The Ombudsman has expressed concern over the unsuitability of accommodation in the direct provision system.

Peter Tyndall said that the highly contagious nature of coronavirus had highlighted how unsustainable it was to have three or more people, who are not from the same family, living in the same room for a significant amount of time.

Mr Tyndall was speaking after publication of his annual commentary, which cites an increase of more than 10% in complaints received by his office from asylum seekers living in Direct Provision accommodation centres and emergency accommodation.

The report deals with issues that arose last year before the onset of the coronavirus.

In his annual report for 2019, the third to be published since his office was given remit over the direct provision system, Mr Tyndall said 168 complaints were received, up from 152 in 2018.

The report shows that for asylum seekers living in emergency accommodation the complaints related to the length of time spent in such accommodation, a difficulty around raising issues as they did not know who to raise them with, access to schools for children, access to GP services, transport, food and laundry facilities.

For those living in direct provision centres, food and cooking facilities, transport, facilities for children, and provision of shops were among the issues the Ombudsman received complaints about.

The report also notes 25 complaints made against the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection.

Ten of those complaints related to refusals of applications for the Daily Expense Allowance.

The Ombudsman said following contact by his office with the department there was a proactive engagement by the department with residents to resolve their issues.

Read:

Asylum seeker's safety concerns after virus outbreak

The Ombudsman said that he was not surprised by the rise in complaints to his office due to the rise in numbers of people in direct provision accommodation and emergency accommodation.

He said there had been a 16.3% increase in the numbers in the direct provision system year-on-year from 2018 to 2019.

The Ombudsman also warned about the risk of what he termed a "two-tiered system" becoming embedded within the system, with increasing numbers of asylum seekers being temporarily placed on an emergency basis in hotels, guesthouses and B&Bs.

He said this was not a sustainable way to accommodate people seeking protection from often dangerous situations in their countries of origin.

Mr Tyndall also said that while this report relates to complaints received in 2019, it was appropriate that he should refer to the Covid-19 crisis.

He said: "In my view the crisis, and in particular the highly contagious nature of the virus, brings into sharp relief just how unsuitable and unsustainable it is to have three or more people in the same room as is the case in many Direct Provision centres, particularly those being used on an emergency basis."

He said it was the physical constraints of the current accommodation centres that caused him the most concern rather than the actions of the International Accommodation Protection Service (IPAS, formerly RIA).

A spokesperson for the Ombudsman's office said in recent weeks it had received complaints in relation to delayed transfers to more suitable accommodation from those in emergency accommodation or at risk from Covid-19, residents having a lack of information about Covid-19 and a delay in moving out of direct provision accommodation for those who have had asylum/leave to remain granted.

Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan said: "I am encouraged by the Ombudsman's acknowledgement of, and welcome for, the sustained improvements which have been made across the system. I want to assure everyone, especially our residents, that we will continue this important work.

"I also recognise however, as the Ombudsman does, the difficulties caused by over reliance on emergency accommodation.

"We are working to remove the need for these temporary measures including by supporting the thousand or so people who have been granted leave to remain to transition to mainstream accommodation after this Covid-19 crisis ends.

"Our current focus is on working closely with the HSE to ensure the health and welfare of those availing of direct provision services, and the wider community, while the threat of Covid-19 remains.

"I want to thank the Ombudsman for his work and assure him of the continued cooperation of my department with cases he brings to our attention."

At a government press briefing Elizabeth Canavan of the Department of the Taoiseach said the Department of Justice had reduced the number of people in rooms in the direct provision system to ensure there is no more than three people in a room.

She said new accommodation has been opened and over 600 people have been relocated to support social distancing measures.

Ms Canavan also said there was more to do including the reduction of the number of people in emergency accommodation.