DFI's Submission on People with Disabilities in Direct Provision
Issued on January 13 2021
DFI Submission on Direct Provision
The Disability Federation of Ireland DFI, made a submission to the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, highlighting serious concerns about how the Direct Provision system treats people with disabilities.
Key Points:
- Ireland has a duty under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD) to protect the rights of all people with disabilities, including those seeking international protection.
- The current Direct Provision system is failing to meet these obligations. It often worsens existing disabilities and, in many cases, contributes to new physical and mental health issues due to poor conditions.
- A human rights-based approach must be adopted, with disability considered across all areas of the international protection process.
- Accommodation must meet the specific needs of people with disabilities.
- Staff working with international protection applicants must receive disability awareness training.
- Ireland should apply lessons from its policy to move people with disabilities out of institutional settings.
- A joined-up, cross-departmental response is essential.
- A dedicated transitional facility is needed to support people with disabilities who are granted refugee status, as finding accessible housing is currently very difficult and the risk of homelessness is high.
As this submission has been produced as part of the Department’s consultation on upcoming White Paper on Ending Direct Provision, it is DFI’s hope that these recommendations will guide the Government to a new inclusive, equitable and responsive international protection infrastructure. This new system would uphold the rights of disabled people seeking the state’s protection during a transitional and vulnerable time for them.