The government's set up a new group to improve conditions at direct provision centres.

The working group - which includes figures from charities and human rights groups - says it wants to improve the quality of life, and dignity, of people in the state-run centres.

It's been told that there isn't any extra money to invest in the running of the immigration system, or direct provision centres.

So, within those boundaries, it's been asked to come up with ideas for how people living in the centres can have a greater qualify of life - and to have their dignity respected.

It's also been asked to suggest changes for how asylum applications are dealt with - with the aim of making quicker decisions and reducing the length of time for which people are in direct provision, waiting for a decision.

The group will be chaired by retired High Court judge Bryan McMahon, and includes representatives from the Irish Refugee Council and other immigrant support services, as well as from the Childrens Rights Alliance and the UN's High Commissioner for Refugees.

It's due to begin its work in the coming weeks.