The ISPCC has welcomed the publication by Minister Roderic O’Gorman of the government’s White Paper on Ending Direct Provision, which sets out a path towards ending the Direct Provision system by 2024.
The organisation, which provides an Integration Service to families living in Direct Provision, highlighted how childhoods have been significantly impacted and stress and anxiety has been experienced by vulnerable children and families who have faced long routes to judgements on their applications for International Protection.
The ISPCC had previously called for the Direct Provision system to be abolished and replaced with a more child-centred and family-centred model of support and integration.
ISPCC Chief Executive John Church said: “Children, young people and families who seek International Protection in Ireland are some of the most vulnerable and marginalised individuals in our community. We know through our work that they can experience great stress while spending long periods living in Direct Provision centres which are unacceptable and wholly inadequate in ensuring that their residents are cared for in the manner they deserve.
“The publication of the government’s White Paper is very welcome in this regard. It sets out a route towards the ending of Direct Provision and allows for that process to now finally begin. The Minister’s stated intention for a new system to be grounded in human rights and focussed on supporting people to integrate into Ireland from the point of their arrival signals a positive new way forward. The proof, as always, will be in the delivery and we anticipate cross-governmental commitment and timely action on realising the objectives outlined.”
