Direct provision came into existence 21 years ago, on 10^th April 2000, as a temporary arrangement to accommodate people seeking asylum in Ireland. Since then, the Irish State has consistently failed to uphold the human rights of people who come here seeking international protection. Despite report after report highlighting the failures of the system, over 7,000 people still live in institutional settings with their dignity and rights undermined. The 2020 report of the Advisory Group on the provision of support, including accommodation, to persons in the international protection process advised that it is not fit for purpose and should be abolished. That message has been consistently conveyed to successive governments over the last 21 years. And yet, Direct Provision remains…

…We have charted some of the significant changes and campaigns over the 21 years of Direct Provision, from one of the first reports in January 2001 that documented the experiences of child poverty and social exclusion amongst asylum seekers living in Direct Provision, to the February 2021 White Paper by government that promises to end it…