Lack of Budget measures to end direct provision ‘very concerning’ – activist

By Cillian Sherlock, PA

The government’s last Budget is “very concerning” for asylum seekers in direct provision, an activist has said.

Bulelani Mfaco became involved in the campaign to end direct provision after arriving in Ireland as an asylum seeker from South Africa in 2017.

He said Tuesday’s budget does not advance the government’s commitment to end direct provision.

“We’re not seeing any of that happening. What we’re seeing is an increase in the spending on the existing system where a lot of money is paid to private companies.”

The Budget includes funding for hundreds of new staff at the International Protection Office.

However, Mr Mfaco said: “Without funding in other areas such as the legal aid board and HSE services, it is not really useful for asylum seekers.”

He said some asylum seekers struggle to find GPs or service providers when they need additional supports after experiencing sexual violence or torture.

He added: “What people need are lawyers, and when people are left to sleep on the streets where they are interviewed without having access to legal aid they are entitled to – that is concerning.”

Mr Mfaco, a spokesman for the Movement of Asylum Seekers in Ireland (MASI), said an overhaul of the system was needed.

He said the government had refused to take “very basic steps” which could be implemented quickly, such as reducing the waiting times for the right to work and increasing staff in other parts of the process such as family reunification decisions.

Mr Mfaco expressed concern about the “scapegoating” of asylum seekers, noting that an increase in arrivals was “not inconceivable” given the large amounts of displaced people nationwide.

In the Budget, the government said it would progress a payment for children in international protection, which is believed to be an equivalent to the child benefit payment.

Mr Mfaco welcomed this measure but noted that it was “supposed to be brought in some years ago”.