<p>
	Last August, the operation of Mount Trenchard at Foynes was the source of controversy with a number of asylum seekers protesting at living conditions at the centre and calling for its closure.</p>
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	The protest sparked wider criticism that resulted in the Government establishing a working group to examine the system.</p>
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	Figures provided by the Department of Justice show Alan Hyde, who heads up the Barlow Properties group that operates Mount Trenchard, last year received &euro;5.15m in fees to operate five centres for 480 asylum seekers at Cork, Waterford and the one at Mount Trenchard.</p>
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	The figures show the cost of providing direct provision to more than 4,300 asylum seekers continues to be a bonanza for a small group of businesses with eight contractors receiving payments of over &euro;36m (all figures incl Vat) last year.</p>
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<p>
	The payments were part of a wider payout of &euro;51.49m to private firms providing direct provision accommodation to asylum seekers between December 11, 2013, to the end of December last.</p>
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	Last year, the direct provision system cost &euro;53m with 4,364 asylum seekers in direct provision accommodation.</p>
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	The figures show Bridgestock received the highest payments totalling &euro;5.9m &mdash; bringing to &euro;76m the amount the firm has received from the State between 2000 and 2014.</p>
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	The figures also show that East Coast Catering last year received the second highest amount of &euro;5.78m.</p>
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	The department&rsquo;s record of purchase orders over &euro;20,000 also shows that Mosney last year received &euro;4.6m to accommodate 600 asylum seekers &mdash; this adds to the &euro;105m the firm received from the State between 2002 and 2013.</p>
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<p>
	The figures show that Arramark/Campbell Catering Ltd received &euro;4.4m in addition to the &euro;4.57m it received in 2013. Arramark provides services for 800 asylum seekers at three State-owned direct provision centres in Cork, south-east Clare and Athlone.</p>
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<p>
	The records show Millstreet Equestrian Services, which provides accommodation for 380 in Cork, Waterford and Tipperary areas, received payment of &euro;3.5m.</p>
<p>
	<a href="http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/direct-provision-contractors-receive-euro5m-each-in-state-fees-323185.html">http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/direct-provision-contractors-receive-euro5m-each-in-state-fees-323185.html</a></p>
