Homeless asylum seekers in Dublin 'tent-city' fear new migration laws will not help them

Tents near Dublin's International Protection Accommodation Services. Picture: Gareth Chaney

Asylum seekers living in a ‘tent-city’ in Dublin have said they do not believe that an overhaul of migration policies here will make any difference to their accommodation.

The European Parliament voted on Wednesday to adopt new EU laws which will include new changes to allow for burden-sharing of asylum applications.

Justice Minister Helen McEntee said the new measures will ensure that people who genuinely need help will get it and if there is the same system throughout Europe, it will be more effective. The overall objective is to ensure that the system is fair, but there also need to be rules, that have to be enforced.

There are 1,700 homeless asylum seekers in Ireland, and pressure continues to mount on the Government to find accommodation for them.

One homeless asylum seeker, from Jordan, said: 'I don’t believe the new plans will change anything for us.' Picture: Gareth Chaney

Today, the Irish Examiner visited Mount St in south Dublin again and spoke to some of the homeless asylum seekers there.

One man, from Jordan, said: “I don’t believe the new plans will change anything for us. I am here one month; others are here three months.

It is just more talk, nobody can live like this. Everybody drives by to look at us, take photos, and watch us, but nobody wants to help. They talk about changing and making it better for us, but I don’t believe it, nobody here believes it.

“Also, there are problems between us and Ukrainians now because of the separation and divide your Government has caused.

“We have an open toilet in the corner; you can smell the place. Look at us. It is no way to live and people think we come here for a good life. It is not true."

One local resident, Sheila O'Byrne, said she has written to several ministers over sanitation issues on Mount St.

"It's a disgrace," she said. "Look at the way these people are living. It's hazardous for them, and the community, not to mention wildlife and domestic animals. Something needs to be done." 

Sheila O'Byrne said she has written to several ministers over sanitation issues on Mount St. Picture: Gareth Chaney

The area outside the International Protection Accommodation Services Offices has 90 tents which line the area around the centre.

Men are using a corner of the street as a toilet and there is rubbish everywhere.

Over St Patrick’s weekend the asylum seekers were moved to Crooksling in south Dublin but many moved back because of the facilities there.

Recently, Professor Kathleen Lynch told the Irish Examiner that she was ashamed to be Irish because of the manner in which we have treated homeless asylum seekers.

The Government has said it will opt into the new EU migration pact and the country will be expected to be compliant in two years.

The new legislation will replace the International Protection Act 2015 and will:

• Contain legally-binding timeframes for decisions on international protection applications;
• Ensure returns for unsuccessful applicants;
• Process people who come from safe countries, those with false or no documents, and those crossing borders illegally more quickly.

It had previously been reported that Ireland could pay up to €13m into the EU fund instead of taking in 648 asylum seekers every year.