A volunteer with Abolish Direct Provision Ireland says people need to understand the dire position asylum seekers find themselves in.
Letterkenny woman Meghan Reid studied Direct Provision as part of her Masters in Human Rights Law. She says that while she is opposed to the system, until it is abolished then those seeking international protection are better off in urban locations like Letterkenny than isolated in Ireland’s rural countryside.
She stressed though that the public first need to realise just how grim life is for an asylum seeker in the Direct Provision system.
“Asylum seekers are not refugees,” said Ms Reid.
“Refugees have applied for international protection and have been granted it. They are allowed to travel, they are allowed to work, they are able to drive and they can own property.
“Asylum seekers have applied for international protection but are still awaiting a decision. And while they are waiting, the Direct Provision system holds them.
The apartments on the Port Road which are being readied as a Direct Provision Centre.
“Within the system, they are not allowed to work for the first nine months. They then have to apply for a work permit which comes with its own restrictions. It is only valid for six months after which they
have to reapply.
“If they start a business they can’t employ anyone else or be in partnership with anyone so it is impossible for them to grow that business. They aren’t allowed to drive so if their job isn’t in the town or their post requires them to drive, they are restricted again.
“These are just some of the realities for people in the Direct Provision Centre.”
A prime example, Ms Reid said, is a man living in the Port Salon Centre. He is a qualified engineer but because of the stipulation that he cannot drive, he is unable to find work. Individuals get a small sum of a few euros per day while the State pays out millions to private firms to run the facilities.
Circumstances vary from centre to centre but in many cases, individuals are not allowed to cook for themselves.
It all amounts to huge pressure on families and between April and November there have been three suicides and over 100 attempted suicides within the Direct Provision system – a stark indication of
just how difficult life is.
“Education is another major issue,” said Ms Reid.
“They have no right to a third level education. They are treated the same as an international student so fees could be anywhere from €10,000 upwards. They are not entitled to a SUSI (Student Universal
Support Ireland) grant either and it all means that they have virtually no chance of advancing in terms of learning.”
Ms Reid said the perception that asylum seekers are coming to Ireland to “sponge off the State” could not be further from the truth.
Abolish Direct Provision, the organisation Letterkenny woman Meghan Reid is campaining on behalf of.
“They are not looking for a hand out, they want their dignity, they want a chance at life,” she said.
“ No one would live in this system unless they were desperate. These people have come from the most terrible situations and all they want is to contribute, to integrate and be part of society.”
Ms Reid added that while it is early days, when the time comes a welcoming group will be ready to lend a helping hand to the potentially hundreds of asylum seekers on their way to Donegal.
“It’s great that they are coming to Letterkenny and there wll be a real opportunity to welcome them,” she said.
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