07th February

Minister Alan Shatter, T.D.

Dept. Of Justice and Equality 

94 St. Stephen's Green, Dublin 2

Dear Minister Allan Shatter,

As concerned supporters and volunteers who work on the ground with Asylum Seekers every day, we have become only too aware of the challenges and difficulties that this group of people are experiencing while they wait for a decision on their application to remain in Ireland and while they live in direct provision centres.

As supporters of immigrants, we are delighted with the efforts made under your leadership in this area of immigration over the last two years. These efforts include the speeding up the backlogs on citizenship applications as well as opening debate and discussion again on the Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill.

We are also delighted to hear that you are now going to prioritise Subsidiary Protection and Leave to Remain applications. We agree with you that this needs to be a priority because many of these people and their children have been living in one-roomed direct provision accommodation for over 2, 3, 4 and even up to 9 years. We are very concerned not only for the mental health of the adults, many of whom are displaying obvious signs of depression, but we are becoming increasingly concerned about the negative effect this way of life is having on their children. Indeed, for many of these children, direct provision in Ireland is the only home they have ever known and English their only language.

Therefore we are appealing that, when you and your team are making the decisions on those applications, that you would display leniency, flexibility and compassion for those Asylum Seekers who have been here in Ireland for more than 2 years. In particular we ask you to place the Asylum Seekers’ children in the forefront of your minds – for most of these children have never known any other country and Ireland has become their home.

Thank you very much for your attention in this matter.

Yours sincerely,

KASI Ltd. – (Killarney Asylum Seekers Initiative)

Immigrant, Asylum Seeker and Refugee Support Group

www.kasi.ie