Some 350 people living in Westmeath’s direct provision centres

Figures released by the Government show that just under 350 people are currently living in Westmeath's two direct provision centres in Athlone and Horseleap.

In a written Dáil question last week, Social Democrats TD Holly Cairns asked for the current level of occupancy, and the contracted capacity, of the 78 direct provision and emergency accommodation centres operating in the State.

The response from Roderic O'Gorman, the Minister of State for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, outlined how there were 8,792 people in the direct provision and emergency accommodation centres being used by State's international protection accommodation services.

Locally, 251 people were in Athlone's direct provision centre in Lissywollen, which currently has a contracted capacity of 300.

The former Temple Spa hotel in Horseleap, which has been used as a direct provision centre since April 2018, is accommodating 98 people and has a capacity of 125.

Minister of State O'Gorman said the figures were correct as of February 13, 2022.

Elsewhere in the Midlands, the Marian Hostel direct provision centre in Tullamore has 101 residents, with a capacity of 168, and the Richmond Court centre in Longford has 64 residents, which is 18 fewer than its capacity.

In addition, 13 asylum seekers were in emergency accommodation at the Shannon Lodge Hotel in Offaly.

In February of last year, the Government published its 'White Paper on Ending Direct Provision', which committed to establishing "a new system of accommodation and supports" that would be put in place for people applying for International Protection.

The document said it was anticipated that all of the existing direct provision centres would close by the end of 2024.

When asked in the Dáil for an update on the process of ending direct provision, Minister of State O'Gorman said last month that "a dedicated Transition Team" had been put in place to "drive the implementation" of the White Paper's recommendations.

"Ending direct provision and putting in place the new system with its focus on human rights, on not-for-profit delivery, and on integration from day one, requires a whole-of-Government approach," he said.

"The Transition Team is currently developing a detailed implementation plan. This plan sets out the approach that will be taken to ensure that the new system of international protection is in place by 2024."