Six out of ten people seeking asylum in Ireland have been living in state accommodation for over three years.
A report published today by the European Migration Network (EMN) found that Direct Provision Centres are not suitable for long term living.
Lissywollen Direct Provision Centre in County Westmeath is just one of 35 complexes in the Republic of Ireland that are deemed unsuitable for long term living. The EMN study found that there has been a decline in the use of such centres from 5,400 in 2011 to 4,800 in 2012. The study also showed that 59 per cent of residents had spent three years or more in these state accommodation centres. 31 per cent have been living there for more than five years and nine per cent for more than 7 years. Recent figures show that waiting times continue to get longer.
Reuben Hambackachere fled from Zimbabwe eight years ago.
He fled from the chaos engulfing his homeland.
His pregnant wife was placed in the Mosney Reception Centre where their baby was born. However, it took over four years of working in South Africa before Reuben Hambackachere could afford to follow her to Ireland. When he arrived, he was kept in a direct provision centre in Dublin while his wife and daughter lived in Mosney.
Over the years, Reuben Hambackachere gained eight diplomas through online courses and worked as a volunteer with the Irish Refugee Council.
He says that waiting for a decision on their application to stay was worse than the poverty caused by living on the Direct Provision System.
Last October, Reuben Hambackachere and his family finally received permission to stay in Ireland.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 7 February 2014. The reporter is Joe Little.
