The harsh reality of life for more than 300 asylum seekers and refugees who live in direct provision accommodation in Mayo was laid bare this week. GMIT Castlebar hosted a launch for the “One size doesn’t fit all” report published by the Free Legal Advice Centre (FLAC ) , in association with Mayo Intercultural Association. The report marks the 10th anniversary of direct provision accommodation in Ireland. Currently there are 315 people living in Ballyhaunis in direct provision accommodation, there were centres in both Kiltimagh and Cong previously providing accommodation but have since been closed.
“It can be like a prison, but at least in prison you know that you have got 10 years and then you will be free, but we don’t know when, if ever, we will be free,” the launch was told by one of the former residents of the direct provision accommodation.
One of the current residents explained: “The first day you arrive in Ireland you realise that you made the right decision. But you have also signed away your rights, you have to get permission to leave the accommodation and let them make a decision for you if you can go. If you complain they can say you are not suitable to live there anymore and then you have to leave and can be shipped anywhere around the country and you have no right to appeal.”
The residents of the direct provision accommodation are housed on a full board basis, so they have to eat at predetermined meal times and are only entitled to an allowance of €19.10 per week per adult and €9.60 per child, and they are not allowed to work. The system was initially set up as a pilot programme 10 years ago, with the residents only supposed to stay up to six months, however at the launch it was explained that some people have been in direct provision accommodation for over five years with no decision made on their status or if they are going to be allowed to stay in Ireland.
A documentary by Serbian Vukasin Nedeljokovic, who lived in the Old Convent in Ballyhaunis in this type of accommodation for a number of years, was also shown. Vukasin’s documentary on the closure of the Railway Hostel in Kiltimagh which was used as a direct provision accommodation centre, showed the shock and effects the sudden closure of the hostel had on the local community and its residents.
The FLAC report examines human rights’ issues of housing people for such a length of time and makes a number of recommendations to ensure that the human rights of the residents in this type of accommodation are respected. The report can be found on the FLAC website, www.flac.ie
