President Michael D Higgins has called for a report into Direct Provision in Ireland to be fully implemented.
Direct Provision is where asylum seekers are held in accommodation centres while they wait to find out if they have permission to stay here.
They are given food and shelter and an allowance of 21 euro a week.
However the system has been slammed for failing to afford people basic dignities like cooking their own meals.
They can be left for many years in without a decision on whether they can stay in Ireland.
Yesterday the president visited Mosney in Co. Meath where 12 young asylum seekers were receiving Gaisce awards.
This is what it means to meet the President. Rilwan Kadiri has been living in Direct Provision since he was 9. Today he received @GaisceAward from @PresidentIRL at a special ceremony at Mosney, Co Meath... pic.twitter.com/XqPlbpy8PA
— Philip Bromwell (@philipbromwell) December 18, 2017
The personal development programme is popular in Irish schools and encourages people to develop new skills and take part in community work.
President Higgins praised the achievements of the awardees and said he hoped a report examining Direct Provision would be fully implemented.
The paper by former judge Brian McMahon recommended allowing people to work and that the wait for a decision on their immigration status should take no longer than 12 months.
The report also raised concerns about how Ireland treats unaccompanied children, and whether the physical buildings in the Direct Provision system is a suitable place for young people to grow up.