Direct Provision here to stay

The Government has ruled out removing the controversial direct provision system for asylum seekers and refugees.

Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald has said it is “not feasible” to say there are alternatives to direct provision and the Government is instead concentrating on improvements to the system to fast-track application decisions.

She said direct provision is “not ideal” and “needs improvement”, “but it is not feasible to say there is alternative accommodation in the short term for the thousands of people who are in direct provision”.