Ending Direct Provision

The Green Party has long campaigned against Direct Provision and ending this system was a key commitment secured by the Party in the Programme for Government. In 2021, we took major steps to end direct provision when Minister Roderic O'Gorman published a White Paper to end Direct Provision and to establish a new International Protection Support Service.

The White Paper sees a radical shift in government policy, bringing integration supports for international protection applicants kick in from day one. The Green Party in Government is committed to creating an international protection and support service that is caring, person-centred and respects the dignity and human rights of all international protection applicants. Underpinning this reform is a "commitment that the new system will provide accommodation, health, education, income support and other service needs." We will end Direct Provision and immediately begin to create a new model that is grounded in human rights and integration.

Ireland’s new International Protection Support Service will be run on a not-for-profit basis. It will serve the needs of people who need protection, supporting people to live independently and integrate into our communities across towns and cities.

Since the publication of the White Paper, extensive work has been delivered to enable the transition to the new model of accommodation for International Protection applicants. The implementation of the White Paper is progressing as scheduled and it is anticipated that the full transition to the new model can be achieved by the end of 2024. Minister O'Gorman also announced a €5m Integration Fund which will start roll out in 2022.