywollen Direct Provision centre for asylum seekers, Athlone, Co. Westmeath

You’ll recall how 4,360 people are living in the direct provision system in Ireland – a third of whom is children.

A new report by the Oireachtas Joint Committee for Public Service Oversight and Petitions will be published today.

RTE reports:

“The committee visited four centres in Dublin, Galway, Limerick and Meath. It described the living conditions as “intolerable” and “cramped”, with little private space for parents with children.

It said many of the children living in the centres were born in Ireland but do not enjoy the same rights as other Irish children.

According to the report, the person living in direct provision for the longest time has been there 11 years and the average stay is five years.”

Report finds direct provision system ‘not fit for purpose’ (RTÉ)