More than 1,000 people in direct provision centres across this State will receive their Christmas bonuses this week - I say that with tongue in cheek to some degree. It will amount to €16.23 for adults and €13.26 for children.

Given that adults only receive €19.10 per week and children receive €15.60 per week, it is clear that all of these families will have what one could only call a very poor Christmas. The Government is responsible for a system of detention that guarantees poverty for asylum seekers. The McMahon report recommended increases in payments for children and the opportunity to work for adults while their cases are being assessed. When will these recommendations be implemented? Of the 4,301 people in direct provision centres at present, 614 are in direct provision for more than five years. It is a scandalous situation and absolutely unacceptable. In the most recent review of progress in implementing the McMahon report, the Government admits that 82 of the 173 recommendations have only been partially implemented or have seen no progress. When does the Taoiseach expect the outstanding recommendations to be implemented and can he update the House on the status of the immigration and residency reform Bill?

Finally, the key recommendation of the working group was the introduction of a single application procedure in the protection process. The International Protection Act 2015 provides for such a procedure. Can the Taoiseach indicate when he expects the commencement of the International Protection Act?

I will ask the Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality, Deputy Stanton, who is dealing with these issues and who has visited most of the direct provision centres, to respond to the Deputy.

I have visited most of the centres by now and much progress has been made with respect to the McMahon report. We are putting in place a provision whereby people can cook meals for their families and we are putting families into family-specific units. I have visited those and spoken to the people and they report that they are quite happy there. Many people move into and out of provision all the time so the number is approximately 4,000, as the Deputy said. We hope to have the legislation enacted at the end of this year, if not sooner. If not, it will be very early next year. Much work has been done on commencing the Act in law and having it working soon.