Day Report

OVERVIEW

The report of the Advisory Group on the provision of support including accommodation to persons in the international protection process (Day report) ultimately recognises that the system of Direct Provision is not fit purpose and should be replaced with a new reception that promotes integration into communities.

The Day report provides a fully costed roadmap for the Government to implement that will transition away from the Direct Provision system and realise a new reception by mid 2023. A total of 52 recommendations were made in the report relating to accommodation, supports and the international protection process.

ROLE

The Advisory Group was established in October 2019 and concluded its report in September 2020. The Advisory Group was chaired by Dr Catherine Day, former Secretary General of the EU Commission. The role of the Advisory Group was to:

• Advise on the development of a long-term approach to the provision of supports including accommodation to persons in the international protection process;
• Identify good practice in European countries in the provision of supports to persons within the international protection process, particularly dealing with variations in demand;
• Set out a process for achieving the long-term approach to support persons in the international protection process.

 

KEY RECOMMENDATIONS

The Day Group report made a total of 52 recommendations to Government around the international protection system, including the following:

• Acknowledges that the current system of Direct Provision is not fit for purpose and recommends that a new reception system should be in place by mid 2023, following a transition phase with immediate effect.
• The new system should be guided by the principle that promoting integration into local communities as early as possible after arrival in Ireland will be of benefit to all, including people whose applications are subsequently refused.
• Shorter processing times for international protection applications whereby first instance decisions are taken within 6 months and appeal decisions are taken within 6-month deadline. The proposed new time limits would ensure the conclusion of almost all cases within a 12-month period.
• Limiting time spent in reception centres to 3 months after making an application for international protection.
• Providing own-door accommodation sourced through the local authorities, within 3 months of an application for protection.
• The transition phase from now until mid 2023 will allow sufficient time to deal with the legacy backlog, recruit qualified staff for the proposed time limited application and appeal procedures and to build an accommodation model that can meet the 3-month reception centre time limit proposed.

Full report available to read and download here: Advisory Group report.

NEXT STEPS

The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) are considering the Advisory Group report and formulating a White Paper to guide  the Government’s next steps with regard to realising the commitment to end Direct Provision. The White Paper will be finalised by early 2021.

GET INVOLVED

If you are interested in campaigning for the implementation of the Day report recommendations, please consider contacting your local TD and letting them know that this issue is important to you. Ask your local TD to help ensure that implementing the recommendations of the Day report is on the agenda and that the Government upholds its commitment to end Direct Provision.

Please keep an eye on our social media accounts for updates on this work and for ideas on how you can help.