Cash-strapped asylum seekers may be asked to leave
From May 1, asylum seekers from the 10 EU accession states are entitled to seek employment.
However, they will also have to provide for their own needs, including accommodation.
The Reception and Integration Centre, attached to the Department of Justice, has advised more than 300 families they will have to vacate their State-provided accommodation before May 1.
The Irish Refugee Council yesterday appealed to government agencies to show compassion to hard-pressed families forced to secure housing.
However, the Department of Social and Family Affairs said means-tested social welfare payments, including rent supplement, will be confined to people habitually resident in Ireland.
The spokesperson said: “People with little or no connection to Ireland who cannot provide for themselves will be asked to return to their home countries and will be provided with assistance to return, in co-operation with the Department of Justice, where necessary.”
The social and family affairs’ spokesperson said its officials will meet with the Department of Justice next week to explore ways of ensuring that the people concerned do not experience hardship as a result of their change in status.
“However,” added the spokesperson, “we note with optimism that a spokesman for the Department of Justice has been quoted as saying that no one will find themselves ‘on the streets’.”
The decision is likely to affect about 1,000 people, about 25% of the current asylum-seeker population living in State-provided centres.
The Irish Refugee Council yesterday welcomed assurances no families would be left homeless.
Council legal officer Cabrini Gibbons said letters from the Reception and Integration Centre have caused confusion for many asylum seekers.
“We are obviously concerned that people, who have not been able to work since their arrival in this country, are now being asked to arrange their own accommodation,” she said.
Meanwhile, independent business organisation ISME yesterday rejected claims by SIPTU that some employers had already commenced laying off people, currently on work permits, from non-EU countries.
ISME chief executive Mark Fielding dismissed the claim as scare-mongering. “Any persons employed in the State, whether they are on work permits or not, are protected under the employment legislation and have the same rights as an Irish person,” said Mr Fielding.
