A third in asylum centres are children

ONE third of people now living in state-run centres for asylum seekers are children – many of whom have been born into the system, figures from the Reception and Integration Agency have revealed.

At the end of May there were 6,246 people living in direct provision accommodation in 45 centres around the country, 2,034 of whom are under 18.

More than 1,250 of those are children under four years old, suggesting many are being born in Ireland as asylum seekers.

Under a new policy, Irish-born children are also being individually placed in the asylum process despite never having left Ireland, a move which has been described as highly unusual by refugee support groups.

Norah Gibbons, director of advocacy with children’s charity Barnardos, said there was serious concerns in relation to child protection when families were living “cheek by jowl” in direct provision centres.

“We would have serious concerns over the number of children who are now living in direct provision.

“Children and families cannot continue to live like this for any kind of long-term period.

“You cannot create a family scenario, and we would be aware of centres where there are people living in houses, but there are families living in each room of the house.”

Ms Gibbons said it was unsustainable to have families with children living in such close quarters as this was wide open to abuse.

She said the situation was no doubt having a mental and emotional effect on the parents and this could not but impact on the children.

Liam Thornton, lecturer in law at the University of Ulster and who specialises in asylum issues, said it is likely many of these children have spent a considerable period of time within the direct provision system – and some are born into it.

“Children within direct provision are often accommodated with their parents in a single room,” he said

“Where the child is part of a one-parent family, the accommodation may be shared with another one-parent family.

“Breakfasts, school lunches and dinners are provided to the children, the child may never have witnessed their parents preparing food. School friends may be denied access to the direct provision centre, so opportunities for play and social interaction are severely lessened.”

Mr Thornton said the location of the direct provision accommodation, usually apart from the host community, meant a child’s interaction with the local community is minimised and fractured.

“In terms of social welfare entitlement, the child’s parent will receive €9.60 per week in addition to the €19.60 which each parent will receive. In general, parents will not be able to claim child benefit.”