Seanad Adjournment Debate – 8 May, 2013
Fiafr ú don Aire Dlí, Cosanta & Comhionannas cé mhéad sealúchas at á dhá
bhainistiú ag Nama faoi láthair, a bhíonn in úsáid mar ionad lóistín do
Theifigh faoin gcóras Chóireáil Dhíreach, agus na sealúchais sin a
liostáil.
To ask the Minister for Justice, Defence and Equality to state how many
properties which are currently being managed by Nama, are being used as
Accommodation Centres for Asylum Seekers under the Direct Provision system,
and to itemise those properties.
- Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh
Reply
The question being posed by the Senator in this adjournment motion is based
on a misapprehension as to the nature of the contractual relationship
between the Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) of the Department of
Justice and Equality and those centres providing full board accommodation
to asylum seekers.
By way of background, I should firstly explain that RIA is responsible for
the accommodation of asylum seekers in accordance with the Government
policy of direct provision and dispersal. As of today, there are 4,707
persons being accommodated in 34 centres across the State. Details of these
centres and the numbers being accommodated can be found on the RIA website
at www.ria.gov.ie. Of these centres, 7 are State owned. That is to say,
while the centres are managed by private contractors under contract to RIA,
the land and buildings are owned by the State. The remaining 27 centres are
commercially owned and operated.
In relation to any commercially owned asylum accommodation centre 'being
managed' by the National Asset Management Agency (NAMA), this is not
relevant to RIA. In fulfilling its general accommodation responsibilities,
RIA does not own, lease or rent premises from commercial contractors.
Rather, it 'contracts-in' a comprehensive range of services and facilities,
which include accommodation, housekeeping etc., for a fixed sum over the
period of the contract. It is a condition of the contract with RIA that the
contractor has good title to the centre but this does not specify either
owning, or renting or leasing the building concerned. The finance
mechanism, loans or otherwise, used by the contractor for the provision of
the service to RIA is a matter solely for the contractor.
In relation to the general issue of whether NAMA can divulge details of
property that it may hold as security or where an enforcement action has
been taken by NAMA on that property, these issues are addressed on its
website - www.nama.ie – which I commend to the Senator.