Asylum seekers told they must leave Ipas centre by Monday

The letter was sent to up to 25 asylum seekers at the International Protection Accommodation Service (Ipas) centre in Crooksling Co Dublin. File picture: Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews

A number of asylum seekers have been told they must vacate an Ipas centre in Dublin by Monday or leave the country.

A letter to a group of up to 25 asylum seekers — some of whom are under deportation order while others are understood to be appealing their decisions — was sent to Crooksling centre at the beginning of this month.

Department of Justice letter

The letter, seen by the Irish Examiner reads: “Since your arrival in Ireland following your application for international protection you have been provided with accommodation by Ipas. 

"This is on the basis that the State provides reception conditions, including accommodation, to applicants who are in the international protection process. Following the refusal of your international protection application, you were subsequently issued with a deportation order.

“Since that time, you have not been an applicant for international protection, and you have remained in the State without lawful permission.

“As an exceptional and temporary measure, you were provided Ipas accommodation pending your removal from the State.

“The provision of accommodation to you is now withdrawn and you are required to leave your accommodation no later than August 24. It will no longer be available to you after this date.”

The men are told they must inform the department’s repatriation unit of their whereabouts once they leave the centre.

One of the men affected, speaking under condition of anonymity, said he has been awaiting a decision on his appeal for a year, but now faces homelessness.

"They just basically kicked us out. I'm currently appealing my deportation, but we haven't heard back for over a year," the man who has lived in Crooksling since December said.

"They came out to us and suggested that we take voluntary returns with €500, but I haven't been home in two years. Even if it was safe to go home, I would be homeless and vulnerable. If where I'm from was safe enough for me, I'd go back. I cannot work here because I'm on a deportation order, so I can't pay for housing.

"I don't know where I'll be on Monday."

"I'm thankful for the Irish government's help here, but it's a very, very tough situation. They will kick us out regardless on Monday. The process is unbearable, and they've put us in a lot of uncertainty."

The Department of Justice did not respond to a request for comment.

• Paul Hosford, Deputy Political Editor