Asylum proposals show merit, but have some way to go to solve accommodation issues

Integration Minister Roderic O'Gorman finally brought his accommodation strategy to Cabinet saying it 'will address the immediate accommodation crisis in International Protection, and provide a pathway, over the next five years, to deliver a fair, efficient, and sustainable model of accommodating International Protection applicants'. Picture: Maxwells

Masked men on horseback leading protests, arson attacks, unhoused men creating a tent city at the heart of the capital city.

Immigration and asylum have rarely been far from the headlines in the last 18 months. 

Since the outbreak of war in Ukraine, the system has been under severe strain. 

On top of the 100,000 who have fled Putin's brutal invasion, Ireland has seen record numbers seeking asylum from across the globe, putting a pinch on accommodation and forcing the Government to use whatever it can get its hands on, often leading to public backlash, often stoked by a loose coalition of anti-migrant far-right online actors.

That level of attention has demanded action. Thus far, the Government has struggled. 

There have been hints at strengthening immigration procedures, some attempts at dissuading those looking for a better life from coming here and an accommodation approach that, two years in, has not graduated beyond an emergency response taking as much offered accommodation as possible and making millionaires of providers.

On Wednesday, Integration Minister Roderic O'Gorman finally brought his accommodation strategy to Cabinet saying it "will address the immediate accommodation crisis in International Protection, and provide a pathway, over the next five years, to deliver a fair, efficient, and sustainable model of accommodating International Protection applicants".

But is the 15-page document the panacea to a situation where 1,465 asylum seekers remain without state accommodation? 

Despite envisaging between 13,000 to 16,000 arrivals a year, the strategy only proposes scaling the system up by 25% overall by 2028. 

What it does aim to do, Mr O'Gorman argued, is to make more of the 35,000 beds state-owned allowing the state to "hold the reins" on accommodation. 

Yet the plan itself says that just 14,000 of the 35,000 beds will actually be state-owned, with another 10,000 in emergency accommodation and 11,000 contingency places provided by the commercial sector.

Furthermore, it adds that actual new beds will not start coming on-stream until later this year while there is "an increasing likelihood that families, including women and children could find themselves without an offer of accommodation in the coming weeks or months". 

Planned reception centres will not start construction until next year.

Presumptive Taoiseach Simon Harris used his speech as he became leader of Fine Gael to talk about a firmer system for those who enter Ireland. Hopes have largely been pinned on the EU's migration pact, Ireland's opting into which was also launched by Justice Minister Helen McEntee on Wednesday.

Under that plan, Ireland will get tough(er) on those who come here from so-called safe countries, or without documents or who mislead authorities or breach borders. 

The joint announcement seemed to attempt to marry the iron fist with the velvet glove, but Ms McEntee admitted her end of the bargain will not be in place for two years. Mr O'Gorman is already fighting a massive backlog on his end.

Both plans have some merit and will serve to overhaul the asylum system, but after four years of government and an attempt to abolish direct provision which was "overtaken by events", both announcements feel like they are some way from knocking immigration from the headlines or ending the ugly scenes that have proliferated across the country.