Today is the second time Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has made remarks about direct provision not being "compulsory". Last year, he said the very same thing and said people could "leave at any time". A few small questions about that: irishtimes.com/news/politics/…
When he says people can leave, what does he mean by that? They are not allowed to go to another country in Europe because their application for international protection needs to be processed in Ireland. So that leaves really two options.
Does he mean they can go and find their own accommodation? Clearly, many residents cannot do this given they get €38-a-month in welfare and are not eligible for the housing supports that would apply to other people - direct provision is THE housing system for applicants.
Presumably he knows that even after many international protection applicants are granted asylum in Ireland, they have to stay in direct provision because there are no housing options available for them. The Dept of Justice calls them "overstayers" in internal records: 
Some people in direct provision work. Many face barriers in entering the work place ... e.g. driving licence difficulties. This right to work was not for want of opposition from state. Low pay for many & housing shortage means many stay in direct provision irishtimes.com/news/social-af…
We know as well that there has been a clear policy within the Department of Justice to avoid making the direct provision any more "attractive" than it needs to be. This is usually done by avoiding what are called "pull factors" thejournal.ie/asylum-seeker-…
So, when the Taoiseach says direct provision is not compulsory. Really, the three viable options are "go back home", live on the streets, or move illegally to a third country. Because I'm struggling to see what other options there are for people in the system.
This should of course say €38-a-week. Apologies and can't be unwritten now.
Considering only two of those three options are allowed for under the system for international protection in EU, that leaves the two options of return to country of origin or homelessness. But yeah, I suppose it's not "compulsory".
