Five of the 38 direct provision centres across the country are oversubscribed

Hundreds of former asylum seekers are still living in direct provision centres because they cannot access alternative accommodation, putting the state’s system under additional strain, a government minister has said.

There are about 700 people living in one of Ireland’s 38 direct provision accommodation centres, despite being granted permission to remain.

David Stanton, the junior justice minister, said such people represented about 12 per cent of those currently living in accommodation provided by the Reception and Integration Agency, the state body responsible for overseeing direct provision centres.

“The fact that people are staying in the centres for some time after they receive permission to remain is a situation that is putting increased pressure on the system as new arrivals have to be accommodated,” Mr Stanton