Government asks asylum seekers not to travel to Ireland over accommodation shortage

The Department of Integration said it will become “necessary to pause” arrivals of people seeking international protection into the Transit Hub at the Citywest in the coming days. This does not apply to Ukrainians.Picture: Colin Keegan/Collins Dublin

The Government is asking asylum seekers in places of safety not to travel to Ireland due to an accommodation shortage.

On Friday night, the Department of Integration said it will become “necessary to pause” arrivals of people seeking international protection into the Transit Hub at Citywest in the coming days. This does not apply to Ukrainians.

Currently, the number of new arrivals each day remains very high. In the first 15 days of 2023 alone, more than 1,500 people have arrived in Ireland seeking shelter and safety. The current seven-day average for international protection applicants arriving is around 50 people per day.

“The Department would ask those who are currently in places of safety not to travel to Ireland at this time as accommodation cannot be guaranteed,” a spokesperson said.

The move comes amid concerns expressed by advocacy groups that hundreds of asylum seekers could risk becoming homeless due to the acute accommodation shortage. The Department of Integration has no plans to erect any more tents.

John Lannon, CEO of Doras refugee and migrant rights group, said accommodation is now so limited that the Government may be unable to provide any accommodation to new arrivals for weeks.   

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Although people arriving into Ireland seeking protection were left sleeping in the airport for a number of nights last year when the Citywest transit hub was full, Mr Lannon fears that this time, vulnerable people seeking protection in Ireland could be left homeless for weeks.

And with homeless services already overstretched, vulnerable, traumatised people could be left sleeping on the streets, he warned.

Government has been in crisis management mode but a more long-term strategy was now desperately needed, he said.

Mr Lannon called for local authorities to bring empty public buildings like army barracks on stream to house refugees and to speed up the provision of modular homes.

“This is a worrying new low for the international protection system in Ireland. 

We already have a situation where people are sleeping in tents in freezing conditions, despite promises this practice would end.

“We appreciate that the Department of Children is under huge pressure but we simply can’t throw the towel in and ignore our moral and legal obligation to offer refuge,” Mr Lannon said.

“The EU Reception Conditions Directive compels Ireland to ensure that a basic standard of housing, food, clothing and health care is provided to people seeking international protection.

“We’re talking about people who have faced great hardships to flee war, oppression and human rights abuses. Ireland has very real challenges but as a country, we have access to resources and the solutions are there if the will is there.”