The average stay for someone in direct provision is three to four years.

The group United Against Racism has said asylum seekers are living in institutional accommodation for years, without access to employment or education.

The group is holding a rally today calling for an end to the scheme which sees thousands of people living on €19.50 per week.

One of those organising the rally, Memet Uludag, said it was beyond time for the system to be shut down, as its dysfunction had been proved by a series of reports.

“At this stage, we demand the Government reconsiders this system and ends it,” he said.