- What Does an Architect Do?
- Find an Architect
- Check the Register
- Top Tips from Architects
- Useful Questions Before you Start
- Working with an Older Building
- Working with your Town and Neighbourhood
- Work with an Architect: Commercial
- Work with an Architect: Your Home
- Why your Architect must be Registered
- Raising a Concern
- Professional Conduct Committee
- Misuse of Title
The implications of COVID-19 on the future of the Direct Provision system in Ireland
The Direct Provision system was established in Ireland in November 1999 as a temporary measure,[1] to accommodate the steadily increasing number of people entering the country to seek asylum. The number of applications rose from thirty-one in 1991 to 7724 in 1999 and, as a result there was an enormous demand put on accommodation in Dublin.[2] Initially, asylum seekers could access the Supplementary Welfare Allowance, but following the transition to the mostly cashless system, which is still in use today, this entitlement was revoked. The new system was intended to provide accommodation on a full board basis and included other measures which sought to meet all the ‘basic needs’ of asylum seekers.[3] Having been deemed a ‘success’ in April 2000, Direct Provision was implemented across the country, and the temporary project was made official government policy.
At the time of its introduction, it was intended that people would stay in centres on a short-term basis of no more than six months.[4] In reality, however, many asylum seekers become trapped in the system. As of 16 February 2015, of the 3607 persons who were living in Direct Provision, forty-one percent had been in the system for five years or more.[5] Lengthy residences in centres originally designated for short stays of six months[6] are incredibly problematic; this has been determined by residents to be the single most important issue to be addressed.[7] These prolonged stays, as well as conditions within the centres, are of particular concern to residents, with many centres featuring ‘cramped and very cluttered’ shared bedrooms, insufficient storage, communal kitchens and bathrooms, and unsuitable play and recreation facilities for children and young people.[8]
The spatial issues presented by the conditions within Direct Provision centres have become a focal point in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. While overcrowding within centres is an ongoing issue reported by residents, the current situation has now raised questions of the suitability of measures put in place by centre management in order to control the spread of the virus. As of 1 March 2020, before the outbreak began in Ireland, there were 5645 people living in thirty-nine accommodation centres located nationwide, with a further 1633 persons residing in commercial accommodation premises due to all centres being at full operational capacity.[9] As soon as 9 April 2020, the Department of Justice had procured an extra 850 beds so that asylum seekers could socially distance or self-isolate.[10] Of these rooms, 229 have self-isolation capacity, having a private bedroom and bathroom. This rapid increase in the number of rooms shows the previous inaction of the government, despite a clear ability to procure additional space for residents.
These changes have not entirely curbed the spread of the virus however, with outbreaks in several centres, and 149 confirmed cases as of May 10th, 2020. Residents report continued sharing of rooms and little opportunity to observe social distancing at meal-times due to communal canteens and kitchens. While there are always issues presented by overcrowding and communal living, these issues have become particularly pertinent of late, in the context of disease control and the health and wellbeing of residents. The current situation has brought to the fore important questions on how minimum space standards will need to be incorporated into the design and use of space, and as part of contingency planning going forward.
As of 1 January 2021,[11] for the first time in the history of the Direct Provision system, there will be a set of legally binding regulations enacted which aim to improve and ensure consistent conditions, supports, and services across all Direct Provision centres.[12] These national standards include a section on the accommodation provided within centres, including provisions that spaces should be ‘homely, accessible, and sufficiently furnished’[13] as well as that bedrooms should be ‘well proportioned’ in terms of footprint.[14] All service providers contracted by the Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) will be expected to adhere to these standards. In a recent development, (20 June 2020,) following talks between Fine Fáil, Fine Gael, and the Green Party, a draft deal outlined a commitment to end the Direct Provision system and replace it with a new policy ‘centred on a not-for-profit approach’.[15] On 23 February 2021, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability and Youth released A White Paper to End Direct Provision and to Establish a New International Protection Support Service. This development, and the preceding creation of the national standards, signal a change in attitude towards the treatment of those in Direct Provision, and there is now some hope that a radical revision of the system will be implemented within a fixed timeframe.
This pandemic has raised many questions about the ways in which space will be shared going forward, and by whom. It has also brought the idea of spatial standards into sharp focus, with the importance of having access to an adequate amount of personal space brought into the public consciousness. Now more than ever, as the lives of many have been restricted, the value of having access to a garden, balcony, living room, or kitchen is amplified. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the links between spatial conditions and health, both physical and mental, have been brought to the fore. There is now a greater awareness of the ways which environment can negatively impact wellbeing. These effects have been experienced across society, but for those in Direct Provision, feelings of containment, helplessness, and instability will not lift when the lockdown does. There has been much discussion on the adaptions that will need to be made in the wider community following this outbreak in order to preserve public health, but it is critical that these measures are also implemented fully within the Direct Provision system. The current spatial conditions pose a risk to the health and wellbeing of those living within the Direct Provision system, and regardless of the future of accommodation for asylum seekers in Ireland, the approach to space must not resemble the current or past system.
Laura Hurley is a recent graduate of the BSc architecture programme in Cork Centre for Architectural Education (CCAE). She is now working as an architectural assistant in Cork.
