First of large accommodation centres for asylum seekers to open in coming months
Integration Minister Roderic O'Gorman is now expected to deliver a reviewed white paper to Cabinet in the coming weeks which will outline the "direction of travel" in terms of the procurement of accommodation centres.
The first of six new large-scale accommodation centres for asylum seekers is set to be opened in the coming months as part of a longer-term international protection strategy.
Integration Minister Roderic O'Gorman is finalising an updated plan to accommodate and support those who arrive here seeking refuge.
He is now expected to deliver a reviewed white paper to Cabinet in the coming weeks which will outline the "direction of travel" in terms of the procurement of accommodation centres.
While it is not expected that Mr O'Gorman will have the full details of exact sites, which could house up to 3,600 people, it is hoped that the first of such centres will open later this year.
Tánaiste Micheál Martin said the speed of rollout of beds would depend on whether the State acquires or builds facilities but warned that both State and private accommodation will be required into the future.
"Last year, we had 13,000 international applications for asylum. That's nearly a five-fold increase on what we were experiencing in 2019 and that's over and above the over 100,000 Ukrainians who had to flee war," Mr Martin said.
He said he does not agree that Ireland is a soft touch when it comes to allowing people to enter this country, saying: "We have immigration rules, we are enforcing them.
"There should be proper checks before they come and get on planes and we have stepped up in terms of our presence at airports across Europe and elsewhere to try and identify people who would endeavour to get into the country illegally. So we have a system in place," Mr Martin told RTÉ radio.
He said attacks on buildings across the country designated for those seeking refuge “is a very fundamental undermining of our democratic order”.
The Fianna Fáil leader confirmed that two party councillors are the subject of disciplinary hearings over comments they made in the wake of an arson attack on a Co Galway hotel earmarked for asylum seekers.
He said the views expressed by some local representatives do not reflect the party's stance.
"There will be different personalities across the country.
"There are many councillors up and down the country who understand the pressures and the concerns of people, but who've also been involved in helping refugees settle into the country and helping those who are seeking asylum."
Mr Martin said the comments were different to a motion passed unanimously by Mayo County Council, including by Fianna Fáil councillors, calling on local authority staff to immediately cease co-operation with the Department of Integration in relation to housing refugees and asylum seekers.
“I think the fundamental difference here is the comments made, from my perspective, in Galway were ones to suggest that the Government was responsible for the arson or the fact that people felt the need to go and burn a beautiful building.
“And that’s unacceptable. There should be full co-operation at all times with An Garda Síochána in respect of the pursuit of any case."
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