TD calls for government action on unsafe conditions in Direct
Provision centres
Brid Smith TD urges immediate measures after letter from over
600 medical experts raises alarm over conditions at centres
People Before
Profit TD Bríd Smith has said her party intends to demand Government action
over what she describes as “not only inhumane but now potentially life
threatening conditions” at Direct Provision centres housing asylum applicants
for international protection.
The TD was reacting
to a letter signed by over 600 medical experts alarmed at conditions at the
centres and the impossibility of people there applying social distancing or
self isolation. The letter points out that people in direct provision must live
“in shared bedrooms, ..and ..share sanitary and eating facilities.
Bríd Smith said it
was almost three weeks since a Government Action plan promised measures to
relieve overcrowding and poor conditions, “ but we are still waiting as the
pandemic grows and affects more people, we are now told an extra 650 beds will
be provided in other facilities; this is not sufficient to relieve the pressure
or deal with the issue in these centres”.
The TD said she
would be proposing measures to remove the real risks in these centres similar
to proposals she had made relating to emergency hubs and homeless
accommodation.
“Immediately we
need to take over empty housing units and hotel spaces as well as accommodation
now free from the collapse in AIRbnb numbers, so social distancing and self
isolation is a realistic prospect for all people here. But we also need to take
measures similar to those the Portuguese Government took and grant asylum to
those here. This crisis will not differentiate between people and it is clear
the direct provision system is not only inhumane but now dangerous in the
middle of this crisis.”